Prescribing exercise in primary care: ten practical steps

Source: BMJ

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: July 2011

Publication type: Editorial

In a nutshell: Pratical advice for exercise prescription to encourage patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle and help them maintain it. One tip recommends the use of e-mail and text reminders, website support and smartphone apps.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of a 3-year trial of lifestyle intervention in primary health care

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 13 September 2010, vol 170 no 16, pp 1470-1479

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: September 2010

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This Swedish study of 151 patients over 3 years, demonstrated clear and cost-effective impact of group-based lifestyle interventions on quality of life (QOL) in patients at moderate to high risk of CVD. The researchers performed health economic evaluation, cost-utility analysis and cost-effectiveness using the net monetary benefit method.

Length of publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

A low intensity, community based lifestyle programme to prevent weight gain in women with young children

Source: BMJ, 2010, 341 (c3215)

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This study evaluated a community behavioural intervention in Australia. 250 mothers attended four interactive group sessions involving health messages, behaviour change strategies and group discussion. They also received monthly support via mobile phone text messages. After 12 months, the intervention group showed differences in weight loss and total cholesterol concentration compared to the control group.

Length of publication: 12 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Service organisation for the secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease

Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2010, Issue 3.

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: March 2010

Publication type: Systematic review

In a nutshell: This Cochrane review assesses the effectiveness of interventions which aim to improve the way in which secondary preventive care is delivered in primary care and in the community. Eleven studies were included in the review, and involved interventions such as regular planned appointments, patient education and the structured monitoring of risk factors and prescribing.

Length of publication: 65 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: The Cochrane Collaboration

Home based versus centre based cardiac rehabilitation

Source: BMJ, 2010, 340 (7740) p. 249

Follow this link for the fulltext

Date of publication: January, 2010

Publication type: Systematic review

In a nutshell: Twelve studies with a total of 1938 participants were included in this Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. No difference was seen in terms of mortality and other factors but there was evidence of superior adherence in the home-based participants. No consistent difference was seen in the healthcare costs of the two forms of cardiac rehabilitation. Both were found to be equally effective in improving clinical and health-related quality of life outcomes. This finding supports the further provision of evidence-based, home-based cardiac rehabilitation. However, the choice of home-based or centre-based rehabilitation should reflect the preference of the individual patient.

Length of publication: 15 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Improvement of primary care for patients with chronic heart failure

Source: BMC Health Services Research, 2010, 10 (8)

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: January, 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: A pilot study was undertaken in 19 general practices in the Netherlands, involving 15 GPs and 77 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). A programme for improving primary care for patients with CHF was delivered by a trained practice visitor and consisted of educational and organisational components. The impact and feasibility of the programme was evaluated on the basis of patient registration forms completed by the health professionals and telephone interviews. Results showed that the improvement programme had a moderate impact on patient care, but a larger study was recommended, using modifications based on the pilot study.

Length of publication: 23 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: BioMed Central