Search

Introduction: Adolescents often have difficulty adjusting to their surroundings. Coping and family support are also associated with this adjustment. However, the relationship between the aforementioned factors and adjustment among adolescents with parents who work as migrant workers remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between coping and family support with the adjustment of adolescents who have parents who work as migrant workers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 70 early adolescents with parents working as migrant workers were recruited from the total sample. In this study, coping strategies and family social support were assigned as independent variables, while the dependent variable was the adjustment of adolescents who had parents as migrant workers. The questionnaire was used to measure the outcome of interest and tested for validity and reliability. The data analysis in this study used Spearman Rho. Spearman’s Rho correlation with alpha, α set ≤ 0.05, was used to analyze the data. Results: The results indicate that Coping strategies (p = 0.018; r = 0.283) and family support (p = 0.001; r = 0.380) were associated with adolescent adjustment. Conclusions: Both coping strategies and family support contribute to the adjustment of adolescents whose parents work as migrant workers. There is a need to increase the priority of psychosocial counseling for adolescents who have parents working as migrant workers and educate their families to increase attention and support appropriate adolescent development.

Objective: To analyse the relationship of self-efficacy and social support with academic burnout of nursing students. Method: The correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2021 at the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia, and comprised nursing students in the 4th and 6th semesters of their academic programme. Data was collected using self-efficacy and social support questionnaires as well as the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey. Results: Of the 184 subjects, 160(87%) were females and 24(13%) were males; 98(43.3%) were from the 4th semester and 86(46.7%) were from the 6th; 66(36.4%) were aged 20 years, followed by 65(35.9%) aged 21 years; and East Java was the hometown for 163(88.6%) students. Self-efficacy (p=0.005; r=-0.205) and social support (p=0.000; r=-0.265) were significantly associated with academic burnout. Conclusion: Higher self-efficacy and social support levels may lead to lower academic burnout among nursing students. Keywords: Self-efficacy, Burnout, Psychological, Social support, Nursing.

Background: Insulin-treated diabetes patients are at high risk of developing lipohypertrophy, which can negatively impact treatment outcomes. Early detection of lipohypertrophy is crucial to preventing blood glucose fluctuation. Unfortunately, this clinical issue is often overlooked by nurses, causing the development of vascular complications, which leads to an increase in the morbidity and mortality of the type 2 diabetes mellitus population. Objective: This study was conducted to identify lipohypertrophy prevalence and to establish the association between the presence of lipohypertrophy and its associated risk factors, including years on injection, total injection in a day, total insulin unit per day, often change needle, insulin injection site and move to a different area. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received insulin therapy in an outpatient diabetic clinic. Questionnaires on socio-demographic and lipohypertrophy-associated risk factors were distributed among patients, and lipohypertrophy-assessment was done using a checklist. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square were used for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of lipohypertrophy was 51.6% (95% CI: 42.6, 60.5). Swelling on fatty tissue (46.1%) exhibited the highest percentage of lipohypertrophy features during the assessment. Pearson Chi-Square revealed a significant relationship between the presence of LH and BMI categories (χ2 = 10.059, df = 3, p = 0.018), duration of injection (χ2 = 15.001, df = 3, p = 0.002), frequency of needle replacement (χ2 = 9.525, df = 3, p = 0.023) and rotation of injection site (χ2 = 5.914, df = 1, p = 0.015). Conclusion: The high prevalence of lipohypertrophy indicates a need for a prevention strategy. Thus, nurses should play an important role in educating patients regarding the proper administration of insulin injections and performing a routine lipohypertrophy assessment and health education on the correct method of insulin injection.

An extensive programme of archaeological fieldwork between August 2006 and May 2008 in the area of the former New Street Gasworks and New Street Bus Depot, Canongate, Edinburgh revealed remains of one of the earliest and most significant gasworks in Britain. As well as patches of medieval and post-medieval backland soils and post-medieval structures that pre-dated the establishment of the New Street works in the first quarter of the 19th century, substantial structural remains of the various phases of this industrial undertaking were recorded, along with a suite of associated artefacts. These works have permitted the exploration of the industrial heritage of Edinburgh, as well as revealing important evidence of the medieval and post-medieval occupation of the Canongate. This is the first major excavation of an urban gasworks in Scotland and has enabled an examination of how these gasworks functioned and how they expanded with the introduction of more efficient systems and new technology.

