Exposure to the troubles in Northern Ireland, memory functioning, and social activity engagement: results from NICOLA.

Unlabelled: We investigated the potential impact of a cohort traumatic exposure, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, on memory functioning in later life, and the potential moderating effect of social activity engagement. Using data from 6571 participants aged 60 + in the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) cohort, we used a structural equation modelling framework to explore associations between traumatic exposure during the Troubles and memory functioning. As expected, social activity engagement was positively associated with memory functioning,  = .

Implementation of personalised medicine policies in mental healthcare: results from a stated preference study in the UK.

Background: Public support for the implementation of personalised medicine policies (PMPs) within routine care is important owing to the high financial costs involved and the potential for redirection of resources from other services.

Aims: We aimed to determine the attributes of a PMP most likely to elicit public support for implementation. We also aimed to determine whether such support differed between a depression PMP and one for cystic fibrosis.

Utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide suppression as a prediction tool for progression to biologic therapy.

Rationale: The utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( ) suppression (FeNOSuppT) to identify non-adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment has previously been reported, but whether it can predict clinical outcome remains unclear.

Objectives: We examined the utility of FeNOSuppT in prediction of progression to biologic agents or discharge from specialist care.

Methods: FeNOSuppT was measured at home using remote monitoring technology of inhaler use alongside daily measurement over 7 days.

Food insecurity and brain health in adults: A systematic review.

Food insecurity has been associated with adverse effects on physical health and well-being in both high and low-income countries, but effects on brain health are not clear. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between food insecurity and important brain health outcomes in adults including depression, stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia. Electronic databases were searched to find studies which investigated relations between food insecurity and predefined brain health outcomes.

Factors influencing transition to care homes for people with dementia in Northern Ireland.

Introduction: The increasing number of people with dementia (PwD) is a significant health and financial challenge for countries. PwD often transition to a care home. This study explored factors predicting transition to care homes for PwD and the place and causes of death.

Living alone for people on dementia medication: related use of drugs.

Approximately one-third of people with dementia in the United Kingdom live alone. People living alone with dementia may receive different treatment for dementia and may have different comorbidities compared to people who live with a caregiver. This study explored differences in medication and demographic characteristics between people living alone with dementia and those living with a caregiver in Northern Ireland.

Factors Associated with Mortality Including Nursing Home Transitions: A Retrospective Analysis of 25,418 People Prescribed Anti-Dementia Drugs in Northern Ireland.

Background: Understanding factors associated with mortality after a dementia diagnosis can provide essential information to the person with dementia, their family, and caregivers. To date very little is known about the factors associated with mortality after a dementia diagnosis in Northern Ireland.

Objective: To determine how demographic and other factors such as deprivation and comorbidity medications influence mortality rates after a dementia diagnosis in Northern Ireland and whether these factors are influenced through nursing home transitions.

Physician-Specific Maximum Acceptable Risk in Personalized Medicine: Implications for Medical Decision Making.

Background: In discrete-choice experiments (DCEs), respondents are presented with a series of scenarios and asked to select their preferred choice. In clinical decision making, DCEs allow one to calculate the maximum acceptable risk (MAR) that a respondent is willing to accept for a one-unit increase in treatment efficacy. Most published studies report the average MAR for the whole sample, without conveying any information about heterogeneity.

The Influence of Genotype Information on Psychiatrists' Treatment Recommendations: More Experienced Clinicians Know Better What to Ignore.

Background: This study applies attribute nonattendance to medical decision making. We aimed to demonstrate how this type of analysis can be used in medical decision making to assess whether psychiatrists were influenced in their treatment recommendations by information on the genotype of a patient, despite knowing the patient's response to treatment as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. A patient's genetic information may be used to predict their response to therapy; such information, however, becomes redundant, and should not influence decisions, once a clinician knows the patient's actual response to treatment.

How Do Psychiatrists Apply the Minimum Clinically Important Difference to Assess Patient Responses to Treatment?

Symptom report scales are used in clinical practice to monitor patient outcomes. Using them permits the definition of a minimum clinically important difference (MCID) beyond which a patient may be judged as having responded to treatment. Despite recommendations that clinicians routinely use MCIDs in clinical practice, statisticians disagree about how MCIDs should be used to evaluate individual patient outcomes and responses to treatment.

Audit of dental practice record-keeping: a PCT-coordinated clinical audit by Worcestershire dentists.

Unlabelled: A collaborative audit of clinical record-keeping standards was performed among Worcestershire dentists.

Aims: Its aims were to improve the quality of National Health Service (NHS) patient care and to assist dentists to perform well during Dental Reference Service practice visits.

Methods: Worcestershire dentists with NHS contracts were invited to take part in this audit.