We hope this year has started off well for each of you. We are excited to share some BC-PHCRN updates regarding research progress, upcoming (and past) events as well as news from the Canadian Primary Care Research Network!
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In This Update
- Research Activity Updates
- International Classification of Disease version 11 and International Classification of Primary Care version 3 (ICD-ICPC)
- Using Machine Learning to Improve De-identification Accuracy in Primary Care Electronic Medical Record Data
- SPIDER – A research and quality improvement collaboration supporting practices in improving care for complex older patients with polypharmacy
- OECD Patient Reported Indicators Survey (PaRIS)
- CanTreatCOVID
- Presentations at the UBC Centre for Health Services & Policy Research (CHSPR) Annual Conference
- Upcoming Events
- The Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN) Update
- About BC-PHCRN
Research Activity Updates
International Classification of Disease version 11 and International Classification of Primary Care version 3 (ICD-ICPC)
Led by BC-PHCRN Co-Director Dr Rubee Dev, this study assessed future classification system needs and preferences of Canadian primary care physicians as well as gathered information to inform the potential transition from the ICD-9 system. A coding exercise and survey invited family physicians to assist in understanding how providers use and perceive newer classification systems for clinical documentation and billing. Through BC-PHCRN, 15 family physicians were recruited and responded to the survey.
The project is currently in phase two, which involves one-on-one interviews with decision-makers in BC to discuss organizational readiness and barriers/facilitators in replacing ICD-9 with a newer classification system (i.e., ICD-11 and ICPC-3). BC-PHCRN recruited three interested policy analysts from Ministry of Health to participate in the interviews. Manuscripts on the results of the vignette coding and on participants preferences to replace ICD-9 coding are in preparation.
Using Machine Learning to Improve De-identification Accuracy in Primary Care Electronic Medical Record Data
A recent collaboration between BC-CPCSSN and the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Pharmacists in Primary Care Network program sought to analyze over 100,000 pharmacists’ notes and improve de-identification accuracy by employing a novel machine learning approach. Results indicate that machine learning models show clear potential for enhancing the de-identification of EMR records, with future research on larger datasets warranted to demonstrate scalability. This research was led by the BC-PHCRN Work-learn student with the support of the BC-CPCSSN Data Manager, and was accepted as a poster in the UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research (CHSPR) annual conference.
SPIDER (Structured Process Informed by Data, Evidence and Research): A research and quality improvement collaboration supporting practices in improving care for complex older patients with polypharmacy
Recruitment of primary care practices for SPIDER is ongoing!
SPIDER is a pan-Canadian quality improvement project that focuses on the risk polypharmacy poses to older adults (aged 65 years and older on 10+ unique medications) and the corresponding impact it has on the health care system in Canada. The study uses a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of SPIDER compared to usual care, in reducing potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs). The BC-PHCRN is looking to recruit 14 practices and a proportion of their patients.
There is NO COST to you, and you will earn up to 16.5 MainPro+ credits.
If you are interested in participating, or to learn more about this study, please contact the Research Lead, Dr. Rubee Dev (rubee.dev@ubc.ca) or the Research Coordinator, Lanting Cheng (lanting.cheng@ubc.ca). More information about this study can be found on the study website.
OECD Patient Reported Indicator Survey (PaRIS)
Led by Drs. Rubee Dev and Sabrina Wong, OECD PaRIS is an international and pan-Canadian initiative developing, standardizing and implementing a new generation of indicators of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for primary care. Ultimately, this survey seeks to understand patient experiences with primary care, and with support of the BC-PHCRN, is being conducted in BC.
We express sincere gratitude to the practices who took the time to participate in this project. Provincial and national work is underway to mobilize the knowledge we gained from the surveys.
The Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN) also hosted a Learning Series webinar focused on Lessons Learned about Engagement from the OECD PaRIS Project. If you are interested in hearing of our experiences with the OECD PaRIS project across Canada, we welcome you to watch the recording or view the slides.
CanTreatCOVID
The Canadian Adaptive Platform Trial of Treatments for COVID in Community Settings (CanTreatCOVID) is evaluating the short- and long-term effectiveness of existing and new COVID-19 treatments for non-hospitalized patients using an adaptive platform trial study design. It will provide rapid evidence to guide clinical, health system, and public health decision making and planning.
