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Biomedical subjects

M Harrington

Publications and source records attributed to M Harrington.

71 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The European practice database (EPD): results of the study in thte North-East of Italy.

The survey, realized in 2002-03 in the North-East of Italy, describes renal care in dialysis services. A questionnaire, structured at European level, was sent to all dialysis centres by mail. The questionnaire was returned from 21 centres (61.8%) and related satellite units. Results show nonhomogeneity in renal care. Some important results were: low use of peritoneal dialysis (18%), compared to the rest of Europe, elevated presence of older people on haemodialysis, reduced percentage of patients on transplantation waiting list, diffused use of isolation for HCV positive patients, high use of AV fistulae (84%), low employment of renal technicians, absence of renal dieticians and social workers and nurses performing prevalently direct care. Data can be used for different goals: benchmarking activities, selection of deeper research topics and development of more oriented continuous education activities.

Adolescent↗
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The Research Board of EDTNA/ERCA: research activities and deliverables.

The Research Board (RB) of EDTNA/ERCA was formed ten years ago to provide opportunities for our members to participate in collaborative research projects at a European level. It provides educational support in research methodology via workshops at conference and in articles published in the Journal. The group has completed a total of seven collaborative research projects in diverse areas of renal care and has recently developed an ambitious new project, the European Practice Database (EPD). The EPD project aims to capture the current practice of renal care professionals in European centres on a three-year repeating cycle. The results of projects are presented at conference and at international scientific meetings by invitation and abstract submission. Recommendations, guidelines or educational material are produced collaboratively with the renal multi-disciplinary community.

Cooperative Behavior↗
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Comparison of renal care practice in Europe: centre and patient characteristics.

The European Practice Database (EPD) contains data from 8 countries including 276 centres and 21,861 dialysis patients. Comparing patients and centre characteristics, remarkable similarities and pronounced differences in renal practice between different European countries and between centres within each country were found.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of indicators to measure European variation of nursing activities.

This paper describes a study to capture the key roles and activities of nephrology nurses across different countries in Europe. The concept of the study and the need to clarify the activities of the nephrology nurse arose as part of a larger study to develop the European Practice Database (EPD) (1). The Research Board (EDTNA/ERCA) needed to identify key questions that would detect significant differences in the role and responsibilities of nephrology nurses in different countries and monitor the evolution over time of nephrology nursing practice in Europe. It was therefore appropriate to devise a separate small study to generate evidence based questions for the EPD and confirm the reliability and usefulness of the information captured.

Adult↗
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European practice in haemodialysis: results of the EPD.

The European Practice Database (EPD) project, developed by the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board, collects data on renal practice at centre level in different European countries. Results presented in this paper focus on the European Practice in Haemodialysis centres from 8 European countries or regions following data collection from 2002 to 2004. These results will enable international comparison in practice and will stimulate further research and the development of new practice recommendations.

Anticoagulants↗
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Technical aspects of haemodialysis treatment: comparative results of Scotland and Belgium.

This paper reports the findings from the European Practice Database project providing an overview of the technical aspects of haemodialysis treatment, comparing practice in Scotland and Belgium. Findings identified that in Scotland almost all centres (95%) employed renal technicians compared to 67% of centres in Belgium. There was also a higher level of technical duties performed by technicians in Scotland compared with Belgium, and marked differences in the disinfection protocols of dialysis machines between the two countries. The study highlights the need for further investigation to discover why technical practice varies somuch between the two countries.

Belgium↗
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Transplant practice in Europe: selection of patients.

This paper reports the findings from the European Practice Database project (1) providing an overview of transplant practice in Europe and patient selection. From the 276 centres surveyed 25 recorded performing patient transplants across eight different countries. The overall figures indicate that the waiting list for transplants is made up of 38% women and 9% of patients above the age of 65 years. All countries offered pre-transplant counselling and screening and post-transplant follow-up, but the extent to which these activities occurred varied. The waiting/transplant ratio ranged from one in Norway to eight in Slovakia. Differences still exist as a result of country specific policies and legislation regarding transplantation.

Aftercare↗
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Infection control practice across Europe: results of the EPD.

The European Practice Database (EPD) project, developed by the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board, collects data on renal practice at centre level in different European countries. Results presented in this paper focus on infection control practice in haemodialysis centres from 8 different European countries or regions following data collection from 2002 up to 2004. The prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), human immune deficiency (HIV) and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was studied as well as the use of screening and preventive actions. These results will enable international comparison in practice and will stimulate further research and the development of new practice recommendations.

Belgium↗
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European study on epidemiology and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the haemodialysis population. Part 3: prevalence and incidence.

