Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
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This paper examines doctors' and patients' views on the consequences of an increasingly common symptomatic diagnosis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Two studies were conducted: the first comprised interviews with 20 general practitioners; the second was a longitudinal study, comprising three interviews over a period of 2 years with 50 people diagnosed with CFS. ⋯ They felt constrained by the scientific uncertainty regarding its aetiology and by a concern that diagnosis might become a disabling self-fulfilling prophecy. Patients, by contrast, highlighted the enabling aspects of a singular coherent diagnosis and emphasized the negative effects of having no explanation for their problems.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Analgesia for venous cannulation: a comparison of EMLA (5 minutes application), lignocaine, ethyl chloride, and nothing.
Three commonly available local anaesthetics were compared, in a controlled trial, for use before venous cannulation. The pain of application of the local anaesthetic, the pain of cannulation, and the rate of successful cannulations were compared. The value of EMLA cream applied for 5 min was questioned. ⋯ Lignocaine 1%, injected subcutaneously, and ethyl chloride spray significantly reduced the pain of venous cannulation (P < 0.01). The use of lignocaine did not result in significantly more failed cannulations than the control group. It was concluded that local anaesthesia should be used before venous cannulation, even for 20G cannulae.
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Cancer registration is an essential element of any cancer control strategy. Data quality is, however, of paramount importance. This paper sets out some of the ways in which the quality of cancer registration data might be improved. In particular, the potential contribution of clinicians and pathologists is highlighted.