| | Medical Ethics: Medical Students’ Perspectives on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide and Their Views on Legalising These Practices in SA | Medical Ethics: Medical Students’ Perspectives on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide and Their Views on Legalising These Practices in SA
Medical Ethics: Medical Students’ Perspectives on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide and Their Views on Legalising These Practices in SA
Overview
Euthanasia/physician assisted suicide have been a controversial and sometimes taboo topic for a long time, not only in SA but also internationally. A recent (SA) judicial case has seen the topic debated again. Consensus on accepting or abolishing these practices in SA has yet to be reached. All relevant role players need to be adequately engaged before policy can be informed.
The objectives were to determine the views of future doctors (medical students) regarding euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and to ascertain their stance on its legalisation in South Africa (SA).
Many factors influenced participants’ responses, but differences in opinion between and within the various religious groups were particularly evident in the responses received/ More than half the respondents in this study were open to legalising euthanasia/PAS, substantially more than in previous studies. However, only 41.9% of respondents would consider performing euthanasia/ PAS, for certain patients. Views of other healthcare workers as well as the public are required before policy can be informed.
Acknowledgement
Authors R K Jacobs and M Hendricks
Journal SAMJ RESEARCH | 3 | | R 425.00 |  |
| | Medical Ethics: Challenges in Expanding Access to Dialysis in South Africa—Expensive Modalities, Cost Constraints and Human Rights | Medical Ethics: Challenges in Expanding Access to Dialysis in South Africa—Expensive Modalities, Cost Constraints and Human Rights
Medical Ethics: Challenges in Expanding Access to Dialysis in South Africa—Expensive Modalities, Cost Constraints and Human Rights
Medical Ethics: Challenges in Expanding Access to Dialysis in South Africa—Expensive Modalities, Cost Constraints and Human Rights
Overview
South Africa is a country with two distinct health sectors, which are both characterised by inequalities. Within this context, patients with end stage renal disease face unique and sometimes impenetrable barriers to accessing dialysis. There are a number of reasons for this situation, which include the South African government’s endorsement of discordant, unequal policies, which disadvantage the most vulnerable; a lack of robust national guidelines; and divisive rationing practices, which are ad hoc and place the burden of responsibility for rationing dialysis on the clinician.
In this paper, we trace the socio-economic mechanisms of how we have come to be in this situation, and overlay this with a detailed examination of South African legislation. Finally, we make comprehensive practical recommendations for rectifying the situation, which include engagement with key stakeholders, public-private partnerships, and more equitable funding mechanisms.
Acknowledgement
Authors Harriet Etheredge and June Fabian
Journal Healthcare (Basel) Volume 5 Issue 3
| 3 | | R 455.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Because I want to be informed, to be part of the decision-making”: Patients’ insights on informed consent practices by healthcare professionals in South Africa | Medical Ethics: Because I want to be informed, to be part of the decision-making”: Patients’ insights on informed consent practices by healthcare professionals in South Africa
Medical Ethics: Because I want to be informed, to be part of the decision-making”: Patients’ insights on informed consent practices by healthcare professionals in South Africa
Medical Ethics: Because I want to be informed, to be part of the decision-making”: Patients’ insights on informed consent practices by healthcare professionals in South Africa
Overview
Informed consent (IC) is a legally enforceable right in South Africa based on constitutionally protected rights to bodily integrity and well-being. In terms of the law, patients cannot be involved in medical treatment or research without IC. Healthcare providers must inform patients about diagnosis, risks, benefits, treatment options, and right of refusal in a language that patients understand based their literacy level. This study reports an empirical study on patients’ perceptions of IC as practiced by doctors and nurses in South Africa.
This study reveals that South African patients are aware of the right to IC, but many were vulnerable due to indigence. Barriers to IC include poverty, language, and low educational level. South African patients prefer disclosure of all material risks, better communication skills by healthcare workers, and a shift toward informed or shared healthcare decision-making.
Acknowledgement
Author Chima SC
Journal Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Suppl:S46-56.
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
| 3 | | R 455.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Sex differences in medico-legal action against doctors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. | Medical Ethics: Sex differences in medico-legal action against doctors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Medical Ethics: Sex differences in medico-legal action against doctors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Overview:
Methods: Studies reporting original data, written in English or French, examining the association between sex and medico-legal action against doctors were included. Two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics and outcome data from the full texts of the studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A random effect meta-analysis model was used to summarize and assess the effect of doctors' sex on medico-legal action. Extracted outcomes included disciplinary action by a medical regulatory board, malpractice experience, referral to a medical regulatory body, complaints received by a healthcare complaints body, criminal cases, and medico-legal matter with a medical defence organisation.
Results:
Overall, 32 reports examining the association between doctors' sex and medico-legal action were included in the systematic review (n=4,054,551), of which 27 found that male doctors were more likely to have experienced medico-legal action. 19 reports were included in the meta-analysis (n=3,794,486, including 20,666 cases). Results showed male doctors had nearly two and a half times the odds of being subject to medico-legal action than female doctors. Heterogeneity was present in all meta-analyses.
Conclusion:
Male doctors are more likely to have had experienced medico-legal actions compared to female doctors. This finding is robust internationally, across outcomes of varying severity, and over time.
Acknowledgement
Author:
Unwin E, Woolf K, Wadlow C, Potts HW, Dacre J
Journal:
BMC medicine.
Publisher:
Crossmark
https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12916-015-0413-5?site=bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com
| 3 | | R 400.00 | |
| | Standard of care and guidelines in prevention and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: medico-legal implications. | Standard of care and guidelines in prevention and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: medico-legal implications.
Standard of care and guidelines in prevention and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism: medico-legal implications.
Overview
Concerning recent Italian laws and jurisprudential statements, guidelines application involves several difficulties in clinical practice, regarding prevention, diagnosis and therapy of venous thromboembolism. International scientific community systematically developed statements about this disease in order to optimize the available resources in prophylaxis, diagnosis and therapy. Incongruous prevention, missed or delayed diagnosis and/or inadequate treatment of this disease can frequently give rise to medico-legal litigation.
