Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Hands.
We performed a randomised controlled crossover trial of clinic letters. Structured letters were compared with conventional letters containing problem lists. There were 32 participants; 25 preferred the structured letter. Median rating and items identified were higher for the structured letter. Structured clinical correspondence with paragraph headings is strongly preferred and increases comprehension.
We present results of a Monte Carlo simulation of a (2+1)-dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. In the vacuum phase, the diquark condensate vanishes linearly as a function of diquark source j as expected, but simulations in a region with nonzero baryon density suggest a power-law scaling infinity j(alpha) and hence a critical system for all mu > mu(c). There is no signal for superfluidity. Comparisons are drawn with the pseudogap phase in cuprate superconductors. We also measure the dispersion relation E(k) for fermionic excitations, and find results consistent with a sharp Fermi surface. Any gap Delta is constrained to be much less than the constituent quark mass scale Sigma(0).
It has been suggested that there is considerable unmet need in respect of hearing loss amongst the elderly population, but no routine screening test is currently used in general practice to identify these patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether routine questionnaire screening of the over-65s is a feasible way to identify elderly patients with hearing loss in primary care and whether patients so identified would benefit from hearing aid fitting. A cohort of patients consisting of a sample of 234 individuals aged between 65 and 74, attending a doctor's surgery over a specified period, received a scored questionnaire to complete based on the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening test. Hearing aid owners and those with a hearing handicap were identified, and non-aid wearers with handicap offered examination and referral. Those patients who were fitted with aids were assessed after six months for aid usage and persisting handicap. Twenty-five per cent of the patient sample reported a previously undiagnosed hearing handicap. Six months after aid fitting, a reduction in hearing handicap was reported in 79 per cent of these cases and overall aid usage in the population sample had increased from nine per cent to 20 per cent. Routine questionnaire screening in general practice may be worthwhile since it is easy to carry out and the resulting intervention significantly reduces reported hearing handicap.
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We describe a prospective study in which we investigated why children fail to get vaccinated against whooping cough, including an assessment of the attitudes of parents and professionals and the impact of different views of the contraindications. There was considerable disagreement among the professionals on the interpretation of the contraindications to immunisation, and the commonest reason for omitting pertussis vaccine was advice from the doctor based on dubious contraindications. When faced with parents anxious about the risks of immunisation health professionals are unable to find reassurance in the list of contraindications to immunisation.
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