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Biomedical subjects

Beth Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to Beth Taylor.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The role of the dietitian in the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The role of the intensive care unit registered dietitian has evolved over the past few years to become a vital component of the intensivist-led multidisciplinary intensive care unit team. The purpose of this review is to define the level of clinical practice and skill set of the intensive care unit dietitian, which defines them as a clinician, educator and researcher worthy to practice alongside their colleagues on the intensive care unit team. RECENT FINDINGS: An intensive care unit registered dietitian must be a dedicated professional with advanced training in critical care nutrition, the ability to read critically and evaluate new literature, a willingness to think 'outside the box', the fortitude to be an active participant in the intensive care unit team, the aptitude to educate colleagues and students from all disciplines, and the desire to participate in clinical research. Intensive care unit registered dietitians have published research concerning the nutritional assessment of the critically ill patient, the route of nutritional support, nutritional access, fluid and electrolyte issues, speciality enteral products, and optimal blood glucose control. They continue to attain skills and knowledge to extend their scope of practice and improve the quality of care in the intensive care unit. Recent guidelines adapted to the nutritional care of critically ill patients have been published for guidance. SUMMARY: The scope of practice of intensive care dietitians defines them as clinicians, educators and researchers. Their skill set is a unique and vital component of the intensivist-led multidisciplinary intensive care unit team.

Critical Care↗
PubMed2003

Training and supporting pharmacists to supply progestogen-only emergency contraception.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the training and support provided to the first cohort of community pharmacists to supply progestogen-only emergency contraception (POEC) under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, London. DESIGN: The study comprised (a) a systematic analysis of written and oral data from pharmacists before and during training, and at 5 and 13-14 months after launch; (b) analysis of telephone calls to clinical support and (c) analysis of written pharmacy records. SUBJECTS: A total of 20/22 pharmacists in the first training cohort; 6/23 pharmacists who applied but were not accepted were also followed up. RESULTS: A formal course with role-play was a successful training method, and the course also served as a team-building exercise. Subsequent interviews demonstrated that pharmacists had understood the concept of client confidentiality and gained confidence over time in the use of the PGD. The on-call consultants received 152 calls in the first 12 months of the scheme. Over 80% of the calls concerned clinical criteria (notably including 22% that were queries about oral contraceptives). Frequency ranged from one to eight calls per week with 28% made at weekends. In over half (60%) of the calls the pharmacist was subsequently able to make a supply. Queries over client management resulted in several changes in the protocol. The primary expressed concern for all pharmacists at all time points was how clients might 'misuse' or 'abuse' the service, and this remained a concern despite the fact that it also applies to other routes of supply of POEC. However, the PGD cohort was more positive on local benefits than pharmacists who were not selected. CONCLUSIONS: Training and support have enabled this often-underused group of professionals to participate in an extended reproductive health service. Mobile phones are an essential support tool.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of clonidine to decrease intestinal fluid losses in patients with high-output short-bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Some patients who have short bowel syndrome (SBS) have high intestinal outputs, which increases the risk of dehydration and fluid-electrolyte abnormalities and impairs quality of life. METHODS: We evaluated the use of clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist, in 2 patients with SBS and high intestinal outputs, who were refractory to conventional therapy with antidiarrheal and antisecretory agents (loperamide, belladonna, opiates, somatostatin, histamine2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors). The first patient (case 1) was a 29-year-old woman who had 175 cm of small bowel anastamosed to 8 cm of descending colon, ending in a colostomy. The second patient (case 2) was a 22-year-old man who had 30 cm of jejunum anastomosed to 30 cm of sigmoid colon and rectum. RESULTS: The addition of clonidine, 0.1 mg per os (PO) 2 times per day, to the treatment regimen of case 1 decreased her ostomy output from approximately 4 L/day to approximately 1 L/day, eliminating the need for parenteral nutrition and fluids and decreasing the need for opiate therapy. The addition of clonidine, 0.2 mg PO 2 times per day in case 2 resulted in decreased rectal outputs from approximately 4 L/day to approximately 1.5 L/day. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that clonidine can effectively reduce intestinal fluid and electrolyte losses and should be considered as an additional treatment option in patients with SBS and high intestinal outputs.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