A review of the use of routine data on CHD in general practice research in Scotland.
BACKGROUND
The primary aim of the Platform Project is to maximise the use of routine data for primary care research in Scotland.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent to which routine data is available and has been used in studies on CHD in General Practice research in Scotland. To assess the advantages and limitations of using routine data in this setting.


METHODS
Literature review using a variety of databases catalogues and websites, bibliographies of articles retrieved and searching through journals by hand not available electronically.


RESULTS
This review has found that the use of routine data in CHD studies in General Practice research in Scotland remains small. There has been little work undertaken which has combined the use of routine data with other research methods. Limitations with routine data exist particularly with regard to risk factors and ethnicity. However, despite such limitations there exists an increasingly extensive range of data, which exists to help explain tends in CHD, which so far has been largely underused.
McLean
G
G
General Practice and Primary Care, Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, I Horselethill Road, Glasgow. gml17y@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome