Background. Depressive symptoms are common in primary care, yet considerable
professional controversy exists about appropriate management including the effectiveness of …

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition associated with no certain
organic cause, though diet and stress are widely implicated. The condition is frustrating for …

Background Users of illicit opioids are at increased risk of hospital admission for deep vein
thromboses (DVTs); however, the community prevalence, risk factors, and complications of …

Background. Inconsistencies in doctors’ views about causes and treatment of irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) lead to frustration for doctors and in doctor–patient interactions. Diagnosis …

Objective The contraceptive needs of illicit opioid users differ from non-drug users but are
poorly understood. The aim of this study was to describe contraceptive use and pregnancy …

Method This was a qualitative study of focus groups and individual interviews. The setting
was a needle exchange service in a relatively deprived, urban area in the North East of …

Background: The ‘2-week rule’ for the referral of patients with potential cancers is an
important but controversial development. Aims: To investigate the 2-week rule for women with …

Doctors training to become general practitioners (GPs) enter new ‘communities of practice’.
For instance, they initially experience various types of isolation, need new skills and …

Background. Heroin users represent a challenging group of patients for GPs, with a high
morbidity including a high prevalence of depression. Compared to other groups, management …

791 cornford.qxd Page 1 Original papers CHARLES S CORNFORD SUMMARY Background.
Oxygen, given for 15 hours a day to certain patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary …