In an effort to improve patient outcomes and reduce resource use and costs associated with asthma care, asthma disease management programmes have now gained momentum. If a programme is to be effective, the identification of goals and outcomes relevant to the target populations is essential....

This review examines evidence on the prevalence of non-adherence to medication in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, the reasons for non-adherence, and the effectiveness of interventions to improve adherence. Medications for rheumatoid arthritis (NSAIDs, corticosteroids, disease-modifiers, and...

Telemedicine applications, i.e. the use of telecommunication technologies to deliver health services over a distance, have demonstrated dramatic growth over the past decade. Reimbursement has emerged as a crucial issue as projects attempt to evolve from the demonstration stage to a mainstream...

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly implemented hospital-based diabetes mellitus disease management program. A secondary aim was to determine if relationships existed among variables. Design and setting: Effectiveness was evaluated in terms of...

This article reviews the value of myoglobin, troponins, and creatine kinase, MB fraction (CK-MB) in diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis in patients presenting to hospital emergency departments (ED) with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndromes. Because the three markers differ...

Recent years have seen the beginning of an industrial revolution in healthcare delivery. Healthcare is being transformed from a cottage industry, in which each provider sets individual standards, to a quality-controlled enterprise with common, evidence-based standards of care. Disease management...

Asthma morbidity remains high worldwide despite the introduction of national guidelines for management and the increase in specially trained asthma nurses. Current interventions have not led to a demonstrable reduction in hospitalizations and emergency department visits in adult asthma. The role...

Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) can provide improved postoperative pain control compared with traditional methods, while maintaining safety. However, poorly managed PCA cannot be expected to provide good analgesia and may increase the risk of adverse events. Effective use of PCA...

Current research indicates considerable variation in everyday breathing intensity for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This evidence highlights the importance of coaching patients to effectively manage breathing intensity, in particular, to recognize levels of...

Health promotion programs that are offered in the general community often present physical, attitudinal and knowledge barriers that limit participation by those with disabilities. These environmental barriers and the lack of information on how to overcome them make it difficult for individuals...