http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/issue/current Volume 3,Number 3,June 2009 en-ukhttp://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3353http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3353http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3352P-values are commonly included in the results sections of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), but what is a p-value and how should it be interpreted?http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3352http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3351Hayfever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is a condition that patients often present with to their pharmacist. However, unlike most minor ailments, hayfever is a persistent and recurrent condition which can have a significant negative impact on quality of life.1 As such, the correct diagnosis and product selection is essential. The variety of preparations available for the treatment of hayfever, both over-the-counter (OTC) and on prescription, was discussed in detail in an earlier edition of BJPCN.2 This article will focus on the options available to community pharmacists for OTC treatment of hayfever.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3351http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3350Practice nurses often get to know their patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) very well. Over the years, they have attended for reviews, flu injections and when they have exacerbations. Nurses get to know their families as well as the patient, and it can be hard to observe the inevitable deterioration as the condition progresses. This article will outline some of the key issues for practice nurses when their patients start to have frequent hospital admissions or cannot attend the surgery for reviews. Has their condition become palliative, and what can practice nurses contribute to their care?http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3350http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3349The role of nurses working in the National Health Service has undergone major development in recent years with new roles and expansion of skills into new areas which has included respiratory care. However, as always, an increased role demands increased responsibility and this article examines the key legislation affecting practice nurses, and how they can reduce the risk of medico-legal action.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3349http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3348Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a general term for a number of diseases characterised by progressive pulmonary fibrosis or ‘scarring’ of the lungs. The term fibrosis implies formation of abnormal connective tissue within the lung parenchyma. These diseases are less commonly seen in primary care than airways diseases such as asthma and COPD. However, like COPD, they produce progressive debilitating breathlessness for the patient. It is important that practice nurses, particularly those with an interest in respiratory diseases, are aware of this group of diseases and their management as early referral to specialist care is important.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3348http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3347http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3347http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3346Skills in developing a business case may at first seem to be something far removed from what a nurse would need. After all we are clinicians, we do the clinical things and managers do things like business cases. How wrong could you be? This article shows just how important business planning can be to both nurses and our patients.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3346http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3345Modern medical practice emphasises the use of objective measurements and evidence. Nobody would diagnose hypertension without measuring the blood pressure, or manage diabetes without measuring blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin. Yet it is only relatively recently that any lung function measurements to support diagnosis and guide management of respiratory disease were undertaken in primary care.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3345http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3344...http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3344http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3343There 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.http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3343http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3342http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3342http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3341Bless you for your support and best wishes for my fifth London Marathon that took place in late April. My chosen charities this year (Arrhythmia Alliance, www.arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk and Stars, http://stars.org.uk) are special for me as I have had a pacemaker for ten years. It was a surprise to be informed that I would have a new box fitted just three weeks before the Marathon. However those of you who know me would know that would not stop my attempt! But there are times when even I have to admit defeat! After completing over half the course in two hours, I decided to let my heart rule my head for once and bail out gracefully before I collapsed from heat exhaustion! When I was overtaken by a large carrot I knew it was going to be a real struggle!http://www.bjpcn-respiratory.co.uk/download/3341