Patients' and caregivers' experiences of virtual care in a primary care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic: A patient-oriented research study.

Objective: This study explored patient and caregiver expectations and experiences of virtual primary care in Manitoba, Canada. This study focused on accessibility of care, acceptability and perceptions of quality from 'users' of primary healthcare services. Due to the rapid implementation of virtual primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, patient/public input was largely bypassed.

The audiological rehabilitation of workers with hearing loss in the UK: a qualitative study of workers' perspectives.

Purpose: Unaddressed hearing loss can adversely affect employment and day-to-day work-life. Efficient and effective audiology support can help optimise hearing in the workplace. This study explores the audiological rehabilitation experiences of workers with hearing loss (WHL).

Strategies used in managing conversations about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing among family physicians (FPs): a qualitative study.

Objectives: Screening for prostate cancer in healthy asymptomatic men using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is controversial due to conflicting recommendations from and a lack of strong evidence regarding the benefit of population-based screening. In Canada and internationally, there is variability in how family physicians (FPs) approach PSA testing in asymptomatic men. The purpose of our study was to explore how family FPs approach discussions with their male patients around PSA testing in Manitoba, Canada.

A cross-cultural exploration of compassion, and facilitators and inhibitors of compassion in UK and Sri Lankan people.

Background: Practising compassion has shown to increase well-being and reduce distress in people across cultures. However, very little research has explored cultural differences in different facets of compassion with a dearth of research evident especially in the Asian context. Several inhibitors and facilitators of compassion have been identified although the nuances of cultural differences of these remain unexploited.

Exploring the Cross-cultural Applicability of a Brief Compassionate Mind Training: a Study Comparing Sri Lankan and UK People.

Objectives: Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) is a therapeutic approach proven to be effective for reducing distress and increasing well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a short-term, online version of the CMT on compassion, distress, and well-being in a cross-cultural, non-clinical sample of Sri Lankan and UK people.

Method: A randomized controlled trial with pre-, post-measurements, and a 2-week follow-up was conducted using CMT ( = 21 Sri Lankan,  = 73 UK) and wait-list control ( = 17 Sri Lankan,  = 54 UK) groups.

Characterizing the use of virtual care in primary care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: In March 2020, Canada implemented restrictions to curb viral transmission of COVID-19, which resulted in abrupt disruptions to conventional (in-person) clinical care. To retain continuity of care the delivery of primary care services shifted to virtual care. This study examined the nature of virtual visits, characterizing the use and users of virtual care in primary care settings from March 14/20 to June 30/20 of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compassion-based interventions in Asian communities: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Purpose: Practising compassion increases well-being and reduces depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among clinical and non-clinical populations. There is a rapid increase in compassion-based interventions within the past two decades. However, the reviews are limited to predominantly Western cultures.

Trusting in the online 'community': An interview study exploring internet use in young people with chronic pain.

Background: Chronic pain in young people is prevalent in the UK. Young people are digital natives, yet there has not been any online intervention developed in a UK context to help them manage chronic pain. Key to understanding the context in which young people engage with online interventions is better understanding their internet use for chronic pain management.

Views and experiences of compassion in Sri Lankan students: An exploratory qualitative study.

Practicing compassion has shown to reduce distress and increase emotional well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations. The existing research is primarily focused on Western populations although the concepts of compassion are heavily influenced by Asian Buddhist views. There is a dearth of compassion research conducted particularly in the Asian context.

Hearing healthcare for workers with hearing loss: audiologists' experiences and views.

Purpose: This study explored audiologists' perspectives regarding their interactions with workers with hearing loss (WHL).

Materials And Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-five audiologists working in the National Health Service (NHS) and independent companies (IC) in the UK and were thematically analysed.

Results: The developed themes and sub-themes (shown in parenthesis) are (1) Current practices and routines (Same approach for most patients; Variations between hearing care services; Audiologists' personal experience of hearing loss) (2) Perceived challenges (Non-routine and challenging cases; The role of hearing technology; Concerns about lack of awareness and knowledge; Communication difficulties between services, Limited funding and resources) (3) Scope for better support (Would like to be informed; Other potential service improvements).

Collection and Reporting of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Arthroplasty Registries: Multinational Survey and Recommendations.

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are validated questionnaires that are completed by patients. Arthroplasty registries vary in PROM collection and use. Current information about registry collection and use of PROMs is important to help improve methods of PROM data analysis, reporting, comparison, and use toward improving clinical practice.

A systematic review of psychological, physical health factors, and quality of life in adult asthma.

Asthma is a common non-communicable disease, often characterized by activity limitation, negative effects on social life and relationships, problems with finding and keeping employment, and poor quality of life. The objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature investigating the potential factors impacting quality of life (QoL) in asthma. Electronic searches were carried out on: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (initial search April 2017 and updated in January 2019).

Evaluation of a breathing retraining intervention to improve quality of life in asthma: quantitative process analysis of the BREATHE randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Explore qualitative differences between interventions (DVD and booklet (DVDB) versus face-to-face and booklet (F2FB) versus usual care) in the BREATHE (Breathing Retraining for Asthma Trial of Home Exercises) trial of breathing retraining for asthma.

