Resuscitation preparedness for general practice
Ragavan, S. MBBS (Colombo), M Prax Med(Medunsa),
DTM&H(Wits), Dip PEC(SA), DHSM(Wits), FACRRM, FRACGP
Director – Emergency Medicine, Broken Hill Health
Service, Australia
(Formerly, Academic Head – Northern Province Unit,
Department of Family Medicine, Medunsa)
Kloeck, W. MBBCh(Wits), Dip PEC(SA)
National Chairman: Resuscitation Council of Southern
Africa
Correspondence: Dr S Ragavan, PO Box 582, Broken Hill,
NSW 2880, Australia
E-mail: [email protected]
Keywords: Resuscitation, emergency medicine,
preparedness
Abstract
General practices are not exempted from situations dealing
with dire emergencies. For general practitioners to be effective in coping with
such situations, they should at all times be prepared to resuscitate patients.
This article gives an overview of the preparation required to manage such
events.
(SA Fam Pract 2003;45(1):9-13)
Prevalence and characteristics of erectile dysfunction in
black and mixed race primary care populations of the Cape Flats and Helderberg
Basin area of the Western Cape, South Africa
De Klerk, H, MBChB, MFamMed, DCH, MBA.
De Villiers, PJT, MBChB, MFamMed, DOM, Hons
BScMedSci(Epid), PhD.
Department of Family Medicine & Primary Care,
University of Stellenbosch
Isaacs, S, MBCS, PhD
Department of Medical Informatics, University of Cape
Town and Groote Schuur Hospital
Correspondence: Prof PJT de Villiers, Department of
Family Medicine and Primary Care,
University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 1906, Tygerberg, 7505
Tel: 021-9389449, Fax: 021-9389153, Email: [email protected]
Keywords: erectile dysfunction, impotence,
prevalence, blacks
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of erectile
dysfunction (ED) among users of primary care in a Black and Mixed Race urban
population in the Western Cape, and to describe any associated health and
psychosocial factors.
Design: Cross-sectional
survey by interviewer administered questionnaire.
Setting: Two primary care
medical centres, 40km apart, in Cape Town metropolitan area. Serve different
ethnic groups, with no cross-contamination between them. Study period:
March-June 1999
Patients: 833 Males (35-70 years old) attending these
health centres for primary care. Systematic selection of all attendees.
Main outcome measures: Prevalence of ED and presence
of associated health and psychosocial factors. Describe patient demographics,
physical attributes, sexual relationships.
Results: Results of 730
males with current sexual partners: Mean ages 48 years (SD:7 years) all; 46
years (SD:9 years) Black group; 51
years (SD: 9 years) Mixed Race group. All degrees of ED prevalence: All 77.1%
(95% CI: 74.0-80.2), Black 76.4% (95% CI: 71.8-80.4) and Mixed Race 77.7% (95%
CI: 72.8-82.0). Significantly associated diseases: hypertension, diabetes,
gastrointestinal and heart disease. Alcohol consumption (younger patients),
smoking (older patients) significantly related to ED. Males with ED: more
sexual partners than males without ED. More than 90% choose primary care
physician/ generalist as primary ED care-giver.
Conclusions: ED is very common in both study groups.
Primary care workers must be prepared to manage associated risk factors and
health implications. ED sufferers in this population may also be at higher risk
for sexually transmitted diseases due to multiple sexual partners.
(SA Fam Pract 2003;45(1):14-20)