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The Impact of Different Types of Social Media Use on the Mental Health of UK Adults: Longitudinal Observational Study
Background: Previous studies have explored the association between social media use and mental health among adolescents. However, few studies using nationally representative longitudinal data have explored this relationship for adults and how the effect might change depending on how people use social media. Objective: This study investigated the longitudinal relationship between the frequency of viewing and posting on social media and mental health problems among UK adults. Methods: This study included 15,836 adults (aged 16 years and older) who participated in Understanding Society, a UK longitudinal survey. Social media use was measured with questions about the frequency of viewing social media and posting on social media in Understanding Society Wave 11 (2019-2021). We explored viewing and posting separately, as well as a combined exposure: (1) high viewing, high posting; (2) high viewing, low posting; (3) low viewing, high posting; and (4) low viewing, low posting. Mental health problems were measured in Wave 12 (2020-2022) using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a validated scale for identifying symptoms of common mental health problems, where higher scores indicated more mental health problems (0 to 36). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were estimated for viewing social media and posting on social media, adjusting for the baseline GHQ score, gender, age, ethnicity, employment, and education. We found no evidence for effect modification by gender and age so overall associations were reported. Results: In our adjusted models, we found no evidence of an association between the frequency of viewing social media and mental health problems in the following year. We found that adults who posted daily on social media had more mental health problems than those who never posted on social media, corresponding to a 0.35-point increase in GHQ score (β=0.35, 95% CI 0.01-0.68; P=.04). When we considered both social media behaviors, we found that those who frequently viewed and posted on social media scored 0.31 points higher on the GHQ score (β=0.31, 95% CI 0.04-0.58; P=.03) in the following year compared to those who rarely viewed or posted on social media. Conclusions: We found that a high frequency of posting on social media was associated with increased mental health problems a year later. However, we did not find evidence of a similar association based on the frequency of viewing social media content. This provides evidence that some types of active social media use (ie, posting) have a stronger link to mental health outcomes than some types of passive social media use (viewing). These results highlighted that the relationship between social media use and mental health is complex, and more research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these patterns to inform targeted interventions and policies.
Care gaps among people presenting to the hospital following self-harm: observational study of three emergency departments in England
Objectives This study aims to examine the proportions of patients referred to mental health, social and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) services and general practice and to assess care gaps among people presenting to the hospital following self-harm. Design Population-based observational study. Data were extracted from hospital records. Setting Three emergency departments (EDs) in Manchester, UK. Participants 26 090 patients aged 15+ years who presented to participating EDs following self-harm and who received a psychosocial assessment by a mental health specialist. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcome measures are as follows: care gaps, estimated from the proportion of patients with evidence of social and mental health needs with no new or active referral to mental health, social and VCSE services. Secondary outcome measures are as follows: proportions of referrals by groups of patients, estimated mental health and social needs of patients. Indicators of mental health and social need were developed with academic clinicians (psychiatrist, general practitioner and social worker) and expert lived experience contributors. Results 96.2% (25 893/26 909) of individuals were estimated as having mental health needs. Among this group, 29.9% (6503/21 719) had no new or active referral to mental health services (indicating a care gap). Mental healthcare gaps were greater in men and those who were aged under 35 years, from a black, South Asian or Chinese ethnic group, living in the most deprived areas and had no mental health diagnosis, or alcohol, substance misuse, anxiety or trauma-related disorder. 52.8% (14 219/26 909) had social needs, with care gaps greater for men, individuals aged 45–64 and those who were unemployed or had a diagnosed mental disorder. Conclusions Care gaps were higher among hospital-presenting groups known to have increased risks of suicide: men, those in middle age, unemployed individuals and those misusing substances. Improved access to mental health, social and VCSE services and general practice care is vital to reduce inequities in access to self-harm aftercare.