A stoma is classified as either permanent or temporary depending on the time of anastomosis, and is referred to as a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy based on the organ to which it is anastomosed. The creation of a stoma poses many challenges to patients as they adapt to this profound life-changing event that affects fundamental aspects of quality of life. To reduce the risk of stoma and peristomal complications after discharge, telephone-based support (TBS) program which includes patient follow-up, counselling, and the benefits of group support activities including information sharing, health education and counselling, symptom management, early detection of problems, reassurance, and high-quality aftercare. This article narrates common stoma and peristomal complications as well as TBS program to support in reducing these complications.

Syringes with attached needles (termed fixed low dead space syringes [LDSS]) retain less blood following injection than syringes with detachable needles, but evidence on them reducing blood-borne virus transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) is lacking. Utilizing the UK Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring cross-sectional bio-behavioral surveys among PWID for 2016/18/19 (n = 1429), we showed that always using fixed LDSS was associated with 76% lower likelihood (adjusted odds ratio = 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .08–.67) of recent hepatitis C virus infection (RNA-positive and antibody-negative) among antibody-negative PWID compared to using any syringes with detachable needles.

IntroductionThe increasing prevalence of developmental disorders in early childhood poses a significant global health burden. Early detection of developmental problems is vital to ensure timely access to early intervention, and universal developmental surveillance is recommended best practice for identifying issues. Despite this, there is currently considerable variation in developmental surveillance and screening between Australian states and territories and low rates of developmental screening uptake by parents. This study aims to evaluate an innovative web-based developmental surveillance programme and a sustainable approach to referral and care pathways, linking primary care general practice (GP) services that fall under federal policy responsibility and state government-funded child health services.Methods and analysisThe proposed study describes a longitudinal cluster randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) comparing a ‘Watch Me Grow Integrated’ (WMG-I) approach for developmental screening, to Surveillance as Usual (SaU) in GPs. Forty practices will be recruited across New South Wales and Queensland, and randomly allocated into either the (1) WMG-I or (2) SaU group. A cohort of 2000 children will be recruited during their 18-month vaccination visit or opportunistic visit to GP. At the end of the c-RCT, a qualitative study using focus groups/interviews will evaluate parent and practitioner views of the WMG-I programme and inform national and state policy recommendations.Ethics and disseminationThe South Western Sydney Local Health District (2020/ETH01625), UNSW Sydney (2020/ETH01625) and University of Queensland (2021/HE000667) Human Research Ethics Committees independently reviewed and approved this study. Findings will be reported to the funding bodies, study institutes and partners; families and peer-reviewed conferences/publications.Trial registration numberANZCTR12621000680864.

BACKGROUND: The English schools-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme is routinely offered to all young people aged 12-13 years, to prevent cancers affecting the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus and oral cavity. Lower uptake among some population groups has been identified, in part, because of unmet information needs among young people. To address these unmet needs we report intervention planning and development processes to co-produce an educational package about the HPV vaccine.METHODS: We used co-production research methodologies and the ‘person-based approach’ involving the following iterative stages: (i) collating and analysing primary and secondary evidence, including HPV vaccine communication materials and interviews and workshops); (ii) developing guiding principles; (iii) undertaking a behavioural analysis informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel and the Behaviour Change Technique taxonomy; (iv) development of a preliminary logic model; (v) co-production of resources, and; (vi) refinement of resources informed by feedback from young people and key stakeholders. RESULTS: We co-produced EDUCATE, a theory-based educational package, that is designed to be delivered to young people prior to being offered the HPV vaccine to support uptake. Young people and key stakeholders identified the following key issues to include as content: (i) HPV-related information; (ii) how vaccines work; (iii) safety and side-effects of the HPV vaccine; (iii) eligibility for the HPV vaccination programme, and; (iv) preparation of young people to receive the HPV vaccine. A manual for professionals (e.g. immunisation nurses, school staff) delivering the intervention and a PowerPoint presentation, interspersed with five short films, were co-produced with young people and key stakeholders. Following feedback, the content of the EDUCATE package was refined to increase acceptability, engagement, and persuasiveness to the target users.CONCLUSION: Engagement with young people and key informants was integral to the development of our rigorously developed, theory-based intervention to address young people’s information needs about the HPV vaccination programme. The acceptability and persuasiveness of the package has been maximised by working closely with young people and key stakeholders to develop the content. Future studies to examine how the EDUCATE package is implemented in practice and the impact on uptake of the HPV vaccination programme are planned.TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A

