Private Practice

The Belgian health system imposes no regulations regarding antenatal care. A special study was carried out by questionnaire in a sample of 32 maternity units representative of the French-speaking region to determine the coverage rate achieved by the health system. The study also compared the private and public sectors for rate of use, socioeconomic profile of users and regularity of antenatal care. Overall results show that despite the generosity of the system, a utilization rate of 98.8%, and a coverage rate of 84%, are reached.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between private dentists' attitudes toward Medicaid and Medicaid patients and their extent of Medicaid participation. METHODS: A survey was mailed to all Medicaid dentists in Alabama in 2003 (N = 518). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multiple regression models were tested. The "dentists' extent of participation" was a measure of the percentage of Medicaid patients seen in one month.

BACKGROUND: Nigeria's national standard has recently moved to artemisinin combination treatments for malaria. As clinicians in the private sector are responsible for attending a large proportion of the population ill with malaria, this study compared prescribing in the private and public sector in one State in Nigeria prior to promoting ACTs. OBJECTIVE: To assess prescribing for uncomplicated malaria in government and private health facilities in Cross River State. METHOD: Audit of 665 patient records at six private and seven government health facilities in 2003.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has urged all member states to deploy artemisinin-based combination therapy and progressively withdraw oral artemisinin monotherapies from the market due to their high recrudescence rates and to reduce the risk of drug resistance. Prescription practices by physicians and the availability of oral artemisinin monotherapies with pharmacists directly affect the pattern of their use. Thus, treatment practices for malaria, with special reference to artemisinin monotherapy prescription, in selected states of India were evaluated.

BACKGROUND: Patients with knee osteoarthritis [OA] are commonly treated by physiotherapists in primary care. Measuring physiotherapy performance is important before developing strategies to improve quality. The purpose of this study was to measure physiotherapy performance in patients with knee OA by comparing clinical practice to evidence from systematic reviews. METHODS: We developed a data-collection form and invited all private practitioners in Norway [n = 2798] to prospectively collect data on the management of one patient with knee OA through 12 treatment session.

BACKGROUND: A widespread increase in the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been recognized. The aim of our study was to evaluate both the extent and the determinants of CAM use by outpatients with IBD. METHODS: Outpatients of the IBD centre at the University Hospital of Berne and patients of two gastroenterology private practices in Olten (Switzerland) completed a mailed self-administrated questionnaire regarding alternative medicine.

BACKGROUND: Patients are increasingly using complementary therapies, often for chronic conditions. Asthma is the most common chronic condition in the UK. Previous research indicates that some asthma patients experience gaps in their NHS care. However, little attention has been given to how and why patients and parents of children with asthma use complementary therapies and the implications for NHS care.

INTRODUCTION: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by both adults and children in Europe. Diverse cultural, ethnic and historical preconditions in European countries result in broad differences between the types of CAM practiced, prevalence of CAM use and integration in the health system. To date, no survey of CAM availability to paediatric patients in Europe exists. METHODS: We present an overview of CAM integration within the different levels of the European paediatric health systems as a narrative review.

The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic and practice characteristics of chiropractors. A four-part survey questionnaire was developed and mailed to a national stratified (by state) random sample of chiropractors. The analysis of data revealed that most chiropractors hold an undergraduate degree, practice in an urban area, are licensed to practice in only one state, belong to their state's chiropractic association, and are active in continuing education. Other data analyzed related to income, sources of new patients and average fees charged.