Design: Quantitative process analysis exploring group expectancy, experience and practice before and after intervention delivery for the main trial.

Setting: Primary care.

Do people with multiple sclerosis want to know their prognosis? A UK nationwide study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a varied and uncertain trajectory. The recent development of analytical processing tools that draw on large longitudinal patient databases facilitates personalised long-term prognosis estimates. This has the potential to improve both shared treatment decision-making and psychological adjustment.

Physiotherapy breathing retraining for asthma: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Despite effective pharmacotherapy, asthma continues to impair quality of life for most patients. Non-pharmacological approaches, including breathing retraining, are therefore of great interest to patients. However, clinicians rarely advocate breathing retraining and access to this intervention is restricted for most patients due to the limited availability of suitable physiotherapists and poor integration of breathing retraining into standard care.

Barriers and facilitators of effective self-management in asthma: systematic review and thematic synthesis of patient and healthcare professional views.

Self-management is an established, effective approach to controlling asthma, recommended in guidelines. However, promotion, uptake and use among patients and health-care professionals remain low. Many barriers and facilitators to effective self-management have been reported, and views and beliefs of patients and health care professionals have been explored in qualitative studies.

Patients' experiences of breathing retraining for asthma: a qualitative process analysis of participants in the intervention arms of the BREATHE trial.

Unlabelled: Poor symptom control and impaired quality of life are common in adults with asthma, and breathing retraining exercises may be an effective method of self-management. This study aimed to explore the experiences of participants in the intervention arms of the BREATHE trial, which investigated the effectiveness of breathing retraining as a mode of asthma management. Sixteen people with asthma (11 women, 8 per group) who had taken part in the intervention arms of the BREATHE trial (breathing retraining delivered by digital versatile disc (DVD) or face-to-face sessions with a respiratory physiotherapist) took part in semi-structured telephone interviews about their experiences.

A randomised controlled study of the effectiveness of breathing retraining exercises taught by a physiotherapist either by instructional DVD or in face-to-face sessions in the management of asthma in adults.

Background: Asthma control is suboptimal, resulting in quality of life (QoL) impairment and costs. Breathing retraining exercises have evidence of effectiveness as adjuvant treatment, but are infrequently used.

Objectives: To transfer the contents of a brief (three-session) physiotherapist-delivered breathing retraining programme to a digital versatile disc (DVD) and booklet format; to compare the effectiveness of the self-guided intervention with that of 'face-to-face' physiotherapy and usual care for QoL and other asthma-related outcomes; to perform a health economic assessment of both interventions; and to perform a process evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Internet-Based Vestibular Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Chronic Dizziness: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Primary Care.

Purpose: Vestibular rehabilitation is an effective intervention for dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction, but is seldom provided. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of an Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation program for older adults experiencing dizziness in primary care.

Methods: We undertook a single-center, single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing an Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation intervention (Balance Retraining, freely available from https://balance.

Older adults' experiences of internet-based vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness: A longitudinal study.

Objective: Factors influencing engagement with self-managed rehabilitation are not well understood, but evidence suggests they may change over time. Despite increasing digitalisation of self-managed interventions, little is known about the role of internet-based interventions in patients' experiences of self-directed rehabilitation. This longitudinal qualitative study investigated individuals' ongoing experiences of internet-guided, self-managed rehabilitation within the context of rehabilitation for dizziness.

Living with asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease: Using technology to support self-management - An overview.

Long-term respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common, and cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. Supporting self-management is advocated for both asthma and increasingly so for COPD, and there is growing interest in the potential role of a range of new technologies, such as smartphone apps, the web or telehealth to facilitate and promote self-management in these conditions. Treatment goals for both asthma and COPD include aiming to control symptoms, maintain activities, achieve the best possible quality of life and minimize risks of exacerbation.

Predictors of adherence to home-based physical therapies: a systematic review.

Purpose: Self-managed, home-based physical therapy (HBPT) is an increasingly common element of physical therapy rehabilitation programmes but non-adherence can reach 70%. Understanding factors that influence patients' adherence to HBPTs could help practitioners support better adherence. Research to date has focussed largely on clinic-based physiotherapy.

The Development of Balance Retraining: An Online Intervention for Dizziness in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older.

Purpose: This article outlines the rationale and development process for an online intervention based on vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). The intervention aims to assist adults aged 50 years and older t o self-manage and reduce dizziness symptoms.

Method: The intervention was developed according to the person-based approach to digital intervention design focused on accommodating perspectives of target users.

Report of the Canadian Neurological Society Manpower Survey 2012.

Background: The Canadian Neurological Society commissioned a manpower survey in 2012 to assess Canadian neurological manpower and resources.

Methods: Surveys were sent electronically to all Canadian neurologists with available email addresses. Responses were analysed for effects of physician gender, age, geographic location (eastern or western Canada) or type of practice (academic, community).

Understanding patient experiences of self-managing chronic dizziness: a qualitative study of booklet-based vestibular rehabilitation, with or without remote support.

Objective: This study explores participants' experience of self-management of dizziness using booklet-based vestibular rehabilitation (VR), with or without expert telephone support.

Design: Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted.

Setting: Participants were recruited from primary care practices as part of a large RCT.