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We aimed to document in primary care older adults the relationship between family violence (FV) and mental and physical health, satisfaction with life, and health service use, by gender. The study sample included data from 1,658 older adults recruited in primary care practices, in one of the largest health regions in the province of Quebec. The presence of FV (partner/spouse, adult child) was assessed with the 21-item Family Violence Scale (FVS) adapted from the conflicts Tactics Scale 2. Self-rated mental health (SRMH) and self-rated physical health (SRPH) were assessed with single-item measures. Satisfaction with life (SWL) was measured using a validated French version of the SWL scale. Health service use over a 2-year period included outpatient consultations (number), emergency department (ED) visits (yes/no), and hospitalizations (yes/no). Multi-level logistic and Poisson's regression models were conducted to assess study outcomes as a function of FV. Analyses were stratified by perpetrator and gender. There was an association between FV and SRMH in women (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = [0.27, 0.62]), and SWL in both men and women (B = −5.74, 95% CI = [–6.71, –4.76]; B = −10.07, 95% CI = [–14.16, –5.98], respectively). Significant associations were found in women between FV and ED visits (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = [1.12, 1.18]), hospitalizations (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = [1.32, 1.43]), and outpatient consultations (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = [1.19, 1.30]). SWL moderated the association between FV and likelihood of hospitalization. Gender differences were observed between FV and SRMH and SWL. FV was associated with increased health service use in women but not men. These gender differences may suggest stigma-related barriers to health service use. Victims of violence with higher SWL had a lower likelihood of being hospitalized. Public health programs aimed at increasing awareness of the different types of FV and interventions aiming to improve resilience in victims are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Western countries, work disability due to depression is a widespread problem that generates enormous costs. Objective The goal of this study was to determine the types and prevalence of supervisor contributions during the different phases of the return-to-work (RTW) process (before and during the sick-leave absence, and during the RTW preparations) of employees diagnosed with depression. Moreover, we sought to determine which contributions actually facilitate employees’ RTW, and to identify the work accommodations most frequently implemented by supervisors at the actual time of their employee’s RTW. Methods Telephone interviews were conducted in Québec (Canada) with 74 supervisors working with employees who were already back at work or still on sick leave due to depression. A sub-sample of 46 supervisors who had already taken measures to facilitate their employees’ RTW was questioned about the work accommodations implemented. Results Most of the supervisors got along well with their employees before their sick leave and 72% stayed in contact with them during their leave. Nearly 90% of the supervisors encouraged their employees to focus primarily on their recovery before their RTW, but 43% pressured their employees to RTW as soon as possible. Cox regression analyses performed for the entire sample revealed that “the supervisors’ intention to take measures to facilitate their employees’ RTW” was the only significant predictor of the RTW at the time of the interview. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that 50% of the employees were expected to RTW within the first 8 months of absence. Four of the most frequently implemented work accommodations were actions directly involving the supervisor (i.e. providing assistance, feedback, recognition, and emotional support to the employee). Conclusions This study shed light on the less explored point of view of the supervisor involved in the RTW process of employees post-depression. It highlighted the most frequent and effective supervisor contributions to the process. These results can be used to develop concrete action plans for training supervisors to contribute to the sustainable RTW of employees on sick leave due to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The literature is inconsistent regarding the effect of the presence of chronic physical and mental diseases on cognitive decline in older adults. The objectives of this study were to explore the effect of chronic diseases on subsequent cognitive decline assessed via the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) in community living older adults. Methods We used data from individuals (n = 2010) participating in the ESA (Étude sur la Santé des Aînés) study. Cognitive status was measured with the MMSE at baseline and after 1 year. Chronic diseases were identified via administrative databases in accordance with International Classification of Diseases 9/10. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the change in MMSE as a function of chronic physical and mental disorders, while adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical factors Results Significant decreases in MMSE scores were found in patients who had a stroke (β value: -2.83) or diabetes (β value: -1.06) and in older adults aged older than 75 years (β value: -0.91). Conclusions When adjusting for other chronic diseases, stroke, diabetes and advanced age were associated with subsequent cognitive decline in older adults during a one-year follow-up. Longer follow-up is recommended to assess long-term effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With 4.6 million patients who do not have a regular family physician, Canada performs poorly compared to other OECD countries in terms of attachment to a family physician. To address this issue, several provinces have implemented centralized waiting lists to coordinate supply and demand for attachment to a family physician. Although significant resources are invested in these centralized waiting lists, no studies have measured their performance. In this article, we present a performance assessment of centralized waiting lists for unattached patients implemented in Quebec, Canada. Methods: We based our approach on the Balanced Scorecard method. A committee of decision-makers, managers, healthcare professionals, and researchers selected five indicators for the performance assessment of centralized waiting lists, including both process and outcome indicators. We analyzed and compared clinical-administrative data from 86 centralized waiting lists (GACOs) located in 14 regions in Quebec, from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014. Results: During the study period, although over 150,000 patients were attached to a family physician, new requests resulted in a 30% median increase in patients on waiting lists. An inverse correlation of average strength was found between the rates of patients attached