Objective To provide an overview of the types of wound debridement and update the available scientific consensus on the effect of wound debridement. Methods The articles were searched through CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Medline database for relevant articles on all types of wound debridement. Articles included were all systematic review on the effectiveness of wound debridement-related outcome, published within the year 2017 until Aug 2021, in English. Results A total of seven scientific articles had been selected for review out of 318 screened. The authors reviewed a total of 318 titles and abstracts related to wound debridement effectiveness. Seven articles that were selected were narratively reviewed by two authors. The findings of the review were organized into autolytic, enzymatic, sharp, surgical, biological, and mechanical debridement methods and includes the advantages and disadvantages of each. The author further explored on the role of wound debridement according to wound bed preparation model. Articles were synthesized and organized based on the authors, year, total studies included in the systematic review, study range of year, total sample, debridement method, wound types, and findings. Conclusion Maggot debridement therapy showed a consistent finding in terms of effectiveness in debriding chronic wounds. The newer debridement method includes hydro-surgery, low-frequency ultrasonic and enzymatic collagenase debridement were getting more attention due to faster wound bed preparation and less painful. However, these newer method of debridements showed inconclusive findings and the patient safety was not clearly defined. A higher level of review is warranted in the future study., Highlight • Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) showed a consistent positive effect in treating chronic wounds. • New debridement methods that gaining more attention includes hydro-surgery, low-frequency ultrasonic and enzymatic collagenase debridement. • Newer debridement method reported faster wound bed preparation and deemed to be less pain. • Patient safety was not clearly defined in these newer debridement methods.

Unnecessarily delayed discharges from hospital of older people living with frailty can have negative consequences for their health and add significant costs to health services. We report on an ethnographic study at two English hospitals and their respective health and social care systems where we followed 37 patient journeys. The study aim was to understand why delays occur. Our findings indicate that working practices in the study hospitals may have inadvertently contributed to delays. While many pieces of patients’ clinical and social information were collected, recorded and accessed in different ways by different professionals, to facilitate a discharge, these pieces needed to be re-found, integrated and re-constructed. A key component of this process was information related to patients’ social, family and functional background. This was often missing, not accessed or perceived to be of low value compared to other more readily available clinical information. Patients’ re-construction was thus often incomplete, or insufficient to reduce the clinical and prognostic uncertainty associated with frailty and to manage risks inherent in older people's discharge. Where this key component was present and integrated into decision-making in multi-disciplinary team working, uncertainty and risk were managed more constructively and sometimes avoided an escalation of care needs.

AimTo co-produce with young people an educational package about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that is tailored to increase vaccine uptake in schools and populations with lower uptake.IntroductionPersistent infection with HPV can result in cancers affecting men and especially women. From September 2019, the English-schools-based HPV vaccination programme was expanded to include young men (in addition to young women) aged 12–13 years. Some young people attending schools with lower uptake of the vaccine have unmet information needs. We hypothesise that mechanisms to address information needs and increase young people’s autonomy in consent procedures will result in higher uptake.Methods and analysisThe Medical Research Council’s framework for development and evaluation of complex interventions will inform intervention development. Recruitment of young people aged 12–15 years and key stakeholders (National Health Service commissioners, school staff, immunisation nurses and youth workers/practitioners) will be facilitated through existing links with healthcare organisations, schools and youth organisations in areas with lower uptake of the HPV vaccination programme. The proposed research will comprise three phases: (1) a rapid review of adolescent immunisation materials and preliminary qualitative interviews with young people and key stakeholders, (2) theory development and co-production of HPV vaccine communication materials through an iterative process with young people and (iii) testing delivery mechanisms and acceptability of the educational package in four schools with lower uptake.Ethics and disseminationThe University of Bristol’s Faculty of Health Sciences and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's Research Ethics Committees provided approvals for the study. A dissemination event for young people and key stakeholders and webinar with the National Immunisation Network will be organised. The study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. Recommendations for a future larger scale study will be made.

