Patient Perspectives: Valuable Food Insecurity Interventions.

Introduction: Food insecurity (FI), defined as "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways," affects over 12% of US households. Embarrassment persists for patients with FI, and due to the potential consequences of FI, including increased utilization of the health care system, it is important to find causes and potential interventions for FI. The purpose of this project was to better understand FI from the patient perspective, including contributing factors, perceived health effects, and helpful interventions.

Becoming a Community-Based Physician Researcher.

Years ago, as a contented community family physician practicing with 4 physician colleagues, I focused on applying medical knowledge to help patients. After a young patient's death from smoking I became interested in improving our strategy for helping smokers quit. A researcher offered us the opportunity to test a cessation intervention that had been successful in an academic setting.

Retirement Tea.

In this narrative essay, the author, a family physician, remembers his encounters with patients at his 2008 retirement tea following 34 years in practice. The physician and the patients explored their experiences working together and expressed their gratitude to each other. The author looks back at how these long-standing relationships led to better care and better health.

Improving Identification of Food-Insecure Patients in an Outpatient Clinic Setting.

Introduction: Food insecurity (FI) is defined as limited or uncertain access to enough nutritious food for all household members to lead an active and healthy life. In 2017, roughly 12% of US households reported FI. FI screening is not standard practice despite FI's association with poor health outcomes.

Views of primary care providers on follow-up care of cancer patients.

Background And Objectives: Primary care providers (PCPs) are often involved in the care of cancer survivors. This study asked PCPs about their role in the follow-up care of breast and colorectal cancer patients and elicited opinions on improving the transfer of care from oncologists to PCPs.

Methods: A total of 175 PCPs in a large health care system with an electronic medical record system were mailed a questionnaire that addressed (1) their comfort and confidence regarding surveillance for cancer recurrence, (2) when patients should be seen in primary care, (3) evaluation of the transfer of care, (4) potential problems with that process, and (5) suggestions for improving that process.

The TEAM project: the effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention with hospital patients.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three smoking cessation interventions for this population: (1) modified usual care (UC); (2) brief advice (A); and (3) brief advice plus more extended counseling during and after hospitalization (A + C).

Methods: Smokers (2,095) who were in-patients in four hospitals were randomly assigned to condition. Smoking status was ascertained via phone interview 7 days and 12 months post-discharge.

Smoking-related attitudes and clinical practices of medical personnel in Minnesota.

Context: Effective clinic-based, smoking-cessation activities are not widely implemented.

Objective: To compare and contrast the smoking-cessation attitudes and clinical practices of five types of primary healthcare team members.

Design And Setting: From July to October 2002, a cross-sectional survey was mailed to randomly selected primary care physicians (MDs), advanced practice nurses (APRNs), registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and medical assistants (MAs).

A nurse-based pilot program to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in a primary care setting.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor reduction program among patients at a primary care outpatient clinic.

Study Design: Preintervention and postintervention longitudinal, prospective pilot study to evaluate patients' achievement of CVD risk factor reduction.

Patients And Methods: A total of 436 patients at a primary care clinic in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, were enrolled in 2 years; 286 patients were followed up with additional visits.