A view often expressed about patient choice of health care providers is that it will increase competition between providers, which benefits the efficiency system. We address here a initiative, regarding selection hospital for specialty consultations, in Portuguese National Health Service (NHS) has two specific features. The first feature involves shared decision making patients and GPs, referra...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have reported a lack of collaboration and consensus between primary care physicians (PCPs) and psychiatrists. OBJECTIVE To compare the views of PCPs and psychiatrists on managing common mental health problems in primary care. METHODS Four focus group interviews were conducted to explore the in-depth opinions of PCPs and psychiatrists in Hong Kong. The acceptance to...

Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe has unprecedentedly risen over the last two and half decades although a decline has been noted recently. Many reasons have been advanced for the rising trend, including deliveries without skilled care, in places without appropriate or adequate facilities to handle complications. The recent decline has been attributed to health systems strengthening through a multi...

BACKGROUND The role of consent for research use of health information is contentious. Most discussion has focused on when project-specific consent may be waived but, recently, a broader range of consent options has been entertained, including broad opt-in for multiple studies with restrictions and notification with opt-out. We sought to elicit public values in this matter and to work toward an ...

BACKGROUND Joint consultations - such as teleconsultations - provide opportunities for continuing education of general practitioners (GPs). It has been reported this form of interactive case-based learning may lead to fewer GP referrals, yet these studies have relied on expert opinion and simple frequencies, without accounting for other factors known to influence referrals. We use a survey-base...

Risky lifestyle choices contribute to many contemporary health conditions. Primary care practitioners have frequent opportunities to help patients clarify issues and alter adverse behaviour patterns. This paper formulates a conceptual framework for counseling in the primary care setting, clarifying the different forms, key principles, and tasks for the counselor that best represent the requirem...