Background: BATHE is a brief psychosocial intervention designed for physician use in patient consultations. The technique has gained some international recognition, but there is currently limited research evidence to demonstrate its acceptability and benefits to patient care. We conducted a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial and feasibility study to explore the use of BATHE as a key component of a person-focused intervention to improve the care of frequent attending patients in UK primary care. Methods: A nested qualitative interview study conducted within a pilot trial. The trial took place in six general practices in the South West of England. Eligible patients had been identified as being in the top 3% of attenders in the previous 12 months. General practitioners (GPs) were trained to use BATHE during a one-hour initial training session, and two top-up trainings which included feedback on implementation fidelity. GPs were asked to use BATHE with their study patients for a period of 12 months. 34 GPs were trained and documented using BATHE in a total of 577 consultations with eligible patients during the intervention period. At the end of the intervention period, GPs and study patients from the intervention practices were invited to take part in an interview. Interviews were semi-structured, audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used. Results: Eleven GPs and 16 patients took part in post-intervention interviews. Benefits of using BATHE included making consultations more person-centred, challenging assumptions that the GP knew what was going on for the patient and their main concerns, and supporting self-management. Difficulties reported included changing existing consultation habits, identifying appropriate consultations in which to use BATHE, and organisational constraints. Conclusions: The study suggests that using BATHE is both acceptable and beneficial but also highlighted some of the difficulties GPs had incorporating BATHE into routine practice. Strategies to reduce these difficulties are needed before the extent of the potential benefits of BATHE can be fully assessed.Trial Registration: ISRCTN62939408 Prospectively registered on 24/06/2015

Despite many countries having physical activity guidelines, there have been few concerted efforts to mobilize this information to the public. The aim of this study was to understand the preferences of under-served community groups about how the benefits of physical activity, and associated guidelines, can be better communicated to the public. Participatory workshops, co-developed between researchers, a local charity, and a community artist, were used to gather data from four groups in Bristol, UK: young people (n = 17), adults (n = 11), older adults (n = 5), and Somali women (n = 15). Workshop content was structured around the study aims. The community artist and/or the local charity delivered the workshops, with researchers gathering data via observation, photos, and audio-recordings, which were analysed using the framework method. All four groups noted that the benefits of physical activity should be included within any communications efforts, though not restricted to health-related benefits. Language used should be simple and jargon-free, terms such as &ldquo, sedentary&rdquo, &ldquo, vigorous&rdquo, and &ldquo, intensity&rdquo, were deemed inaccessible, however all groups liked the message &ldquo, some is good, more is better&rdquo, Views about preferred mechanisms, and messenger, for delivering physical activity messages varied both between, and within, groups. Recommendations for those working in physical activity communications, research, and policy are provided.

Introduction: Creating an educational climate that engages the students in the digital era is crucial as it prepares them for the future.Objectives: The aim of this multiple case study is to highlight the impact of creative educational environment on the students’ awareness of digital era tools.Methods: In this study three activities were organized. Firstly, a brain storming seminar titled “Medical Practice in Artificial Intelligence Era” was held. The second event was E-poster competitions which challenged the students’ curiosity to address the health problems and to introduce innovative solutions to solve it. Medical and nursing students presented 32 posters. Third activity was MeDuino, a hands-on workshop to familiarize the students with arduino technology in medical practice.Results: Around 260 participants attended the seminar. In their feedback, 72% of students found the topics attractive and more than 60% found its theme relevant and beneficial. E-poster competition was evaluated using a modified rubric scale. The data was analysed by SPSS showed that only “creativity” and “practicality” merits scored little above the mean range. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean score of ‘creativity’ and ‘practicality’ between medical students and nursing students. However, in general medical students’ scores were higher compared to nursing students. 90% of students said that they improved cognitively and 85% found it fascinating. In Meduino workshop (Robotics), The 30 participants practiced mini projects. 86 % found it attractive, 81% expressed that it improve d their cognitive about technology as noted in comparing the pre and post- event questionnaires. The students’ concerns included the time constraints short time and lack of lecturers’ guidance during posters’ preparation.Conclusion(s): Transforming educational environment physically, emotionally and socially managed to address few aspects digital era. Allocating more time, facilities and training in the informal curriculum could enhance health-care students mastering of future tools.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 31

