Table 2.
Means (SD) for resource use for nine months after randomisation to general practitioner with special interest care or hospital outpatient care for non-urgent skin problems
| Resource item | General practitioner with special interest group (n=354) | Hospital outpatient group (n=202) |
|---|---|---|
| NHS resource use | ||
| Hospital consultations: | ||
| Doctor | 0.175 (0.551) | 1.42 (1.04) |
| Nurse | 0.0565 (0.286) | 0.0841 (0.342) |
| General practitioner with special interests consultation: | ||
| General practitioner | 1.54 (1.29) | 0 |
| Nurse | 0.155 (0.707) | 0 |
| General practice surgery | 0.726 (1.521) | 0.629 (1.268) |
| Home visit by district nurse | 0.00282 (0.0532) | 0 |
| Surgery visit to practice nurse | 0.316 (2.756) | 0.188 (0.989) |
| Home visit by district nurse | 0.00847 (0.159) | 0 |
| Investigations: | ||
| Biochemistry | 0.0198 (0.139) | 0.0495 (0.278) |
| Haematology | 0.107 (0.353) | 0.0396 (0.196) |
| Histopathology | 0.172 (0.393) | 0.109 (0.312) |
| Immunology | 0.00282 (0.0532) | 0.00495 (0.0704) |
| Microbiology | 0.00565 (0.0751) | 0.0198 (0.140) |
| Mycology | 0.0226 (0.149) | 0.0297 (0.1702) |
| Patch test | 0.0960 (0.540) | 0.139 (0.631) |
| Radiology | 0.00847 (0.0918) | 0.00495 (0.0704) |
| Skin prick test | 0.0282 (0.197) | 0 |
| Virology | 0 | 0.00495 (0.0704) |
| Treatments: | ||
| PUVA course: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0 | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0.0169 (0.184) | 0.00495 (0.0704) |
| Excision: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.0621 (0.253) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0 | 0.0347 (0.183) |
| Incisional biopsy: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.0339 (0.1962) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0.0141 (0.1182) | 0.00990 (0.0993) |
| Punch biopsy: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.0621 (0.2418) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0.00282 (0.0532) | 0.0347 (0.183) |
| Curettage and cautery: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.0508 (0.2325) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0 | 0.0545 (0.228) |
| Triamcinolone acetonide injection: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.0141 (0.219) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0 | 0 |
| Hosiery: | ||
| Provided by general practitioner with special interests | 0.00565 (0.0751) | 0 |
| Provided by hospital | 0 | 0 |
| Patient resource use | ||
| Consultations with private practitioners*: | ||
| Private doctor (n=202, n=115) | 0.0248 (0.185) | 0.0261 (0.160) |
| Homoeopath (n=197, n=113) | 0.0406 (0.333) | 0.00885 (0.0941) |
| Acupuncturist (n=196, n=115) | 0.0204 (0.226) | 0.0957 (0.772) |
| Herbalist (n=196, n=114) | 0.553 (0.463) | 0.0263 (0.209) |
| Reflexologist (n=257, n=144) | 0.0233 (0.318) | 0 |
| Aromatherapist (n=196, n=112) | 0.00510 (0.0714) | 0 |
| Other (n=197, n=116) | 0.0102 (0.101) | 0.0690 (0.367) |
PUVA=psoralens plus long wave ultraviolet radiation.
*
Patient numbers relate to general practitioner with special interest service and hospital outpatient clinic, respectively.