Contents July 2001
News
CHD registers improve follow-up but not outcomes
Campaign changes GPs' approach to back pain
Personal View
New SIGN angina guideline will promote best practice
Dr Charles Sears finds it invaluable to have current advice on angina management set out succinctly in the guidance from SIGN
Editorial
Why accurate history taking is essential in allergic rhinitis
Mr David Loke and Mr Timothy Woolford, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield
In Reply
Assessing prostate size using DRE
Dr John Pillinger answers a reader's query on how best to judge prostate size
Guideline Development
SIGN guideline on stable angina could reduce CHD deaths
New SIGN guidance aims to increase awareness, among both doctors and patients, of the importance of angina as a symptom of CHD, explains Dr Charles Swainson
Beacon Awards
Problem drug use service focuses on health promotion
Dr Jez Thompson describes his practice's harm reduction/health promotion approach to the care of drug misusers, for which they were awarded Beacon status
Linking Evidence to Practice
Managing allergic rhinitis in primary care
Drs Samantha Walker and Aziz Sheikh discuss current recommendations for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, highlighting important issues for general practice
Electronic Patient Records
Access to electronic medical records empowers patients
Dr Cecilia Pyper, Dr Justin Amery, Dr Marion Watson and Claire Crook describe a pilot study giving patients secure, private access to their online medical record
Patient Records
Patients appreciate seeing their notes
Allowing patients to read their records while waiting to see the GP gives them greater confidence in their dealings with the doctor, explains Dr Brian Fisher
Audit
CHF audit highlights the need to update practice guidelines
Dr Nigel Watson describes an audit of patients with heart failure in his practice which led to improved investigation and monitoring of the condition
Medico-legal Issues in Practice
Blowing the whistle on colleagues who underperform
Doctors have a duty to act if they consider patients to be at risk through the conduct, ill health or poor performance of a colleague, explains Dr Gerard Panting
Electronic Communication
PRIMIS will ensure effective use of practice computers
PRIMIS, a national training and support service, is designed to help PCG/Ts take full advantage of their clinical computer systems, explains Dr Nigel Watson
Key Organisations
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: guidelines programme
Judy Mead, Head of Clinical Effectiveness, Research and Clinical Effectiveness Unit, CSP
eGuidelines
eGuidelines update
Guidelines summaries, Guidelines in Practice and related information online at eguidelines.co.uk
CLIP Database
Clinical Improvements Online Database
The eGuidelines database of clinical improvement project information and contacts at eguidelines.co.uk/clip
Your Problems Solved Audit
Our panel of experts answer questions on audit
In the second of a new series of Q&As, Dr Mark Charny answers some frequently asked questions on audit in general practice
Notes for authors
Writing for Guidelines in Practice: instructions for authors
Authors are advised to follow these instructions carefully to ensure that their article is processed smoothly and quickly
Out of Hours
Should you feel sorry for TV doctors?
Dr Phil Hammond, GP and atheist presenter of BBC1's Heaven and Earth Show
