Three year follow-up study of families referred to a family intervention team – what are the outcomes that make a difference?

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Leah Salter ◽  
Jessica Williams

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the long-term outcomes for 15 young people on a range of indicators including school success, involvement with other agencies and the perceived effectiveness by the family. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured telephone interviews were used to gather a range of both quantitative and qualitative data. Interviews were with a parent of the referred child (n=15). Findings – In all, 87 per cent of care-givers interviewed rated the service they had received as helpful 85 per cent reported these changes to be maintained at the three year follow-up. Rate of school exclusion was only 7 per cent and 0 per cent of families went on to have involvement with statutory social services or the youth justice system. Research limitations/implications – This is a small-scale study offering a small sample (n=15) of families previously referred to this Family Intervention Team, at a three-year post-intervention period. More routine longitudinal information needs to be gathered for a more robust indication on long-term outcomes. Practical implications – The impact this study will have on the team involved will be in its recommendations for further long-term outcome studies; but also in feeding back to the service the significant key messages from those interviewed. Social implications – Contributing to a wider understanding of the long-term benefits of early intervention. Originality/value – This paper offers some new though small statistical data in the growing pool of statistics that are indicating positive outcomes for early intervention and family intervention projects.

Author(s):  
Marianna Rita Stancampiano ◽  
Kentaro Suzuki ◽  
Stuart O’Toole ◽  
Gianni Russo ◽  
Gen Yamada ◽  
...  

Abstract In the newborn, penile length is determined by a number of androgen dependent and independent factors. The current literature suggests that there are inter-racial differences in stretched penile length in the newborn and although congenital micropenis should be defined as a stretched penile length of less than 2.5SDS of the mean for the corresponding population and gestation, a pragmatic approach would be to evaluate all boys with a stretched penile length below 2 cm, as congenital micropenis can be a marker for a wide range of endocrine conditions. However, it remains unclear as to whether the state of micropenis, itself, is associated with any long-term consequences. There is a lack of systematic studies comparing the impact of different therapeutic options on long-term outcomes, in terms of genital appearance, quality of life and sexual satisfaction. To date, research has been hampered by a small sample size and inclusion of a wide range of heterogeneous diagnoses; for these reasons, condition specific outcomes have been difficult to compare between studies. Lastly, there is a need for a greater collaborative effort in collecting standardized data so that all real-world or experimental interventions performed at an early age can be studied systematically into adulthood.


2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 592-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Ali Chandio ◽  
Yuansheng Jiang ◽  
Feng Wei ◽  
Xu Guangshun

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of short-term loan (STL) vs long-term loan (LTL) on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The econometric estimation is based on cross-sectional data collected in 2016 from 18 villages in three districts, i.e. Shikarpur, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The sample data set consist of 180 wheat farmers. The collected data were analyzed through different econometric techniques like Cobb–Douglas production function and Instrumental variables (two-stage least squares) approach. Findings This study reconfirmed that agricultural credit has a positive and highly significant effect on wheat productivity, while the short-term loan has a stronger effect on wheat productivity than the long-term loan. The reasons behind the phenomenon may be the significantly higher usage of agricultural inputs like seeds of improved variety and fertilizers which can be transformed into the wheat yield in the same year. However, the LTL users have significantly higher investments in land preparation, irrigation and plant protection, which may lead to higher wheat production in the coming years. Research limitations/implications In the present study, only those wheat farmers were considered who obtained agricultural loans from formal financial institutions like Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited and Khushhali Bank. However, in the rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan, a considerable proportion of small-scale farmers take credit from informal financial channels. Therefore future researchers should consider the informal credits as well. Originality/value This is the first paper to examine the effects of agricultural credit on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. This paper will be an important addition to the emerging literature regarding effects of credit studies.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anirudh Kumar ◽  
Salim Virani ◽  
Scott Bassett ◽  
Mahboob Alam ◽  
Ravi Hira ◽  
...  

