scholarly journals Doctor, There's a Tadpole in my Feces!

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Drisdelle ◽  
Kevin R Forward
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Family Physician ◽  
Fecal Sample ◽  
Moving Objects ◽  
Intestinal Parasite ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Male Resident

A 36-year-old male resident of a coastal Nova Scotia community presented to his family physician after he noted moving objects in his feces (Figure 1). Although concerned and revolted, he was asymptomatic. He was worried that the organisms were an intestinal parasite he had passed in his stool. The organisms were approximately 2.5 cm long and resembled tadpoles. The fecal sample was sent to the Parasitology Section at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for identification.

Declining Clinical Autopsy Rates Versus Increasing Medicolegal Autopsy Rates in Halifax, Nova Scotia

2001 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnie J. Wood ◽  
Ashim K. Guha
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Downward Trend ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Autopsy Data ◽  
Medicolegal Autopsy ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The downward trend in the rate of clinical autopsies has been extensively documented in the literature. This decline is of concern when the benefits of the clinical autopsy are considered. In contrast, the rate of medicolegal autopsies has not been studied in such detail. What little reference there is to medicolegal autopsy rates suggests an absence of the same downward trend. A retrospective review of autopsy data over a 13-year period from the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Nova Scotia was conducted. This review showed a difference between the rates of clinical and medicolegal autopsies for the metro Halifax area. The clinical autopsy rate was consistently less than 30% and declined to 15% in 1999, while the medicolegal autopsy rate was consistently greater than 40% and rose to 62% in 1999. The literature proposes many reasons for the decline in the clinical autopsy rate, but none for this difference between rates. The explanation proposed here is the changing and currently uncertain purpose of the clinical autopsy versus the clear, and consistent over time, purpose of the medicolegal autopsy.

Comparison of richness and diversity of macroparasite communities among eels from Nova Scotia, the United Kingdom and Australia

Parasitology ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. MARCOGLIESE ◽  
D. K. CONE
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Intestinal Parasite ◽  
Fish Fauna ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
The Uk

Species richness and diversity of macroparasite assemblages were compared among American eels (Anguilla rostrata) from Nova Scotia, European eels (A. anguilla) from the United Kingdom (Kennedy, Bush & Aho, 1986; Esch et al. 1988; Kennedy, 1990, 1993), and Australian eels (A. reinhardtii) from Queensland (Kennedy, 1995). Community richness and diversity of the macroparasite fauna of American and European eels did not differ significantly for total parasite component communities, intestinal parasite component communities, and intestinal parasite infracommunities. The similarities in richness and diversity between the parasite communities of American and European eels are not surprising given the common, recent origin of these sister species. However, differences in species composition were noted between Nova Scotia and the UK. Both species of eels were infected by a nearly identical suite of specialists, but differences occurred in the species number and composition of generalist parasites. In addition, generalist species were rarely dominant in Nova Scotia, but commonly so in the UK. These differences can be attributed to the differences in the freshwater fish fauna and their parasites that occur between Nova Scotia and the UK. American and European eels are derived from a common ancestor and, whereas they have carried with them a common suite of specialist parasites during their brief period of independence, they acquired different suites of generalists apparently from their respective continental faunas after they diverged. In contrast, parasite communities of American and European eels were significantly less diverse and speciose than those of Australian eels regardless of scale (total component community, intestinal component community, intestinal infracommunity). These results support the notion that parasite communities have had more time to evolve and/or that tropical conditions have promoted parasite speciation in Australian eels.

scholarly journals Problems in Coordinating and Accessing Primary Care for Attached and Unattached Patients Exacerbated During the COVID-19 Pandemic Year (the PUPPY Study): Protocol for a Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gard Marshall ◽  
Mylaine Breton ◽  
Benoit Cossette ◽  
Jennifer Isenor ◽  
Maria Mathews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Research Ethics Board ◽  
Unattached Patients

