Primary care workforce composition

More full-time equivalent GPs are associated with higher quality and patient satisfaction, according to new research. Full-time-equivalents in newer staff roles are negatively associated with several outcomes. These results indicate that efforts to address the supply of GPs by broadening the workforce can impact outcomes, including patient and GP satisfaction; and that different types of healthcare professionals are not simple substitutes for one another. The quantity and quality of services will depend on who is employed to work in the primary-care setting.

Colchicine for COVID-19: the PRINCIPLE trial

New research shows colchicine does not improve time to recovery in people at higher risk of complications with COVID-19. This study randomised patients with COVID-19 to usual care, usual care plus colchicine (500 µg daily for 14 days), or usual care plus other interventions. It found that time to self-reported recovery was similar in the colchicine group compared with usual care, and there was an increase in time to self-reported recovery for colchicine versus usual care. COVID-19-related admissions to hospital/deaths for the colchicine and usual-care groups were similar.

Rises in anxiety prescribing

Anxiolytic prescribing increased substantially between 2003 and 2018, according to new research. Increases may reflect better detection of anxiety; however, some prescribing is not based on robust evidence, such as beta blockers, and some may contradict guidelines, such as antipsychotics. Although incident benzodiazepine prescribing fell over time, increases have been seen in under 35-year-olds. Also, some prescriptions were longer than the recommended maximum, which may result in unintended harm.