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Biomedical subjects

F D Hobbs

Publications and source records attributed to F D Hobbs.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A randomized controlled trial of electromagnetic therapy in the primary care management of venous leg ulceration.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to establish the potential efficacy, tolerability and side-effect profile of electromagnetic therapy as an adjunct to conventional dressings in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. METHOD: A prospective, randomized, double blind controlled clinical trial was carried out in a dedicated leg ulcer clinic based in one urban general practice. Nineteen patients with leg ulcers of confirmed venous aetiology were assessed. The main outcome measures were rate and scale of venous leg ulcer healing, changes in patient-reported pain levels, quality of life, degree of mobility, side effect profile and acceptability to patients and staff. RESULTS: Sixty-eight per cent of patients attending this dedicated clinic achieved improvements in the size of their ulcer (4, 21%, healed fully) and in reduced pain levels (P < 0.05) during the trial, despite the chronicity of ulcer histories. Patients treated with electromagnetic therapy at 800 Hz were found at day 50 to have significantly greater healing (P < 0.05) and pain control (P < 0.05) than placebo therapy or treatment with 600 Hz. All patients reported improved mobility at the end of the study. The electromagnetic therapy was well tolerated by patients, with no differences between groups in reporting adverse events, and proved acceptable to staff. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small numbers in this pilot study, electromagnetic therapy provided significant gains in the healing of venous leg ulcers and reduction in pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Aggression against doctors: a review.

Although the number of doctors abused is comparatively small, the perceived risk of violence presents a major issue for the whole profession since the consequences extend to all doctors through the intimidation reports in the medical press and newspapers engender.

Aggression↗
PubMed1996

Reliability and feasibility of a near patient test for C-reactive protein in primary care.

BACKGROUND: The applications of new diagnostic technologies such as near patient tests are relevant to the further development and potential of primary care. Through their use, doctors in the community may increase the accuracy of their diagnoses and improve their ability to monitor disease. A reliable indicator of disease activity in various clinical conditions is C-reactive protein (CRP) and a near patient test for this is now available, although there is little information on its use outside hospitals. AIM: A study was set up to evaluate the feasibility of using a novel near patient test for CRP in primary care to validate the results against the laboratory "gold standard' for CRP (Beckman Array) and to compare results with the usual inflammation test used in general practice. METHOD: Prospective recording of CRP as a near patient test on an "intention to investigate' basis, with validation of results against the Beckman Array system for CRP and hospital laboratory erythrocyte sedimentation rate results, in six general medical practices in Birmingham. Main outcome measures were change in local laboratory usage, characteristics of patients chosen for testing, use of quality control, and comparison of readings with results from the same sample sent to an independent laboratory. RESULTS: Tests of CRP levels were rarely requested before the study was undertaken. During the 3-month study period, 181 near patient tests were carried out, 146 (81%) to establish a diagnosis and the remainder for disease monitoring. Out of the tests, 67% were performed by general practitioners, mostly during the consultation itself. Using a cut-off level of 10 mg I-1, the near patient test and the Beckman Array gave results which agreed in 84% of cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the near patient test results were 97 and 79%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive result was 59% and that of a negative result was 99%. Cohen's Kappa was 62% and the overall mean bias for results in the range of the test was 6.11 mg I-1 (SE = 3.07 mg I-1). Each test took 6 min on average to perform, including all preparations, blood letting, performing the test and averaging the time for quality control estimations. The cost per test averaged pounds 1.72, rising to pounds 4.17 including labour, capital costs, quality controls and consumables (general practitioner performing the assay at average frequency found in this study). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of CRP is rarely used in primary care and awareness of its value could be raised. This near patient test proved feasible for use by general practitioners and practice nurses. Its reliability compared with a laboratory result was satisfactory overall, and excellent with adequate operator technique.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of computerized decision support for oral anticoagulation management based in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Increasing indications for oral anticoagulation has led to pressure on general practices to undertake therapeutic monitoring. Computerized decision support (DSS) has been shown to be effective in hospitals for improving clinical management. Its usefulness in primary care has previously not been investigated. AIM: To test the effectiveness of using DSS for oral anticoagulation monitoring in primary care by measuring the proportions of patients adequately controlled, defined as within the appropriate therapeutic range of International Normalised Ratio (INR). METHOD: All patients receiving warfarin from two Birmingham inner city general practices were invited to attend a practice-based anticoagulation clinic. In practice A all patients were managed using DSS. In practice B patients were randomized to receive dosing advice either through DSS or through the local hospital laboratory. Clinical outcomes, adverse events and patient acceptability were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were seen in total. There were significant improvements in INR control from 23% to 86% (P > 0.001) in the practice where all patients received dosing through DSS. In the practice where patients were randomized to either DSS or hospital dosing, logistic regression showed a significant trend for improvement in intervention patients which was not apparent in the hospital-dosed patients (P < 0.001). Mean recall times were significantly extended in patients who were dosed by the practice DSS through the full 12 months (24 days to 36 days) (P = 0.033). Adverse events were comparable between hospital and practice-dosed patients, although a number of esoteric events occurred. Patient satisfaction with the practice clinics was high. CONCLUSION: Computerized DSS enables the safe and effective transfer of anticoagulation management from hospital to primary care and may result in improved patient outcome in terms of the level of control, frequency of review and general acceptability.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1995

Computerised data collection: practicability and quality in selected general practices.

