Volume 2, Number 2, March 2008

EDITORIALEditorial
Monica Fletcher

Welcome to the first edition of 2008 and my first as Editor in Chief. I want to thank Jan Procter-King, my predecessor, who has performed an outstanding role and left the journal in a robust position. I would also like to thank the members of the Editorial Board – in particular those who have left us or joined since the last edition. Education for Health (formerly the National Respiratory Training Centre) has a long reputation in respiratory disease and we are delighted to be bringing this expertise to the BJPCN Editorial Board.

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 the General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG)

DISEASE FOCUSCystic Fibrosis: What do we need to know?
Anne Riches

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common inherited genetic disease in the UK. Improvements in both diagnosis and treatment over the last 30 years have resulted in increased survival with children born in the 1990s now likely to live into their forties. Although much of the treatment is delivered in hospitals, healthcare professionals in primary care should be aware of management principles and understand the impact of the condition on patients and their families. This article provides an overview of CF and shows how to support patients and families in primary care.

POPULAR
TOPICMONITORINGThe Use of Pulse Oximetry in Primary Care
Carol Kelly

Pulse oximetry is now in common use in all healthcare settings. Until recently regarded as a secondary care device, the pulse oximeter is now routinely used in primary care, both in the general practice surgery and in the community. It can be useful in initial assessment, ongoing monitoring, and in both acute and chronic clinical situations. This article examines the how, when, what and why of pulse oximetry.

THERAPEUTICS REVEWTreatments for Hayfever
Samantha Walker

Over the next few months practice nurses are likely to see many patients with hayfever (also known as seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis). Although it may appear to be a minor complaint, hayfever can result in considerable suffering for the individual, who may or may not seek professional help and advice. Practice nurses play an important role in improving the management of this condition. In this article, we describe the impact of hayfever on patients and provide a comprehensive review of the treatments currently available for hayfever.

POPULAR
TOPICPATIENTS AS PARTNERSExercise in Chronic Lung Disease
Yvonne Henderson

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the term used to describe a range of chronic chest conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD is characterised by permanent damage to the lungs and as the condition develops, people experience increasing breathlessness, to the point where even everyday activities such as getting dressed or walking up stairs become difficult. This article describes the impact of COPD, explores the value of exercise in COPD management and discusses possible reasons for its widespread under-use as effective symptom control.

POPULAR
TOPICDID YOU KNOW?Why Optimise Inhaler Technique in Asthma and COPD?
Jon Bell

Asthma UK estimates that 2.1 million patients in the UK are suffering unnecessarily because they do not use their asthma treatment effectively. This article looks at how inhaled therapies are deposited in the lungs, and at the basic differences between inhalers – with a focus on optimising inhaler technique.

POPULAR
TOPICDIAGNOSISRespiratory Causes of Breathlessness
Shona Shires

The development of shortness of breath (SOB) is an expected outcome of overexertion, as normally occurs after strenuous exercise. SOB occurring at rest or during marginal exertion is considered abnormal. Multiple organ systems are involved in the differential diagnosis of SOB but for the purpose of this article, we concentrate on the pulmonary system and include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, pneumothorax, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer and dysfunctional breathlessness. This is the second in a series of three articles focusing on diagnosis of the breathless patient.

HAVE YOU HEARD?Have you Heard?

POPULAR
TOPICGUIDELINESThe Evaluation and Management of Cough in Adults
Yvonne Henderson

Cough as a symptom results in significant impairment of quality of life for patients. Its wide and varied causes and presentations make diagnosis and management complex. Many sets of guidelines have been produced to help clinicians in the evaluation and management of acute and chronic cough. This article uses the British Thoracic Society (2006) guidelines to provide a summary of the evaluation and management of cough.