The study aim was to assess implementation fidelity (i.e., adherence) to a talk-based primary care intervention using Conversation Analytic (CA) methods. The context was a UK feasibility trial where General Practitioners (GPs) were trained to use “BATHE” (Background, Affect, Trouble, Handling, Empathy) – a technique to screen for psychosocial issues during consultations – with frequently attending patients. 35 GPs received BATHE training between July–October 2015. 15 GPs across six practices self-selected to record a sample of their consultations with study patients at three and six months. 31 consultations were recorded. 21/26 patients in four intervention practices gave permission for analysis. The recordings were transcribed and initially coded for the presence or absence of the five BATHE components. CA methods were applied to assess delivery, focusing on position and composition of each component, and patients’ responses. Initial coding showed most of the BATHE components to be present in most contacts. However the CA analysis revealed unplanned deviations in position and adaptations in composition. Frequently the intervention was initiated too early in the consultation, and the BATHE questions misunderstood by patients as pertaining to their presenting problems rather than the psychosocial context for their problems. Often these deviations resulted in reducing theoretical fidelity of the intervention as a whole. A CA approach enabled a dynamic assessment of the delivery and receipt of BATHE in situ revealing common pitfalls in delivery and provided valuable examples of more and less efficacious implementations. During the trial this evidence was used in top-up trainings to address problems in delivery and to improve GP engagement. Using CA methods enabled a more accurate assessment of implementation fidelity, a fuller description of the intervention itself, and enhanced resources for future training. When positioned appropriately, BATHE can be a useful tool for eliciting information about the wider context of the medical visit.

Objective To assess whether non-clinical staff can effectively manage people at high risk of cardiovascular disease using digital health technologies. Design Pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Setting 42 general practices in three areas of England. Participants Between 3 December 2012 and 23 July 2013 we recruited 641 adults aged 40 to 74 years with a 10 year cardiovascular disease risk of 20% or more, no previous cardiovascular event, at least one modifiable risk factor (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg, body mass index ≥30, current smoker), and access to a telephone, the internet, and email. Participants were individually allocated to intervention (n=325) or control (n=316) groups using automated randomisation stratified by site, minimised by practice and baseline risk score. Interventions Intervention was the Healthlines service (alongside usual care), comprising regular telephone calls from trained lay health advisors following scripts generated by interactive software. Advisors facilitated self management by supporting participants to use online resources to reduce risk factors, and sought to optimise drug use, improve treatment adherence, and encourage healthier lifestyles. The control group comprised usual care alone. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the proportion of participants responding to treatment, defined as maintaining or reducing their cardiovascular risk after 12 months. Outcomes were collected six and 12 months after randomisation and analysed masked. Participants were not masked. Results 50% (148/295) of participants in the intervention group responded to treatment compared with 43% (124/291) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 1.9; number needed to treat=13); a difference possibly due to chance (P=0.08). The intervention was associated with reductions in blood pressure (difference in mean systolic −2.7 mm Hg (95% confidence interval −4.7 to −0.6 mm Hg), mean diastolic −2.8 (−4.0 to −1.6 mm Hg); weight −1.0 kg (−1.8 to −0.3 kg), and body mass index −0.4 ( −0.6 to −0.1) but not cholesterol −0.1 (−0.2 to 0.0), smoking status (adjusted odds ratio 0.4, 0.2 to 1.0), or overall cardiovascular risk as a continuous measure (−0.4, −1.2 to 0.3)). The intervention was associated with improvements in diet, physical activity, drug adherence, and satisfaction with access to care, treatment received, and care coordination. One serious related adverse event occurred, when a participant was admitted to hospital with low blood pressure. Conclusions This evidence based telehealth approach was associated with small clinical benefits for a minority of people with high cardiovascular risk, and there was no overall improvement in average risk. The Healthlines service was, however, associated with improvements in some risk behaviours, and in perceptions of support and access to care. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 27508731.

