ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe heat-related illness and provide approaches for treatment in family practice. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: The MeSH terms heat-related illness and primary care were searched in PubMed. Clinical trials, practice reviews, and systematic reviews were included in this review. Reference lists were reviewed for additional articles. MAIN MESSAGE: Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency due to climate change and can directly result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or death. Exposure to extreme heat also exacerbates underlying health conditions. Patients may be at increased risk of heat-related illness because of underlying sensitivity to heat, increased exposure to heat, or barriers to resources. CONCLUSION: Family physicians can help prevent heat-related illness by identifying and counselling patients who are at increased risk and by advocating for interventions that reduce the chance of heat-related illness.
Subject(s)
Family Practice , Heat Stress Disorders , Humans , Heat Stress Disorders/prevention & control , Heat Stress Disorders/therapy , Family Practice/methods , Primary Health Care , Hot Temperature/adverse effects , Climate Change , Heat Stroke/prevention & control , Heat Stroke/therapy , Heat Stroke/etiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIF: Décrire les troubles liés à la chaleur et présenter des stratégies de traitement en pratique familiale. SOURCES DE L'INFORMATION: Une recension à l'aide des expressions MeSH en anglais heat-related illness et primary care a été effectuée dans PubMed. Les essais cliniques, les évaluations de la pratique et les revues systématiques ont été inclus dans la présente révision. Les listes de références ont été examinées pour trouver des articles additionnels. MESSAGE PRINCIPAL: Les épisodes de canicule augmentent en fréquence en raison du changement climatique et peuvent directement causer un épuisement dû à la chaleur, un coup de chaleur ou la mort. L'exposition à la chaleur extrême peut aussi exacerber les problèmes de santé sous-jacents. Les patients peuvent être à risque accru d'un trouble lié à la chaleur à cause d'une sensibilité sous-jacente ou d'une plus grande exposition à la chaleur, ou encore en raison d'obstacles pour accéder aux ressources. CONCLUSION: Les médecins de famille peuvent aider à prévenir les troubles liés à la chaleur en identifiant les patients qui sont à risque plus élevé et en plaidant en faveur d'interventions qui réduisent le risque de tels troubles.
Subject(s)
Family Practice , Heat Stress Disorders , Humans , Heat Stress Disorders/prevention & control , Heat Stress Disorders/therapy , Family Practice/methods , Primary Health Care , Hot Temperature/adverse effects , Climate Change , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Structured academic teaching on wound care was developed, based on the long-term care (LTC) setting, with the goal of ensuring that postgraduate family medicine residents attain competency in assessment and treatment of wounds and pressure ulcers (PUs). The curriculum for the 1-month learning module was based on clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, assessment, and treatment of PUs and wounds. The learning techniques used include a learners' needs assessment, a small-group didactic session, interdisciplinary bedside case discussions and a toolkit. The curriculum is delivered in four weekly, 90-minute interdisciplinary teaching sessions during the mandatory 1-month geriatrics rotation for postgraduate family medicine trainees. Competency is evaluated by the end of the module by reviewing trainees' documentation of a thorough objective clinical wound assessment, diagnosis of underlying cause, significant contributing risk factors and proposed treatment plan. This approach can be used to train family medicine, hospitalist, and geriatric residents in other acute or LTC teaching facilities where there is a prevalence of PUs.