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Biomedical subjects

A O Adebajo

Publications and source records attributed to A O Adebajo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Rheumatology training in the United Kingdom: the trainees' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatology training has undergone significant changes in the last decade with Calmanization, implementation of the New Deal for junior doctors and newer educational strategies for improving musculoskeletal training, like a core curriculum. However, concerns have been expressed about the quality of postgraduate training programmes in the UK. OBJECTIVES: First, to assess current trainees' perceptions of the quality of core and subspecialty training, the impact of workload on training, and to explore demographic variations in training experience. Secondly, to identify educational strategies that trainees felt would enhance their training. METHODS: The questionnaire was initially distributed to all specialist registrars attending the BSR Annual Meeting in Brighton in April 2002. Subsequently, the questionnaire was posted to all registrars on the Joint Committee for Higher Medical Training list with a reminder after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Trainees rated positively training in routine patient care, musculoskeletal examination and injection skills while training in primary care rheumatology, epidemiology, paediatric rheumatology and sports medicine was rated negatively. There is agreement that the reduction in junior doctors' hours has adversely affected training, and issues relating to workload have overtaken training issues. Trainees undertaking dual accreditation are more likely to feel this. Educational strategies deemed to enhance training included training workshops focused on specific topics, such as musculoskeletal radiology (89.2%), and an adequate debriefing session after an out-patient clinic (81.6%). An independently administered, reliable and valid scale for quality of training could be used to assess regional variations in training and monitoring quality. CONCLUSIONS: The changes to junior doctors' hours, the working patterns of doctors and service commitments have all affected the quality and time available for certain aspects of rheumatological training. A major effort to enhance quality is necessary to ensure that the objectives of training are met within the intended training budget.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

A national qualitative survey of community-based musculoskeletal services in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of community-based musculoskeletal services provided by primary care organizations within the UK. METHODS: Members of five professional groups within UK primary care organizations (n=461) were sent a questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate by organization was 71% (328/461). Respondents described 350 community-based musculoskeletal services, 233/328 (71%) organizations had one or more musculoskeletal services within their community. Five main forms of service provision were: a scanning service, a rehabilitation service, physiotherapy services, joint or soft tissue injections and the implementation of integrated care pathways. In 162 services, patients were assessed, reviewed or triaged, by a 'non-consultant' health-care professional (physiotherapist or general practitioner), at an intermediate level between primary and secondary care. The purpose of the service was described in 292/350 services, only 39/350 had clear evaluation strategies and 53/350 had consideration of individual training needs. CONCLUSIONS: There are a wide range of musculoskeletal services flourishing within the community sector, whose quality may be variable. Whilst there is good evidence to suggest systematic planning of these services, we are concerned about the lack of data to support their effectiveness in terms of clinical outcomes, monitoring of service delivery standards and ongoing professional development of service providers. Commissioners of such services must ensure they have taken account of the evidence base and met any identified needs of local populations. Services should have a clear purpose with an appropriate evaluation strategy, and well-defined dissemination mechanisms. An integrated educational strategy for staff within the service must be sensitive to issues relating to accreditation, appraisal and revalidation.

Community Health Services↗

The value of masters educational programmes for specialist registrars in rheumatology.

The training of junior doctors has undergone major changes in recent years. There is now more structure, with defined assessment time points leading to a Certificate of Specialist Training. This certificate provides documentation indicating that the trainee has undergone a satisfactory period of training and that they are sufficiently competent to practise as a specialist, unsupervised. The changes have led to re-examination of the role of, and educational provision for, research training as well as clinical training. In this article we review these issues and argue that the development of masters educational programmes may help to address several concerns.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗

Improving the quality of care of musculoskeletal conditions in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the support services general practitioners (GPs) need when working with patients who have musculoskeletal problems and their educational needs in order to deliver an improved service. METHODS: GPs (n=446) on the Sheffield and Barnsley principal lists were sent a questionnaire (53.8% response rate). Semistructured interviews of a purposive sample of 10 GPs were analysed qualitatively to increase understanding of the research objectives. RESULTS: GPs were self-confident in managing common musculoskeletal conditions such as gout (86% of GPs who replied), back pain (69%), osteoarthritis (62%) and sporting injuries (58%) entirely within the surgery. Despite high levels of confidence in diagnosing non-specific pain syndromes, 68% of GPs would refer to a rheumatologist. Most GPs (68%) were happy with their current referral rates to physiotherapists and 65% of GPs in this sample provided a personal injection service. Reduction of inappropriate prescribing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs would be helped by better patient education materials on treatments (90%) and more resources for the primary care physiotherapy service (85%). Half of the GPs had had specific musculoskeletal training within the last 5 yr. Half of the GPs planned to update their knowledge and skills in the next year, 64% of these preferring a taught interactive course, 50% wanting to sit in with a consultant in clinic and 46% preferring to learn as part of a personal learning plan. CONCLUSIONS: GPs feel confident managing the majority of musculoskeletal conditions within the surgery provided they have adequate support in terms of opportunities for appropriate education, particularly joint injection techniques, ongoing consultant support for complex cases with poor outcomes, particularly non-specific pain syndromes, adequate access to physiotherapy, and a multidisciplinary approach to pain control and inappropriate prescribing.

Female↗

The use of intravenous pulsed methylprednisolone in the treatment of systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis.

An open prospective study using i.v. methylprednisolone in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) who had had a systemic exacerbation of disease is described. Eighteen children aged from 3 to 14 yr and 9 months (mean 9.7 yr) were treated. Ten patients (55%) had a loss of all systemic features 1 month after the pulse, and eight (45%) had a reduction in the active joint count. At this time, five of the patients on oral prednisolone had achieved a reduction in dosage. Also at 1 month, a reduction in erythrocyte sedimentation rate was observed in 11 patients (61%) and of C-reactive protein in 11 of 16 (72%). Altogether, 13 patients (72%) had a good response, while a further three (16%) went into remission. Our conclusions are that pulse methylprednisolone provides good short-term benefit in patients with systemic-onset JCA; no serious side-effects were noted. Further long-term studies are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Rheumatic manifestations of infectious diseases in children.

Infectious diseases continue to elicit worldwide attention. Many of these diseases have rheumatic manifestations as an incidental or principal feature. Because this is particularly true in children, rheumatic manifestations of infectious diseases in this population continue to be an area of great importance to rheumatologists. A variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasitic organisms can give rise to infectious diseases with rheumatic manifestations. A high index of clinical suspicion is frequently necessary for an accurate diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis and early and appropriate therapeutic intervention are usually required for a successful, and frequently curative, outcome. Over the past year, studies have addressed the pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical spectrum of the rheumatic manifestations of infectious diseases in children. There has been particular emphasis on septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, sickle-cell disease, and hepatitis C viral infection. There remains the daunting and unfortunate possibility of large numbers of children developing HIV-associated arthritis.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Rheumatic manifestations of infectious diseases in children.

Infections associated with rheumatic diseases in children remain an important area of pediatric rheumatology. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis are essential. Rheumatic fever is a significant public health problem particularly in the developing world. A variety of nonbacterial infections are also associated with rheumatic diseases in children. There is also the unfortunate possibility of children developing AIDS-associated rheumatic diseases.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Dengue arthritis.

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Arthritis, Reactive↗

Rheumatic manifestations of tropical diseases.

It is becoming increasingly recognized that a variety of tropical infectious diseases may be associated with a wide range of rheumatic infections. These include viral arthropathies such as O'nyong-nyong, chikungunya, and dengue. Parasitic infections such as filariasis, schistosomiasis, and amoebiasis can be associated with various joint problems. Diseases such as tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, leprosy, and brucellosis, although more common in the tropics, continue to present with rheumatic features in Western countries. Thus, with increasing world travel and migration, there is a need for increasing awareness and further study of tropical diseases and their rheumatic manifestations.

Arbovirus Infections↗

Specificity of IgM antiglobulins produced in rheumatoid arthritis and tropical infections.

The measurement of rheumatoid factors is of limited value in West Africa due to the low rheumatoid factor seroprevalence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the increased seroprevalence among healthy individuals and those with infectious diseases in the region. Using ELISA methods, we have been able to increase the specificity of rheumatoid factor measurement although the sensitivity of this test remains low. Furthermore, among the infectious diseases studied, there was no preferential binding of rheumatoid factors to the Fab gamma portion of immunoglobulin over the Fc gamma portion.

Africa↗