Background\ud Despite effective assessment methods and medications targeting osteoporosis and related fractures, screening for fracture risk is not currently advocated in the UK. We tested whether a community-based screening intervention could reduce fractures in older women.\ud \ud Methods\ud We did a two-arm randomised controlled trial in women aged 70–85 years to compare a screening programme using the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) with usual management. Women were recruited from 100 general practitioner (GP) practices in seven regions of the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Norwich, Sheffield, Southampton, and York. We excluded women who were currently on prescription anti-osteoporotic drugs and any individuals deemed to be unsuitable to enter a research study (eg, known dementia, terminally ill, or recently bereaved). The primary outcome was the proportion of individuals who had one or more osteoporosis-related fractures over a 5-year period. In the screening group, treatment was recommended in women identified to be at high risk of hip fracture, according to the FRAX 10-year hip fracture probability. Prespecified secondary outcomes were the proportions of participants who had at least one hip fracture, any clinical fracture, or mortality; and the effect of screening on anxiety and health-related quality of life. This trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial registry, number ISRCTN 55814835.\ud \ud Findings\ud 12 483 eligible women were identified and participated in the trial, and 6233 women randomly assigned to the screening group between April 15, 2008, and July 2, 2009. Treatment was recommended in 898 (14%) of 6233 women. Use of osteoporosis medication was higher at the end of year 1 in the screening group compared with controls (15% vs 4%), with uptake particularly high (78% at 6 months) in the screening high-risk subgroup. Screening did not reduce the primary outcome of incidence of all osteoporosis-related fractures (hazard ratio [HR] 0·94, 95% CI 0·85–1·03, p=0·178), nor the overall incidence of all clinical fractures (0·94, 0·86–1·03, p=0·183), but screening reduced the incidence of hip fractures (0·72, 0·59–0·89, p=0·002). There was no evidence of differences in mortality, anxiety levels, or quality of life.\ud \ud Interpretation\ud Systematic, community-based screening programme of fracture risk in older women in the UK is feasible, and could be effective in reducing hip fractures.\ud \ud Funding\ud Arthritis Research UK and Medical Research Council.\ud \ud

Background It is commonly accepted that burns taking longer than 3 weeks to heal have a much higher rate of hypertrophic scarring than those which heal more quickly. However, some of our patients develop hypertrophic scars despite healing within this 3-week period. Methods We performed a prospective study of 383 paediatric burns treated non-operatively at a regional burns centre over a 2-year period from May 2011 to April 2013. Scar assessment was performed by a senior burns therapist using the Vancouver Scar Scale. Results Overall rates of hypertrophic scarring were 17.2%. Time to healing was the strongest predictor of developing hypertrophic scarring, and the earliest hypertrophic scar developed in a patient who was healed after 8 days. The risk of hypertrophic scarring was multiplied by 1.138 for every additional day taken for the burn wound to heal. There was a trend towards higher rates of hypertrophic scarring in non-white skin types but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions The risk of hypertrophic scarring increases with every day and, therefore, every effort should be made to get the wound healed as quickly as possible, even within the traditional 3-week period usually allowed for healing. We believe that the traditional dogma of aiming for healing within 3 weeks is overly simplistic and should be abandoned: in paediatric burns, every day counts. Trial registration Not applicable.

