scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neuroendocrine tumour services in England

Endocrine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin O. Weickert ◽  
Tim Robbins ◽  
Ioannis Kyrou ◽  
Adam Hopper ◽  
Eilish Pearson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Funding ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Neuroendocrine Tumour ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Multidisciplinary Meetings ◽  
Survey Responses

Abstract Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been particular concerns regarding the related impact on specialist tumour services. Neuroendocrine tumour (NET) services are delivered in a highly specialised setting, typically delivered in a small number of centres that fulfil specific criteria as defined by the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS). We aimed to address the COVID-19-related impact on specialist NET tumour services in England and other countries. Methods Electronic survey addressing patient access and delivery of care distributed to all ENETS Centres of Excellence (CoE) in England and matching number of ENETS CoE elsewhere. Semi-quantitative and qualitative analyses of survey responses were performed. Results Survey response of ENETS CoE in England was 55% (6/11). Responses from six non-UK ENETS CoE elsewhere were received and analysed in a similar manner. Relevant disruption of various NET services was noted across all responding Centres, which included delayed patient appointments and investigations, reduced availability of treatment modalities including delayed surgical treatment and a major negative impact on research activities. The comparison between English and non-UK ENETS CoE suggested that the former had significantly greater concerns related to future research funding (p = 0.014), whilst having less disruption to multidisciplinary meetings (p = 0.01). A trend was also noted towards virtual patient appointments in ENETS CoE in England vs. elsewhere (p = 0.092). Conclusions Restoration of highly specialised NET services following COVID-19 and planning for future service delivery and research funding must take account of the severe challenges encountered during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Dementia wellbeing and COVID-19: review and expert consensus on current research and knowledge gaps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Liu ◽  
Rob Howard ◽  
Sube Banerjee ◽  
Adelina Comas-Herrera ◽  
Joanne Goddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expert Group ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Services Research ◽  
Living Well ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Remote Healthcare ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: In response to an NHS England enquiry, a UK-based working group, comprising dementia researchers from a range of fields and disciplines, aimed to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dementia wellbeing and identify priorities for future research. Methods: We supplemented a rapid literature search (including unpublished, non-peer reviewed and ongoing studies/reports) on dementia wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 with expert group members’ consensus about future research needs. From this we generated potential research questions the expert group judged to be relevant that were not covered by the existing literature. Results: Themes emerged from 141 studies within the six domains of the NHS England COVID-19 Dementia Wellbeing Pathway: Preventing Well, Diagnosing Well, Treating Well, Supporting Well, Living Well and Dying Well. We describe current research findings and knowledge gaps relating to the impact on people affected by dementia (individuals with a diagnosis, their carers and social contacts, health and social care practitioners and volunteers), services, research activities and organisations. Broad themes included the potential benefits and risks of new models of working including remote healthcare, the need for population-representative longitudinal studies to monitor longer-term impacts, and the importance of reporting dementia-related findings within broader healthcare studies. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on people affected by dementia. Researchers and funding organisations have responded rapidly to try to understand the impacts. Future research should highlight and resolve outstanding issues to develop evidence-based measures to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia.

scholarly journals Impact of tobacco and/or nicotine products on health and functioning: a scoping review and findings from the preparatory phase of the development of a new self-report measure

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther F. Afolalu ◽  
Erica Spies ◽  
Agnes Bacso ◽  
Emilie Clerc ◽  
Linda Abetz-Webb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Preparatory Phase ◽  
General Physical

Abstract Background Measuring self-reported experience of health and functioning is important for understanding the changes in the health status of individuals switching from cigarettes to less harmful tobacco and/or nicotine products (TNP) or reduced-risk products (RRP) and for supporting tobacco harm reduction strategies. Methods This paper presents insights from three research activities from the preparatory phase of the development of a new self-report health and functioning measure. A scoping literature review was conducted to identify the positive and negative impact of TNP use on health and functioning. Focus groups (n = 29) on risk perception and individual interviews (n = 40) on perceived dependence in people who use TNPs were reanalyzed in the context of health and functioning, and expert opinion was gathered from five key opinion leaders and five technical consultants. Results Triangulating the findings of the review of 97 articles, qualitative input from people who use TNPs, and expert feedback helped generate a preliminary conceptual framework including health and functioning and conceptually-related domains impacted by TNP use. Domains related to the future health and functioning measurement model include physical health signs and symptoms, general physical appearance, functioning (physical, sexual, cognitive, emotional, and social), and general health perceptions. Conclusions This preliminary conceptual framework can inform future research on development and validation of new measures for assessment of overall health and functioning impact of TNPs from the consumers’ perspective.

Exploring digital evidence recognition among officers and troopers in a sample of a state police force

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Holt ◽  
Shelly Clevenger ◽  
Jordana Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Digital Evidence ◽  
Police Agency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Line Staff ◽  
Police Agencies ◽  
State Police ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Crime Scenes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which line officers in police agencies can identify digital evidence at crime scenes, also known as the binary artifacts stored on computers, mobile devices, tablets and the internet, through an analysis of survey responses of line staff in a Midwestern state police agency. Design/methodology/approach An electronic survey was completed by 258 respondents using a scenario-based vignette asking them to identify where such evidence may be located during a fictitious call for service. Findings Most all respondents identified appropriate devices and locations where digital evidence may be stored on suspects and victims in a scenario call for service. There were significant differences in responses on the basis of recent field experience with digital evidence. Research limitations/implications The findings demonstrate the importance of experiential learning and training for line staff in police agencies to prepare them for basic digital evidence handling in the field. This sample is, however, based on a single state police agency and may not be reflective of other similarly sized agencies. Future research is needed to replicate this study and expand the generalizability of these findings. Originality/value First responders should be able to identify and secure all appropriate forms of evidence at crime scenes, regardless of crime type, while awaiting specialized investigators. This study is one of the first to consider when and how police are able to recognize digital evidence at crime scenes.

Applying personalized medicine to adult severe asthma

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. e8-e16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Tiotiu
Keyword(s):  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Severe Asthma ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Target Therapy ◽  
Asthma Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Biologic Therapies ◽  
Eosinophilic Asthma ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Structured Approach

Background: Severe asthma is a heterogeneous disease that consists of various phenotypes driven by different pathways. Associated with significant morbidity, an important negative impact on the quality of life of patients, and increased health care costs, severe asthma represents a challenge for the clinician. With the introduction of various antibodies that target type 2 inflammation (T2) pathways, severe asthma therapy is gradually moving to a personalized medicine approach. Objective: The purpose of this review was to emphasize the important role of personalized medicine in adult severe asthma management. Methods: An extensive research was conducted in medical literature data bases by applying terms such as “severe asthma” associated with “structured approach,” “comorbidities,” “biomarkers,” “phenotypes/endotypes,” and “biologic therapies.” Results: The management of severe asthma starts with a structured approach to confirm the diagnosis, assess the adherence to medications and identify confounding factors and comorbidities. The definition of phenotypes or endotypes (phenotypes defined by mechanisms and identified through biomarkers) is an important step toward the use of personalized medicine in asthma. Severe allergic and nonallergic eosinophilic asthma are two defined T2 phenotypes for which there are efficacious targeted biologic therapies currently available. Non-T2 phenotype remains to be characterized, and less efficient target therapy exists. Conclusion: Despite important progress in applying personalized medicine to severe asthma, especially in T2 inflammatory phenotypes, future research is needed to find valid biomarkers predictive for the response to available biologic therapies to develop more effective therapies in non-T2 phenotype.

Employees' Perceptions of the Effects of Retrenchment on Job Stress and Organisational Commitment in a Mining Company

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landiswa Seteni ◽  
Pierre Joubert ◽  
Manilall Dhurup
Keyword(s):  
Job Stress ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Organisational Commitment ◽  
Consultation Process ◽  
Mining Company ◽  
Time Stress

Over the past decade, South African organisations have had to cope with an ever-increasing rate of local and global changes. There have been considerable and ongoing socio-political changes, resulting from new government regulations. Most organisations have experienced some type of downturn, whether due to external business factors or poor internal performance. A typical response to organisational decline is retrenchment. Our study sought to explore employees’ perceptions of the effects of retrenchment on job stress and organisational commitment in a mining company. The study was located within a quantitative research paradigm. Four research hypotheses were posited and data was collected in one region from a sample of 400 surface mining employees, including management, administrators, engineers and artisans. The results showed that the effects of retrenchment did not have a negative impact on job stress (time stress and anxiety). This may be due to the fact that the mining company in question had a planning and consultation process in place for the employees prior to the retrenchment process. The results also showed that job stress (time stress and anxiety) was negatively associated with organisational commitment. To conclude this article we discuss the implications of our findings, outline the limitations of our study and make recommendations for future research.

SME’s Performance Through Comparative Performance Indicators, Measured by Business Statistics- Albania Case

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
Godiva Rembeci
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
National Economy ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Productivity Measurement ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Global Consensus ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Business Statistics ◽  
National Economies

Now days there is a global consensus among all stakeholders that SMEs represent a driving force to the overall economic development, due to their significant contribution both on GDP and employment of national economies. SMEs also by numbers dominate the world business stage, although their contribution does vary among the countries. SMEs in Albania represents about 98% of the total enterprises with a contribution to national GDP for about 70%. The structure and the performance of national economy is depended very much on the economic performance and contribution of SME, that’s why most of the governments have strategic programmes which support the SME’s development. To measure SMEs’ performance and their ability to compete on national and international markets requires a lot of information in all aspects. Through this paper the author aims to measure and analyze the economic performance of SMEs operating in Albania. To achieve this objective, official data on business statistics published by national the statistical office (INSTAT) are used for two years period 2014-2015. In addition using an international framework addressed to the objective “improve the techniques for SMEs productivity measurement”, for the first time, a set of comparative performance indicators is established and in doing so, those results can be used as term of reference in future research activities in SMEs sector. From the results it came out that although the positive growth rate of GDP during the last years , the performance indicators of SMEs show a slightly negative trend, indicating indirectly the need for support, in order to empower their contribution in national economy.

scholarly journals Protocol for a systematic review on the experience of informal caregivers for people with a moderate to advanced dementia within a domestic home setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles James ◽  
Catherine Walshe ◽  
Katherine Froggatt
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Informal Caregiving ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Home Setting ◽  
Search Terms

Abstract Background The knowledge about the experience of informal caregivers who provide care to people with moderate to advanced dementia in a domestic home setting is limited. A consequence of long hours of caregiving in addition to dealing with normal challenges of daily living is their experience of a poor quality of life. Some of their experiences may be described in terms of a feeling of powerlessness to make changes during care provision. This feeling may also suggest an experience of moral distress. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise qualitative evidence relating to these experiences. Methods This review adopts a narrative synthesis approach. A search will be conducted for studies written in the English language in the bibliographic databases MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Academic Search Complete covering periods from 1984 to present. Included studies will be qualitative or mixed-methods designs. The search terms will be related to dementia and caregivers, and the process will be focused on dementia at the moderate to the advanced stages within the domestic home setting. Reference lists of included papers will also be searched for additional relevant citations. Search terms and strategies will be checked by two independent reviewers. The identification of abstracts and full texts of studies will be done by the author, while the quality and the risk of bias will also be checked by the two independent reviewers. Discussion Psychological distress is cited as an experience reported within informal caregiving. For the caregiver, it is associated with a negative impact on general health. To date, no synthesis exists on the specific experience of informal caregiving for people with moderate to advanced dementia within the domestic home setting. This review considers that variation of accounts contributes to how the informal caregivers’ general experience is explored in future research. This may enable gaps in current knowledge to be highlighted within the wider context of caregiving in the domestic home setting. Systematic review registration This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183649).

scholarly journals Colonoscopy-related injury among colonoscopists: an international survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 09 (01) ◽  
pp. E102-E109
Author(s):  
Ammar Al-Rifaie ◽  
Mohammed Gariballa ◽  
Alhassan Ghodeif ◽  
Stephen Hodge ◽  
Mo Thoufeeq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Position ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Musculoskeletal Injuries ◽  
British Society ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Repetitive Movements ◽  
Level Of Experience

Abstract Background and study aims Colonoscopy is physically demanding for endoscopists and patients. Repetitive movements during colonoscopy can lead to overuse injuries. We aimed to explore the prevalence and range of colonoscopy-related musculoskeletal injuries (CRIs) in endoscopists. Methods A cross-sectional electronic survey of 1825 endoscopists was performed. The sample was composed of members of the British Society of Gastroenterology, European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and National Nurse Endoscopy Group (UK). The survey comprised 20 questions. These included: endoscopists’ workload, level of experience, and their perceived CRIs. All endoscopists who perform colonoscopy independently were included in the analysis. Results A total of 368 questionnaires were completed of 1825 surveyed (20.16 %). Of those, 319 participants (17.48 %) were fully independent in colonoscopy. Of 319 endoscopists, 254 (79.6 %) have experienced musculoskeletal injuries. These were reported as either possibly (n = 143, 56.3 %) or definitely (n = 90, 35.4 %) related to colonoscopy. Commonly injured areas were the lower back (n = 85, 36.5 %), neck (n = 82, 35.2 %) and left thumb (n = 79, 33.9 %). Of the injured endoscopists, 98 (30.7 %) made some modification to their practice, such as stretching exercises and ergonomic changes. Of the endoscopists, 134 (42.0 %) thought that repetitive limb strain was a likely causative mechanism. Around 40 % believed that torquing the scope and challenging body position were precipitating CRIs. Several treatment modalities were used to treat CRIs. These included; physiotherapy (n = 109), medications (n = 70), rest (n = 43), splinting (n = 31), steroid injections (n = 26) and surgery (n = 11). Conclusions A significant proportion of colonoscopists experience CRIs. The majority of the suggested modifications to practice can be adopted by any endoscopist. These results highlight the need to recognise CRI as an important occupational health hazard and to adopt preventative strategies routinely in the future.

scholarly journals SAT0623-HPR THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN ADULTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA: A QUALITATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1271.1-1272
Author(s):  
S. Derham ◽  
J. Lewis ◽  
E. Dures ◽  
F. Cramp
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Cognitive Changes

