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Biomedical subjects

T Usherwood

Publications and source records attributed to T Usherwood.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Do general practitioners' attitudes towards depression predict their clinical behaviour?

BACKGROUND: GPs' attitudes towards depression vary, as do their abilities to detect and manage it effectively. Associations between attitudes and clinical behaviour have not yet been demonstrated directly. We tested two hypotheses: (1) that questionnaire measures of GPs' confidence in identifying depression predict their ability to identify depression in their patients; and (2) that GPs who prefer antidepressants prescribe more than those who prefer psychotherapy. METHODS: Forty GPs in Liverpool and Manchester completed the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) and were asked for prescribing (PACT) information. Attender surveys using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), in combination with GP ratings of patients' psychological status, generated indices for GPs' case identification, bias and accuracy. We tested associations between these indices and the four DAQ components, in particular GPs' confidence in diagnosis, across a total of 1436 patients. We also compared the DAQ component on attitudes to treatment with relevant PACT data. RESULTS: The DAQ assessment of GPs' ability to identify cases of depression bore no relationship to their observed ability, as measured by accuracy, bias, or identification indices. However, there were significant associations between observed diagnostic ability and: preference for psychotherapy; ease in managing depression; and, belief in successful treatment. PACT data were available for 26 (65%) GPs. There was an association between preference for antidepressants and prescription of SSRIs (rs 0.3981, P < 0.044), but not for overall antidepressant or tricyclic prescribing, or for dose of dothiepin. CONCLUSIONS: The DAQ measure of ease of identification is not valid when compared to actual clinical practice. The ability of GPs to identify depression may not be an independent variable, but may rather reflect other beliefs, attitudes and skills. This has considerable implications for educational interventions in primary care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Difficult asthma

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Deriving a preference-based single index from the UK SF-36 Health Survey.

This article presents the results of a study to derive a preference-based single index from the SF-36. The study was an attempt to reconcile a profile health status measure, the SF-36, with the "quality adjusted life years" approach. The study undertook a parsimonious restructuring of the SF-36 using explicit criteria to form the SF-6D health state classification. A sample of multidimensional health states defined by this classification were valued by a convenience sample of health professionals, managers, and patients, who responded to a set of visual analogue scale ratings and standard gamble questions, with highly complete and consistent answers. Statistical models were estimated to predict single index scores for all 9000 health states defined by the new classification. The resultant algorithms can be applied to existing SF-36 data sets and used in the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of health technologies. This preliminary work forms the basis of a larger study currently being undertaken in the UK.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of a training package in the assessment and management of depression in primary care.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact on the behaviour and attitudes of experienced general practitioners of a 10-hour training package in the assessment and management of depression. Twenty general practitioners participated. Both subjective and objective assessments were carried out which suggested significant improvements in both assessment and management skills. However, subjectively reported changes were not always supported by the objective data obtained from rating role-played interviews. The role-played patients rated the doctors as better communicators after training. All participants felt attending the course was beneficial. They all felt more confident in their abilities to deal with depression and said the skills they had learnt on the course would be useful to them in their future work. An outcome study is now underway in order to assess whether the training package, which has been demonstrated to have an impact on the behaviour, skills and attitudes of doctors, has an impact on the health of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Improving cervical screening in a remote aboriginal community.

Improved cervical screening has been identified as a priority in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer among Aboriginal women. This paper discusses the cervical screening recommendations of a women's health project developed by Nganampa Health Council (NHC), the Aboriginal-controlled medical service meeting the health needs of the people of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara (AP) Lands. A community participation public health model was used in program development. A process including community and staff consultation, literature review and prioritisation informed the program development, ensuring strategies thereby derived were culturally acceptable as well as practical and scientifically valid. The epidemiology of cervical cancer and screening in this community is discussed. Strategies aimed at maximising patient participation, improving patient satisfaction, running an effective call and recall system, improving quality of cervical smears, improving management of women with abnormal smears and evaluating the program are suggested. The involvement of the community in a scientifically sound, public health approach may increase the likelihood that the strategies suggested will be effective in this community. Both the model of program development and the cervical screening strategies derived are likely to be of relevance for other Aboriginal communities.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1995

Competence-based summative assessment of a student-directed course: involvement of key stakeholders.

