New NICE guidelines aim to improve quality of dentistry provision in the UK

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition characterised by variable respiratory symptoms (wheeze, shortness of breath, cough, and chest tightness) and variable expiratory airflow limitation, usually associated with airway inflammation. It affects 1-in-11 people in the UK and is the cause of over 75 000 hospital admissions per year. Given its prevalence, and the fact that patients are mainly cared for in the community, this article aims to highlight the need for a thorough annual asthma review and what that review entails. When carried out effectively, an asthma review will improve quality of life for those living with the condition, reduce their likelihood of hospital admission and reduce the cost to the NHS as a whole.

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The PrEscription of intraDialytic exercise to improve quAlity of Life in patients with chronic kidney disease trial: study design and baseline data for a multicentre randomized controlled trial

Clinical Kidney Journal ◽

10.1093/ckj/sfaa107 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sharlene A Greenwood ◽

Pelagia Koufaki ◽

Jamie Macdonald ◽

Sunil Bhandari ◽

James Burton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Usual Care ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Improve Quality ◽

Exercise Interventions ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Uk ◽

Intradialytic Exercise

Abstract Background Exercise interventions designed to improve physical function and reduce sedentary behaviour in haemodialysis (HD) patients might improve exercise capacity, reduce fatigue and lead to improved quality of life (QOL). The PrEscription of intraDialytic exercise to improve quAlity of Life study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-month intradialytic exercise programme on QOL and physical function, compared with usual care for patients on HD in the UK. Methods We conducted a prospective, pragmatic multicentre randomized controlled trial in 335 HD patients and randomly (1:1) assigned them to either (i) intradialytic exercise training plus usual care maintenance HD or (ii) usual care maintenance HD. The primary outcome of the study was the change in Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1.3) Physical Component Score between baseline and 6 months. Additional secondary outcomes included changes in peak aerobic capacity, physical fitness, habitual physical activity levels and falls (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Duke’s Activity Status Index and Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale), QOL and symptom burden assessments (EQ5D), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity), anthropometric measures, resting blood pressure, clinical chemistry, safety and harms associated with the intervention, hospitalizations and cost-effectiveness. A nested qualitative study investigated the experience and acceptability of the intervention for both participants and members of the renal health care team. Results At baseline assessment, 62.4% of the randomized cohort were male, the median age was 59.3 years and 50.4% were white. Prior cerebrovascular events and myocardial infarction were present in 8 and 12% of the cohort, respectively, 77.9% of patients had hypertension and 39.4% had diabetes. Baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory data for the randomized cohort were generally concordant with data from the UK Renal Registry. Conclusion The results from this study will address a significant knowledge gap in the prescription of exercise interventions for patients receiving maintenance HD therapy and inform the development of intradialytic exercise programmes both nationally and internationally. Trial Registration ISRCTN N83508514; registered on 17 December 2014.

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The effects of playing the COSMA cognitive games in dementia

International Journal of Serious Games ◽

10.17083/ijsg.v8i1.412 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 45-58

Author(s):

Kartheka Bojan ◽

Thanos G. Stavropoulos ◽

Ioulietta Lazarou ◽

Spiros Nikolopoulos ◽

Ioannis Kompatsiaris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Well Being ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Nice Guidelines ◽

Early Dementia ◽

Before And After ◽

The Uk

Brain Training games are increasingly gaining attention as a non-pharmacological intervention to promote well-being and quality of life in people living with dementia. Herein we present the COSMA software and a pilot study to evaluate its impact on the emotions of people in the spectrum of dementia. The software was created in accordance to the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines as a ‘brain-stimulating’ software for use by people with cognitive impairment i.e., mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia. The pilot study aims to investigate whether the current COSMA game designs have an impact on emotions in people with MCI and early dementia. The emotional evaluation before and after playing COSMA games was carried out using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Our findings demonstrated a small, but significant increase in positive emotions (MCI: p= 0.041; early dementia: p= 0.042) and decrease in negative emotions (MCI: p= 0.001; early dementia: p< 0.001). These preliminary results showed that people with MCI and early dementia experienced positive emotions while playing the COSMA games, suggesting that people with cognitive impairment may benefit from using the COSMA software regularly.

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