Is alcohol use disorder associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety among people with new onset type 2 diabetes? A cohort study using linked primary care data in England
Introduction Depression and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in people living with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are associated with worse health outcomes. AUD is strongly associated with depression and anxiety, but it is not known how these conditions cluster in people with T2DM. We investigated rates of new episodes of depression and anxiety following T2DM diagnosis in people with and without prior AUD among an English primary care population. Methods The study population was people diagnosed with T2DM between 2004 and 2019. We used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum database and linked Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES APC) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) mortality data. We examined incidence of new episodes of anxiety or depression in people with T2DM with and without AUD. AUD was defined as any of i) clinical diagnosis; ii) alcohol withdrawal; or iii) chronic alcohol-related harm (physical or mental) using SNOMED-CT or ICD-10 codes. People were excluded if they had codes for depression/anxiety 12 months prior to T2DM diagnosis. Poisson regression models were fitted adjusting sequentially for a) age, gender, calendar time; b) region, Index of Multiple Deprivation, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, Charlson co-morbidity index; and c) history of a mental health condition. Results Our study population was 479,447 people of whom 10,983 (2.3%) had an AUD code prior to T2DM diagnosis. After adjusting for all measured confounders except history of a mental health condition, IRR for depression was 2.00 (95% CI 1.93, 2.06) for people with AUD compared to without AUD. This reduced to 1.45 (95% CI 1.41, 1.50) after further adjustment for history of a mental health condition. Findings for anxiety were substantially similar to those for depression (adjusted for all measured confounders except history of a mental health condition, IRR 2.08 95% CI 1.99, 2.18 fully adjusted IRR 1.48 95% CI 1.41, 1.55). Conclusions People with AUD have over double the rates of depression and anxiety following T2DM diagnosis than those without AUD. This was only partially explained by pre-existing diagnoses of mental health conditions. A holistic approach incorporating mental health support is needed to improve health outcomes for people with AUD who develop T2DM.
Experiences and access of palliative and end of life care for older people from minority ethnic groups: a scoping review
Background Many older people from minority ethnic groups experience inequalities towards the end of life, including barriers to accessing palliative care. With levels of international migration increasing, there is a need to understand these differences and consider the needs of minority ethnic groups in healthcare policies. This review aimed to map evidence on how older people from minority ethnic groups access and utilise palliative and end of life care, preferences for palliative and end of life care, experiences of palliative and end of life care, and how this varies between minority ethnic groups in different countries, and with different health conditions. Methods Scoping review, following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance. Searches of eight online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Assia, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library) and grey literature were undertaken in 2024. Qualitative sources that focused on older people from minority ethnic groups’ and carers’ access to and use of palliative and end of life care were included, as well as those focusing on healthcare professionals’ experiences. Results Twenty-three sources were included in the review, the majority of which were interview studies from the USA. Findings reflect a range of preferences, inequalities, facilitators and barriers to accessing palliative and end of life care, with themes relating to: (1) Knowledge of hospice and palliative care, (2) societal and structural issues, (3) language and health literacy, (4) migratory experiences, (5) trust in healthcare services and professionals, (6) religion and hope, and (7) cultural values. Conclusions This review identified areas for healthcare providers to consider developing more culturally appropriate palliative and end of life care practice, including building trust and improving communication, sharing information, reducing language barriers, addressing stigma, and, if relevant, acknowledging the importance of culture and religion. Further qualitative research from an intersectional perspective, such as geographical location or socio-economic status, rather than race, ethnicity, and culture alone, is needed in more diverse geographical settings and on specific health conditions.
Tackling health inequalities together: inclusion health and co-production
Introduction Trauma-informed approaches acknowledge the impact of trauma on the health of patients and staff, and the ways in which health care is accessed and experienced.1 There is growing interest in these approaches in both a UK and international primary care context.2 Intrinsic to a trauma-informed approach (although rarely achieved in practice)2 is the co-production of health services with those with relevant lived experience. Existing models of patient involvement in primary care tend to rely significantly on feedback forms or surveys, which do not facilitate an ongoing dialogue between patients and healthcare providers. Patient participation groups (PPGs) can provide a more meaningful space in which services can be truly co-produced, in particular where careful attention is given to power dynamics in the room.3 There is, however, an increasing understanding of the need for flexibility in our approaches to patient involvement, which should incorporate multiple models, recognising individuals’ diverse experiences, preferences, and capacity for participation.3 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) suggests that we may have ‘… more effective conversations through engaging with different community groups at different times and in different places’.4 The need for provision of protected spaces with careful attention to sociocultural backgrounds and power dynamics is echoed within the principles of trauma-informed care.1 The current authors have worked proactively with specific community groups who are often poorly served by our health services. We have sought to create protected spaces and mitigate existing power dynamics to support the free communication of ideas, working together with partnership organisations to improve local primary care provision.
