Table of contents
- Preliminary material
- Half title, title and verso pages
- Foreword
- Contents
- List of tables
- List of figures
- Acknowledgments
- Summary
- Sections 1-7
- Introduction
- The advantages of BEACH
- Aims
- Methods
- Sampling methods
- Recruitment methods
- Data elements
- The BEACH relational database
- Statistical methods
- Classification of data
- Quality assurance
- Validity and reliability
- The general practitioners
- Results of recruitment
- The participating GPs
- Computer use at GP practices
- Comparison of participating and non-participating GPs
- Discussion
- Trends in characteristics of GPs
- Representativeness
- Comparison of BEACH GPs with GP population
- Sample weights
- Comparison of BEACH consultations with all GP consultations in Australia
- The weighted data set
- The encounters
- Overview of the data set
- Encounter type
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- The patients
- Patient characteristics
- Patient reasons for encounter
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Problems managed
- Number of problems managed at encounter
- Age-sex-specific rates of problems managed
- Nature of morbidity
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Introduction
- Sections 8-13
- Overview of management
- Medications
- Source of medications
- Prescribed medications
- Medications advised for over-the-counter purchase
- Medications supplied by GPs
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Non-pharmacological management
- Number of non-pharmacological treatments
- Clinical treatments
- Procedural treatments
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Referrals and admissions
- Number of referrals and admissions
- Most frequent referrals
- Problems that were referred
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Investigations
- Pathology ordering
- Imaging ordering
- 12.3 Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Selected topics-changes over time
- Method
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the management of arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems
- Anti-depressant medications and the management of psychological problems over time
- Asthma inhalant medications and management of asthma problems over time
- Lipid lowering agents and the management of lipid disorders over time
- The management of diabetes over time
- Sections 14-16
- Patient risk factors
- Background
- Methods
- Body mass index
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Risk factor profile of adult patients
- Changes from 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Discussion
- Methodological issues
- Comparing BEACH data with those from other sources
- Conclusion
- Current status of BEACH
- Access to BEACH data
- Patient risk factors
- End matter (references, glossary and abbreviations)
- References
- Glossary
- Abbreviations
- End matter (appendixes)
- Appendixes
- Example of a 2003-04 recording form
- GP characteristics questionnaire for 2003-04
- Code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS
- Chronic code groups from ICPC-2 and ICPC-2 PLUS
- Summary of annual results 1999-00 to 2003-04
- Dissemination of results from the BEACH program
- Appendixes