Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders in General Practice from 2014 to 2024: A literature review and discussion paper.

Background: Many consultations in primary care involve patients with mental health problems, and primary care is typically the place where many such patients initially seek help. While considerable research has examined the prevalence of mental health disorders in primary care, relatively few papers have examined this issue in recent years. This study aims to address this gap by reviewing contemporary literature from 2014 to 2024 on the prevalence of mental health disorders among general practice patients.

Practitioners' perspectives on implementation of acute virtual wards: A scoping review.

Virtual wards provide a promising alternative to traditional 'bedded care' by facilitating early discharges and delivering acute care at home. They focus specifically on patients needing acute care, which would traditionally necessitate an in-hospital stay. Understanding practitioners' beliefs and attitudes is crucial for successful implementation and operation of Virtual wards.

Preventing cardiovascular disease in at-risk patients: Results of a pilot behavioural health programme in general practice.

Background: The 'High-Risk Prevention Programme' (HRPP) involved a six-week health behaviour change programme based in general practices and aimed to address cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in disadvantaged Irish communities.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to establish the HRPP's likely effectiveness and acceptability to inform the development of a future definitive trial.

Methods: The HRPP was conducted at six general practices in disadvantaged areas in the Ireland East region.

Enhancing long COVID care in general practice: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Research suggests that general practice can play an important role in managing long COVID. However, studies investigating the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and patients are lacking and knowledge regarding optimal long COVID care in general practice is therefore limited.

Aim: To investigate GPs' and patients' perspectives on the topic of long COVID and its management in general practice.

Use of telemedicine in general practice in Europe since the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of patient and practitioner perspectives.

General practice is generally the first point of contact for patients presenting with COVID-19. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic general practitioners (GPs) across Europe have had to adopt to using telemedicine consultations in order to minimise the number of social contacts made. GPs had to balance two needs: preventing the spread of COVID-19, while providing their patients with regular care for other health issues.

A pilot study of the quality of care of atrial fibrillation in Irish general practice.

Background: Worldwide, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in adults and poses a significant burden to patients, physicians, and healthcare systems. We developed a quality of care score based on the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Heart Rhythm Association guidelines. This is a 14-point score that we have termed the MAGIC score(Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Integrated Care and General Practice).

Irish general practitioner (GP) perspectives on impact of direct access radiology on patient care in the community: results from a mixed-methods study.

Background: Since winter 2020/21, general practitioners (GPs) in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) have been granted access to diagnostic imaging studies on a new publicly funded pathway, expediting access to services previously obtained via hospital-based doctors.

Aims: Outline GP perspectives on imaging studies obtained via the new "GP Access to Community Diagnostics" initiative.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed.

Impact of enhancing GP access to diagnostic imaging: A scoping review.

Background: Direct access to diagnostic imaging in General Practice provides an avenue to reduce referrals to hospital-based specialities and emergency departments, and to ensure timely diagnosis. Enhanced GP access to radiology imaging could potentially reduce hospital referrals, hospital admissions, enhance patient care, and improve disease outcomes. This scoping review aims to demonstrate the value of direct access to diagnostic imaging in General Practice and how it has impacted on healthcare delivery and patient care.

Potential for Paramedic roles in Irish General Practice: A qualitative study of stakeholder's perspectives.

: Irish health policy emphasises the role of Primary Care and General Practice however, there is a growing shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) in Ireland. Paramedics have traditionally focused on emergency care in the community. More recently Paramedics have taken on roles in General Practice in international jurisdictions, but not yet in Ireland.

Integrating Hepatitis C Care for Opioid Substitution Treatment Patients Attending General Practice: Feasibility, Clinical, and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among people who inject drugs, yet well-described barriers mean that only a minority have accessed HCV treatment. Recent developments in HCV diagnosis and treatment facilitate innovative approaches to HCV care that improve access to, and uptake of, care by people who inject drugs.

Objective: This study aims to examine feasibility, acceptability, likely clinical effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of an integrated model of HCV care for patients receiving opioid substitution treatment in general practice.

Promoting nurse-led behaviour change interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease in disadvantaged communities: A scoping review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide and they disproportionally affect people living in disadvantaged communities. Nurse-led behaviour change interventions have shown great promise in preventing CVD. However, knowledge regarding the impact and nature of such interventions in disadvantaged communities is limited.

Enhancing GP care of mental health disorders post-COVID-19: a scoping review of interventions and outcomes.

