Publications by authors named "W Whittaker"

Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how having arthritis affects sickness absence and job transitions (like moving to long-term sick leave or early retirement) in employees aged 50 and older in the UK, compared to those without arthritis.
  • Data from 10 years of the UK Household Longitudinal Survey (2009-2019) was analyzed, revealing that employees with arthritis have significantly higher rates of sickness absences and transitions to long-term sick leave and early retirement, but no higher rate of unemployment.
  • The findings suggest a need for further research on the implications of these transitions for individuals and employers, as well as potential solutions to support employees with arthritis in maintaining their work participation.
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Introduction: The pandemic saw widespread use of home pulse oximeters to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to support early detection of low oxygen saturation levels and appropriate care. Rapid implementation made conventional evaluation challenging, highlighting the need for rigorous non-randomised methods to support decision-making about future use of these technologies. We used routine data to explore the benefits of pulse oximetry in Greater Manchester, under the 'COVID-19 oximetry at home' (CO@h) programme.

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Background Patient satisfaction is a significant dimension of quality in general practice and has notably declined post-COVID. Understanding the dynamics between practice activities, practice characteristics and patient experience is vital for improving care quality. Aim This study investigates the relationship between the volume, modality (telephone or face-to-face) and practitioner type of general practice appointments and patient experience.

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Objectives: The objective was to assess the effectiveness of a Water Fluoridation program on a contemporary population of children.

Methods: The study used a longitudinal prospective cohort design. In Cumbria, England, two groups of children were recruited and observed over a period of 5-6 years.

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: Equitable access to healthcare is a priority of many healthcare systems, aiming to ensure access is driven by need and not minority groups such as those defined by sexual orientation. However, there are healthcare areas where inequity in access across sexual orientation groups is found that are not justified based on need. Mandated LGBTQ+-specific training of the healthcare workforce may help address some barriers of access for these groups.

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