Journal of public health medicine
-
J Public Health Med · Jun 1999
Management of ischaemic heart disease in primary care: towards better practice. STaRNet. South Thames Region Network.
Ischaemic heart disease is the commonest cause of mortality in the United Kingdom. The objective of this study was to assess the management of patients with ischaemic heart disease in primary care, focusing particularly on the management of hypercholesterolaemia. ⋯ Systematic searches of computerized and paper medical records can identify subgroups of patients who will benefit from continuing follow-up in primary care. The results of this study suggest that ischaemic heart disease remains an area where there is scope to improve the management of patients in primary care. Considerable effort will be required from the members of the primary health care team to achieve this objective, particularly in the areas of computerized data collection and in the identification and recall of patients.
-
J Public Health Med · Jun 1999
Comparative StudyTeaching public health to medical students in the United Kingdom--are the General Medical Council's recommendations being implemented?
Despite frequent calls to improve undergraduate medical public health teaching, little is known about whether curricula have changed. We report a survey of undergraduate public health teaching in UK medical schools in 1996. The survey aimed to assess whether the General Medical Council's 1993 recommendations to strengthen undergraduate medical education in public health have been implemented. ⋯ The findings suggest that many of the General Medical Council's recommendations for improving the delivery of undergraduate education are being addressed by public health teaching in UK medical schools. However, addressing the gaps in undergraduate public health teaching revealed in this survey is a continuing challenge for academic public health departments. Medical schools should review the content of their undergraduate public health teaching to ensure that tomorrow's doctors are adequately equipped with public health knowledge and skills.
-
J Public Health Med · Jun 1999
Developing surveillance for HIV transmission and risk behaviours among high-risk groups in a central London health district.
Our aim was to describe surveillance data on HIV transmission and risk behaviours in Camden and Islington, an inner London health district (population 360 000). This information is required to assess the effectiveness of HIV-AIDS prevention. ⋯ Population-based information on HIV is available at local level in England. It can be used for surveillance of HIV transmission and behaviour in high-risk groups, especially homosexual and bisexual men and intravenous drug users. Resources for HIV prevention are provided to all NHS districts, and surveillance is a cost-effective measure of the outcome of HIV prevention.