[Cost analysis for ambulatory patients in internal medicine].

We analyzed the diagnostical and therapeutical costs of 300 ambulatory patients over a two year period in a Swiss university policlinic of internal medicine. The calculations were based on the catalogue of hospital services (Spitalleistungskatalog) and the drugstore prices for pharmaceuticals (Apothekenpreise). The overall costs for the 300 patients were about 238,400 CHF.

[Drug therapy knowledge in ambulatory cardiovascular patients].

To analyse drug therapy knowledge of prescribed drugs and self-administered medicinal products we interviewed 222 ambulatory cardiovascular patients. Spontaneous mentions of drugs (at least 3 preparations on average) were completed later on specific questioning. 40% of patients once interrupted their therapy due to adverse drug reactions.

Exertional dyspnea as initial manifestation of Takayasu's arteritis--a case report and literature review.

Background: Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that usually affects the aorta, its primary branches and occasionally the pulmonary and coronary arteries. Female gender in reproductive age and Asian origin are known factors associated with higher disease prevalence. The clinical manifestations vary considerably and are typically caused by limb or organ ischemia illness and fever.

Couples critical incidents checklist: a construct validity study.

This study examined the initial construct validity of the Couples Critical Incidents Checklist (CCICL; Piedmont & Piedmont, 1996). One hundred nine heterosexual married couples completed the CCICL to assess levels of marital satisfaction and the NEO PI-R to assess personality factors. As hypothesized, the rater-reports (R) and the self-ratings (S) of each of the five personality dimensions correlated systematically with the kinds of marital issues identified on each of the five sections of the CCICL.

[Costs of diagnosis in emergency room consultations].

The costs for diagnostic workup in the medical emergency room were analyzed for 1000 consecutive patients in the course of a cost analysis program. Next to demographic data, the complaints leading to admission, all diagnostic procedures and tests as well as the final diagnosis were recorded. According to cumulated tariffs of individual services, the total cost for the 1000 patients amounted to Sfr.