Acknowledgement
Author:
Vassalini M, Verzeletti A, De Ferrari F
Journal:
Monaldi archives for chest disease
Publisher:
PIME Editrice
http://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/25/728
| 3 | | R 430.00 | |
| | Denial of abortion in legal settings. | Denial of abortion in legal settings.
Denial of abortion in legal settings.
Overview
Background: Factors such as poverty, stigma, lack of knowledge about the legal status of abortion, and geographical distance from a provider may prevent women from accessing safe abortion services, even where abortion is legal. Data on the consequences of abortion denial outside of the US, however, are scarce.
Methods: In this article we present data from studies among women seeking legal abortion services in four countries (Colombia, Nepal, South Africa and Tunisia) to assess sociodemographic characteristics of legal abortion seekers, as well as the frequency and reasons that women are denied abortion care.
Results: The proportion of women denied abortion services and the reasons for which they were denied varied widely by country. In Colombia, 2% of women surveyed did not receive the abortions they were seeking; in South Africa, 45% of women did not receive abortions on the day they were seeking abortion services. In both Tunisia and Nepal, 26% of women were denied their wanted abortions.
Conclusions: The denial of legal abortion services may have serious consequences for women's health and wellbeing. Additional evidence on the risk factors for presenting later in pregnancy, predictors of seeking unsafe illegal abortion, and the health consequences of illegal abortion and childbirth after an unwanted pregnancy is needed. Such data would assist the development of programmes and policies aimed at increasing access to and utilisation of safe abortion services where abortion is legal, and harm reduction models for women who are unable to access legal abortion services.
Acknowledgement
Author:
Gerdts C, DePiñeres T, Hajri S, Harries J, Hossain A, Puri M, Vohra D, Foster DG
Journal:
The journal of family planning and reproductive health care.
Publisher:
BMJ Publishing Group Limited | 3 | | R 420.00 | |
| | Acute Alcohol Use and Injury Patterns in Young Adult Prehospital Patients, | Acute Alcohol Use and Injury Patterns in Young Adult Prehospital Patients,
Acute Alcohol Use and Injury Patterns in Young Adult Prehospital Patients,
Overview
Alcohol consumption has been clearly revealed by emergency department (ED) based studies to be risk factor to sustaining an injury. However, it remains unclear how acute alcohol consumption affects injury patterns to various body regions.
This study was therefore carried out to determine if acute alcohol consumption is associated with differences in injury pattern among young adult patients with traumatic injuries presenting to emergency medical services (EMS). The data for this study was a cross sectional retrospective review of prehospital patient care reports (PCRs) that evaluated injured patients who presented to a collegiate EMS agency from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. More so, PCRs were reviewed independently by two abstractors to determine if the patient was documented to have acutely consumed alcohol proximate to his/her injury.
Results from the findings nevertheless revealed that alcohol users were more likely to present with injury secondary to assault, fall/trip, as well as an unknown mechanism of injury.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: David J. Barton BS, Frank W. Tift MD, Lauren E. Cournoyer BS, Julie T. Vieth MBChB & Korin B. Hudson MD
JOURNAL: Prehospital Emergency Care
PUBLISHERS: Taylor & Francis online
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10903127.2015.1076101 | 3 | | R 350.00 | |
| | Chiba Study of Mother and Childrens Health (C-Mach). | Chiba Study of Mother and Childrens Health (C-Mach).
Chiba Study of Mother and Childrens Health (C-Mach).
Overview
There are recent indications that dramatic changes in social and living conditions have led to an increase in allergy-related and lifestyle-related diseases as well as the emergence of mental health issues. Also, findings from Epidemiological researches that were carried out in European countries reveal that the nutritional environment from the fetal period to early childhood might affect the risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood.
This study is therefore a birth cohort study based on the DOHaD hypothesis and involves multiomics analysis. The objective of this study was also to explore the effects of genetic and environmental factors particularly the foetal environment and post birth living environment on children’s health, and to identify potential biomarkers for these effects. The participants of this study were 433 women who were pregnant for less than 13 weeks and underwent an examination in one of the three hospitals that were used for the study.
The preliminary outcomes of the study were nevertheless obesity, endocrine and metabolic disorders, as well as developmental disorders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Kenichi Sakurai, Hidenobu Miyaso, Akifumi Eguchi, Yoshiharu Matsuno, Midori Yamamoto, Emiko Todaka, Hideoki Fukuoka, Akira Hata, Chisato Mori
JOURNAL: Bmj Open
PUBLISHERS: group.bmj.com
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ | 3 | | R 340.00 | |
| | Creating a Culture of Mindfulness in Medicine. | Creating a Culture of Mindfulness in Medicine.
Creating a Culture of Mindfulness in Medicine.
OVERVIEW
It is becoming increasingly complex to provide primary care since there is always the need to frequently address multiple medical issues at each patient visit. However, well-documented challenges faced by primary care clinicians have brought growing awareness to the issues of physician wellness and burnout and the potential subsequent impact on patients.
Thus, the objective of this study was to promote the cultivation of mindful awareness throughout our health system, creating a culture of mindfulness in medicine. During this research, a systems-level strategy was developed to promote health and resilience for clinicians and patients by preparing a group of clinician leaders to serve as catalysts to practice and teach mindfulness. The strategy nonetheless included three major steps, namely: (1) Select 5 primary care leaders to help foster mindful¬ness within both health care delivery and education; (2) Provide funds for these leaders to attend advanced mindfulness training designed specifically for clinicians; and (3) Foster mindfulness within our health system and beyond via collaborative planning meetings and seed money for implemen¬tation of projects.
