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Biomedical subjects

M L Plant

Publications and source records attributed to M L Plant.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

AIDS-related experience, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs amongst nurses in an area with a high rate of HIV infection.

The results are presented of a survey of the AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of a random sample of 600 qualified nurses in the Lothian Region of Scotland. This locality is characterized by a high rate of detected HIV infection which is mainly associated with intravenous drug use. This study indicated that 64% of respondents had contact with HIV-infected patients and that 48% had nursed people with AIDS. Levels of AIDS-related knowledge were not high and a substantial proportion of nurses reported lacking basic AIDS information and professional support to enable them to work effectively with people who have AIDS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Stress, alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use amongst nurses: a Scottish study.

This paper examines levels of stress amongst a representative sample of 600 qualified nurses in the Lothian Region of Scotland. The results indicated a number of significant variations in the patterns of stress amongst different subgroups of nurses. The highest stress levels amongst females were evident amongst medical nurses while the lowest levels were reported by those in psychiatry. No comparable differences were evident amongst males in different fields of nursing. Stress was also associated with the use of alcohol, but not with tobacco smoking. Illicit drug use was associated with stress amongst females. Amongst both males and females the variable most predictive of stress was concern about AIDS. Amongst females, administrative workload was an equally important predictor. It is concluded that as the HIV/AIDS epidemic spreads efforts will be needed to support nursing staff and to reduce stress levels.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Alcohol and breast cancer: a review.

This paper reviews the major studies on the possible relationship between drinking alcohol and breast cancer. The majority of these studies show some association between levels of alcohol consumption and breast cancer. However, the evidence of a causal link is lacking. A number of problems in interpreting the data are discussed. Given the high incidence of breast cancer in many countries, this is an important area. However, the imputed role of alcohol must not be exaggerated, particularly if this means that other more important factors in the equation fail to be examined.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1991

Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use amongst nurses: a Scottish study.

This paper examines patterns of self-reported alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use amongst a representative sample of 600 qualified nurses in the Lothian Region of Scotland. General levels of alcohol use were not exceptional. Even so, levels of tobacco smoking and the use of illicit drugs were higher than for the general population. Female psychiatric nurses were significantly more likely than female medical or surgical nurses to smoke tobacco, to drink heavily and to have experienced adverse alcohol-related consequences.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol, AIDS risks and commercial sex: some preliminary results from a Scottish study.

During 1988 self-report data were elicited from a study of 102 male and 103 female sex workers (prostitutes) in Edinburgh. Respondents were contacted by 'snowballing', mostly in licensed premises. This was reflected by high levels of self-reported alcohol and illicit drug use. Respondents reported that both alcohol and illicit drug use were commonplace in relation to their work and that many of their clients were under alcohol or drug effect at the time of contact. Condom use was unrelated to sex workers' alcohol or drug use, but was significantly associated with sex workers' assessments of the proportions of their clients also under the influence of illicit drugs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Alcohol, AIDS risks and sex industry clients: results from a Scottish study.

During 1988 and 1989 self-reported data were obtained from 206 males and three females who had paid for physical sexual services. Respondents were contacted by "snowballing", mainly with the assistance of sex workers. The study group reported that both alcohol and illicit drug use were commonplace during their contact with prostitutes. No general association between alcohol and drug use and 'risky sex' was evident. Even so amongst males who had anal sex with males alcohol consumption was inversely related to condom use.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Risks of AIDS among workers in the "sex industry": some initial results from a Scottish study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which workers in the "sex industry" in Edinburgh engage in activities with a high risk of infection with HIV. DESIGN: Cross sectional, single phase survey in which respondents were located by a non-random method ("snowballing"). SETTING: Research project coordinated by the Alcohol Research Group, Edinburgh. SUBJECTS: 205 Sex workers (102 male, 103 female) interviewed between July and December 1988. END POINT: Strategies to reduce risk of AIDS among people who buy and sell sexual services. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data were elicited by a standardised interview which related to over 300 variables. A fifth of the study group had used drugs intravenously, and one in 12 reported that they had been found to be seropositive on HIV testing. Roughly a quarter of the study group sometimes engaged in unprotected sex with clients for more money, and a similar proportion sometimes did not seek medical advice even if they had genital or anal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: People who buy and sell sexual services should be priority targets for health education and strategies to reduce their risk of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

The sex industry, alcohol and illicit drugs: implications for the spread of HIV infection.

A review is presented of the association between the sex industry and the use and misuse of alcohol and illicit drugs. It is concluded that both the latter are associated with 'high risk' sexual activities and that heavy drinking and illicit drug use are commonplace amongst prostitutes and their clients. Outside Africa evidence suggests that in some, though by no means all, areas prostitutes have low or zero levels of HIV seropositivity. It is concluded that far more information is needed on the patterns of AIDS-related knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours amongst male and female prostitutes and their clients. Vigorous policies are needed to increase levels of knowledge about AIDS risks amongst prostitutes and their clients and to foster the adoption of 'safer sex' practices.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Maternal use of alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy and birth abnormalities: further results from a prospective study.

This paper presents an extended analysis of data produced during a prospective study of the possible association between maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal harm. This new analysis examines the possible links between not only maternal alcohol consumption, but also the use of tobacco, prescribed and illicit drugs and birth abnormalities. There was no general association between birth abnormalities and maternal psychoactive drug use and misuse. Even so, women who neither smoked nor consumed alcohol during the first trimester produced offspring with significantly fewer birth abnormalities than did those who drank heavily and smoked cigarettes.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1987

Family alcohol problems among pregnant women: links with maternal substance use and birth abnormalities.

Between 1980 and 1983 a prospective study of 1008 pregnant women was conducted in South East Scotland, to investigate whether or not maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy was associated with birth abnormalities. The initial results indicated that maternal drinking was associated with such abnormalities, but that alcohol appeared to play a relatively minor role in causing such harm. An extended analysis was conducted to investigate possible links between the maternal use of alcohol, tobacco, prescribed and illegal drugs, birth abnormalities and family alcohol problems amongst pregnant women. Women who had experienced alcohol problems were significantly more likely than other women to have used illegal drugs but were not distinctive in relation to the number of birth abnormalities evident amongst their offspring. In addition females whose spouses/partners or parents had experienced alcohol problems did not produce more damaged babies than those with no such family alcohol problems. Curiously, women whose fathers had been problem drinkers produced offspring with fewer birth abnormalities than did other women.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1984

Drinking amongst pregnant women: some initial results from a prospective study.

A review is presented of the characteristics of the foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It is noted that in its most extreme form the FAS encompasses both physical and mental abnormalities. Some of the initial results are briefly presented from the first two phases of a Scottish prospective study. This relates to the patterns of alcohol use and misuse of 1008 pregnant women. These data indicate that self-reported alcohol consumption was slightly but significantly correlated with previous obstetric problems. In addition, a minority of the study group, due to their levels of alcohol consumption, may run an increased risk of giving birth to abnormal offspring. It is concluded that on the basis of current evidence those planning or experiencing pregnancy should be advised not to drink.

Adult↗