Clin Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised trial of peer review: the UK National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Resources and Outcomes Project.
Peer review has been widely employed within the NHS to facilitate health quality improvement but has not been rigorously evaluated. This article reports the largest randomised trial of peer review ever conducted in the UK. The peer review intervention was a reciprocal supportive exercise that included clinicians, hospital management, commissioners and patients which focused on the quality of the provision of four specific evidence-based aspects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care. ⋯ Findings suggest peer review in this format is a positive experience for most participants but is ineffective in some situations. Its longer term benefits and cost effectiveness require further study. The generic findings of this study have potential implications for the application of peer review throughout the NHS.
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Diaphragm disease occurs in 2% of chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug users and occasionally may cause subacute small bowel obstruction.
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Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. National guidelines recommend that a minimum of 14 days of antibiotics should be used to treat uncomplicated bacteraemia. ⋯ This increase in compliance was noted in both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (45% versus 58%) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (42% versus 62%) bacteraemia. This audit demonstrated a simple and effective intervention that has improved the treatment of this potentially life-threatening condition.