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Biomedical subjects

Jeff Turnbull

Publications and source records attributed to Jeff Turnbull.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Shelter-based managed alcohol administration to chronically homeless people addicted to alcohol.

BACKGROUND: People who are homeless and chronically alcoholic have increased health problems, use of emergency services and police contact, with a low likelihood of rehabilitation. Harm reduction is a policy to decrease the adverse consequences of substance use without requiring abstinence. The shelter-based Managed Alcohol Project (MAP) was created to deliver health care to homeless adults with alcoholism and to minimize harm; its effect upon consumption of alcohol and use of crisis services is described as proof of principle. METHODS: Subjects enrolled in MAP were dispensed alcohol on an hourly basis. Hospital charts were reviewed for all emergency department (ED) visits and admissions during the 3 years before and up to 2 years after program enrollment, and the police database was accessed for all encounters during the same periods. The results of blood tests were analyzed for trends. A questionnaire was administered to MAP participants and staff about alcohol use, health and activities of daily living before and during the program. Direct program costs were also recorded. RESULTS: Seventeen adults with an average age of 51 years and a mean duration of alcoholism of 35 years were enrolled in MAP for an average of 16 months. Their monthly mean group total of ED visits decreased from 13.5 to 8 (p = 0.004); police encounters, from 18.1 to 8.8 (p = 0.018). Changes in blood test findings were nonsignificant. All program participants reported less alcohol consumption during MAP, and subjects and staff alike reported improved hygiene, compliance with medical care and health. INTERPRETATION: A managed alcohol program for homeless people with chronic alcoholism can stabilize alcohol intake and significantly decrease ED visits and police encounters.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed2005

Contextual considerations in summative competency examinations: relevance to the long case.

Long-case patient-based examinations previously formed the basis of summative competency testing in physician certification examinations. These exams were found to be unreliable and have fallen from favor. During the authors' deliberation of the long case in the neurology certification examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, they considered the examination context and concluded that the appropriate psychometric analysis of the exams is highly contingent on the context. The examination context underlying certification examinations has evolved considerably; within a different context, a more cohesive test system based on a quality assurance framework could better manage substantive psychometric issues around case specificity, comprehensiveness, reliability, and compensability. These arguments are in small part psychometric, but are mostly philosophical and have relevance to the profession and the public.

Certification↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Shelter-based convalescence for homeless adults.

OBJECTIVES: Homelessness is associated with increased hospital costs and length of stay, and medical or surgical conditions are typically complicated by secondary diagnoses of substance abuse or mental illness. Convalescence care to provide timely treatment has not been analyzed. This is a retrospective study of diagnoses and utility of shelter-based convalescence in a cohort of homeless subjects. METHODS: A 20-bed shelter-based unit providing up to 3 months stay post hospital discharge, or for treatment of addictions or for those too ill to remain in the general shelter was studied. Charting was by the use of an electronic health record developed for the project. Demographics, reason for admission and outcomes are retrospectively described. RESULTS: 140 men had 181 admissions from July 2000-April 2003; 23.8% were post hospital discharge, 57.4% were from the general shelter. Average length of stay was 40 days. 83.4% were treated for a medical or surgical condition, 83.6% for psychiatric disease and 29.8% for addictions. Medication adherence was >80% in the majority. During admission, 20% obtained a new health card, 43.6% a new drug card, 89.3% received transportation to appointments, 60% applied for housing and 24.3% obtained housing. CONCLUSION: A shelter-based convalescence unit can provide health care to homeless persons, treat medical and mental illness, ensure adherence to treatment regimes, decrease substance abuse and assist with housing.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perception of Canadian training programs by Saudi resident trainees.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine how Saudi medical trainees in Canada perceive their training programs with regards to educational, ethnic and socio-cultural issues, and if different factors such as the chosen field of training, place or level of training make any difference to this perception. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All Saudi residents in training programs in Canada in the 1996/1997 academic year were surveyed using a written anonymous self-administered questionnaire, evaluating educational, ethnic and socio-cultural aspects of various training programs. RESULTS: The response rate was 72.5% (185/255). Most of the respondents were in the fourth year of training. Overall, the level of stress was rated as tolerable in 154 (83%), and 179 respondents (96.8%) described the educational aspects of their program positively. Furthermore, 154 (83%) of the respondents agreed that they were treated fairly in the distribution of job functions with regards to Canadian residents, and 133 (72%) did not face any major difficulty in practicing their religion. The sites of training, type of specialty and the level of training made significant impact on the perceived educational, social, religious and administrative aspects of training. CONCLUSION: The majority of Saudi medical trainees in Canada perceived the educational aspects of their training as a positive experience. Major problems faced were mainly related to administrative matters and to some extent, social adjustment. Issues that affect the training process need to be tackled by the concerned authorities to ensure the success of the training programs.

Journal Article↗