International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Nov 2015
ReviewPractical use of povidone-iodine antiseptic in the maintenance of oral health and in the prevention and treatment of common oropharyngeal infections.
To better inform medical practitioners on the role of antiseptics in oropharyngeal health and disease, this article focuses on povidone-iodine (PVP-I), an established and widely-available antiseptic agent. ⋯ The link between oral and oropharyngeal health status and susceptibility to infection has long been recognised. The high rates of antibiotic misuse and subsequent development of bacterial resistance (e.g. increasing vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) in large parts of the world, especially across Asia Pacific, highlight the need for identifying alternative antimicrobials that would minimise the use of these medications. This, together with recent large-scale outbreaks of, for example, avian and swine influenza virus, further underline the importance of an increasing armamentarium for infection prevention and control.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Nov 2015
ReviewCommunication in healthcare: a narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations.
Effective and efficient communication is crucial in healthcare. Written communication remains the most prevalent form of communication between specialised and primary care. We aimed at reviewing the literature on the quality of written communication, the impact of communication inefficiencies and recommendations to improve written communication in healthcare. ⋯ There is room for improvement of both content and timeliness of written communication. The delineation of ownership of the communication process should be clear. Peer review, process indicators and follow-up tools are required to measure the impact of quality improvement initiatives. Communication between caregivers should feature more prominently in graduate and postgraduate training, to become engraved as an essential skill and quality characteristic of each caregiver.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Nov 2015
The use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) among a community sample of people with chronic non-cancer pain prescribed opioids.
The regular use of simple analgesics in addition to opioids such as paracetamol (or acetaminophen) is recommended for persistent pain to enhance analgesia. Few studies have examined the frequency and doses of paracetamol among people with chronic non-cancer pain including use above the recommended maximum daily dose. ⋯ The majority of people with chronic non-cancer pain prescribed opioids report using paracetamol appropriately. High income, use of paracetamol/opioid combination analgesics and higher opioid dose were independently associated with paracetamol use above the recommended maximum daily dose.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Nov 2015
Zopiclone use associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis: a case-control study in Taiwan.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between zopiclone use and the risk of acute pancreatitis in Taiwan. ⋯ Subjects actively using zopiclone are associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Clinicians should take acute pancreatitis risk into account when prescribing zopiclone, particularly comorbid with alcohol-related disease or biliary stone.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Nov 2015
Use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients: insights from a specialist atrial fibrillation clinic.
Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are broadly preferable to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) given their overall net clinical benefit. We report an audit of the profile of OAC usage and adverse events in patients attending a specialist AF clinic. ⋯ In this specialist AF clinic, patients prescribed NOACs had a favourable adverse event profile with good efficacy for stroke prevention, with a low rate of cessation or switch to warfarin.