Results indicated that all 5 leaders endorsed the personal value of the mindfulness training, with some describ¬ing it as life-changing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: Charlene Luchterhand, David Rakel, Cynthia Haq, Lisa Grant, DO, Angela Byars-Winston, Steve Tyska, Kathleen Engles,
JOURNAL: Health Innovations
PUBLISHER: Health Policy Publishing
URL: http://www.healthpolicypublishing.com
| 3 | | R 400.00 | |
| | Disability pension due to common mental disorders and subsequent suicidal behaviour: a population-based prospective cohort study. | Disability pension due to common mental disorders and subsequent suicidal behaviour: a population-based prospective cohort study.
Disability pension due to common mental disorders and subsequent suicidal behaviour: a population-based prospective cohort study.
Overview
Disability Pension (DP) is a significant public health concern in many European countries. To this effect, adverse health outcomes, including suicide, in individuals on disability pension (DP) due to mental diagnoses have been reported. Surprisingly, scientific knowledge on possible risk factors for suicidal behaviour in this group, such as age, gender, underlying DP diagnoses, comorbidity and DP duration and grade, is sparse.
The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the associations of different measures of DP due to common mental disorders (CMD) with subsequent suicidal behaviour, considering gender and age differences. This study was nonetheless a population-based prospective cohort one based on Swedish nationwide registers. During this study, a cohort of 46 515 individuals aged 19–64 years on DP due to CMD throughout 2005 was followed-up for 5 years.
Results from this study however indicated that multivariate analyses showed that a main DP diagnosis of ‘stress related mental disorders’ was associated with a lower risk of subsequent suicidal behavior than depressive disorders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Syed Ghulam Rahman, Kristina Alexanderson, Jussi Jokinen, Ellenor Mittendorfer Rutz
JOURNAL: BMJ Open
PUBLISHER: BMJ
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ | 3 | | R 420.00 | |
| | Discrimination in the Workplace of People with Depressive Disorders. | Discrimination in the Workplace of People with Depressive Disorders.
Discrimination in the Workplace of People with Depressive Disorders.
Overview
The quality of an employment can contribute to the recovery of people with mental health problems. As a matter of fact, there exist evidences that employment is beneficial for people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) across different cultures. The hypothesis for this study was that employers’ attitudes have been shown to be negative towards workers with MDD.
This study therefore had three objectives. The first objective was to investigate if people with MDD anticipated and experienced discrimination when trying to find or keep paid employment. Secondly, to investigate if participants in high, middle and lower developed countries differ in these respects and finally if discrimination experiences are related to actual employment status. The participants of this study were 834 who had a diagnosis of MDD in the previous12 months. Data for this study was analyzed using the analysis of variance and generalized linear mixed models.
The result of this study was that almost 60% of respondents had stopped themselves from applying for work, education or training because of anticipated discrimination.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: E P M Brouwers, J Mathijssen, T Van Bortel, L Knifton, K Wahlbeck, C Van Audenhove, N Kadri, Ch Chang, B R Goud, D Ballester, LF Tófoli, R Bello, M F Jorge-Monteiro, H Zäske, I Milac´ic´, A Uçok, C Bonetto, A Lasalvia, G Thornicroft, J Van Weeghel, the ASPEN/INDIGO Study Group
JOURNAL: BMJ Open
PUBLISHER: The BMJ Group
URL: http://www.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 345.00 | |
| | Extended Prediction Rule to Optimise Early Detection of Heart Failure in Older Persons with Non-Acute Shortness of Breath. | Extended Prediction Rule to Optimise Early Detection of Heart Failure in Older Persons with Non-Acute Shortness of Breath.
Extended Prediction Rule to Optimise Early Detection of Heart Failure in Older Persons with Non-Acute Shortness of Breath.
OVERVIEW
Heart failure is an epidemic that is causing high rates in mortality, substantial lost in the quality of life as well as high healthcare costs. Older people are more susceptible to heart failure even though diagnosing it at an early stage is difficult since its symptoms are non-specific.
The objective of this study was therefore to develop a screening rule for detecting heart failure in the elderly with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is worth mentioning that this screening rule was developed based on an existing rule. During this study, cross-sectional data were used to validate, update and extend the original prediction rule according to a standardised state-of-the-art stepwise approach. The participants of this study were community-dwelling older people aged about 65 years old. These participants suffered from shortness of breath on exertion.
This study nonetheless resulted in excellent prediction of heart failure in the large domain of the elderly with shortness of breath.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Evelien E S van Riet, Arno W Hoes, Alexander Limburg, Marcel A J Landman,
JOURNAL: BMJ Open
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open Group
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | First Aid Course. | First Aid Course.
Dr Cyril Harrisberg.
This self taught Course and Tutorial is designed for Medical or Non Medical Professionals, and will teach vital medical and immediate practical steps to be taken when administering First Aid, or in an Emergency Medical Situation. It can be used by Non Medical Professionals or personnel, or as a refresher for those Medically Trained or in the allied health professions. It can be self taught as a stand alone tutorial, although practise of the maneuvers would add further benefit. | 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | Home visits in primary care: contents and organisation in daily practice. Study protocol of a cross-sectional study. | Home visits in primary care: contents and organisation in daily practice. Study protocol of a cross-sectional study.
Home visits in primary care: contents and organisation in daily practice. Study protocol of a cross-sectional study.
OVERVIEW
In most industrialized countries, Medical care of homebound patients by home visits is an integral part of primary care. However, the organization of home visits may differ depending on organization of the primary care system. The hypothesis for this study was that because of socio demography as well as changes in the health system, the need for home visits is projected to increase rather than decrease.
The objective of this study was thus, to provide information on content and organization of home visits since such information is needed to assure sufficient medical care for home bound visits. This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 12 months. During the study, all home visits of each participating family practice are documented within a 1-week time-period. Almost 303 (of 2677) family practitioners expressed their interest to participate to generate data on the content and organisational characteristics of home visits.
