Implementation of a data-driven quality improvement program in primary care for patients with coronary heart disease: a mixed methods evaluation of acceptability, satisfaction, barriers and enablers.

Background The study aimed to understand the acceptability, satisfaction, uptake, utility and feasibility of a quality improvement (QI) intervention to improve care for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients in Australian primary care practices and identify barriers and enablers, including the impact of COVID-19. Methods Within the QUality improvement for Effectiveness of care for people Living with heart disease (QUEL) study, 26 Australian primary care practices, supported by five Primary Health Networks (PHN) participated in a 1-year QI intervention (November 2019 - November 2020). Data were collected from practices and PHNs staff via surveys and semi-structured interviews.

'It's what we should be doing anyway': using financial incentives to promote relational continuity in Australian General Practice-a nested case study analysis.

Background: Relational continuity is a fundamental component of primary care. The 'Quality in General Practice Trial' (EQuIP-GP), was a 12-month cluster randomized trial, designed to investigate whether financial incentives can improve relational continuity in primary care.

Aim: To examine (i) how financial incentives are perceived and experienced by primary care patients, providers, and practice staff, and (ii) how clinical and organizational routines related to relational continuity are influenced by the introduction of a financial model designed to incentivize relational continuity.

"Jumping on the Blood Pressure Bandwagon": Nurse, GP, and Patient Perspectives of a General Practice Nurse-Led Hypertension Management Intervention.

To explore the perceptions and experiences of general practice nurses, general practitioners, and patients who participated in a nurse-led intervention to improve blood pressure control. Given the impact of hypertension on rates of premature death and disability, it is important that interventions be evaluated to reduce blood pressure. A key component of such evaluation is understanding the experiences of participants and clinicians.

Process evaluation of a data-driven quality improvement program within a cluster randomised controlled trial to improve coronary heart disease management in Australian primary care.

Background: This study evaluates primary care practices' engagement with various features of a quality improvement (QI) intervention for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in four Australian states.

Methods: Twenty-seven practices participated in the QI intervention from November 2019 -November 2020. A combination of surveys, semi-structured interviews and other materials within the QUality improvement in primary care to prevent hospitalisations and improve Effectiveness and efficiency of care for people Living with heart disease (QUEL) study were used in the process evaluation.

Investigating the effect of an online enhanced care program on the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: Enhanced care program for heart failure.

Objective: Depression is highly prevalent and associated with increased hospitalisations and mortality among patients with heart failure (HF). This study will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an online wellbeing program for patients discharged from hospital with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in (i) improving emotional and physical wellbeing, and (ii) decreasing healthcare utilisation.

Methods: Two-arm randomised controlled trial.

Assisting young people aged 12-25 years to cease e-cigarette use in general practice.

Background: Increasing numbers of young people (adolescents aged 12-17 years and young adults aged 18-25 years) are using e-cigarettes. Although the extent of the health effects is currently unknown, young people are at risk of developing nicotine dependence and, as a result, find it difficult to cease use of e-cigarettes. They might seek help from their general practitioner (GP) to do so.

Utilisation of Chronic Disease and Mental Health Management Services and Cardioprotective Medication Prescriptions in Primary Care for Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors. Mental health is considered an important risk factor affecting the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the use of secondary prevention strategies for CVD in patients with both cancer and CVD.

Evaluating the implementation of a prescription only regulatory model for nicotine vaping products: A qualitative study on the experiences and views of healthcare professionals.

Background: Deciding how to regulate nicotine vaping products (NVPs) is a challenge for many countries. Balanced regulation should consider the potential harms to young people from uptake of NVPs alongside the possible benefits of NVPs as a smoking cessation aid. One option is to make NVPs only available via medical prescription to adults who smoke.

Feasibility and acceptability of facilitated advance care planning in outpatient clinics: A qualitative study of health-care professionals experience.

Objective: This study sought to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a facilitated advance care planning (ACP) intervention implemented in outpatient clinics, as perceived by health-care professionals (HCPs).

Methods: Data from seven focus groups (n = 27) and nine semi-structured interviews with HCPs recruited as part of a pragmatic, randomised controlled trial (RCT) were analysed using qualitative descriptive methodology. Components of the intervention included HCP education and training, tools to assist HCPs with patient selection, hardcopy information, and ACP documentation, and specialised nurse-facilitators to support HCPs to complete ACP conversations and documentation with patients and caregivers.

Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella antibodies among international and domestic university students.

