B12 deficiency, patient safety and self-injection

In this episode, we talk to Dr Natasha Tyler and Dr Maria Panagioti who both work in the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research at the University of Manchester. Paper:  Patient Safety, Self-injection and B12 deficiency: A UK Cross sectional study https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0711 (https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2021.0711) It is known that individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency (including pernicious anaemia) describe their primary care consultations as ‘battles’ and feel stigmatised. However, the extent of this dissatisfaction with primary care and the effect this might have on patient safety and unsafe health behaviours is unknown. This is the first study to assess the association between patient reported safety and self-medication via injection and to consider the contributory factors to patient safety that affect this patient group. Understanding any negative effects of current practice and how general practitioners and primary care clinicians can better meet the needs of this marginalised group is key, to improving safety and care.