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Biomedical subjects

Paul Roderick

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Roderick.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

An exploration looking at the impact of domiciliary and day hospital delivery of stroke rehabilitation on informal carers.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of two methods of post-hospital stroke rehabilitation on both carers' perceptions of the health services offered and their quality of life. SETTING: East Dorset Health Authority. SUBJECTS: Forty-six informal carers were recruited from a sample of 106, initially identified from stroke patients participating in a larger randomized controlled trial. DESIGN: Qualitative methods. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were used at baseline and six months to explore carers' perception of a good therapy, the advantages and disadvantages of the different services and their fulfilment with the services. In-depth thematic analysis was carried out to explore the impact of the two different methods of service delivery on carers' quality of life. RESULTS: Day hospitals provided carers with respite opportunities, whilst domiciliary stroke teams provided carers with better educational opportunities to be involved in therapy. No qualitative difference was found in the impact that the different services had on carers' quality of life, which were influenced by factors such as the degree of disruption that caring had on their lives, the loss of a shared life and the availability of social support. Ultimately, carers saw the services as providing benefit for survivors and not themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Domiciliary stroke teams provided informal stroke carers with skills that could help improve postdischarge stroke rehabilitation amongst stroke survivors. Informal carers also benefited from the respite elements of day hospital. A mixed model using both domiciliary care and day hospital care, could provide carers with the benefits of education, convenience and respite.

Aged↗

EQ-5D versus SF-6D in an older, chronically Ill patient group.

Choosing between preference-based instruments of health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in particular situations is an important area for research. Even where instruments can be assumed to be measuring the same thing, they may not be interchangeable. The study presented investigates the extent to which EQ-5D and SF-6D instruments are interchangeable in an older, chronically ill patient group undergoing haemodialysis. Head-to-head comparisons were made using 'practicality', 'descriptive validity', 'empirical validity', mean utilities and associated distributions. Overall it was difficult to choose between instruments on the basis of descriptive or empirical validity, since both performed similarly. Important differences were, however, found relating to practicality: a significantly higher response rate in favour of EQ-5D; and lower levels of missing data to derive health states. Non-response was significantly associated with age and co-morbidity of respondents. We suggest that in patients undergoing haemodialysis, and potentially other older chronically ill patient groups, EQ-5D is the primary preference-based generic HR-QOL instrument.

Chronic Disease↗

A population-based study of the incidence and outcomes of diagnosed chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the incidence rate and prognosis of detected chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a defined population. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all new cases of CKD from Southampton and South-West Hampshire Health Authority (population base, 405,000) determined by a persistently increased serum creatinine (SCr) level (>or=1.7 mg/dL [>or=150 micromol/L] for 6 months) identified from chemical pathology records. Follow-up was for a mean of 5.5 years for survival, cause of death, and acceptance to renal replacement therapy (RRT). RESULTS: The annual incidence rate of detected CKD was 1,701 per million population (pmp; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1,613 to 1,793) and 1,071 pmp (95% CI, 1,001 to 1,147) in those younger than 80 years. There was a steep age gradient; median age was 77 years. The man-woman rate ratio was 1.6 (95% CI, 1.4 to 1.8), with a male excess in all age groups older than 40 years. Incidence increased in areas with greater socioeconomic deprivation. Median survival was 35 months. Age, SCr level, and deprivation index were all significantly associated with survival. Standardized mortality ratios were 36-fold in those aged 16 to 49 years, 12-fold in those aged 50 to 64 years, and more than 2-fold in those older than 65 years. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the most common cause of death (46%). Only 4% of patients were accepted to RRT. CONCLUSION: The incidence of diagnosed CKD is common, especially in the elderly, and is greater in more deprived areas. Prognosis is poor, with CVD prominent. More research is needed to assess the effectiveness and costs of increasing referral to nephrologists of patients with CKD.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of apparent efficiency of haemodialysis satellite units in England and Wales using data envelopment analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To expand care for chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients throughout England and Wales by studying two aspects of service delivery that are important: to identify relative performance of haemodialysis satellite units (HDSUs), and understand the factors that influence the performance. As a first step toward these aspects, this work reports a study of apparent comparative efficiency in the delivery of HDSUs and demonstrates the potential of data envelopment analysis (DEA). METHODS: DEA was applied to data obtained from a national survey of the organizational structures and processes of delivering care at HDSUs in England and Wales. RESULTS: DEA was found to be a judicious approach for performance assessment of HDSUs, although valid results depend on appropriate model specification and quality of data available. The available data were not of sufficient comprehensiveness or quality to produce definitive results but suggested that overall efficiency could improve; these data suggested by as much as 10% overall (mean efficiency score 90%) and variably within the sample (46 [65%] that HDSUs were potentially inefficient, the lowest unit scoring 38%). CONCLUSIONS: Addressing questions raised by comparative inefficiency could help plans to improve capacity to deal with the growing demand for HD delivered in HDSUs. The application was an important start and needs to be followed by further research to establish model validity and obtain authoritative results.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

A simulation to evaluate screening for Helicobacter pylori infection in the prevention of peptic ulcers and gastric cancers.

