Consulting patterns: comparison between doctors' perceptions and patients' behaviour.

Changes in the structure of a practice and the gender of the partners were accompanied by the abandonment of a personal list system. Doctors' opinions about the consulting behaviour of patients in the practice were determined by questionnaire. The notes of 100 patients registered with each of the six partners were examined to determine the nature and number of consultations with each doctor for the years 1980 and 1984.

Casualty and surgical services in Perthshire general practitioner hospitals 1954-84.

The results are reported of a study of casualty and surgical services in five general practitioner hospitals in Perthshire - Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff and Pitlochry. Details of the total workload, the nature of the conditions treated and the referral rate to major hospitals are given. Figures for the Royal Infirmary, Perth, the main referral hospital for the county, are also given for comparison.

Assessing the needs of the elderly using unsolicited visits by health visitors.

Thirty-five percent of patients over 70 years old who received an unsolicited visit by a health visitor were found to have previously unidentified needs. In all, 71% of the 110 patients surveyed were found to have problems involving mobility, communication or caring for themselves. Most of their needs were social ones.

The reactions of patients to a video camera in the consulting room.

In a general practice survey of reactions to the presence of a video camera in the consulting room 13 per cent of patients refused to be filmed, and 11 per cent of those who did consent disapproved of recording. Patients were more willing to express their reservations about video recording if asked to fill in a questionnaire later at home rather than immediately at the surgery. Patients with anxiety, depression, or problems relating to the breasts or reproductive system were more likely to withhold consent.

Primary care in two cultures.

Differences were found between primary care as practised by the same doctor in Saudi Arabia and England within a twelve-month period. Many of these differences reflect demographic and cultural divergence between the two communities. Other factors suggested to explain areas of divergence were the administrative differences, systems of audit, language and empathy problems.

Painful extremities and neurological disorder in essential thrombocythaemia.

Six of 20 patients with essential thrombocythaemia had neurological features and 8 had peripheral vascular symptoms. Four had cerebrovascular ischaemia or stroke and 3 had gangrene. Pain in the extremities may be a striking symptom in this disorder.

A counsellor in general practice: a one-year survey.

A counsellor was included within the professional staff of a practice of 11,000 patients cared for by five partners. A review of her work over a 12-month period is described. Eighty-seven patients were counselled in 197 sessions.

Peripheral neuropathy in hypothyroidism--an association with spurious polycythaemia (Gaisbock's syndrome).

The neurological complications of hypothyroidism, including dementia, cerebellar ataxia, myopathy and entrapment neuropathy, are well recorded, but peripheral neuropathy has rarely been documented (Swanson et al. 1981). In this paper two patients are described who developed myxoedema and peripheral neuropathy.