Public awareness and attitudes toward palliative care in Northern Ireland.

Background: The World Health Organisation recognises palliative care as a global public health issue and this is reflected at strategic level. Despite this, palliative care may not be universally welcomed. Surveys over the last decade have suggested that the general public have a lack of knowledge and negative perceptions towards palliative care.

Exploring public awareness and perceptions of palliative care: a qualitative study.

Background: Research suggests that the public appear to be confused about the meaning of palliative care. Given the ageing population and associated increase in the number of patients requiring palliative care, it is vital to explore the public's understanding of this concept. Health-promoting palliative care seeks to translate hospice and palliative care ideals into broader public health practice.

A study of a training scheme for Macmillan nurses in Northern Ireland.

Aim: To evaluate a one year training scheme for Macmillan Nurses.

Background: The role of the clinical nurse specialist has evolved and expanded greatly over the past few years so that it now encompasses components far beyond the traditional nursing remit of direct clinical practice. While several studies have looked at the barriers and facilitators to this process for clinical nurse specialists in particular, none has looked at the benefits of a structured training scheme which involves both a theoretical and clinical component.

An evaluation of the genotoxicity of the antitussive drug Dextromethorphan.

Dextromethorphan (DMP) is an effective and widely used antitussive drug. While DMP has over a 50 year safe-marketing history, the only available genotoxicity data was an unpublished, negative Ames assay (Roche). Lack of a complete genotoxicity profile on DMP, specifically covering the chromosomal damage endpoint, prompted a regulatory request for an in vitro chromosome aberration assay.

Palliative care in district general hospitals: the nurse's perspective.

Most patients with a terminal illness die in hospital, yet the opinions of their prime carers are largely ignored. This study investigated registered nurses' perceptions of palliative care in district general hospitals. A random sample of 263 nurses was surveyed, using a pre-piloted questionnaire, and results showed that 70% of general ward nurses believe that managing care of the dying is an integral part of hospital care.