The objective of the study as to assess the consistency with which a set of pre-defined data about three fictitious patients was entered into a sample group of practice computer systems, and to measure the time required for routine data capture of this kind. The study design was a prospective, piloted, postal survey, in which respondents were requested to enter a variety of general sample data onto their systems, to time the process, and record details of any difficulties. The subjects were 76 (39%) responding general practices in England and Ulster, from a random sample of members of a GP computer specialist group. These results (which in view of the highly motivated characteristics of the responding sample are likely to represent best practice) showed that differing conventions were applied in entering patient data, even among practices using the same type of computer system. Potentially significant errors and distortions were found in the data as recorded in the systems, such as the 29% of immunisation sequences which were slightly inaccurately entered. The main problems with the data entry comprised simple operator errors, inconsistency in the use of terms entered, and difficulties in recording negative data (only 20% of practices could enter patient 'not incontinent'). Practices varied widely in the way they allocated data recording responsibilities to staff, with only 6% of practices involving all staff in data entry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bias↗
PubMed1994

General practitioners' changes to practice due to aggression at work.

The objective of this study was to record changes made by a wide body of general practices due to experience of, or concerns over, aggression. The study involved a retrospective survey of all general practitioners (GPs) in the West Midlands Health Authority region using a piloted postal questionnaire. A total of 1093 (40.6%) doctors responded out of a potential 2694. Seven-hundred and ninety-four (72.7%) of doctors had not made changes due to fears over aggression. The other 299 doctors listed 68 different types of change to practice (premises, process) or to motivation because of fears of abuse. These changes included striking off more patients, recorded by 128 (11.7%); discussing the problem at practice meetings, by 122 (11.2%); installing panic buttons, by 94 (8.6%) and increasing the use of deputizing service, by 76 (7%). Seventy-three (6.7%) doctors felt less committed to medicine and 40 (3.7%) felt less confident as doctors, feelings that were significantly more likely to be volunteered by women and Asian trained practitioners. Unfortunately, most of the changes, such as putting up security screens or prescribing on demand, were potentially likely to be counterproductive. This study therefore illustrates the need for more support and advice to practices on how to avoid and respond to aggression at work.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Fear of aggression at work among general practitioners who have suffered a previous episode of aggression.

BACKGROUND: Relatively few data exist on the scale of aggression from patients or patients' relatives suffered by doctors at work. Such aggression might be expected to pose considerable risks of continued morbidity among abused practitioners. AIM: This study set out to survey the continued levels of intimidation experienced by general practitioners who had suffered a previous episode of aggression. METHODS: A retrospective survey was carried out of all general practitioners in the West Midlands Health Authority region, using a piloted postal questionnaire. Of the 2694 surveyed 1093 (41%) responded. Among responding doctors, 687 (63%) had suffered some degree of aggression in the previous 12 months, and these respondents reported on the degree of intimidation experienced during specified clinical duties. RESULTS: Nearly three quarters of previously abused doctors did, at times, express ongoing fears for their safety at work. Indeed, 71% of doctors who qualified in India and Pakistan and 57% of doctors who qualified in the United Kingdom experienced some degree of intimidation within their surgery (90% and 73%, respectively, on night visits). Fear was most commonly reported during visits made out of hours with mild fear being occasionally experienced between 19.00 and 23.00 hours by 316 (56%) of the responding abused doctors and after 23.00 hours by 286 (51%). Eleven respondents (2%) were frequently severely fearful on evening visits and 15 (3%) were always fearful. On night visits frequent severe fear was reported by eight respondents (1%), while 31 were always fearful (6%). The differences between men and women doctors were relatively small within the surgery, but during out-of-hours calls women were significantly more likely to report intimidation than men practitioners and to report significantly higher levels of severity of fear. CONCLUSION: These findings support further consideration of the contractual commitment for general practitioners to provide out-of-hours visiting, of investment in safer surgeries and of greater provision of in-service training in handling aggression and its attendant stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A randomized, double-blind, multi-centre, parallel-group study comparing the tolerability and efficacy of moclobemide and dothiepin hydrochloride in depressed patients in general practice.

