ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted among veterinary practitioners in the UK and the USA in 2012/2013. Thematic analysis was used to identify underlying reasons behind answers to questions about the importance of communication skills and the desire to participate in postgraduate communication skills training. Lack of training among more experienced veterinary surgeons, incomplete preparation of younger practitioners and differences in ability to communicate all contribute to gaps in communication competency. Barriers to participating in further communication training include time, cost and doubts in the ability of training to provide value. To help enhance communication ability, communication skills should be assessed in veterinary school applicants, and communication skills training should be more thoroughly integrated into veterinary curricula. Continuing education/professional development in communication should be part of all postgraduate education and should be targeted to learning style preferences and communication needs and challenges through an entire career in practice.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Clinical Competence , Communication , Veterinarians/psychology , Adult , Aged , Education, Continuing , Education, Veterinary , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , United Kingdom , United States , Veterinarians/statistics & numerical data , Young AdultSubject(s)
Needs Assessment/organization & administration , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/organization & administration , Transportation/standards , England , Health Planning/organization & administration , Health Policy , Health Services Accessibility/standards , Humans , Scotland , Urban HealthSubject(s)
Black People , Lyme Disease/ethnology , White People , Female , Humans , Incidence , Lyme Disease/epidemiology , Male , Sensitivity and Specificity , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to examine how patients with cancer accessed information about their health. A convenience sample was taken from patients attending the outpatient department in a cancer hospital in the UK. Descriptive analysis was based on responses to a structured questionnaire. Of the 160 respondents, word of mouth was the commonest source of information (n = 67; 42%) followed by leaflets, television and newspapers. Computer-based information was the least common source (n = 13; 8%). Nearly one third of respondents had access to computers and 15% (n = 24) expressed an interest in learning more about their health from computers. Fourteen per cent (n = 22) do not have a personal contact to help them obtain computer-based information. The study concluded that there should be a review of the provision of written information. There is a potential to develop computer-based information. The generalizability of the results should be examined with other groups of patients who may have persistent, chronic conditions, particularly those in the age group 18-40.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Information Services/organization & administration , Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Attitude to Computers , Computer-Assisted Instruction , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Mass Media , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Self Care/methods , Self Care/psychology , Self Care/standards , Surveys and Questionnaires , Teaching Materials , WalesSubject(s)
Attitude to Health , Mass Media , Public Health , Health Education/methods , Humans , Research Design , Surveys and Questionnaires , Television , United StatesSubject(s)
Health Care Rationing , Attitude of Health Personnel , Health Priorities , Humans , United KingdomSubject(s)
Family , Home Nursing , Public Health Nursing , Adult , Aged , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Humans , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A preterm infant with hypophosphataemic rickets became hypocalcaemic when given milk specially formulated for preterm infants that contained increased phosphorus and calcium. The rickets resolved spontaneously. Routine calcium and phosphorus supplementation for preterm neonates should be investigated further.
Subject(s)
Calcium/therapeutic use , Hypocalcemia/chemically induced , Infant, Premature, Diseases/drug therapy , Phosphates/blood , Phosphorus/adverse effects , Rickets/drug therapy , Female , Food, Fortified/adverse effects , Humans , Infant Food/adverse effects , Infant, NewbornABSTRACT
Increasing awareness of the dangers of low dose heparin therapy has stimulated interest in mechanical methods for decreasing the incidence of thromboembolism. Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion of the feet while the patient is on the operating table by the use of a mechanical device (the Pedi-Pulsor) significantly decreases the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (45 percent in control patients versus 18 percent with the Pedi-Pulsor [p - 0.05]). In addition, use of this machine during the postoperative period should further aid in decreasing the incidence of thromboembolism.