The 5-week module in general practice for final-year students at the University of Sheffield is based on practice attachments and student-directed learning in small groups. This paper describes how the summative assessment process of the module was revised to incorporate the notion of competence-based assessment, and how general practitioner tutors, departmental tutors and students were involved in this revision. The question 'What are students expected to know and be able to do by the end of the module?' was answered in terms of a statement of the key purpose of the module and a list of intended learning outcomes. The question 'How can we find out if students have achieved these outcomes?' was addressed by developing check-lists of criteria for observed behaviours and for the written products of students' actions.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1993

Self-perceived health status of hostel residents: use of the SF-36D health survey questionnaire. Hanover Project Team.

As part of a project to assess the health needs of homeless people in Sheffield, a survey of hostel residents was undertaken with the aim of measuring self-perceived health and health service use among respondents. The survey instrument incorporated the SF-36D short-form health survey questionnaire. One hundred and four (56 per cent) adult hostel residents responded. Respondents reported high levels of health service use, and poor average perceived health in comparison with the general population. Three-quarters of respondents were identified as being at risk of major depressive illness. There was a strong association between risk of major depression and recent hospital contact, current use of prescribed medication, and low scores on the social function, mental health, energy/vitality, pain and general health dimensions of the SF-36. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Subjective and behavioural evaluation of the teaching of patient interview skills.

One aim of the course in general practice and public health medicine during the final year at the University of Sheffield is to help students to develop further their interpersonal communication skills with particular reference to their skills in interviewing patients. During the course students meet twice in small groups with a tutor in order to review audiotape recordings of interviews with patients seen during their general practice attachments. The main activity during these tutorials is group discussion of the interviewer's behavioural options at significant points during the interview. Students also listen individually with a tutor to an interview that they have recorded, discuss this interview and assess it against a set of explicit criteria as part of their summative course assessment. In response to an anonymous end-of-course questionnaire, 85% of students felt that their interview skills had been improved by the teaching and 68% that listening to their own recordings had been the most helpful aspect. During interviews with simulated patients recorded at the end of the course, students asked more open questions, fewer questions referring to physical symptoms, more questions referring to feelings, beliefs or behaviour and fewer questions of a check-list type than during interviews recorded at the start. A number of students also requested examples of specific events during the end-of-course interviews although none had done so at the beginning of the course. All of these changes were statistically significant and were in directions that were consistent with the teaching in the small-group tutorials.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1992

Validating the SF-36 health survey questionnaire: new outcome measure for primary care.