to a family physician and the proportion of vulnerable patients attached to a family physician meaning that as more patients became attached to an FP through GACOs, the proportion of vulnerable patients became smaller (r = -0.31, p < 0.005). The results showed very large performance variations both among GACOs of different regions and among those of a same region for all performance indicators. Conclusions: Centralized waiting lists for unattached patients in Quebec seem to be achieving their twofold objective of attaching patients to a family physician and giving priority to vulnerable patients. However, the demand for attachment seems to exceed the supply and there appears to be a tension between giving priority to vulnerable patients and attaching of a large number of patients. Results also showed heterogeneity in the performance of centralized waiting lists across Quebec. Finally, our findings suggest it is critical that similar mechanisms should use available data to identify the best strategies for reducing variations and improving performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study are to assess in a sample of older adults consulting in primary care practices the determinants and quality of life associated with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS). Method: Data used came from a large sample of 1765 community-dwelling older adults who were waiting to receive health services in primary care clinics in the province of Quebec. PTSS was measured with the PTSS scale. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were used as potential determinants of PTSS. Quality of life was measured with the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) EQ-Visual Analog Scale and the Satisfaction With Your Life Scale. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to study the presence of PTSS and different measures of health-related quality of life and quality of life as a function of study variables. Results: The six-month prevalence of PTSS was 11.0%. PTSS was associated with age, marital status, number of chronic disorders and the presence of an anxiety disorder. PTSS was also associated with the EQ-5D-3L and the Satisfaction with Your Life Scale. Conclusion: PTSS is prevalent in patients consulting in primary care practices. Primary care physicians should be aware that PTSS is also associated with a decrease in quality of life, which can further negatively impact health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To identify the determinants of antihypertensive medication adherence in community-living elderly adults. Design Longitudinal observational study. Setting Population-based health survey in the province of Quebec, Canada. Participants Data from a representative sample (N = 2,811) of community-dwelling adults in Quebec aged 65 and older participating in the Étude sur la Santé des Aînés study. The final study sample analyzed consisted of 926 participants taking antihypertensive drugs during the 2 years of the study. Measurements Adherence to antihypertensive medication was measured using days of supply obtained during a specified time period. Depression and anxiety disorders were assessed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria, and physical health status was measured using the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Other factors considered were age, education, marital status, annual family income, and number of antihypertensive drugs that participants used. Results Mean antihypertensive proportion (percentage) of days supplied in was 92.5% in Year 1 and 59.4% in Year 2. The presence of depression and anxiety disorders and the number of antihypertensive medications significantly predicted medication adherence. The sex by depression and anxiety disorders interaction term was significant. Conclusion Adherence to antihypertensive medication was significantly associated with depression and anxiety disorders in men but not women. The treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in individuals with hypertension may be helpful in improving medication adherence rates and healthcare outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The development and validation of criteria for classifying severity of drug-related problems (DRPs) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the community pharmacy setting are described. Methods. The Severity Categorization for Pharmaceutical Evaluation (SCOPE) criteria were adapted from an existing tool based on the interventions required to manage DRPs in community pharmacy. Ten community pharmacists reviewed the criteria. An expert panel involving community pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, family physicians, and nephrologists scored the relevance of each criterion. The severity of 487 DRPs identified among 168 patients was rated independently by two evaluators and by one evaluator on two occasions. Kappa reliability coefficients were computed. Severity as assessed by implicit judgment and the SCOPE criteria was compared. Results. Three severity categories were defined (mild, moderate, and severe), each including two levels (for a total of six levels). At each level, specific interventions required to manage DRPs in community pharmacy were listed. The test-retest reliability coefficient by level was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.90), and the interrater reliability coefficient was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.72-0.82). The test--retest coefficient by category was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84-0.95), and the interrater coefficient was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.86-0.94). A higher level of SCOPE was associated with more severe DRPs as rated by implicit judgment (p < 0.05). Conclusion. A set of criteria developed for use in the community pharmacy setting for evaluating the severity of DRPs in CKD proved to be reliable and correlated with clinical implicit judgment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test a model of presenteeism on the basis of established and emerging theories separated into organizational and individual factors that could be mediated by psychological distress. Methods: This was a Web survey of 2371 employees (response rate of 48%) of a provincial government agency. We assessed theories with validated measures for organizational and individual factors. Results: Psychological distress was negatively associated to presenteeism, when controlling for sex, short-term work absence in the last year, and social desirability. Both individual and organizational factors were related to psychological distress. The most important factors included the presence of stress events in the preceding 6 months, extrinsic efforts (interruptions, work requirements), self-esteem as a worker, and internal amotivation. Conclusions: By identifying modifiable factors, our results suggest that the implementation of a work organization structure that promotes stimulation and accomplishment would reduce psychological distress and further presenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]