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Selected Abstracts

Smoking after the age of 65 years: a qualitative exploration of older current and former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2006
Susan Kerr BA MSc PhD RN HV
Abstract The aim of this study was to explore older current/former smokers' views on smoking, stopping smoking, and smoking cessation resources and services. Despite the fact that older smokers have been identified as a priority group, there is currently a dearth of age-related smoking cessation research to guide practice. The study adopted a qualitative approach and used the health belief model as a conceptual framework. Twenty current and former smokers aged , 65 years were recruited through general practices and a forum for older adults in the West of Scotland. Data were collected using a semistructured interview schedule. The audio-taped interviews were transcribed and then analysed using content analysis procedures. Current smokers reported many positive associations with smoking, which often prevented a smoking cessation attempt. The majority were aware that smoking had damaged their health; however, some were not convinced of the association. A common view was that ,the damage was done', and therefore, there was little point in attempting to stop smoking. When suggesting a cessation attempt, while some health professionals provided good levels of support, others were reported as providing very little. Some of the participants reported that they had never been advised to stop smoking. Knowledge of local smoking cessation services was generally poor. Finally, concern was voiced regarding the perceived health risks of using nicotine replacement therapy. The main reasons why the former smokers had stopped smoking were health-related. Many had received little help and support from health professionals when attempting to stop smoking. Most of the former smokers believed that stopping smoking in later life had been beneficial to their health. In conclusion, members of the primary care team have a key role to play in encouraging older people to stop smoking. In order to function effectively, it is essential that they take account of older smokers' health beliefs and that issues, such as knowledge of smoking cessation resources, are addressed. [source]

Present and future role of Mental Illness Advocacy Associations in the management of the mentally ill: realities, needs and hopes at the edge of the third millennium

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 3p2 2000
Paolo Lucio Morselli
Objective: The purpose of the present review is the analysis of the development and current status of the Mental Illness Advocacy Movement in the USA and in Europe, as well as of the role such a movement is playing in the management of the mentally ill. Methods: Information on the issue has been collected via literature search and several personal inquiries and contacts with different Mental Illness Advocacy Groups in the USA and in Europe. Results: The findings indicate that the Mental Illness Advocacy Movement is very alive and in full growth. Its role in the management of the mentally ill has become more and more important over the years. In several countries, it makes it possible to overcome some of the deficiencies of the National or Private Health Services. Thanks to the actions of the various Mental Illness Advocacy Groups, today, patients and families are more and better informed of their conditions and their rights. In many cases, this results in earlier diagnosis, better compliance and better outcomes. However, despite significant improvement in the status of the mentally ill patient, much still remains to be done. Conclusions: We need an improved dialogue with mental heath providers, public administrators, mental health policy makers, mass media and politicians. The dialogue between primary care team and the specialist must also be improved. A global alliance for action is needed to ensure better and more available services to those who suffer from mental disorders. [source]

Caring for people with learning disability: a survey of general practitioners' attitudes in Southampton and South-west Hampshire

BRITISH JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, Issue 1 2000
Ken SteinArticle first published online: 24 DEC 200
The aim of the present paper was to examine general practitioners' (GPs') beliefs about: the demands made on the primary care team by people with learning disability; their confidence in meeting health care needs and perceived training requirements; attitudes towards specialist or generic health service provision, and current contact with specialist teams; and attitudes towards screening in people with learning disability. A postal questionnaire was sent to a randomly selected partner from 95% of the practices in the Southampton and South-west Hampshire Health District. Forty-eight (75%) GPs responded and few were undecided about the demands placed on primary care teams, but beliefs were mixed. Most GPs were confident in dealing with the medical care needs of people with learning disability and the majority felt that training courses would not be worthwhile, except to learn more about specialist services where contact was very low and a ,link worker' scheme had had little apparent impact. Most respondents agreed that GPs should meet the medical needs of people with learning disability as part of general medical services and approximately half had a positive attitude towards providing regular health checks. Respondents were cautious about offering cervical cancer screening to women with learning disability. A small minority suggested that they would take no action to follow up a non-attendance for mammography. As a heterogeneous population, it is not surprising that GPs' attitudes vary widely. Further research is required to establish the nature and scale of demands made on primary health care teams, and to evaluate systematic means of addressing health care needs of people with learning disability. [source]

Surveying older people from minority ethnic groups: an evaluation of a primary care sampling method for UK African-Caribbean elders

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2002
Dr Robert Stewart
Abstract There are substantial logistical difficulties in conducting community surveys of minority ethnic group populations. Primary care lists have been identified as an important potential resource but the representativeness of samples derived through this method has received little evaluation. In a community survey of psychiatric morbidity, African-Caribbean people aged 55,75 were identified by practice staff from registration lists for seven primary care teams in south London. The sensitivity of the process was evaluated by contacting a random sample of people whose ethnicity was not known. Participants aged 65,75 (n = 174) were also compared to a similarly aged group sampled through household enumeration (n = 34) with respect to demographic factors, risk factors for vascular disease, depression and cognitive function. For those with correct addresses, the identified group was estimated to include 72% of the potentially eligible population. Only 8% of contacted people were found not to be eligible in terms of ethnicity. Compared to the household enumeration sample, the primary care sample had marginally higher socio-economic status but was similar with respect to all other measured characteristics. Primary care list sampling with staff-assigned ethnicity therefore appeared highly specific, reasonably sensitive, and did not seem to introduce substantial bias for this population. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]