A randomized, double-blind, multi-centre, parallel-group study compared the tolerability and efficacy of 450 mg of moclobemide and 75-150 mg of dothiepin in the management of depressed patients in general practice. Patients who fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder and who scored 13 or more on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were admitted. The trial lasted six weeks. The dose of moclobemide was 150 mg three times daily and that of dothiepin was 75 mg daily for the first two weeks and 150 mg thereafter. Assessments were made at baseline and after one, three and six weeks using the HDRS, the Zung SRS and the CGI. Adverse events and vital signs were monitored at each visit, and laboratory screening tests performed at the beginning and end of the study. Sixty-four general practitioners from four centres recruited 345 patients: 175 received dothiepin and 170 moclobemide; 265 completed six weeks of treatment. Thirty-eight dothiepin-treated patients (22%) and 42 who received moclobemide (25%) dropped out, most commonly because they experienced adverse events. More patients on dothiepin (24) than on moclobemide (16) dropped out for this reason; the incidence of adverse events was 10% higher in the dothiepin-treated group and of "side effects" more than 10% higher, the latter difference being statistically significant. Both treatments resulted in significant improvement; this was greater in the dothiepin-treated group and the difference was statistically significant, although clinically small.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Acceptability of opportunistic screening for occult gastrointestinal blood loss.

OBJECTIVE: To test patient compliance for faecal occult blood testing in suburban and inner city general practice. DESIGN: Prospective opportunistic trial using the Haemoccult test kit. Tests were offered during routine surgery attendance. SETTING: Three group general practices in Birmingham. SUBJECTS: All patients aged 40 years or older on the start date who routinely attended surgery during two years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of patients approached for testing and the numbers refusing, accepting, and returning the test kits. RESULTS: Only 26.3% (1230/4677) of the potential target population had been screened within the two years, although 988 (39.3%) of the suburban practice target were screened. However, 55.7% (1230/2207) of patients actually offered a test returned completed kits, with only 6% (133) refusing the kit. 683 (61.6%) patients aged 50-69 returned kits, compared with 343 (54.3%) aged 70 or over and 204 (43.8%) aged 40-49. These differences were significant (p less than 0.001). Patients from the inner city practice were significantly less likely to be offered the test than those in suburban practice (242 (11.2%) v 988 (39.9%), p less than 0.001) and return the samples (242 (38.8%) v 988 (62.4%), p less than 0.001). Patients from the inner city practice were also more likely to refuse the test (78 (12.5%) v 55 (3.5%), p less than 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistic testing for occult faecal blood in asymptomatic patients was reasonably acceptable to patients, especially those in a suburban practice. If the test is shown to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer then formal screening would probably achieve acceptable target rates, especially among patients aged 50-69, who represent the prime risk group.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the use of four desktop analysers in six urban general practices.

There is little data on the advantages and disadvantages of using desktop analysers in general practice. This prospective trial compared four of the analysers available in the United Kingdom, in six urban general practices, over a six month period. Of the 2619 tests where the time was noted, 55.8% were performed outside the hours when routine transport to a hospital laboratory was possible (after 12.00 hours). Of the 3530 tests performed the commonest were measurements of cholesterol (14.4 tests per 5000 patients per 30 days), glucose (6.0 tests) and haemoglobin (5.6 tests). Less than 5% of the tests were performed as an emergency despite the speed at which results are available. The main reasons for requesting the tests were screening or case finding (56.9%), with the remainder for monitoring chronic disease, especially diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia. There was evidence that the use of the machines in the four practices reduced requests for hospital laboratory blood tests by 24-40% of pre-study levels. However, there was a considerable increase in testing for cholesterol (three fold) and haemoglobin (eight fold) on the desktop analysers, compared with the number of laboratory tests requested before the study. The cost per test of using such machines is closely related to the level of activity and probably does not compete favourably with hospital testing unless several tests are performed each day. Quality control tests were within the specified limits on at least 98% of occasions, however these tests also identified the need for laboratory back up where a problem was found.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1991

Violence in general practice: a survey of general practitioners' views.

