Objective: Studies have suggested that the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP) course is effective at reducing arthritis pain and health care costs in volunteer participants. There have been no reports of trials of the ASMP in the context of primary care physicians' practices, where the potential for spreading the program may be greatest. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the ASMP course in a large primary care physician network.
Methods: Patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia were recruited for the study. Subjects in the intervention practices received the 6 week course and those in the control practices received only the ASMP book, without course. Disability, pain, self-efficacy, mental health, and satisfaction were measured using validated instruments at baseline and at 4 months.
Results: One hundred thirteen patients were recruited for the ASMP course (intervention) and completed baseline and 4 month followup questionnaires. Eighty-four percent completed at least 4 of 6 classes. Seventy-four patients received the ASMP manual (controls) and completed both questionnaires. Patients in the intervention and control groups had similar baseline pain (p = 0.94), self-efficacy to control pain (p = 0.90), mental health (p = 0.10), and vitality scores (p = 0.21), but those in the intervention arm had slightly less disability (p = 0.04). At 4 months, there was no significant improvement from baseline in any endpoint and no difference between patients in the intervention and control groups (all p > 0.2). Patient satisfaction with arthritis care and outcomes was no different for intervention and control patients (all p > 0.3). All types of health care resource use were similar at baseline and followup for both intervention and control groups (all p > 0.2).
Conclusion: While the ASMP course has been found to be effective in other patient groups, there were no significant clinical benefits noted at 4 months in patients recruited from primary care practices.
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J Hand Ther
January 2025
Venture Rehabilitation Sciences Group, Saskatoon, SK, Canada; School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Electronic address:
Background: Stenosing tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, is a common cause of hand disability. This study outlines a trigger finger management protocol that redirects referrals for surgical consultations to conservative management first.
Purpose: The primary outcome variable was the protocol endpoint based on the resolution of trigger finger symptoms (i.
Atherosclerosis
December 2024
Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, Sweden; University Clinic Primary Care Skåne, Region Skåne, Sweden; Department of Family and Community Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Background And Aims: Environmental and genetic factors predispose to cardiovascular disease. Some first-generation immigrants have a higher cardiovascular risk in Sweden, while less is known about second-generation immigrants. We aimed to analyze the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among second-generation immigrants in Sweden.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cardiol
January 2025
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. Electronic address:
Background: Despite increasing awareness in general practice, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains under-diagnosed in the community due to diagnostic difficulties. Dedicated dyspnea clinics are responsible for diagnosing HFpEF and efficient referral from primary care physicians is the key to enhance its role.
Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of a one-year collaborative project between our dyspnea clinic and the Maebashi Medical Association.
Ann Endocrinol (Paris)
January 2025
Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Physiologie et Physiopathologie Endocriniennes, AP-HP, Hôpital Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Centre de Référence des Maladies Rares du Métabolisme du Calcium et du Phosphate, 94 275 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France. Electronic address:
Preoperative treatment of PHPT aims to 1) manage severe and/or symptomatic hypercalcemia and 2) prevent postoperative hypocalcemia. Severe hypercalcemia, defined as a blood calcium level ≥ 3.5 mmol/L, requires admission to hospital in a conventional or critical care unit, depending on clinical symptoms and comorbidities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To characterize the 1) types of material goods (non-medical items) offered in pediatric residency continuity clinics, 2) consistency of good availability, 3) funding sources used to support supply, 4) whether goods are provided in response to social needs screening, and 5) common challenges with provision. To assess the extent to which provision of goods varied by clinic size and proportion of publicly insured patients.
Methods: Faculty and staff members from clinics in the Academic Pediatric Association's Continuity Research Network (APA CORNET) completed an online survey about material goods provided in their clinic in the preceding 12 months.
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