ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To construct and test an instrument for improved communication with the patients. DESIGN: Educational illustrations were constructed and used as a supplement during the consultation. After conventional history-taking, physical examination and, in some cases, blood sampling, the patient was shown a series of educational illustrations. This additional instrument, which is described in this paper, was used as an aid to find the main reason for the symptoms of the patients. SETTING: A Swedish primary health care centre. PARTICIPANTS: 61 women and 39 men, visiting a health centre for dyspeptic symptoms, the majority of whom aged between 20 and 59 years. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The educational illustrations were useful in trying to give structure for the patient's problems and as a starting point for later beneficial cooperation between doctor and patient.
Subject(s)
Dyspepsia/etiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Medical Illustration , Nonverbal Communication , Patient Education as Topic , Physician-Patient Relations , Adult , Dyspepsia/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Medical History Taking , Middle Aged , Socioeconomic FactorsSubject(s)
Back Pain/therapy , Hot Temperature/therapeutic use , Insurance, Health , Acute Disease , Adult , Aged , Back Pain/economics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The effect of a 3-day course of nalidixic acid was studied in 82 women, presenting with the dysuria-frequency syndrome and significant bacteriuria, mostly Escherichia coli sensitive to nalidixic acid. 62/76 patients (82%) that could be evaluated about 1 week after initiation of therapy were subjectively cured. Negative urinary cultures were found in 64/76 patients (84%). Two patients (2.4%) developed resistance to nalidixic acid. Bacteriological cure rate was 76% of 71 patients that could be controlled 1 month after the initiation of therapy. Nalidixic acid in the used granulate preparation initiated only mild side-effects.
Subject(s)
Bacteriuria/drug therapy , Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy , Nalidixic Acid/therapeutic use , Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy , Urination Disorders/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Bacteriuria/complications , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Nalidixic Acid/administration & dosage , Nalidixic Acid/adverse effects , Urination Disorders/complicationsABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine if a three-day treatment of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is effective. 215 women with symptoms of lower UTI, seen in general practice, were randomly allocated to a double-blind study and given either amoxycillin 1000 mg twice a day for three days or trimethoprim 90 mg/sulphadiazine 410 mg (co-trimazine) 2 tablets initially, then one tablet twice daily for three days. 157 women (73%) had significant bacteriuria. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in 146 patients. One week after treatment had started, 88% of the women in the amoxycillin group and 100% in the co-trimazine group were cured (p less than 0.01). After a follow-up period of four weeks, the cumulative relapse frequencies were 19% and 9% respectively. Adverse reactions were mild in most cases. Two patients, both on co-trimazine, had to discontinue treatment because of nausea and vomiting. Vulvovaginal irritation was more often reported by women treated with amoxycillin (n = 8) than by those treated with co-trimazine (n = 1) (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that a three-day course of amoxycillin or co-trimazine in lower UTI is safe, causes few adverse reactions, is simple to administer and comfortable for the patient. Co-trimazine seems to be more effective than amoxycillin.