BackgroundHealth services internationally are exploring the potential of telehealth to support the management of the growing number of people with long-term conditions (LTCs).AimTo develop, implement and evaluate new care programmes for patients with LTCs, focusing on two common LTCs as exemplars: depression or high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.MethodsDevelopmentWe synthesised quantitative and qualitative evidence on the effectiveness of telehealth for LTCs, conducted a qualitative study based on interviews with patients and staff and undertook a postal survey to explore which patients are interested in different forms of telehealth. Based on these studies we developed a conceptual model [TElehealth in CHronic disease (TECH) model] as a framework for the development and evaluation of the Healthlines Service for patients with LTCs.ImplementationThe Healthlines Service consisted of regular telephone calls to participants from health information advisors, supporting them to make behaviour change and to use tailored online resources. Advisors sought to optimise participants’ medication and to improve adherence.EvaluationThe Healthlines Service was evaluated with linked pragmatic randomised controlled trials comparing the Healthlines Service plus usual care with usual care alone, with nested process and economic evaluations. Participants were adults with depression or raised CVD risk recruited from 43 general practices in three areas of England. The primary outcome was response to treatment and the secondary outcomes included anxiety (depression trial), individual risk factors (CVD risk trial), self-management skills, medication adherence, perceptions of support, access to health care and satisfaction with treatment.Trial resultsDepression trialIn total, 609 participants were randomised and the retention rate was 86%. Response to treatment [Patient Health Questionnaire 9-items (PHQ-9) reduction of ≥ 5 points and score of p = 0.02]. Anxiety also improved. Intervention participants reported better access to health support, greater satisfaction with treatment and small improvements in self-management, but not improved medication adherence.CVD risk trialIn total, 641 participants were randomised and the retention rate was 91%. Response to treatment (maintenance of/reduction in QRISK®2 score after 12 months) was higher in the intervention group (50%, 148/295) than in the control group (43%, 124/291), which does not exclude a null effect (odds ratio 1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.9;p = 0.08). The intervention was associated with small improvements in blood pressure and weight, but not smoking or cholesterol. Intervention participants were more likely to adhere to medication, reported better access to health support and greater satisfaction with treatment, but few improvements in self-management.The Healthlines Service was likely to be cost-effective for CVD risk, particularly if the benefits are sustained, but not for depression. The intervention was implemented largely as planned, although initial delays and later disruption to delivery because of the closure of NHS Direct may have adversely affected participant engagement.ConclusionThe Healthlines Service, designed using an evidence-based conceptual model, provided modest health benefits and participants valued the better access to care and extra support provided. This service was cost-effective for CVD risk but not depression. These findings of small benefits at extra cost are consistent with previous pragmatic research on the implementation of comprehensive telehealth programmes for LTCs.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN14172341 (depression trial) and ISRCTN27508731 (CVD risk trial).FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.

Omalizumab therapy of non-atopic asthmatics reduces bronchial mucosal IgE and inflammation and preserves/improves lung function when disease is destabilised by staged withdrawal of therapy.18 symptomatic, non-atopic asthmatics were randomised (1:1) to receive omalizumab or identical placebo treatment in addition to existing therapy for 20 weeks. Bronchial biopsies were collected before and after 12–14 weeks of treatment, then the patients destabilised by substantial, supervised reduction of their regular therapy. Primary outcome measures were changes in bronchial mucosal IgE+ cells at 12–14 weeks, prior to regular therapy reduction, and changes in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) after destabilisation at 20 weeks. Quality of life was also monitored.Omalizumab but not placebo therapy significantly reduced median total bronchial mucosal IgE+ cells (pOmalizumab therapy of non-atopic asthmatics reduces bronchial mucosal IgE+ mast cells and improves lung function despite withdrawal of conventional therapy.

Objectives: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of a telehealth intervention for primary care patients with raised cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.Design: A prospective within-trial patient-level economic evaluation conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial.Setting: Patients recruited through primary care, and intervention delivered via telehealth service. Participants: Adults with a 10-year CVD risk ≥20%, as measured by the QRISK2 algorithm, with at least one modifiable risk factor. Intervention: A series of up to 13 scripted, theory-led telehealth encounters with healthcare advisors, who supported participants to make behaviour change, use online resources, optimise medication, and improve adherence. Participants in the control arm received usual care. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Cost-effectiveness measured by net monetary benefit at the end of 12 months of follow-up, calculated from incremental cost and incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Productivity impacts, participant out-of-pocket expenditure, and the clinical outcome were presented in a cost-consequences framework.Results: 641 participants were randomised – 325 to receive the telehealth intervention in addition to usual care and 316 to receive only usual care. 18% of participants had missing data on either costs, utilities, or both. Multiple imputation was used for the base case results. The intervention was associated with incremental mean per-patient NHS costs of £138 (95% CI: £66 to £211) and an incremental QALY gain of 0.012 (95% CI:-0.001 to 0.026). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £10,859. Net monetary benefit at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY was £116 (95% CI: -£58 to £291), and the probability that the intervention was cost-effective at this threshold value was 0.77. Similar results were obtained from a complete-case analysis.Conclusions: There is evidence to suggest that the Healthlines telehealth intervention was likely to be cost-effective at a threshold of £20,000 per QALY.Trial registration: ISRCTN27508731, prospectively registered 05/07/2012

