Radiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the ankle and tarsal joints-analysis of 66 joints.

PURPOSE: Osteoarthritis of the ankle and tarsal joints is less common than osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, but the associated disability is at least as severe as that of the other major joints of the lower limb. The results for total arthroplasty are still not satisfactory. For this reason, arthrodesis is still the gold standard of non-joint-conserving surgery. For the reason of functionality, joint-conserving therapies play a major role in treatment of ankle and tarsal osteoarthritis. Low-dose radiotherapy has a long history of treatment of osteoarthritis. The aim of this survey was to examine the results of low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the ankle and tarsal joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis was performed on patients of three German radiotherapy institutions and included 66 irradiated joints. Pain was documented with the numeric rating scale (NRS). Evaluation of the NRS was done before and directly after each radiation therapy course as well as for the follow-up of 24 months. The median age of the patients was 68 years, with 24.5% male and 75.5% female patients. The upper ankle was treated in 37.9%, the lower ankle in 27.3% and the tarsal joints in 34.8%. RESULTS: We could find a significant response to radiotherapy. For the whole sample, the median pain was 7 on the NRS before radiotherapy, 5 after 6 and 12 weeks, and 4 after 12 months. The percentage of patients with 0 or 1 on the NRS was 19.6% 12 months after radiotherapy. An improvement of joint mobility could be detected in 56.7% of the cases. All investigated subgroups had a significant reduction in pain. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy of ankle and tarsal osteoarthritis is an effective treatment without showing side effects. All analysed subgroups show a good response to radiotherapy for at least 24 months.

Fluoroquinolones to treat uncomplicated acute cough in primary care: predictors for unjustified prescribing of antibiotics.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts to ensure more accurate prescribing of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, inappropriate selection of antibiotic treatment remains a big issue. We tried to ascertain which factors best predict the nature of fluoroquinolone prescribing for acute cough in primary care. METHODS: Random effects logistic regression models were applied to the baseline prescription data taken from a cluster-randomized controlled trial based on 104 general practitioners (GPs) and 2745 patients. RESULTS: Significant predictors for the prescription of fluoroquinolones from both patient and GP data were identified. Predictors from a patient's perspective were the severity of illness {odds ratio (OR) 3.56 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45-5.19] P < 0.001}, the duration of illness before seeing the GP [OR 1.09 (95% CI 1.04-1.14) P < 0.020] and the individual patient's age [OR 1.01 (95% CI 1.00-1.01) P < 0.015]. Predictors from the GP's perspective were extent/lack of specific vocational training [OR 3.10 (95% CI 1.54-6.22) P < 0.001], status as a general internist [OR 2.00 (95% CI 1.10-3.70) P < 0.002], the physician's overall antibiotic prescription rate for acute cough [OR 1.02 (95% CI 1.01-1.04) P < 0.001], the duration of illness before contact with patient [OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.69-0.95) P < 0.010] and the severity of illness [OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.12-0.63) P < 0.002]. DISCUSSION: Whether a fluoroquinolone is prescribed by a GP seems to be determined not only by the patient's characteristics but also by the GP's vocational training and overall antibiotic prescribing rate. As the prescription of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of acute coughing can rarely be justified, such prescriptions may serve as a quality indicator for antibiotic prescribing in primary care.

Reducing unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics for acute cough: adaptation of a leaflet aimed at Turkish immigrants in Germany.

BACKGROUND: The reduction in the number of unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics has become one of the most important objectives for primary health care. German GPs report that they are under "pressure to prescribe" antibiotics particularly in consultations with Turkish immigrants. And so a qualitative approach was used to learn more about the socio-medical context of Turkish patients in regard to acute coughs. A German leaflet designed to improve the doctor-patient communication has been positively tested and then adapted for Turkish patients. METHODS: The original leaflet was first translated into Turkish. Then 57 patients belonging to 8 different GPs were interviewed about the leaflet using a semi-standardised script. The material was audio recorded, fully transcribed, and analysed by three independent researchers. As a first step a comprehensive content analysis was performed. Secondly, elements crucial to any Turkish version of the leaflet were identified. RESULTS: The interviews showed that the leaflets' messages were clearly understood by all patients irrespective of age, gender, and educational background. We identified no major problems in the perception of the translated leaflet but identified several minor points which could be improved. We found that patients were starting to reconsider their attitudes after reading the leaflet. CONCLUSION: The leaflet successfully imparted relevant and new information to the target patients. A qualitative approach is a feasible way to prove general acceptance and provides additional information for its adaptation to medico-cultural factors.

Reducing antibiotic prescriptions for acute cough by motivating GPs to change their attitudes to communication and empowering patients: a cluster-randomized intervention study.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the efficacy of an educational intervention that aimed to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in primary care by motivating GPs to change their attitudes to communication and by empowering patients. METHODS: One hundred and four GPs in North-Rhine/Westphalia-Lippe, Germany were cluster-randomized into intervention and control. GPs randomized to receive the intervention were visited by peers. The intervention strategy was focused on the communication within the encounter, not on sharing knowledge about antibiotic prescribing. Leaflets and posters were provided that aimed at patient empowerment, thus enabling patients to raise the topic of antibiotic prescriptions themselves. RESULTS: Eighty-six GPs (83%) remained in the study at 6 weeks and 61 GPs (59%) at 12 months. Antibiotic prescription rates within the control group were 54.7% at baseline and 36.4% within the intervention group at baseline. Generalized estimating equation models were applied. Baseline imbalances and confounding variables were controlled by adjustment. After the intervention, the ORs for the prescription of an antibiotic dropped to 0.58 [95% CI: (0.43;0.78), P < 0.001] after 6 weeks and were 0.72 [95% CI: (0.54;0.97), P = 0.028] after 12 months in the intervention group. In the control group, the ORs rose to 1.52 [95% CI: (1.19;1.95), P = 0.001] after 6 weeks and were 1.31 [95% CI: (1.01;1.71), P = 0.044] after 12 months; these ORs correspond to an approximately 60% relative reduction in antibiotic prescription rates at 6 weeks and a persistent 40% relative reduction at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: An interventional strategy that focused on doctor-patient communication and patient empowerment is an effective concept to reduce antibiotic prescriptions in primary care.

[Feasibility test of a new guideline--results of qualitative research with general practitioners]. / Praxistest der Leitlinie Kreuzschmerzen: Ergebnisse einer qualitativen Untersuchung unter Hausärzten.

Feasibility testing of new guidelines for general practice is part of the German Academic Society of General Practice's evaluation procedure. The 'low back pain guideline' was evaluated by a qualitative method that included a focus group discussion. Even when GPs agreed to guideline recommendations, this method revealed emotional and cultural barriers to implementation on the part of both doctors and patients.