Hot Topics for the MRCGP Spring/Summer Term 2004

Each week on the DRC the first half hour will be spent discussing hot topics. To get the most out of these sessions, we suggest that you read:

• the last copy/copies of the BMJ - available on-line: http://bmj.com/ (if you don't have time to read it all, pick out one or two papers that interest you)
• the last copy of the BJGP - now also available on-line: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/rcgp/journal/index.asp

Also be aware of current medical news stories. Most days there are medical issues that hit the headlines - everything from purported breakthroughs to scandals to ministerial pronouncements.

If your Course Organisers are talking about these topics, you can be sure that the MRCGP examiners will be asking about them as well!

The paper for the DRC on 26th Jan '05:

'Bronchodilator treatment and deaths from asthma: case control study' BMJ 2005;330:117 (15 Jan)

Cheers

Ahilan.

From: Simone Barnes

Re: paper for the DRC on Wednesday 12 Jan.

British Journal of general Practice, December 2004

Cognitive status and analgesia provision in nursing home residents.

From: Michael

Sent: 16 December 2004

Before the forthcoming workshop on diabetes, please read the Bath Area Diabetes Guidance. It's quite long (and will take a minute or so to download), but won't actually take you too long to go through it. John Valentine and Rachael Kenyon, our experts for the morning, will assume that you have read the document.

Rachel Johnson will critically appraise one of the UKPDS papers: Intensive blood glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment. Lancet 1998; 352: 837-53 (12 Sept). This is not down-loadable (unless you pay or register!) - if you can access it and read it, great, but we won't expect you to have done so.

John can recommend the following papers as well:

Seeing what you want to see in RCTs: versions and perversions of UKPDS. McCormack and Greenhalgh BMJ 2000; 320: 1720-3. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/320/7251/1720

What happened to the valid POEMS: a survey of review article on treatment of type 2 DM. BMJ 2003; 327: 266-9. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abridged/327/7409/266

Also:

Intensive blood glucose control with metformin... Lancet 1998; 352: 854-65 (12 Sept).

Tight BP control and risk of macrovascular disease... BMJ 1998; 317: 703-13. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/317/7160/703

Efficacy of atenolol and captopril in reducing macrovascular disease... BMJ 1998;317:713-720 (12 September)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/317/7160/703

From: James Millward

Sent: 11 December 2004 11:36

Hello everyone,

The paper for next week is:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, in osteoarthritic knee pain: meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials Jan Magnus Bjordal, Anne Elisabeth Ljunggren, Atle Klovning, Lars Slørdal BMJ 2004;329:1317

It is in BMJ published 4.12.2004

I've sent a PDF for all those who can't bear opening a BMJ!

Also, we spoke last week about guided self-help CBT. Janet Cockerell is the B&NES person who trains us up. I'm sure she would be most helpful if you were interested.

See you next week.

James

Dear all,

The paper for DRC on Wednesday, 8 December will be:

'Population based randomised controlled trial on impact of screening on mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm'

Authors: PE Norman, K Jamrozik, et al

BMJ  2004;329:1259 (27 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.38272.478438.55 (published 15 November 2004)

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abridged/329/7477/1259

Hope that's clear!

Jenny

The paper I am reviewing on wed 17th is from the BMJ, Sept 4th p 539. "Alcohol drinking in middle age and subsequent risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in old age"

http://bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.38181.48958.BE

Thanks!

Ros

Hi

Sorry this e mail is a bit late. I am doing the paper next week which will be the one in the Primary Care section of the theme issue of the BMJ on Evidence Based Medicine (30/10/04), Evidence based guidelines or collectively constructed mindlines?

Sarah

Dear All

Please see paper for next week.

The paper will be Effectiveness of a multiple intervention to reduce antibiotics prescribing for respiratory tract symptoms in primary care: randomised control trial.

Ineke Welschen, Marijke M Kuyvenhoven, Arno Hoes , Theo Verheij

BMJ 21st august page 431

329:431-433

Thanks Vicky

Sent: 01 October 2004 09:29

Subject: Paper for next week

Dear All

Please see below the paper for next week.

Randomised controlled trial of physiotherapy compared with advice for low

back pain, Frost et al,

BMJ 25th September; 329: 708-11

Thanks a lot, Amy

From: Jeremy Cottrill

Sent: 24 September 2004 14:48

Subject: Paper for DRC 29/9/04

I am down to present the paper next Wednesday. It will be:

Eliciting patients' concerns: an rct of different approaches by the doctor by M McLean & D Armstrong from the BJGP September 2004, vol 54, number 506, Page 663-666, please,

Thank you,

Jeremy Cottrill.