Effect of antenatal peer support on breastfeeding initiation: a systematic review.

Background: Our objective was to examine the effect of antenatal peer support on rates of breastfeeding initiation.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials and cohort studies with concurrent controls. We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the National Research Register and the British Nursing Index from inception or from 1980 to 2009.

A randomised controlled trial to compare a range of commercial or primary care led weight reduction programmes with a minimal intervention control for weight loss in obesity: the Lighten Up trial.

Background: Developed countries are facing a huge rise in the prevalence of obesity and its associated chronic medical problems. In the UK Primary Care Trusts are charged with addressing this in the populations they serve, but evidence about the most effective ways of delivering services is not available. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a range of weight loss programmes for obese patients in primary care and to determine the characteristics of patients who respond to an invitation to a free weight management programme.

Effects of an alibi witness's relationship to the defendant on mock jurors' judgments.

Two studies tested the impact of an alibi witness's relationship to a defendant on the perceived credibility of that witness. In the first study, 291 mock jurors estimated the frequency with which individuals would invent alibis, the frequency they themselves would do so, and the frequency of interpersonal contact among individuals of varying relationships. The degree of relationship between an alibi witness and a defendant remained a predictor of witness credibility when contact frequency was controlled.

Home-based versus centre-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease world-wide is one of great concern to patients and health care agencies alike. Traditionally centre-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes are offered to individuals after cardiac events to aid recovery and prevent further cardiac illness. Home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes have been introduced in an attempt to widen access and participation.

Home based versus centre based cardiac rehabilitation: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the effect of home based and supervised centre based cardiac rehabilitation on mortality and morbidity, health related quality of life, and modifiable cardiac risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, without language restriction, searched from 2001 to January 2008.

Blood lead in the 21st Century: The sub-microgram challenge.

In the US the dominant sources of lead through much of the 20th Century (eg, vehicular emissions, plumbing, household paint) have been significantly diminished. The reductions in adult and pediatric average blood lead levels in the US have been extraordinary. Progress continues: the US Environmental Protection Agency recently developed a new air standard for lead.

Sudden death in patients receiving drugs tending to prolong the QT interval.

Aims: To examine risks of sudden death in the community associated with drugs grouped by their risk of causing torsades de pointes (TdP) and to explore the risks for individual drugs.

Methods: Case-control study comparing prior drug intakes and morbidities, using the Arizona classification of drugs causing TdP. Participants included 1010 patients dying suddenly where post-mortem examination did not identify a clear cause of death, and 3030 matched living controls from primary care.

Patterns of analgesic use, pain and self-efficacy: a cross-sectional study of patients attending a hospital rheumatology clinic.

Background: Many people attending rheumatology clinics use analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for persistent musculoskeletal pain. Guidelines for pain management recommend regular and pre-emptive use of analgesics to reduce the impact of pain. Clinical experience indicates that analgesics are often not used in this way.

Evaluation of a standard provision versus an autonomy promotive exercise referral programme: rationale and study design.

Background: The National Institute of Clinical Excellence in the UK has recommended that the effectiveness of ongoing exercise referral schemes to promote physical activity should be examined in research trials. Recent empirical evidence in health care and physical activity promotion contexts provides a foundation for testing the utility of a Self Determination Theory (SDT)-based exercise referral consultation.

Design: An exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial comparing standard provision exercise on prescription with a Self Determination Theory-based (SDT) exercise on prescription intervention.

Is exercise associated with primary dysmenorrhoea in young women?

Anecdotal beliefs that exercise is an effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea have prevailed for many years although evidence is contradictory. Previous studies have also contained a number of methodological inadequacies. A questionnaire that assessed menstrual pain and levels of exercise was administered to 654 university students.

Antenatal peer support workers and initiation of breast feeding: cluster randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an antenatal service using community based breastfeeding peer support workers on initiation of breast feeding.

Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Community antenatal clinics in one primary care trust in a multiethnic, deprived population.

A randomized trial of the addition of home-based exercise to specialist heart failure nurse care: the Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation study for patients with Congestive Heart Failure (BRUM-CHF) study.

