The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Attendance at health checks of patients already registered with a general practitioner is known to be poor, with those in need least likely to attend. Little is known of the efficacy of such checks for newly registered patients. ⋯ Attendance at registration health checks at these practices was poor and non-attenders tended to be more socially deprived than attenders and had relatively unhealthy lifestyles. Although the health checks increased the attenders' motivation to alter smoking and drinking habits, inviting all new patients to a health check would appear to result in poor targeting of health promotion resources and may widen inequalities in health.
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This study set out to explore the influence that holiday travel might have on the rate at which new episodes of illness are reported to general practitioners. ⋯ This study suggests that the present focus on the supposed excess morbidity of patients returning from foreign holidays is misplaced.
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A musculoskeletal clinic, staffed by a general practitioner trained in osteopathy, medical acupuncture and intralesional injections, was set up in an inner London general practice in 1987. ⋯ The clinic encouraged a relatively low referral rate to musculoskeletal specialists outside the practice. However, a need was identified for better communication about the potential of the approaches used in order that referrals to secondary specialists, particularly orthopaedic specialists, could be further reduced.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Evaluation of an easy, cost-effective strategy for cutting benzodiazepine use in general practice.
This study set out to assess the effect of a letter from the general practitioner, suggesting a reduction in the use of benzodiazepines, and whether the impact of the letter could be increased by the addition of information on how to tackle drug reduction. ⋯ The results indicate that a simple intervention can have a considerable effect on the use of hypnotic and anxiolytic drugs, even with a sample of elderly users.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of long-term health problems following childbirth among Asian and Caucasian mothers.
While obstetric problems in Asian women have been documented, little is known about longer term health problems following childbirth. This study compares long-term postpartum morbidity in Asian and Caucasian women who had had an infant at a Birmingham maternity unit between 1978 and 1985. A total of 11,701 women returned the questionnaire asking about their experience of a list of 25 health problems. ⋯ All these symptoms started within three months of the birth, lasted more than six weeks and had not previously been experienced. Most symptoms persisted for more than a year, and even after several years, many had not resolved. The possible role of vitamin D deficiency and the value of antenatal vitamin D supplements are discussed.