The Effect of Exposure to Neighborhood Violence on Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Lung Tumors.

Unlabelled: Despite lower rates and intensity of smoking, Black men experience a higher incidence of lung cancer compared to white men. The racial disparity in lung cancer is particularly pronounced in Chicago, a highly segregated urban city. Neighborhood conditions, particularly social stress, may play a role in lung tumorigenesis.

Development and Validation of a Cross-Country Hospital Patient Quality of Care Assessment Tool in Europe.

Background: Patient perceptions of quality of care (QoC) are directly linked with patient safety and clinical effectiveness. We need patient-designed QoC instruments that work across languages and countries to optimise studies across systems in this area. Few QoC measurement tools exist that assess all aspects of QoC from the patient perspective.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in twelve European countries results of the European cardiac rehabilitation registry.

Aim: Results from EuroCaReD study should serve as a benchmark to improve guideline adherence and treatment quality of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in Europe.

Methods And Results: Data from 2.054 CR patients in 12 European countries were derived from 69 centres.

The relationship of tobacco and alcohol use with ageing self-perceptions in older people in Ireland.

Background: Health behaviour patterns in older groups, including tobacco and alcohol use, are key factors in chronic disease prevention. We explore ageing self-perceptions as motivating factors behind smoking and drinking alcohol in older adults, and the complex reasons why individuals engage harmfully in these behaviours.

Methods: Cigarette and alcohol use was assessed in a large cross-sectional national sample aged 50 years and above from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (n = 6,576).

Prepared to practice? Perception of career preparation and guidance of recent medical graduates at two campuses of a transnational medical school: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Graduating medical students enter the workforce with substantial medical knowledge and experience, yet little is known about how well they are prepared for the transition to medical practice in diverse settings. We set out to compare perceptions of medical school graduates' career guidance with their perceptions of preparedness to practice as interns. We also set out to compare perceptions of preparedness for hospital practice between graduates from two transnational medical schools.

Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Depression and Prognosis in Persons With Myocardial Infarction: A MINDMAPS Study.

Objective: Using combined individual patient data from prospective studies, we explored sex differences in depression and prognosis post-myocardial infarction (MI) and determined whether disease indices could account for found differences.

Methods: Individual patient data analysis of 10,175 MI patients who completed diagnostic interviews or depression questionnaires from 16 prospective studies from the MINDMAPS study was conducted. Multilevel logistic and Cox regression models were used to determine sex differences in prevalence of depression and sex-specific effects of depression on subsequent outcomes.

The contribution of illness perception to psychological distress in heart failure patients.

Background: The influences on the psychological well-being of heart failure (HF) patients have received limited attention. Illness perceptions are a specific set of cognitive representations that have been shown to predict health-related outcomes in other patient groups. This study sought to explore the role of illness perceptions in the psychological well-being of HF patients by creating a profile of illness perceptions in HF and examining their relations with anxiety and depression.

Quality of care and health professional burnout: narrative literature review.

Purpose: Quality of care and health professional burnout are important issues in their own right, however, relatively few studies have examined both. The purpose of this paper is to explore quality of care and health professional burnout in hospital settings.

Design/methodology/approach: The paper is a narrative literature review of quality of care and health professional burnout in hospital settings published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and March 2013.

Psychosocial aspects in cardiac rehabilitation: From theory to practice. A position paper from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Section of the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation of the European Society of Cardiology.

A large body of empirical research shows that psychosocial risk factors (PSRFs) such as low socio-economic status, social isolation, stress, type-D personality, depression and anxiety increase the risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and also contribute to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and prognosis in patients with established CHD. PSRFs may also act as barriers to lifestyle changes and treatment adherence and may moderate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Furthermore, there appears to be a bidirectional interaction between PSRFs and the cardiovascular system.

The effects of perceived stress on biological parameters in healthcare professionals: A systematic review.

We synthesised evidence on biological correlates of psychological stress in hospital-based healthcare professionals, and examined whether there was evidence of consistent biological changes. Electronic databases were searched for empirical studies; 16 articles (0.6%) met the inclusion criteria.

Development of the brief ageing perceptions questionnaire (B-APQ): a confirmatory factor analysis approach to item reduction.

Background: This paper aimed to develop a short version of the 32-item Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ), a multi-dimensional measure based on Leventhal's self-regulation model. Ageing perceptions are a key area of interest for large-scale surveys of ageing populations. As these studies capture a broad range of health and social variables, included instruments need to be as concise as possible.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of depression on subsequent smoking cessation in patients with coronary heart disease: 1990 to 2013.

Objective: Smoking cessation is crucial for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), yet depression may impede cessation success. We systematically reviewed the prospective association between depression and subsequent smoking cessation in individuals with CHD to quantify this effect.

