BMJ : British medical journal
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of three methods for estimating rates of adverse events and rates of preventable adverse events in acute care hospitals.
To compare the effectiveness, reliability, and acceptability of estimating rates of adverse events and rates of preventable adverse events using three methods: cross sectional (data gathered in one day), prospective (data gathered during hospital stay), and retrospective (review of medical records). ⋯ The prospective method of data collection may be more appropriate for epidemiological studies that aim to convince clinical teams that their errors contribute significantly to adverse events, to study organisational and human factors, and to assess the impact of risk reduction programmes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Penicillin for acute sore throat in children: randomised, double blind trial.
To assess the effectiveness of penicillin for three days and treatment for seven days compared with placebo in resolving symptoms in children with sore throat. ⋯ Penicillin treatment had no beneficial effect in children with sore throat on the average duration of symptoms. Penicillin may, however, reduce streptococcal sequelae.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Rapid tranquillisation for agitated patients in emergency psychiatric rooms: a randomised trial of midazolam versus haloperidol plus promethazine.
To compare two widely used drug treatments for people with aggression or agitation due to mental illness. ⋯ Both treatments were effective. Midazolam was more rapidly sedating than haloperidol-promethazine, reducing the time people are exposed to aggression. Adverse effects and resources to deal with them should be considered in the choice of the treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of aid to diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions in general practice: controlled trial randomised by practice.
To determine whether an aid to the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions reduces the ratio of benign lesions to melanomas excised in general practice. ⋯ Provision of the algorithm and camera did not decrease the ratio of benign pigmented skin lesions to melanomas excised by general practitioners.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Virtual outreach: economic evaluation of joint teleconsultations for patients referred by their general practitioner for a specialist opinion.
To test the hypotheses that, compared with conventional outpatient consultations, joint teleconsultation (virtual outreach) would incur no increased costs to the NHS, reduce costs to patients, and reduce absences from work by patients and their carers. ⋯ The main hypothesis that virtual outreach would be cost neutral is rejected, but the hypotheses that costs to patients and losses in productivity would be lower are supported.