Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

AI screening tool increases diabetic eye exam referrals for African Americans

In a study exploring how an AI-assisted diagnostic tool shaped care for underserved populations at multiple community-based primary care sites, investigators at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine found that African American patients with diabetes were more likely to receive a diabetic eye exam referral if screened by an AI tool.

9 Jun 2026

New pilot program tests HPV self-collection for cervical cancer

UT Health San Antonio has been selected as a recipient of the American Cancer Society's Self-Collected Human Papillomavirus Readiness Pilot (SHaRP) grant, a national initiative designed to help health care organizations prepare for and implement HPV self-collection as part of routine cervical cancer screening.

9 Jun 2026

NHS online diabetes program improves blood sugar and pressure

NHS England's Healthy Living program offers modest diabetes improvements; addressing engagement and access could enhance its public health effectiveness.

8 Jun 2026

Infections pose major but overlooked risks in people with diabetes

Infections should be considered a "health hazard" in people living with diabetes, with experts warning that current clinical guidelines fail to reflect a substantial but under-recognized burden of illness, hospitalization and death.

7 Jun 2026

Integrated care reduces hospital visits for adults with disabilities

University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University researchers have found that adults with developmental disabilities who have integrated care were less likely to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized than others who were not.

5 Jun 2026

New topical gel uses repurposed MS drug to heal burns

Researchers at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation and the University of Arizona College of Medicine have developed a topical gel formulation with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), to treat burn wounds, achieving near-complete closure in 21 days.

4 Jun 2026

Giving antibiotics for throat infections overrates their power against sepsis

Antibiotics for sore throats have hardly any preventive effect against serious streptococcal infections in the population, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg.

3 Jun 2026

Five-minute session of proximal intercessory prayer eases primary care pain and anxiety

A randomized controlled trial conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has found that a five-minute session of proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) - in-person prayer offered by a trained volunteer - significantly reduced pain and anxiety in primary care patients compared to a music control group.

2 Jun 2026

City of Hope sets new standard for lifelong, research-driven cancer survivorship care

Supporting the growing number of Americans living with cancer has become one of the most urgent challenges in modern cancer care as more people live years or decades beyond a diagnosis.

2 Jun 2026

Tailored meal programs reduce hospitalizations for chronic disease patients

At least a dozen U.S. states are rolling out medically tailored meals in pilot projects through Medicaid, the federal–state health insurance program serving 71 million Americans who qualify based on income or disability status.

2 Jun 2026

Consumer wearables become the new gatekeepers of clinical health care

JMIR Publications today released a News and Perspectives expert analysis on consumer wearable platforms' forays into the clinical health care space. Authored by MedTech expert Blythe Karow, MBA, "Meet the New Health Care Gatekeeper: Your Wearable" lays out the implications of wearable tech companies owning the first conversation about a patient's health, as well as the potential impacts on patient trust, policy, and regulation.

29 May 2026

In-person prayer reduced pain and anxiety more than music

This randomized controlled trial focused on in-person prayer, known as proximal intercessory prayer (PIP), for another person's well-being.

26 May 2026

Minority patients report confusion about Medicare Annual Wellness Visits

Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) are free, yearly preventive checkups available to all Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollees.

26 May 2026

New study reveals barriers to Medicaid-funded home care access

Obtaining home care for older adults with Medicaid can be a complex, multi-step process marked by delays and uncertainty, often resulting in long wait times, according to a new Weill Cornell Medicine study.

26 May 2026

Chronic liver disease threatens millions across Europe, report finds

Europe is facing a growing chronic liver disease threat, according to a new Series published today in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, that engaged more than 75 co-authors from 30 countries and was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation.

25 May 2026

Innovative platform bridges the gap between OUD treatment and HIV prevention

People with opioid use disorder (OUD) are at increased risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While there are effective interventions that can substantially reduce HIV incidence and opioid overdose, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), many patients still face barriers to accessing and staying engaged in care.

22 May 2026