Biomedical subjects

Helen Potter

Publications and source records attributed to Helen Potter.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache.

STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial with unblinded treatment and blinded outcome assessment was conducted. The treatment period was 6 weeks with follow-up assessment after treatment, then at 3, 6, and 12 months. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of manipulative therapy and a low-load exercise program for cervicogenic headache when used alone and in combination, as compared with a control group. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Headaches arising from cervical musculoskeletal disorders are common. Conservative therapies are recommended as the first treatment of choice. Evidence for the effectiveness of manipulative therapy is inconclusive and available only for the short term. There is no evidence for exercise, and no study has investigated the effect of combined therapies for cervicogenic headache. METHODS: In this study, 200 participants who met the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache were randomized into four groups: manipulative therapy group, exercise therapy group, combined therapy group, and a control group. The primary outcome was a change in headache frequency. Other outcomes included changes in headache intensity and duration, the Northwick Park Neck Pain Index, medication intake, and patient satisfaction. Physical outcomes included pain on neck movement, upper cervical joint tenderness, a craniocervical flexion muscle test, and a photographic measure of posture. RESULTS: There were no differences in headache-related and demographic characteristics between the groups at baseline. The loss to follow-up evaluation was 3.5%. At the 12-month follow-up assessment, both manipulative therapy and specific exercise had significantly reduced headache frequency and intensity, and the neck pain and effects were maintained (P < 0.05 for all). The combined therapies was not significantly superior to either therapy alone, but 10% more patients gained relief with the combination. Effect sizes were at least moderate and clinically relevant. CONCLUSION: Manipulative therapy and exercise can reduce the symptoms of cervicogenic headache, and the effects are maintained.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Developing, delivering, and evaluating cancer nursing services: searching for a United Kingdom evidence base for practice.

The drive toward evidence-based healthcare aims to promote effectiveness and thereby improve quality. The challenge for cancer nursing is to continually evaluate what it does, retaining effective interventions and working to develop new ones and refine those interventions that require improvement, thereby enhancing both practice and patient outcomes. The aim of the project was to assimilate an evidence base to support the development, delivery, and evaluation of cancer nursing services in the United Kingdom. It was believed that determining the extent of the current United Kingdom evidence base through a review of the literature and current and recent research endeavors would allow for comparison with current priorities and facilitate informed strategic planning regarding the process of research commissioning. A rigorous, explicit, and thorough literature review was undertaken of all United Kingdom literature pertaining to cancer nursing and related issues published between 1980 and 2000. Fourteen individual databases were searched using specific keywords, thesaurus terms, and additional search terms. Data were extracted from each individual publication and stored in a purpose-designed database. Current and recent United Kingdom cancer nursing research projects were identified through a mailed survey questionnaire sent to people and organizations involved in cancer-related research. Research projects were categorized according to Royal College of Nursing research priority themes: Care and Caring Practices, Healthcare Environment, Organization and Management of Care, and Healthcare Workforce. Four-hundred forty-six pieces of literature were considered appropriate for inclusion in the review. Two-hundred sixty-four pieces of evidence were included in the Care and Caring Practices theme, which also had the greatest number of current and recent research projects (48%, n = 50). The Healthcare Environment theme included 80 pieces of evidence but only 3% (n = 3) of the current and recent research projects. Thirty-two percent (n = 33) of the current/recent research projects fell into the third theme of Organization and Management of Care, which contained a total of 104 pieces of evidence. The final theme, Healthcare Workforce, included 17% (n = 18) of the current and recent research projects, and the literature review incorporated 49 pieces of evidence in this theme. A number of recommendations have been drawn, which focus on methodological challenges, research considerations, and gaps in the evidence base. The drive toward evidence-based practice is essential for cancer nurses to establish who they are, what they do, and what effect they have on patient outcomes. Currently, although the United Kingdom evidence base for practice is vast, it frequently lacks depth. Although evaluating national evidence for practice is valuable, a more global approach to evidence synthesis is required. Through such endeavors, cancer nurses should realize their potential, support the strategic development of cancer nursing research, and so generate an evidence base that supports their unique contribution to patient outcomes.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1997

Inter-examiner reliability to detect painful upper cervical joint dysfunction.

The presence of painful upper cervical joint dysfunction is a diagnostic criterion for cervicogenic headache. This preliminary study investigated whether independent examiners for a planned multicentre study of treatment of cervicogenic headache sufferers would agree on the presence or not of joint dysfunction for inclusion/exclusion of subjects into the trial. Ten subjects with or without neck pain and headache were recruited in each of four centres (total 40 subjects). Examiners manually assessed subjects' upper cervical regions in a single blind manner. There was excellent to complete agreement between each pair of examiners on which subjects should be allowed to enter the study and 70 per cent agreement between examiners on the two most dysfunctional joints in symptomatic subjects. There can be confidence that an homogenous headache group will enter the planned trial.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

The sensitivity of thermography to temperature changes in breast tissue.

This study evaluates the ability of thermography to i) detect temperature changes in a lactating breast in response to the application of therapeutic ultrasound; ii) identify an area of raised temperature in a breast affected by mastitis; and iii) detect temperature changes in the affected area in response to the application of ultrasound. An area of raised temperature (36 degrees C), corresponding with the area of inflammation, was identified in a mastitic breast. Eighty-seven per cent of this area had returned to normal resting breast temperature (33 degrees C) within 30 minutes of application of pulsed ultrasound. The use of thermography to evaluate temperature changes in mastitic breast tissue before and after the application of ultrasound is supported.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Lower limb injuries in aerobics participants in Western Australia: An incidence study.

To determine the incidence of injury in aerobics classes in Perth, Western Australia, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 274 aerobics participants and 59 instructors at 20 aerobics centres. Questionnaires were returned from 86 per cent of instructors and 94 per cent of participants. Thirty-five per cent of instructors and 22 per cent of participants reported at least one injury caused or aggravated by aerobics in the previous 12 months. When hours of participation or instruction per year were considered, the injury incidence rate was 0.18 injuries per 100 hours for the instructors and 0.27 injuries per 100 hours for the participants. Instructors reported ankle/foot injuries (43.3 per cent) and shin injuries (23.3 per cent) most commonly while participants, particularly those in step classes, reported that the knee was injured most commonly. Injuries among aquarobics participants were low and were confined to the calf, ankle and foot.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Organising UK cancer nursing services: a review.

This article describes an NTResearch survey which outlines how UK cancer nursing services have evolved over the past seven years in response to changes in government policy.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