The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Education to improve timeliness of shingles diagnosis: Cluster RCT and qualitative study.
Herpes zoster (shingles) is normally diagnosed clinically. Timely diagnosis is important so that antiviral treatment can be started soon after rash onset. ⋯ Our educational intervention did not improve the timely assessment of patients with shingles. This may be the result of poor intervention engagement.
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Unplanned admissions to hospital represent a hazardous event for older people. Timely identification of high-risk individuals using a prediction tool may facilitate preventive interventions. ⋯ The models showed satisfactory predictive ability. Reducing the number of predictors and geographic validation did not have an impact on predictive performance, demonstrating the robustness of the model. An easy-to-use tool has been developed in this study that may assist GPs in decision making and with targeted preventive interventions.
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Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can alleviate menopausal symptoms but has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. MHT prescription should be preceded by individualised risk/benefit evaluation; however, data outlining the impact of family history alongside different MHT therapeutic approaches are lacking. ⋯ In this model, both family history and MHT are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Estimates of the risks of breast cancer associated with MHT for women with different family histories can be used to support decision making around MHT prescription for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
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The first 100 days after childbirth are important for women recovering from pregnancy and birth. ⋯ Primary care services should seek to match the needs of new mothers, taking account of a high volume of contacts, for a broad range of planned and responsive care following childbirth.