Background: Thrombocytopenia (TCP) occurs commonly in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). It is unclear whether persistent TCP after discharge among AMI survivors is associated with worse outcomes. Methods: We examined the impact of persistent post-discharge TCP on outcomes in a registry of consecutive AMI patients hospitalized between January 2004 and December 2007. In-hospital (IH) TCP was defined by a nadir platelet count < 150 x 109/L. Resolved TCP was defined as IH TCP which resolved within 3 months after discharge while persistent TCP was defined as IH TCP which did not resolve within 3 months. Results: Of 842 patients hospitalized for a first AMI, we examined data on 617 hospital survivors who had follow-up within 3 months of discharge and documented long-term outcomes. Of those, 474 (76.8%) patients did not experience IH TCP while 42 (6.8%) and 101 (16.4%) had persistent and resolved TCP, respectively (Table). Patients with persistent TCP were older, had worse comorbidities, and were more likely to have TCP at baseline and discharge. There were no inter-group differences in infarct size, major bleeding complications, revascularization, or ejection fraction at discharge. Mortality following discharge was higher at all time-points among AMI patients with persistent TCP compared to patients with resolved or without IH TCP (Figure). Patients with resolved TCP had comparable mortality to those without IH TCP. Conclusion: Persistent TCP within 3 months after hospital discharge for AMI is associated with significantly increased short- and long-term mortality compared to patients with recovered TCP or without IH TCP.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483992094592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srikanta Banerjee ◽  
Tim Radak ◽  
Jagdish Khubchandani ◽  
Patrick Dunn

Food insecurity is a significant public health problem in the United States leading to substantial social, economic, and health care–related burdens. While studies continue to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity, the long-term outcomes are not extensively explored. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of food insecurity on mortality. We analyzed data on adults (≥ 20 years) from the 1999–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with mortality data obtained through 2015. Among the total study participants (n = 25,247), 17.6% reported food insecurity. Food-insecure individuals were more likely to be younger in age, minorities, poorer, with lesser education, obese, smokers, and with diabetes compared to food-secure counterparts. During a 10.2-year follow-up, among the food insecure, 821 individuals died (11%). The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality among the food insecure compared with the food secure, with adjustment for age and gender only, was 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.25, 2.01]. The adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality, HR = 1.46, CI [1.23, 1.72], p < .001, and cardiovascular mortality, HR = 1.75, CI [1.19, 2.57], p < .01, were statistically significantly higher among food-insecure individuals, after adjustment for multiple demographic and health risk factors. Individuals who are food-insecure have a significantly higher probability of death from any cause or cardiovascular disease in long-term follow-up. Comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to reducing food insecurity–related disparities and health risks should be implemented. Including food insecurity in health risk assessments and addressing food insecurity as a determinant of long-term outcomes may contribute to lower premature death rates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-85
Author(s):  
Axel Tobias Kempa

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) offer an alternative to talc pleurodesis in recurrent effusion, especially in patients wishing to avoid hospitalization. Two randomized trials have demonstrated reduced time in hospital using IPCs versus talc pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE). However, the impact of IPCs on hospital services and patients has not been well studied. Objectives: To analyze long-term outcomes of IPCs and understand the hospital burden in terms of requirement for hospital visits and contacts with healthcare, while the IPC was in situ. Methods: IPC insertions in a tertiary pleural center were analyzed retrospectively. Reviews of patients with IPCs in situ considered «additional» to routine clinical follow-up were defined pre-hoc. Results: A total of 202 cases were analyzed: 89.6% MPE group (n = 181) and 10.4% non-MPE group (n = 21). There were a median 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 3) and 2.0 (IQR 2) ipsilateral pleural procedures prior to each IPC insertion in non-MPE and MPE groups, respectively (p = 0.26), and a mean 1.3 (SD 1.7) planned IPC-related outpatient follow-up visits per patient. There were 2 (9.5%) and 14 (7.7%) IPC-related infections in non-MPE and MPE groups, respectively. Four (19.0%) and 44 (24.3%) patients required additional IPC-related reviews in non-MPE and MPE groups, respectively (p = 0.6), and these occurred within 250 days post IPC insertion. Conclusions: Although IPCs decrease initial length of hospital stay compared to talc pleurodesis via chest drain, IPCs are associated with significant hospital-visit burden, in addition to planned visits and regular home IPC drainages. IPC-using services need to be prepared for this additional work to run an IPC service effectively.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0236525
Author(s):  
Stephen Pilling ◽  
Peter Fonagy ◽  
Elizabeth Allison ◽  
Phoebe Barnett ◽  
Chloe Campbell ◽  
...  

