The aim of our study was to develop a survey for family physicians to better understand family physicians' beliefs, level of knowledge and sense of accountability regarding their support of informal (ie, unpaid) caregivers of older adults.

Seniors with dementia can be supported to ‘age in place’. However, this requires assistance from family and friends, who are often seniors themselves and may have health issues of their own. Although family physicians are well positioned to assist older adult caregivers, there is a paucity of data regarding this role.

After a literature review, we created a questionnaire to examine these issues. It was reviewed by experts and, after revision, was appraised by health planners/decision makers and pre-tested with family physicians. A final questionnaire was created using this feedback.

The next important step would be to administer the questionnaire to Canadian family physicians using appropriate survey methodology.

To explore practice teachers understanding of the process of professional education experienced by community nursing students.

This paper analyses the concepts of situated learning and communities of practice as an underpinning theoretical framework to understand the professional education of community nurses in practice settings. The paper also highlights the strengths and limitations of the community of practice theory as applied to professional education.

A qualitative grounded theory study was undertaken involving interviews with 30 community nurse practice teachers.

Emerging from the data were the central components of Lave and Wenger's theory of communities of practice. The practice teachers appeared to use these components including legitimate peripheral participation, sponsorship and journeying to good effect in facilitating the development of community nurse students. The paper extends Lave and Wenger's community of practice phenomenon and identifies how communities are (re)produced over time. The development of professional practitioners over a lengthy period of time within supportive communities of practice where one person with expertise in professional education sponsors the student and takes responsibility for their journey was perceived by practice teachers to be an important and appropriate approach. An approach that was found by practice teachers to transform the student's professional identity, enabling them to undertake a complex multifaceted role using a holistic, problem solving and participative style with clients and communities. It is also an approach that was hypothesised to allow the profession itself to (re)produce in a way that supports continuity but also promotes changes in practice.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, may help meet a need for accessible and cost-effective treatments for chronic pain. ACT has a growing evidence base, but has not yet been tested within general practice settings.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial of ACT in general practice.

A total of 481 potential participants with chronic pain identified from general practice in southwest England were invited into a treatment trial. Subsequently, 102 (21.2%) of those invited were screened, and 73 (71.6%) of those screened were allocated to ACT plus usual care or usual care alone. The ACT treatment included four, four-hour group-based sessions over two weeks.

Twenty-six (70.3%) of the patients allocated to ACT attended three or four sessions. Those who received ACT rated it as credible in a short survey, with Mdn rating 7.0 on a 0–10 scale, across five credibility items. During a post-treatment interview considering 12 aspects of the study from invitation to treatment termination, a median of 79.2% of participants rated the aspects ‘acceptable.’ Qualitative data from the interviews showed a mixed picture of patient experiences, revealing possible tensions between patients’ wishes to avoid discomfort and confusion, and treatment methods that explicitly ask patients to, in essence, ‘live with’ some discomfort and confusion.

These data suggest that further study of ACT, as a treatment for chronic pain, is feasible in general practice and it may be possible to further optimize the treatment experience.

In a primary health-care centre (PHCC) situated in a segregated area with low socio-economic status, ‘primary care triage’ has increased efficiency and accessibility. In the primary-care triage, the nurse sorts the patient to the appropriate PHCC profession according to described symptoms.

The aim of this study was to examine the patients’ experience of being triaged directly to a psychologist for assessment.

Interviews were conducted with 20 patients and then analysed using qualitative content analysis.

The results show that patients contacting the PHCC for mental health issues often are active agents with their own intent to see a psychologist, not a doctor, as a first-hand choice when contacting the PHCC. Seeking help for mental health issues is described as a sensitive issue that demands building up strength before contacting. The quick access to the preferred health-care professional is appreciated. The nurse was perceived as a caring facilitator rather than a decision maker. It is the patient's wish rather than the symptoms that directs the sorting. The patients’ expectations when meeting the psychologist were wide and diverse. The structured assessment sometimes collided and sometimes united with these expectations, yielding different outcome satisfaction. The results could be seen in line with the present goal to increase patients’ choice in the health-care system. The improved accessibility to the psychologist seems to meet community expectations. The results also indicate a need for providing more prior information about the assessment and potential outcomes.

To identify clinical cues indicative of depression in medical records of cases in primary care with undetected depression.

Depressive disorders are common; the lifetime risk for men and women is 27% and 45%, respectively. Despite effective treatment methods such as antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy, depression often remains undiscovered in primary care, with great implications both on the individual and societal level.

