Coprescribing naloxone for patients on chronic opioid therapy: Les-sons learned from a patient-safety initiative in primary care training sites.

Objective: To describe the development and implementation of a resident-led effort to increase coprescription of naloxone in a primary care setting.

Design: An exploratory, prospective pilot project to increase coprescription rates of naloxone.

Setting: Four primary care offices in western Connecticut serving as medical home training sites for primary care residents.

What Peer Mentoring Adds to Already Good Patient Care: Implementing the Carpeta Roja Peer Mentoring Program in a Well-Resourced Health Care System.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a peer support program on the health outcomes of patients already receiving well-organized, comprehensive diabetes care.

Methods: We used a mixed-methods, nonrandomized, control-group design to evaluate the impact of a peer-mentoring program on the health outcomes and self-management behaviors of adults with type 2 diabetes in 15 primary care practices in San Antonio. Propensity score analysis, t-tests, and multivariable repeated analyses were used to evaluate impact.

Practice patterns, beliefs, and perceived barriers to care regarding dementia: a report from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) national research network.

Purpose: Given the increasing age of the US population, understanding how primary care is delivered surrounding dementia and physicians' perceived barriers and needs associated with this care is essential.

Methods: A 29-item questionnaire was developed by project investigators and family physician consultants and mailed to a random sample of 1500 US members of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2008; 2 follow-up mailings were sent to nonrespondents. Physicians were queried about sociodemographic characteristics, practice patterns, and beliefs (including challenges, barriers, and needs) about care processes focusing on dementia among older patients.

GAPS in implementing health assessments in primary care: a literature review.

Patient-reported health data are critical components of patient-centered health care. However, barriers related to acquisition, implementation, and data use have not been well characterized. We conducted a systematic review of literature about health assessments in ambulatory and primary care covering 2 domains: (1) best practices in health assessments in primary care and (2) integration of health assessments into electronic health records.

Improving use of narcotics for nonmalignant chronic pain: a lesson from Community Care of North Carolina.

Objective: To describe the development, implementation, and effects of collaborative effort to reduce diversion of prescription drugs in Caldwell County, NC.

Design: Development and implementation of practice guideline, statewide opioid registry, and survey of all primary care providers.

Setting: Rural Caldwell County, NC, has a population of 83,029, of which 89 percent are non-Hispanic White; 2009 median household income of $35,489.

TRIPPD: a practice-based network effectiveness study of postpartum depression screening and management.

Purpose: Postpartum depression is common but inadequately recognized and undertreated. Continuing depressive symptoms are associated with adverse outcomes for the woman, her infant, and family. We wanted to determine the effect of a practice-based training program for screening, diagnosis, and management of depression in postpartum mothers.

Practice benefit from participating in a practice-based research network study of postpartum depression: a national research network (NRN) report.

Background: At the midpoint of a large clinical trial taking place in a practice-based research network (PBRN), we asked leaders of the enrolled practices about the impact of participating in a PBRN study.

Methods: Using semistructured interviews, the lead study nurse and physician from each site were queried about the impact of study participation on issues related to the study topic of postpartum depression (PPD) as well as any other impacts on the practice not directly related to PPD. From the results, initial themes were identified by 3 of the investigators (BPY, SB, MK) and confirmed by all the authors.

Practice-based research network studies and institutional review boards: two new issues.

Background: Practice-based research network (PBRN) study investigators must interface with multiple Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), many of which are unfamiliar with PBRN research.

Objective: To present 2 IRB-related issues that have not appeared in the literature but occurred during the course of a large 5-year PBRN study involving 32 sites dispersed around the United States.

Results: Our study required IRB approval from a total of 19 local, hospital, academic center, and professional organization-based IRBs that reviewed a protocol of postpartum depression screening and follow-up completed in English or Spanish.