Measuring outcome of diabetes: a retrospective survey.

The feasibility of using hospital discharge data to monitor six outcome indicators for diabetes care was assessed by reviewing retrospectively the occurrence of these events recorded in hospital records. The population studied was that of the Orkney Islands (19,500) over a 10-year period (1976-1985). During that time, 230 Orkney diabetic patients were treated in Orkney and/or Aberdeen hospitals.

Parkinson's disease in a Scottish city.

In a detailed community study the total prevalence of idiopathic Parkinson's disease in Aberdeen was 164.2/10(5) of the population. The age and sex specific prevalence rose to 2657.

Is it a hypo? Knowledge of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia in elderly diabetic patients.

Knowledge of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia was assessed in 161 elderly diabetic patients using insulin or a sulphonylurea. Nine percent knew no symptoms. Patients on insulin and those with poorer control had significantly greater knowledge (p less than 0.

Measuring learning by trainees in general practice.

Twenty simulated consultations with patients having a respiratory illness were carried out by 20 trainees at the start and finish of a training year in general practice, using the same method as used in a previous study of principals in general practice.During the course of the year, the trainees as a group closely approached the behaviour-in the defined terms of the study-of principals as a group. The trend was more marked for doctors on a three-year training programme than for those on a one-year programme.