Blood test result communication in primary care: mixed-methods systematic review protocol
Abstract Background After testing, ensuring test results are communicated and actioned is important for patient safety, with failure or delay in diagnosis the most common cause of malpractice claims in primary care worldwide. Identifying interventions to improve test communication from the decision to test through to sharing of results has important implications for patient safety, GP workload, and patient engagement. Aim To assess the factors around communication of blood test results between primary care providers (for example GPs, nurses, reception staff) and their patients and carers. Design & setting A mixed methods systematic review including primary studies involving communication of blood test results in primary care. Method The review will use a segregated convergent synthesis method. Qualitative information will be synthesised using a meta-aggregative approach, and quantitative data will be meta-analysed or synthesised if pooling of studies is appropriate and data are available. If not, data will be presented in tabular and descriptive summary form. Conclusion This review has the potential to provide conclusions about blood test result communication interventions and factors important to stakeholders, including barriers and facilitators to improved communication.
Collaborative and integrated working between general practice and community pharmacies: A realist review of what works, for whom, and in which contexts
Objectives Collaborative and integrated (C + I) working between general practice and community pharmacies has the potential to increase accessibility to services, improve service efficiency and quality of care, and reduce health care expenditures. Many existing studies report challenges and complexities inherent in establishing effective C + I ways of working. The aim of our review is to understand how, when and why working arrangements between General Practitioners (GP) and Community Pharmacists (CP) can provide the conditions necessary for effective communication, decision-making, and C + I working. Methods We conducted a realist review to explore the key contextual factors and mechanisms through which GP-CP C + I working may be achieved. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, HMIC, Web of Science, IBSS, ASSIA, Sociological Abstracts, Sociology Database and the King’s Fund Library Database were searched for articles and grey literature published between January 2000 and April 2022. Results A total of 136 documents were included in the final synthesis. Our findings highlight the importance of mutually beneficial remuneration models to support effective integration of services; supportive organisational cultures and values; flexible and agile IT systems/technologies; adequate physical infrastructure and space design to support multidisciplinary teamworking; the importance of establishing patient’s trust in collaborative processes between GP-CP; and the need to acknowledge, support and utilise effective triadic relationships. Conclusions Our research generates new insights regarding how, why and in which contexts C + I working can be achieved between GPs and CPs. The findings of our review can be used to inform future policy, research and clinical practice guidelines for designing and delivering C + I care.
External validation of a prognostic model to improve prediction of psychosis: a retrospective cohort study in primary care
Background Early detection could reduce the duration of untreated psychosis. GPs are a vital part of the psychosis care pathway, but find it difficult to detect the early features. An accurate risk prediction tool, P Risk, was developed to detect these. Aim To externally validate P Risk. Design and setting This retrospective cohort study used a validation dataset of 1 647 934 UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) primary care records linked to secondary care records. Method The same predictors (age; sex; ethnicity; social deprivation; consultations for suicidal behaviour, depression/anxiety, and substance misuse; history of consultations for suicidal behaviour; smoking history; substance misuse; prescribed medications for depression/anxiety/post-traumatic stress disorder/obsessive compulsive disorder; and total number of consultations) were used as for the development of P Risk. Predictive risk, sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated for various risk thresholds. Discrimination (Harrell’s C-index) and calibration were calculated. Results were compared between the development (CPRD GOLD) and validation (CPRD Aurum) datasets. Results Psychosis risk increased with values of the P Risk prognostic index. Incidence was highest in younger age groups and, in the main, higher in males. Harrell’s C was 0.79 (95% confidence interval = 0.78 to 0.79) in the validation dataset and 0.77 in the development dataset. A risk threshold of 1.0% gave sensitivity of 65.9% and specificity of 86.6%. Conclusion Further testing is required, but P Risk has the potential to be used in primary care to detect future risk of psychosis.