Objectives: Considerable literature has examined the COVID-19 pandemic's negative mental health sequelae. It is recognised that most people experiencing mental health problems present to primary care and the development of interventions to support GPs in the care of patients with mental health problems is a priority. This review examines interventions to enhance GP care of mental health disorders, with a view to reviewing how mental health needs might be addressed in the post-COVID-19 era.

Integrating Care for Diabetes and Hypertension with HIV Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Although HIV continues to have a high prevalence among adults in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes and hypertension is increasing rapidly. There is an urgent need to expand the capacity of healthcare systems in SSA to provide NCD services and scale up existing chronic care management pathways. A scoping review mapped extant policy and evidence based literature on the feasibility of integrating NCD care with HIV in the region.

Integrating diabetes, hypertension and HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa: a Delphi consensus study on international best practice.

Background: Although HIV continues to have a high prevalence among adults in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes and hypertension is increasing rapidly. There is an urgent need to expand the capacity of healthcare systems in SSA to provide NCD services and scale up existing chronic care management pathways. The aim of this study was to identify key components, outcomes, and best practice in integrated service provision for the prevention, identification and treatment of HIV, hypertension and diabetes.

Is it feasible to learn research skills in addition to audit skills through clinical audit? A mixed methods study in general practice.

Background: Involving medical students in research in their undergraduate careers may increase the likelihood that they will be research active after graduation. To date, there has been a paucity of published research of students doing research in general practice.

Aim: The study aims to evaluate the impact of general practice clinical audits on early-stage graduate entry students' audit and research self-efficacy and explore feasibility issues from the student and GP perspective.

COVID-19's impact on primary care and related mitigation strategies: A scoping review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on primary care throughout Europe and globally.

Objectives: This review aims to ascertain how the pandemic has impacted primary care service provision/patients and to examine strategies to mitigate these impacts.

Methods: The scoping review framework comprised a six-stage process developed by Arksey and O'Malley.

Interventions to Optimise Mental Health Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review.

Adverse mental health has been a major consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review examines interventions to enhance mental health outcomes and well-being of populations during COVID-19. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL) were searched following Arskey and O'Malley's six-staged scoping review process.

Curriculum initiatives to enhance research skills acquisition by medical students: a scoping review.

Background: Although it is accepted that providing medical students with opportunities to engage in research activity is beneficial, little data has been collated on how medical degree curricula may address this issue. This review aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting a scoping review examining curriculum initiatives that seek to enhance research experience for medical students.

Methods: This review looks to specifically look at 'doing research' as defined by the MEDINE 2 consensus rather than 'using research' for the bachelor component of the Bologna Cycle.

General practice attendances among patients attending a post-COVID-19 clinic: a pilot study.

Background: About 10-35% of people with COVID-19 need medical care within 3 weeks of infection. However, the prevalence of ongoing care needs among those experiencing severe COVID-19 illness is unclear.

Aim: This pilot study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining GP attendance trends among patients attending a post-COVID-19 hospital follow-up clinic, 3-6 months after an initial clinic visit.

Integrating Primary and Secondary Care to Enhance Chronic Disease Management: A Scoping Review.

Background: In Ireland, as in many healthcare systems, health policy has committed to delivering an integrated model of care to address the increasing burden of chronic disease. Integrated care is an approach to healthcare systems delivery that aims to minimise fragmentation of patient services and improve care continuity. To this end, how best to integrate primary and secondary care is a challenge.

HEPCARE EUROPE- A case study of a service innovation project aiming at improving the elimination of HCV in vulnerable populations in four European cities.

Objectives: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a significant cause of chronic liver disease. Among at-risk populations, access to diagnosis and treatment is challenging. We describe an integrated model of care, Hepcare Europe, developed to address this challenge.

What factors influence medical students to enter a career in general practice? A scoping review.

Background: Internationally, healthcare systems are providing more community-based care. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for GPs and other healthcare professionals to work in primary care and this has implications for undergraduate medical education.

Aims: In this scoping review, we aim to examine 'What factors positively influence medical students to pursue a career in general practice?'

Methods: The five-stage framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005) was utilized to review the extant literature.

The role of key workers in improving physical health in first episode psychosis: A scoping review.

Aim: Studies have demonstrated that a majority of the decline in health status and functioning emerges during the first few years following the onset of psychosis. This knowledge led to the development of specialized early intervention services (EIS) targeting patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP). The central component of EIS is often assertive case management delivered by a multidisciplinary team, where an appointed key worker is responsible for coordinating treatment and delivering various psychosocial interventions to service users.