The European journal of general practice
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Diagnostic delay in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is typical, yet the proportion of patients with PE that experienced delay and for how many days is less well described, nor are determinants for such delay. ⋯ Patients may have symptoms for almost one week before PE is diagnosed and in about a quarter of patients, the diagnostic delay is even longer.
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The European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) has recently published an updated research strategy with the overall aim being to promote relevant research of the highest quality within general practice/family medicine (GP/FM). The Research Strategy indicates a global direction and serves as a basis for more detailed plans in individual countries that will take into account the characteristics of a country, its specific needs and the level of current research capacity. This paper aims to provide a summary of the EGPRN Research Strategy. ⋯ Knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) is an important component to ensure a process of exchange between researchers and knowledge users. Working to improve leadership, to support the creation of a research culture in GP/FM and to increase national and international networking are considered as fundamental to ensuring a portfolio of high-quality research and for improving the impact of GP/FM research. The recommendations in the Research Strategy are based on a review of the literature on general practice research from 2010 to 2019 and are set in the context of a theoretical framework.
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A doctor may recommend that a patient stop an antibiotic course before its scheduled completion time if further treatment may cause more harm than benefit. ⋯ The GPs in this study employ the strategy of AD. Nonetheless, essential differences lie in their views of the way the strategy is used. Further studies are warranted to explore the beliefs behind these perceptions and promote wider use of AD by GPs.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent lung disease. It is assumed that severe patients will receive better treatment in specialised care centres but the prevalence of severe COPD in primary care is high. Integrated primary care services combine input from several sources and advice from pulmonologists to provide general practitioners with support needed to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD. ⋯ An integrated service for COPD based in primary care may improve the health status of patients with a large burden of disease while not increasing health care costs.