The Medical journal of Australia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
An expert-supported monitoring system for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in general practice: results of a cluster randomised controlled trial.
To investigate the long-term effectiveness of a general practice monitoring system with respiratory expert recommendations for general practitioners' management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), compared with usual care. ⋯ An expert-supported monitoring system for patients with COPD was not clinically effective. As patients had a pre-existing entry in the monitoring system, the population may be well regulated, with reduced room for improvement.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effectiveness of point-of-care testing for therapeutic control of chronic conditions: results from the PoCT in General Practice Trial.
To compare the clinical effectiveness of point-of-care testing (PoCT) and that of pathology laboratory testing, as measured by therapeutic control in chronic conditions. ⋯ This study provides important evidence for those considering the introduction of PoCT into general practice. For all tests except INR and HDL cholesterol, the PoCT approach demonstrated the same or better clinical effectiveness than pathology laboratory testing.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Is symptom burden a predictor of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer about to commence chemotherapy?
To assess the prevalence, severity and distress from physical symptoms and the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients about to undergo chemotherapy for potentially curable cancers; and to explore the presence of symptom clusters and investigate their relationships with anxiety and depression. ⋯ Before commencing chemotherapy, patients are already experiencing distressing symptoms and have high scores for anxiety and depression, partially explained by physical symptom distress. Patients should be routinely screened for both emotional and physical needs and appropriate interventions should be developed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The influence of depression and anxiety on outcomes after an intervention for prediabetes.
To conduct initial analyses and examine ways in which depression and anxiety are associated with outcomes after participation in the Healthy Living Course (HLC), an early-intervention diabetes prevention program for adults with prediabetes. ⋯ Our findings highlight the importance of assessing mood factors in prediabetes, and the need to develop theoretical models of change mechanisms for mood in health outcomes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The United Kingdom Expert Patients Programme: results and implications from a national evaluation.
The Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is a central element of chronic disease management policy in the United Kingdom. It aims to deliver self-care support by developing peoples' self-care skills, confidence and motivation to take more effective control over their long-term conditions. ⋯ The development and evaluation of self-care support initiatives should take into account the extent to which self-care support initiatives can be integrated into peoples' everyday lives, and the degree of fit with patients' existing adaptations and strategies. Rather than being concentrated on a single course, central resources for self-management support should be directed at a variety of systems and interventions that are able to meet the wide range of needs of patients with chronic conditions.