Clinical investigation in general practice: the use of a simplified data-recording system.

If there is interest, the family physician could contribute much to the advance of clinical information. He has the advantages of long-term follow-up denied the university physician. The key-sort cards described here make for an accurate method of assembling statistics and can be used in a doctor's office with less expenditure of time than usual records. THE EVER-INCREASING number of new drugs reaching the market makes it increasingly difficult for the physician to be sure he is selecting the most appropriate drug for each individual patient. Most of those engaged in the general practice of medicine are content to leave clinical investigation to the university centers on the supposition that the circumstances of general practice preclude them from having either the time or the facilities for drug research. I hold that this supposition is not entirely valid. It is obviously impossible for any physician, with or without teaching hospital affiliation, to evaluate the entire gamut of modern drugs. However, most gen eral practitioners have special areas of interest, and it seems feasible to me that they may carry out simple clinical evaluations and studies within their particular sphere of interest provided a simple time-saving method of recording clinical data is employed. The pursuit of clinical research by the general practitioner will be found to be both intellectually stimulating and of enormous practical value in prescribing for his patients. This last point is lent special emphasis since patients presenting themselves for treatment at university centers can scarcely be regarded as representative of those consulting general practitioners, because in most instances they have been funneled from the generalist to the internist and thence to the university. It follows that research findings in suds patients are not necessarily applicable in Coto to the average patient approadsing the general practitioner for treatment. In my general practice I make my own clinicd investigation of drugs within especial spheres of interest, including particularly arthritis and psychiatric disturbances. The key to my system is the collection of clinical data on specially prepared key-sort punch cards which may be obtained from Royal McBee, Inc. The recording of data following each examination takes but a few moments, and at the conclusion of a clinical study the cards may readily be sorted in a manner to provide accurate statistical data, not only on degree of effectiveness, but also on a wide range of correlated factors. The purpose of this report …