Prioritising Key Concepts for informed health choices in cancer: An evidence-based online educational programme.

Objective: The overabundance of health misinformation has undermined people's capacity to make evidence-based, informed choices about their health. Using the Informed Health Choices (IHC) Key Concepts (KCs), we are developing a two-stage education programme, Informed Health Choices-Cancer (IHC-C), to provide those impacted by cancer with the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically about the reliability of health information and claims and make well-informed choices. Stage 1 seeks to prioritise the most relevant Key Concepts.

Prioritising Informed Health Choices Key Concepts for those impacted by cancer: a protocol.

Few areas of health have been as insidiously influenced by misinformation as cancer. Thus, interventions that can help people impacted by cancer reduce the extent to which they are victims of misinformation are necessary. The Informed Health Choices (IHC) initiative has developed Key Concepts that can be used in the development of interventions for evaluating the trustworthiness of claims about the effects of health treatments.

The effectiveness of digital multimedia presentation of trial information on recruitment and retention of patients: Protocol for a study within a trial (SWAT).

Studies within trials (SWATs) present an opportunity to examine design factors that may impact on the successful delivery of trials. One area in need of research is trial recruitment. Recruiting patients to trials is a major challenge facing trialists.

GPs' attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of male urinary tract infections: a qualitative interview study in Ireland.

Background: In general practice, males represent around 20% of the total number of urinary tract infection (UTI) consultations. The majority of UTI research focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of women with UTIs but there is little evidence on how male UTIs are treated.

Aim: To better understand GPs' attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of male UTIs.

Correction to: Sleep and physical activity: a cross-sectional objective profile of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

The original article can be found online.

Sleep and physical activity: a cross-sectional objective profile of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Regular physical activity (PA) is important for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Poor sleep is a common complaint among people with RA, which may have an influence on their PA levels. There is a lack of objective information regarding total sleep time (TST) and PA duration in this population.

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in primary versus secondary care: The clinical outcomes of a randomised controlled trial.

Aims: To examine the clinical outcomes of screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in primary care versus secondary care, in the Irish healthcare system.

Design And Methods: A parallel group randomised controlled trial (RCT) of screening for GDM in primary versus secondary care was used to examine (i) prevalence, (ii) gestational week of screen, (iii) time to access specialist care, and (iv) maternal and neonatal outcomes. In total 781 women were recruited for screening in primary care (n=391) or secondary care (n=390).

Perspectives on the provision of GDM screening in general practice versus the hospital setting: a qualitative study of providers and patients.

Objective: A novel gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening programme which involved offering screening at the patient's general practitioner (GP) compared with the traditional hospital setting was trialled. This study investigates perspectives of involved stakeholders on the provision of GDM screening at both settings.

Design: Thematic analysis of the perspectives of stakeholders involved in the receiving and provision of GDM screening in both the GP and hospital settings drawn from focus groups and interviews.

The cost-effectiveness of screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in primary and secondary care in the Republic of Ireland.

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of the study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in primary and secondary care settings, compared with a no-screening option, in the Republic of Ireland.

Methods: The analysis was based on a decision-tree model of alternative screening strategies in primary and secondary care settings. It synthesised data generated from a randomised controlled trial (screening uptake) and from the literature.

Health related quality of life two to five years after gestational diabetes mellitus: cross-sectional comparative study in the ATLANTIC DIP cohort.

Background: There is no consensus on the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for the mother in the short or long term. In this study we examined HRQOL in a group of women who had GDM in the index pregnancy 2 to 5 years previously and compared it to a group of women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in the index pregnancy during the same time period.

Methods: The sample included 234 women who met International Association of Diabetes Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria for GDM in the index pregnancy and 108 who had NGT.

Can the Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Be Delayed by a Group-Based Lifestyle Intervention in Women with Prediabetes following Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)? Findings from a Randomized Control Mixed Methods Trial.

Objective: To evaluate a 12-week group-based lifestyle intervention programme for women with prediabetes following gestational diabetes (GDM).

Design: A two-group, mixed methods randomized controlled trial in which 50 women with a history of GDM and abnormal glucose tolerance postpartum were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 24) or wait control (n = 26) and postintervention qualitative interviews with participants.

Main Outcome Measures: Modifiable biochemical, anthropometric, behavioural, and psychosocial risk factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.

Feasibility, acceptability and uptake rates of gestational diabetes mellitus screening in primary care vs secondary care: findings from a randomised controlled mixed methods trial.

Aims/hypothesis: It is postulated that uptake rates for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening would be improved if offered in a setting more accessible to the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of uptake of GDM screening in the primary vs secondary care setting, and to qualitatively explore the providers' experiences of primary care screening provision.

Methods: This mixed methods study was composed of a quantitative unblinded parallel group randomised controlled trial and qualitative interview trial.

Profile of energy expenditure in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: No definitive conclusions have been made on the levels of physical activity in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population. Similarly no clear consensus has been reached on the correlates and predictors of physical activity in the population.

Objective: To profile total energy expenditure (TEE), resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity related energy expenditure (PAEE) levels using a validated objective measurement tool and to determine demographic and health related factors which influence and predict TEE and PAEE levels in individuals with RA.

Study to determine the criterion validity of the SenseWear Armband as a measure of physical activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Measuring physical activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is of great importance in light of the increased mortality in this population due to cardiovascular disease. Validation of activity monitors in specific populations is recommended to ensure the accuracy of physical activity measurement. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the SenseWear Pro3 Armband (SWA) as a measure of physical activity during activities of daily living (ADL) in people with RA.

Physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

Background: Physical activity is associated with improved health outcomes in many populations. It is assumed that physical activity levels in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) population may be reduced as a result of symptoms of the disease. The objective of this review is to establish the current evidence base for levels of physical activity in the RA population.

Users' experience of physical activity monitoring technology in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to qualitatively explore users' experiences of home monitoring of health with specific regard to physical activity monitors.

Methods: Fourteen participants were randomly selected from a larger sample of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had taken part in a physical activity monitoring study and had worn two physical activity monitors for seven days in their homes. These individuals were assigned to one of two focus groups.

Activity level classification algorithm using SHIMMER™ wearable sensors for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) it is believed that symptoms associated with the progression of the disease result in a reduction in the physical activity level of the patient. One of the key flaws of the research surrounding this hypothesis to date is the use of non-validated physical activity outcomes measures. In this study, an algorithm to estimate physical activity levels in patients as they perform a simulated protocol of typical activities of daily living using SHIMMER kinematic sensors, incorporating tri-axial gyroscopes and accelerometers, is proposed.