scholarly journals Clozapine – a survey of patient perceptions

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 450-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Taylor ◽  
L. Shapland ◽  
G. Laverick ◽  
J. Bond ◽  
J. Munro

Aims and MethodWe aimed to find out how patients on clozapine felt about clozapine treatment. A structured questionnaire was given to 1284 consecutive patients attending 27 clozapine clinics in the UK.ResultsThe response rate was 44.4% (570 forms returned). This cohort of responders to the questionnaire consisted, for the most part, of Caucasian males who had been taking clozapine for more than 2 years. Respondents expressed largely favourable views on clozapine treatment. For example, 86.1% claimed to feel better on clozapine and 88.6% claimed to prefer to remain on clozapine than to change to another drug. Many patients stated that they disliked having to undergo blood testing, but a large majority (87.0%) felt that the advantages of clozapine outweighed disadvantages. All other responses supported this overall favourable view of clozapine therapy.Clinical ImplicationsPatients stabilised on clozapine are largely content with their treatment. These results suggest that clozapine is effective as assessed by patients' own standards and that adherence to therapy is likely to be good.

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mears ◽  
Tim Kendall ◽  
Cornelius Katona ◽  
Carole Pashley ◽  
Sarah Pajak

Aims and MethodThis survey gathered data on the retirement intentions of consultant psychiatrists over the age of 50 years, in order to address retention issues. A questionnaire was sent to all 1438 consultants over this age in the UK.ResultsA total of 848 questionnaires were returned, an adjusted response rate of 59%. The mean age at which consultants intended to retire in this sample was 60 years (s.d. 4.16), suggesting a potential loss of 5725 consultant years. Reasons for early retirement are complex: factors encouraging retirement include too much bureaucracy, lack of free time and heavy case-loads; those discouraging retirement include enjoyment of work, having a good team and money. Mental Health Officer status is an important determinant in the decision to retire early.Clinical ImplicationsWith numerous vacancies in consultant psychiatrist posts throughout the UK, premature retirement is a cause for concern, possibly contributing to an overall reduction in consultant numbers of 5%. Addressing factors that influence consultants' decisions to leave the health service early should form an important part of an overall strategy to increase consultant numbers.


2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Owen ◽  
S. P. Sashidharan ◽  
Lyse J. Edwards

Aims and MethodsTo ascertain current levels of access to home treatment for those with acute mental illness and future plans of trusts and purchasing authorities to provide such services. Also, to assess the attitudes of these organisations towards this form of treatment. A postal survey of all mental health trusts and purchasing authorities within the UK was carried out.ResultsOne hundred and seventy-two trusts and 82 health authorities returned questionnaires, representing a response rate of 75% and 67% respectively. Only 27 (16%) of trusts provided home treatment but 58 (40%) had plans to do so. All health authorities and 97% of trusts were in favour of the principle of providing home treatment.Clinical ImplicationsDespite the low levels of provision of home treatment trusts and health authorities were strongly in favourof it. There is likely to be a large increase in its availability over the next 12 months.


2006 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
M-L Montague ◽  
S S M Hussain

Objective: This survey assesses patients' perceptions of a daily otolaryngology ward round in a teaching hospital.Methods: Initial, open-ended questionnaires generated themes from which a structured questionnaire was constructed. Patients' perceptions in a wide range of areas were examined by asking them to indicate on a Likert scale the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements concerning various aspects of the ward round.Results: One hundred patients were surveyed. The response rate was 79 per cent. The findings showed overall patient satisfaction with the ward round, particularly in the areas of information-giving regarding diagnosis, treatment and follow-up arrangements. The large size of the ward round appeared to be intimidating and induced anxiety for approximately one-third of patients. Patients wished the roles of staff present to be better defined and to be informed of the presence of medical students. One-third of patients perceived staff to use language that was difficult to understand.Conclusions: The survey identified some improvement opportunities and will assist our department with its on-going endeavours to improve the ward round experience for both patients and staff.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 740-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Anderson ◽  
K. Sowerbutts