BackgroundDepression is a prevalent long-term condition that is associated with substantial resource use. Telehealth may offer a cost-effective means of supporting the management of people with depression.AimsTo investigate the cost-effectiveness of a telehealth intervention (‘Healthlines’) for patients with depression.MethodA prospective patient-level economic evaluation conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial. Patients were recruited through primary care, and the intervention was delivered via a telehealth service. Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of depression and PHQ-9 score ≥10 were recruited from 43 English general practices. A series of up to 10 scripted, theory-led, telephone encounters with health information advisers supported participants to effect a behaviour change, use online resources, optimise medication and improve adherence. The intervention was delivered alongside usual care and was designed to support rather than duplicate primary care. Cost-effectiveness from a combined health and social care perspective was measured by net monetary benefit at the end of 12 months of follow-up, calculated from incremental cost and incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Cost–consequence analysis included cost of lost productivity, participant out-of-pocket expenditure and the clinical outcome.ResultsA total of 609 participants were randomised – 307 to receive the Healthlines intervention plus usual care and 302 to receive usual care alone. Forty-five per cent of participants had missing quality of life data, 41% had missing cost data and 51% of participants had missing data on either cost or utility, or both. Multiple imputation was used for the base-case analysis. The intervention was associated with incremental mean per-patient National Health Service/personal social services cost of £168 (95% CI £43 to £294) and an incremental QALY gain of 0.001 (95% CI −0.023 to 0.026). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £132 630. Net monetary benefit at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20 000 was –£143 (95% CI –£164 to –£122) and the probability of the intervention being cost-effective at this threshold value was 0.30. Productivity costs were higher in the intervention arm, but out-of-pocket expenses were lower.ConclusionsThe Healthlines service was acceptable to patients as a means of condition management, and response to treatment after 4 months was higher for participants randomised to the intervention. However, the positive average intervention effect size was modest, and incremental costs were high relative to a small incremental QALY gain at 12 months. The intervention is not likely to be cost-effective in its current form.

Background: Many countries are exploring the potential of telehealth interventions to manage the rising number of people with chronic disorders. However, evidence of the effectiveness of telehealth is ambiguous. Based on an evidence-based conceptual framework, we developed an integrated telehealth service (the Healthlines Service) for chronic disorders and assessed its effectiveness in patients with depression. We aimed to compare the Healthlines Depression Service plus usual care with usual care alone.Methods: This study was a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial with participants recruited from 43 general practices in three areas of England. To be eligible, participants needed to have access to the internet and email, a Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) score of at least 10, and a confirmed diagnosis of depression. Participants were individually assigned (1:1) to either the Healthlines Depression Service plus usual care or usual care alone. Random assignment was done by use of a web-based automated randomisation system, stratified by site and minimised by practice and PHQ-9 score. Participants were aware of their allocation, but outcomes were analysed masked. The Healthlines Service consisted of regular telephone calls from non-clinical, trained health advisers who followed standardised scripts generated by interactive software. After an initial assessment and goal-setting telephone call, the advisers called each participant on six occasions over 4 months, and then made up to three more calls at intervals of roughly 2 months to provide reinforcement and to detect relapse. Advisers supported participants in the use of online resources (including computerised cognitive behavioural therapy) and sought to encourage healthier lifestyles, optimise medication, and improve treatment adherence. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants responding to the intervention (defined as PHQ-9 Findings: Between July 24, 2012, and July 31, 2013, we recruited 609 participants, randomly assigning 307 to the Healthlines Service plus usual care and 302 to usual care. Primary outcome data were available for 525 (86%) participants. At 4 months, 68 (27%) of 255 individuals in the intervention group had a treatment response compared with 50 (19%) of 270 individuals in the usual care group (adjusted odds ratio 1·7, 95% CI 1·1–2·5, p=0·019). Compared with usual care alone, intervention participants reported improvements in anxiety, better access to support and advice, greater satisfaction with the support they received, and improvements in self-management and health literacy. During the trial, 70 adverse events were reported by participants, one of which was related to the intervention (increased anxiety from discussing depression) and was not serious.Interpretation: This telehealth service based on non-clinically trained health advisers supporting patients in use of internet resources was both acceptable and effective compared with usual care. Our results provide support for the development and assessment of similar interventions in other chronic disorders to expand care provision.Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).