ABSTRACT
In General Practice, a global measure for quality control has not yet been established. Procedures in this field of health care are usually not evidence based but rely on personal experience. In 1976, the "Diagnostic Protocols" (DP) had been introduced by Robert N. Braun to cover the most frequent and most important uncharacteristic complaints presented to the General Practitioner by the patient. In this study, the authors are showing how often the usage of DP may be useful in the management of cases in General Practice. Additionally, reasons are demonstrated that may lead the Family Physician not to apply DP in certain cases. In 2,084 new cases presented to a General Practitioner within one year (1-12/1994), 19 of 82 existing protocols were used. In every sixth new case (16%), the patient's history and physical examination were analyzed with the help of Diagnostic Protocols. However, their usage would have been beneficial in one of four cases (24.6%). Reasons for declining DP included "No need for further diagnostic investigation" and "Other diagnostic strategy chosen". Shortness of time only played a minor role.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Diagnosis , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Family Practice , Germany , HumansABSTRACT
In a multicentric placebo-controlled randomised study the effect of standardized garlic-powder tablets (Kwai, Sapec) in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia was investigated. A total of 261 patients of 30 general practitioners in West Germany with total cholesterol and/or triglyceride values more than 200 mg/dl (mostly hyperlipoproteinaemia type II a/II b) took part in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to take tablets containing a total of 800 mg garlic powder (standardized to 1.3% of alliin content) daily or the same number of placebo tablets for 16 weeks (monthly controlled). 221 patients were used for statistical analysis of total cholesterol and 219 patients for the analysis of triglyceride values. Mean serum cholesterol levels dropped in the verum group from 266 to 235 mg/dl (i.e. 12%) during the 4 month treatment period, mean triglyceride values fell in the verum group from 226 to 188 mg/dl (i.e. 17%). The best cholesterol lowering effects were seen in the patients with initial total cholesterol values between 250-300 mg/dl. The difference between the verum and placebo group was highly significant (p less than 0.001). A mild garlic smell was observed in up to 21% of the verum group and up to 9% in the placebo group. Only one of the patients left the study for this reason. Standardized garlic tablets have been shown to be effective in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia by lowering total cholesterol values by an average of 12% and triglyceride values by an average of 17%.
Subject(s)
Garlic , Hyperlipidemias/drug therapy , Plants, Medicinal , Aged , Cholesterol/blood , Double-Blind Method , Garlic/adverse effects , Germany , Humans , Hyperlipoproteinemias/blood , Hyperlipoproteinemias/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Tablets , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
Forty-seven non-hospitalised patients with mild hypertension took part in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted by 11 general practitioners. The patients who were admitted had diastolic blood pressures between 95 and 104 mmHg after a two-week acclimatization phase. The patients then took either a preparation of garlic powder (Kwai) or a placebo of identical appearance for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and plasma lipids were monitored during treatment after four, eight and 12 weeks. Significant differences between the placebo and the drug group were found during the course of therapy. For example, the supine diastolic blood pressure in the group having garlic treatment fell from 102 to 91 mmHg after eight weeks (p less than 0.05) and to 89 mmHg after 12 weeks (p less than 0.01). The serum cholesterol and triglycerides were also significantly reduced after eight and 12 weeks of treatment. In the placebo group, on the other hand, no significant changes occurred.