Aims and methodUsing a semi-structured questionnaire, we surveyed the patients attending an out-patient affective disorders clinic, enquiring about their knowledge of their lithium therapy.ResultsThe response rate was 68%. In general, the level of knowledge relating to their own treatment was good, however we were able to identify particular areas of deficiency in their theoretical knowledge.Clinical implicationsThe only factor we could identify which had a significant effect on patients' level of knowledge was having received education on lithium in more than one form.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 370-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Luty ◽  
Joby Maducolil Easow ◽  
Vania Mendes

Aims and methodTackling discrimination, stigma and inequalities in mental health is a major objective of the UK government. The project aimed to determine the effect of presenting a person with a mental illness as having either a biological illness or a disorder that arose from psychosocial stress to a randomised representative panel of members of the general public. The 20-point Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was used to assess stigmatised attitudes.ResultsOverall, 187 individuals returned their questionnaires (74% response rate). The mean AMIQ stigma score for the ‘ill’ group was 1.4 (s.e. = 0.3; n = 94). The mean AMIQ score for the ‘stress’ group was 0.5 (s.e. = 0.3; median n = 106; P = 0.0837, median difference = 1; power (for 5% significance) 81%).Clinical implicationsThere was no difference in the stigmatised attitudes towards a person with mental illness regardless of whether they were presented as biologically ill or as having an illness that was a response to psychosocial stress.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Bennett ◽  
Poppy Ilderton ◽  
John T. O'Brien ◽  
John-Paul Taylor ◽  
Andrew Teodorczuk

Aims and methodThis work builds on a survey first done in 1999 to understand how old age psychiatry teaching is embedded in undergraduate medical schools in the UK and Ireland and the influence of academic old age psychiatrists on teaching processes. We invited deans of 31 medical schools in the UK and Ireland in 2015 to complete an online survey to reassess the situation 16 years later.ResultsResponse rate was 74%. As found in the original survey, there was variation across medical schools in how old age psychiatry is taught. Half of schools stated there was not enough space in the curriculum dedicated to old age psychiatry, and not all medical school curricula offered a clinical attachment. Medical schools that involved academic old age psychiatrists in teaching (59%) showed a greater diversity of teaching methods.Clinical implicationsThere is a need to recognise the importance of old age psychiatry teaching, with the consensus of opinion continuing to be that more curriculum space needs to be given to old age psychiatry. To achieve this we advocate increasing the number of old age psychiatrists with teaching roles, as relying on academics to teach and lead on curriculum development is challenging given their greater research pressures.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 172-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Paton ◽  
Jose A. Garcia ◽  
Deborah Brooke

AIMS AND METHODAtypical antipsychotics have less neurological side-effects than the older drugs but are only available as oral preparations. This may limit their use in forensic patients. We sent a postal questionnaire to all consultant psychiatrists working in forensic settings in the UK to determine their views.RESULTSThe response rate was 60%. Respondents tended to overestimate the benefits and underestimate the side-effects of the atypical antipsychotics. The majority often prescribed atypical antipsychotics and depots together. Psychoeducation and serum level monitoring were used to optimise/monitor compliance by 50%.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONSUsing atypical antipsychotics as monotherapy is problematic in forensic settings. The extent of polypharmacy means that patients may experience the side-effects of both typical and atypical antipsychotics. More could be done to facilitate and monitor compliance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas I Lemon ◽  
Simon Stapley ◽  
Andrea Idisis ◽  
Ben Green

