On Fri, 01 Nov 1996 13:56:37 -0800, you wrote:
>> We have produced and disseminated guidelines about the management of
>> heart failure to all GPs within the district, and wish to evaluate
>> their impact on the prescribing of loop diuretics and ACE inhibitors.
>>
>> PACT data is unsuitable, so we intend to collect prescribing data
>> directly from practices, hopefully from practice computer systems rather
>> than case-notes.
>>
>> Are there any published studies of this type? - we can't find them
>>
>> Has anyone direct experience of this type of data collection (from
>> more than one practice) - we are anxious to build on previous efforts
>> rather than rediscover problems .
Just to let you know, DIN are currently involved in a number of trials
using various GP computer databases including the large DIN - run
'Deep Thought' DEC alpha system containing about 6 years of full
computer records of 1.5 million patients.
Our group has a great deal of nation-wide experience in exactly the
fields you mention above.
We are currently doing some quite interesting work defining efficient
and transparent ways for clinicians to log onto and query the data and
intend in due course to make the system available over the internet
for at least limited clinical research queries. Using 'Deep Thought',
it may with care become possible to answer at least some of the
questions posed recently by members of gp-uk about common clinical
problems where there is a dearth of good GP-based research. We are
still building the simplified SQL front end for 'Deep Thought', and
are also seriously considering commissioning a 'Miquest' HQL to SQL
translation system to provide a very easy front end for non-IT
literate clinicians using the database for research.
Needless to say the patient data involved is handled in ways which
taken together meet or exceed all the current BMA principles for
confidentiality.
If anyone is interested in becoming a user of this or other DIN
databases please let me know so I can plan and commission the
appropriate facilities.
We are a charity and making the DIN datawidely available is one of our
aims. The database is also open in principle to organisations like the
University Departments, the Department of Health, HA's PCA's etc and
even drug companies as well as individual doctors, but we might well
decide that they should be charged for access. In general though, a
request for help from individual GP researchers will be handled in a
way that facilitates GP research by the individual. It might not be
entirely cost free but would be made affordable by DIN.
Comment or criticism are welcomed. Also, if anyone wants to join DIN,
it's inexpensive and we always welcome new members.
Kind regards,
Paul
ps - I have already asked 'Deep Thought' the BIG question . If you
want to know what the answer was, just ask yourself 'what is six times
seven?'
P.
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Dr. Paul Steventon
vice-Chairman
Doctors Independent Network
EMail [log in to unmask]
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