Prevalence rates were comparable with those reported in other studies. The significant discrepancies between data sources suggest patient recall bias or underrecording in case notes. The low consultation rate, time off, and day-to-day disability indicate that most episodes are self-limiting.
This study examined the relationship between hospital admissions for patients with diabetes mellitus and residence in an area of social deprivation. Admissions of patients with diabetes mellitus were identified during a 5-year period between 1987 and 1992 using the district patient information service. All persons admitted were assigned to an electoral ward on the basis of their postcode. Age standardized admission rates were compared to the Townsend Deprivation Score for each electoral ward. A positive correlation was found between age standardized admission rate and Townsend Score (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). We believe this has significance for planning health care resources.
Therapeutic experience has suggested that there may be an association between parental loss and delinquency. Losses experienced by boys in care and their families were compared with losses experienced by control boys and their families. Boys in care had experienced significantly more losses through the death, divorce or separation of their parents than had control boys. The mothers of boys in care had also experienced significantly more losses when they were minors than any other group, including their sons. Maternal losses are significantly associated with boys being taken into care following legal proceedings.
The aim of this study was to improve clinical management through rationalization of repeat prescribing in an inner-city practice with a high percentage of older adults with extensive comorbidity through systematic review and cost containment. Outcome measures were based on an analysis of PACT data for level and cost of prescribing before and after the systematic reviews, reported patient and staff satisfaction with changes and the identification of drug interactions. The formalization of a 28-day prescribing cycle and systematic review every 6 months was almost universally acceptable to patients and staff. The systematic review led to a decrease in prescribing costs of 12% over 2 years. The number and cost of wound dressings decreased by almost 50%. The prescribing of inappropriate medications, over-the-counter drugs, benzodiazepines and combinations of drugs that interacted was reduced. The study demonstrates that monitoring and rationalization of repeat prescribing can reduce costs and improve quality of care. In addition, increased surveillance on the part of the reception staff improved communication both between members of staff and between members of staff and patients. This led to increased confidence in repeat prescribing among all staff.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.