Descriptive and multivariate analysis of data were carried out using non-parametric methods. This study ended up receiving ethical approval by the Ethical Commission of the TU Dresden and adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Karen Voigt, Stefan Bojanowski, Stephanie Taché, Roger Voigt, Antje Bergmann
JOURNAL: Disease in Childhood
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open Group
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 370.00 | |
| | How adolescents experience and cope with pain in daily life: a qualitative study on ways to cope and the use of over-the-counter analgesics. | How adolescents experience and cope with pain in daily life: a qualitative study on ways to cope and the use of over-the-counter analgesics.
How adolescents experience and cope with pain in daily life: a qualitative study on ways to cope and the use of over-the-counter analgesics.
OVERVIEW
Pain is a common experience in the daily lives of adolescents. However, headache, abdominal and musculoskeletal types of pain are the most common type of pain experienced by adolescents.
The objective of this research was to describe how different adolescents experience and manage pain in their daily life. Focus was however made their use of over-the counter analgesics. The design for this stud was qualitative semi structured interviews in which adolescents shared their experiences with pain, pain management and involvement of family and friends during pain. The participants of this study were 25 young people (both males and females) aged 15 to 16 from different junior high schools. These students were interviewed irrespective of their immigration background in their respective schools in Norway. The study was concluded that different involvement with the family during pain related to their pain perception and management by the adolescents.
At the end of the study it was recommended that Knowledge of the different ways of approaching pain is important when supporting adolescents and may be a subject for further research on the use of over-the-counter analgesics in the family.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Per Lagerløv, Elin Olaug Rosvold, Tanja Holager, Sølvi Helseth
JOURNAL: Stroke and Vascular Neurology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open Group
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com | 3 | | R 425.00 | |
| | How often are interventions in cluster randomised controlled trials of complex interventions in general practices effective and reasons for potential shortcomings? Protocol and results of a feasibility project for a systematic review. | How often are interventions in cluster randomised controlled trials of complex interventions in general practices effective and reasons for potential shortcomings? Protocol and results of a feasibility project for a systematic review.
How often are interventions in cluster randomised controlled trials of complex interventions in general practices effective and reasons for potential shortcomings? Protocol and results of a feasibility project for a systematic review.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Most studies conducted at general practices investigate complex interventions and increasingly use cluster-randomised controlled trail (c-RCT) designs to do so. Our primary objective is to evaluate how frequently complex interventions are shown to be more, equally or less effective than routine care in c RCTs with a superior design. The secondary aim is to discover whether the quality of a c-RCT determines the likelihood of the complex intervention being effective. | 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | Impact Analysis Studies of Clinical Prediction Rules Relevant to Primary Care. | Impact Analysis Studies of Clinical Prediction Rules Relevant to Primary Care.
Impact Analysis Studies of Clinical Prediction Rules Relevant to Primary Care.
OVERVIEW
Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are clinical tools that quantify the individual contributions physical examination and investigations contribute towards diagnosis, prognosis or likely response to treatment in a patient. Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) should therefore undergo impact analysis to evaluate their effect on patient care.
The objective of this study was thus to narratively review and critically appraise CPR impact analysis studies relevant to primary care. The setting for this study was primary meanwhile the participants were children and adults. The method used in this study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that was controlled before, after and interrupted time series.
Results from this study revealed that out of the 18 studies, 10 reported an improvement in primary outcome with CPR implementation. Similarly, out of musculoskeletal studies, 5 were effective in altering targeted physician behaviour in ordering imaging for patients presenting with ankle, knee and neck musculoskeletal injuries. The study was concluded that despite the increasing interest in developing and validating CPRs relevant to primary care, relatively few have gone through impact analysis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Emma Wallace, Maike J M Uijen, Barbara Clyne, Atieh Zarabzadeh, Claire Keogh, Rose Galvin, Susan M Smith, Tom Fahey
JOURNAL: Journal of Clinical Pathology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open Group
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com | 3 | | R 340.00 | |
| | Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV at a Patient’s First Clinic Visit. | Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV at a Patient’s First Clinic Visit.
Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV at a Patient’s First Clinic Visit.
OVERVIEW
The late presentation of patients for care and high rates of attrition from care between HIV testing and ART initiation, with baseline median CD4 cell counts remaining well below 200 cells/mm3 are some of the most persistent operational challenges facing antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs for HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan.
The purpose of this study was therefore to estimate the effect on uptake of ART and viral suppression of an accelerated initiation algorithm that allowed treatment-eligible patients to be dispensed their first supply of antiretroviral medications on the day of their first HIV-related clinic visit. This study was nonetheless conducted in two public sector clinics in South Africa, notably a primary health clinic (PHC) and a hospital-based HIV clinic. The participants of this study were averagely 18 years old non-pregnant patients receiving a positive HIV test or first treatment-eligible CD4 count were randomized to standard or rapid initiation.
The study was however concluded that offering single-visit ART initiation to adult patients in South Africa increased uptake of ART by 36% and viral suppression by 26%.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Sydney Rosen, Mhairi Maskew, Matthew P. Fox, Cynthia Nyoni, Constance Mongwenyana, Given Malete, Ian Sanne, Dorah Bokaba, Celeste Sauls, Julia Rohr1, Lawrence Long
JOURNAL: PLOS Medicine
PUBLISHER: PLOS
URL: https://www.plos.org | 3 | | R 365.00 | |
| | Is herpes zoster an additional complication in old age alongside comorbidity and multiple medications? Results of the post hoc analysis of the 12-month. | Is herpes zoster an additional complication in old age alongside comorbidity and multiple medications? Results of the post hoc analysis of the 12-month.
Is herpes zoster an additional complication in old age alongside comorbidity and multiple medications? Results of the post hoc analysis of the 12-month.
OVERVIEW
Shingles, or herpes zoster (HZ), is caused by reactivation, of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) from a latent infection in the dorsal root ganglion.
