Peer-Reviewed Publication

Annals of Family Medicine is a peer-reviewed, indexed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care disciplines.

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) require three- to eight-times higher levels of acute care than the general population for comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It is unclear how regular access to primary care influences subsequent acute care use. This study found that hospital use increased among patients who experienced poorer continuity of care. Poor continuity also resulted in sub-optimal prescribing of a recommended statin.

A team of investigators led by Juan P. Herrera-Escobar, MD, MPH, of the Brigham’s Center for Surgery and Public Health, found that living in an area with higher social vulnerability is strongly associated with worse mental and physical health outcomes after a traumatic injury.

The Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial is a research methodology that has been growing in popularity, particularly for pragmatic implementation and dissemination trials. SW-CRTs can have advantages over parallel cluster randomized trials with regards to statistical power.

New research published in the Annals of Family Medicine examined whether an enhanced 12-week post-discharge telehealth program would lead to reduced hospital readmission among patients who were hospitalized for a medical illness and tested positive for moderate to severe depressive symptoms while being cared for inpatient. Further work is needed to identify and address barriers to the implementation of the intervention to realize the full potential of the enhanced discharge program.

Researchers in Ontario, Canada, conducted a study to assess the impact of utilizing an electronic consultation (eConsult) service to provide timely access to COVID-19 specialist advice for primary care practitioners. Researchers assert that their study demonstrates the significant potential of eConsults during a pandemic as the protocol was quickly implemented across Ontario and resulted in rapid and improved access to specialist care.

A new study in the Annals of Family Medicine examines usage data from a provincial electronic consultation (eConsult) service in Ontario, Canada, which facilitates rapid and secure communications between primary care physicians and subspecialists. Findings suggest that eConsult is highly generalizable and can be scaled up without sacrificing effectiveness. It may also reduce unnecessary specialty referrals, saving the patient and health system time and money.