BMJ : British medical journal
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Multicenter Study
Appendicitis, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and subsequent risk of ulcerative colitis: cohort studies in Sweden and Denmark.
To determine whether the repeatedly observed low risk of ulcerative colitis after appendicectomy is related to the appendicectomy itself or the underlying morbidity, notably appendicitis or mesenteric lymphadenitis. ⋯ In individuals with or without a familial predisposition to inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis and mesenteric lymphadenitis during childhood or adolescence are linked to a significantly reduced risk of ulcerative colitis in adulthood. Appendicectomy itself does not protect against ulcerative colitis.
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Multicenter Study
Evaluation of modernisation of adult critical care services in England: time series and cost effectiveness analysis.
To evaluate the impact and cost effectiveness of a programme to transform adult critical care throughout England initiated in late 2000. ⋯ Substantial improvements in NHS critical care have occurred in England since 2000. While it is unclear which factors were responsible, collectively the interventions represented a highly cost effective use of NHS resources.
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Comparative Study
Reliability of self reported smoking status by pregnant women for estimating smoking prevalence: a retrospective, cross sectional study.
To determine what impact reliance on self reported smoking status during pregnancy has on both the accuracy of smoking prevalence figures and access to smoking cessation services for pregnant women in Scotland. ⋯ Reliance on self reporting to identify pregnant smokers significantly underestimates the number of pregnant smokers in Scotland and results in a failure to detect over 2400 smokers each year who are therefore not offered smoking cessation services.
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Multicenter Study
Meeting information needs of patients with incurable progressive disease and their families in South Africa and Uganda: multicentre qualitative study.
To explore the information needs of patients with progressive, life limiting disease and their family caregivers in South Africa and Uganda and to inform clinical practice and policy in this emerging field. ⋯ Lack of information was a major theme for both patients and carers, who had important unanswered questions relating to living with a progressive incurable disease. Evidence based recommendations for clinicians are presented, including the proactive provision of information tailored to individual patients and families.