Net Promoter Score as a Reflection of Patients' Opinions About Telemedical Visits: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

In order to assess patient experiences of telemedicine, researchers and administrators use the net promoter score (NPS), based on a likelihood to recommend (LTR) question. However, there is reason to doubt validity of this metric for this purpose. We assessed the degree to which the LTR question reflects actual patient preferences about telemedicine.

Evaluation of a pediatric dermatology electronic consult program in a rural state with subanalysis of infantile hemangioma cases.

An electronic consultation (e-Consult) store-and-forward teledermatology program was implemented to improve access to dermatologic care in Maine. While initially designed to triage potential skin cancers, we found this program to be heavily used for pediatric patients, especially infants. Our findings suggest e-Consult expedites care for pediatric dermatology patients, particularly those with infantile hemangiomas.

Comparison of efficacy of spirapril and enalapril in control of mild-to-moderate hypertension.

The efficacy of spirapril, 6 mg once daily, was compared with enalapril, 5-20 mg once daily, in the control of mild-to-moderate hypertension in a placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. A total of 251 patients participated in the study, all of whom underwent a 4-week washout period on placebo. Thereafter, 100 patients were randomized to spirapril, 6 mg once daily, 101 patients to enalapril, 5-20 mg once daily, and 50 patients remained on placebo.

An evaluation of the safety of the beta-modulator cicloprolol in chronic heart failure.

The new beta-adrenoceptor partial agonist cicloprolol acts as a beta-agonist at normal levels and as a beta-antagonist at high levels of adrenergic discharge. Treatment with cicloprolol should protect the heart against excessive stimulation, while providing a baseline level of sympathetic drive. The clinical interest of such a profile is, however, not yet established in heart failure.

A double-blind dose-response study of amlodipine in patients with stable angina pectoris.

Sixty patients (31 male, 29 female) were studied in a 4-week double-blind parallel dose-response study. Patients received amlodipine 1.25 mg (n = 12), 2.