Aims: Supervised exercise can benefit selected patients with heart failure, however the effectiveness of home-based exercise remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme in addition to specialist heart failure nurse care.

Methods And Results: This was a randomized controlled trial of a home-based walking and resistance exercise programme plus specialist nurse care (n=84) compared with specialist nurse care alone (n=85) in a heart failure population in the West Midlands, UK.

The effectiveness of exercise in the management of post-natal depression: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Post-natal depression (PND) is a serious mental health problem that may be reduced by exercise. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in England have recommended that health professions should consider exercise as a treatment for PND.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise in the management of PND.

Patients' experience of home and hospital based cardiac rehabilitation: a focus group study.

Background: New cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes, such as home programmes using the Heart Manual, are being introduced but little is known about patients' experiences of these.

Aims: To compare the views of patients who had completed a home or hospital-based CR programme and explore the benefits and problems of each programme.

Methods: 16 patients from 4 hospital programmes attended one of 3 focus groups; 10 home programme patients attended one of 2 focus groups.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine and self-tests by coronary heart disease patients.

Background: Coronary heart disease patients have to learn to manage their condition to maximise quality of life and prevent recurrence or deterioration. They may develop their own informal methods of self-management in addition to the advice they receive as part of formal cardiac rehabilitation programmes. This study aimed to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicines and therapies (CAM), self-test kits and attitudes towards health of UK patients one year after referral to cardiac rehabilitation.

Ethnicity and cardiovascular disease prevention: practical clinical considerations.

Purpose Of Review: Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality. They differ in incidence and prevalence between ethnic groups both within and between countries. Traditional risk factors are increasing in many countries undergoing a transition to a more western style of life, but, as the risk factors were identified in western populations, it is important to establish the reasons for differences between different ethnic groups and the relative roles of lifestyle and genetics.

The Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation study (BRUM): a randomised controlled trial comparing home-based with centre-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of home-based (using the Heart Manual) and centre-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

Design: Randomised controlled trial and parallel economic evaluation.

Setting: Predominantly inner-city, multi-ethnic population in the West Midlands, England.

Self-care and adherence to medication: a survey in the hypertension outpatient clinic.

Background: Self-care practices for patients with hypertension include adherence to medication, use of blood pressure self-monitoring and use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) The prevalence of CAM use and blood pressure self-monitoring have not been described in a UK secondary care population of patients with hypertension and their impact on adherence to medication has not been described. Adherence to medication is important for blood pressure control, but poor adherence is common. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-care behaviours in patients attending a secondary care hypertension clinic.

Parental social contact in the work place and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

To study the possible relation between parental social contact through occupation, a marker for a child's risk of infection, and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the parents of 294 children with ALL aged 0-14.9 years and 376 matched controls were interviewed about their jobs after their child's birth up to the age of 3 years. Job titles were assigned to a level of social contact, and an index of occupational social contact months was created using the level and the job duration.

The Birmingham Rehabilitation Uptake Maximisation Study (BRUM). Home-based compared with hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation in a multi-ethnic population: cost-effectiveness and patient adherence.

Objectives: To evaluate the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a home-based programme of cardiac rehabilitation using the Heart Manual, with centre-based programmes. It also sought to explore the reasons for non-adherence to cardiac rehabilitation programmes.

Design: An individually randomised trial, with minimisation for age, gender, ethnicity, initial diagnosis and hospital of recruitment.

'DNA' may not mean 'did not participate': a qualitative study of reasons for non-adherence at home- and centre-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to improve prognosis and function following an acute myocardial infarction or revascularization. However, participation in CR programmes is low and adherence is poor.

Objective: To explore patients' reasons for non-participation in or non-adherence to a home- or hospital-based CR programme.

Understanding adolescent voice as a guide for nursing practice and research.

Recognizing adolescents as unique individuals increases the potential for trust and openness and provides a foundation for giving them voice. Giving voice to adolescents by listening to their stories of what really matters may enable prudent health choices in the midst of complicated life challenges. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of adolescent voice as a means of improving health care for teens and as a basis for further research.