Alternative diagnoses and demographics associated with a raised quantitative faecal immunochemical test in symptomatic patients.

Background: The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) has proven utility for colorectal cancer detection in symptomatic patients. However, most patients with a raised faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) do not have colorectal cancer. We investigated alternative diagnoses and demographics associated with a raised f-Hb in symptomatic patients.

Combining the quantitative faecal immunochemical test and full blood count reliably rules out colorectal cancer in a symptomatic patient referral pathway.

Purpose: Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) has proven utility for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) detection in symptomatic patients. Most studies have examined FIT in symptomatic patients subsequently referred from primary care. We investigated associations between CRC and FIT in both referred and non-referred symptomatic patients.

Measuring the impact of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Community Respiratory Programme on emergency admissions to hospital: a controlled interrupted time series analysis.

Background: A community respiratory service was implemented in the North West of Glasgow (NW) in January 2013, as part of the Reshaping Care for Older People programme (RCOP). This study aimed to measure the impact of the service on older people's emergency admissions (EAs) to hospital.

Methods: EAs to hospital with a primary diagnosis of COPD (COPD EAs) per 1,000 population aged 65 years+ in NW were compared before and after onset of the service with a 6-month phase-in period, using segmented linear regression.

Why colorectal screening fails to achieve the uptake rates of breast and cervical cancer screening: a comparative qualitative study.

Background: In Scotland, the uptake of clinic-based breast (72%) and cervical (77%) screening is higher than home-based colorectal screening (~60%). To inform new approaches to increase uptake of colorectal screening, we compared the perceptions of colorectal screening among women with different screening histories.

Methods: We purposively sampled women with different screening histories to invite to semistructured interviews: (1) participated in all; (2) participated in breast and cervical but not colorectal ('colorectal-specific non-participants'); (3) participated in none.

Comparing uptake across breast, cervical and bowel screening at an individual level: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: We investigated demographic and clinical predictors of lower participation in bowel screening relative to breast and cervical screening.

Methods: Data linkage study of routinely collected clinical data from 430,591 women registered with general practices in the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board. Participation in the screening programmes was measured by attendance at breast or cervical screening or the return of a bowel screening kit.

Measuring the impact of step down intermediate care on delayed discharge: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Intermediate care (IC) acts as a bridging service between hospital and home, for those deemed medically fit for discharge but who are delayed in hospital. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of IC and a 72-hour discharge target on days delayed.

Methods: Rate of days delayed per 1000 population aged 75 years+ in Glasgow City was compared before and after onset of IC with a 6-month phase-in period, using segmented linear regression.

"Taking away the chaos": a health needs assessment for people who inject drugs in public places in Glasgow, Scotland.

Background: Public injecting of recreational drugs has been documented in a number of cities worldwide and was a key risk factor in a HIV outbreak in Glasgow, Scotland during 2015. We investigated the characteristics and health needs of people involved in this practice and explored stakeholder attitudes to new harm reduction interventions.

Methods: We used a tripartite health needs assessment framework, comprising epidemiological, comparative, and corporate approaches.

Measuring the impact of a public awareness campaign to increase Welfare Power of Attorney registrations in Scotland.

Objective: to measure the impact of the 'My Power of Attorney' media campaign on the number of new power of attorney (POA) registrations in Scotland.

Setting: POA registrations in Scotland processed by the Office of the Public Guardian during January 2010 to June 2015.

Methods: multilevel Poisson models for POA registrations nested by council and annual quarter were run using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, adjusting for time, campaign (variable ranging between 0 and 5 dependent on intensity of campaign measured by the number of media platforms received) and offset term mid-year population estimate for those aged 25 years+/65 years+.

Reshaping Care for Older People: Trends in emergency admissions to hospital during a period of simultaneous interventions in Glasgow City, April 2011-March 2015.

This study describes trends in emergency admissions (EAs) in Glasgow City during a period when interventions were designed and implemented, aimed at shifting the balance from institutional to community-based care. Standardised monthly rates of EAs between April 2011 and March 2015 were calculated, for residents of Glasgow City aged 65 years and over. Multilevel zero-inflated Negative Binomial models for EAs nested by datazone were created, adjusting for sex, 5-year age group, area-level deprivation (SIMD quintile), season, month and month squared.

The impact of age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes in a colorectal cancer screening programme.

Background: Population-based colorectal cancer screening has been shown to reduce cancer specific mortality and is used across the UK. Despite evidence that older age, male sex and deprivation are associated with an increased incidence of colorectal cancer, uptake of bowel cancer screening varies across demographic groups. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of age, sex and deprivation on outcomes throughout the screening process.

Screening for colorectal cancer: what is the impact on the determinants of outcome?

Colorectal cancer screening has been introduced across the UK following several large randomised control trials and a Cochrane review that have shown a reduction in cancer specific mortality with population based Faecal Occult Blood testing. This has been attributed to the detection of more early stage disease. It is well known that in addition to stage at presentation there are a variety of other key factors that determine a patient's outcome following a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Pre-notification increases uptake of colorectal cancer screening in all demographic groups: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess whether pre-notification is effective in increasing uptake of colorectal cancer screening for all demographic groups.

Setting: Scottish national colorectal cancer screening programme.

Methods: Males and females aged 50-74 years received a faecal occult blood test by post to complete at home.