Background: Vaccine-preventable infections are generally well controlled in Australia. However, gaps in immunity can lead to outbreaks and are important to identify. Young adults are a highly mobile population and a potential source of imported infections.

Acceptability and barriers of a GP-physiotherapist partnership in the diagnosis and management of COPD in primary care: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly diagnosed and managed in primary care but there is evidence that this has been suboptimal, with low confidence expressed in providing interventions requiring behaviour change. The aim of this study was to determine the acceptability of a general practitioner (GP)-physiotherapist partnership in the diagnosis and management of COPD in primary care and to explore the experiences of participants during the implementation of the model.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physiotherapists (n = 3), GPs (n = 2), practice nurses (PNs) (n = 2) and patients (n = 12) who had participated in the InNovaTivE Gp-physiotheRapist pArTnErship for copD (INTEGRATED) trial.

Impact of a general practice nurse intervention to improve blood pressure control: The ImPress study.

Background And Objectives: Hypertension is a highly prevalent but often poorly controlled risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined the effectiveness of a general practice nurse (GPN) intervention to reduce blood pressure in adults with hypertension who are at high risk of CVD.

Method: A cluster randomised control trial was performed across 10 general practices.

National Health and Medical Research Council statement on electronic cigarettes: 2022 update.

Introduction: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in Australia has rapidly increased since the 2017 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) statement on e-cigarettes. The type of products available and the demographic characteristics of people using these products have changed. New evidence has been published and there is growing concern among public health professionals about the increased use, particularly among young people who do not currently smoke combustible cigarettes.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Facilitated Advance Care Planning in Outpatient Clinics: A Qualitative Study of Patient and Caregivers Experiences.

Guidelines recommend advance care planning (ACP) for people with advanced illness; however, evidence supporting ACP as a component of outpatient care is lacking. We sought to establish the feasibility and acceptability of a facilitated ACP intervention for people attending tertiary outpatient clinics. Data from 20 semi-structured interviews with patient ( = 79.

RELEASE (REdressing Long-tErm Antidepressant uSE): protocol for a 3-arm pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial effectiveness-implementation hybrid type-1 in general practice.

Background: Many people experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop antidepressants. Withdrawal symptoms are readily misconstrued for relapse or ongoing need for medication, contributing to long-term use (> 12 months). Long-term antidepressant use is increasing internationally yet is not recommended for most people.

Different Case Finding Approaches to Optimise COPD Diagnosis: Evidence from the RADICALS Trial.

Aim: Diagnosis of COPD in primary care is hindered by underuse of spirometry. Case finding using validated symptom and health status questionnaires, and simple handheld devices in high-risk populations may improve diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the best combination of measures to optimise COPD diagnosis in the primary care setting.

The effects of an innovative GP-physiotherapist partnership in improving COPD management in primary care.

Background: Evidence suggests that management of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in primary care has been suboptimal, in particular, with low referral rates to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a GP-physiotherapist partnership in optimising management of COPD in primary care.

Methods: A pragmatic, pilot, before and after study was conducted in four general practices in Australia.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Assessing the Self-Management Practices of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

The use of Artificial intelligence in healthcare has evolved substantially in recent years. In medical diagnosis, Artificial intelligence algorithms are used to forecast or diagnose a variety of life-threatening illnesses, including breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. The main objective of this study is to assess self-management practices among patients with type 2 diabetes in rural areas of Pakistan using Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.

Cluster-randomised trial of the Effectiveness of Quality Incentive Payments in General Practice (EQuIP-GP): Prescribing of medicines outcomes.

Background: The Effectiveness of Quality Incentive Payments in General Practice (EQuIP-GP) study investigated whether targeted financial incentives promoting access to a preferred general practitioner, post-hospitalisation follow-up and longer consultations, increase patient-perceived relational continuity in primary care. Secondary outcomes included the use of medicines.

Objective: To evaluate whether introducing a general practice-level service model incorporating enrolment and continuous and graded quality improvement incentives influenced the total prescriptions written and potentially inappropriate prescribing of medicines.

Telehealth's future in Australian primary health care: a qualitative study exploring lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth emerged as a means of safely providing primary healthcare (PHC) consultations. In Australia, changes to telehealth funding led to the reconsideration of the role of telehealth in the ongoing provision of PHC services.

Aim: To investigate GPs', registered nurses' (RNs), nurse practitioners' (NPs), and allied health (AH) clinicians perceptions of the sustainability of telehealth in PHC post-pandemic.