Trends in medical student use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in an Irish university, 1973-2002.

Questionnaire surveys of medical students in an Irish university were carried out in 1973 (n=765), 1990 (n=522) and 2002 (n=537), with differentiation of western students (e.g., from the Republic of Ireland, the UK, or Australia) and non-western students (e.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in the Republic of Ireland.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains a common preventable cause of morbidity and mortality from poisoning worldwide. Common environmental sources include motor vehicle exhaust, faulty kerosene or gas heaters used in unventilated rooms, and fireplaces with blocked flues. This paper describes the epidemiology of CO poisoning in Ireland, using Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) data, Mortality data and data from the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC).

Views of Irish general practitioners on screening for cervical cancer.

Background: A national cervical screening programme is being established in Ireland and there is little information on the level of resources required.

Aims: To obtain information on attitudes of Irish general practitioners (GPs) and on the resources needed by them in relation to participation in the programme.

Methods: An anonymous postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 600 GPs, approximately 25% of the total population of GPs in Ireland.

Do symptomatic radiographers provide evidence for 'darkroom disease'?

Non-controlled studies performed in New Zealand and the UK reported a high incidence of a large number of symptoms within radiographers. The authors of these investigations proposed that these symptoms resulted from exposure to X-ray processing chemicals and the associated fumes, and collectively labelled the condition 'darkroom disease'. The absence of control groups in these investigations weakens the 'darkroom disease' hypothesis.

A pilot study of cervical screening in an inner city area--lessons for a national programme.

The objectives of this study were to examine aspects of organization of a proposed national screening programme based in general practice. The target population of women aged 25-59 years and their general practitioners (GPs), in a defined inner city area, was identified from a population register of persons eligible for free medical services; a computerized system was developed for invitations and record linkage of cytology results. Smears were examined in one laboratory and follow up of women with abnormal smears was undertaken by one gynaecologist.