scholarly journals Use of office spirometers in Flemish general practice: results of a telephone survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Boffin ◽  
V. Van der Stighelen ◽  
D. Paulus ◽  
P. Van Royen

Background. While office spirometry is seen as potentially useful and feasible in general practice, little is known about its use in Flemish general practice. Our aim was to describe the use of spirometers by Flemish GPs, characteristics of their spirometry practice, training needs and preferences, and attitudes towards office spirometry. Methods. A telephone survey was set up in a random sample of Flemish GPs. Interviews were carried out by a GP researcher using a structured piloted questionnaire. Results. 197 out of 243 eligible GPs (81%) were interviewed. Most GPs (66%) had never used an office spirometer, 17.3% were using one and 16.7% stopped using one. Time constraints (54%) and insufficient knowledge and skills (27%) were the main reasons for not using an office spirometer (any longer). GPs particularly used their spirometer to diagnose COPD and asthma, and less frequently in follow-up. GPs (67.9%), especially current users (91.2%), considered spirometry as a GP task. Spirometry training should be provided (86%) and spirometry by GPs should be reimbursed (79.5%). More information on spirometry would be very useful (62.3%), with a marked preference for training in small groups (86.8%). Conclusion. Although office spirometry is not widespread in Flemish general practice, GPs show an undoubted interest in it. They need educational and financial support to overcome prevailing barriers in establishing office spirometry on a routine basis.


Impact ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (10) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Author(s):  
Akimichi Takemura

Shiga University opened the first data science faculty in Japan in April 2017. Beginning with an undergraduate class of 100 students, the Department has since established a Master's degree programme with 20 students in each annual intake. This is the first data science faculty in Japan and the University intends to retain this leading position, the Department is well-placed to do so. The faculty closely monitors international trends concerning data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and adapt its education and research accordingly. The genesis of this department marks a change in Japan's attitudes towards dealing with information and reflects a wider, global understanding of the need for further research in this area. Shiga University's Data Science department seeks to produce well-trained data scientists who demonstrate a good balance of knowledge and skills in each of the three key areas of data science.



2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 1696-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Frugaard Stroem ◽  
Helene Flood Aakvaag ◽  
Tore Wentzel-Larsen

This study investigates the relationship between the characteristics of different types of childhood violence and adult victimization using two waves of data from a community telephone survey (T1) and a follow-up survey, including 505 cases and 506 controls, aged 17-35 years (T2). The logistic regression analyses showed that exposure to childhood abuse, regardless of type, was associated with adult victimization. Exposure to multiple types of abuse, victimization both in childhood and in young adulthood, and recency of abuse increased these odds. Our findings emphasize the importance of assessing multiple forms of violence when studying revictimization. Practitioners working with children and young adults should be attentive to the number of victimization types experienced and recent victimization to prevent further abuse.



Livestock ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-201
Author(s):  
John F Mee ◽  
Rhona Ley

Postmortem examinations can be a useful diagnostic tool in farm animal medicine; however, they are often avoided in general practice because of a lack of appropriate facilities and expertise/familiarity with techniques. This article describes the setting up of a basic facility to allow general practitioners to perform postmortem examinations of calves, small ruminants and other small animals, e.g. poultry.



2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Holmes ◽  
U Mirza ◽  
C Manning ◽  
R Cooke ◽  
R Jugdey

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 has placed unprecedented demand on services at ELHT and it has become necessary to have telephone clinics to reduce the number of face-to-face clinics. A ‘telephone triage clinic’ was set up for referrals from A&E. Our project evaluated patient and clinician satisfaction on this. Method We carried out a retrospective telephone questionnaire with patients over a one-week period during the pandemic. We focussed on overall satisfaction of the consultation and quality of communication. Consultants were also surveyed for their opinion on the clinics. Results From 30 patients, 77% said they were ‘very satisfied’ with the overall experience. 80% of patients were ‘very satisfied’ with the overall length of the telephone consultation. 50% of patients felt the clinician was only ‘adequately’ able to assess them over the telephone. The consultants were less satisfied with the overall experience of telephone consultation. A common theme was that they felt ED documentation could be improved to help inform ongoing management. Conclusions Overall, patients were satisfied with the consultations. It has been successful in minimising face to face consultations however some presentations necessitate further evaluation. We need to identify those injuries appropriate for virtual follow up and design a local protocol for these.



