Scandinavian journal of primary health care
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Mar 2001
Estimated prevalences of respiratory symptoms, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related to detection rate in primary health care.
To assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to relate it to an estimated detection rate in primary health care. ⋯ Respiratory symptoms as well as asthma were common in this study and equivalent to earlier findings. The difference between the epidemiologically estimated prevalence of asthma and the lower detection rate in primary health care can be explained by at least three factors: persons who did not seek any care, were underdiagnosed or attended other health care providers.
-
To explore the prevalence of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain in a general population using the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology from 1990. ⋯ Compared to other studies, fibromyalgia and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain seemed to be relatively rare conditions in the south-west of Sweden.
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Sep 2000
"I could not lift my arm holding the fork...". Living with chronic fatigue syndrome.
To explore and describe symptoms and their consequences for patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). ⋯ The extent and nature of symptoms suggest that CSF is an essentially different and far more serious condition than the strains of everyday life. Our findings suggest immunological processes affecting the neuromuscular and central neural system comparable to the effects of cytostatic medication.
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2000
Wide variation in the number of different drugs prescribed by general practitioners. A prescription database study.
To investigate the number of different drugs prescribed per dispensing unit and to analyse the influence of practice characteristics on this number. ⋯ As the quality of drug prescribing is associated with the use of a limited number of drugs, it is suggested that GPs should agree on a formulary containing the most essential drugs in primary health care.
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Jun 2000
Reforming primary care in England--again. Plans for improving the quality of care.
An extensive programme of health service reform has begun in England. Improvement in the quality of care is a key objective of the reforms, and several initiatives are being introduced in response. These include systems to provide national guidance about appropriate treatment and services, a local system to support quality improvement and arrangements to monitor performance, including a new performance framework, an inspection agency and an annual survey of patients. ⋯ These include arrangements for setting objectives for quality improvement, the use of various quality improvement methods tailored to local needs and a new system to provide accountability to both the health service and the public. The introduction of clinical governance and all the other reforms presents primary care practitioners with a major challenge. However, if sufficient time is allowed and adequate resources are made available, the reforms do have the potential to improve health care in England.