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A Tynan

Publications and source records attributed to A Tynan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

SCD status.

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Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities↗

The North Dublin randomized controlled trial of structured diabetes shared care.

BACKGROUND: A new diabetes shared care service was introduced in North Dublin. It was designed as a randomized controlled trial with a complex intervention comprising education of participating practitioners, the introduction of a community-based diabetes nurse specialist, local agreement on clinical protocols and structured communication across the primary-secondary care interface. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a structured diabetes shared care service in a mixed health care system and to analyse the impact on total patient care. METHODS: A Cluster randomized controlled trial lasting 18 months was carried out in 183 patients with type 2 diabetes from 30 general practices in North Dublin. Biophysical outcomes (HbA1c, blood pressure, body mass index), psychosocial measures (smoking status and Diabetes Clinic Treatment Satisfaction and Diabetes Well-being scores) and process outcomes were collected. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in diabetes care delivery and in psychosocial outcomes, but no significant improvements in biomedical outcomes. Process data collection revealed a significant increase in diabetes care-related activity for participating patients with an increase in structured annual reviews and fewer patients defaulting from care. There were also significant improvements in information exchange between primary and secondary care. CONCLUSION: Structured diabetes shared care, in a mixed health care system, can produce significant improvements in diabetes care delivery and in psychosocial outcomes for patients, with improved information exchange across the primary-secondary care interface.

Adult↗

A qualitative investigation of the views and health beliefs of patients with Type 2 diabetes following the introduction of a diabetes shared care service.

AIMS: A qualitative research approach was adopted in order to explore the views and health beliefs of patients with Type 2 diabetes who had experienced a new structured diabetes shared care service. METHODS: Patients from 15 general practices were randomly selected and invited to attend three focus groups. Two independent researchers adopted the "Framework" technique to analyse the transcribed data and identify key themes expressed by patients. RESULTS: Themes relating to diabetes included frustration, victimization and powerlessness in relation to living with diabetes, controlling blood sugar, medication and economic barriers to care. Differences in emphases between patients and healthcare providers emerged. Patients were generally positive about shared care and largely identified it with the nurses involved. CONCLUSION: This research highlights the importance of an in-depth exploration of patients' views during changes in diabetes care delivery to identify service delivery failures and gaps in patient knowledge such as lack of awareness of the extent of macrovascular risk.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The North Dublin Diabetes Shared Care (DiSC) Project: a profile of current diabetes care in Ireland.

The DiSC Project aims to assess the feasibility, effectiveness and costs of diabetes shared care in Ireland. Baseline results provide a profile of diabetes care in Ireland. Thirty general practices are participating in this randomised controlled trial. Outcomes include biophysical and psychosocial measures. The majority of patients agreed to participate in diabetes shared care. Data was collected from 183 patients with type 2 diabetes. The mean age of the patients is 65 years, 56% are male and 63% are GMS eligible. The mean HBA1c was 6.8% though 21% of patients had a HBA1c>8%. The majority of patients had a blood pressure, total cholesterol and body mass index above recommended guidelines. Only half the patients are attending a dietician or a chiropodist. The majority of patients have good glycaemic control but poor blood pressure and cholesterol control. The full trial results will determine if a shared care approach can improve clinical and psychosocial outcomes for patients.

Adult↗

Results of radiotherapy for localised prostatic carcinoma treated at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney.

Between 1980 and 1986 a total of 218 patients with localised prostatic carcinoma received radical pelvic radiotherapy at The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney. The mean follow-up time was 4.6 years. The five-year actuarial overall survival rate was 63% (death from all causes) and the five-year cancer-specific survival rate was 73% (death from or with prostate cancer). The overall survival was significantly worse with more advanced clinical stage of the disease (P = 0.003) and with poor histological differentiation of the tumour (P = 0.001). The five-year actuarial rate for local control of tumour in the pelvis was 84%. Late treatment-related complications (occurring or persisting beyond six months) were mild or moderate and the majority settled with conservative management. Only five patients experienced severe complications (necessitating surgical treatment). Of 42 patients with normal potency documented before radiotherapy who were not subsequently hormonally manipulated 23 (55%) retained potency at two years. These results for definitive radiotherapy for localised prostatic carcinoma indicate good local control with minimal morbidity and compare favourably with other published results.

Aged↗

Bowel complications after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the prostate: the volume effect.

Late radiation-induced bowel complications were studied in 218 patients treated for localized carcinoma of the prostate by radical radiotherapy at the Prince of Wales Hospital between 1980 and 1986. Mild to moderate toxicity was seen in 38 cases, and severe toxicity requiring surgery occurred in 3 patients. The total actuarial complication rate (by 5 years) for all grades was 24% and for severe complications was 1.8%. Significant patient-related risk factors were older age at the time of radiotherapy (p = 0.035) and a previous history of abdominal operations (p = 0.028). Among treatment-related risk factors only inclusion of the whole pelvis in the irradiated volume had a significant association with this complication (p = 0.015). The risk of bowel complications was not related to the total radiation dose or to the use of interstitial implants as employed in this series.

Aged↗