Family practice
-
The adoption of healthy living advice by people with heart disease is known to be poor even in targeted interventions. Reasons for this can range from confusion about the seriousness of the condition to ineffectiveness in the form of advice and how it is conveyed. However, the social setting can be an important influence on lifestyle change. ⋯ A long-term programme is needed incorporating mutual support and sharing with regular (not necessarily frequent) input from practitioners of information, advice and reassurance, as a support strategy for lifestyle change.
-
Acute infective conjunctivitis in children is a common presentation in primary care. Treatment is usually with antibiotics and prescribing may be affected by non-clinical factors. ⋯ Social factors, including the need for children to attend day care or school and parents to go to work, contribute to the decision to prescribe antibiotics for children with acute infective conjunctivitis. Understanding these issues and changing school policies in line with national guidance may reduce pressure on GPs to prescribe for this condition.