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Biomedical subjects

Peggy Edwards

Publications and source records attributed to Peggy Edwards.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Promoting correct site surgery: a national approach.

Surgical procedures undertaken at the wrong site represent a potentially devastating event for everyone involved. Wrong site surgery is defined as surgery performed at the incorrect anatomical site--either the wrong side (left leg instead of right) or the incorrect anatomical location or level (incorrect finger on the correct hand). The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) last year issued a joint alert (NPSA 2005a) to promote correct site surgery. This aims to clarify the steps required and ensure that the intended and correct surgical procedure is performed on the correct patient at the correct site.

England↗
PubMed2005

The National Patient Safety Agency and theatre practitioners.

Theatre practitioners have been involved in patient safety for years. Each time you check a patient into the department you are using a risk management tool: the check-list. Each time you check the position of a patient on the operating table, check their consent form, ensure the sterile field is maintained and that the instrument count is correct, you are intrinsically involved in patient safety.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed2005

Disposable surgical face masks: a systematic review.

UNLABELLED: Surgical face masks were originally developed to contain and filter droplets of microorganisms expelled from the mouth and nasopharynx of healthcare workers during surgery, thereby providing protection for the patient. However, there are several ways in which surgical face masks could potentially contribute to contamination of the surgical wound. Surgical face masks have recently been advocated as a protective barrier between the surgical team and the patient, but the role of the surgical face mask as an effective measure in preventing surgical wound infections is questionable. The aim of the systematic review is to identify and review all randomised controlled trials evaluating disposable surgical face masks worn by the surgical team during clean surgery to prevent postoperative surgical wound infection. All relevant publications about disposable surgical face masks were sought through the Specialised Trials Register of the Cochrane Wounds Group (March 2001). Manufacturers and distributors of disposable surgical masks as well as professional organisations including the National Association of Theatre Nurses and the Association of Operating Room Nurses were contacted for details of unpublished and ongoing studies. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing the use of disposable surgical masks with the use of no mask were included. MAIN RESULTS: Two randomised controlled trials were included involving a total of 1453 patients. In a small trial there was a trend towards masks being associated with fewer infections, whereas in a large trial there was no difference in infection rates between the masked and unmasked group. Neither trial accounted for cluster randomisation in the analysis. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: From the limited results it is unclear whether wearing surgical face masks results in any harm or benefit to the patient undergoing clean surgery.

Antisepsis↗
PubMed2005

Incidentally.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Building healthy public policy.

Policies in literacy and health need to address two perspectives: how basic literacy skills influence the health of populations and individuals; and health literacy--the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. There are three potential areas for action to improve literacy and health literacy: the health system, the education system, and within the broader sphere of culture and society. Despite some increasing attention in the last 20 years, low literacy levels remain a major problem in Canada. Policies need to be sensitive to culture, especially among Aboriginal peoples, Francophones and new Canadians. Public policies are needed to: Improve literacy outcomes (for example, support for a pan-Canadian literacy strategy, early childhood education and family literacy programs, and efforts to reduce high school drop out). Improve health literacy (for example, support integrated policy and program development across sectors, integrated research and knowledge translation initiatives, and efforts to build links between literacy and health networks). Reduce disparities by strengthening levels of literacy and health literacy among vulnerable groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

As the ship sails forth.

This concluding article comments on what we learned from the conference, what we still need to know, and what we need to do now. It describes what participants said about the impact of the conference and the follow-up steps that have been taken so far. In terms of what we learned, there was agreement on the importance of culture in understanding literacy and health literacy; the importance of context; the integral relationship between literacy and health literacy and the concept of "empowerment;" the value of efforts to improve health through literacy and health literacy; and the need for collaboration. We need more and better information on how our various efforts are working; the cost of low literacy; the links between health, education, and lifelong learning; the needs and strengths of Aboriginal people, and the perspectives of Francophone and ethnocultural groups. Specific topics worthy of pursuit are suggested. They are followed by a list of recommendations from the conference related to focussing on language and culture, and to building best practices, knowledge, and healthy public policy. The paper presents some findings from the conference evaluation, which suggests that the conference met its goals. It concludes by reporting on actions that have been taken to implement the conference recommendations, including the establishment of a Health Literacy Expert Committee and the submission of several funding proposals.

Canada↗