The purpose of this study was thus to examine the burden of comorbidity, polypharmacy and herpes zoster (HZ), an infectious disease, and its main complication post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in young (50–70 years of age: 70-) and old (=70 years of age: 70+) patients. This study took place in primary care in France from November 20, 2006 to September 12, 2008. For this study, 644 general practitioners (GPs) collected data from 1358 patients aged 50 years or more with acute eruptive HZ. Validated questionnaires were used to investigate HZ and PHN burden, pain, quality of life (QoL).
The results of this study indicated that older patients more frequently presented with comorbidities, frequently took analgesics and had poorer response on all questionnaires, indicating greater burden, at inclusion as compared with younger patients.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Gisèle Pickering et al.
JOURNAL: BMJ Open
PUBLISHER: BMJ Group
URL: http://www.bmjopen.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: A Private Right Called Bill. | Medical Ethics: A Private Right Called Bill.
Medical Ethics: A Private Right Called Bill.
OVERVIEW
Privacy is defined by a number of English dictionaries as the quality or condition of being secluded from the presence or view of others. More appropriately privacy is also defined as’ the state of being free from unsanctioned intrusion’.
In 2014, with the advent information technology advances, social networking, sale of database information and negligent protection of personal information, in general, amongst others, the necessity to protect personal and private information has been recognized by the law makers. As such, protection of personal information has been incorporated in various forms of legislation, including the SA Constitution, The Patients’ Rights Charter, the Health Professions Act and the very recent Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI).
The Health Professions Council obligates all registered practitioners to comply with Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The importance of Ethics, Human Rights and Medical Law is emphasized. This article thus encompasses all three in the form of an overview related to the respect for privacy. Of significance is the Bill of Rights.
| 3 | | R 400.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Communication in the Doctor Patient Relationship. | Medical Ethics: Communication in the Doctor Patient Relationship.
Medical Ethics: Communication in the Doctor Patient Relationship.
OVERVIEW
The word ‘communication’ is derived from the Latin, ‘communis’ meaning ‘commonness’. In essence, effective communication is the establishment of a common frame of reference between practitioner and patient i.e. ‘all on the same page‘.
At least as long ago as the writing of the Hippocratic Oath, it was well understood that physicians’ communication with their patients was an essential part of successful therapy. The relationship between a practitioner and patient should be based upon trust, which develops primarily through communication. In much of health care, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment depend upon the patient’s truthful and complete disclosure of personal health information.
Communication is also a process involving the ‘transmitter’ and receivers. These roles, with particular reference to the practitioner/patient relationship, are interchangeable. There are skills required as there are ethical considerations. | 3 | | R 350.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Decision Making in a Professional Practice. | Medical Ethics: Decision Making in a Professional Practice.
Medical Ethics: Decision Making in a Professional Practice.
OVERVIEW
The terms "Ethics" and "Morals" are derived respectively from the Greek and Latin words for "customs, practices and rituals", and what ethicist Robert Bellal has called "the habits of the heart".
Although customs may appear to be superficial behaviors, they often reflect the society's deepest, conscious sense of right and wrong. Ethics as a discipline is the study and analysis of values and standards related to duty, responsibility and right and wrong behaviour.
The obligations that health care professionals have towards their patients, each other and society, derive from ethical values held by the Practitioners discipline and the larger community. Since the time of Hippocrates, some of the more important moral values in health care have included trust, respect for life, benefiting others, avoiding harm to others, confidentiality and collegiality. Reflection of ethical issues is an essential compliment to the professional's specialised knowledge and skills in meeting basic human needs.
| 3 | | R 350.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Ethics of the Placebo in Clinical Practice. | Medical Ethics: Ethics of the Placebo in Clinical Practice.
Medical Ethics: Ethics of the Placebo in Clinical Practice.
OVERVIEW
The placebo is not easy to define. As a matter of fact, some scholars are despaired of the possibility of ever finding an adequate definition for the term. However, many current definitions invoke the non-specific nature of the treatment effects as the leading feature of the placebo.
The object of this article was however to address the question of the placebo in clinical practice. This article nonetheless argued that the placebo could be an effective treatment. The article further argued that the use of the placebo does not entail deception. This article equally highlighted guidelines under which the placebo may be used for clinical purposes. This article further suggested that in selected cases, the use of the placebo may also be morally imperative. It is imperative to state that the arguments in this article were presented by three case vignettes.
The article was concluded that the placebo can be beneficial to physicians of many clinical situations
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Lichtenberg U Heresco-Levy, U Nitzan
JOURNAL: BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 425.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Healthcare Professional’s Patient Relationship. | Medical Ethics: Healthcare Professional’s Patient Relationship.
Medical Ethics: Healthcare Professional’s Patient Relationship.
OVERVIEW
This online course discusses respect and equal treatment; ending a patient-HP relationship; HIV/Aids; sexual attraction; treating family members; communication and consent with a case study included; obstacles for good communication plus case study; abusing medical resources including case study; futile treatment.
The health care profession-patient relationship is the cornerstone of medical practice and therefore of medical ethics. The Declaration of Geneva requires of the health care profession that “The health of my patient will be my first consideration,” and the International Code of Medical Ethics states, “A health care profession shall owe his patients complete loyalty and all the resources of his science.” The traditional interpretation of the health care professional-patient relationship as a paternalistic one, in which the health care professional made the decision and the patient submitted to them, has been widely rejected in recent years, both in ethics and in law.
Since many patients are either unable or unwilling to make decisions about their medical care, however, patient autonomy is often very problematic. This on-line course will deal with two topics that pose particularly vexing problems to Health Care Professionals in their daily practice: respect and equal treatment, communication and consent.
| 3 | | R 420.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: How parents and practitioners experience research without consent involving Children with life threatening conditions. | Medical Ethics: How parents and practitioners experience research without consent involving Children with life threatening conditions.
Medical Ethics: How parents and practitioners experience research without consent involving Children with life threatening conditions.
