Relationship between patient-reported disease severity and other clinical outcomes in osteoarthritis: a European perspective.

Objective: To determine how patient-rated osteoarthritis (OA) severity correlates with other patient-reported and clinical outcomes in the European clinical setting.

Methods: We used the Adelphi Arthritis VII (2008) Disease Specific Program (DSP). OA severity was patient-rated using the question 'How bad would you say your arthritis is now?' with responses of 'mild,' 'moderate,' and 'severe.

Cost-effectiveness of salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone propionate combination inhaler in chronic asthma.

Objective: To determine where in the treatment steps recommended by the British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN) Asthma Guideline it is cost-effective to use salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone propionate combination inhaler (SFC) (Seretide) compared with other inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) containing regimens (with and without a long acting beta-2 agonist (LABA)) for chronic asthma in adults and children.

Research Design And Methods: Meta-analyses of percentage symptom-free days (%SFD) were used within a cost-effectiveness model. Time spent in two asthma control health states, 'symptom-free' and 'with-symptoms' was used as the measure of differential treatment effectiveness.

Paying doctors by salary: a controlled study of general practitioner behaviour in England.

The study aim was to evaluate the impact of the experimental introduction of salaried contracts in England on general practitioner (GP) behaviour and the quality of care. A controlled before-and-after design was implemented involving ten practices of standard contract GPs, paid largely by capitation and fee-for-service, and ten salaried GP practices. Diaries and routinely available data were used to assess GP workload, and patient assessments of the quality of care were obtained by postal questionnaire.

Salaried contracts in UK general practice: a study of job satisfaction and stress.

Objectives: To compare job satisfaction and stress levels of general practitioners (GPs) employed on salaried contracts with GPs on a 'standard' performance-related contract paid by fee-for-service and capitation.

Methods: Job satisfaction and stress levels were assessed using data from two postal surveys of GPs: a national survey of 'standard' contract GPs carried out in 1998; and a survey of salaried GPs and their non-salaried GP employers in 1999. Differences in satisfaction and stress scores were assessed by t-tests; regression analysis was used to control for confounding factors and possible selection bias.