Irish journal of medical science
-
Review
Behaviour, Belief and Impairment (BBI): a diagnostic procedure for eating disorders in primary care.
Eating disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially among adolescents. Recognition and assessment of their clinical presentation can be challenging for clinicians in primary care settings, where consultation time is short and experience with eating disorders is limited. The early detection and appropriate referral of adolescents with eating disorders are essential for timely management. ⋯ The authors propose a unique model of assessment entitled Behaviour, Belief and Impairment or BBI, which provides a simple, time-efficient assessment that can assist in the early detection of an eating disorder. The BBI assessment model conceptualises eating disorders in three domains: the observed behaviour, the underlying belief of the patient that drives the behaviour and the subsequent physical or psychological impairment.
-
Dental services in Ireland are delivered in a mixed public-private system but the majority of dental care is paid for out-of-pocket by individuals. Ireland is not unusual in the global context where public subsidisation for oral healthcare is limited in many countries. This is despite the fact that oral health plays an important role in well-being and despite international evidence on the negative impact of user fees on utilisation of beneficial healthcare. However, there has been little up-to-date assessment of the prices faced by individuals for a range of non-acute care services in Ireland, including dental care. This paper presents an up-to-date assessment of private dental prices in Ireland for a range of preventive, primary, and complex services based on a nationally representative survey. ⋯ Results showed that in addition to there being an uneven supply of dentists across the country, dental prices also vary with some notable variations by region and type of service. In particular, dental practices located in border counties, and those in rural areas typically show lower mean prices relative to non-border counties and urban areas. These factors need to be considered when planning how to reduce inequalities in access to oral health services in Ireland.
-
Despite the increased uptake of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) for treating severely calcified coronary lesions, there is limited patient-level data examining the effect of IVL on quality of life, symptomatology, and outcomes beyond 30 days. We sought to assess demographics, procedural characteristics, outcomes, and impact of IVL on patient-reported angina after a minimum of 6 months follow-up. ⋯ Coronary IVL is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for treating heavily calcified coronary lesions. This cohort shows high procedural success and a significant reduction in CCS angina at follow-up.
-
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoimmune disease with periodic fever attacks recurring with mutations in the MEFV gene and chronic inflammation. The new molecule which is formed as a result of the chemical changes made by oxidative free radicals in the albumin molecule during ischemic events is called ischemia modified albumin (IMA). ⋯ IMA can be used as a predictor similar to cardiovascular risk factors and it is a precious marker for inflammation. The use of IMA in these fields and the multi-centred and comparative studies about predictability of it may contribute to science.
-
Perinatal mortality multi-disciplinary team meetings (PM-MDTMs) offer a forum for multi-disciplinary discussion of poor perinatal outcomes. They ensure a thorough understanding of individual cases and present an important learning opportunity for healthcare professionals (HCPs). Attendance at PM-MDTMs in this tertiary maternity hospital has been low. ⋯ Communication regarding PM-MDTMs and their learning opportunities needs to improve. Lack of engagement is likely compounded by high workloads and staffing levels, but these issues should be surmountable.