Background:Adults with fibromyalgia frequently report symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, often referred to as fibrofog. However primary research exploring cognitive dysfunction in the lives of adults with fibromyalgia is very limited (Kravitz and Katz, 2015).Objectives:The aim of this review was to (i) synthesise the qualitative literature on the lived experiences of cognitive dysfunction in adults with fibromyalgia, (ii) develop common themes through thematic analysis and (iii) identify knowledge gaps to inform future research and clinical practice in this area.Methods:Seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Amed, Scopus and OpenGrey), reference lists of key articles and two high impact qualitative journals were searched from 1990 to November 2018. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they reported primary qualitative data exploring the experiences of cognitive dysfunction in adults with fibromyalgia. Included studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist and extracted data analysed using narrative synthesis. SD conducted critical appraisal and data extraction on all included studies. FC, JL and ED reviewed five papers each. All papers were reviewed by two co-authors. Of the 1413 records identified, 15 studies were selected for inclusion.Results:These studies included 208 women and 22 men with fibromyalgia, aged 18 to 72 years and representing seven different countries. Duration of diagnosis was four months to 34 years. Fourteen studies used interviews and one used focus groups. None of the included studies focussed exclusively on cognitive function in adults with fibromyalgia. Three studies identified themes specific to cognitive dysfunction and fibromyalgia symptoms. The remaining 12 studies presented relevant data intertwined with the overall lived experiences of fibromyalgia.Cognitive dysfunction, as a part of fibromyalgia, was often unpredictable. Problems with memory and concentration that were most commonly reported were emotionally distressing and affected functional and vocational activities. Participants found communication effortful, with a negative impact on work, leisure and social activities. Stress, fear and worry around perceived cognitive changes were commonly expressed. Lost employment or changed work roles and relationships, due to cognitive difficulties, had negative impacts for many participants. The terms cognitive dysfunction and fibrofog were used interchangeably within the studies, but lacked common definition. This introduced uncertainty around whether participants and authors were describing the same phenomenon.Conclusion:Adults with fibromyalgia experience unpredictable and emotionally impactful difficulties related to cognitive dysfunction. Functional impact was broad-reaching, particularly around work ability and lost employment opportunities. It is unclear how cognitive symptoms in fibromyalgia related to co-morbid symptoms such as pain, fatigue and poor sleep. Further research focusing on the full impact of cognitive function on the lives of adults with fibromyalgia is recommended to inform clinical practice. Research to establish clarity of definition of the terms cognitive dysfunction and fibrofog within fibromyalgia is highly recommended.References:[1]Kravitz H, Katz R. Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice. Rheumatology International. 2015;35(7):1115-25.Acknowledgments:This work is supported by the National Institute for Heath Research [ICA-PCAF-2018-01-078 to SD]Disclosure of Interests:Sandra Derham: None declared, Jenny Lewis: None declared, Emma Dures Grant/research support from: Independent Learning Grant from Pfizer, combined funding for a research fellow from Celgene, Abbvie and Novartis, Paid instructor for: A fee from Novartis to deliver training to nurses., Fiona Cramp: None declared

scholarly journals Common hand and wrist conditions: creation of UK research priorities defined by a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044207
Author(s):  
Alexia Karantana ◽  
Tim Davis ◽  
Donna Kennedy ◽  
Debbie Larson ◽  
Dominic Furniss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Priority Setting ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Grant Applications ◽  
Charitable Organisation ◽  
James Lind Alliance ◽  
Treatment Uncertainties ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Priority Setting Partnership

ObjectivePrioritisation of important treatment uncertainties for ‘Common Conditions Affecting the Hand and Wrist’ via a UK-based James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.SettingThis process was funded by a national charitable organisation and based in the UK.ParticipantsAnyone with experience of common conditions affecting the adult hand and wrist, including patients, carers and healthcare professionals. All treatment modalities delivered by a hand specialist, including therapists, surgeons or other allied professionals, were considered.InterventionsEstablished James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership methods were employed.Electronic and paper questionnaires identified potential uncertainties. These were subsequently confirmed using relevant, up-to-date systematic reviews. A final list of top 10 research uncertainties was developed via a face-to-face workshop with representation from patients and clinicians. Impact of research was sought by surveying hand clinicians electronically.Outcome measuresThe survey responses and prioritisation—both survey and workshop based.ResultsThere were 889 individually submitted questions from the initial survey, refined to 59 uncertainties across 32 themes. Eight additional uncertainties were added from published literature before prioritisation by 261 participants and the workshop allowed the final top 10 list to be finalised. The top 10 has so far contributed to the award of over £3.8 million of competitively awarded funding.ConclusionsThe Common Conditions in the Hand and Wrist Priority Setting Partnership identified important research questions and has allowed research funders to identify grant applications which are important to both patients and clinicians

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