Irish journal of medical science
-
The reasons underlying prolonged waiting lists for surgery in Ireland are multifactorial. Patient-related factors including non-attendances contribute in part to the current waiting times. ⋯ While cancellations remained high even after our intervention, a simple phone call was effective and more than halved our cancellation rate. Future efforts need to focus on increasing awareness of patient responsibility for attending scheduled appointments and procedures.
-
Improvements in early detection, screening and treatment of cancer have resulted in a significant improvement in cancer mortality and an increase in the number of cancer survivors globally. Accordingly, a significant rise in the number of cancer survivors in Ireland has been observed. The surveillance of survivors of gastrointestinal malignancies in Ireland is heterogeneous and represents an unmet need for standardisation. ⋯ We hope that this initiative may help to homogenise survivorship practices in this cohort of Irish patients, and may support the implementation of survivorship initiatives by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
-
Essential hypertension (EH) was associated with mitochondrial tRNA mutations. ⋯ To facilitate future molecular diagnosis, the 3261A > G mutation should be included in the list of hereditary risk factors. Our findings will aid in the counseling of EH families.
-
The study aimed to compare the concentric and eccentric muscle performance of the hip abductor and adductor muscles at a high angular velocity in football players with osteitis pubis and healthy players. ⋯ The present study showed that football players with osteitis pubis had a reduction in neuromuscular reaction. Therefore, the reaction time of these muscles is critical, and the reduction could result in magnified stresses and/or poorly distributed loads across the musculotendinous structure of the anterior pelvis, which presumably could lead to the development of osteitis pubis. Incorporate findings of the current study in clinical practice could afford critical information when evaluating the hip muscles in football players with osteitis pubis, for pre-screening, enhancing the rehabilitation programs, and guiding the decision of returning to sports after injury.
-
Ireland has over half a million family carers who provide care to a family member or loved one. Internationally, it is recognised that general practitioners (GPs) have a critical role to play in the identification and support of family carers, but, to date, no guidelines exist in Ireland to support GPs in this role. ⋯ The findings suggest important gaps in terms of the role of GPs vis-à-vis their support of family carers. GPs themselves indicated that they need both greater clarity regarding their role with family carers and more training and resources in this regard. A requirement for more streamlined communication and information provision was also highlighted by both GPs and carers. Carers reported a need for more information on the role of GPs in supporting carers as well as more support in addressing, in particular, the psychological complexities of carer identity and help seeking.