The New Zealand medical journal
-
Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common and serious problem with an associated mortality of some 10%. It is desirable, both for optimising outcomes and for the efficient use of resources, that some form of risk assessment be made early and management be stratified accordingly. A risk scoring system was recently proposed and validated by Rockall and colleagues from the UK. We wished to assess its validity in a New Zealand setting. ⋯ The scoring system appears as valid in a New Zealand patient population as in the UK. We suggest that this scoring system be adopted in hospitals for patients with acute upper GI bleeding to efficiently direct the use of 'intensive care' type facilities to those most at risk, and thereby optimise management.
-
Comparative Study
Job satisfaction, psychological morbidity and job stress among New Zealand general practitioners.
To assess levels of psychological distress and job satisfaction among New Zealand general practitioners. ⋯ Overall, GPs were satisfied with their jobs. Levels of psychological symptoms were of concern, particularly in the 10% showing very high levels of psychological distress, and in rural and solo practitioners.
-
Severe community acquired pneumonia: a one-year analysis in a tertiary referral intensive care unit.
To define outcomes, characteristics, microbiology and salient prognostic factors of patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) with severe community acquired pneumonia, over a one year period. ⋯ Severe community acquired pneumonia carries a high mortality despite ICU management. Bacterial diagnostic rate was low but made no difference to mortality. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the commonest causative pathogen. The development of septic shock, requirement for mechanical ventilation and bilateral disease are important adverse prognostic indicators.
-
To examine the impact of a standardised trauma form for documentation in cases of major trauma, a prospective study was undertaken. ⋯ The use of a standardised form improves documentation in major trauma.