A discrete event simulation model has evaluated a screening programme for Helicobacter pylori infection (H. pylori) in which individuals under the age of 50 years would be screened once. Eradication of H. pylori would reduce the peptic ulcer risk immediately and the gastric cancer risk after a fixed delay. The data were derived from published databases and peer reviewed papers. The simulation model, using variance reduction techniques, predicted that a screening programme would reduce morbidity and deaths but could cost around 19 million pounds for England and Wales in the first year of screening. A factorial design analysis showed the sensitivity of key variables. An increase in the opportunistic testing was found significantly to reduce the impact of screening.

Adult↗

The development of a simulation model of the treatment of coronary heart disease.

A discrete event simulation models the progress of patients who have had a coronary event, through their treatment pathways and subsequent coronary events. The main risk factors in the model are age, sex, history of previous events and the extent of the coronary vessel disease. The model parameters are based on data collected from epidemiological studies of incidence and prognosis, efficacy studies. national surveys and treatment audits. The simulation results were validated against different sources of data. The initial results show that increasing revascularisation has considerable implications for resource use but has little impact on patient mortality.

Aged↗

Late referral for end-stage renal disease: a region-wide survey in the south west of England.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of patients referred for renal replacement therapy (RRT) at a late stage of disease appears to be similar to that first described nearly 20 years ago. This study investigated the current scale of the problem in a large region in England, identifying the prior health care, patient characteristics, referral pattern, and outcomes of those accepted onto RRT. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-one (88%) out of 411 patients accepted for RRT in six renal units in the South and West Region of the UK between 1 June 1996 and 31 May 1997 were studied retrospectively. We examined the history of chronic renal failure, referral path to nephrologist, management of chronic renal failure (CRF) and patient outcomes. Patients were categorized as 'late' if they were referred to the renal unit either within 4 months or within 1 month of requiring RRT. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four (35%) patients were referred within 4 months of RRT, and 84 (23%) within 1 month. The main differences between patients referred later and other patients was seen for those referred within 1 month. These patients were older and had more co-morbidity, significantly worse laboratory parameters at the start of RRT, were less likely to have received standard treatments for CRF, had less permanent dialysis access in place at the start of RRT (18% vs 47%, P=0.001), and had a significantly longer hospital stay (18 vs 10 days, P=0.001). Seventy-four (19%) patients died in the first 6 months: 27 (32%) in the 1-month group, 46 (16%) in all others (P=0.002). We found no evidence that patients referred late had defaulted from nephrology follow-up or had an excess of rapidly progressive disease. Though data were incomplete, there was evidence of prior CRF of over 1 year in all late referral groups. CONCLUSION: Nearly a quarter of patients are referred for specialist nephrology treatment at a very late stage, within 1 month of RRT. They are less likely to receive interventions that could alter the progression of CRF or reduce its associated co-morbidity, have a worse clinical state at the start of RRT, longer hospitalization and poorer survival. These differences were much less marked for those referred within 1-4 months of starting RRT, although this is an insufficient time to prepare for RRT. Further research is needed to determine the missed opportunities for more proactive diagnosis and management of CRF.

Aged↗

How many patients with haematological malignancy need the facilities offered by a district general hospital?

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to study the utilization of specialist clinical services for haematological malignancy in a defined patient population. Patients with haematological malignancy are mostly aged over 65 years. Demographic projections for the United Kingdom suggest that the incidence of haematological malignancy will increase by 20 per cent in the next 20 years, mostly as a result of demographic change. METHODS: A prevalence survey was carried out of out-patients with haematological malignancy resident in the New Forest area and their utilization of haematology clinical services at two sites. RESULTS: One hundred and ten patients (60 male, 50 female) were identified over three months: 87 (79 per cent) were aged over 65 years. Follow-up and therapy were carried out at a community hospital at Lymington, 19 miles from Southampton, in 83 patients (79 per cent, 45 male, 38 female, median age 74.9 years), and at one of two large hospitals in Southampton in 27 patients (21 per cent, 15 male, 12 female, median age 73.8 years). Attendance for more complex treatment at Southampton was necessary for 10 patients (9 per cent) in the Lymington group. Most interventions in both groups (356/379; 94 per cent) were basic, and were available and undertaken at either study site. Only 23/379 (6 per cent) of interventions required by the patient sample were more complex. CONCLUSIONS: Most haematological malignancies are chronic disorders with a simple clinical management plan, requiring periodic clinical monitoring. A consultant-led haematology clinic supported by access to multipurpose day treatment facilities in the community hospital allowed 75 per cent of patients to receive their care at a more geographically convenient location, important for conditions in which 79 per cent of patients are aged over 65 years, and in which this proportion will increase. Only a minority of cases require care in specialist hospital haematology units; the majority can be managed using community-based haematological follow-up care. Future studies are needed to assess cost-effectiveness and the impact on primary care of increasing the use of community-based treatment facilities.

Aged↗