Impact of virtual consultations on quality of care in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and narrative synthesis protocol.

Background: Around 463 million people globally have diabetes, of which over 90% have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Projections indicate an expected increase to 700 million by 2045. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital health uptake, establishing virtual consultations as a feasible alternative to traditional in-person care.

Structured medication reviews for adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy in primary care: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Polypharmacy is common among individuals with multimorbidity, often leading to inappropriate medication use and is associated with an increased risk of frailty, hospitalisation and mortality. Structured medication reviews (SMRs) have emerged as a promising method for optimising medication use. However, research examining their efficacy is limited.

Interventions to improve medication adherence in adults with mental-physical multimorbidity in primary care: a systematic review.

Background: Medication non-adherence is a notable contributor to healthcare inefficiency, resulting in poor medication management, impaired patient outcomes, and ineffective symptom control.

Aim: To summarise interventions targeting medication adherence for adults with mental-physical multimorbidity in primary healthcare settings.

Design And Setting: A systematic review of the literature - published in any language and with any country of origin - was conducted.

Predictors of unplanned emergency hospital admissions among patients aged 65+ with multimorbidity and depression in Northwest London during and after the Covid-19 lockdown in England.

Introduction: Individuals with multimorbidity have an increased likelihood of using unplanned secondary care including emergency department visits and emergency hospitalisations. Those with mental health comorbidities are affected to a greater extent. The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on psychosocial wellbeing and multimorbidity care, especially among vulnerable older individuals.

Patient portal registration and healthcare utilisation in general practices in England: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Patient portals introduced in most of England's general practices since 2015 have the potential to improve healthcare efficiency. There is a paucity of information on the use of patient portals within the NHS general practices and the potential impact on healthcare utilisation.

Aim: To investigate the association between patient portal registration and care utilisation (measured by the number of general practice consultations) among general practice patients.

Attendance at remote versus in-person outpatient appointments in an NHS Trust.

Introduction: With the growing use of remote appointments within the National Health Service, there is a need to understand potential barriers of access to care for some patients. In this observational study, we examined missed appointments rates, comparing remote and in-person appointments among different patient groups.

Methods: We analysed adult outpatient appointments at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in Northwest London in 2021.

Validating a framework to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care: an international eDelphi study protocol.

Background: There is an urgent need to support primary care organisations in implementing safe and high-quality virtual consultations. We have previously performed qualitative research to capture the views of 1600 primary care physicians across 20 countries on the main benefits and challenges of using virtual consultations. Subsequently, a prototype of a framework to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care was developed.

Cross-sectional analyses of online appointment booking and repeat prescription ordering user characteristics in general practices of England in the years 2018-2020.

Objectives: To explore the characteristics of the General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS) respondents using the different functionalities of the online services in the context of England's National Health Service General Practices. We hypothesised that respondents who are older, with lower socioeconomic status and non-white ethnicity would be less likely to use online services, while long-term conditions might increase their usage.

Design: Cross-sectional study using respondent-level data from the GPPS in England of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Impact of Virtual Consultations on the Quality of Primary Care: Systematic Review.

Background: The adoption of virtual consultations, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed the delivery of primary care services. Owing to their rapid global proliferation, there is a need to comprehensively evaluate the impact of virtual consultations on all aspects of care quality.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of virtual consultations on the quality of primary care.

The effects of community interventions on unplanned healthcare use in patients with multimorbidity: a systematic review.

Objectives: To summarise the impact of community-based interventions for multimorbid patients on unplanned healthcare use. The prevalence of multimorbidity (co-existence of multiple chronic conditions) is rapidly increasing and affects one-third of the global population. Patients with multimorbidity have complex healthcare needs and greater unplanned healthcare usage.

Improving Multidisciplinary Team Working to Support Integrated Care for People with Frailty Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) working is essential to optimise and integrate services for people who are frail. MDTs require collaboration. Many health and social care professionals have not received formal training in collaborative working.

A Systematic Review of Interventions that Use Multidisciplinary Team Meetings to Manage Multimorbidity in Primary Care.

Introduction: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings could facilitate coordination of care for individuals living with multimorbidity, yet there is limited evidence on their effectiveness. We hence explored the common characteristics of MDT meetings in primary care and assessed the effectiveness of interventions that include such meetings, designed to improve outcomes for adults living with multimorbidity.

Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE.

Patient outcomes following emergency admission to hospital for COVID-19 compared with influenza: retrospective cohort study.

Background: We examine differences in posthospitalisation outcomes, and health system resource use, for patients hospitalised with COVID-19 during the UK's first pandemic wave in 2020, and influenza during 2018 and 2019.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used routinely collected primary and secondary care data. Outcomes, measured for 90 days follow-up after discharge were length of stay in hospital, mortality, emergency readmission and primary care activity.

Barriers to accessing health care among young people in 30 low-middle income countries.

Background: Previous studies focusing on high-income countries have shown that young people often face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than older adults. However, in low-middle income countries (LMICs), there have been a paucity of cross-country, quantitative studies highlighting these barriers.

Aim: This exploratory study aims to provide a scoping review of the publicly available Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) data with a view to form the basis for further work.

To what extent do callers follow the advice given by a non-emergency medical helpline (NHS 111): A retrospective cohort study.

National Health Service (NHS) 111 helpline was set up to improve access to urgent care in England, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of first-contact health services. Following trusted, authoritative advice is crucial for improved clinical outcomes. We examine patient and call-related characteristics associated with compliance with advice given in NHS 111 calls.

Depression and unplanned secondary healthcare use in patients with multimorbidity: A systematic review.

Background: Growing numbers of people with multimorbidity have a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression. Co-occurring depression is associated with poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs including unplanned use of secondary healthcare which may be avoidable.

Aim: To summarise the current evidence on the association between depression and unplanned secondary healthcare use among patients with multimorbidity.

Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development.

Adolescence is a pivotal point in the life course, characterised by transformative physical, cognitive, and emotional growth, an openness to change, and a drive to reshape the social environment. It offers unique opportunities to adopt changes in diet and physical activity that can persist into later life. Yet pre-existing nutritional problems, including micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets, persist at the same time as adolescents face the rapid emergence of an obesity epidemic.

Characteristics of frequently attending children in hospital emergency departments: a systematic review.

Objective: To summarise the literature on frequent attendances to hospital emergency departments (EDs) and describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children who attend EDs frequently.

Setting: Hospital EDs.

Participants: Children <21 years, attending hospital EDs frequently.

Patient-initiated second medical consultations-patient characteristics and motivating factors, impact on care and satisfaction: a systematic review.

Objectives: To review the characteristics and motivations of patients seeking second opinions, and the impact of such opinions on patient management, satisfaction and cost effectiveness.

Data Sources: Embase, Medline, PsycINFO and Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC) databases.

Study Design: A systematic literature search was performed for terms related to second opinion and patient characteristics.

Clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of individual mental health workers colocated within primary care practices: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: Mental health disorders contribute significantly to the global burden of disease and lead to extensive strain on health systems. The integration of mental health workers into primary care has been proposed as one possible solution, but evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness of this approach is unclear. We reviewed the clinical and cost effectiveness of mental health workers colocated within primary care practices.