Continuity of care is good for elderly people with diabetes: retrospective cohort study of mortality and hospitalization.

Objective: To examine the relationship between continuity of family physician care and all-cause mortality and acute hospitalizations in older people with diabetes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of administrative health databases. Continuity of family physician care for elderly patients newly diagnosed with diabetes was estimated by 3 continuity indexes using physician claims data.

Postdated versus usual delayed antibiotic prescriptions in primary care: Reduction in antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections?

Objective: To determine whether postdating delayed antibiotic prescriptions results in a further decrease (over usual delayed prescriptions) in antibiotic use.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A small rural town in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Does higher continuity of family physician care reduce hospitalizations in elderly people with diabetes?

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between continuity of family physician (FP) care and inpatient hospitalizations in elderly people with diabetes who have universally-insured health care. We constructed a population-based retrospective cohort study using a sample of 1143 people aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed diabetes who were selected from a longitudinal surveillance database in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Canada. Continuity of FP care was estimated by 3 chronological indices (Continuity of Care [COC], Usual Provider Continuity [UPC], and Sequential Continuity [SECON]) using administrative physician claims data.

Herpes labialis.

Introduction: Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection usually causes a mild, self-limiting painful blistering around the mouth, with 20% to 40% of adults affected at some time. Primary infection usually occurs in childhood, after which the virus is thought to remain latent in the trigeminal ganglion. Recurrence may be triggered by factors such as exposure to bright light, stress, and fatigue.

One hundred coughs: family practice case series.

Objective: To record the presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of acute coughs presenting in family practice.

Design: A case series of consecutive patients with acute cough as their main symptom.

Setting: Rural family practice clinic and walk-in centre.

Diagnosing streptococcal sore throat in adults: randomized controlled trial of in-office aids.

Objective: To determine whether use of clinical decision rules or rapid streptococcal antigen detection tests (alone or in combination) can lower the number of unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics for adults with acute sore throats.

Design: Four-arm randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Family practice offices in eastern Newfoundland.

Continuity of care for older patients in family practice: how important is it?

Objective: To examine the evidence that continuity of primary care is important for older people with chronic diseases.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from January 1970 to June 2005 for original articles in English that examined the relationship between interpersonal continuity of patient care and health outcomes of people 50 years old and older. Articles found were reviewed and analyzed by both authors to assess the strength of study design and the quality of the evidence provided.

Herpes labialis.

Introduction: Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection usually causes a mild, self-limiting painful blistering around the mouth, with 20-40% of adults affected at some time. Primary infection usually occurs in childhood, after which the virus is thought to remain latent in the trigeminal ganglion. Recurrence may be triggered by factors such as exposure to bright light, stress, and fatigue.