scholarly journals Correspondence from substance misuse services – what do general practitioners really want?

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 292-294
Author(s):  
Devatha Radhae Shyam ◽  
Hugh Williams
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Medication Prescribing

Aims and MethodTo improve the quality of correspondence by identifying what general practitioners (GPs) regarded as the important attributes in patient letters from a substance misuse service. A postal questionnaire survey was carried out to determine the views of general practitioners in Brighton and Hove City.ResultsResponses were obtained from 32 out of 45 GP surgeries (71%) and indicated that correspondence should be prompt, concise and regular. An assessment summary, management plan and clear medication prescribing arrangements between primary and secondary services were considered particularly important.Clinical ImplicationsNew quality standards for correspondence to GPs have been implemented by the Brighton Substance Misuse Service. These might be of interest to other such services.

scholarly journals Drug services in England and Wales: a survey of treatment providers and their medical leads

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 140-142
Author(s):  
Nick Airey ◽  
Stuart McLaren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Services ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Drug Action ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Treatment Providers

Aims and MethodWe undertook a postal questionnaire survey of drug action teams in England and Wales with the aim of clarifying the nature of statutory specialist drug services.ResultsOf 159 drug action teams, 110 (69%) responded; 64 (58%) reported that mental health trusts exclusively provided their specialist drug services. Other providers were primary care and acute trusts, the non-statutory sector and social services. The majority of medical leads were psychiatrists (123 senior posts with 20% vacant/occupied by a locum), then general practitioners (GPs) (42) and other specialists (4).Clinical ImplicationsSpecialist drug services are offered by a range of treatment providers, with the medical lead being taken by GPs and other specialists in some areas. In view of the current difficulty in recruiting psychiatrists, we propose that alternative training pathways are considered for addiction specialists.

scholarly journals Droperidol dropped; consultants not consulted

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (08) ◽  
pp. 301-304
Author(s):  
Gavin Reid ◽  
Mark Hughson
Keyword(s):  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
The West ◽  
Abrupt Withdrawal ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Adequate Evaluation ◽  
Psychiatric Profession ◽  
The Impact

Aims and Method We conducted a postal questionnaire survey of the practice of rapid tranquillisation among 215 consultant psychiatrists in the West of Scotland, before and after the withdrawal of droperidol by the manufacturer. Results One hundred and eighty questionnaires (84% of those sent) were returned. Droperidol had been used extensively, often combined with lorazepam, for rapid tranquillisation. The main replacement suggested for droperidol was haloperidol. About half of the respondents to our survey chose to comment on the withdrawal of droperidol. More than half of the comments were unfavourable, including lack of an adequate replacement and lack of consultation with the psychiatric profession. Clinical Implications The abrupt withdrawal of droperidol, partly for commercial reasons, was regrettable. There was no time for an adequate evaluation of possible replacement medications and a lack of consultation with the profession regarding the impact on clinical care.

Usage of clozapine and the new neuroleptics

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 478-480
Author(s):  
M. F. Bristow
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioner ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Atypical Antipsychotic ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
England And Wales

Aims and methodTo explore clozapine and atypical antipsychotic usage in England and Wales, particularly availability, restrictions on use and shifting of prescribing to general practitioners. To examine the hypothesis that respondents in acute trusts would encounter more restrictions. Method used – postal questionnaire sent to general psychiatrists derived from the 1996 Medical Directory.ResultsThere was an 80% response rate and over 90% of respondents used clozapine, with only 9% reporting any difficulty in obtaining it. Difficulty was not associated with any particular type of trust. Only about 4% of respondents suggested that general practitioners regularly took over the prescribing costs of the drug.Clinical implicationsOptimistic, with widespread usage and few difficulties in obtaining clozapine. General practitioner prescribing is still very low and needs to increase.

scholarly journals The impact of the Defeat Depression campaign

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Orrell ◽  
Elizabeth Collins ◽  
Bob Baldwin ◽  
Cornelius Katona
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
The Impact

A postal questionnaire survey of nearly a thousand doctors investigated their awareness of the Defeat Depression campaign. Nearly all the consultant psychiatrists had heard of the campaign compared to less than half of the geriatricians and the general practitioners (GPs). Just over half of the psychiatry trainees had heard of the campaign. GPs who had not heard of the campaign were also less likely to continue antidepressant treatment beyond three months after recovery, less familiar with the psychological therapies, and less confident about treating depression in the elderly. The campaign may benefit from an increased emphasis on doctors other than psychiatrists.

scholarly journals Comparing general practitioners and specialist alcohol services in the management of alcohol withdrawal

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 214-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Naik ◽  
J. Lawton ◽  
L. W. Brownell
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Pharmacological Management ◽  
History Of

Aims and MethodA postal questionnaire was used to compare the pharmacological management of alcohol withdrawal as carried out by a group of general practitioners and specialist alcohol services.ResultsGeneral practitioners were significantly more likely to prescribe chlormethiazole, less likely to use B vitamins and less likely to admit patients with a history of withdrawal complications.Clinical ImplicationsGeneral practitioners need training in order to improve their management of alcohol withdrawal.

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