An analysis of the literature showed a high prevalence of HCV in the European dialysis population in the nineties. The prevalence was similar in most countries in northern Europe, but infection was more common in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece (1) and in Eastern European countries (2). The reported prevalence of anti-HCV-positive patients in the EDTA registry was 21% in 1992 and 18% in 1993 (3) ranging from 1% in Finland to 42% in Egypt (4). The incidence of HCV, in new patients starting renal replacement therapy, ranged from 3% to 7% (5,6) and reported seroconversion rates during dialysis treatment varied between 1% (7) and 16% (8) per year.

Cross Infection↗
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Sero-conversion of HCV negative patients: a European study on the epidemiology and management of HCV haemodialysis patients.

This paper reports part of the findings from a larger study reported earlier, the European study on epidemiology and the management of HCV in the haemodialysis population (1). Centres recruited to the larger study were monitored for a further one year observation period to measure and generate a deeper understanding of HCV sero-conversion. From 4724 patients who were studied at the baseline, in 68 centres, only 13 patients were found to have sero-converted. These sero-conversions occurred in 7 hospitals within 5 different countries. Possible routes of transmission and risk factors are described with respect to the individual centres and good practice recommendations based on current evidence presented.

Austria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The organisation of paediatric renal care in different European countries: results of the PAC project.

The Paediatric Access Care (PAC) project, organised by the Research Board of EDTNA/ERCA, aimed to study the organisation of paediatric renal care in Europe and to investigate the practice of access care for both haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) paediatric patients. This paper reports on the organisation of paediatric renal care. The majority of paediatric renal care units were located in specific paediatric units of university hospitals. Most of the centres had offered HD, PD and transplantation (Tx) for more than 20 years. Half of nursing staff had qualifications in paediatric and renal nursing. Most of the centres offered an extended multidisciplinary team approach with the family actively involved in the care of the patient. PD and HD were equally used. Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) was offered as the standard PD treatment in 2 out of 3 centres. The HD schedule mostly utilised was 3 x 4 hours a week. Half of the patients were on the Tx waiting list and one third of registered patients were transplanted in 2004.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paediatric access care in Europe: results of the Paediatric Access Care (PAC) project.

Part two of the Paediatric Access Care (PAC) project, a research project of EDTNA/ERCA, investigated PAC in HD and PD patients including the policy for the creation and maintenance of access, and the registration of access related complications that occurred during the registration year of 2004. Data were collected from 39 centres of 13 European countries and included 379 paediatric patients. Fatal complications, resulting in terminating the use of the access, were noted in 59 HD and 22 PD patients. Paediatric access care varied considerably between European centres and in many areas consensus or best practice evidence is still lacking. There is a need for recommendations for the paediatric renal nurse, handling access care in the paediatric renal population.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗
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A new Internet resource for chronic kidney disease patients.

This paper focuses on the development of a portal in the World Wide Web (WWW), which captures and locates quality information for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It examines the problems patients face when accessing and understanding information gleaned from Web sites and describes an idea from a Research Board Member to facilitate patient access to quality information. The idea germinated into the development of a patient specific Web site, providing one stop access and links to appropriate CKD information, assessed by patients and health professionals. Collaboration between the EDTNA/ERCA Research Board and CEAPIR the European Federation of Kidney Patients has enhanced the project.

Computer Literacy↗
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Noise and the classical musician.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that noise exposure may cause hearing loss in classical musicians. DESIGN: Comparison of hearing levels between two risk groups identified during the study by measuring sound levels. SETTING: Symphony orchestra and occupational health department in the west Midlands. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing level as measured by clinical pure tone audiometry. RESULTS: Trumpet and piccolo players received a noise dose of 160% and 124%, respectively, over mean levels during part of the study. Comparison of the hearing levels of 18 woodwind and brass musicians with 18 string musicians matched for age and sex did not show a significant difference in hearing, the mean difference in the hearing levels at the high (2, 4, and 8 KHz) audiometric frequencies being 1.02 dB (95% confidence interval -2.39 to 4.43). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is a potential for occupational hearing loss in classical orchestral musicians.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

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Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of a collaborative immunisation programme in an inner city practice.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the impact of a collaborative immunisation programme, between an inner city practice and the Eastern Health Board (EHB). DESIGN: An observational study using a computer database formed from practice and EHB records. SETTING: One Dublin inner city practice with three partners located in an area with a deprived socio-economic profile. SUBJECTS: All patients in the practice aged more than six months and less than five years identified both from practice registers and opportunistically during study period. RESULTS: 342 children, older than six months and less than five years were identified at start and 464 (a 36% increase) by end of the programme. Uptake changed for DPT from 30% before, to 57% after the programme (p < 0.0005), for DT from 15% to 13%, for Hib from 7% to 50% (p < 0.0005) and for MMR (over 15 months) from 53% to 75% (p < 0.0005). Uptake of the DPT, Hib and MMR was 35% among GMS eligible, 51% among GMS ineligible (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: A collaborative immunisation programme significantly improved practice uptake rates. These improved rates still do not attain declared national targets. To achieve these targets, radical overhaul of the immunisation service is required.

Cooperative Behavior↗