Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23679821›Full record

ArticleBMC family practice2013

A program of nurse algorithm-guided care for adult patients with acute minor illnesses in primary care.

Núria Fabrellas, Carmen Sánchez, Eulàlia Juvé, Eva Aurin, Dolors Monserrat, Esther Casanovas, Magali Urrea

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC family practice, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Núria FabrellasSchool of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Campus de Ciències de la Salut Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n Pavello de Govern, 3a planta, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalunya, 08907, Spain. nfabrellas@ub.edu.
Carmen Sánchez
Eulàlia Juvé
Eva Aurin
Dolors Monserrat
Esther Casanovas
Magali Urrea

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAttention to patients with acute minor-illnesses requesting same-day consultation represents a major burden in primary care. The workload is assumed by general practitioners in many countries. A number of reports suggest that care to these patients may be provided, at in least in part, by nurses. However, there is scarce information with respect to the applicability of a program of nurse management for adult patients with acute minor-illnesses in large areas. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a program of nurse algorithm-guided care for adult patients with acute minor illnesses requesting same-day consultation in primary care in a largely populated area.

methodsA cross-sectional study of all adult patients seeking same day consultation for 16 common acute minor illnesses in a large geographical area with 284 primary care practices. Patients were included in a program of nurse case management using management algorithms. The main outcome measure was case resolution, defined as completion of the algorithm by the nurse without need of referral of the patient to the general practitioner. The secondary outcome measure was return to consultation, defined as requirement of new consultation for the same reason as the first one, in primary care within a 7-day period.

resultsDuring a two year period (April 2009-April 2011), a total of 1,209,669 consultations were performed in the program. Case resolution was achieved by nurses in 62.5% of consultations. The remaining cases were referred to a general practitioner. Resolution rates ranged from 94.2% in patients with burns to 42% in patients with upper respiratory symptoms. None of the 16 minor illnesses had a resolution rate below 40%. Return to consultation during a 7-day period was low, only 4.6%.

conclusionsA program of algorithms-guided care is effective for nurse case management of patients requesting same day consultation for minor illnesses in primary care.

Indexed as

AlgorithmsNursing AssessmentAcute DiseaseAdolescentAdultAppointments and SchedulesCase ManagementClinical CompetenceCross-Sectional StudiesElectronic Health RecordsHumansMiddle AgedNurse PractitionersPatient Acceptance of Health CarePractice Patterns, Nurses'Primary Health Care

Identifiers

PMID23679821
PMCPMC3662611

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.