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Biomedical subjects

M R Perkin

Publications and source records attributed to M R Perkin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Do junior doctors take sick leave?

Nosocomial infections place a heavy burden on overstretched health services. An audit of junior doctors' sick leave behaviour was undertaken in 1993 and again in 2001. The object was to ascertain the level of common infectious illness and to investigate whether junior doctors were remaining at work inappropriately. The doctors were asked if any factors had influenced their decision to take sick leave or not. Between the two audits several initiatives have been introduced to improve the working conditions of junior doctors, including the New Deal to reduce hours of work. Eighty one junior doctors in a large teaching hospital participated in 1993 and 110 in 2001. The number reporting an infectious illness in the previous six months was similar (61.7% in 1993, 68.2% in 2001). There had been a significant increase in the percentage of infectious illness episodes for which the doctors took sick leave (15.1% in 1993, 36.8% in 2001, p < 0.001). The most common reason for taking less sick leave than was felt necessary was concern about colleagues having to do extra work (72% in 1993, 68% in 2001). Consultant pressure was cited by 26% (1993) and 20% (2001). Use of the staff occupational health unit was minimal, with none of the ill doctors contacting the department in 1993 and only three in 2001. Overall, despite the reduction in the number of infectious doctors not taking sick leave, the majority remained at work. Fundamental changes are needed if potentially infected doctors are not to present a risk of iatrogenic infection.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

A comparison of the attitudes shown by general practitioners, hospital doctors and medical students towards alternative medicine.

The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the views of general practitioners (GPs), hospital doctors and medical students to alternative medicine. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 100 GPs and 100 hospital doctors in the South West Thames Regional Health Authority (SWTRHA). A convenience sample of 237 pre-clinical medical students at St George's Hospital Medical School was also given a questionnaire. Eighty-seven GPs and 81 hospital doctors replied. Five therapies were investigated: acupuncture; chiropractice; homeopathy; naturopathy; and osteopathy. All respondents were asked about their attitude towards and knowledge of these therapies. Doctors were asked how often they referred patients for such treatment and whether they practised it themselves. GPs and hospital doctors had similar levels of knowledge of the therapies. Medical students were the least informed but the most enthusiastic respondents. Seventy per cent of hospital doctors and 93% of GPs had, on at least one occasion, suggested a referral for alternative treatment. GPs were making these referrals more frequently and earlier. Twelve per cent of hospital doctors and 20% of GPs were practising alternative medicine. The majority of the respondents felt that alternative medicine should be available on the National Health Service (NHS) and that medical students should receive some tuition about alternative therapies. A considerable proportion of those doctors referring patients to alternative practitioners were ignorant of their official qualifications.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1993

The effect of anxiety and depression during pregnancy on obstetric complications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of anxiety and depression during pregnancy on obstetric complications using the data collected from the St George's Birthweight Study. DESIGN: Prospective population study. SETTING: District general hospital in inner London. SUBJECTS: A consecutive series of 1860 white women booking for delivery were approached. Of these, 136 refused and 209 failed to complete the study for other reasons, leaving a sample of 1515. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Data were obtained by research interviewers at booking, 17, 28, and 36 weeks gestation and from the structured antenatal and obstetric record. The predictor variables were the anxiety and depression scores measured using the General Health Questionnaire. The outcome variables were five obstetric complications: preterm delivery; nonspontaneous onset of labour; major analgesia in the first and second stages of labour; and nonspontaneous vaginal deliveries. The possible confounding effects of 35 socio-economic, psychological and personal variables were investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The factors that had the strongest relation with the outcomes were parity and maternal age. Depression during pregnancy was unrelated to the obstetric complications. Anxiety was weakly related to analgesia/anaesthesia in the second stage of labour (P = 0.04). However, anxiety accounted for only 0.1% of the variance in use of major analgesia/anaesthesia. The most effective model, that for analgesia/anaesthesia in the first stage of labour, accounted for only 7.3% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: In the general population of pregnant women, anxiety and depression during pregnancy, while undesirable in themselves, are of little importance in the evolution of obstetric complications.

Adolescent↗