Methods: Electronic databases (PsychInfo, PubMed, CINAHL) were searched for prospective studies of patients with CHD that measured depression at baseline (scales, diagnostic interview, or antidepressant prescription) and reported smoking continuation/cessation at follow-up.

Sexual risk-taking at home and on holidays: the importance of context for the late application of condoms.

Background: Several studies have examined condom use during 'holiday' sex but have not considered condom errors in this context. This study aims to identify factors associated with late application of condoms during participants' most recent vaginal intercourse at home and away from home (holidays or short breaks).

Method: Participants aged 19-30 years from a national Irish survey were recontacted (n=388; 51% men; mean age: 23.

Communicating about sexual concerns within cardiac health services: do service providers and service users agree?

Objective: Sexual assessment and counselling is a recommended, yet underprovided and challenging, aspect of cardiac rehabilitation. We compared the views of cardiac healthcare providers and patients in terms of their experiences of communication about sexual issues.

Methods: Cardiac patients (n=382) completed telephone surveys and hospital cardiac rehabilitation staff (n=60) and general practitioners (n=61) returned postal questionnaires.

The Cardiac Health and Assessment of Relationship Management and Sexuality study: a qualitative inquiry of patient, general practitioner, and cardiac rehabilitation staff views on sexual assessment and counseling for cardiac patients.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a problem for some patients with cardiovascular disease. This study was the final phase of the Cardiac Health and Assessment of Relationship Management and Sexuality (CHARMS) study of sexual function, assessment, and counseling for people with coronary heart disease in Ireland.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of patients, cardiac rehabilitation staff, and general practitioners on the provision of sexual assessment and counseling within Irish health services and how it can be optimized.

The CHARMS Study: cardiac patients' experiences of sexual problems following cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Sexual problems are common among cardiac patients. Further information is required on patients' experiences of sexuality and preferences for sexual counselling.

Aim: To characterise sexual dysfunction and related factors among patients following cardiac rehabilitation and examine related treatment delivery.

The future cost of stroke in Ireland: an analysis of the potential impact of demographic change and implementation of evidence-based therapies.

Background And Purpose: this paper examines the impact of demographic change from 2007 to 2021 on the total cost of stroke in Ireland and analyses potential impacts of expanded access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy on stroke outcomes and costs.

Methods: total costs of stroke are estimated for the projected number of stroke cases in 2021 in Ireland. Analysis also estimates the potential number of deaths or institutionalised cases averted among incident stroke cases in Ireland in 2007 at different rates of access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy.

Screening for depression in medical research: ethical challenges and recommendations.

Background: Due to the important role of depression in major illnesses, screening measures for depression are commonly used in medical research. The protocol for managing participants with positive screens is unclear and raises ethical concerns. The aim of this article is to identify and critically discuss the ethical issues that arise when a positive screen for depression is detected, and offer some guidance on managing these issues.

Comparative optimism among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is associated with fewer adverse clinical events 12 months later.

The current study evaluates the levels of comparative optimism among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and examines its relationship to health outcomes 12 months later. 164 patients completed self-report questionnaires at the end of cardiac rehabilitation and the number of adverse clinical events in the following 12 months were recorded. Comparative optimism was assessed in relation to a typical other who has not had cardiac event, a typical other who has had the same cardiac event as the respondent, and a typical member of the cardiac rehabilitation class.

Differential predictive value of depressive versus anxiety symptoms in the prediction of 8-year mortality after acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Both depression and anxiety have been associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, certain symptoms and how they are measured may be more important than others. We investigated three different scales to determine their predictive validity.

The HeartQoL: part II. Validation of a new core health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with ischemic heart disease.

Background: Evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is important in improving the quality of patient care. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the HeartQoL in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), specifically angina, myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemic heart failure.

Methods: Data for the interim validation of the HeartQoL questionnaire were collected in (a) a cross-sectional survey and (b) a prospective substudy of patients undergoing either a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or referred to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and were then analyzed to determine the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the HeartQoL questionnaire.

The HeartQoL: Part I. Development of a new core health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with ischemic heart disease.

Background: Evaluation of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is important in improving the quality of patient care.

Methods: The HeartQoL Project, with cross-sectional and longitudinal phases, was designed to develop a core ischemic heart disease (IHD) specific HRQL questionnaire, to be called the HeartQoL, for patients with angina, myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemic heart failure. Patients completed a battery of questionnaires and Mokken scaling analysis was used to identify items in the HeartQoL questionnaire.

Nurse migration and health workforce planning: Ireland as illustrative of international challenges.

Ireland began actively recruiting nurses internationally in 2000. Between 2000 and 2010, 35% of new recruits into the health system were non-EU migrant nurses. Ireland is more heavily reliant upon international nurse recruitment than the UK, New Zealand or Australia.