Chronic idiopathic urinary retention: Comorbidity and outcome in 102 individuals.

Objectives: Chronic Idiopathic urinary retention is poorly understood. One small study suggests higher than expected rates of functional neurological disorder and pain comorbidity which may have implications for understanding the disorder. We investigated the frequency of functional neurological disorder, chronic pain other medical and psychiatric comorbidity, triggers of urinary retention, results of urodynamic assessment, medication history, management, and outcome in patients with chronic idiopathic urinary retention.

Acute limb ischaemia in a young male with secondary polycythaemia: A case report.

Acute limb ischemia is a life and limb-threatening pathology rarely observed in young populations. One of the uncommon causes includes hypercoagulable state which can occur in secondary polycythemia leading to an abnormal increase in the erythrocyte mass. We present a rare case of Rutherford type 2A acute limb ischemia in a 36-year-old male patient with a background of secondary polycythemia who presented with severe pain and neurological deficits in his left lower limb.

Understanding failings in patient safety: lessons from the case of surgeon Ian Paterson.

While rare, incidents of inappropriate and/or unnecessary surgery do occur, so effective surveillance of surgical practice is required to ensure patient safety. This article explores the case of Ian Paterson, a consultant surgeon who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017 for wounding with intent and unlawful wounding, primarily by undertaking inappropriate or unnecessary mastectomies. The article details the main points of the Paterson case, with reference to the subsequent government-commissioned inquiry and its recommendations.

S-SIL of PCSK9-Active Oligonucleotide as Tools for Accurate Quantification by Mass Spectrometry.

Stable isotope labeling (SIL) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is a well-established technique for the accurate quantification of small-molecule drugs. As the scope of active ingredients is expanding into areas of larger molecules, such as oligonucleotides (ONs), the development of new quantification techniques is critical. Herein, we describe the analysis of a S-SIL anti-PCSK9 gapmer-type antisense ON.

Death anxiety and compassion fatigue in critical care nurses.

It may be argued that altruism, or the selfless concern for others, was fundamental to the discipline of nursing; however, with the evolution of nursing, there has been debate within the profession and among service users about whether this element has been lost. Nurses deal with increasingly complex and stressful situations, both patient and performance related. Additionally, demands on the service and capacity constraints continue to place a significant burden on nurses and other health professionals.

Incurred sample reanalysis in AstraZeneca small molecule portfolio - what have we learned and where do we go next?

In this paper, experiences and learnings are shared from the 10-year application of incurred sample reanalysis (ISR) in support of the AstraZeneca small molecule portfolio. The conclusions from including ISR in every clinical bioanalysis study for a period of 5 years, generating ISR data from 550 studies, are shared. Our preclinical ISR approach is described and data generated using capillary microsampling demonstrate confidence in its routine application.

Assessing anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Background: empirical evidence suggests that anxiety and depression in cancer patients is underdiagnosed and subsequently this patient population receives little or no support or intervention to address their psychosocial needs. It is often difficult to distinguish between normal emotional distress experienced following a cancer diagnosis and anxiety and depression, which can have a significant impact on coping mechanisms and subsequent outcomes.

Aim: a qualitative study using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was undertaken in the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research in Qatar.

"Supporting nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students to raise concerns with the quality of care: A review of the research literature".

Background: This article reports aspects of a systematic literature review commissioned by the UK Council of Deans of Health. The review collated and analysed UK and international literature on pre-registration healthcare students raising concerns with poor quality care. The research found in that review is summarised here.

Using exercise to improve quality of life for people with heart failure.

Unlabelled: In the current economic climate within the NHS, behavioural-change interventions in chronic disease such as exercise programmes will be time-limited within acute hospital facilities. The challenge is to deliver cost-effective, participatory, population-specific health interventions that result in measurable benefits.

Methodology: A mixed-methods study was undertaken to assess the benefits of participation in a structured exercise programme for patients with heart failure.

Development of a language identification tool.

Service improvement is an important aspect of healthcare practice. Practitioners need to identify improvements in processes to free up time and resources for patient care. The obligation to do this falls to all staff, from students to chief executives.

Cardiac rehabilitation: an effective secondary prevention intervention.

A combination of quantitative and qualitative research was used to determine the effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme in a cohort of patients referred to the service at a London hospital. Quantitative data analysis provided evidence of effectiveness of participation in CR in reduced hospital readmission rates and use of recognised pharmacological management strategies. Self-reported physical activity levels and quality of life (QOL) in individuals who participated in the cardiac rehabilitation programme were qualitatively measured with questionnaires.

Diabetes medication incidents in the care home setting.

This article analyses data received from a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request made to the National Patient Safety Agency in June 2010. Information was requested about adverse drug event reports in relation to insulin therapy and oral glucose-lowering agents in the care home setting. Data identified were reported to the National Patient Safety Agency between January 12005 and December 312009 and were processed through the National Reporting and Learning Service.

Diabetes medication patient safety incident reports to the National Reporting and Learning Service: the care home setting.

Aims: To analyse adverse drug events in older people with diabetes in the care home setting via incident reports obtained from the National Reporting and Learning Service.

Methods: A Freedom of Information request was made to the National Reporting and Learning Service via the National Patient Safety Agency. Within the National Reporting and Learning Service, reports on diabetes within the category of 'medication' using the location limiter of 'hospice or nursing home or residential home' were searched.

Child obesity. 2: Recommended strategies and interventions.

This is a two-part unit on childhood obesity. Part 1 explored its prevalence and various causes. This second part examines the effectiveness of current interventions to halt childhood obesity.

Child obesity 1: analysing its prevalence and causes.

This is a two-part unit on childhood obesity, which is a major public health concern. With rising levels of the condition it is increasingly obvious that early intervention is key to halting this trend. This first part outlines the prevalence and definition of obesity, and also explores its causes and possible interventions.

Establishing a culture for patient safety - the role of education.

This paper argues that the process of making significant moves towards a patient safety culture requires changes in healthcare education. Improvements in patient safety are a shared international priority as too many errors and other forms of unnecessary harm are currently occurring in the process of caring for and treating patients. A description of the patient safety agenda is given followed by a brief analysis of human factors theory and its use in other safety critical industries, most notably aviation.

Implementing solutions to prevent patient harm.

This article is the last in this series based on the Seven Steps to Patient Safety. Each article analyses one of the seven steps and offers a resource for healthcare staff to enhance knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to patient safety. This article identifies solutions and actions that healthcare staff can take to improve patient safety.

Building a safety culture.

This is the first article in a series of seven based on the Seven Steps to Patient Safety (National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) 2004a). It is aimed at enhancing nurses' and midwives' knowledge about patient safety, including strategies and tools that are available to improve the quality of health care. This article outlines the patient safety agenda and emphasises the importance of creating an open and fair culture in the NHS.

Improving patient safety and incident reporting.

Patient safety is currently an international priority in health care, as it is widely accepted that the quality of healthcare provision, in terms of reducing errors and other forms of unnecessary patient harm, needs to be improved significantly. This article describes the work and position of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) in NHS-funded care. It outlines the contribution made by two nurses who, as clinical specialty advisers (CSAs) in the organisation, are charged with helping to ensure that nursing issues are considered as an integral part of developing solutions to patient safety issues.