Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyA benzodiazepine discontinuation programme does not increase the frequency of contacts with the family practice.
The efficacy of programmes to reduce long-term benzodiazepine use could be compromised by subsequent increases in contacts with the family practice. In this study the hypothesis was tested as to whether participation in a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme affects the frequency of contacts with the family practice. ⋯ No clinically important differences in practice contacts were observed when the course of the number of contacts and non-benzodiazepine prescriptions were compared between the experimental and control groups. Family practitioners do not have to anticipate an increased workload associated with participation in such a benzodiazepine discontinuation programme.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
Pharmacologically inappropriate prescriptions for elderly patients in general practice: How common? Baseline data from The Prescription Peer Academic Detailing (Rx-PAD) study.
To assess Norwegian general practitioners' (GPs') level of potentially harmful drug prescribing for elderly patients. ⋯ The study reveals areas where GPs' prescribing practice for elderly patients can be improved and which can be targeted in educational interventions.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Jan 2008
General practitioners' perceptions of introducing near-patient testing for common infections into routine primary care: a qualitative study.
Near-patient tests are promoted for guiding management of common infections in primary care with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of prescribing decisions and containing antimicrobial resistance. Changes in clinical practice should be based on appraisals of the factors that might influence change, viewed from the perspective of those expected to implement the change. We therefore explored the views of general practitioners concerning the possible introduction of near-patient tests for managing common infections. ⋯ Despite GP enthusiasm for the concept of a rapid test to distinguish viral from bacterial infection, strategies to promote uptake would be enhanced if concerns were addressed regarding the importance and feasibility of such tests in daily practice.
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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
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.