The New Zealand medical journal
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Do preformatted charts improve doctors' documentation in a rural hospital emergency department? A prospective trial.
To determine if the introduction of preformatted patient record charts improved documentation by doctors in a rural emergency department. ⋯ A structured proforma does improve documentation. However, the improvement is small and further studies are required before use of preformatted patient records for the undifferentiated emergency department patients can be recommended.
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Comparative Study
The use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
To investigate the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with recuperating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. To study prevalence rates and changes in clinically relevant anxiety and depression during rehabilitation. ⋯ Clinically relevant anxiety, indicated by higher HADS scores, was more common in patients with severe COPD, a past history of anxiety or depression and females. Anxiety and total mood improved during inpatient rehabilitation. The use of this instrument with New Zealand COPD patients may improve identification and treatment of anxious and depressed patients.
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To acquaint New Zealand doctorsabout nurse telephone triage using call centre technology, and to report the activities of Healthline, a pilot call centre telephone triage project in New Zealand. ⋯ Healthline is providing a safe and acceptable primary care triage service in its pilot regions and appears to be meeting its first objective of providing timely and appropriate access to health advice and services.