Clinical cues indicating depression were sought in medical records the year before an opportunistic screening for depression in primary care. In a previous study of 221 patients in the waiting room of a primary care centre during 10 randomly selected days, 45 (20%) showed signs of depression (MADRS-S ⩾ 12) and 60% of these were verified as having depressive disorders (Prime-MD). These 45 patients constitute the cases in the present study. Age- and gender-matched controls were selected among those who scored below the chosen cut-off level.

Seventeen (38%) of the 45 cases compared with eight (18%) of the 45 controls had one or more cues [odds ratio (OR) 2.81; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–7.43]. Sleep disturbance showed the greatest difference between cases and controls (OR 4.53; 95% CI: 1.17–17.55). A significant relationship was found between severity of depression, frequency of cues and lower functional level. Cues were twice as common in patients with undetected depression and their functional level was lower. A two-stage procedure, screening and a structured diagnostic interview, is recommended when sleep disturbances and lowered function are present.

The UK Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) is re-examining the sustainability of careers in academic primary care (APC). The motivation for this is a number of significant changes within the context of APC since the last such investigation (SAPC, 2003). It is now timely to review the current situation.

As a first phase, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 SAPC members from different disciplines and career stages.

Findings show that lack of clarity about APC career pathways persist, but important factors linked with sustainability were identified at individual and organisational levels. These include being proactive, developing resilience, mentorship and a positive organisational culture with a strong shared vision about why APC is important.

Sustainability is undermined by funding difficulties, lack of integration of members of different APC disciplines, leading to disparities in career progression and lack of clarity about what APC is. Phase 2 will comprise a UK-wide survey.

Lymphoedema secondary to cancer is a relatively neglected and under-researched condition. Few studies report people's experiences of care and treatment provision when living with the condition. Current practice focuses on the physical treatment yet psychosocial needs often remain unmet. A previous study examining the patient perspective identified the theme of being ‘abandoned by medicine’. Perceived lack of support may result in a delayed adaptation and acceptance of this long-term condition and can significantly impact on psychological well-being. We explore this emerging theme alongside others in order to provide a guide to action for improvements for patient benefit.

The central aim was to explore women's views of their care and treatment following a diagnosis with lymphoedema secondary to cancer. This forms part of a larger study aimed at assessing appropriate screening tools to measure psychosocial distress.

A mixed-methods approach was used for the main study. Here we report the qualitative component, derived from in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in the homes of the participants (n = 14) and focus group discussions (n = 15). In addition, qualitative comments from questionnaire data from a large-scale postal survey are included (n = 104).

Participants identified considerable deficiencies in health care workers’ knowledge and awareness of lymphoedema, which subsequently impacted on the patients’ needs for information, support and understanding. Access to appropriate treatment was patchy and problems were identified with the process of obtaining compression garments, massage and other sources of help. Although lymphoedema is a long-term disfiguring condition, and much is known about how this impacts on patients’ emotional well-being, little attention was paid by health professionals to potential psychosocial consequences. In essence women had to become experts of their own condition and cope as best as they could. We provide recommendations to improve service delivery and address these unmet needs.

Sickness absence is a complex phenomenon affected by aspects other than disease. One important factor that can affect sick leave is the individual’s experience of healthcare encounters. It is therefore essential to consider the quality of the encounter with health professionals and its impact on the patient’s rehabilitation and return to work.

The aim was to explore how sick-listed patients in Sweden perceive their contact with healthcare professionals in primary healthcare and to analyse what they view as crucial components for returning to work.

A qualitative approach was used. Data were collected by semi-structured telephonic interviews with patients who were or had been on sick leave. The transcribed interview text was analysed according to qualitative content analysis.

The analysis revealed two themes that highlight important areas for persons on sick leave in their healthcare encounters. The theme ‘Trust in the relationship’ contains categories describing the patients’ feelings of participation, and of being believed, confirmed, and listened to, and also dedication on the part of healthcare providers. Healthcare encounters that were characterised by professionalism, knowledge, continuity, and a holistic approach seemed to create trust. The theme ‘Structure and balance’ contains the participants’ views on important factors that could support the return-to-work process. All participants stated the importance of follow-up and a plan for rehabilitation. Sick leave itself can make a person passive, and participants in this study asked for support to balance activity, exercise, and work demands, which could facilitate their return to work.

Healthcare professionals can facilitate sick-listed persons’ rehabilitation back to work by providing a clear structure in the process and support in occupational balance. The healthcare encounters must build on a mutual trust.