Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38042808›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2023

Needs and challenges among general practitioners in the management of actinic keratosis: a qualitative study.

Charlotte Verhoeven, Zilke Claessens, Satish F K Lubeek, Henk J Schers

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 32% of its field
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

0 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Charlotte VerhoevenFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Zilke ClaessensClinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Satish F K LubeekDepartment of Dermatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Henk J SchersDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, The Netherlands. henk.schers@radboudumc.nl.ORCID 0000-0002-9362-9451
KU Leuven · BERadboud University Nijmegen · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBecause of the increasing incidence of actinic keratosis (AK), optimal use of limited healthcare resources is essential. Although most patients can be managed in primary care, dermatology referrals are common. More profound knowledge of general practitioners' (GPs) considerations might assist in enhancing AK care.

methodsThe aim of the current study was to gain insight into AK management in primary care by exploring the needs and challenges among GPs in the Netherlands. A qualitative study was conducted based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 conveniently sampled Dutch GPs, focusing on the needs and challenges in AK management. A literature-informed, predefined topic list guided the interviews, which were recorded, transcribed ad verbatim, and thematically analysed using the Framework Method.

resultsAll GPs reported AK to be a clinical diagnosis and most GPs indicated that most AK patients could be managed in primary care. Cryotherapy was preferred and experience with 5-FU therapy was limited. Most GPs applied cryotherapy without discussing other treatment options with patients. Reasons for dermatology referrals included an incomplete treatment response, extensive lesions, difficult-to-treat areas, and serious doubts about the diagnosis. GPs reported a need for more education, especially on 5-FU therapy. Their main challenges were dealing with diagnostic uncertainty, treating extensive lesions, managing treatment-related skin reactions, and reconciling patient misconceptions.

conclusionsThis study shows various AK management approaches among Dutch GPs with suboptimal guideline compliance due to diverse underlying barriers. It suggests that more education might contribute to a more standardised and uniform AK management and supports further transition of AK care from hospital to primary care.

Indexed as

General PractitionersKeratosis, ActinicSkin NeoplasmsFluorouracilHumansNetherlandsFluorouracilActinic keratosisDisease managementHealthcare utilizationPrimary health careQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID38042808
PMCPMC10693056
OpenAlexW4389265504

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.