Background Over 600 RCTs have demonstrated the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for children and young people’s mental health, but little is known about the long-term outcomes. This systematic review sought to establish whether the effects of selective and indicated interventions were sustained at 12 months. Method We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on studies reporting medium term outcomes (12 months after end of intervention). Findings We identified 138 trials with 12-month follow-up data, yielding 165 comparisons, 99 of which also reported outcomes at end of intervention, yielding 117 comparisons. We found evidence of effect relative to control at end of intervention (K = 115, g = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.30–0.47 I2 = 84.19%, N = 13,982) which was maintained at 12 months (K = 165, g = 0.31, CI: 0.25–0.37, I2 = 77.35%, N = 25,652) across a range of diagnostic groups. We explored the impact of potential moderators on outcome, including modality, format and intensity of intervention, selective or indicated intervention, site of delivery, professional/para-professional and fidelity of delivery. We assessed both risk of study bias and publication bias. Conclusions Psychosocial interventions provided in a range of settings by professionals and paraprofessionals can deliver lasting benefits. High levels of heterogeneity, moderate to high risk of bias for most studies and evidence of publication bias require caution in interpreting the results. Lack of studies in diagnostic groups such as ADHD and self-harm limit the conclusions that can be drawn. Programmes that increase such interventions’ availability are justified by the benefits to children and young people and the decreased likelihood of disorder in adulthood.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6198
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Dionyssiou ◽  
Alexandros Sarafis ◽  
Antonios Tsimponis ◽  
Asterios Kalaitzoglou ◽  
Georgios Arsos ◽  
...  

Background: This retrospective study aimed to assess the impact of certain flap characteristics on long-term outcomes following microsurgical treatment in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) patients. Methods: Sixty-four out of 65 BCRL patients, guided by the “Selected Lymph Node” (“SeLyN”) technique, underwent Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer (VLNT) between 2012 and 2018. According to their surface size, flaps were divided into small (<25 cm2, n = 32) and large (>25 cm2, n = 32). Twelve large and six small flaps were combined with free abdominally based breast reconstruction procedures. Lymphedema stage, flap size, vascular pedicle and number of lymph nodes (LNs) were analyzed in correlation with long-term Volume Differential Reduction (VDR). Results: At 36-month follow-up, no major complication was recorded in 64 cases; one flap failure was excluded from the study. Mean flap size was 27.4 cm2, mean LNs/flap 3.3 and mean VDR 55.7%. Small and large flaps had 2.8 vs. 3.8 LNs/flap (p = 0.001), resulting in 49.6% vs. 61.8% VDR (p = 0.032), respectively. Lymphedema stage and vascular pedicle (SIEA or SCIA/SCIP) had no significant impact on VDR. Conclusion: In our series, larger flaps included a higher number of functional LNs, directly associated with better outcomes as quantified by improved VDR.


Author(s):  
John-Rudolph H. Smith ◽  
John W. Belk ◽  
Jamie L. Friedman ◽  
Jason L. Dragoo ◽  
Rachel M. Frank ◽  
...  

