The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized controlled trial of general practitioner versus usual medical care in a suburban accident and emergency department using an informal triage system.
We determined if care provided by general practitioners (GPs) to non-emergency patients, in a suburban accident and emergency (A&E) department using an informal triage system, differs significantly from care provided by usual A&E staff. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight patients participated. ⋯ This is the first study to report that sessional GPs working in an A&E department utilize similar or more resources than usual A&E staff. It emphasizes the need for the continued audit of initiatives that have been introduced into new settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Suprascapular nerve block for the treatment of frozen shoulder in primary care: a randomized trial.
Frozen shoulder is a common problem in general practice, but its treatment is difficult since none of the currently used therapies are proven to be effective. ⋯ This study suggests that suprascapular nerve block is a safe and effective treatment for frozen shoulder in primary care, and justifies a larger multicentred trial using independent blinded assessment. Such a study should include a third group treated by suprascapular nerve block without steroid; a more comprehensive assessment of patient debility.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A randomized controlled trial of antibiotics on symptom resolution in patients presenting to their general practitioner with a sore throat.
Sore throat is a common symptom presented to general practitioners (GPs), and there remains controversy about the appropriate use of antibiotics. ⋯ Compared with placebo, cefixime can improve the rate of resolution of symptoms in patients with a sore throat who are selected for antibiotic treatment by their GP. The unexpected finding that cefixime was of benefit compared with placebo for patients without GABHS suggests that bacteria other than GABHS may be important in the pathogenesis of sore throat.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Global measures of outcome in a controlled comparison of pharmacological and psychological treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia in primary care.
Panic disorder, with and without agoraphobia, is a prevalent condition which presents primarily in general practice. Previous clinical outcome studies have been conducted mainly in specialist university departments or hospital settings, and have tended to employ complex rating scales that are not well suited for use as outcome measures in primary care. ⋯ The brief global measures reported here proved adequate to the task of assessing treatment outcome. Results indicate that treatments including cognitive behaviour therapy can be effective in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia in primary care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Do patients with sore throat benefit from penicillin? A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with penicillin V in general practice.
The effect of antibiotic therapy in sore throat is questionable and this dilemma has been complicated by the emergence of multiple resistant strains of micro-organisms. ⋯ Only GABHS-positive patients benefit from penicillin V in their clinical cure in the first few days. Therefore, rapid testing is necessary. Treatment may be beneficial with regard to the clinical course, but it is not necessary.