Having a More Compassionate Doctor Does Not Mean Patients Will Feel More Cared for: An Empirical Study.

Background: Compassion is central to healthcare. It is valued by both patients and physicians and predicts better outcomes for patients, physicians, and healthcare organisations. Whilst most studies to date have focused on providers' expression of compassion, the current report was designed to focus on the patient, specifically identifying patient and physician variables predicting the patient experience of compassion from physicians.

More than a feeling? What does compassion in healthcare 'look like' to patients?

Objective: Compassion is important to patients and their families, predicts positive patient and practitioner outcomes, and is a professional requirement of physicians around the globe. Yet, despite the value placed on compassion, the empirical study of compassion remains in its infancy and little is known regarding what compassion 'looks like' to patients. The current study addresses limitations in prior work by asking patients what physicians do that helps them feel cared for.

How Do Health Professionals Maintain Compassion Over Time? Insights From a Study of Compassion in Health.

Although compassion in healthcare differs in important ways from compassion in everyday life, it provides a key, applied microcosm in which the science of compassion can be applied. Compassion is among the most important virtues in medicine, expected from medical professionals and anticipated by patients. Yet, despite evidence of its centrality to effective clinical care, research has focused on compassion fatigue or barriers to compassion and neglected to study the fact that most healthcare professionals maintain compassion for their patients.

Labeling Strategies Matter for Super-Resolution Microscopy: A Comparison between HaloTags and SNAP-tags.

Super-resolution microscopy requires that subcellular structures are labeled with bright and photostable fluorophores, especially for live-cell imaging. Organic fluorophores may help here as they can yield more photons-by orders of magnitude-than fluorescent proteins. To achieve molecular specificity with organic fluorophores in live cells, self-labeling proteins are often used, with HaloTags and SNAP-tags being the most common.

Genetic analysis of the Complexin trans-clamping model for cross-linking SNARE complexes in vivo.

Complexin (Cpx) is a SNARE-binding protein that regulates neurotransmission by clamping spontaneous synaptic vesicle fusion in the absence of Ca(2+) influx while promoting evoked release in response to an action potential. Previous studies indicated Cpx may cross-link multiple SNARE complexes via a trans interaction to function as a fusion clamp. During Ca(2+) influx, Cpx is predicted to undergo a conformational switch and collapse onto a single SNARE complex in a cis-binding mode to activate vesicle release.

British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Scottish investigation 2010-2011: reasons for non-attendance in individuals lost to follow-up for HIV care for more than 12 months in Scotland.

As of 31 March 2011, 6696 HIV diagnoses had ever been reported in Scotland; of these, 1791 individuals had died, 3339 were attending specialist services, but the remainder had defaulted from specialist care; an investigation into their reasons for non-attendance, and the efforts of services to re-engage, was undertaken by British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Scottish branch using a web-based survey questionnaire. Twelve of the 13 Scottish HIV services returned information for 424 of 579 eligible cases; 112 of these 424 individuals were identified as genuine non-attendees. Findings indicate that the epidemiology of these non-attendees is similar to that of the whole Scottish HIV cohort.

A conformational switch in complexin is required for synaptotagmin to trigger synaptic fusion.

The crystal structure of complexin bound to a prefusion SNAREpin mimetic shows that the accessory helix extends away from the SNAREpin in an 'open' conformation, binding another SNAREpin and inhibiting its assembly, to clamp fusion. In contrast, the accessory helix in the postfusion complex parallels the SNARE complex in a 'closed' conformation. Here we use targeted mutations, FRET spectroscopy and a functional assay that reconstitutes Ca(2+)-triggered exocytosis to show that the conformational switch from open to closed in complexin is needed for synaptotagmin-Ca(2+) to trigger fusion.

An audit of the contraception service offered to teenagers attending Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics in 2007.

An audit of contraception service offered to teenagers attending Scottish genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics in 2007 was carried out by collecting data from each main clinic of 11 Scottish health boards. The case notes of 579 women aged under 18 years were reviewed. In 553 (95.

Tracking down chlamydia infection in primary care.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in this country. Sexually active people under 20 are the group most likely to have a positive result if tested. Infection is usually asymptomatic.

Completion of a British Association for Sexual Health and HIV regional audit loop: HIV testing in genitourinary medicine clinics in Scotland in 2004 and 2008.

In 2004, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV Scottish Branch audited HIV testing in new attendees diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection at genitourinary medicine clinics in Scotland. In 2008 the audit loop was completed. Large increases were seen in rates of test offer and uptake, particularly in health boards with low baseline levels of testing.

Audit of hepatitis B vaccination of men who have sex with men attending Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics.

Practice related to hepatitis B vaccination of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics was audited against targets based on the offer and completion of vaccination set by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV. Of 521 cases audited from 11 clinics, 215 (41%) were eligible for vaccination and 175 (81%) of eligible MSM were offered vaccination. Of those, 144 (82%) accepted vaccination.

An audit of the interval to treatment of anogenital Chlamydia trachomatis at Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics.

Timely treatment of sexually transmitted infections can reduce complications and prevent onward transmission. Several audit standards exist in this area. We audited the timeliness of treatment of 538 episodes of chlamydia at 12 Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics against a national standard and against a local best practice target.

Factors affecting time to treatment following diagnosis of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Scottish genitourinary medicine clinics.

Early treatment of genital Chlamydia trachomatis can reduce complications and transmission. Guidelines have proposed standards for how soon people should be treated following a test. Data from an audit of Scottish genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics was analysed to identify factors associated with a short interval to treatment of chlamydia.

UK national audit of sexual health care for people with HIV infection: case-notes audit.

The case-notes of 3210 patients with HIV infection were audited. A sexual history was documented within four weeks before or after initial HIV diagnosis in 69% of cases (regional range 45-84%), and in the six months before attendance during the audit interval in 34% (12-53%). An offer of tests for sexually transmitted infections was documented within four weeks before or after HIV diagnosis in 58% (30-83%), and in the prior six months in 28% (14-47%).

UK national audit of sexual health care for people with HIV infection: clinic policies.

A national audit of the sexual health care for people with HIV infection (PWHIV) was conducted in genitourinary medicine clinics and other clinics providing care for PWHIV in the UK in the summer of 2006. Data were aggregated by region and clinic, allowing practice to be compared between regions, as well as to national averages and against various guidelines. In this, the first of two papers, clinics were surveyed on their local policies.

HIV testing in Scotland. Are we meeting the standard? BASHH Scotland national audit 2004.

Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. The draft Scottish Sexual Health Strategy (2003) proposed that 'HIV testing [should be] offered to all GUM clinic attendees not known to be HIV infected who present with a new STI. .

An oral fluid test for syphilis.

We have developed a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay to detect antibodies to Treponema pallidum recombinant antigens in oral fluid specimens. Using an 'Oracol' swab, oral fluid was collected from 34 subjects with a serological diagnosis of syphilis and 97 seronegative controls. Using a cut-off of three standard deviations over control mean, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay in all subjects with positive syphilis serology was 76.

Vaginal algometer: development and application of a device to monitor vaginal wall pressure pain threshold.

We describe a device (which we have named a vaginal algometer) which can measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT) on the lateral walls of the vagina. The device was assessed in 63 healthy women and a normal range for this measurement was established. Each woman had her vaginal wall PPT measured and was asked about the acceptability of the procedure.