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted primary care in Canada, with many walk-in clinics and family practices initially closing or being perceived as inaccessible; pharmacies remaining open with restrictions on patient interactions; rapid uptake of virtual care; and reduced referrals for lab tests, diagnostics, and specialist care. OBJECTIVE The PUPPY Study (Problems in Coordinating and Accessing Primary Care for Attached and Unattached Patients Exacerbated During the COVID-19 Pandemic Year) seeks to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the quadruple aims of primary care, with particular focus on the effects on patients without attachment to a regular provider and those with chronic health conditions. METHODS The PUPPY study builds on an existing research program exploring patients’ access and attachment to a primary care practice, pivoted to adapt to the emerging COVID-19 context. We intend to undertake a longitudinal mixed methods study to understand critical gaps in primary care access and coordination, as well as compare prepandemic and postpandemic data across 3 Canadian provinces (Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia). Multiple data sources will be used such as a policy review; qualitative interviews with primary care policymakers, providers (ie, family physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists), and patients (N=120); and medication prescriptions and health care billing data. RESULTS This study has received funding by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research COVID-19 Rapid Funding Opportunity Grant. Ethical approval to conduct this study was granted in Ontario (Queens Health Sciences & Affiliated Teaching Hospitals Research Ethics Board, file 6028052; Western University Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, project 116591; University of Toronto Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, protocol 40335) in November 2020, Québec (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie, project 2020-3446) in December 2020, and Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board, file 1024979) in August 2020. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care systems, with particular focus on the issues of patient’s attachment and access to primary care. Through a multistakeholder, cross-jurisdictional approach, the findings of the PUPPY study will inform the strengthening of primary care during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as have implications for future policy and practice. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/29984

Monitoring a Remote Phototherapy Unit via Telemedicine

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Klotz ◽  
Linda Muir ◽  
Crystal Cameron ◽  
Laura Delaney
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Family Physician ◽  
Delivery Of Health Care ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Before And After

Background: The delivery of effective phototherapy to patients with psoriasis living in areas devoid of dermatologists is difficult. Telemedicine has proven useful in the delivery of health care in such locations. Objective: This evidence-based study sought to investigate the use of telemedicine in the monitoring of phototherapy of psoriasis patients located in a Nova Scotia region with no dermatologist. Methods: Psoriatic patients were reviewed six months before and after protocols and monitoring were instituted. First, charts of 23 patient treated with phototherapy were reviewed from the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow. Patients were either self-referred or referred by a family physician and occasionally a dermatologist. Treatments were not monitored by a specialist. Second, a group of 33 patients receiving treatment were supervised via telemedicine by a dermatologist 250 km away in Halifax. Results: During the study period, treatment time decreased from 140 to 37 days. In the monitored group, 40% more patients were clear of psoriasis at time of discharge. The number of patients with side effects decreased. The number of self-and family practice–referred patients dropped; the clinic became a referral center for dermatologists. Conclusion: Telemedicine provided an excellent way to monitor patients receiving phototherapy in an area without a dermatologist. Overall, patient care improved: More patients were treated effectively with better outcomes and fewer side effects.

scholarly journals Social Work and Human Animal Bonds and Benefits in Health Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Hanrahan
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
North Americans ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
The U.S

North Americans consider companion-animals as family members and increasingly as attachment figures. Across the health sciences and professions, substantial qualitative and mounting quantitative research provides evidence of health benefits of human animal interactions across the life cycle regarding diverse issues. In replicating a ground-breaking U.S. study designed to measure exposure to information and levels of knowledge and integration of human animal bonds (HAB) into practice, this present study, funded by the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, surveyed practitioners in Nova Scotia, Canada. Similar to the U.S. findings, this study revealed the majority of practitioners were uninformed about such benefits and about how they can be operationalized. As a result, the majority of practitioners in Nova Scotia are not including animals in practice, and notably, those who are, are doing so without the necessary education or training. The lack of preparation in human-animal interactions has serious implications for social work in that disparities and inequities between and among humans are related to the disparities between humans and other animals, society, and nature.

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