The European journal of general practice
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Methadone maintenance treatment in primary care is cost-effective and improves outcomes for opiate-dependent patients. A more developed understanding of the evolving needs of this important cohort will facilitate further improvements in their integrated care within the community. ⋯ Correcting for routine methadone care and drug-related illnesses, MMPs had a higher burden of chronic disease and used both primary and secondary health services more intensively than matched controls.
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Multicenter Study
Treatment targets in patients with type 2 diabetes set by primary care physicians from Central and Eastern Europe.
Primary care physicians have an important role in the care of patients with Type 2 diabetes but little is known about this issue in Central and Eastern European countries. ⋯ For patients with diabetes approximately half of physicians set treatment goals at levels that were recommended within the international guidelines. Most of them set treatment goals for HbA1c and BP at very low levels. Educational efforts to raise awareness about new treatment goals are needed.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Variation in family physicians' recording of auscultation abnormalities in patients with acute cough is not explained by case mix. A study from 12 European networks.
Conflicting data on the diagnostic and prognostic value of auscultation abnormalities may be partly explained by inconsistent use of terminology. ⋯ There is important variation in recording chest auscultation abnormalities by general practitioners across Europe, which cannot be explained by differences in patient characteristics. There is a need and opportunity for standardization in the detection and classification of lung sounds.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Assessing chronic pain in general practice: are guidelines relevant? A cluster randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate the impact of using pain assessment scales on the management of musculoskeletal chronic pain. ⋯ In general practice, the use of pain assessment scales is not associated with greater pain relief. The lesser level of pain relief obtained in the scale group does provide evidence that using pain assessment scales does not enhance the relief of chronic pain in patients in primary care. Guidelines which recommend the systematic use of scales for the assessment and monitoring of chronic pain are not tailored to either the context or the patients encountered in the primary care setting.