The adult "credit card" asthma self-management plan has been shown to be an effective and acceptable system for reducing asthma morbidity when introduced as part of a 6 month community-based asthma programme. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the credit card plan 2 yrs after the end of the programme. Markers of asthma morbidity and use of medical services were comp...

BACKGROUND In India very few of those who need mental health care receive it, despite efforts of the 1982 National Mental Health Programme and its district-level component the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) to improve mental health care coverage. AIMS To explore and unpack the political, cultural and other historical reasons for the DMHP's failures and successes since 1947 (post-inde...

BACKGROUND Palliative care is mainly restricted to terminal care. General practitioners (GPs) are not trained to early identify palliative patients with cancer, COPD or heart failure. With the help of the RADboud indicators for PAlliative Care needs (RADPAC), we trained GPs to identify patients' needs and to make a proactive care plan. They were also able to join two role-plays where they discu...

OBJECTIVE This paper reports on the case-mix of hospitalized patients based on their health plan enrollment and utilization experience, absent a health management (HM) programme. The implications for achieving targeted reductions in admissions within the context of implementing a population hm programme are discussed. STUDY DESIGN descriptive. METHODS Members were identified with asthma, co...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of supervised structured aerobic exercise training programme on level of exertion, dyspnoea, maximum oxygen consumption, and body mass index in type 2 diabetics. METHODS The randomised, controlled trial was carried out at Riphah Rehabilitation and Research Centre, Islamic International medical College Trust, Pakistan Railways General Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pa...

OBJECTIVE Successful substance abuse treatment requires many changes in behavior, attitude and skills. Culturally tailored approaches to substance abuse treatment have shown initial success, but are not yet accepted as best practice models. In order to document programme effectiveness of a new culturally tailored substance abuse treatment programme on the rural island of Molokai, Hawaii, the au...