ABC of Multimorbidity

ABC of Multimorbidity is the first title to provide primary care practitioners with a practical approach to the complex issues of treating and managing patients with more than one morbidity. While not confined to the elderly, ageing populations and earlier diagnosis of chronic conditions mean more people are living longer with more than one morbidity. Treatment guidelines for specific conditions, however, are often designed for treatment in isolation of other morbidities. Multimorbidity management therefore requires a more patient centred approach and greater knowledge and coordination of existing services. Effective multimorbidity management both improves overall patient well–being and reduces the overall demand on health services. ABC of Multimorbidity examines how multimorbidities can be addressed within primary care, from the GP and family physician consultation through to the effective use of a range of health care services. It addresses complex issues such as polypharmacy, mental health, patient safety, patient involvement in self–management, and the role of the practitioner. It then provides guidance on how multimorbidities can be best treated and managed within primary care through specific interventions to improve outcomes. From an international, primary care editor and contributor team, ABC of Multimorbidity is a practical resource for general practitioners, family physicians, practice and specialist nurses, and others caring for multimorbid patients. It is also relevant for junior doctors, medical trainees and students.

Contributors Foreword – David Haslam Preface 1 Introducing multimorbidity Martin Fortin, Chris Salisbury and Stewart Mercer 2 How common is multimorbidity?  Marjan van den Akker and Christiane Muth 3 How does multimorbidity affect patients?  Elizabeth A. Bayliss 4 Effects of multimorbidity on health care resource Use Efrat Shadmi,  Karen Kinder and Jonathan P. Weiner 5 Multimorbidity and the primary care clinic St ewart Mercer and Chris Salisbury 6 Multimorbidity and patient–centred Care Moira Stewart and Martin Fortin 7 Multimorbidity and the health care electronic medical Record Amanda L. Terry and Sonny Cejic 8 Multimorbidity and treatment burden  Katie I. Gallacher, Victor Montori, Carl R. May and Frances Mair 9 Multimorbidity and mental health Peter Bower, Peter Coventry and Linda Gask 10 The impact of multi–morbidity on quality and safety of healthcare  Jose M. Valderas, Ignacio Ricci–Cabello, and Concepción Violán 11 Implications of multimorbidity for health policy Chris Salisbury and Martin Rowland 12 Optimising outcomes in mutimorbidity Stewart Mercer, Martin Fortin and Chris Salisbury Index

Stewart Mercer, Professor of Primary Care Research, General Practice and Primary Care, University of Glasgow, UK and General Practitioner, Penicuik Health Centre, Penicuik, UK Chris Salisbury, Professor of Primary Health Care, Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, UK and General Practitioner, William Budd Health Centre, Bristol, UK Martin Fortin, Director of Research, Department of Family Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada