General practitioner practices in requesting laboratory tests for patients with gastroenteritis in the Netherlands, 2001-2002.

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the (selective) proportion of patients consulting their GP for an episode of gastroenteritis for whom laboratory tests were requested. In addition adherence of GPs to the guidelines for diagnostic test regime was ascertained.

Methods: Data were collected from a GP network in the Netherlands.

Breastfeeding articles in the Australian press: 1996-1999.

The mass print media provide an opportunity to promote health messages to the general community. This paper examines articles on breastfeeding in the mass print media available to a low socioeconomic area in Australia over a four-year period from 1996 to 1999. Between January 1996 and December 1999, 334 breastfeeding articles were identified in the four main newspapers available in a low socioeconomic metropolitan area.