Volume 3, Number 2, March 2009

EDITORIALEditorial
Monica Fletcher

What a winter we have had! Many children have seen heavy snow fall for the first time and London was completely immobilised due to the weather. At the same time our hospitals have been battling to cope with patients suffering with respiratory infections and exacerbations of their COPD. GP practices have been stretched to the limit to cope with the additional burden of coughs and colds. Building capacity is a real problem for everyone working in the health service and patients’ demands and expectations continue to grow.

EVIDENCE IN PRACTICEEvidence in Practice

There are just not enough hours in the day to read all the research journals, even if you wanted to. This section of BJPCN – Evidence in Practice – will keep you on top of relevant research without having to spend hours in the library. Each review gives you a bite-size summary of new research, pulling out key points for primary care and recommending the action that you might consider taking.

NEWSNews from Education for Health

NEWSNews from General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG)

DISEASE FOCUSSexual relationships, breathlessness and the respiratory patient
Jane Scullion

The rising incidence of a range of respiratory disorders means an increasing emphasis on treatment, management and care. Although some respiratory diseases are acute, many are chronic, bringing with them a burden of morbidity affecting patients in many areas of everyday life. One area of concern for patients may be sexual functioning so somewhere in the process of management and care the practice nurse may need to address the issues of sexuality (Petty 1986, Kaptein et al. 2008).

POPULAR
TOPICBACK TO BASICSHow to use a large-volume spacer

POPULAR
TOPICPREVENTION IN PRACTICEThe 30-second intervention for smoking cessation
Alex Bobak

Primary healthcare staff are in an influential position when it comes to helping people to stop smoking. They clearly understand the dangers of smoking and have access to excellent smoking cessation services. In addition, the recent public smoking legislation has given many smokers added motivation to stop (See Prevention in Practice, BJPCN December 2008). However, there is much still to be done. This article recommends an easy and effective brief intervention for primary healthcare professionals to help patients towards the most effective way to stop – support and pharmacotherapy.

POPULAR
TOPICMONITORINGHow can I measure airways inflammation in asthma?
Mike Thomas, Carol Stonham

Asthma affects more than 5 million people of all ages in the UK today. The vast majority of asthma is diagnosed and managed in primary care and most people with asthma rarely need to see a hospital specialist. Until recently it has been difficult to measure the level of inflammation seen in asthma accurately in general practice. However, new techniques such as exhaled nitric oxide measurement are now available for use and this article provides GP and nurse perspectives on the potential of such techniques in primary care.

PHARMACY MATTERSThe changing role of the community pharmacist: COPD and asthma clinics
Alpana Mair

We continue our series on the changing role of the community pharmacist, with an article from Alpana Mair in Edinburgh describing the work of a pharmacist in COPD and asthma clinics based on her experience.

POPULAR
TOPICPATIENTS AS PARTNERSUseful techniques to manage breathlessness
Yvonne Henderson

Although breathlessness is a complex symptom, appropriate management in primary care can be very rewarding, and does not have to rely on complex, hi-tech interventions. This article discusses the rationale behind the practical interventions that practitioners in primary care can consider.

HAVE YOU HEARD?Have you Heard?

RESEARCH MADE EASYRepresentative sampling - take your pick
Jane Upton, Ellen McCutcheon

POPULAR
TOPICGUIDELINESWhat's new in the BTS guidelines for emergency oxygen use in adult patients?
Shona Shires

This brief article summarises some of the key points in the recent oxygen guideline that are of particular relevance to health professionals working in primary care. It includes the appropriate monitoring of patients with asthma and COPD as well as the correct equipment required. For full information on the guideline refer to www.brit-thoracic.org.uk – emergency oxygen guidelines.