Disease mongering by WHO

30 Oct

The severity of swine flu is generally very low but WHO (World Health Organization) papers and policy transmit the idea of: a/ swine flu is a terrible and dangerous disease, and b/ prevention and treatment of flu swine is justifiable, necessary and urgent. It looks like a “disease mongering” campaign by WHO.

  • Disease mongering by WHO. Gérvas J. BMJ. 22/08/2009 [letter]. Go to the letter.

2008 Seminars Innovation Primary Care. Prevention and clinical complexity

30 Oct

Prevention might be seen as a simple activity. Prevention in some way might compensate the clinical duties of the general practitioner. But dealing with uncertainty is a question which also affects to prevention. Prevention should be part of the encounters in General Practice but only as a complement to clinical activities. Prevention is not central in Primary Care.

  • 2008 Seminars Innovation Primary Care. Prevention and clinical complexity. Gérvas J, Heath I, Durán A, Gené J, Aten Primaria. 2009; 41: 460-2. Download article here.

Physicians, the industry, and population health

30 Oct

Many doctors allowed themselves to be exposed to drug promotion. These doctors may have become infected with bias without knowing it. These bias could determine actions that decrease patient and population health. In this paper we review the evidence about how to overcome the industrial influence.

  • Physicians, the industry, and population health. Gérvas, J., Mansfield, P.R. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2009; 63: 773-4. Download article here.

Cerivastatin and fatal rhabdomyolysis: not just a safety issue

6 May

The cerivastatin fatal rhabdomyolysis affair should be use as an example to stimulate reconsideration of the whole process of drug approval, marketing and use, as occurred after thalidomide was found to cause adverse effects to the foetus. It is not just a safety issue.

  • Cerivastatin and fatal rhabdomyolysis: not just a safety issue. Gérvas, J., Pérez Fernández, M. Healthy Skepticism International News. June 2002, Vol 20, No 6. Download English version here.

A multinational study of the factorial structure and other characteristics or the Dartmouth COOP Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA

6 May

In daily practice is not easy to measure health status. COOP charts allows it. In this study COOP chart are used in Canada, Japon, Nepal and Spain.

  • A multinational study of the factorial structure and other characteristics or the Dartmouth COOP Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA. Westbury R.C., et al. Fam Pract. 1997; 14: 478-85. Download article here.

Primary Care, Financing and Gatekeeping in Western Europe

29 Apr

Gatekeeping is a common role in Europe for general practitioners. Usually, gatekeeping is associate to patient list. Being a filter allow GP to avoid for their patients unnecessary contact with specialists. In this way it saves money and could no decrease patient satisfaction.

  • Primary Care, Financing and Gatekeeping in Western Europe. Gérvas, J., Pérez Fernández, M., Starfield, B. Fam Pract. 1994 Sep; 11(3): 307-17. Download article here.

Seminars of Innovations in Primary Care: A Network Experience in Education & Research

29 Apr

Seminars on Innovation in Primary Care are encounters with a previous online work about new ways of thinking or organization in primary care. From 2005 this experience allows to teach and research in Spain. This presentation is a summary of the work done.

  • Seminars of Innovations in Primary Care “ A Network Experience in Education & Research” Minué S, Gérvas J, Seminarios de Innovación. Presentación en la reunión de la OPS en Belo Horizonte, Brasil. 30 Noviembre 2007. Download English version here.