[Relation between continuity of care and mortality]. / Relatie tussen continuïteit van zorg en mortaliteit.

Continuity of care is one of the most important features of primary care. In this commentary we discuss the article by Maarsingh et al. regarding the relation between personal continuity (seeing the same care provider) and mortality. We raise some important points on the way continuity of care is measured and show how it affects the results. Our conclusion is that the relation between continuity of care and mortality is still weak. However, this does not alter the importance of having a personal care provider. It increases patient satisfaction and trust in the care provider, both of which are essential for a good doctor-patient relationship.

[The practice guideline 'Bacterial skin infections' (first revision) from the Dutch College of General Practitioners; a response from the perspective of general practice]. / De standaard 'bacteriële huidinfecties' (eerste herziening) van het Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap; reactie vanuit de huisartsgeneeskunde.

The revised guideline 'Bacterial skin infections' from the Dutch College ofGeneral Practitioners offers a clear and extensive overview of the most prevalent superficial and deep bacterial infections in general practice. Given the lack of evidence, it is no longer recommended to keep children with impetigo out of school or daycare centres. Erysipelas and cellulitis are now considered variants of the same bacterial infection and require the same therapy. Due to its rising prevalence, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus should also be considered. In conclusion, the guideline is a practical and evidence-based tool for the diagnosis, education and treatment of bacterial skin infections.

[Prevalence of and health care consumption for asthma and COPD in relation to ethnicity]. / Prevalentie en zorgconsumptie bij astma en COPD in relatie tot etniciteit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there are differences in prevalence of and health care consumption for asthma and COPD between Dutch people of Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese origin and indigenous Dutch people. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: Based on data from the 'Second Dutch national study into morbidity and interventions in general practice', we compared the prevalence of asthma and COPD in the different ethnic groups. In addition, we compared the use of various airway medications and the number of general practice contacts between these ethnic groups. RESULTS: We analysed data of 240,067 indigenous Dutch, 2,942 Turkish, 2,416 Moroccan and 3,320 Surinamese subjects. Asthma is more prevalent among Surinamese and seems less prevalent among Moroccans. COPD seems less prevalent among immigrants than among the indigenous Dutch population. Immigrants tend to have less prescriptions of prophylactic maintenance airway medication and they also tend to have less airway-related general practice contacts than indigenous Dutch patients. CONCLUSION: Differences exist in the prevalence of and health care consumption for asthma and COPD between the different ethnic groups in the Netherlands. There seems to be underdiagnosis of COPD in immigrants. Moreover, immigrant asthma and COPD patients are probably undertreated.