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GENERAL
Q
Where do I get help if the answer is not here?
A
Contact the study manager, Sue Broomfield
Phone 023 8024 1076
Fax
023 8070 1125
E-mail
seb4@soton.ac.uk
Q
I have used all my packs – can I get some more?
A
Yes, contact your local coordinator who will send you
some more. To find their contact details go to
www.descarte.org
and click on ‘contacts’.
Q
I asked for web/paper packs but now I’ve changed my mind
A
Contact your local coordinator to exchange packs. To
find their contact details go to
www.descarte.org
and click on ‘contacts’.
INCLUSION / EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Top of Page
Q
Can I recruit children?
A
No, this study is for 16 and overs only
Q
Can I include all 16 and overs with a sore throat?
A
No.
-
The sore throat should be the prominent or
predominant symptom. Where it is not the major
symptom if you feel the oro-pharynx is the source of
the current symptoms then the patient can still be
eligible. For example, a patient with fever as the
most prominent symptom with a sore throat as their
main other symptom is eligible; those with prominent
coryzal symptoms and a slightly scratchy throat, or
a prominent cough with a mild sore throat are not
eligible.
-
The sore throat should be acute (≤ 14 days). However, please also include patients with a
longer illness with recent exacerbation of sore
throat for ≤ 14 days (in which case record number of
days with exacerbation of sore throat).
-
The patient must have good enough written English to
complete the patient diary.
-
The patient should be competent to understand the
study and give consent.
Q
Can patients be entered into the study more than once?
A
Yes, a patient with a new episode of sore throat can be
recruited for a second or third time. Please write in the notes
that this is their second or third entry to the study.
CONSENT
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Q
What do I do if the patient wants to take the consent
form home to sign – when do I collect the clinical data?
A
Once the patient has verbally agreed to take part you
may enter their clinical details onto the clinical
proforma and submit it to the researchers. As stated in
the protocol, the researchers will later dispose of all
patient information if a signed consent form is not
received (to account for any patient who initially is
happy to take part and takes the consent form home to
sign, but for any reason does not return it). When the
patient is happy to do so, please encourage them to sign
at the surgery to avoid forms being lost or forgotton.
WEB
DATA ENTRY
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Q
Can I test the website before I enter a ‘real’ patient?
A
Yes. Go to
www.descarte.org. Click on ‘click here to enter
patients’. Type username ‘descarte’ and password ‘sorethroat’.
For patient ID number use ‘901 - _ _ _ _ _’ 901
indicates a test. Then make up the last 5 digits.
Q
I get ‘Access denied’ when I try to log on to the
website – what should I do?
A1
Check username and password are lower case only. Check
spelling. Check there is no space in ‘sorethroat’. Check
whether either of the boxes are automatically filling in
as you begin to type (this will happen if you previously
chose to save the username/password) in which case you
may be typing after the box has already been filled in.
Username
descarte
Password
sorethroat
A2
Open a new Internet Explorer window and try again. If
you were in the DESCARTE website and then used the
window to go somewhere else on the web, for security
reasons, you cannot come back to the DESCARTE website
Q
The web has crashed what should I do?
A
You can still enter patients. Use one of the back-up
paper proformas which you can find in your green
GP/nurse file. Remember to fill in patient ID number
which you can find at the top of the consent form. Once
it is filled in post the white copy to the study centre
for electronic scanning (you can find a sticker with the
FREEPOST address in the clear sleeve with the proformas).
Q
Can I use Firefox or another web browser?
A
We ask you to use Internet Explorer as there are
sometimes problems with receiving the data if other
browsers are used.
Q
I use EMIS and I’m having trouble pasting the summary
into my notes.
A
First click on ‘copy to clipboard’ then go to your
notes. Go to the history or examination section. Click
to place the cursor where you would like the summary to
appear. Then near the top of the screen click on ‘edit’
then from the menu that drops down click on ‘paste’.
Q
Can I keep the website running all day?
A
Yes, you can log in with your username and password to
get to the screen where you enter the Patient ID then
minimise the page while you are doing other things.
Then, when you have a sore throat patient, you can go
back to the DESCARTE window and it is ready to accept
the Patient ID number. After you finish entering a
patient you can click on ‘enter a new record’ to get
back to the Patient ID page then you can do other things
and it will be ready for the ID number of the next sore
throat patient.
Q
What should I do if I changed my prescription or
anything else after submitting the data?
A
E-mail the study manager giving the Patient ID number
and explaining what happened. Contact Paula Barratt on
p.barratt@soton.ac.uk
Q
Can I add the Descarte website to my favourites so I
don’t have to type it every time?
A
Yes, go to
www.descarte.org and click on ‘click this link to
add this page to your favourites’
Q
When I type in the web address I don’t get the website
A
Make sure you are not typing the web address into google,
yahoo or another search engine. Type
www.descarte.org
into the address bar right at the top of the Internet
Explorer window.
Q
Can I just make notes in the consultation and enter the
data on the web later?
A
You can, but if this is what you are going to do it
would be better to ask for paper based packs (it is
possible to exchange them after you have started). This
is because the paper forms are electronically scanned so
if you are going to put the info on paper it would be
better to scan it directly than have someone spend time
retyping it all.
PAPER DATA ENTRY
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Q
What if I fill in the wrong dot by mistake?
A
Please put a cross through the incorrectly filled in
dot, then fill in the dot you meant to select
Q
It takes ages to colour in the dots – is there a quicker
way?
A
As long as 15% of the dot area is marked the scanner
will pick it up so you do not have to colour the entire
dot
Q
Does it matter what kind of pen I use?
B
Please use a biro
POSTCARDS
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Q
Which patients should send in the postcard?
A
We would like the patient to fill in and return the
postcard if, in the days following the consultation,
they feel ill enough to consider getting further help
(even if no help is actually sought).
CLINICAL PROFORMA TERMINOLOGY
Top of Page
Q
What is a rapid test?
A
A rapid test is a kit used to diagnose streptococcal
infections
Q
What do you mean by
‘Difficulty speaking’?
A
Throat is so sore or swollen that words cannot be formed
properly, in contrast to laryngeal problems which are
characterised
by hoarseness.
Q
How should I record
cervical glands
size?
A
Select ‘Large (>3cm)’ for an enlarged node or confluent/
multiple nodes which together are >3cm.
Q
What are the criteria for ‘runny nose’?
A
Select ‘yes’ for a runny nose or a runny nose causing a
sensation of stuffiness, select ‘no’ for chronic causes
of blocked nose (allergies, septal deformities,
vasomotor rhinitis etc).
THERMOMETERS
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Q
The thermometer doesn’t seem to work
A
In the clear sleeve in the back of the green GP/nurse
file you should find some spare thermometers. Please try
one of those.
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If your question is not answered here please E-mail it
to the study manager,
Sue Broomfield
seb4@soton.ac.uk
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