Publications by authors named "S L Alderson"
Background: This systematic review evaluates the effect of audit and feedback (A&F) interventions targeting antibiotic prescribing in primary care and examines factors that may explain the variation in effectiveness.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving A&F interventions targeting antibiotic prescribing in primary care were included in the systematic review. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of low-dose amitriptyline as a second-line treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in primary care, especially when first-line treatments fail.
- - Conducted as a pragmatic, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial across 55 general practices in England, the design included both quantitative outcomes and qualitative experiences from participants and general practitioners regarding the treatment.
- - Participants included adults over 18 diagnosed with IBS who did not respond to initial therapies; they received either amitriptyline or a placebo for 6 months, with a focus on measuring the difference in IBS symptoms to see if the medication has a significant impact.
Article Synopsis
- Heart failure is a critical health issue that can lead to high patient mortality and hospital readmissions, emphasizing the need for better medicines management during hospital discharge to improve patient outcomes.
- The Medicines at Transitions Intervention (MaTI), part of the ISCOMAT program, was developed to enhance the transition of heart failure patients from hospital to community care by providing a toolkit for patients and improving communication with community pharmacies.
- The study revealed challenges in implementing the MaTI due to poor communication between hospital staff and pharmacies, leading to incomplete delivery of certain program components, despite some positive feedback on the patient toolkit for education.
Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause troublesome symptoms impacting patients' quality of life and incur considerable health service resource use. Guidelines suggest low-dose amitriptyline for IBS as second line treatment, but this is rarely prescribed in primary care.
Aim: To explore patients' and general practitioners' (GPs) views and experiences of using low-dose amitriptyline for IBS.