The study is open to adults aged 19-49 years with one or more chronic condition(s) OR adults aged 50+ years, and who have tested positive for COVID-19 with symptoms starting within the last five days. All study activities are done remotely. For further information, see: cantreatcovid.org
Presentations at the UBC Centre for Health Services & Policy Research (CHSPR) Annual Conference
The CHSPR Annual Conference, PharmaWhere? Exploring the Future of Drug Coverage in Canada, was a hosted on the traditional, unceded and ancestral territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) People (also known as UBC Point Grey Campus) on March 5, 2024. The conference was a huge success, bringing together international leaders and partners in the field of pharmacare. We acknowledge the many hours of work our colleagues dedicated to hosting such a successful conference!
We also extend a warm congratulations to the students on our BC-PHCRN team who presented posters at the CHSPR Conference. Topics included:
- Association between Team Functioning and Patient’s Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease and Quality of Life for People Attending Primary Care Practices in British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia.
- Capturing factors associated with frailty using routinely collected electronic medical record data in British Columbia (BC), Canada.
- Understanding the Gut Microbiome of South Asian Canadians with Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review.
- Using Machine Learning to Improve De-identified Accuracy in Primary Care Electronic Medical Record Data.
Upcoming Events
CPCRN Learning Series
Evolving Practiced-Based Research and Learning Networks (PBRLNs) into Learning Health Systems Through Co-Design with All Stakeholders
April 23, 2024 | 9-10 am PT
Workforce Strategies Needed to Advance Access to Primary Care
May 28, 2024 | 9-10 am PT
For more information and registration for the CPCRN’s other Learning Series Events, click here.
CHSPR Seminar: Better data. Better decisions. Healthier Canadians.
Speaker: Brent Diverty, Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
April 10, 2024 | 12-1 pm PT | In-person or virtual
This seminar will introduce the important and rich information available at CIHI, share progress being made in Canada towards better health data, and discuss working with CIHI as a researcher or partner. CIHI maintains 30 critical databases that contribute, along with other data suppliers such as Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, to improving the depth and breadth of Canada’s health data ecosystem. Join CHSPR to learn how CIHI collects, analyzes, and publishes comparable health system data in support of health policy and health system decision making.
BC Cancer Family Practice Oncology Network Annual Education Day for Primary Care: Human Papilloma Virus and Related Cancers
April 6, 2024 | 8:30 am – 12:30 pm PT | Virtual Conference
Audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, residents and students.
Earn up to 3.5 Mainpro+ credits
Join for this half-day virtual update on topics relevant to primary care! We will be covering the incidence and scope of cancers caused by HPV, summarizing prevention and early detection strategies of HPV related cancers, and reviewing a psychosexual perspective on an HPV related cancer diagnosis. Each interactive session will include 30-45 minutes of brief, practical knowledge followed by 15 minutes of Q&A.
The Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN) Update
Please feel free to join the CPCRN newsletter mailing list and the LinkedIn page in addition to the BC-PHCRN, to learn more about the CPCRN vision, as well as stay up to date with activities and vibrant conversations about primary care, patient-oriented research, policy happening across the national network!
Primary Care Learning Cycle
November 18 & 19, 2024 | Hybrid | Quebec City, QC
The CPCRN is excited to announce they’ll be hosting an inaugural conference in Quebec City, focused on building a learning health system with patient-oriented primary care research.
Objectives
- To co-design an action plan that aligns the work of CPCRN with an essential part of a primary care learning health system.
- Engage network members and allies in a series of sprints to move us closer to embedding applied research and evidence supports in care delivery.
- To bring our diverse partners together to network and learn from each other.
About BC-PHCRN
The BC Primary Health Care Research Network (BC-PHCRN) is a practice-based research and learning network, part of the Canadian Primary Care Research Network (CPCRN), designed to support evidence-informed transformation of the delivery of primary and integrated health care.
The goal of the BC-PHCRN is to encourage, facilitate, and support collaborations between government, health authorities, health professionals, patients and researchers in order to improve BC’s health care delivery system. The BC-PHCRN is an open network and welcomes individuals from all sectors involved in primary health care – researchers, patients, health care providers and policy makers.
The BC arm of the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN) is housed within BC-PHCRN, where we specifically reach out and work with primary care clinicians (e.g., family physicians, nurse practitioners, etc.) to provide analytic support of electronic medical record data for purposes of practice quality improvement, disease surveillance and research.
Please share this update with colleagues who you think may be interested in our activities. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. For more information about BC-PHCRN, please visit our website at https://spor-bcphcrn.ca/ or email info@spor-bcphcrn.ca.
BC Primary Health Care Research Network 