Platelet function in whole-blood donors is impaired: the effects of painkillers.

Background: Aspirin (ASA) or non-aspirin-like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) influence platelet (PLT) function by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. In this study, the aim was to address the use of ASA or NSAIDs before donation and the effect on PLT function.

Study Design And Methods: Donors were asked questions about recent use of ASA or NSAIDs.

Evaluation of an automated test ordering and feedback system for general practitioners in daily practice.

Objective: To evaluate the use of an automated test ordering and feedback system (named GRIF) in daily practice. The system produces recommendations to general practitioners (GPs) to improve the application of accepted practice guidelines for test ordering.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial with balanced block design was carried out in general practices in two regions of the Netherlands from August 2000 to July 2001.

User satisfaction with a real-time automated feedback system for general practitioners: a quantitative and qualitative study.

Objective: The GRIF automated feedback system produces real-time comments on the appropriateness of diagnostic tests ordered by general practitioners (GPs) based on recommendations from accepted national and regional practice guidelines. We investigated the experiences of GPs with this system and, more specifically, with the recommendations produced by the system as well as their views on using this system in daily practice.

Setting: We tested the GRIF system in an experiment in a laboratory setting and in a daily practice trial.

Coagulation and fibrinolysis in inflammatory bowel disease and in giant cell arteritis.

Background: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gut microvascular thrombosis as well as thromboembolic complications have repeatedly been observed. We examined the long-term course of markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis in relation to clinical disease activity.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective study, prothrombin fragment 1 and 2 (F1.

The reliability of assessing the appropriateness of requested diagnostic tests.

Despite a poor reliability, peer assessment is the traditional method to assess the appropriateness of health care activities. This article describes the reliability of the human assessment of the appropriateness of diagnostic tests requests. The authors used a random selection of 1217 tests from 253 request forms submitted by general practitioners in the Maastricht region of The Netherlands.