[Stop smoking advice for patients who smoke: feasible in the dental practice?].

Smoking may cause periodontal diseases and raises the chance of getting oral cancer. The Dutch Guideline for the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction recommends that dental professionals explicitly advise all patients who smoke to stop smoking. In 12 dental practices a study was made of how the guidelines could be implemented.

Initial nonresponders had an increased response rate after repeated questionnaire mailings.

Background And Objective: There is a growing evidence base on methods to improve response rates in surveys among patients. This study aimed to determine the additional effect of two intensive follow-up procedures compared to a simple follow-up procedure.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial that compared repeated mailing of the questionnaire and a request to explain nonparticipation with a simple reminder card.

Use of prescribed and non-prescribed medication for dyspepsia.

Objective: To explore patient factors related to the use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs for dyspepsia in The Netherlands.

Design: Patient survey study.

Setting And Subjects: Questionnaires sent to patients who had a prescription for dyspepsia medication from their general practitioner.

Patient-directed strategy to reduce prescribing for patients with dyspepsia in general practice: a randomized trial.

Background: The percentage of patients receiving long-term treatment with acid suppressive drugs, mainly proton pump inhibitors, is higher than the prevalence of diseases that are commonly accepted as the proper indication for long-term proton pump inhibitor use.

Aim: To evaluate whether a patient-directed intervention (direct mail) reduced the prescription of antisecretory medication for dyspepsia in general practice.

Methods: A cluster-randomized trial was performed.