Clin Med
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The burden of liver disease in the UK is increasing and much of this is managed in district general hospitals (DGHs). Previous studies of liver services have focused on specialist units. This study assessed the provision of liver services in non-specialist units. ⋯ Liver databases and outcomes are rarely kept. There are significant shortfalls in the provision of liver services across DGHs. This supports the need for managed clinical networks and data collection as proposed in the National Plan for Liver Services.
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Music has soothed the souls of human beings for centuries and it has helped people recover from ailments since ancient times. Today, there is still a widespread interest in the relationship between music, affect and mental illness. This article is aimed at reviewing these complex relationships, starting from a wide perspective on the neurobiology of emotions, perceptions and music language to a detailed analysis of psychopathology in famous musicians.
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Healthcare chaplaincy research seems further advanced in the USA. Here a US patient satisfaction with chaplaincy instrument (PSI-C-R) was used in a London NHS foundation hospital with a multi-faith chaplaincy team and population. A version of the instrument was also generated for the bereaved. ⋯ It proved only partly reliable, but in three separate surveys a cluster of highly rated factors emerged, as in earlier studies: chaplains' prayer, competence, listening skills and spiritual sensitivity. Low-rated factors and qualitative data highlighted areas for improvement. Disappointing response rates arose from patient acuity, ethical concerns about standard follow-up protocols, and the Western Christian origins of the instrument which requires further revision for multi-faith settings, or the design of new instruments.