Using microbiological data to improve the use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections: A protocol for an individual patient data meta-analysis
Background Resistance to antibiotics is rising and threatens future antibiotic effectiveness. ‘Antibiotic targeting’ ensures patients who may benefit from antibiotics receive them, while being safely withheld from those who may not. Point-of-care tests may assist with antibiotic targeting by allowing primary care clinicians to establish if symptomatic patients have a viral, bacterial, combined, or no infection. However, because organisms can be harmlessly carried, it is important to know if the presence of the virus/bacteria is related to the illness for which the patient is being assessed. One way to do this is to look for associations with more severe/prolonged symptoms and test results. Previous research to answer this question for acute respiratory tract infections has given conflicting results with studies has not having enough participants to provide statistical confidence. Aim To undertake a synthesis of IPD from both randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies of respiratory tract infections (RTI) in order to investigate the prognostic value of microbiological data in addition to, or instead of, clinical symptoms and signs. Methods A systematic search of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Medline and Ovid Embase will be carried out for studies of acute respiratory infection in primary care settings. The outcomes of interest are duration of disease, severity of disease, repeated consultation with new/worsening illness and complications requiring hospitalisation. Authors of eligible studies will be contacted to provide anonymised individual participant data. The data will be harmonised and aggregated. Multilevel regression analysis will be conducted to determine key outcome measures for different potential pathogens and whether these offer any additional information on prognosis beyond clinical symptoms and signs.
Recording of Alcohol Use Disorder in Electronic Health Records: Developing a Recommended Codelist for Research
Purpose: Electronic health records (EHR) are valuable resources for health research; however, their use is challenging. A validated alcohol use disorder (AUD) codelist for UK primary care is needed to improve population-based research in this patient group. We aimed to develop an AUD codelist for use in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum database, a UK EHR primary-care database. Methods: The CPRD code browser was searched using keywords related to alcohol use using a previously developed search strategy. The resulting codes were categorised as AUD if they were: a) diagnostic of AUD, b) indicated alcohol withdrawal, or c) indicated chronic alcohol-related harm (physical or mental). Codes related to alcohol use but not used to define AUD were also classified into relevant categories (alcohol status, acute harm, and alcohol screening). All codes were categorised independently by at least two reviewers (one person reviewed all codes and five reviewers (all practising GPs) each reviewed a subset of codes (100– 200 codes each). Disagreements in categorisation were discussed by at least three coders and a consensus was reached. The reliability of categorisation was assessed using kappa statistics. Results: In total, 556 potential codes related to alcohol use were identified. The Kappa for reliability between coders was moderate for both AUD (0.72) and across all categories (0.62), with substantial variability between coders (AUD: 0.33– 0.97; all categories 0.36– 0.74). In the final codelist, 138 codes were included as indicating AUD: 38 codes identified which indicated diagnosis of AUD, 14 indicating withdrawal plus 85 codes indicating chronic alcohol-related harm (41 physical health and 44 mental health). Conclusion: Many codes are used in primary care to record alcohol use and associated harms, and there is substantial variability in how clinicians categorise them. While future work formally validating the codelist against gold standard clinical reviews and qualitative work with General Practitioners is needed for a deeper understanding of coding processes, we have documented here the process used for the development of an AUD codelist within primary care which can be used as a reference for future research.
Patient safety in remote primary care encounters: multimethod qualitative study combining Safety I and Safety II analysis
Abstract Background Triage and clinical consultations increasingly occur remotely. We aimed to learn why safety incidents occur in remote encounters and how to prevent them. Setting and sample UK primary care. 95 safety incidents (complaints, settled indemnity claims and reports) involving remote interactions. Separately, 12 general practices followed 2021–2023. Methods Multimethod qualitative study. We explored causes of real safety incidents retrospectively (‘Safety I’ analysis). In a prospective longitudinal study, we used interviews and ethnographic observation to produce individual, organisational and system-level explanations for why safety and near-miss incidents (rarely) occurred and why they did not occur more often (‘Safety II’ analysis). Data were analysed thematically. An interpretive synthesis of why safety incidents occur, and why they do not occur more often, was refined following member checking with safety experts and lived experience experts. Results Safety incidents were characterised by inappropriate modality, poor rapport building, inadequate information gathering, limited clinical assessment, inappropriate pathway (eg, wrong algorithm) and inadequate attention to social circumstances. These resulted in missed, inaccurate or delayed diagnoses, underestimation of severity or urgency, delayed referral, incorrect or delayed treatment, poor safety netting and inadequate follow-up. Patients with complex pre-existing conditions, cardiac or abdominal emergencies, vague or generalised symptoms, safeguarding issues, failure to respond to previous treatment or difficulty communicating seemed especially vulnerable. General practices were facing resource constraints, understaffing and high demand. Triage and care pathways were complex, hard to navigate and involved multiple staff. In this context, patient safety often depended on individual staff taking initiative, speaking up or personalising solutions. Conclusion While safety incidents are extremely rare in remote primary care, deaths and serious harms have resulted. We offer suggestions for patient, staff and system-level mitigations.
