ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the Family and Community Physiotherapist model, which aims to incorporate rehabilitation services within primary health care in Tuscany, Italy. Methods: The Department of Health Professions of the Central Tuscany local health authority designed the model during 2020-2021. We describe the four phases of the organizational case study implementation of the model, namely: (i) analysis of the political and organizational framework, as well as determination of changing health-care needs; (ii) model co-design and training of multiprofessional health-care workers (local general practitioners, physiatrists and geriatricians); (iii) delivery and surveillance of rehabilitation services; and (iv) evaluation. Findings: During the initial roll-out of the project in April-December 2021, general practitioners referred 165 patients with a mean age of 83.7 years (standard deviation: 11.1) to the Family and Community Physiotherapist. Interventions were mainly activated for patients with comorbidities (64/165; 38.8%), followed by those with long-term immobilization issues (36/165; 21.8%). The most commonly provided intervention was counselling, contributing to the achievement of objectives for 127 patients (77.0%). A full rehabilitation path was proposed for only 10 patients (6.1%). No additional costs were incurred by the health authority during the implementation of the model. Conclusion: Our model facilitated the provision of rehabilitative care in the community, preventing the exacerbation of chronic conditions and meeting the population health needs in non-hospital environments. The model overcame the typical lack of integration within health-care services with flexibility, promoting care proximity solutions to cope with health challenges such as an ageing population and the coronavirus disease.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections , Physical Therapy Modalities , Humans , Aged, 80 and over , Health Personnel , Referral and Consultation , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Objective To describe the Family and Community Physiotherapist model, which aims to incorporate rehabilitation services within primary health care in Tuscany, Italy. Methods The Department of Health Professions of the Central Tuscany local health authority designed the model during 2020–2021. We describe the four phases of the organizational case study implementation of the model, namely: (i) analysis of the political and organizational framework, as well as determination of changing health-care needs;(ii) model co-design and training of multiprofessional health-care workers (local general practitioners, physiatrists and geriatricians);(iii) delivery and surveillance of rehabilitation services;and (iv) evaluation. Findings During the initial roll-out of the project in April–December 2021, general practitioners referred 165 patients with a mean age of 83.7 years (standard deviation: 11.1) to the Family and Community Physiotherapist. Interventions were mainly activated for patients with comorbidities (64/165;38.8%), followed by those with long-term immobilization issues (36/165;21.8%). The most commonly provided intervention was counselling, contributing to the achievement of objectives for 127 patients (77.0%). A full rehabilitation path was proposed for only 10 patients (6.1%). No additional costs were incurred by the health authority during the implementation of the model. Conclusion Our model facilitated the provision of rehabilitative care in the community, preventing the exacerbation of chronic conditions and meeting the population health needs in non-hospital environments. The model overcame the typical lack of integration within health-care services with flexibility, promoting care proximity solutions to cope with health challenges such as an ageing population and the coronavirus disease.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lots of research has been conducted to fight COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. The role of 'cytokine storm' in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 pneumonia is well known. Relationship between interleukins and depression is still subject matter of the research, but a correlation between interleukin-6 and depressive disorders is proven by now. The aim of this study is to verify differences among interleukin-6 blood levels of inpatients treated with SSRI and/or SNRI before and during hospitalization and of inpatients not treated with these drugs. METHODS: This is an observational study performed during the first wave of SARS Cov-2 pandemic in Italy for three months. The hospitalized patients of Internal Medicine wards and Infectious and Tropical Diseases ward of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi of Florence for COVID-19 pneumonia have been divided into two subgroups (treated / not treated with antidepressants). Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit previously have been excluded. Each patient has been evaluated concerning demographic, clinical and therapeutic features. The first dosage of interleukin-6 detected during hospitalization has been noticed. RESULTS: 8,5% (n=34 patients) of the entire sample (n=402) had been treated with an antidepressant of the two considered categories before admission until discharge from hospital. Significant lower levels of interleukin-6 of recovered patients of the treated subgroup have been highlighted as compared to recovered patients of not-treated subgroup (12,1 vs 25,4 p<0,001). These results have been pointed out in spite of higher mean age and more serious comorbidities of the treated subgroup. Nevertheless the incidence of severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is significantly lower in the subgroup of patients with antidepressant treatment (20,6% vs 43,2% p<0,02) as well as endotracheal intubation employment (0,0% vs 11,7% p<0,04). The rate of deceased patients of treated-subgroup is not significant lower than the rate of not-treated subgroup (23,5% vs 26,4% p=0,13). CONCLUSIONS: During COVID-19 pneumonia, the production of interleukin-6 seems to be modulated in presence of antidepressant therapy. Further proofs and broader surveys are necessary.