INTRODUCTION
Improvements to life-saving treatments for critically ill children have been limited by the ethical and practical challenges involved in seeking consent for clinical trial entry.1 The process of seeking informed consent requires time, but this is severely constrained in emergency situations, such as acute resuscitation and critical care,2 where even minimal treatment delays are likely to be harmful.3 Parents are not always present when a child requires emergency treatment or a mother of a critically ill neonate may be sedated. Children’s critical care set-tings are intensely emotional, and some parents may not wish to be approached about research when their child is critically ill.4 Such challenges pose dif?culties for doctors and nurses recruiting to clinical trials in ensuring that parental consent has been informed, the participation voluntary and the recruitment process adhered to ethical principles.5 The last decade has seen inter-national efforts to ?nd alternatives to prospective informed consent so that vital research can continue to advance evidence-based children’s medicine.1 | 3 | | R 460.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: The Truth Be Told. | Medical Ethics: The Truth Be Told.
Medical Ethics: The Truth Be Told.
OVERVIEW
“We're having a little problem with lying at my house: My son won't do it”. "Do you like my new car?" asks his work colleague. My son is paralyzed into muteness by his conscience. His friend is hurt. "Couldn't you find something nice to say about it, like the colour?" I ask. I am thinking of the story about Judy Garland, who, after seeing a pal in a terrible play, swept into her friend's dressing room with the line, "How do you do it, my dear, night after night?"
The philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that truth-telling is a "perfect duty," one so basic that it cannot be overridden by other values—not even saving the life of a friend, let alone sparing someone's feelings. In Kant's formulation, if asked outright, a person would be obligated to tell a murderer the whereabouts of his intended victim. Of course, many have responded to Kant with penetrating philosophical counter-arguments
Philosophers Maguire and Fargnoli use Kant's stance on lying to explore the limits of the quest for universal moral principles. "Universalization is an unrealistic and inaccurate abstraction that passes over the fact that there are exceptions to valid moral principles," they write. "To protect other values, like the life of an intended victim or a legitimate secret, exceptions to truth-telling must be made." | 3 | | R 420.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: Uninformed Consent. | Medical Ethics: Uninformed Consent.
Medical Ethics: Uninformed Consent.
OVERVIEW
There is an argument put forward by medical schemes, administrators and their agents that access to record cards of patients is an automatic right as members of medical schemes, when joining a medical scheme, acknowledge that they are obligated to adhere to the scheme rules which includes provision of personal information; hence consent has been granted.
Importantly, the HPCSA Ethical Rules and recently introduced legislation such as the Protection of Private Information Act dictate that express informed consent must be obtained prior to the performance of professional acts or sharing of personal information.
Consent, therefore based on an assumption or in the absence of express informed consent can only be regarded as uninformed consent. This includes implied consent whereby a patient pitches for an examination or sits in the chair and interpreted by the practitioner as consent.
| 3 | | R 320.00 | |
| | Medical Ethics: What Do International Ethics Guidelines Say In Terms of The Scope of Medical Research Ethics | Medical Ethics: What Do International Ethics Guidelines Say In Terms of The Scope of Medical Research Ethics
Medical Ethics: What Do International Ethics Guidelines Say In Terms of The Scope of Medical Research Ethics
OVERVIEW
The question of ‘which is an ethical issue and which is not’ often arises doing research ethics. There are however many internationally known ethic guidelines and depending on which ethics guideline we consult, we may have various answers to this question. It is however ironical that we do not have a harmonized document which tells us what these various guidelines say and shows us the areas of consensus.
For this study, we extracted relevant information or imperatives from five internationally-known ethics guidelines and took note where the imperatives came from. Results of this research nonetheless indicated that there is no consensus on many of the imperatives and that in only 8.2 % of the imperatives were there at least moderate consensus. The results further indicated that there was a lack of consensus in most of imperatives from the five internationally-known ethics guidelines.
The reason was however partly attributed to the differences among the guidelines in terms of their levels of specification as well as conceptual/ideological differences.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Rosemarie D. L. C. Bernabe, Ghislaine J. M. W. van Thiel and Johannes J. M. van Delden
JOURNAL: BMC Medical Ethics
PUBLISHER: BioMed Central
URL: https://www.biomedcentral.com
| 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | Occupational science: An important contributor to occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning | Occupational science: An important contributor to occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning
Occupational science: An important contributor to occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning
Overview
Occupational science has a strong influence in the theoretical as well as research based knowledge within occupational therapy. More so, various studies have revealed that the contributions from occupational science are also reflected in clinical reasoning which is a key occupational therapy competence. Clinical reasoning is also considered as an important element of health professional practice as it provides a link between research and practice.
The purpose of this research is for occupational therapists to strive hard to develop their knowledge of occupational science literature and clinical reasoning competence. Thus, the objective of this research is therefore to debate and discuss ways in which occupational science could contribute even further to occupational therapists’ clinical reasoning and inform the occupational therapy curriculum.
After analyzing different point of views of various occupational therapist, it was concluded that more research on the meanings of occupations is important for occupational therapy as a health care profession. It was equally recommended that the subsequent researches should include explorations of the relationship between occupation and development, how occupation changes over the lifespan, how people organize and engage in their daily occupations, as well as the personal and sociocultural meanings of occupation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Hanne Kaae Kristensen & Kirsten Schultz Petersen
JOURNAL: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
PUBLISHERS: Tylor & Francis Group
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2015.1083054
| 3 | | R 425.00 | |
| | Patient characteristics associated with risk of first hospital admission and re-admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following primary care COPD diagnosis: a cohort study using linked electronic patient records. | Patient characteristics associated with risk of first hospital admission and re-admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following primary care COPD diagnosis: a cohort study using linked electronic patient records.
Patient characteristics associated with risk of first hospital admission and re-admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) following primary care COPD diagnosis: a cohort study using linked electronic patient records.
OVERVIEW
Hospital admission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant burden on healthcare resources. The readmission rates are equally high. As a matter of fact, COPD is the second most common reason for emergency hospital admission in the UK.
