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Biomedical subjects

G Kernohan

Publications and source records attributed to G Kernohan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Diagnosed with Hepatitis C: a descriptive exploratory study.

A descriptive exploratory study was carried out to elicit the felt-experience of Hepatitis C infection. A non-probability sampling strategy was employed which generated a sample of nine participants for in-depth interview. Data analysis revealed that the diagnosis had precipitated a transition in the participants' lives. Factors were identified that served as barriers and facilitators to their transition experience. At the time of data collection all of the participants were not experiencing indicators of a healthy transition. It was evident that the transitional experience was neither time-bound nor linear in nature.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

An audit of subcutaneous syringe drivers in a non-specialist hospital.

The use of syringe drivers as a method of drug delivery to control symptoms in palliative care is a common and accepted practice, but one which has evolved rather than been subject to close multiprofessional scrutiny and guideline formation. There is evidence that adverse incidents may arise as a result of syringe driver use (Medical Devices Agency (MDA), 1998), for example, errors in drug calculations, drug stability, equipment failure (including disconnection) and the wrong rate of infusion. Inadequate user training, poor servicing of equipment and inadequate documentation and record keeping are all thought to be contributing factors (MDA, 1998). In the hospital where this audit was carried out, syringe drivers are used to administer drugs to patients with cancer during the palliative phase of illness. The purpose of this clinical audit was to establish the standard of current practice in wards where syringe drivers were being used. A retrospective study of 13 cases of syringe driver use is presented. The results highlight many areas of unregulated practice with regard to setting up, monitoring and maintenance of syringe drivers. The choice of drugs and doses prescribed, evaluation of treatment responses and review of treatment regimens were also areas of concern. Guidelines for the use of syringe drivers in non-specialist hospitals are put forward.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A study of the factors in hip replacement dislocation. Part 2.

Dislocation is a dramatic and distressing common complication following total hip replacement. The first article describing this study, published last week, considered some of the factors thought to predispose to dislocation. The authors emphasised the multifactorial nature of hip replacement dislocation and in this second article they examine the factors relating to acetabular position and orientation, and femoral component placement.

Causality↗
PubMed1996

A study of the factors in hip replacement dislocation. Part 1.

This is the first of two articles which describe a clinical and radiographic review of the reasons for dislocation in patients who have received customised total hip replacements. The researchers compared the alignment of 19 arthroplasties which had dislocated with 347 which had not. A number of factors were considered including pre- and post-operative factors, femoral component placement, component head size, and acetabular position and orientation. It was found the the femoral head size had the greatest influence on dislocation. However, the researchers point out that dislocation on these patients is a multifactoral problem and that prevention, through effective pre-operative and post-operative patient education in relation to care of the hip and mobilising, should be encouraged. They also advocate a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes. The second article will appear next week.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Total hip replacement: a study of customized prostheses.

The majority of widely used hip prostheses offer a limited range of offset sizes, including 35, 37, 40, 44 and 45mm. These sizes are provided to match the mean population offset which has been reported as 43.0mm (Noble et al 1988). The variability of proximal femoral geometry in terms of offset is consistent with the theory that the geometry of the femur is determined by a large number of genetic and environmental factors (Ericksen 1979). This paper suggests that the range in offset sizes offered by off-the-shelf hip protheses is not sufficient to match the extremes of anatomical offset variability of the Northern Ireland sample studied and that a custom stem that matches more accurately key femoral dimensions such as offset, may be more desirable.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMed1994

Hip screening: are health visitors adequately prepared?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a crippling disorder, causing early arthritis if left undetected. In Northern Ireland health visitors routinely screen infants' hips at specific intervals up to pre-school age. The screening tests used appear simple but involve a high degree of skill in order to identify abnormality. A video study of three health visitors found that their performance was poor, but a marked improvement was noted after a period of specialised training. Bernadette Trainor et al suggest that more initial training and post-qualification update sessions are necessary to support health visitors in this role.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1989

Investigation of the mechanical properties of bone using ultrasound.

This paper examines the serial use of ultrasonic velocity measurement to monitor fracture healing. New Zealand White rabbit tibiae were fractured using a constant-energy technique and the ultrasonic velocity along the bone measured in animals sacrificed at 16 day intervals up to 96 days from fracture. In parallel with these measurements the mechanical performance of the healed tibiae were determined using a three-point bending test. Regression analysis failed to show a sufficiently good correlation between ultrasonic velocity measurements and the bending properties of healing fractures for the method to be of use clinically.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cost of treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip.

Early treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip is usually simple and inexpensive. However, if the disease is not detected by 6 months of age, treatment is often complicated and expensive. We evaluated the potential cost-saving of screening, by examining the costs in 36 late cases born in 1980 and found an average cost of pounds 6,674 per case for treatment to this date. This amount could justifiably be spent on each case detected in an effective screening programme.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