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Practice Database (practice + database)
Selected AbstractsThe lifespan and life-cycle of self-help groups: a retrospective study of groups in Nottingham, UKHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 4 2010Sarah Chaudhary LLB (Hons) MA Abstract This article is based on an analysis of a practice database held by Self Help Nottingham, an organisation that supports local self-help groups. The database contains details of 936 groups that closed between 1982 and 2007. The aim of the study is to provide qualitative and descriptive quantitative information about the life-cycles of self-help groups, the problems that they face throughout their existence and the likelihood of different problems leading to their closure. The database was not collated for research purposes and so we restrict our discussion of the findings to identification of broad patterns regarding the birth and closure rates of different types of group and questions for future research. Comparisons were made between groups that addressed different types of problem, groups with different memberships and groups that had reached different stages in their existence. There was reasonable consistency in the survival rates of different types of group with physical health groups being the most likely to reach maturity followed by mental health and lastly social issue groups. Survival rates for groups that serve different membership populations were reasonably constant although there were some anomalies. There were high levels of consistency regarding the reasons for closure for groups closing at different stages of maturity. The most commonly cited reasons among all groups were the withdrawal of a ,key' member and a decline in membership. The article suggests that some of the assumptions and prescriptions within the existing literature need to be considered in light of more detailed empirical evidence, and it raises questions about the theoretical understanding of self-help groups. [source] Risk of community-acquired pneumonia and the use of statins, ace inhibitors and gastric acid suppressants: a population-based case,control study,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 4 2009Puja R. Myles BDS Abstract Purpose Previous studies have shown that treatment with gastric acid suppressants may be associated with an increased risk of pneumonia whilst the use of statins and ACE inhibitors (ACEI) may decrease the risk of acquiring pneumonia. The evidence is conflicting however. Our aim was to investigate the effect of these drugs on pneumonia using population-based data from the UK. Methods We conducted a general population-based case,control study using the health improvement network (THIN), a comprehensive UK general practice database. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between the exposures and pneumonia. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, a current prescription for statins was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65,0.94). Similarly, a current prescription for ACEI was associated with a reduction in the risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65,0.86). Contrary to previous study results we did not find a significant association between current prescription for histamine 2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) and pneumonia risk (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.92,1.40) but current prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.38,1.77). Conclusions Statins and ACE inhibitors were associated with a lower risk of pneumonia but these effects were smaller than those observed in previous studies. People prescribed a PPI, but not an H2RA at an increased risk of acquiring pneumonia. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Benzodiazepine prescribing in elderly Australian general practice patientsAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2007Alice Windle Abstract Objective: The use of benzodiazepines by elderly people is of limited therapeutic benefit and increases the risk of adverse events. This study aimed to examine the extent to which benzodiazepines are prescribed for elderly Australians. Methods: Data for 3,970 individuals aged 65 years or more were extracted from a general practice database. Benzodiazepine prescriptions for 2002 were reviewed. Results: Overall, 16% (95% CI 11,21%) of elderly patients had at least one benzodiazepine prescription. Females were almost twice as likely as males to be prescribed a benzodiazepine and prescription prevalence increased with age. Conclusions: Despite risks, benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for the elderly. Limited availability and cost of alternative therapies and pressures on the primary care system in Australia may contribute to their continued overuse. Implications: The prescribing of benzodiazepines for elderly Australians needs to be reduced by better managing sleep and anxiety problems. [source] An increase in the prevalence of type 1 and 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: results from prescription data from a UK general practice databaseBRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Yingfen Hsia WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , Increasing antidiabetic drugs use in youths has been reported in the USA, however there is a lack of epidemiological evidence in the UK. , There is an increase in the prevalence of both type 1 and 2 diabetes, but precise estimates are difficult to obtain and as such are uninformative for future health services planning. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , The prevalence of children receiving insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs has increased twofold and eightfold, respectively, between 1998 and 2005. , The data reflect the prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes rapidly increase in recent years. , The prevalence of antidiabetic drug use increases with increasing age, especially among those aged 12,18 years. , Consideration needs to be given to the funding and design of future services for children and particularly adolescents with diabetes to take account of these epidemiological findings. AIMS Despite evidence of an increase in the incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in youths, there are few data on the prevalence of either type in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of childhood diabetes over an 8-year period in the UK. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study that covered 8 years (January 1998 to December 2005) of UK IMS Disease Analyzer (IMS DA) data. The cohort comprised all children and adolescents aged 0,18 years who received at least one antidiabetic drug prescription during the study period. The prevalence of antidiabetic drug prescribing was used as a proxy for diabetes itself. RESULTS Data were available on 505 754 children aged 0,18 years and a total of 37 225 antidiabetic prescriptions were issued. Insulin use increased significantly from 1.08 per 1000 children [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96, 1.20] in 1998 to 1.98 (95% CI 1.80, 2.10) in 2005 (P < 0.001), more markedly in those aged 12 and 18 years. The use of oral antidiabetic drugs for diabetes treatment rose significantly from 0.006 per 1000 children in 1998 (95% CI 0.0043, 0.017) to 0.05 (95% CI 0.025, 0.080) (P < 0.001) in 2005. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates a significant increase in prevalence on both type 1 and type 2 diabetes treatment in children and adolescents in the UK. Thus, this supporting evidence from other sources that the prevalence of childhood diabetes is rising rapidly. Further epidemiological studies are required to investigate the aetiology and risk factors. [source] | ||||||||||