Acute low back pain: is gatekeeping second best?

Background: Low back pain is a common problem managed by primary care physicians and orthopedic specialists.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcome of new LBP episodes in patients who chose to visit either an orthopedist or their general practitioner.

Methods: All patients visiting the orthopedist or physician during the study period were screened for a new complaint of LBP.

Community-acquired pneumonia in children: quantifying the burden on patients and their families including decrease in quality of life.

Objectives: Childhood respiratory infections have an important impact on society and are a frequent cause of physician visits, consumption of antibiotics and over-the-counter drugs, work loss, and reduction of quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on children and their families, including quantification of expenses and decrease in quality of life.

Methods: Patients <3 years old with pneumonia were enrolled in 3 sites in southern Israel: pediatric wards, the pediatric emergency department, and a primary health clinic.

The burden of acute otitis media on the patient and the family.

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to determine the burden of acute otitis media (AOM) on patients and their families. Parents of children with AOM were interviewed with regard to the week preceding the AOM diagnosis and every 3 days henceforth for an additional 21 days. The interview included information on loss of workdays, use of health care services and impact on the patient's and family's quality of life.