The objective of this study was to investigate patient characteristics of an unselected primary care population associated with risk of first hospital admission and readmission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The design of this study was a retrospective open cohort using pseudonymised electronic primary care data linked to secondary care data. The setting of this study was primary care in Lothian Scotland. Participants of this study were from 7002 patients from 72 general practices with a COPD diagnosis date between 2000 and 2008 recorded in their primary care record. The patients were however followed up until 2010, death or they left a participating practice.
Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that several patient characteristics were associated with first AECOPD admission in a primary care cohort of people with COPD but fewer were associated with readmission.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: L C Hunter, R J Lee, Butcher, C J Weir, C M Fischbacher, D McAllister, S H Wild, N Hewitt, R M Hardie
JOURNAL: Respiratory Medicine
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 355.00 | |
| | Patient Safety Strategies Targeted at Diagnostic Errors. | Patient Safety Strategies Targeted at Diagnostic Errors.
Patient Safety Strategies Targeted at Diagnostic Errors.
OVERVIEW
It is apparent that missed, delayed or incorrect diagnosis can lead to inappropriate patient care, poor patient outcome and increased cost. An operational definition of diagnostic errors include diagnosis that are either unintentionally delayed, wrong or missed.
This study was therefore a systematic review aimed at analysing evaluations of interventions to prevent diagnostic errors. Data for this research was however collected through searches from MEDLINE (1966 to October 2012), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Safety Network, bibliographies, and prior systematic reviews. During the study, two independent reviewers extracted study data and rated study quality. There were 109 studies that addressed 1 or more interventions such as personnel changes.
The interventions included educational interventions, technique, structured process changes, technology-based systems interventions as well as review methods. However, evidence seemed strongest for technology-based systems (e.g., text message alerting) as well as specific techniques like testing equipment adaptations.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: Kathryn M. McDonald MM, Brian Matesic BS, Despina G. Contopoulos-Ioannidis MD, Julia Lonhart BS BA, Eric Schmidt BA, Noelle Pineda BA, and John P.A. Ioannidis MD DSc
JOURNAL: Annals of Internal Medicine
PUBLISHER: ACP
URL: https://www.acponline.org/ | 3 | | R 400.00 | |
| | Perspectives on the Provision of GDM Screening in General Practice Versus the Hospital Setting. | Perspectives on the Provision of GDM Screening in General Practice Versus the Hospital Setting.
Perspectives on the Provision of GDM Screening in General Practice Versus the Hospital Setting.
OVERVIEW
The prevalence estimate rates for Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are reportedly increasing in many countries due to increasing maternal age and BMI at pregnancy. Untreated GDM has consequences for both maternal and neonatal health in the short term, including macrosomia, increased risk of caesarean section delivery and increased neonatal unit admission rates.
The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate perspectives of involved stakeholders on the provision of GDM screening at both settings. This study was thus, a thematic analysis of the perspectives of stakeholders involved in the receiving and provision of GDM screening in both the GP and hospital settings drawn from focus groups and interviews. Three groups of participants were involved in this research. They included patient participants, GP screening providers as well as hospital screening providers. The participants for this study were recruited from a geographical area covered by 3 hospitals in Ireland.
The study was nonetheless concluded that the influence of travel distance from the screening site is the most important factor influencing willingness to attend for GDM screening among women who live a considerable distance from the hospital setting.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: Marie Tierney, Angela O’Dea, Andrii Danyliv, Louise Carmody, Brian E McGuire, Liam G Glynn, Fidelma Dunne
JOURNAL: Journal of Clinical Pathology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/
| 3 | | R 360.00 | |
| | Placebo effects in trials evaluating 12 selected minimally invasive interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. | Placebo effects in trials evaluating 12 selected minimally invasive interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Placebo effects in trials evaluating 12 selected minimally invasive interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OVERVIEW
The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of placebo effects on outcome in trials of selected minimally invasive procedures and to assess reported adverse events in both trial arms. The design for this study was nonetheless a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The data for this study was selected by searching MEDLINE and Cochrane library so as to identify systematic reviews of musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiac conditions that were published between January 2009 and January 2014 comparing selected minimally invasive with placebo (sham) procedures. During this research, effect sizes (ES) in the active and placebo arms in the trials’ primary and pooled secondary end points were calculated. The association between end points in the active and sham groups were nevertheless analysed using the linear regression.
This study was however concluded that the generally small differences in ES between active treatment and sham suggest that nonspecific mechanisms, including placebo, are major predictors of the observed effects
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: Robin Holtedahl, Jens Ivar Brox, Ole Tjomsland
JOURNAL: Stroke and Vascular Neurology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ | 3 | | R 375.00 | |
| | Point-of-care C reactive protein for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection in NHS primary care. | Point-of-care C reactive protein for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection in NHS primary care.
Point-of-care C reactive protein for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection in NHS primary care.
OVERVIEW
Most often, majority of patients presenting to primary care with a suspected lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) are prescribed antibiotics. That doesn’t however change the fact that most respiratory tract infections are viral and only marginal benefit is achieved from the prescription of antibiotics that in some cases does not outweigh the risk of harm.
The aim of this research was thus to determine the barriers and facilitators to adoption of POC CRP testing in National Health Service (NHS) primary care for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection. This study was however done following a qualitative methodology based on grounded theory. This study was however undertaken in two stages. The first consisted of semi structured interviews with 8 clinicians from Europe and the UK who use the test in routine practice, and focused on their subjective experience in the challenges of implementing POC CRP testing. The second stage on the other hand was a multidisciplinary-facilitated workshop with NHS stakeholders to discuss barriers to adoption, impact of adoption and potential adoption scenarios.
