Publications by authors named "Silagy C"
This trial examined the optimal setting for follow-up of patients after treatment for colon cancer by either general practitioners or surgeons. In all, 203 consenting patients who had undergone potentially curative treatment for colon cancer were randomised to follow-up by general practitioners or surgeons. Follow-up guidance recommended three monthly clinical review and annual faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) and were identical in both study arms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The aim of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is to replace nicotine from cigarettes. This reduces withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation thus helping resist the urge to smoke cigarettes.
Objectives: The aims of this review were:to determine the effectiveness of the different forms of NRT (chewing gum, transdermal patches, nasal spray, inhalers and tablets) in achieving abstinence from cigarettes, or a sustained reduction in amount smoked; to determine whether the effect is influenced by the clinical setting in which the smoker is recruited and treated, the dosage and form of the NRT used, or the intensity of additional advice and support offered to the smoker; to determine whether combinations of NRT are more effective than one type alone; to determine its effectiveness compared to other pharmacotherapies.
Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer is controversial. Demand for PSA testing is likely to rise in the UK, Australia and other western countries. Primary care needs to develop appropriate strategies to respond to this demand.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To investigate the safety and efficacy of bupropion sustained release (bupropion SR) in promoting abstinence from smoking in subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Methods: Six hundred twenty-nine subjects with CVD who smoked >/=10 cigarettes/day were randomised in a double-blind, multicentre study to receive bupropion SR (150 mg twice daily) or placebo for 7 weeks, with a follow-up of 52 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoint: continuous abstinence from smoking from weeks 4 to 7.
Objective: To examine whether the sale of medicines via the internet supports their safe and appropriate use.
Design: e-Pharmacy websites were identified using key words and a metasearch engine and the quality of information published on these websites was surveyed using the DISCERN tool. A case scenario and internet pharmacy practice standards were also used to evaluate the quality of care delivered.
Background: The Internet provides consumers with access to online health information; however, identifying relevant and valid information can be problematic. Our objectives were firstly to investigate the efficiency of search-engines, and then to assess the quality of online information pertaining to androgen deficiency in the ageing male (ADAM).
Methods: Keyword searches were performed on nine search-engines (four general and five medical) to identify website information regarding ADAM.
Background: The aim of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is to replace nicotine from cigarettes. This reduces withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation thus helping resist the urge to smoke cigarettes.
Objectives: The aims of this review were to determine the effectiveness of the different forms of nicotine replacement therapy (chewing gum, transdermal patches, nasal spray, inhalers and tablets) in achieving abstinence from cigarettes, or a sustained reduction in amount smoked; to determine whether the effect is influenced by the clinical setting in which the smoker is recruited and treated, the dosage and form of the NRT used, or the intensity of additional advice and support offered to the smoker; to determine whether combinations of NRT are more effective than one type alone; and to determine its effectiveness compared to other pharmacotherapies.
Objective: E-pharmacies are web sites selling prescription-only medicines and other products including non-prescription and complementary medicines to consumers via the internet. This study aims to evaluate the quality of global e-pharmacies, discuss whether e-pharmacies support the safe and appropriate use of medicines, and consider how we can protect consumers in the future.
Methods: A survey of public information published on global e-pharmacy web sites was conducted between July and September 2001.
Background: Although systematic reviews of health care interventions are an invaluable tool for health care providers and researchers, many potential authors never publish reviews. This study attempts to determine why some people with interest in performing systematic reviews do not subsequently publish a review; and what steps could possibly increase review completion.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey by email and facsimile of the 179 participants in Australasian Cochrane Centre training events between 1998 and 2000.
Objective: To determine the proportion of South Australians accessing online health care information, predictive characteristics of online health seekers, nature of the information sought and consumer behaviour.
Methods: A probability-based survey of 3,027 South Australians, aged 15 years and older, as part of the Spring 2000 South Australian Health Omnibus.
Results: Internet access decreases with age, while the prevalence of online health seekers is constant (26% to 28%) among people aged between 15 and 54 years.
Context: Publication of research protocols minimizes bias by explicitly stating a priori hypotheses and methods without prior knowledge of results.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective comparative study to assess the extent to which the content of published Cochrane reviews had changed compared with their previously published protocols and to assess any potential impact these changes may have had in introducing bias to the study. We identified previously published protocols for new Cochrane reviews appearing in The Cochrane Library; 2000, issue 3.