Abstract Background Burns are common in the UK and many of the 30,000 newly qualified doctors there will be faced with managing them in their first few years of practice. We are concerned that doctors are leaving medical school without adequate teaching on burns and therefore not prepared to manage burns competently. The aim of this study was to assess the graduating doctors self-declared knowledge of basic burns pathology as well as their knowledge and confidence in treating burns. We also wanted to assess whether students felt that their undergraduate course offered burns teaching, either formally or informally. Methods We designed a structured questionnaire with input from two experienced final year medical students, two experienced clinicians and two sociologists. Questions were designed to be open-ended in order to facilitate varied and circumstantiated responses. Final year medical students, due to graduate in June 2014, were invited to take part in a survey with questions on burns management, first aid, pathology, and confidence. These results were then analyzed statistically. Results Of the 300 students invited to join the survey, 244 fully completed the process, representing an 81.3% response rate. Of the respondents over one-third (35%) said they had not received any teaching on burns. And less than half (45%) said they had received formal teaching. Eighty-eight percent of students identified a burn can be caused by a dry heat source; however, 17% of students failed to acknowledge that chemicals are a recognized cause of burns. Only 32% of respondents were confident with management of a burn. Conclusions These results suggest that there is a lack in understanding of burns management, as well as a lack of confidence in treating burns among graduating doctors. There was also a self-identified lack of teaching at an undergraduate level. These concerning results could be improved by the integration of burns into the core medical curriculum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Babatunde M. Duduyemi ◽  
Divine Lardey Agyemang ◽  
Ernest Adankwah ◽  
Hannah Nyarko ◽  
Derrick Andoh

Abstract Background Cancer is the leading cause of death with 7.6 million deaths worldwide annually. About 19% of bladder cancer cases are attributed to environmental and occupational factors. The knowledge of any disease is very vital in the control or prevention of such disease. This study examined the knowledge and perception of urinary bladder cancer among 104 local dye workers in Ghana (Kumasi, Koforidua and Somanya). Methods A well-structured questionnaire was used to measure participants’ knowledge and perception towards bladder cancer. Forty out of the 104 participants were recruited to provide their urine samples for cytomorphological study. Thin smears were prepared and stained with Papanicolaou stain. Respondents were selected based on clinical history and working experience. Result The response rate to the questionnaires was 100% of the 104 respondents interviewed. The respondents had a mean age of 26 years. Overall, about 10% of the respondents in this study had good knowledge levels on bladder cancer and 16% had good perception of the disease. There was a significant correlation between knowledge and educational level of the participants (p < 0.001). Report of the cytomorphological study indicates that none of the samples of the participants screened had cancerous cells. Conclusion The findings suggest that level of knowledge about bladder cancer among local dye workers in this study was low, while their level of perception was just above average.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 592
Author(s):  
Shamoukh Alshahrani ◽  
Abrar Alshuaibi ◽  
Malak Alkhaldi ◽  
Pradeep Koppolu

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate the perception and awareness of interdental aids in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted, in order to evaluate the perception and knowledge of patients towards oral hygiene products among the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In total, 812 out of 1124 participants responded and completed the survey (response rate 72.2%). The data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire in English and Arabic. All statistical analyses were carried out using the SPSS 20 software. p < 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of 812 participants responded, of which 486 participants (60%) declared using a toothpaste and toothbrush for cleaning their teeth. The cohort consisted of 274 (34%) females who brushed twice daily, while 96 (33%) males brushed their teeth once a day and 18% of the participants did not even brush once a day. The results indicated that 332 (64%) female participants and 174 (60%) male participants had perception and knowledge of the use of dental floss or any other device to clean between their teeth, while 174 (48.50%) male participants and 174 (49.10%) female participants cleaned their tongue with the same brush, rather than using a tongue scrubber or any other aids. Conclusion: The total awareness of interdental aids in Saudi Arabia is unsatisfactory, as demonstrated by the participants not being conscious or informed about the maintenance of their oral health. A majority of participants did not report adopting basic techniques, such as tongue brushing. This study reveals that no interdental aids were used by 16% of the participants. Thus, it is crucial to develop an effective educational program which emphasizes oral healthcare in this population.


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