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Biomedical subjects

Mike J Crawford

Publications and source records attributed to Mike J Crawford.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Psychosocial interventions following self-harm: systematic review of their efficacy in preventing suicide.

BACKGROUND: With almost a million people dying by suicide worldwide each year, reducing the rate of suicidal behaviour is a priority in many countries. AIMS: To examine whether additional psychosocial interventions following an episode of self-harm reduce the likelihood of subsequent suicide. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from randomised controlled trials of interventions for people following self-harm. Likelihood of suicide was compared by calculating the pooled root difference in suicide rate with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: We obtained suicide data from 18 studies with a total population of 3918. Eighteen suicides occurred among people offered active treatment and 19 among those offered standard care (pooled root difference in suicide rate 0.0,95% CI -0.03 to 0.03). The overall rate of suicide among people participating in trials was similar to that reported in observational studies of people who self-harm. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this meta-analysis do not provide evidence that additional psychosocial interventions following self-harm have a marked effect on the likelihood of subsequent suicide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia: exploratory randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy may provide a means of improving mental health among people with schizophrenia, but its effects in acute psychoses have not been explored. AIMS: To examine the feasibility of a randomised trial of music therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia, and explore its effects on mental health. METHOD: Up to 12 weeks of individual music therapy plus standard care were compared with standard care alone. Masked assessments of mental health, global functioning and satisfaction with care were conducted at 3 months. RESULTS: Of 115 eligible patients 81 (70%) were randomised. Two-thirds of those randomised to music therapy attended at least four sessions (median attendance, eight sessions). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a trend towards improved symptom scores among those randomised to music therapy, especially in general symptoms of schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: A randomised trial of music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia is feasible. The effects and cost-effectiveness of music therapy for acute psychosis should be further explored in an explanatory randomised trial.

Feasibility Studies↗
PubMed2005

Cost-effectiveness of screening and referral to an alcohol health worker in alcohol misusing patients attending an accident and emergency department: a decision-making approach.

We present the cost and cost-effectiveness of referral to an alcohol health worker (AHW) and information only control in alcohol misusing patients. The study was a pragmatic randomised controlled trial conducted from April 2001 to March 2003 in an accident and emergency department (AED) in a general hospital in London, England. A total of 599 adults identified as drinking hazardously according to the Paddington Alcohol Test were randomised to referral to an alcohol health worker who delivered a brief intervention (n = 287) or to an information only control (n = 312). Total societal costs, including health and social services costs, criminal justice costs and productivity losses, and clinical measures of alcohol consumption were measured. Levels of drinking were observably lower in those referred to an AHW at 12 months follow-up and statistically significantly lower at 6 months follow-up. Total costs were not significantly different at either follow-up. Referral to AHWs in an AED produces favourable clinical outcomes and does not generate a significant increase in cost. A decision-making approach revealed that there is at least a 65% probability that referral to an AHW is more cost-effective than the information only control in reducing alcohol consumption among AED attendees with a hazardous level of drinking.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Providing continuity of care for people with severe mental illness- a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Service users and providers have stated that delivering continuity of care to people with severe mental illness should be a service priority. We reviewed literature on continuity of care for people with severe mental illness (SMI) in order to identify factors that promote and impede this process. METHOD: A systematic search of electronic databases, sources of grey literature and contact with experts in the field. Two reviewers independently rated all papers for possible inclusion. Data extracted from papers formed the basis of a narrative review. RESULTS: We identified 435 papers on continuity of care, of which 60 addressed the study aims. Most did not define continuity of care. Available evidence suggests that assertive community treatment, case management, community mental health teams and crisis intervention reduce the likelihood of patients dropping out of contact with services. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on which to base services that enhance continuity of care for people with SMI is limited because previous research has often failed to define continuity of care or consider the patient's perspective.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Patients or partners? Case studies of user involvement in the planning and delivery of adult mental health services in London.

User or patient involvement (UI) in the planning and delivery of health services is an aspiration of many industrialized economies, and has been promoted by United Kingdom (UK) governments for over two decades. This paper reports the findings of qualitative case studies of UI in two mental health provider Trusts in London. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a variety of stakeholders, including Trust staff at all levels and user group members, to compare the expectations of diverse stakeholders and the extent to which these were achieved. We found that UI remained in the gift of provider managers: providers retained control over decision making, and expected users to address Trust agendas and conform to Trust management practices. Users wanted to achieve concrete changes to policies and services, but had broader aspirations to improve the status and condition of people with mental health problems. Suggestions are made about the direction of future strategies to improve UI.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Sexual activity among patients in psychiatric hospital wards.

In psychiatric hospitals, sexual activity between patients raises special difficulties regarding consent. We undertook a questionnaire survey of inpatients in the mental health units of three hospitals to identify the nature and frequency of sexual activity. A contemporaneous staff questionnaire was used in an attempt to validate the patient reports. Of the 100 patients who participated (response rate 60%), 30 reported engaging in some form of sexual activity including 10 who had sexual intercourse. All sexual intercourse was consensual, but only 2 respondents used condoms. Staff questionnaires suggested levels of sexual activity congruent with patient reports. This survey underlines the conflict between an individual's right to sexual expression and the need to protect vulnerable patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Systematic review of involving patients in the planning and development of health care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of involving patients in the planning and development of health care. DATA SOURCES: Published and grey literature. STUDY SELECTION: Systematic search for worldwide reports written in English between January 1966 and October 2000. DATA EXTRACTION: Qualitative review of papers describing the effects of involving patients in the planning and development of health care. RESULTS: Of 42 papers identified, 31 (74%) were case studies. Papers often described changes to services that were attributed to involving patients, including attempts to make services more accessible and producing information leaflets for patients. Changes in the attitudes of organisations to involving patients and positive responses from patients who took part in initiatives were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence supports the notion that involving patients has contributed to changes in the provision of services across a range of different settings. An evidence base for the effects on use of services, quality of care, satisfaction, or health of patients does not exist.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Screening and referral for brief intervention of alcohol-misusing patients in an emergency department: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol misuse is highly prevalent among people attending emergency departments, but the effect of intervention by staff working in these departments is unclear. We investigated the effect of screening and referral of patients found to be misusing alcohol while attending an emergency department. METHODS: We undertook a single-blind pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Patients received either an information leaflet or an information leaflet plus an appointment with an alcohol health worker. Outcome data were collected by patient interview and examination of hospital records at 6 and 12 months. FINDINGS: 599 patients were randomised over a 12-month period. At 6 months, those referred to an alcohol health worker were consuming a mean of 59.7 units of alcohol per week compared with 83.1 units in the control group (t -2.4, p=0.02). At 12 months those referred were drinking 57.2 units per week compared with 70.8 in controls (t -1.7, p=0.09). Those referred to the alcohol health worker had a mean of 0.5 fewer visits to the emergency department over the following 12 months (1.2 compared with 1.7, t -2.0, p=0.046). Differences in quality of life were not found. INTERPRETATION: Opportunistic identification and referral for alcohol misuse in an emergency department is feasible, associated with lower levels of alcohol consumption over the following 6 months, and reduces reattendance at the department. Short-term reductions in alcohol consumption associated with referral for brief intervention for alcohol misuse benefit patients and reduce demand for accident and emergency department services.

Adult↗