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The BETTER Approach focuses on prevention and screening of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and associated lifestyle factors (nutrition, exercise, smoking, cannabis, and alcohol). Specifically, the approach identifies a new role in the primary care setting (the BETTER Prevention Practitioner™), which can be taken on by a clinician/allied health professional.
It was developed in Canada. The BETTER Trial began in two Canadian cities, Edmonton and Toronto.
- Cancer (breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate), diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
- We also take into consideration mental health
Smoking, alcohol, nutrition, cannabis, and physical activity
Informed by the BETTER toolkit, the purpose of this skilled role is to work directly with patients to determine which cancer and chronic disease prevention and screening (CCDPS) actions they are eligible to receive, and through a process involving shared decision-making and S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-based) goal setting, develop a unique, personalized BETTER Prevention Prescription™ with each patient.
In the research studies the BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ were allied health professionals.
The role is versatile – we now have a wide range of BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ which include, RNs, RPNs, LPNs, NPs, RDs, Kinesiologists, Pharmacists, Physicians, and more.
The visit is usually between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
We recommend beginning with 1-hour visits.
There are a number of variations of the BETTER Program. Some clinics have decided to have 45 minutes with the BETTER Prevention Practitioner™, with a 15-minute visit with their primary care provider before or after the BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ appointment. The length of the visit depends on the capacity of the individual clinic.
A BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ should ideally have at least one-half day a week devoted to BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ visits.
Note, this does not include the patient’s time to complete the survey.
Yes! Clinics and practitioners have been adapting the BETTER Program to fit their needs. We understand each practice is different and encourage participants to adapt Classic BETTER into their setting.
Digital versions of the BETTER toolkit and resources can be found here.
The BETTER tools are currently available in English only.
If your practice/organization has the IT capacity and resources to do this then, yes. The BETTER team is unable to provide IT support for EMR-related matters.
Yes, you can add additional screening and prevention measures. However, the measures included in the BETTER Care Map are the ones that are supported by our evidence review. The BETTER team cannot provide recommendations or guideline support for any additional measures. For example, you could add immunization screening, but your practice would need to determine the guidelines and scope associated with this additional screening.
Yes, there have been numerous BETTER publications. The first publication was in 2011. For a list of all publications, go here.
Allied health professionals. The role is versatile – we now have a wide range of BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ which include, RNs, RPNs, LPNs, NPs, RDs, Pharmacists, Physicians, and more.
BETTER research studies have taken place in three Provinces in Canada: Alberta, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
To learn more about the BETTER program of research, visit our evidence page .
Pragmatic two-way factorial cluster Randomized Control Trial (RCT).
A cluster randomized trial is a type of trial in which groups of subjects are randomized, rather than individual subjects – physicians’ practices were the unit of allocation and individual patients were the unit of analysis. Pragmatic trials take place in a setting where patients receive their usual care.
A large clinic practice guideline review was completed to create a screening algorithm to guide the work of a Prevention Practitioner. The guideline review process included provincial, Canadian and international guidelines.
Clinical practice guidelines and tools were identified using a structured literature search, which included both indexed and grey literature. Two questions from the Agree II tool were used to screen the rigor of the guidelines. The full Agree II tool was used on the guideline after it passed the screen. A clinical working group was convened to review the guidelines and tools, with representatives from family medicine, nursing, nutrition and researchers. Subgroups reviewed the guidelines and tools for each topic and the larger group discussed and voted on which recommendations should be included. The guidelines that were selected were designed to be measurable, actionable and explicit.
40 to 69 years
The evidence review was conducted for patients between the ages of 40 and 69.
The BETTER program does not provide screening recommendations for patients under the age of 40 or over the age of 69. Your clinic would be responsible for any recommendations outside this age range.
Digital copies of the BETTER Care Map, toolkit and resources can be found here.
The BETTER 2 study included a qualitative evaluation which analyzed the feedback we received from patients.
Patient feedback showed that patients who received a visit with a Prevention Practitioner valued personalized care and dedicated time to talk about screening and prevention.
After the study was completed, patients expressed a desire for the program to continue and for preventative care to be a focus of the Canadian healthcare system.
The BETTER Prevention Practitioner™ role is designed to be a compliment to primary care providers and they work they are doing. It is designed promote interdisciplinary teamwork.
The Prevention Practitioner works in partnership with primary care providers. The Prevention Practitioner helps to collect detailed patient information, develop a personal rapport with a patient and makes referrals, which benefits the work of the primary care team and often saves the primary care provides valuable time.