Hypertension remains a healthcare problem in South Africa. When prescribing evidence-based, cost-effective anti-hypertensive treatment, guideline adherence is essential. The Joint National Committee’s Sixth Report (JNC VI) built its evidence-based review on the outcome of clinical trials. The objective of this study was to assess the hypertension guideline adherence of general practitioners in private practice and of primary health care physicians in an academic government hospital setup in Pretoria, using the JNC VI guidelines.

Ten spyte van die feit dat risikofaktore en voorkomingsmaatreëls bekend is, is die voorkoms van koronêre vatsiekte nie aan die afneem nie. Die publiek se reaksie om aanpassings te maak, is baie traag.¹ In ontwikkelde lande is kardiovaskulêre siekte reeds die hoofoorsaak van dood. Perkutane revaskularisasietegnieke, farmakologiese ingrepe en lewenstylaanpassings word suksesvol toegepas in die behandeling.

Schizophrenia is a class of psychiatric disorders that constitutes perhaps the ultimate in psychological breakdown and strikes at the very heart of what we consider the essence of the person. According to Lempérière et al1 schizophrenia has been described as “folie circulaire” (Falvet, 1851), “hebephrenia” (Hecker, 1871), and “catatonia” and “paranoia” (Kahlbaum, 1874). In 1878, Kraepelin consolidated the various concepts and called the disease “dementia praecox”.

Hypertension remains a healthcare problem in South Africa. When prescribing evidence-based, cost-effective anti-hypertensive treatment, guideline adherence is essential. The Joint National Committee’s Sixth Report (JNC VI) built its evidence-based review on the outcome of clinical trials. The objective of this study was to assess the hypertension guideline adherence of general practitioners in private practice and of primary health care physicians in an academic government hospital setup in Pretoria, using the JNC VI guidelines.

It would be unlikely that many of today’s practicing family doctors have not been involved in Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities. It would be equally unlikely, however, that these activities were part of any contextually structured educational plan towards professional development. Often driven by external need towards a reaccredidation procedure, CME can be seen as a burden upon the average practitioners working day, or more usually evening. The concept of Continuing Professional Development takes the practitioner away from these short-term goals and moves them into a planned educational environment.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has adapted the regulations for interns based on the changing medical training in the country. As many universities are moving towards a five year undergraduate medical curriculum, medical students are released into practice in their sixth year after entering the programme.

Previous reports have shown that zolpidem could reverse semi-coma and improve cerebral perfusion after brain injury. Studies in animals have implicated omega 1 GABAergic action as reason for this improvement. Evidence for the efficacy of zolpidem in a wide range of brain pathology is reviewed here and the mechanism of zolpidem in brain injury is considered from the perspective of diaschisis and neurological dormancy after brain injury. (SA Fam Pract 2005;47(3): 49-50)

The menopause will bring with it a number of health challenges that may significantly affect the quality of life of women. Not uncommonly, women feel overwhelmed and daunted by what they perceive, or are led to believe, will occur with the menopause. Yet, provided that women understand and their physicians individualise care, the menopause can be a time of positive change. (SA Fam Pract 2005;47(3): 42-44)

Insomnia is both a frequent complaint that the elderly bring to the family practitioner and a source of discomfort to that practitioner. A commonly cited figure is that up to 42% of elderly patients (in this case in four American locations) report difficulty with falling asleep or staying asleep.¹ This survey also identified a number of risk factors for incident insomnia in this age group. These risk factors include chronic disease, depressed mood, physical disability, poor perceived health and widowhood.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting at least one in 10 people. It knows no prejudice, affecting people from all social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, unlike tuberculosis, which one would expect to encounter in less privileged societies, and coronary artery disease, which is a disease of affluence. Therefore, no matter where the health care “giver” (i.e. doctor, nurse, pharmacist) practises, he or she will see patients with asthma every day.