The study concluded that Successful adoption models from the UK and abroad demonstrate a distinctive pattern and involve collaboration with central laboratory services.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHOR: Jeremy R Huddy, Melody Z Ni, James Barlow, Azeem Majeed, George B Hanna
JOURNAL: Journal of Clinical Pathology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/ | 3 | | R 355.00 | |
| | Primary care randomised controlled trial of a tailored interactive website for the self-management of respiratory infections (Internet Doctor). | Primary care randomised controlled trial of a tailored interactive website for the self-management of respiratory infections (Internet Doctor).
Primary care randomised controlled trial of a tailored interactive website for the self-management of respiratory infections (Internet Doctor).
OVERVIEW
Respiratory tract infection (RTI) is very common and most people suffer from it every year. Some people even suffer from it more than once with consulting primary care at least once each year, which represents a significant call on healthcare resources.
The objective of this stud was to assess an internet-delivered intervention providing advice to manage respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The design for this study was an open pragmatic parallel group randomized controlled trial meanwhile the setting was primary care in the United Kingdom. The participants of this study were adults (aged =18) registered with general practitioners, recruited by postal invitation. The intervention of this research however tailored advices about the diagnosis, natural history, symptom management (particularly paracetamol/ibuprofen use) and when to seek further help.
Out of the 3044 participants that were recruited for this study, 852 in the intervention group and 920 in the control group reported 1 or more RTIs, among whom there was a modest increase in NHS direct contacts in the intervention group (intervention 37/1574 (2.4%) versus control 20/1661 (1.2%); multivariate risk ratio (RR) 2.25 (95% CI 1.00 to 5.07, p=0.048)).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Paul Little, Beth Stuart, Panayiota Andreou, Lisa McDermott, Judith Joseph, Mark Mullee, Mike Moore, Sue Broomfield, Tammy Thomas, Lucy Yardley
JOURNAL: Respiratory Medicine
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com | 3 | | R 330.00 | |
| | Retrospective analysis of the quality of reports by author-suggested and non-author-suggested reviewers in journals operating on open or single-blind peer review models. | Retrospective analysis of the quality of reports by author-suggested and non-author-suggested reviewers in journals operating on open or single-blind peer review models.
Retrospective analysis of the quality of reports by author-suggested and non-author-suggested reviewers in journals operating on open or single-blind peer review models.
OVERVIEW
The three types of peer review models mostly operated by scholarly journals include single blind, where the reviewers know the identity of the authors but not vice versa; open peer review, where authors and reviewers both know each other’s identity, and finally, the double-blind peer review where the author and reviewer names are both blinded.
The objective of this research was to assess whether reports from reviewers recommended by authors show a bias in quality and recommendation for editorial decision, compared with reviewers suggested by other parties, and whether reviewer reports for journals operating on open or single-blind peer review models differ about report quality and reviewer recommendations. The design of this study was nonetheless, a retrospective analysis of the quality of reviewer reports using an established Review Quality Instrument, and analysis of reviewer recommendations and author satisfaction surveys.
The samples used for this research were two hundred reviewer reports submitted to BMC Infectious Diseases, 200 reviewer reports submitted to BMC Microbiology and 400 reviewer reports submitted to the Journal of Inflammation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Maria K Kowalczuk, Frank Dudbridge, Shreeya Nanda, Stephanie L Harriman, Jigisha Patel, Elizabeth C Moylan
JOURNAL: Communication Research
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open
URL: http://bmjopen.bmj.com | 3 | | R 355.00 | |
| | The Impact of Previous Open Renal Surgery on the Outcomes of Subsequent Percutaneous Nephorlithotomy. | The Impact of Previous Open Renal Surgery on the Outcomes of Subsequent Percutaneous Nephorlithotomy.
The Impact of Previous Open Renal Surgery on the Outcomes of Subsequent Percutaneous Nephorlithotomy.
OVERVIEW
The prevalence and cost of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing thereby making diabetes a major cause of morbidity and premature mortality in Australia. The objective of this study was thus to review the clinical data for people with diabetes mellitus with reference to their location and clinical care in a general practice in Australia.
During the study, patient data were extracted a general practice in Western Australia. It is worth mentioning that iterative data-cleansing steps were taken and data was grouped into Statistical Area level 1 (SA1), designated as the smallest geographical area associated with the Census of Population and Housing. The data was analyzed though the Cluster and Outlier Analysis using Moran’s I test. The overall median age of the participants of this study was 70 years with 53 percent men and 47 percent females.
Results of this study Older people (>70 years) with relatively high HbA1c comprised 9.3% of all people with diabetes in the sample, and were clustered around two ‘hotspot’ locations. The study was concluded that hyperglycaemia and ongoing cardiovascular risk in older patients in the two groups indicated causes other than therapeutic inertia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Moyez Jiwa, Ori Gudes, Richard Varhol, Narelle Mullan
JOURNAL: Journal of Clinical Pathology
PUBLISHER: BMJ Open Group
URL: http://www.group.bmj.com
| 3 | | R 325.00 | |
| | Zika Virus Outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. | Zika Virus Outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Zika Virus Outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
OVERVIEW
Brazil was faced with the cocirculation of three above viruses of major public health importance in the year 2015. The emergence of the Zika (ZIKV) virus however brought about serious public health challenges to both public health authorities and clinicians.
It is however imperative to note that clinical features between diseases caused ZIKV, Dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) as well as the lack of validated serological assays for ZIKV makes accurate diagnosis difficult. This article was therefore the firs published description of the outbreak of Zika virus in Latin America. Recent findings about Zika virus suggest that in a minority of ZIKV cases, neurological diseases can develop and that babies born from mothers with a ZIKV-illness during pregnancy could suffer from congenital abnormalities such as a small brain or a small head.
After analysing the virus, it was then suggested that the clinical characteristics of both the confirmed and the unconfirmed cases proved to be very similar.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AUTHORS: Patricia Brazil et al
JOURNAL: PLOS Negleted Tropical Disease
PUBLISHER: PLOS
URL: http://journals.plos.o | 3 | | R 375.00 | |