BackgroundLong COVID is a multifaceted condition, and it has impacted a considerable proportion of those with acute-COVID-19. Affected patients often have complex care needs requiring holistic and multidisciplinary care, the kind routinely provided in general practice. However, there is limited evidence regarding GP interventions.AimThis study aimed to address this issue by conducting a scoping review of literature on GP management of Long COVID.Design & settingArksey and O’Malley’s six-stage scoping review framework with recommendations by Levac et al. was used.MethodPubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Google searches were conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed/grey literature, and study selection process was conducted according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Braun and Clarke’s ‘Thematic Analysis’ approach was used to interpret data.ResultsNineteen of 972 identified papers were selected for review. These included peer-reviewed articles and grey literature spanning a wide range of countries. Six themes were identified regarding GP management of Long COVID, these being: (i) GP uncertainty, (ii) Listening and empathy, (iii) Assessment and monitoring of symptoms, (iv) Coordinating access to appropriate services, (v) Facilitating provision of continual and integrated multi-disciplinary care and (vi) Need to facilitate psychological support.ConclusionThe findings show that GPs can and have played a key role in the management of Long COVID, and that patient care can be improved through better understanding of patient experiences, standardised approaches for symptom identification/treatment, and facilitation of access to multidisciplinary specialist services when needed. Future research evaluating focused GP interventions is needed.

Background: Autism is associated with reduced life expectancy, poor physical and mental health, and increased prevalence of epilepsy, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and stroke. Aim: To quantify self-reported barriers to healthcare and their consequences amongst autistic adults and compare with parents of autistic children and non-autistic controls Design and Setting: An online survey was developed from a qualitative study undertaken at Autscape, an autistic conference. Method: Thematic analysis of 75 responses was used to develop a 57-item online survey completed by 1,271 autistic adults, 406 parents of autistic children and 303 control subjects. Results: Difficulty visiting a GP was reported by 78.2% of autistic adults, 51.4% of parents and 34.9% of controls. The highest-rated barriers by autistic adults were deciding if symptoms warrant a GP visit (71.9%), difficulty using the telephone to book appointments (60.7%), not feeling understood (55.5%) and difficulty communicating with their doctor (53.0%). A higher rate of adverse health outcomes was reported by autistic adults; untreated physical and mental health conditions, not attending specialist referral or screening programmes, requiring more extensive treatment or surgery due to late presentations, and untreated potentially life threatening conditions. Autistic adults reported a need for online or text based appointment booking, facility to email in advance the reason for consultation, first or last clinic appointment and a quiet place to wait. Conclusion: Reduction of healthcare inequalities for autistic people requires that healthcare providers understand autistic culture and communication needs. Adjustments for autistic communication needs are as necessary as ramps are for wheelchair users.

Aim: Continuing professional development (CPD) will soon be mandatory for advanced paramedics (APs) registered with Ireland’s pre-hospital regulatory body. Effective and efficient CPD methodologies are needed. We determined what type of training methods might be used to reduce associated costs while maintaining effectiveness and benefit. Methods: In 2010, an ‘up-skill’ programme for APs was introduced in Ireland comprising: a) self-directed learning using a purpose-designed manual; b) workbooks based on the manual and clinical practice guidelines; c) small group practical sessions with discussion-based skill stations; and c) practical scenario-based assessment. Participants were invited to complete a web-based survey assessing a) short-term effectiveness, b) medium-term effectiveness, and c) user friendliness of the educational modalities. The preferred learning styles and respondents’ perceptions of outcome were determined. Results: Overall 49 % of participants responded. Of those eligible, 73 % believed that practical learning encouraged knowledge retention and skills in the immediate and medium-term, 82 % believed practical learning influenced patient care immediately, while 75 % stated that it influenced patient care six months later. All respondents agreed that practical learning was important, with 90 % stating that it was enjoyable. Overall, 80 % found the provided manual accessible, while >40 % believed that the manual alone did not provide all necessary information, 77 % had referenced it since completing the programme. Conclusion: APs enjoyed, and benefited from, the educational programme and the knowledge gained benefited patients in the short and medium-term. This study suggests that educators and training sponsors should consider the benefits of small group-based practical learning for APs.

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. Methods: Five electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and WHO ‘Global Research on COVID-19’) were searched from May – July 2021 for papers published in English following Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage scoping review process. Results: The initial search identified 148 articles and a total of 29 were included in the review. These studies adopted a range of methodologies, most commonly randomised control trials, qualitative interviews and surveys. Results from included studies were divided into themes: Interventions to improve identification of mental health disorders, Interventions to support GPs, Therapeutic interventions, Telemedicine Interventions and Barriers and Facilitators to Intervention Implementation. Outcome measures reported included the Seven-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the ‘The Patient Global Impression of Change Scale’. Conclusion: With increasing recognition of the mental health sequelae of COVID-19, there is a lack of large scale trials researching the acceptability or effectiveness of general practice interventions. Furthermore there is a lack of research regarding possible biological interventions (psychiatric medications) for mental health problems arising from the pandemic.

Background: Ongoing mental health problems following COVID-19 infection warrant greater examination. This study aimed to investigate psychiatric symptoms and problematic alcohol use among Long COVID patients. Methods: The study was conducted at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital’s post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic in Dublin, Ireland. A prospective cohort study design was used encompassing assessment of patients’ outcomes at 2-4 months following an initial clinic visit (Time 1), and 7–14-month follow-up (Time 2). Outcomes regarding participants’ demographics, acute COVID-19 healthcare use, mental health, and alcohol use were examined. Results: The baseline sample’s (n = 153) median age = 43.5yrs (females = 105 (68.6%)). Sixty-seven of 153 patients (43.8%) were admitted to hospital with COVID-19, 9/67 (13.4%) were admitted to ICU, and 17/67 (25.4%) were readmitted to hospital following an initial COVID-19 stay. Sixteen of 67 (23.9%) visited a GP within seven days of hospital discharge, and 26/67 (38.8%) did so within 30 days. Seventeen of 153 participants (11.1%) had a pre-existing affective disorder. The prevalence of clinical range depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores at Time 1 and Time 2 (n = 93) ranged from 12.9% (Time 1 anxiety) to 22.6% (Time 1 PTSD). No statistically significant differences were observed between Time 1 and Time 2 depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores. Problematic alcohol use was common at Time 1 (45.5%) and significantly more so at Time 2 (71.8%). Clinical range depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores were significantly more frequent among acute COVID-19 hospital admission and GP attendance (30 days) participants, as well as among participants with lengthy ICU stays, and those with a previous affective disorder diagnosis. Conclusions: Ongoing psychiatric symptoms and problematic alcohol use in Long COVID populations are a concern and these issues may be more common among individuals with severe acute COVID-19 infection and /or pre-existing mental illness.