Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Tribe.
A small percentage of Australian general practices use computers for accounts and an even smaller proportion for clinical information. The author shows how to implement a simple and inexpensive computer database program that has the potential to help manage a practice more efficiently and comprehensively.
In a GP setting of 2679 patients aged over 20 years, at least one cholesterol reading was known for 529 (20%). Of 1087 lipid estimations in 10 years the average cholesterol was 6.33 (SD 1.45). All 523 were given appropriate dietary advice and 40 (18%) were also given pharmacological agent(s) as well. Of 211 patients who had more than one reading done, an overall reduction of 6.4% in cholesterol was achieved and maintained for a sustained period of 3.2 years on average.
Many general practices use a computer, but it can be used for more than accounts and medical records. Preparation of patient information documents is another ideal application. The author shows how a spreadsheet programme can be used to do this showing the cost of smoking both in dollars and loss of life expectancy.
Pertussis immunisation has wrongly received a bad reputation, the author believes. Accumulated evidence on the beneficial effects of pertussis vaccination is presented here.
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