PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Newbury

Publications and source records attributed to J Newbury.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Goal setting as a measure of outcome in palliative care.

Setting goals and assessing outcomes are essential elements in palliative care. This paper describes a multiprofessional project, conducted under the auspices of clinical audit, which attempted to evaluate important outcomes of care. Over a six-month period there were 123 consecutive admissions to the hospice. These patients and their carers, as well as the staff, were encouraged to set explicit goals for, and evaluate outcomes of, their care. As anticipated, we encountered many difficulties in this, but there were benefits. We were able to record goals of admission from the patient in 97 cases (79%), their main carer in 74 cases (63%) and from hospice staff in 120 cases (98%). Patient and carer goals were often more functional and specific whereas the staff goals tended to be more problem or symptom focused. The achievement of these goals was evaluated by patients, carers and staff at discharge or death (where possible) with the majority being fully or partially met. Only 15 patients and 9 carers thought that some or all of their goals had not been achieved with just 4 recording that their goals had changed. Overall, it was a worthwhile (although time-consuming) exercise and, as a result of the 'audit', clear goals and outcomes from patient, carer and staff perspectives are now routinely recorded for all admissions to the hospice and are used to focus multiprofessional patient review. Having analysed the process as well as the results of the 'audit', we would encourage others not to be daunted from undertaking similar projects.

Adult↗

Positive impact of rural academic family practices on rural medical recruitment and retention in South Australia.

Difficulty recruiting and retaining doctors in rural and remote Australia is well recognised. Here, we describe the positive impact on recruitment and retention of general practitioners of a network of university-linked rural family practices in South Australia. Between August 1995 and October 1999, 17 doctors were recruited; eight (47%) were female and six (35%) worked part time. Four doctors left the practices after an average of 20 months service (annual turnover of 6%). Of the two general practice registrars placed in the single accredited practice, one has since joined the practice and the other will do so in 2000. Five doctors are overseas-trained (24%) and four are expected to stay permanently. Rural academic family practices have successfully recruited and retained medical staff in this setting over the past few years. This model of practice may be a useful recruitment and retention strategy for other parts of Australia.

Academic Medical Centers↗

75+ health assessments.

BACKGROUND: The Enhanced Primary Care package (EPC) includes item numbers for annual health assessment of people aged 75 years and over. Nursing or allied health staff can perform these as home visits and save the general practitioner considerable time. OBJECTIVE: Explanatory notes for conducting these assessments are described with reference to the RACGP guidelines in print or on the internet. DISCUSSION: 75+ health assessments (75+ HA) represent an opportunity for GPs to improve the functional status of their elderly patients at the same time as building team work with nursing and allied health professionals.

Aged↗

Establishing a practice based primary care research network. The University Family Practice Network in South Australia.

BACKGROUND: Practice based research networks enable the study of primary care problems in a primary care setting. To be successful, our experience indicates that a network will need to incorporate a number of key components. In South Australia, a University Family Practice Network has been established to undertake primary health care research and teaching and to contribute to the general practice workforce. The University Family Practice Network is composed of five practices and is managed jointly by the Department of General Practice, Adelaide University and the South Australian Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Adelaide University and the University of South Australia. OBJECTIVE: This article details the successful establishment of the University Family Practice Network in the hope of providing a model for other universities who may be interested in setting up a practice based research network. DISCUSSION: The characteristics of this network include fractional academic positions for general practitioners, computerised medical records, location in rural and urban sites, regular meetings and the appointment of a research fellow. A number of benefits have arisen since the network's establishment that will assist its future development and sustainability. These include collocation with allied health services, development of local expertise and workforce support.

Australia↗

AIDS in the community.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Casein turnover in rabbit mammary explants in organ culture.

1. Explants of mammary gland from mid-pregnant rabbits were cultured in medium 199 containing insulin, prolactin and cortisol, and specific anti-casein immunoglobulin G was used to measure the amount, rate of synthesis and rate of degradation of casein in the explants in the presence of hormones and after removal of hormones from previously stimulated tissue. 2. The amount of casein in particle-free supernatants prepared from mammary explants was measured by ;rocket' immunoelectrophoresis. 3. The rate of incorporation of l-[4,5-(3)H]leucine into casein was measured after isolation of the casein by immunoadsorbent chromatography and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of urea and sodium dodecyl sulphate. 4. Casein accumulates in mammary explants in the presence of insulin, prolactin and cortisol, but not in the absence of hormones. Removal of hormones after 24h in culture results in a decrease in the rate of accumulation of casein in the explants. 5. Casein-synthetic rate increases in mammary explants in the presence of insulin, prolactin and cortisol, but not in the absence of hormones. Removal of hormones after 24h in culture results in continued casein synthesis at approx. 30% of the rate in the presence of hormones. The synthetic rate does not decrease to values observed in explants cultured throughout in the absence of hormones. 6. Casein is not degraded in mammary explants during a phase of rapid casein accumulation (36-72h) in the presence of hormones. Furthermore casein is not degraded when hormones are removed from the tissue after between 36 and 72h in culture. 7. Casein is glycosylated in mammary explants; the extent of glycosylation parallels the rate of synthesis. The glycosylated protein is rapidly secreted from the tissue. 8. The results are consistent with the notion that after hormonal stimulation mammary explants from mid-pregnant rabbits synthesize, glycosylate and rapidly secrete casein. Removal of hormones decreases the synthetic rate of casein, but does not cause the accumulation of a pool of degradable casein in the lobuloalveolar cells.

Animals↗

Educational developments for the practice nurse specialty.

A number of constraints have hitherto prevented practice nurses from meeting their learning needs. In this paper the author outlines the new educational opportunities coming on stream in the wake of the UKCC PREP initiative. The need for a range of educational programmes is stressed and the key elements of a diploma course for practice nurses in north London are also explained.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