The Journal of family practice
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To compare the care provided by family practice primary care physicians with that provided by 2 hospitalist models: critical care hospitalists and rotating residency faculty family physician hospitalists. ⋯ Claims of better and cheaper care by hospitalists need further investigation. Meanwhile, the use of hospitalists should not be mandated, and the use of family physicians as hospitalists should be considered a good alternative to the use of subspecialists.
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To describe and classify process errors and preventable adverse events that occur from medical care in outpatient primary care settings. ⋯ Original research on medical errors in the primary care setting consists of a limited number of small studies that offer a rich description of medical errors and preventable adverse events primarily from the physician's viewpoint. We describe a classification derived from these studies that is based on the actual practice of primary care and provides a starting point for future epidemiologic and interventional research. Missing are studies that have patient, consumer, or other health care provider input.
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Comparative Study
Delayed antibiotic prescriptions: what are the experiences and attitudes of physicians and patients?
To explore the experiences and opinions of family physicians and patients regarding the delay of antibiotic prescriptions, to be dispensed if symptoms persist or worsen over time, in treating upper respiratory tract infections. ⋯ Although delayed antibiotic prescriptions are effective in decreasing antibiotic use for conditions not clinically warranting antibiotics, neither patients nor physicians universally endorsed this strategy. Research to establish formalized recommendations for patient suitability and instructions for use would be of value.
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Current guidelines recommend use of written action plans and peak flow monitoring as key components of asthma care. Our study assesses whether written action plans, with or without peak flow monitoring, have an independent effect on outcomes when used as a component of asthma self-management. ⋯ Although written action plans are widely used, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether their use, with or without peak flow monitoring, improves outcomes.