AbstractKnee dislocations (KDs) are devastating injuries for patients and present complex challenges for orthopaedic surgeons. Although short-term outcomes have been studied, there are few long-term outcomes of these injuries available in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine factors that influence mid- to long-term clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of KD. A review of the current literature was performed by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify clinical studies published from 2010 to 2019 with a minimum 2-year follow-up that reported outcomes following surgical treatment of KDs. Ten studies (6 level III, 4 level IV) were included. At mid- (2–10 y) to long-term (>10 y) follow-up, concomitant arterial, cartilage, and combined meniscus damage were predictive factors for inferior Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores when compared with patients without these associated injuries. Although concomitant neurological damage may influence short-term outcomes due to decreased mobility, at longer follow-up periods it does not appear to predict worse clinical outcomes when compared with patients without concomitant neurological injury. Frank and polytrauma KDs have been associated with worse mid- to long-term outcomes when compared with transient and isolated KDs. Patients who underwent surgery within 6 weeks of trauma experienced better long-term outcomes than those who underwent surgery longer than 6 weeks after the initial injury. However, the small sample size of this study makes it difficult to make valid recommendations. Lastly, female sex, patients older than 30 years at the time of injury and a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2 are factors that have been associated with worse mid- to long-term Lysholm and IKDC scores. The results of this review suggest that female sex, age >30 years, BMI >35 kg/m2, concomitant cartilage damage, combined medial and lateral meniscal damage, KDs that do not spontaneously relocate, and KDs associated with polytrauma may predict worse results at mid- to long-term follow-up.


Author(s):  
Stephanie Jones

Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine the nature and extent of the threat of global maritime piracy. The cost of global piracy has been estimated at USD15-25 billion, reaching an all-time high in 2011, remaining an ongoing threat to world trade and contributing to high commodity costs. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a literature review of formal and informal published sources, this exploratory and diagnostic article attempts to approximately quantify global piracy in terms of pirate activity worldwide and shipper response, and looks at global trends and some tentative economic implications. Findings – The overall findings are inconclusive due to unreliable and piecemeal data, but global piracy clearly impacts goods carried by sea. The piracy problem may be estimated in terms of ships and crew affected, ransoms paid, the impact on specific commodities in terms of cargoes carried and cost implications of pirate-avoiding rerouting. Practical implications – Pirates are getting rich, but their compatriots are poorer than ever. Countries desperate for international aid are corruptly laundering pirate ransom income and continuing to support pirate warlords. Prices are continuing to rise for consumers in all countries. Solutions to the piracy problem remain elusive, and are considered in a follow-up article, Maritime piracy – the challenge of providing long-term solutions. Originality/value – Most articles in this field consider specific piracy incidents in particular locations, without an overall analysis of the impact on world trade as a whole. There is a gap in the literature for an up-to-date, analytical study of maritime piracy worldwide.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinori Hasegawa ◽  
Yoshihisa Kida ◽  
Tatsuya Kobayashi ◽  
Masayuki Yoshimoto ◽  
Yoshimasa Mori ◽  
...  

Object. Gamma knife surgery (GKS) has been a safe and effective treatment for vestibular schwannomas in both the short and long term, although less is known about long-term outcomes in the past 10 years. The aim of this study was to clarify long-term outcomes in patients with vestibular schwannomas treated using GKS based on techniques in place in the early 1990s. Methods. Eighty patients harboring a vestibular schwannoma (excluding neurofibromatosis Type 2) were treated using GKS between May 1991 and December 1993. Among these, 73 patients were assessed; seven were lost to follow up. The median duration of follow up was 135 months. The mean patient age at the time of GKS was 56 years old. The mean tumor volume was 6.3 cm3, and the mean maximal and marginal radiation doses applied to the tumor were 28.4 and 14.6 Gy, respectively. Follow-up magnetic resonance images were obtained in 71 patients. Forty-eight patients demonstrated partial tumor remission, 14 had tumors that remained stable, and nine demonstrated tumor enlargement or radiation-induced edema requiring resection. Patients with larger tumors did not fare as well as those with smaller lesions. The actuarial 10-year progression-free survival rate was 87% overall, and 93% in patients with tumor volumes less than 10 cm3. No patient experienced malignant transformation. Conclusions. Gamma knife surgery remained an effective treatment for vestibular schwannomas for longer than 10 years. Although treatment failures usually occurred within 3 years after GKS, it is necessary to continue follow up in patients to reveal delayed tumor recurrence.


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