OBJECTIVES: To test the acceptability, validity, and reliability of the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and to compare it with the Nottingham health profile. DESIGN: Postal survey using a questionnaire booklet together with a letter from the general practitioner. Non-respondents received two reminders at two week intervals. The SF-36 questionnaire was retested on a subsample of respondents two weeks after the first mailing. SETTING: Two general practices in Sheffield. PATIENTS: 1980 patients aged 16-74 years randomly selected from the two practice lists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores for each health dimension on the SF-36 questionnaire and the Nottingham health profile. Response to questions on recent use of health services and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: The response rate for the SF-36 questionnaire was high (83%) and the rate of completion for each dimension was over 95%. Considerable evidence was found for the reliability of the SF-36 (Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.85, reliability coefficient greater than 0.75 for all dimensions except social functioning) and for construct validity in terms of distinguishing between groups with expected health differences. The SF-36 was able to detect low levels of ill health in patients who had scored 0 (good health) on the Nottingham health profile. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 is a promising new instrument for measuring health perception in a general population. It is easy to use, acceptable to patients, and fulfils stringent criteria of reliability and validity. Its use in other contexts and with different disease groups requires further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Workload of general practitioners before and after the new contract.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in general practitioners' workload associated with the new contract introduced in April 1990. DESIGN: Weekly workload diary completed during four weeks in February-March 1990 and during the same period in 1991. SETTING: Sheffield, United Kingdom. SUBJECTS: All 300 general practitioners on Sheffield Family Health Services Authority list as principals in 1990 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean number of hours worked per week, number of patients seen each week, and mean time spent per patient. RESULTS: 181 (60%) general practitioners responded in 1990 and 163 (54%) in 1991. Of these, 18 (10%) were not working in 1990 and 14 (7%) in 1991. General medical service work increased during a "normal working week" from a mean of 38.6 hours a week in 1990 to 40.6 hours in 1991, and non-general medical service work decreased from 5.4 hours a week to 4.5 hours. Hours spent on call were similar before and after the contract. For the 99 general practitioners who responded in both years, time spent on general medical service duties increased significantly (40.5 h in 1990 v 42.5 h [corrected] in 1991; p = 0.033), mainly due to more time being spent in clinics. Significantly more patients were being seen in clinics (9 v 14; p = 0.001); the average time spent per patient remained at about 8 1/2 minutes during surgeries and 16 minutes for a home visit, and rose from 13 to 14 minutes for patients seen in clinics. The time spent on practice administration fell but not significantly. CONCLUSION: Since the new contract there has been a significant increase in general medical services work, mainly due to more patients being seen in clinics, with no reduction in the time spent per patient.

Contract Services↗
PubMed1992

Profile-based assessment of student project reports.

During their final year, medical students at Sheffield University are required to undertake a research or audit project. The students' project reports are assessed using a grid-style criterion-based profile. This is described, and the validity and reliability of this method of summative assessment are discussed.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1991

Student-directed problem-based learning in general practice and public health medicine.

The development and implementation are described of a new 6-week course in general practice and public health medicine for final-year medical students. This course is based on the principles of student-directed problem-based learning in small groups and makes substantial use of student attachments to local general practices which act as learning resources. Student assessment is by profiles. Course evaluation is by qualitative feedback, and the results of this are presented. The course offers a flexible learning environment in which the aims of its designers and the goals of their students can be achieved.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1984

Relation of blood pressure and body sodium content during sodium depletion in normal and hypertensive subjects.

Blood pressure, exchangeable sodium content, sodium metabolic balance, and plasma concentrations of active renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone were measured in seven normal men and 10 essential hypertensive men of similar age and weight. The measurements were made under two circumstances: during a 2- to 3-day period of normal sodium intake of 145-150 mmol/24 h and during a 2- to 3-day period of sodium depletion produced by 40 mg frusemide and a dietary sodium intake less than 10 mmol/24 h. Mean arterial pressure decreased in nine of the 10 hypertensive subjects but increased in six of the seven normotensive subjects during sodium depletion. Blood pressure changed more for a given change in exchangeable sodium level in hypertensive subjects than in normotensive subjects, despite a similar loss of sodium in the two groups. Changes in blood pressure varied markedly in the hypertensive group. Patients showing the greatest fall in arterial pressure had the least rise in plasma active renin concentration and, not significantly, the least rise in plasma aldosterone level. These findings are compatible with a model of pressure natriuresis which is altered more in normal subjects during changes in dietary sodium content, thereby preventing a rise in arterial pressure. Failure of this compensatory mechanism in hypertensive subjects may raise blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

10. Hypertension. A comparison of the effects of angiotensin II infusion and variations in salt intake on plasma aldosterone levels in normal subjects, patients with essential hypertension and patients with hyperaldosteronism.

Infusion of angiotensin II into a patient with dexamethasone-suppressible hyperaldosteronism caused a brisk increase in plasma aldosterone concentration. In this behaviour, the patient resembled those patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism rather than those with tumorous primary hyperaldosteronism. Sodium depletion of a small group of patients with mild essential hypertension elicited a spectrum of increases in plasma aldosterone levels ranging from zero to normal. Angiotensin II infusion in both sodium replete and deplete states also caused variable aldosterone responses. These results suggest that the derangement of adrenal function in this condition varies continuously in severity.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