What over the counter (OTC) products have been evaluated for anxiety in adults aged 18–60? A scoping review.
Background Anxiety symptoms and disorders are common in the UK. Whilst waiting for, or alongside, treatments such as anxiolytics or psychological therapies, people often self-manage anxiety symptoms with products purchased over-the-counter (OTC), such as herbal medicines or dietary supplements. However, the evidence for these products is often presented across different reviews and is not easy for patients or healthcare professionals to compare and understand. Aims To determine the nature and size of the evidence base available for these products. Methods A scoping review. CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and AMED (inception—Dec 2022) were searched for RCTs assessing OTC products in people aged 18–60 with symptoms or a diagnosis of anxiety. Results In total 69 papers assessing a range of products were found, which mostly focussed on kava, lavender, saffron, probiotics, Galphimia glauca and valerian. Studies used varying dosages. Compared to herbal medicine studies, there were much fewer dietary supplement studies and homeopathic remedy studies, despite some of use of these by the general public. Conclusion Future research needs to investigate commonly used but less evaluated products (e.g. chamomile, St John’s Wort) and to evaluate products against or alongside conventional treatments to better reflect patient decision making.
More evidence needed before upper respiratory tract point-of-care microbiological testing for respiratory infections is used in primary care
Antimicrobial resistance remains a global high-priority public health challenge. With around 80% of all health service antibiotics prescribed in primary care and strong evidence that most patients will not benefit, there is an urgent need to identify the minority of patients who could benefit. Understanding the microbiological cause seems an obvious approach, but samples are rarely sent to laboratories from primary care because (a) results are too slow to inform management, (b) costs, and (c) the inappropriateness of taking invasive samples from sterile body sites. Thus, alternative methods are necessary if microbiology is to be used to inform the use of antibacterials and antivirals in primary care.
Transparent reporting of multivariable prediction models for individual prognosis or diagnosis: checklist for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (TRIPOD-SRMA)
Most clinical specialties have a plethora of studies that develop or validate one or more prediction models, for example, to inform diagnosis or prognosis. Having many prediction model studies in a particular clinical field motivates the need for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, to evaluate and summarise the overall evidence available from prediction model studies, in particular about the predictive performance of existing models. Such reviews are fast emerging, and should be reported completely, transparently, and accurately. To help ensure this type of reporting, this article describes a new reporting guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of prediction model research.
Uptake of Tailored Text Message Smoking Cessation Support in Pregnancy When Advertised on the Internet (MiQuit): Observational Study
Background: Smoking in pregnancy is a major public health concern. Pregnant smokers are particularly difficult to reach, with low uptake of support options and few effective interventions. Text message–based self-help is a promising, low-cost intervention for this population, but its real-world uptake is largely unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the uptake and cost-effectiveness of a tailored, theory-guided, text message intervention for pregnant smokers (“MiQuit”) when advertised on the internet. Methods: Links to a website providing MiQuit initiation information (texting a short code) were advertised on a cost-per-click basis on 2 websites (Google Search and Facebook; £1000 budget each) and free of charge within smoking-in-pregnancy webpages on 2 noncommercial websites (National Childbirth Trust and NHS Choices). Daily budgets were capped to allow the Google and Facebook adverts to run for 1 and 3 months, respectively. We recorded the number of times adverts were shown and clicked on, the number of MiQuit initiations, the characteristics of those initiating MiQuit, and whether support was discontinued prematurely. For the commercial adverts, we calculated the cost per initiation and, using quit rates obtained from an earlier clinical trial, estimated the cost per additional quitter. Results: With equal capped budgets, there were 812 and 1889 advert clicks to the MiQuit website from Google (search-based) and Facebook (banner) adverts, respectively. MiQuit was initiated by 5.2% (42/812) of those clicking via Google (95% CI 3.9%-6.9%) and 2.22% (42/1889) of those clicking via Facebook (95% CI 1.65%-2.99%). Adverts on noncommercial webpages generated 53 clicks over 6 months, with 9 initiations (9/53, 17%; 95% CI 9%-30%). For the commercial websites combined, mean cost per initiation was £24.73; estimated cost per additional quitter, including text delivery costs, was £735.86 (95% CI £227.66-£5223.93). Those initiating MiQuit via Google were typically very early in pregnancy (median gestation 5 weeks, interquartile range 10 weeks); those initiating via Facebook were distributed more evenly across pregnancy (median gestation 16 weeks, interquartile range 14 weeks). Conclusions: Commercial online adverts are a feasible, likely cost-effective method for engaging pregnant smokers in digital cessation support and may generate uptake at a faster rate than noncommercial websites. As a strategy for implementing MiQuit, online advertising has large reach potential and can offer support to a hard-to-reach population of smokers.
