General practitioners’ use of sickness certification guidelines in Sweden at introduction and four years later: a survey study

BackgroundThe positive predictive value of clinical hip examinations performed by generalist health professionals in screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is low.AimTo assess the self-reported recognition of nationally recommended clinical hip examinations in the screening programme for DDH in Denmark among midwives, general practitioners (GPs), and GPs in training.Design & settingA web based open survey study among Danish midwives, GPs and GPs in trainingMethodRespondents were asked to identify which of six written statements of clinical hip examinations were featured in the national Danish guidelines on DDH screening. Three statements were the official statements of the Ortolani, Galeazzi, and hip abduction examinations from the national guidelines and three statements were false and constructed by the author group. Participants were asked to select up to six statements.ResultsA total of 178 (58 GPs, 97 midwives and 23 GPs in training) responses were included.Eighty-nine per cent of responders correctly identified the Ortolani manoeuvre and 92% correctly identified one of the constructed descriptions as being false. The remaining four descriptions had significantly lower correct answer percentages ranging from 41% to 58% with significantly lower correct answer percentages of midwives for three out of all six descriptions when compared to GPs.ConclusionWe conclude that the recognition of two out of three recommended clinical hip examinations in the Danish screening program for DDH is overall low among current screeners. Efforts should be made to heighten the knowledge level by further education of screeners.

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Vision Screening in Children in the Canton of St. Gallen

Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde ◽

10.1055/a-0786-8377 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 236 (04) ◽

pp. 429-433

Author(s):

Leila Eppenberger ◽

Petra Züst ◽

Andrea Kunz ◽

Caroline Scheitlin ◽

Jan Heckmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

General Practitioner ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Survey Study ◽

Vision Screening ◽

Testing Procedures ◽

Screening Procedures

Abstract Background Pediatric vision screening has been shown to reduce the prevalence of amblyopia. To assess the current local situation in the Canton of St. Gallen, a survey study was performed. Methods A standardized questionnaire was sent to 191 general practitioners and school doctors to obtain information on the currently applied vision screening protocols for children. The questionnaire included 17 questions with multiple answers possible. Results Sixty-seven participants (35%) answered the survey. Overall, 61 (91%) of the repliers confirmed that some sort of vision screening exists. According to 45 (67%) repliers, a mandatory examination exists. As to the question about the person performing the examination, multiple answers were given; 39 (44%) answered that the secretary or the medical practical assistant performs the vision tests, 15 (17%) indicated the school doctor, and 25 (28%) indicated the general practitioner or the pediatrician. Most screening tests are performed in a general practitionerʼs practice (32; 40%), some are done in the kindergartens (17; 21%), and others are done in a pediatricianʼs practice (17; 21%). The majority of children are tested at the age of 5 – 6 years (58, 87%). Sixty-one (91%) of the repliers indicated that at least the childrenʼs visual acuity is measured. Acuity is assessed with different methods, mainly, with pictures (20; 30%), numbers (23; 34%), and Snellen optotypes (33; 49%). Conclusions There are no consistent regulations regarding vision screening in the Canton of St. Gallen. Actually, rather different screening scenarios exist. Tests are performed by a variety of people in different locations with diverse testing procedures. A standardization of the applied screening procedures at cantonal and national levels seems reasonable.

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