Functional outcome following liver transplantation - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We have previously shown that prior to liver transplantation, patients exhibit impairment in memory and psychomotor speed. Despite significant improvement following transplantation, recovery remained incomplete at 1 year post-transplant. This study aimed to investigate the effects of liver transplantation on a wider range of cognitive abilities, and to assess the impact of any impairment upon day-to-day functioning, particularly driving ability. METHODS: This study was a between-group design involving three groups of participants: liver transplant candidates, liver transplant recipients and healthy controls. All participants completed measures of affective status, functional capacity, quality of life, neuropsychological status and driving ability. RESULTS: For the majority of measures, healthy controls performed best, followed by liver transplant recipients and then liver transplant candidates, respectively. This pattern was most pronounced with respect to functional limitations, language and attention. No significant difference between the three groups was observed for simulated driving ability. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that while significant recovery occurs in many areas of psychosocial functioning following liver transplantation, this recovery may be incomplete, that is, many patients do not recover to their full pre-illness status. The measure we employed to assess driving ability was not a sensitive or discriminating measure in this study.

An exploration of street drinking in Drumchapel, Scotland.

This paper describes the results of a survey undertaken to contribute to a health needs assessment of persistent street drinkers in Drumchapel, Greater Glasgow. Street drinkers, members of the public and local service providers [including agency professionals (community workers; health workers; social workers) and others (e.g. shopkeepers)] were interviewed. Street drinkers were generally male, single, unemployed and living in their own (rented) accommodation. Not being homeless, they gave volitional reasons for drinking in the street, centred on social aspects and the cost of drinking in traditional establishments/public houses. Half the group said they did not do all their drinking on the street, suggesting alternatives may be possible. Uptake of food offered to respondents being interviewed was low, and self-reported diet was poor in vitamins and unvaried. Awareness of services was low in the street drinking group, with friends/family remaining the most common source of support. Public concern was mainly with the visibility of the group and the negative impact this was perceived to have on the community; however, service providers focused on health risks associated with street drinking. Consensus on the need for some accommodation/centre for drinkers with access to services was established across all groups.

Alcohol consumption, perceptions of community responses and attitudes to service provision: results from a survey of Indian, Chinese and Pakistani young people in Greater Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

AIMS: To gather prevalence data regarding alcohol consumption and gauge perceptions of community responses to alcohol and service provision in a sample of Pakistani, Indian and Chinese young people aged 16-25 years, in Greater Glasgow, Scotland, UK. METHODS: A survey methodology utilizing purposive sampling techniques (n = 174) was employed. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Alcohol consumption amongst the target populations is currently lower than that of the general population. Predictors of alcohol consumption were found to include self-reported importance of religion (a negative association with consumption) and having same-ethnicity friends who drink alcohol. There was a lack of consensus amongst participants regarding whether service provision should be part of the mainstream or specialist for black and minority ethnic individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption in the target populations may be increasing and service provision could benefit by including specialist services for black and minority ethnic groups, in addition to mainstream services that need to be culturally sensitive.