2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e000839
Author(s):  
Heather Cassie ◽  
Vinay Mistry ◽  
Laura Beaton ◽  
Irene Black ◽  
Janet E Clarkson ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEnsuring that healthcare is patient-centred, safe and harm free is the cornerstone of the NHS. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national initiative to support the provision of safe, high-quality care. SPSP promotes a coordinated approach to quality improvement (QI) in primary care by providing evidence-based methods, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. These methods are relatively untested within dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact to inform the development and implementation of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in primary care dentistry.DesignA multimethod study underpinned by the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Kirkpatrick model. Quantitative data were collected using baseline and follow-up questionnaires, designed to explore beliefs and behaviours towards improving quality in practice. Qualitative data were gathered using interviews with dental team members and practice-based case studies.ResultsOne hundred and eleven dental team members completed the baseline questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 79 team members. Twelve practices, including two case studies, participated in evaluation interviews. Findings identified positive beliefs and increased knowledge and skills towards QI, as well as increased confidence about using QI methodologies in practice. Barriers included time, poor patient and team engagement, communication and leadership. Facilitators included team working, clear roles, strong leadership, training, peer support and visible benefits. Participants’ knowledge and skills were identified as an area for improvement.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate increased knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to QI methodology and highlight areas for improvement. This is an example of partnership working between the Scottish Government and NHSScotland towards a shared ambition to provide safe care to every patient. More work is required to evaluate the sustainability and transferability of improvement collaboratives as a means for QI in dentistry and wider primary care.



2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ahluwalia ◽  
S. Toy ◽  
C. Gutierrez ◽  
K. Boggs ◽  
K. Douglass

Abstract Background Pediatric emergency medicine training is in its infancy in India. Simulation provides an educational avenue to equip trainees with the skills to improve pediatric care. We hypothesized that a simulation-based curriculum can improve Indian post-graduate emergency medicine (EM) trainees’ self-efficacy, knowledge, and skills in pediatric care. Methods We designed a simulation-based curriculum for management of common pediatric emergencies including sepsis, trauma, and respiratory illness and pediatric-specific procedures including vascular access and airway skills. Training included didactics, procedural skill stations, and simulation. Measures included a self-efficacy survey, knowledge test, skills checklist, and follow-up survey. Results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired-samples t test. A 6-month follow-up survey was done to evaluate lasting effects of the intervention. Results Seventy residents from four academic hospitals in India participated. Trainees reported feeling significantly more confident, after training, in performing procedures, and managing pediatric emergencies (p < 0.001). After the simulation-based curriculum, trainees demonstrated an increase in medical knowledge of 19% (p < 0.01) and improvement in procedural skills from baseline to mastery of 18%, 20%, 16%, and 19% for intubation, bag-valve mask ventilation, intravenous access, and intraosseous access respectively (p < 0.01). At 6-month follow-up, self-efficacy in procedural skills and management of pediatric emergencies improved from baseline. Conclusions A simulation-based curriculum is an effective and sustainable way to improve Indian post-graduate EM trainees’ self-efficacy, knowledge, and skills in pediatric emergency care.



2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Marina Pekar-Zlotin ◽  
Anat Alufi Naim ◽  
Perry Eliassi Revivo ◽  
Nadav Kugler ◽  
Yaakov Melcer ◽  
...  

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> In 2011, the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) published standard guidelines for the follow-up of pregnant women infected by CMV, recommending that amniocentesis be performed in cases of maternal serum viral seroconversion or abnormal sonographic findings suggestive of CMV, in order to prove fetal infection before electing for pregnancy termination. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A retrospective cohort study was performed, describing 448 pregnant women from 2006 to 2017. We collected data from all women that elected to continue their pregnancies after seroconversion and also of those who chose to undergo pregnancy termination. Subsequently, a telephone survey was then conducted to record outcomes of the newborns of women with CMV seroconversion during pregnancy. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 325 (73%) women chose to continue their pregnancy, while 123 (27%) opted for termination of pregnancy. We found that pregnancy termination due to CMV infection was reduced by 7%, from 72 cases (32%) to 51 cases (25%) after the implementation of the MOH guidelines in 2011. In addition, 182/305 (60%) of women responded to our telephone questionnaire regarding newborn outcomes. Of these women, 45/305 (14%) reported complications, and no correlation was found between the prenatal findings and postnatal outcome among those who have responded to our survey. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Implementation of the new MOH guidelines has reduced the rate of pregnancy termination, without increasing the rate of neonatal complications in Israel with a similar outcome of complication rate as reported in the literature.



1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Lindall

Sixty-five selected patients with pain, mainly of musculo-skeletal origin, were offered treatment by a qualified medical acupuncturist in his general practice surgery as an alternative to hospital outpatient referral. The patients assessed their own outcomes on a digital scale: there were 46 successful treatments and 14 failures, with 5 being lost to follow up. The cost of acupuncture treatment was compared to that of the referral that would have been made if acupuncture had not been offered. The acupuncture was found to have cost £10,943 against a minimum likely cost for hospital referrals of £26,783. A minimum total saving for all 60 patients of £13,916 was determined, giving an average saving per patient of £232. Additional hidden savings through avoiding further hospital procedures and expenditure on medication were not taken into account. It is concluded that acupuncture in selected patients and when used by an appropriately qualified practitioner appears to be a cost-effective therapy for use in general practice, reducing the need for more expensive hospital referrals.





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