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L D Ritchie

Publications and source records attributed to L D Ritchie.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Primary and preschool immunisation in Grampian: progress and the 1990 contract.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in immunisation performance in Grampian region after the introduction of the 1990 contract for general practitioners. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study using data held on the Grampian immunisation record system's computer. SETTING: All 95 general practices in Grampian region (313 general practitioners). PATIENTS: All children in the primary immunisation and preschool booster age groups. This formed two groups of children for each of the four calendar quarters of 1990 and first three quarters of 1991 analysed as (a) those aged 2 years on the first day of the relevant quarter and (b) those aged 5 years on the first day of the relevant quarter, with an average population of 6600 and 6400 respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage immunised by practice. RESULTS: For primary immunisation the number of practices achieving immunisation rates of at least 95% increased from 29 (31%) to 76 (81%), and practices achieving 90% rates rose from 69 (73%) to 87 (93%). For preschool boosters, the number of practices achieving at least 95% immunisation rates increased from 22 (23%) to 61 (64%). By the end of September 1991, 76 (80%) practices were achieving at least 90% levels compared with 36 (39%) at the beginning of 1990. Since the beginning of 1989 the proportion of immunisations not given by general practitioners declined from 14% to 2%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary and preschool immunisation rates for preschool children in Grampian showed a sustained improvement during 1990 and consolidation in 1991. Although overall trends were unchanged, 18 months after the introduction of the 1990 contract only one practice failed to meet lower target levels of 70% for both primary and preschool immunisation. By September 1991 more than three out of four practices had reached levels of at least 95% for primary immunisation.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1990

General practice computing in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a method of assessing the extent of routine patient data held on computer by Scottish general practitioners. DESIGN: An "electronic questionnaire" in the form of an interrogation questionnaire was used to extract a subset of data from practice computers running a standard software package (the general practice administrative system for Scotland, GPASS). The data were retained by each practice and also collected and analysed centrally to produce regional and national data. SUBJECTS: All 257 general practices in Scotland using GPASS software were sent the electronic questionnaire; data from 154 practices, including 759 general practitioners and covering 1,010,452 patients, were collected. RESULTS: Ninety three practices had all their patient records on computer; others had selectively entered data on, for example, only those patients receiving repeat prescriptions. The number of computerised patient records per practitioner ranged from 46 to 2373. Altogether 194,261 patients had repeat prescribing data and 204,005 morbidity or clinical data. CONCLUSION: An electronic questionnaire is a simple and effective way of investigating the information held on practice computers, allowing analysis and feedback of information to practitioners. Development of this system will provide a cumulative information system for Scottish general practitioners.

Computers↗
PubMed1988

Orally administered MDMA causes a long-term depletion of serotonin in rat brain.

Recent studies suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), when administered subcutaneously, is toxic to central serotonergic neurons in rats. Because humans typically self-administer this drug orally, we compared this route to the s.c. route of administration. Orally administered MDMA produced a dose-related depletion of serotonin comparable to that produced by the s.c. route. These findings suggest that MDMA, when given orally, retains it neurotoxic activity and that humans using MDMA may be at risk for developing a persistent depletion of brain serotonin.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗
PubMed1986

Prevention of cardiovascular disease in general practice: a proposed model.

A screening model based in general practice for the detection of subjects at risk of premature cardiovascular disease is described. Opportunistic screening is performed by a trained nurse who also gives initial advice on management. Immediate feedback to patients is possible since a rapid dry chemistry technique is used to measure blood cholesterol concentrations. The collation and analysis of data are achieved using a microcomputer. A central deidentified database is incorporated to allow epidemiological studies and intervention strategy evaluations to be made. Nineteen health centres have evaluated the model, and 40,000 subjects have been screened: 10% had diastolic blood pressures of over 95 mm Hg and 15% had a blood cholesterol concentration over 7 mmol/l (270 mg/100 ml) and 2% over 9 mmol/l (347 mg/100 ml). The initial data suggest that the model is acceptable to both health centre personnel and the general public and that the offer of screening is taken up by all elements of the target population.

Adult↗