Scandinavian journal of primary health care
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Dec 1989
Sickness absenteeism and mortality in patients with excessive drinking in somatic out-patient care.
In a study of 2114 patients attending somatic outpatient clinics, 208 were classified as excessive drinkers. Sickness benefit days and sickness periods per year, disability pension, and mortality were studied for the years 1981 to 1985. The excessive drinkers as a group had 13 to 27 more sickness days per year than the other patients. ⋯ The excessive drinking patients without advanced alcohol problems did not have more sickness days than the other patients. Most of these patients (75%) were sick-listed without recognition of their excessive drinking by their doctor. This emphasizes the importance, in terms of sickness benefits and mortality, of better identification of patients with excessive drinking.
-
The article is a short summary of a PhD-thesis, which was accepted by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Copenhagen, May 1989. The thesis is written in Danish with an English summary. It can be obtained free at the Department of General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 18, DK-2100 København O, Denmark, as long as issues are still available.
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · May 1988
The diagnosis of adult pneumonia in general practice. The diagnostic value of history, physical examination and some blood tests.
Because of lower respiratory infection that was treated with antibiotics on the suspicion of pneumonia, 71 patients aged 15 years or more were referred to the study by general practitioners. Using a positive chest X-ray as a "gold standard", 15% had pneumonia. The diagnostic value of variables from history, physical examination and blood tests was evaluated by calculating the likelihood ratio (LR). ⋯ The white blood cell count and particularly the C-reactive protein analysis had a high diagnostic value, CRP greater than 50 mg/l had an LR of 37. In this selected material pulmonary symptoms and lung findings were of minor value in differentiating patients with and without pneumonia, with no LR exceeding 2.3. This can be explained to some extent by selection bias.
-
The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence and social characteristics of men and women with alcohol-related problems in a primary care district by registers and also the utility of the data in primary health care and the municipality. 4.5% of the men and 0.5% of the women in Olofström were known for an alcohol-related problem (in at least one of 22 registers during 1980) ("problem drinkers"). The prevalence rate was higher in the younger age groups and among men and women born in Finland. For the five-year period 1977-81 the prevalence rate was 7.3% for men and 0.9% for women. ⋯ About 2/3 of the registered "problem drinkers" in 1980 were found in sources belonging to the health care sector, 2/3 in sources related to the social service and thus 1/3 to both the health care sector and the social service. More than 90% of the "problem drinkers" in 1980 were found in one of five register agencies. By collecting data from a few register sources a general practitioner in Sweden can in a short time get valuable information about alcohol problems in his catchment area.
-
Scand J Prim Health Care · Nov 1986
Are cystometric and cystoscopic examinations of any value for disabled incontinent elderly?
According to assessments made by the personnel and patients' own reports 42% of males and 54% of females aged 65 years or over and attending the day hospital in the town of Tampere were found to be incontinent. Incontinence was related to the frequency of urinating in the daytime. All incontinent patients of the day hospital were referred to the urologist at the University Hospital. ⋯ It is concluded, that not all incontinent elderly patients should be sent for cystometric and cystoscopic examination. Residual urine should be measured, if urinary retention is thought to be associated with incontinence. Furthermore, the classification of incontinence cannot be made only by using anamnestic questions.