A review of telehealth in Scotland

Source: The King’s Fund Information & Library Service

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: October 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Telehealth has the potential to provide NHS services more efficiently. This report looks at how the NHS in Scotland is using various technologies such as mobile phones, video-conferencing and self-monitoring equipment. The report gives some examples of cardiology services which have used video-conferencing.

Length of publication: 34 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.

Care Planning: improving the lives of people with long term conditions

Source: Royal College of General Practitioners

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report looks at the care planning for patients with long term conditions such as ischaemic heart disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It provides guidance for GPs so that they can bhelp their patients take more control over their health and improve their quality of life.

Length of publication: 76 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: Clinical Innovation and Research Centre

Know Your Pulse campaign

Source: Arrhythmia Alliance

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: Know Your Pulse is a visual resource to promote simple pulse checks as a means of detecting potential arrhythmias. The two minute film clip was initially commissioned by the Dorset Cardiac and Stroke Network and has been shown in 86% of practices across Dorset. The clip has been adapted for the Know Your Pulse campaign and other free educational and awareness tools are available from the website.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

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: Dorset Cardiac and Stroke Network

Is patient self-report an adequate tool for monitoring cardiovascular conditions in patients with hypercholesterolemia?

Source: Journal of Public Health, 2010, 32 (3) p. 387-394

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: September 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: The aim of this investigation was to determine the accuracy of patient self-reports of cardiovascular diagnoses. Patients with hypercholesterolemia in primary care centres in Germany were given self-report questionnaires, which were then compared with case report forms and medical records on cardiovascular diseases.

Length of publication: 8 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.

iPhone app ‘detects arrhythmia’

Source: Healthcare Republic

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: August 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The charity Arrhythmia Alliance, has launched an iPhone application called ‘Know Your Pulse’, which aims to detect signs of cardiac arrhythmia and therefore improve diagnosis. Users record their own pulse reading over 30 seconds and are then advised on whether they are suffering from an irregular or unusually fast or slow heartbeat. The Arrhythmia Alliance campaign aims to raise awareness of arrhythmia, and also remind healthcare professionals of the importance of conducting regular pulse checks during routine patient check-ups.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

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.

Telemonitoring and self-management in the control of hypertension

Source: Lancet, 2010, 376 (9736) p. 163-172

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: July 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to assess whether self-management by patients with poorly-controlled hypertension resulted in better control of their blood pressure. 24 general practices took part. Participants were responsible for self-monitoring of blood pressure and self-titration of anti-hypertensive drugs, in addition to telemonitoring of home blood pressure measurements. The results showed that self-management of hypertension, combined with telemonitoring of blood pressure measurements, forms an important new addition to control of hypertension in primary care.

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.