NR AIFV
AU McNulty,C.A.; Smith,G.E.; Graham,C.
AK PHLS Primary Care Co-ordinators.
TI PHLS primary care consultation - infectious disease and primary care research and service development priorities
QU Communicable Disease and Public Health 2001 Mar; 4(1): 18-26
KI Commun Dis Public Health. 2001 Mar;4(1):2-3. PMID: 11467014
PT journal article
AB In 1999 for the first time the PHLS undertook a questionnaire survey of general practitioners' views of the burden of infectious disease and the priorities for research and development of infectious disease services within the PHLS. Three hundred and seventy-one (38%) of 979 questionnaires mailed to chairs of primary care groups in England, and general practitioners in research networks, were returned. Service areas: computer transfer of laboratory results was considered of greatest priority. Guidance on antibiotic usage, guidance on infectious diseases and education for general practitioners were ranked two, three and four. Burden of infectious disease in primary care: upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis/pharyngitis, otitis media/externa and acute cough were placed one, three, four and seven respectively. Urinary tract infections were ranked second and dyspepsia/Helicobacter pylori fifth. Leg ulcers, diarrhoea, genital chlamydia infection and vaginal discharge were other diseases considered to cause a large burden of ill-health. Genital chlamydia, tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori and meningococci were ranked one, two, three, and five in the NHS opportunity to affect the burden of ill-health. Priorities for improvements to diagnostic tests, evidence on which to base treatment and guidance: chronic fatigue/ME was ranked top in these areas. The other top ten syndromes ranked in order were genital chlamydia infections, antibiotic resistance surveillance, vaginal discharge, leg ulcers, sinusitis, otitis media/externa, dyspepsia/Helicobacter pylori, Creutzfeld Jacob Disease, and tonsillitis. This consultation exercise has highlighted broad areas for future PHLS involvement in primary care. In order to make progress, further consultation is needed with groups of GPs, and other relevant bodies. Particularly for the areas ranked in the top ten, the type of further PHLS involvement needs to be defined. For some syndromes (chronic fatigue and leg ulcers) this may be writing guidance and for others (respiratory tract infections) more treatment trials are required. The purposes and possible methods of communicable disease surveillance in general practice should be the subject of additional consultation.
MH *Attitude of Health Personnel; Communicable Disease Control/*methods; Communicable Diseases/*epidemiology; Cost of Illness; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Great Britain/epidemiology; *Health Priorities; *Health Services Research; Human; National Health Programs; Primary Health Care/*statistics & numerical data; Questionnaires
AD Public Health Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN.
SP englisch
PO England