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K Proctor

Publications and source records attributed to K Proctor.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Acceptability and uptake of a community-based flu immunisation programme.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a community based influenza immunisation programme in terms of patients' and primary care professionals' satisfaction and uptake of immunisation. DESIGN: Surveys were conducted which compared the experiences and opinions of groups of staff and patients who had experienced the programme with groups where general practice was responsible for immunisation arrangements. SETTING: Primary care. SUBJECTS: Patients eligible for influenza immunisation and general practice staff involved in providing immunisation. RESULTS: A good response was obtained from patients (82.2%:2,900) and general practices (83.3%:55). Patients from both programme and comparison groups reported high levels of satisfaction with flu immunisation arrangements. Preferences expressed tended to coincide with patients' experiences of arrangements. Around 40% of both groups desired information. A minority of unvaccinated patients (more programme patients than comparators) expressed difficulties in accessing clinics. There were both advantages and disadvantages for general practices involved in the programme. Although time consumed in giving injections was less for programme staff, they reported substantial time spent on programme-related administration and dealing with patients' queries. Programme figures indicate uptake of 53.8% (not including those vaccinated elsewhere). Survey results show that 58.5% of programme patients who responded were vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: In light of recent Scottish Executive Health Department guidance, experiences of this programme may be of interest to those contemplating Local Development Schemes for flu immunisation. Findings highlight the dilemma between potential economies of scale and continuity of care for patients.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1998

"In-line" bipolar, steroid-eluting, high impedance, epimyocardial pacing lead.

Recent advances in electrode surface designs have eliminated traditional threshold differences between endo- and epicardial pacing leads. Since the epicardial approach offers the potential of direct left ventricular pacing and the transvenous approach may not be feasible or warranted in all instances, more advanced leads are being designed to optimize epicardial pacing capabilities. This study was conducted to evaluate a bipolar epimyocardial lead. Six immature canines (age 3 months) were instrumented. The lead (Medtronic model 10389) is a single-pass, "in-line" bipolar electrode with low current drain and high impedance, with an intramyocardial steroid-eluting cathode and nonsteroid epicardial anode. Twelve ventricular leads were implanted (two per animal) and the animals followed for 6 months with weekly analysis of pacing and sensing capabilities. Results at explant were compared with implant values and showed no significant differences between sensed R waves or in R wave slew rates in unipolar or bipolar modes. Explant lead impedances remained high in both modes: bipolar, 1658 +/- 331; and unipolar, 1327 +/- 308 omega (P < 0.05). Chronic voltage (V) threshold at 0.5 ms showed no significant change from implant values during the study: unipolar, 0.3 +/- 0.06 versus 1.0 +/- 0.8; and bipolar, 0.4 +/- 0.06 versus 1.6 +/- 1.2. Histologic review showed negligible fibrous reaction at the electrode-tissue interface. This study introduces a high impedance, low threshold, "in-line" bipolar pacing lead design capable of stable chronic pacing with implant facilitated by a single suture technique.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Improved epimyocardial pacing: initial experience with a new bipolar, steroid-eluting, high impedance lead design.

Epicardial pacing typically is associated with decreased pacing and sensing capabilities compared with the endocardial approach. Since endocardial pacing is neither appropriate nor possible in all instances, this study was conducted to evaluate a new concept in a chronic epimyocardial lead design in six 3-month-old growing dogs. The new bifurcated lead (Medtronic model 10401) is a low current drain, high impedance, steroid-eluting, bipolar design. The implant is facilitated by a suture attached with an atraumatic needle. Twelve ventricular leads were implanted (2 per animal) and followed for 6 months with weekly analysis of pacing and sensing capabilities. Results at explant were compared with implant values. There were no significant differences between implant and explant in sensed R waves, or in the slew rate of the R wave in unipolar or bipolar modes. Lead impedances at explant remained high in both modes: bipolar, 1550 +/- 223; unipolar, 1234 +/- 262 omega (P < 0.05). Chronic voltage (v) threshold at 0.5 msec showed no significant change from implant values during the study: unipolar, 0.4 +/- 0.2 vs 0.7 +/- 0.3; bipolar, 0.5 +/- 0.4 vs 1 +/- 0.5. Histologic evaluations of the electrode tissue interface demonstrated negligible fibrotic capsule formation. This study introduces a new, easily implanted, high impedance, low threshold, bipolar epimyocardial pacing lead design with excellent chronic pacing and sensing characteristics.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of homosexuality upon public health and social order.

Are homosexuals "not dangers to society" and is homosexuality "compatible with full health"? To answer these questions 4,340 adult respondents drawn via area probability sampling from 5 metropolitan areas of the USA self-administered an extensive sexuality/public order questionnaire of over 500 items. Bisexuals and homosexuals (about 4% of the sample) as compared to heterosexuals: (1) more frequently exposed themselves to biological hazards (e.g., sadomasochism, fisting, bestiality, ingestion of feces); (2) exposed themselves sexually to more different bodies (e.g., more frequently admitted to participating in orgies, reported considerably larger numbers of sexual partners); (3) more frequently reported participating in socially disruptive sex (e.g., deliberate infection of others, cheating in marriage, making obscene phone calls); and (4) more frequently reported engaging in socially disruptive activities (e.g., criminality, shoplifting, tax cheating). From the standpoints of individual health, public health and social order, participating in homosexual activity could be viewed as dangerous to society and incompatible with full health.

Adult↗