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Abstract: Aims: To investigate the feasibility of a primary care model to improve the management of COPD. Methods: An intervention study on 1497 patients with documented COPD from 22 general practices, involving 11 practice nurses and a COPD Support Service (CSS). Outcome measures included the successful delegation of tasks from general practitioners (GPs) to the CSS and practice nurse, and performance in daily practice according to the model components – keeping a patient register with a recall system, periodical history taking and lung function measurements, asking diagnostic and therapeutic advice, and performing regular follow-up visits with education and counselling. Results: In the 22 general practices, all components of the model were performed systematically, with the exception of ‘asking for diagnostic and therapeutic advice’ which occurred in 10 practices only. Of the 1497 patients, 374 (25%) were treated by chest physicians. Of the remaining patients 88% were included in the primary care model and 12% refused regular follow-up. Conclusion: This primary care model for COPD management proved to be very feasible; GPs delegated the tasks, almost all patients were included in the control system, and a large majority of patients accepted follow-up according to the model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate two counseling programs in general practice to help smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to quit smoking. Methods: Cluster randomized controlled trial including 68 general practices (667 patients) using a randomly assigned intervention program with counseling and advice about nicotine replacement therapy (and additional bupropion-SR in one of the programs) or usual care. Usual care consisted of periodic regular check-ups and COPD information. The main outcome measure was biochemically verified point prevalence at 12months. Results: The two intervention groups were treated as one in the analysis because they were equally effective. The intervention resulted in a significantly self-reported higher success rate (14.5%) compared to usual care (7.4%); odds ratio=2.1, 95% confidence interval=1.1–4.1. Biochemically verified quit rates were 7.5% (intervention) and 3.4% (usual care); odds ratio=2.3, 95% confidence interval=0.9–6.0. Conclusion: The program doubled the cessation rates (statistically nonsignificant). Too few participants used the additional bupropion-SR to prove its effectiveness. Practice implications: The protocols can be used for COPD patients in general practice, but expectations should be modest. If quitting is unsuccessful, a stepped care approach should be considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background. : Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) forms an increasing health problem. Despite smoking cessation improving the prognosis of the disease, many patients persist smoking. The present study presents the results of a smoking cessation counseling protocol in general practice (Smoking Cessation in patients with COPD in general practice (SMOCC)). Methods. : A randomized controlled trial of patients with COPD compared smoking cessation counseling according to an intensified minimal intervention strategy with usual care. In total 43 general practices with 392 patients participated in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, in 2001-2002. Results. : Significantly more smokers in the experimental group made a quit attempt (44.9% versus 36.5%) and actually quitted smoking than in the control group (16.0% versus 8.8%). The motivation to stop smoking at baseline was not associated with smoking cessation. Conclusion. : The SMOCC strategy doubled the self-reported quit rates and was complied well by the general practitioners. Implementation in general practice is recommended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We aimed to examine risk perceptions among patients at moderate to high cardiovascular risk. A questionnaire about perceived absolute risk of myocardial infarction and stroke was sent to 2424 patients with hypertension or diabetes. Response rate was 86.3% and 1557 patients without atherosclerotic disease were included. Actual cardiovascular risk was calculated by using Framingham risk functions. A total of 363 (23.3%) of the 1557 patients did not provide any risk estimates and these were particularly older patients, patients with a lower educational level, and patients reporting no alcohol consumption. The remaining 1194 patients tended to overestimate their risk. In 42.3% (497/1174) and 46.8% (541/1155) of the cases, patients overestimated their actual 10-year risk for myocardial infarction and stroke, respectively, by more than 20%. Older age, smoking, familial history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and actual absolute risk predicted higher levels of perceived absolute risk. Male sex, higher scores for an internal health locus of control, lower scores for a physician locus of control, and self-rated excellent or (very) good health were positively related to higher accuracy. In conclusion, patients showed inadequate perceptions of their absolute risk of cardiovascular events and physicians should thus provide greater information about absolute risk when offering preventive therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to assess the provision of information and advice by general practitioners (GPs) with respect to patients with hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, or cardiovascular disease. The study relied on the prospective recording of patient encounters by GPs. Performance indicators were selected from the Dutch national guidelines for general practice. The GPs (n=195) completed 5330 encounter forms. High levels of performance were found with regard to advice on smoking cessation and the provision of information (e.g. information about alarm symptoms or the aim of treatment). Low levels of performance were found with regard to advice on salt consumption, alcohol consumption, weight reduction and physical exercise for patients with hypertension. Discussion of compliance with the therapy in case of hypercholesterolaemia, advice on physical exercise in case of angina pectoris and advice on foot care in case of peripheral arterial disease also showed a substantial gap between recommended and actual care. Performance rates varied considerably across GPs. The patient and GP characteristics examined in this study contributed very little to the clinical performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]