The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Difficulties in differential diagnosis of COPD and asthma in primary care.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma treatment must be based on appropriate diagnosis. However, patients receiving inhaled therapy in primary care may not be accurately diagnosed according to current guidelines. ⋯ Most patients can be classified as having COPD or asthma by primary care physicians. The use of the two questionnaires did not provide a better differential diagnostic compared with symptoms and spirometry with a BDT. Misdiagnosis may lead to inadequate treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Patients' experiences of self-monitoring blood pressure and self-titration of medication: the TASMINH2 trial qualitative study.
Self-management of hypertension, comprising self-monitoring of blood pressure with self-titration of medication, improves blood pressure control, but little is known regarding the views of patients undertaking it. ⋯ Participants valued the additional information and many felt confident in both self-monitoring blood pressure and self-titrating medication. The reluctance to change medication for borderline readings suggests behaviour similar to the clinical inertia seen for physicians in analogous circumstances. Additional support for those lacking in confidence to implement prearranged medication changes may allow more patients to undertake self-management.