Postgraduate medical journal
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Multicenter Study
Variations in the provision of resuscitation equipment: survey of acute hospitals.
There are wide variations in survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The aim of this survey was to describe how equipment provision of resuscitation trolleys was deployed in a range of clinical ward areas. ⋯ There are variations in the provision of resuscitation equipment in many clinical areas. Hospitals need to review the procedures for ensuring adequate provision of resuscitation equipment in all clinical areas.
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Multicenter Study
National review of urology outpatient practice in the UK.
To audit the current UK outpatient workload and compare this to the national standards as set out by the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) in A Quality Urological Service for Patients in the New Millennium published in October 2000. ⋯ A minority of consultants are able to adhere to the outpatient workload guidelines as set out by BAUS council in 2000. In addition, there appears to be significant variations within and between training regions. Development of this project into a regional audit tool may allow intraregional guideline formation governing hospital outpatient workload.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Investigation and management of iron deficiency anaemia in general practice: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a simple management prompt.
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) remains the most common cause of anaemia and is frequently secondary to occult gastrointestinal blood loss requiring further investigation. The study was designed to prospectively assess the adequacy of investigation of IDA and to establish whether a simple computerised prompt would increase the completeness of investigation of patients presenting to their general practitioners. ⋯ The investigation and management of IDA presenting in general practice remains inadequate and is not improved by a simple management prompt.
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Multicenter Study
General hospital services for deliberate self-poisoning: an expensive road to nowhere?
This study was designed to investigate the clinical and economic aspects of deliberate self-poisoning services in four teaching hospitals in Leeds, Leicester, Manchester and Nottingham. We investigated the management of the current self-harm episode, including direct in-hospital costs, in 456 individuals who presented to hospital on a total of 477 occasions with deliberate self-poisoning during a 4-week period in 1996. Fewer than half of the patients received specialist psychosocial assessment or follow-up. ⋯ In-patient days and days on the intensive care unit accounted for 47% and 8% of the total costs, respectively. This study suggests that general hospital services are disorganised, with evidence of inequitable access to specialist assessment and after-care. This state of affairs cannot be justified on financial or clinical grounds.