Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
ReviewInterventions on frequent attenders in primary care. A systematic literature review.
To analyse which interventions are effective in influencing morbidity, quality of life, and healthcare utilization of frequently attending patients (FAs) in primary care. ⋯ No study showed convincing evidence that an intervention improves QoL or morbidity of frequent attending primary care patients, although a small effect might be possible in a subgroup of depressed frequent attenders. No evidence was found that it is possible to influence healthcare utilization of FAs.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of anti-secretory factor (ASF) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A double-blind, randomized study.
To evaluate the role of the endogenous protein anti-secretory factor (ASF) on the symptoms, especially loose stools, in irritable bowel ayndrome (IBS). ⋯ Both study groups improved significantly on the VAS but no additive effect was seen for the active treatment. In the sub-group with loose stools, the SPC diet induced ASF plasma levels in IBS patients and was correlated to significant symptom improvement in the individual patient.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyHigh prevalence of emphysema and its association with BMI: a study of smokers with normal spirometry.
To evaluate to what extent emphysema was evident, as identified by High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), in smokers with normal lung function and to relate age, gender, smoking history, and body mass index (BMI) to the HRCT results. A secondary aim was to study to what extent emphysema was present in smokers with lower normal values of lung function defined as FEV(1)/FVC ratio percentage of predicted value (89-93% of predicted value for males and 90-93% for females) or FEF(50) < or = 60% of predicted compared with smokers without this definition. ⋯ There was a high occurrence of visual emphysema in middle-aged smokers with normal lung function. The densitometric quantitative analysis method is inadequate for detecting mild emphysema. High prevalence of emphysema was associated with low BMI.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyHealthcare provider back pain beliefs unaffected by a media campaign.
Healthcare providers play a key role in transmitting knowledge and beliefs about LBP to their patients. There are differences in back pain beliefs between the various professionals groups treating LBP patients. This study examined whether LBP beliefs changed among the healthcare providers exposed to a media campaign. ⋯ An LBP mass media campaign with educational initiatives aimed at healthcare providers did not result in important improvement in LBP beliefs of providers exposed to the campaign. Important differences were observed between beliefs of the different healthcare provider groups in their view of LBP.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Characteristics of non-urgent patients. Cross-sectional study of emergency department and primary care patients.
To describe characteristics of patients seeking medical attention for non-urgent conditions at an emergency department (ED) and patients who use non-scheduled services in primary healthcare. ⋯ Symptoms, previous hospitalization and current perception of symptoms seemed to be the main factors discriminating between patients studied at the different sites. There were no substantial sociodemographic differences between the primary care centre patients and the ED patients.