We have located links that may give you full text access.
What can analysis of calls to NHS direct tell us about the epidemiology of gastrointestinal infections in the community?
Journal of Infection 2003 Februrary
OBJECTIVES: Most gastrointestinal (GI) illness within the UK goes undetected by routine surveillance. A national telephone helpline for health advice (NHS Direct) offers a new source of data on GI infection. We aim to describe NHS Direct calls suggestive of GI infection and the outcome of these calls.
METHODS: Details of over 150000 telephone calls were collected from NHS Direct over a 6-month period. Calls about 'diarrhoea', 'vomiting' or 'food poisoning' were defined as GI calls and described according to the age of the patient and call outcome.
RESULTS: Gastrointestinal calls accounted for 10.3% of total calls ('diarrhoea'=4.9%, 'vomiting'=5.1%). GI calls as a proportion of total calls were significantly high in children under 1 year (23.5%) and aged 1-4 years (21.5%). Call outcomes which resulted in further NHS care being recommended accounted for 72.3% of total calls and 54.5% of GI calls.
CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of NHS Direct calls were about GI symptoms especially for children under 5 years. When compared with all NHS Direct calls, GI calls were less likely to result in further NHS care being recommended. Analysis of NHS Direct calls provides further insight into GI infection in the community.
METHODS: Details of over 150000 telephone calls were collected from NHS Direct over a 6-month period. Calls about 'diarrhoea', 'vomiting' or 'food poisoning' were defined as GI calls and described according to the age of the patient and call outcome.
RESULTS: Gastrointestinal calls accounted for 10.3% of total calls ('diarrhoea'=4.9%, 'vomiting'=5.1%). GI calls as a proportion of total calls were significantly high in children under 1 year (23.5%) and aged 1-4 years (21.5%). Call outcomes which resulted in further NHS care being recommended accounted for 72.3% of total calls and 54.5% of GI calls.
CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of NHS Direct calls were about GI symptoms especially for children under 5 years. When compared with all NHS Direct calls, GI calls were less likely to result in further NHS care being recommended. Analysis of NHS Direct calls provides further insight into GI infection in the community.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app