A meta-ethnography of the factors that shape link workers’ experiences of social prescribing
Background Social prescribing is gaining traction internationally. It is an approach which seeks to address non-medical and health-related social needs through taking a holistic person-centred and community-based approach. This involves connecting people with and supporting them to access groups and organisations within their local communities. It is hoped that social prescribing might improve health inequities and reduce reliance on healthcare services. In the UK, social prescribing link workers have become core parts of primary care teams. Despite growing literature on the implementation of social prescribing, to date there has been no synthesis that develops a theoretical understanding of the factors that shape link workers’ experiences of their role. Methods We undertook a meta-ethnographic evidence synthesis of qualitative literature to develop a novel conceptual framework that explains how link workers experience their roles. We identified studies using a systematic search of key databases, Google alerts, and through scanning reference lists of included studies. We followed the eMERGe guidance when conducting and reporting this meta-ethnography. Results Our synthesis included 21 studies and developed a “line of argument” or overarching conceptual framework which highlighted inherent and interacting tensions present at each of the levels that social prescribing operates. These tensions may arise from a mismatch between the policy logic of social prescribing and the material and structural reality, shaped by social, political, and economic forces, into which it is being implemented. Conclusions The tensions highlighted in our review shape link workers’ experiences of their role. They may call into question the sustainability of social prescribing and the link worker role as currently implemented, as well as their ability to deliver desired outcomes such as reducing health inequities or healthcare service utilisation. Greater consideration should be given to how the link worker role is defined, deployed, and trained. Furthermore, thought should be given to ensuring that the infrastructure into which social prescribing is being implemented is sufficient to meet needs. Should social prescribing seek to improve outcomes for those experiencing social and economic disadvantage, it may be necessary for social prescribing models to allow for more intensive and longer-term modes of support.
AI-guided deep vein thrombosis diagnosis in primary care: protocol for cohort with qualitative assessment
Abstract Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a formation of blood clots within deep veins, mostly of the proximal lower limb, has an annual incidence of 1–2 per 1,000. Patients who are affected by multiple chronic health conditions and who experience limited mobility are at high risk of developing DVT. Traditional DVT diagnosis involves probabilistic assessment in primary care, followed by specialised ultrasound scans (USS), mainly conducted in hospitals. The emergence of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), coupled with artificial intelligence (AI)-applications has the potential to expand primary care diagnostic capabilities. Aim To assess the accuracy and acceptability of AI-guided POCUS for DVT diagnosis when performed by non-specialists in primary care. Design & setting Diagnostic cross-sectional study coupled with a qualitative evaluation conducted at primary care DVT clinics. Method First, a diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) study will investigate the accuracy of AI-guided POCUS in 500 individuals with suspected DVT, performed by healthcare assistants (HCAs). The reference standard is the standard of care USS conducted by sonographers. Second, after receiving both scans, participants will be invited to complete a patient satisfaction survey (PSS). Finally, semi-structured interviews with 20 participants and 5 HCAs will explore the acceptability of AI-guided POCUS DVT diagnosis. Conclusion This study will rigorously evaluate the accuracy and acceptability of AI-guided POCUS DVT diagnosis conducted by non-specialists in primary care.