OBJECTIVE: To survey the extent of abuse and violence directed towards general practitioners during the course of their professional duties and to categorize the characteristics of such aggression. DESIGN: Retrospective survey of the views of a large sample of general practitioners by using a piloted postal questionnaire. SETTING: All medical practices in the west midlands. SUBJECTS: A total of 1093 general practitioners (40.6% of the total sample) who responded to the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Number of incidents of aggression experienced by the general practitioners during a period of 12 months and the incidence of various precipitating factors. RESULTS: Although the response was low at 40.6%, this study is the largest published database on aggression towards family doctors. In all, 687 (62.9%) of the responders had experienced abuse or violence during the previous 12 months, and 191 (17.5%) had experienced some sort of abuse at least once a month and 11 (1%) had experienced verbal abuse every day. Even assuming that all of the non-responders did not experience any violence, then aggression in patients affects 25.5% of general practitioners in the west midlands. For those practitioners who had experienced aggression in patients the annual incidence of an event per general practitioner was 2.42. In all, 96 (14%) of these general practitioners thought that aggression was increasing. A total of 1520 (91.3%) of all incidents comprised verbal abuse or threats with no direct physical act. The surgery was the commonest location for aggression, with 942 (56.6%) incidents; however, 90 (62.5%) of the incidents involving assault or injury occurred during domiciliary visits and 22 (66%) of the injuries were received during night calls. Relatives were the aggressors in 668 (37.6%) cases, anxiety was a precipitant in 435 (25.7%) cases, and a long wait in 183 (10.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Violence towards general practitioners is common and may be increasing. Some of the precipitants of aggression are potentially avoidable and practices should make strenuous attempts to identify such factors and remedy them. Staff training in interpersonal skills and recognising anxious or intoxicated patients is essential and should be supplemented by consideration of surgery layout and repair. Doctors should avoid delays for patients by rearranging booking policies or surgery times and lengths. Victims of aggression must be followed up. A prospective study or centralised recording of incidents should be funded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Dyspepsia in England and Scotland.

A validated postal questionnaire has been used to establish the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in five geographical locations from the south coast of England to the north of Scotland. The six month period prevalence of dyspepsia in the 7428 respondents to the questionnaire is 41% and equal between the sexes, with similar prevalence rates in the centres studied. There is considerable overlap between upper abdominal symptoms and symptoms of heartburn; 56% of patients with dyspepsia experience both groups of symptoms. Symptom frequency falls progressively with age in men and women, but the proportion of people seeking medical advice for dyspepsia rises with age. One quarter of the dyspeptic patients studied have consulted a general practitioner about their symptoms. This study suggests that the prevalence of dyspepsia in the community has changed little over the last 30 years, despite evidence that the frequency of peptic ulcer disease is falling. Symptom prevalence is unrelated to social class, but this factor is associated with consultation behaviour, the consultation rate rising from 17% in social class 1 to 29% in social class 4. The use of investigations--barium meal and endoscopy--is similarly related to social class; the lowest rate for ulcer diagnosis (4.7%) is found in social class 1 and the highest (17.1%) in social class 5.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Cystic fibrosis, atopy, and airways lability.

In a survey of cystic fibrosis (CF) in the Avon area, 48 children with CF from 40 families together with 71 of their parents were studied by spirometry, exercise tests, and pinch tests. A control group of 42 young adults was similarly tested; control data for children were taken from previously published work. The prevalence of atopy (any positive prick test) in children with CF was 48%. Sensitivity to grass pollens and house dust mite was no more common in these children (29%) than in a normal population (34%). Hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus was found in 35% of children with CF and was associated with severe lung disease. The parents had a normal pattern and prevalence of atopy. Exercise-induced airways obstruction was present in only 22% of children with CF; its association with severe lung disease rendered interpretation difficult. The parents had a normal response to exercise. Both hypersensitivity to A. fumigatus and exercise-induced airways lability had the features of acquired characteristics. There was nothing in the present study to support the hypothesis that the possession of a CF gene predisposed to atopy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral anticoagulation management in primary care with the use of computerized decision support and near-patient testing: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is increased pressure on primary care physicians to monitor oral anticoagulation. OBJECTIVE: To test the null hypothesis that oral anticoagulation care can be provided at least as well in primary care through a nurse-led clinic, involving near-patient testing and computerized decision support software, compared with routine hospital management based on a variety of clinical outcome measures. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial in 12 primary care practices in Birmingham, England (9 intervention and 3 control). Two control populations were used: patients individually randomly allocated as controls in the intervention practices (intrapractice controls) and all patients in control practices (interpractice controls). Intervention practices' patients were randomized to the intervention (practice-based anticoagulation clinic) or control (hospital clinic) group. The main outcome measure was therapeutic control of the international normalized ratio. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-seven patients were recruited (122 intervention patients, 102 intrapractice control patients, and 143 interpractice control patients). Standard measures of control of the international normalized ratio (point prevalence) showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups. Data on proportion of time spent in the international normalized ratio range showed significant improvement for patients in the intervention group (paired t test, P =.008). CONCLUSIONS: Nurse-led anticoagulation clinics can be implemented in novice primary care settings by means of computerized decision support software and near-patient testing. Care given by this model is at least as good as routine hospital follow-up. The model is generalizable to primary health care centers operating in developed health care systems.

Administration, Oral↗