Background: Local adaptation is often reported in the literature to be an important strategy in achieving local ownership and relevance of guidelines in order to increase the likelihood of their uptake and implementation. However, the process is also potentially time-consuming and costly.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of local adaptation of nationally produced clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on the knowledge, attitude and reported practices of GPs.
Objective: To systematically review the effect of consumer use of online health information on decision-making, attitudes, knowledge, satisfaction and health outcomes and utilization.
Search Strategy: Electronic databases searched included the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE (to 14 March 2001), CINAHL, Australian Medical Index, Health and Society, National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Database and CenterWatch.
Inclusion Criteria: All post-1995 comparative studies (including controlled studies, before and after studies, and interrupted time series analyses) of Internet users vs.
Updating a systematic review--what difference did it make? Case study of nicotine replacement therapy.
BMC Med Res Methodol
December 2003
Aims: To examine the effect of updating a systematic review of nicotine replacement therapy on its contents and conclusions.
Methods: We examined the effects of regular updating of a systematic review of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. We considered two outcomes.
Background: The aim of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is to replace nicotine from cigarettes. This reduces withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation thus helping resist the urge to smoke cigarettes.
Objectives: The aims of this review were to determine the effectiveness of the different forms of nicotine replacement therapy (chewing gum, transdermal patches, nasal spray, inhalers and tablets) in achieving abstinence from cigarettes, or a sustained reduction in amount smoked; to determine whether the effect is influenced by the clinical setting in which the smoker is recruited and treated, the dosage and form of the NRT used, or the intensity of additional advice and support offered to the smoker; to determine whether combinations of NRT are more effective than one type alone; and to determine its effectiveness compared to other pharmacotherapies.
Objective: To examine the extent to which recommendations in the national guidelines for the cessation of smoking are based on evidence from systematic reviews of controlled trials.
Design: Retrospective analysis of recommendations for the national guidelines for the cessation of smoking.
Materials: National guidelines in clinical practice on smoking cessation published in English.
Objective: To test the feasibility of an evidence-based clinical literature search service to help answer general practitioners' (GPs') clinical questions.
Design: Two search services supplied GPs who submitted questions with the best available empirical evidence to answer these questions. The GPs provided feedback on the value of the service, and concordance of answers from the two search services was assessed.
Background: Most doctors will at some point in their lives find themselves 'on the other side' in the role of patient. This may pose particular challenges both for the individual and for those involved in their treatment.
Objective: To document the personal experience of a doctor becoming a patient grappling with the potentially life threatening condition of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Objective: This study examined, in a group of older patients, (a) the effectiveness of an invitation to participate in a program providing individualized physical activity advice in a primary care setting and (b) the changes in self-reported physical activity and symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods: Healthy, sedentary community-dwelling men and women aged 60 years or more were invited to participate. Following random allocation, the intervention group received individualized physical activity advice at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months followup.
Background: Health care professionals frequently advise patients to improve their health by stopping smoking. Such advice may be brief, or part of more intensive interventions.
Objectives: The aims of this review were to assess the effectiveness of advice from physicians in promoting smoking cessation; to compare minimal interventions by physicians with more intensive interventions; to assess the effectiveness of various aids to advice in promoting smoking cessation and to determine the effect of anti-smoking advice on disease specific and all cause mortality.
Background: Influenza can cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients considered to be at high risk (such as the elderly and those with chronic disease) of developing influenza-related complications. Data on the efficacy of zanamivir in high-risk patients are lacking because individual studies recruited a limited number of these patients.
Methods: A retrospective pooled analysis of data from high-risk patients in studies completed before or during the 1998-1999 winter season was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of inhaled zanamivir (10 mg twice daily for 5 days) for the treatment of confirmed influenza.
Objective: To determine whether provision of individualised physical activity advice by an exercise specialist in general practice is effective in modifying physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults.
Design: Randomised controlled trial of individualised physical activity advice, reinforced at three and six months (intervention) versus no advice (control).
Setting: Two general practices in Adelaide, South Australia, 1996.