Congruence of the Medical Record and Subject Interview on Time of Symptom Onset in Patients Diagnosed With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Past research has shown discrepancies between the time of symptom onset for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as documented in the medical record (MR) and patients' recall of the time assessed through subject interviews done later by researchers.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine if there were differences between the time of symptom onset documented in the MR and subject interview taking into consideration sex, age group, and recall period for patients admitted to the emergency department for symptoms suggestive of ACS.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on data from the PROMOTION (Patient Response to Myocardial Infarction Following a Teaching Intervention Offered by Nurses) trial, a multicenter randomized clinical trial to reduce patient prehospital delay to treatment in ACS.

The effect of sporting events on emergency department attendance rates in a district general hospital in Northern Ireland.

Background: Previous studies have reported a conflicting relationship between the effect of live and televised sporting events on attendance rates to emergency departments (ED). The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship of major sporting events on emergency department attendance rates and to determine the potential effects of such events on service provision.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of ED attendances to a district general hospital (DGH) and subsequent admissions over a 24-h period following live and televised sporting activities was performed over a 5-year period.

'It's not worth stopping now': why do smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease continue to smoke? A qualitative study.

Aim: This study aims to explore the experience of cigarette smokers with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have received smoking cessation support and describe their personal decision-making processes regarding their smoking behaviour.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated poor smoking cessation rates in people with COPD, despite this being the primary intervention for disease management. There is limited research exploring the reasons why this population continues to smoke.

Investigation of KIR gene frequencies in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The frequency of killer immunoglobulinlike receptors (KIR) genes was examined in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients and controls from Finland. The KIR gene 2DS5 was significantly decreased in patients versus controls, but this was no longer significant after correction for the number of comparisons made.

The qualities and skills of practice developers.

Aim: To explore and describe the activities and approaches that constitute practice development by providing an insight into the qualities and skills exhibited by staff in practice development roles.

Method: This involved examining 177 articles, plus data collected during focus group interviews with 60 staff around the UK and telephone interviews with 25 clinical staff. The focus groups and telephone interviews formed part of an earlier published study Garbett and McCormack (2002).

Automatic detection of cardiac arrest rhythms prior to automatic external cardiac defibrillation.

The detection and correction of ventricular fibrillation at the earliest time after its onset is essential to ensure long-term survival. During successive cardiac arrests the rhythms occurring were sensed by using disposable pre-gelled ECG defibrillator pads placed in the anterior-anterior position. Simultaneously with the treatment, the arrest rhythms were analyzed continually every 8 to 18 seconds by a microprocessor system.