Developing a novel peer support intervention to promote resilience after stroke.

Stroke can lead to physical, mental and social long-term consequences, with the incidence of stroke increasing with age. However, there is a lack of evidence of how to improve long-term outcomes for people with stroke. Resilience, the ability to 'bounce back', flourish or thrive in the face of adversity improves mental health and quality of life in older adults.

Effect of lifestyle interventions of pregnant women on their dietary habits, lifestyle behaviors, and weight gain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although it is known that lifestyle behaviors of pregnant women are closely related to maternal and fetal health, number of data concerning efficacy of intervention on lifestyle during pregnancy is limited. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of lifestyle interventions on improving dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors, ensuring gestational weight gain (GWG) within recommended levels and limiting postpartum weight retention (PWR).

Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial in a family health center located in Istanbul, Turkey, between June 2011 and July 2012.

Systematic review of the prevalence of mental illness stigma within the Greek culture.

Background: A number of primary studies have now assessed mental illness stigma within the Greek culture. A synthesis and appraisal of all available evidence is now required and will contribute to our growing understanding of the relationship between the cultural context and the formation of stigmatising attitudes.

Aim: To systematically review the prevalence of mental illness public stigma within the Greek and Greek Cypriot culture.

Constipation and Laxative Use among Nursing Home Patients: Prevalence and Associations Derived from the Residents Assessment Instrument for Long-Term Care Facilities (interRAI LTCF).

Introduction. Constipation is a common, bothersome, and potentially dangerous condition among nursing home (NH) patients. Between 50 and 74% of NH patients use laxatives.

Qualitative process study of community pharmacist brief alcohol intervention effectiveness trial: Can research participation effects explain a null finding?

Aims: This qualitative process study, nested within a randomised controlled trial evaluating community pharmacist brief alcohol intervention delivery, aims to explore participants' engagement with the trial, so as to identify whether research participation effects may explain why the brief intervention was not found to be effective.

Method: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 24 randomly selected participants approximately one month after the end of the trial. Semi structured Interviews were conducted by telephone in which participants were asked to give a chronological account of their trial participation, leading to a discussion of possible impacts.

Is single room hospital accommodation associated with differences in healthcare-associated infection, falls, pressure ulcers or medication errors? A natural experiment with non-equivalent controls.

Objectives: A wide range of patient benefits have been attributed to single room hospital accommodation including a reduction in adverse patient safety events. However, studies have been limited to the US with limited evidence from elsewhere. The aim of this study was to assess the impact on safety outcomes of the move to a newly built all single room acute hospital.

Types of vicarious learning experienced by pre-dialysis patients.

Objective: Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis renal replacement treatment options are in clinical equipoise, although the cost of haemodialysis to the National Health Service is £16,411/patient/year greater than peritoneal dialysis. Treatment decision-making takes place during the pre-dialysis year when estimated glomerular filtration rate drops to between 15 and 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

A web-based intervention (RESTORE) to support self-management of cancer-related fatigue following primary cancer treatment: a multi-centre proof of concept randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a frequent and distressing symptom experienced after cancer treatment. RESTORE is the first web-based resource designed to enhance self-efficacy to manage CRF following curative-intent treatment. The aim of this study is to test the proof of concept and inform the design of an effectiveness trial.

Vantage point - A private matter.

IMAGINE THAT you have been struggling with depression and your doctor has referred you for cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Such treatment is provided on the NHS through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. But there is a catch; you have been placed on a three-month waiting list.

Community question.

THE BED manager scanned the whiteboard in the busy office of an acute psychiatric ward. 'What about this man, WL?' she asked. 'He's been in for nearly two weeks.

Long-term conditions and medically-unexplained symptoms: feasibility of cognitive behavioural interventions within the improving access to Psychological Therapies Programme.

Background: Improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) is a major programme in England to treat common mental health problems, mainly through cognitive behaviour therapy. In 2012, a Pathfinder scheme was launched to develop interventions for people with chronic physical health conditions or medically-unexplained symptoms.

Aim: This qualitative component of the evaluation investigated feasibility and acceptability of IAPT provision for people with enduring physical health problems.

Impact of commissioning weight-loss surgery for bariatric patients.

Obesity is a major UK public health issue that is increasingly costly to an individual's personal health, the NHS and society. It requires an immediate intervention, as well as a long-term strategy to decrease the rising rates of obesity. NHS England (2013) has published a policy to commission bariatric surgery for carefully selected individuals according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (NICE, 2006).

The cost of prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers: A systematic review.

Introduction: Pressure ulcers impose a substantial financial burden. The need for high-quality health care while expenditures are constrained entails the interest to calculate the cost of preventing and treating pressure ulcers and their impact on patients, healthcare, and society.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the cost of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment in an adult population.

The attitudes of neonatologists towards extremely preterm infants: a Q methodological study.

Objectives: The attitudes and biases of doctors may affect decision making within Neonatal Intensive Care. We studied the attitudes of neonatologists in order to understand how they prioritise different factors contributing to decision making for extremely preterm babies.

Design: Twenty-five neonatologists (11 consultants and 14 senior trainees) participated in a Q methodological study about decision making that involved the ranking of 53 statements from agree to disagree in a unimodal shaped grid.

Reducing and managing faecal incontinence in people with advanced dementia who are resident in care homes: protocol for a realist synthesis.

Introduction: Faecal incontinence (FI) is the involuntary loss of liquid or solid stool that is a social or hygienic problem. The prevalence of FI in residents of care homes is high, but it is not an inevitable consequence of old age or dementia. There is good evidence on risk factors, but few studies provide evidence about effective interventions.

"Health for All" in England and Brazil?

This article discusses the achievements and challenges that England and Brazil face in relation to their capacity to address inequalities in health through health promotion and public health policies. Using secondary data (policy texts and related documents), this article contextualizes, explains, and critically appraises health promotion and public health efforts for the reduction of inequalities in health in the 2 countries. A historic documentary analysis was undertaken, with hermeneutics as the methodological framework.

Changing adherence-related beliefs about ICS maintenance treatment for asthma: feasibility study of an intervention delivered by asthma nurse specialists.

Objectives: The Necessity-Concerns Framework (NCF) posits that non-adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthma is influenced by doubts about the necessity for ICS and concerns about their potential adverse effects. This feasibility study examined whether these beliefs could be changed by briefing asthma nurse specialists on ways of addressing necessity beliefs and concerns within consultations.

Design: Pre-post intervention study.

Enhancing student communication during end-of-life care: A pilot study.

Background: Quality end-of-life care requires effective communication skills, yet medical and nursing students report limited opportunities to develop these skills, and that they lack confidence and the related competence.

Objectives: Our purpose was to design, implement, and evaluate an educational intervention employing simulated patient actors to enhance students' abilities to communicate with dying patients and their families.

Methods: A study employing a mixed-methods design was conducted with prequalification nursing and medical students recruited from a London university.