Antidepressant prescribing prior to suicide: role of doctors

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 282-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harm Boer ◽  
Nick Booth ◽  
David Russell ◽  
Roy Powell ◽  
Martin Briscoe
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioner ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Pharmacological Treatment ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
British Government ◽  
Treatment Of Depression

The pharmacological treatment of depression and the time elapsed since last seen by a doctor were investigated among 507 adults who subsequently killed themselves. The proportion of people consulting a general practitioner or psychiatrist prior to suicide was lower than reported by the British government in the Health of the Nation document. General practitioners prescribed relatively low doses of antidepressants. Nineteen out of the 115 people receiving antidepressants used the drugs to kill themselves. Our findings emphasise the importance of prescribing adequate doses of antidepressants and underline the need for safer prescribing.

Indications for paediatric tonsillectomy GP versus Consultant perspective

1994 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Donnelly ◽  
M. S. Quraishi ◽  
D. P. McShane
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Primary Care Physician ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ear Infections ◽  
Glue Ear

AbstractTonsillectomy is a commonly performed operation in children. Although the justification for this procedure has been debatable in the past, more rigorous criteria in defining the need for tonsillectomies are becoming established. The role of the primary care physician in the management of tonsillar disease in children is important as the decision to refer a child for tonsillectomy is made by the general practitioner. A questionnaire survey of 400 general practitioners (GPs) and 31 consultant ENT surgeons was carried out to establish the important criteria used in deciding the need for paediatric tonsillectomy. We found that in general there was a good correlation between GP and Consultant indications for tonsillectomy. However there were two important areas of difference, while most of the GPs felt that recurrent ear infections and ‘glue ear’ were important indications for tonsillectomy, Consultants did not. Therefore we must be aware of the current recommendations for tonsillectomy and inform present and future GPs.

Prostate cancer testing: a snapshot of the attitudes and practice of Australian general practitioners

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Crowe ◽  
Addie C. Wootten ◽  
Nicholas Howard
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Digital Rectal Examination ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Rectal Examination ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Asymptomatic Men

The role of the General Practitioner (GP) in testing for and managing men with prostate cancer (PCa) is significant. Very few studies have explored the attitudes and practices of Australian GPs in the context of the role of PCa testing. In this study, a 46-item web-based questionnaire was used to assess self-reported PCa testing attitudes and practices of GPs. This questionnaire was circulated to divisions of general practice and Medicare locals for further distribution to their GP members across Australia. GPs from all states and territories participated, and a total of 136 GPs completed the survey. Of the responding GPs, 57% always or usually offered PCa testing to asymptomatic men ≤70 years of age and 60% of GPs always or usually included a digital rectal examination (DRE). Many (80%) of the GPs stated that the current PCa testing guidelines were not clear. PCa testing was offered opportunistically by 56% while 39% offered testing at the patient’s request. The results captured in this study represent a snapshot of GP attitudes and practices from across Australia. The results presented indicate a wide variation in the approaches to PCa testing in general practice across Australia, which in most part appear to be related to the lack of clarity of the current prostate cancer testing guidelines.

Community Occupational Therapy and the General Practitioner

1985 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 80-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Busuttil
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioner ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Research Project ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Mixed Feelings ◽  
Community Facilities

In a research project* on the awareness of community facilities for the disabled, 42 trainee and trainer general practitioners were asked in a questionnaire how they viewed and utilized domiciliary occupational therapy. The results showed that 55% considered the profession important and used it frequently; 12% used it with mixed feelings; and 24% did not make use of the service, even though it was available. The role of the therapist was seen mainly as assessing for aids and equipment and for home adaptations, and assisting the disabled to overcome their problems in the activities of daily living.

scholarly journals Patients’ and carers’ perspectives of palliative care in general practice: A systematic review with narrative synthesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 838-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Green ◽  
Selena Knight ◽  
Merryn Gott ◽  
Stephen Barclay ◽  
Patrick White
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Narrative Synthesis

Background: General practitioners have overall responsibility for community care, including towards end of life. Current policy places generalists at the centre of palliative care provision. However, little is known about how patients and carers understand the general practitioner’s role. Aims: To explore patient and carer perspectives of (1) the role of the general practitioner in providing palliative care to adult patients and (2) the facilitators and barriers to the general practitioner’s capacity to fulfil this perceived role. Design: Systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. Data sources: Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, BNI, CINAHL, Cochrane and HMIC) were searched from inception to May 2017. Two reviewers independently screened papers at title, abstract and full-text stages. Grey literature, guideline, hand searches of five journals and reference list/citation searches of included papers were undertaken. Data were extracted, tabulated and synthesised using narrative, thematic analysis. Results: A total of 25 studies were included: 14 employed qualitative methods, 8 quantitative survey methods and 3 mixed-methods. Five key themes were identified: continuity of care, communication between primary and secondary care, contact and accessibility, communication between general practitioner and patient, and knowledge and competence. Conclusion: Although the terminology and context of general practice vary internationally, themes relating to the perceived role of general practitioners were consistent. General practitioners are considered well placed to provide palliative care due to their breadth of clinical responsibility, ongoing relationships with patients and families, and duty to visit patients at home and coordinate healthcare resources. These factors, valued by service users, should influence future practice and policy development.