The first 100 days after childbirth: cross-sectional study of maternal clinical events and health needs from primary care
Background The first 100 days after childbirth are important for women recovering from pregnancy and birth. Aim To describe the most common clinical events or health needs documented in women’s primary care records in the first 100 days after childbirth. Design and setting Cross-sectional study using electronic health records from UK primary care data. Method Primary care records were examined from childbirth up to 100 days after childbirth for women aged 16–49 years who had given birth to a single live infant between 2006 and 2016 using IQVIA Medical Research Data. The most common clinical events or health needs based on documented symptoms, diagnoses, and medications were identified. How these varied by patient characteristic was explored. Results In total, 925 712 contacts were identified during the 100 days following 309 573 births. Women were most likely to use primary care to have a postnatal visit or check (60.6%, n = 187 455), for monitoring (such as a blood pressure reading) (49.9%, n = 154 328), and to access contraception (49.7%, n = 153 876). Younger women were more likely to have contacts for preventive care compared with older women, but were less likely to have contacts for ongoing mental and physical symptoms or conditions and pre-existing conditions. The highest peak in contacts occurred 42 days after birth, and related to a postnatal check or visit, monitoring a patient, and recording lifestyle factors (such as smoking status). Conclusion Primary care services should seek to match the needs of new mothers, taking account of a high volume of contacts, for a broad range of planned and responsive care following childbirth.
The Impact of Social Media Use Interventions on Mental Well-Being: Systematic Review
Background: There is some evidence that more social media use is related to poorer mental well-being and that social media use can become problematic when it starts to interfere with a person’s daily life and mental well-being. To address this issue and improve users’ mental well-being, social media use interventions (eg, abstinence from social media) have been developed and evaluated. However, there is limited understanding of the effectiveness of these interventions in improving mental well-being. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize the literature on the effectiveness of social media use interventions in improving mental well-being in adults. Methods: A systematic search (January 1, 2004, to July 31, 2022) was completed across 3 databases in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Experimental studies evaluating the impact of social media use interventions on mental well-being in adults were included. Outcomes related to mental well-being, such as depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, were included. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was completed to summarize the study characteristics and effectiveness by outcome and intervention type. The Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool was used to measure the quality of the studies. Results: Of the 2785 studies identified through the systematic search, 23 (0.83%) were included in the analysis. Many of the included studies (9/23, 39%) found improvements in mental well-being, some (7/23, 30%) found mixed effects, and others (7/23, 30%) found no effect on mental well-being. Therapy-based interventions that used techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy were more effective than limiting use of social media or full abstinence from social media, with 83% (5/6) of these studies showing improvements in mental well-being compared with 20% (1/5) and 25% (3/12), respectively. Depression was the most frequently investigated and improved outcome with 70% (7/10) of the studies showing a significant improvement in depression after the intervention, whereas other outcomes showed more varied results. Quality was poor, with 96% (22/23) of the studies receiving a weak global score, mostly for issues related to selection bias because most of the studies (16/23, 70%) used a convenience sampling of university students. Conclusions: This review provides some evidence that social media use interventions are effective in improving mental well-being, especially for depression and when using therapy-based interventions. Further experimental and longitudinal research is needed with representative samples to investigate who may benefit most from social media use interventions. This will help to develop guidance and recommendations for policy makers and clinicians on how best to manage problematic social media use.
A proposal to embed patient and public involvement within qualitative data collection and analysis phases of a primary care based implementation study
Background Patient and public involvement (PPI) is increasingly seen as essential to health service research. There are strong moral and ethical arguments for good quality PPI. Despite the development of guidance aimed at addressing the inconsistent reporting of PPI activities within research, little progress has been made in documenting the steps taken to undertake PPI and how it influences the direction of a study. Without this information, there are minimal opportunities to share learnings across projects and strengthen future PPI practices. The aim of this paper is to present details on the processes and activities planned to integrate PPI into the qualitative research component of a mixed-methods, multi-site study evaluating the implementation of a smart template to promote personalised primary care for patients with multiple long-term conditions. Methods This proposal describes the processes and activities planned to integrate PPI into the development and piloting of qualitative data collection tools (topic guides for both practice staff and patients) and a tailored data analysis package developed for PPI members incorporating broad concepts and specific methods of qualitative data analysis. Discussion Outputs relating to PPI activity may include clear, concise and suitably worded topic guides for qualitative interviews. Piloting of the topic guides via mock interviews will further develop researchers’ skills including sensitisation to the experiences of participants being interviewed. Working with PPI members when analysing the qualitative data aims to provide reciprocal learning opportunities and may contribute to improving the overall rigour of the data analysis. The intent of publishing proposed PPI activities within this project is to inform the future delivery of high quality PPI.