Medical care
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
One-to-one versus group sessions to improve prescription in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 educational strategies aimed at improving prescribing standards in primary care. ⋯ A single, short educational session to primary care doctors can improve their prescribing standards during long periods of > or = 9 months. Of the 2 strategies followed in the trial, one-to-one education has shown to be the most effective. Results also show that the effectiveness of these interventions increases when presented together with written material.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Gender-related differences in the organization and provision of services among general practitioners in Europe: a signal to health care planners.
The number of women entering general practice is rising in many countries. Thus, gender differences in work situation preferences and practice activities are important for future planning. ⋯ The results may have important implications for working arrangements, training, education, and planning of resources for general practice in the future.
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Multicenter Study
Impact of relational coordination on quality of care, postoperative pain and functioning, and length of stay: a nine-hospital study of surgical patients.
Health care organizations face pressures from patients to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes, as well as pressures from managed care to do so more efficiently. Coordination, the management of task interdependencies, is one way that health care organizations have attempted to meet these conflicting demands. ⋯ Relational coordination across health care providers is associated with improved quality of care, reduced postoperative pain, and decreased lengths of hospital stay for patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. These findings support the design of formal practices to strengthen communication and relationships among key caregivers on surgical units.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The effect of automated calls with telephone nurse follow-up on patient-centered outcomes of diabetes care: a randomized, controlled trial.
We evaluated the impact of automated telephone disease management (ATDM) calls with telephone nurse follow-up as a strategy for improving outcomes such as mental health, self-efficacy, satisfaction with care, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among low-income patients with diabetes mellitus. ⋯ This intervention had several positive effects on patient-centered outcomes of care but no measurable effects on anxiety or HRQL.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Benefit-cost analysis of brief physician advice with problem drinkers in primary care settings.
Few studies have estimated the economic costs and benefits of brief physician advice in managed care settings. ⋯ These results offer the first quantitative evidence that implementation of a brief intervention for problem drinkers can generate positive net benefit for patients, the health care system, and society.