Skip Navigation



Family Practice Advance Access published online on June 22, 2005
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmi041
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
22/5/520    most recent
cmi041v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Willigendael, E. M.
Right arrow Articles by Prins, M. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Willigendael, E. M.
Right arrow Articles by Prins, M. H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Received September 8, 2004
Accepted January 27, 2005

Article

Combined training of GPs and practice-assistants on peripheral arterial disease: positive effects after six months

Edith M. Willigendael 1, Joep A. W. Teijink 1*, Marie-Louise Bartelink 2, Machteld Langenberg 3, Rob J. Th. J. Welten 1, Harry R. Büller 4, and Martin H. Prins 5

1 Atrium Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, PO Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands
2 University Medical Centre Utrecht, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Health Care, Stratenum: 6.107, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
3 Gezondheidscentrum West, Koenendelseweg 9, 5222 BG Den Bosch, The Netherlands
4 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
5 Department of Epidemiology, University of Maastricht/KEMTA, P. Debeyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Joep A. W. Teijink, E-mail: j.teijink{at}atriummc.nl


  Abstract

Objectives. To improve the use of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, and management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) a combined training, targeting GPs and practice assistants (PAs) was developed. To measure the effect of the combined training on the management of patients with PAD, a cross-sectional study was performed.

Methods. Fifty consecutive patients referred by GPs to a vascular surgery out-patient clinic were analysed. Six months after the training an additional fifty patients were included. In all patients the ABI measurement, risk factor management, and treatment as performed by the GP, prior to referral, were analysed.

Results. The measurement of the ABI significantly increased from 10% before the training to 53% after the training (GPs with training: 83%, GPs without training: 35%; P: 0.001). The referral of patients with actual PAD significantly increased from 32% before the training to 70% after the training (GPs with training: 83%, GPs without training: 59%; P: 0.05). The presence and treatment of risk factors did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions. Within the limitations of a before and after study the combined training of GPs and PAs appears to be an effective method to increase ABI measurements and significantly improve adequate diagnostics.

Keywords: Ankle-brachial index; diagnostic; intermittent claudication; peripheral arterial disease; training.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Vasc MedHome page
B. L.W. Bendermacher, J. A.W. Teijink, E. M. Willigendael, M.-L. Bartelink, R. J.G. Peters, R. A. de Bie, H. R. Buller, J. Boiten, M. Langenberg, and M. H. Prins
A clinical prediction model for the presence of peripheral arterial disease -- the benefit of screening individuals before initiation of measurement of the ankle--brachial index: an observational study
Vascular Medicine, February 1, 2007; 12(1): 5 - 11.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.