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Biomedical subjects

J Caygill

Publications and source records attributed to J Caygill.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Results from a Mantoux screening programme of staff in the care of the elderly and mental health fields at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.

AIM: To assess the level of occupational exposure to tuberculosis among the staff at Wakari Hospital, Dunedin. METHODS: 368 staff (including around 90% of the nurses) were given a 5 TU Mantoux test, and the results were analysed. RESULTS: 39.5% of people had a positive reaction. The data was examined in terms of age, length of service and area of work. Ethnic background was not considered. Comparisons with a preemployment group and a subsample of those under the age of 35 years revealed an effect from occupational exposure alone. The proportion of positive reactions was similar across both short and long stay areas of the care of the elderly and mental health services. Despite the occurrence of several diagnosed active cases of tuberculosis within the last four years, the rate of positive reactions was similar across all clinical areas. CONCLUSIONS: This unexpectedly high rate of positive reactions challenges the Tuberculosis Guidelines (1992) categorisation of healthcare personnel outside a tuberculosis ward as at medium rather than high risk of infection, and reinforces the need to develop consistent protocols for staff and patient screening. It also raises the question of the actual risk status of other continuing care facilities throughout New Zealand.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of placement and coordination of geriatric services using a health program evaluation grid.

This article describes how the Health Program Evaluation Grid method of clarifying program objectives was applied to an innovative program (PCS) set up to assist the placement of the elderly into appropriate long-term care programs/agencies. The advantages and disadvantages of the Grid method are outlined in terms of how the Grid may be used by program managers as their first step in evaluation of a health program for which they are responsible. The Grid method provided a basis for setting evaluation priorities for PCS, and methods of executing the highly ranked evaluation priorities were discussed. The use of the Grid in development of objectives for three other Ontario health programs assisted by the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics of McMaster University has shown further the usefulness of the approach.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Identifying needs and services for the aged.

The Assessment and Placement Service (APS) of the Hamilton-Wentworth District Health Council assists health professionals in identifying the needs of persons with chronic disabling diseases, and in finding appropriate resources or programs. More than 80 percent of the 9,300 persons referred between September 1971 and December 1975 were over the age of 64. Although most referrals were local, some came as far away as British Columbia and Florida for persons wishing placement locally. Of the 2,005 persons referred and placed in 1975, 1,063 came from acute disease hospitals, 201 from other institutions, 628 from the community within this District, and the remainder from elsewhere. There were 1,187 women, of whom 89.5 per cent were over the age of 64, and 811 men, of whom 65.8 per cent were over that age. In the opinion of their physicians, only 20 percent of all persons referred had normal memory, and only 13 percent had normal judgment. In the 64+ age group, 71.1 percent of the women were widows, and 25.9 percent of the men were widowers. One-third of those referred were living alone, and one-fourth with a spouse only. For placement, 453 patients went to private residences or boarding homes, often with the support of community services, and the remainder went to various institutions according to identified needs. Follow-up contact one month later showed conditions to be satisfactory in most instances. Deficiencies in the health care system were identified and reported to the Health Council.

Aged↗