Can district nurses and care home staff improve bowel care for older people using a clinical benchmarking tool?

A quasi-experimental study tested a clinical benchmarking tool (Essence of Care) to improve bowel-related care for older people living in six care homes. In the intervention care homes, district nurses and care home staff used the clinical benchmarking tool to discuss and plan how to improve bowel care for residents. In the control care homes, staff were provided with detailed information about the residents and continence services contact details.

Improving the end-of-life for people with dementia living in a care home: an intervention study.

Background: One in three adults, most of whom are living in a care home at the time, dies with dementia. Their end-of-life is often in hospital, where they may experience uncomfortable interventions without known benefit and die rapidly with uncontrolled pain and comfort needs. This study aimed to improve end-of-life care for people with dementia in a care home by increasing the number and implementation of advanced care wishes.

Condom use following a pilot test of the Popular Opinion Leader intervention in the Barbados Defence Force.

Worldwide, military personnel have been recognized as a population at elevated risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. However, few evidence based behavioral interventions for the prevention of HIV and STIs have been rigorously evaluated in military personnel. We adapted the Popular Opinion Leaders (POL) intervention and piloted the adapted program with the Barbados Defence Force at one military base in Barbados.

Care at the end of life for people with dementia living in a care home: a qualitative study of staff experience and attitudes.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine barriers and facilitators to care home staff delivering improved end-of-life care for people with dementia.

Method: Individual qualitative interviews of 58 staff in a 120-bed nursing home where the staff and the residents' religion differed were carried out. Interviews continued until a maximum variation sample was achieved and theoretical saturation was reached.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy using concurrent capecitabine and irinotecan in magnetic resonance imaging-defined locally advanced rectal cancer: impact on long-term clinical outcomes.

Purpose: To assess long-term clinical outcomes of preoperative chemoradiotherapy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma using concurrent irinotecan and capecitabine.

Patients And Methods: One hundred ten patients without distant metastases entered this phase II trial North West/North Wales Clinical Oncology Group (NWCOG) -2 after MRI demonstration of tumor threatening (≤ 2 mm) or involving mesorectal fascia. Pelvic radiotherapy was given to 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks with concurrent oral capecitabine at 650 mg/m(2) twice per day continuously days 1 through 35 and intravenous irinotecan at 60 mg/m(2) once weekly weeks 1 to 4.

Laxative use in care homes.

Aim: This paper is a report of an investigation into the factors associated with laxative-taking by older people in care homes.

Background: Constipation is a common source of discomfort, pain and morbidity for care home residents, and laxative-taking is prevalent. Differences in the extent to which older people suffer from constipation may result from care routines rather than demographic or clinical factors.

Clinical genetics and the Hutterite population: a review of Mendelian disorders.

The Hutterian Bretheren is an isolated population living on the North American prairies, the current community exceeding 40,000 in number. Their unique genetic history has contributed to a founder effect, which is reflected in the Mendelian disorders present in this population today. Genetic studies in the Hutterite population have led to the identification of a number of genes over the last several years and highlights the power of this population for gene identification.

It was not just a heatwave! Neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome in a patient with Parkinson's disease.

Neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome (NMLS) is a rare but life threatening and important complication because of the withdrawal of long-term l-Dopa therapy in Parkinson's disease patients. In this case report, we review the pathophysiology, clinical features and treatment of this curable condition.