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Published on: October 3, 2019
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'I'm fishing really'--inflammatory marker testing in primary care: a qualitative study
Jessica Watson1, Isabel de Salis1, Willie Hamilton2
1Professor in primary health care, Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol.
Summary
Primary care clinicians struggle with using inflammatory markers for undifferentiated symptoms. Uncertainty exists regarding appropriate testing and interpreting mildly abnormal results, potentially leading to further investigations.
Area of Science:
- Primary Care Medicine
- Clinical Pathology
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- Inflammatory markers aid disease diagnosis and monitoring.
- Current research primarily focuses on secondary care settings.
- Limited understanding exists regarding primary care use of these markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore primary care clinicians' strategies for utilizing inflammatory marker tests.
- To identify factors influencing the decision-making process for inflammatory marker testing in primary care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 26 general practitioners and nurse practitioners.
- Semi-structured interviews and case reviews of pathology reports.
- Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data.
Main Results:
- Clinicians exhibit uncertainty in applying inflammatory markers to undifferentiated symptoms.
- Interpreting mildly elevated markers alongside non-specific symptoms poses challenges.
- A tension exists between avoiding missed diagnoses and preventing unnecessary test cascades.
Conclusions:
- Further research is required to establish optimal primary care guidelines for inflammatory marker testing.
- Clearer protocols are needed for interpreting results in primary care settings.
Keywords:
C-reactive proteinacute-phase proteinsdiagnosisgeneral practiceprimary health carequalitative researchMore Related Videos
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