Publications by authors named "Paula Barratt"
Objectives: To investigate the clinical effectiveness, efficacy and cost effectiveness of splints (orthoses) in people with symptomatic basal thumb joint OA (BTOA).
Methods: A pragmatic, multicentre parallel group randomized controlled trial at 17 National Health Service (NHS) hospital departments recruited adults with symptomatic BTOA and at least moderate hand pain and dysfunction. We randomized participants (1:1:1) using a computer-based minimization system to one of three treatment groups: a therapist supported self-management programme (SSM), a therapist supported self-management programme plus a verum thumb splint (SSM+S), or a therapist supported self-management programme plus a placebo thumb splint (SSM+PS).
Introduction: The economic cost of osteoarthritis (OA) is high. At least 4.4 million people have hand OA in the UK.
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- Guidelines suggest 10-day antibiotic courses for acute sore throat, but shorter durations are commonly used in practice.
- A study of 12,829 UK adults with sore throat found that while longer courses (7 or 10 days) might lead to fewer follow-up visits, the differences weren't statistically significant.
- The conclusion indicates that the potential benefit of a longer course is small and doesn't strongly support the need for extended treatment.
Background: A delayed or 'just in case' prescription has been identified as having potential to reduce antibiotic use in sore throat.
Aim: To determine the symptomatic outcome of acute sore throat in adults according to antibiotic prescription strategy in routine care.
Design And Setting: A secondary analysis of the DESCARTE (Decision rule for the Symptoms and Complications of Acute Red Throat in Everyday practice) prospective cohort study comprising adults aged ≥16 years presenting with acute sore throat (≤2 weeks' duration) managed with treatment as usual in primary care in the UK.
Background: Data from trials suggest that antibiotics reduce the risk of complications of sore throat by at least 50%, but few trials for complications have been done in modern settings, and datasets of delayed antibiotic prescription are underpowered. Observational evidence is important in view of poor compliance with antibiotic treatment outside trials, but no prospective observational cohort studies have been done to date.
Methods: We generated a large prospective cohort from the DESCARTE study, and the PRISM component of DESCARTE, of 12,829 adults presenting with sore throat (≤ 2 weeks duration) in primary care.
Objective: To document whether elements of a structured history and examination predict adverse outcome of acute sore throat.
Design: Prospective clinical cohort.
Setting: Primary care.