The General Practitioner in the Netherlands

1972 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Oeberius Kapteijn ◽  
C. P. Bruins ◽  
H. J. Dokter ◽  
J. M. L. Phaff
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Social Insurance ◽  
School Health ◽  
Industrial Medicine ◽  
Role Of The State

The evolution of health care in the Netherlands and the various methods of social insurance are discussed briefly. A description of medical care is followed by a section on the Cross Societies, school health services, industrial medicine, and the role of the state health authorities. In the context of primary medical care, the role of the general practitioner, his freedom to choose his place of work, his preference for rural districts, the reasons for the increasing lack of general practitioners in big cities, and the financial position of Dutch general practitioners are discussed and analyzed. The tasks of the general practitioner are categorized as diagnostic, curative, delegating, and registering and coordinating functions, as well as that of social critic. Methods of practice and cooperation with both medical and nonmedical health personnel are described. Finally, an account on the professional organizations and the Netherlands Institute of General Practice is followed by a review on the recent development of specific vocational training for general practice.

scholarly journals A scoping review protocol of evidence-based guidance and guidelines published by general practitioner professional organisations

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Emer O'Brien ◽  
Barbara Clyne ◽  
Susan M. Smith ◽  
Noirin O'Herlihy ◽  
Velma Harkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Clinical Guidelines ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Evidence Based

Introduction: General practitioners (GPs) strive to use a patient centered approach to achieve shared decision making by integrating clinical evidence, clinical judgement, and patient priorities. In order to achieve this standard of care, GPs require relevant, up to date and high quality evidence. Currently there is a gap in the literature regarding the role of GP professional organisations internationally in producing and publishing evidence based guidance and clinical guidelines for GPs. This protocol outlines a scoping review to identify what evidence-based guidance is produced by general practitioner professional organisations internationally in terms of topic content, the structure and methods used to develop guidance and ways of disseminating this guidance, to support general practice clinical decision making. Methods: This scoping review will be conducted using the framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR), will be used to guide the reporting. Two researchers will search electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus), grey literature sources and contact international GP professional organisations directly to identify appropriate studies for inclusion. Key information will be categorised and classified to generate a summary of the methods used internationally to develop and implement evidence-based guides for general practitioners and a narrative synthesis will be conducted. Conclusions: This scoping review will examine current practice internationally regarding the role of General Practice professional organisations in producing and publishing clinical guidelines and evidence based guidance to support general practitioner’s clinical decision making to benefit patient care.

A Two-Year Regional Program for the Early Detection of Cutaneous Melanoma

2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Veronesi ◽  
Maria Antonietta Pizzichetta ◽  
Clelia De Giacomi ◽  
Alessandro Gatti ◽  
Giusto Trevisan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioner ◽  
Plastic Surgery ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Cutaneous Melanoma ◽  
Thickness Distribution ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Dysplastic Nevi ◽  
Program Support ◽  
Friuli Venezia Giulia

Background A regional program for the early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma involving general practitioners was effective in 1997–1998 in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Northern Italy. The aim of the 2-year program was to evaluate the role of a skin examination performed by general practitioners in people older than 18 years without known skin lesions and spontaneously presenting to their offices for any reason, with referral of suspect cases to a pre-identified regional dermatology or plastic surgery institution. Methods In the preparatory phase (late 1995 and 1996), all general practitioners operating in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (n = 1,038) were asked to participate in the program. Support from all regional dermatology, pathology and plastic surgery institutions was obtained. Operational procedures for the management of referred people were defined, and educational meetings directed to general practitioners interested in the program were held. Skin examinations by general practitioners started at the end of 1996 and took place during 1997 and 1998. Subsequently, information was obtained from participating general practitioners and from pathology institutions about the number and thickness of diagnosed melanomas, as well as the number of diagnosed skin carcinomas and dysplastic nevi. In addition, the thickness distribution of all melanomas diagnosed in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region before and during the program was obtained. Results A total of 153 general practitioners participated in the program, but only 74 were active and assessable. A total of 11,040 skin examinations was performed by these 74 general practitioners (median, 75 per general practitioner). In all, 820 people (7.4%) were referred for dermatological evaluation (median, 8 per general practitioner). Among these 820 people, at least 38 melanomas (4.6% of referred cases) were detected (18 ≤1.5 mm, 11 >1.5 mm thick, unknown in 9). The dermatological examinations/diagnosed melanomas ratio was 21. In addition, 94 skin carcinomas and 50 dysplastic nevi were detected. At the regional level, the percentage of thin melanomas rose from 65.3% in 1995–96 to 72.2% in 1997–98 (P = 0.04), whereas the number of thick melanomas declined. Conclusions In our study, only a few general practitioners chose, in the absence of incentives, to participate in the study. However, the yield of melanomas, most of which were thin, was considerably high and the workload was acceptable. This compares favorably to experiences where dermatologists were involved directly without a filter work by general practitioners.

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