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Objective. The aim of this exploratory study was to ascertain the current educational status of pharmacogenomics (PGx) within the present and future UK pharmacy profession, in addition to ascertaining future educational and infrastructure needs of pharmacists to adopt PGx into practice. Methods. A 35-question survey was sent electronically to practicing pharmacists, preregistration pharmacists, and Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) students throughout the UK between April 2018 and May 2019. Responses were anonymous and analysed using GraphPad Prism 8 and SPSS statistics 26. Results. In total, 264 participants, where data could be used for analysis, responded to the survey. This comprised 196 practicing pharmacists and 68 preregistration pharmacists/MPharm students. The findings demonstrated variation in undergraduate level exposure to PGx between those who had qualified within the past 10 years and those who had qualified over 10 years ago. Over 60% of qualified pharmacists did not feel confident in identifying drugs that require PGx testing. Nearly three quarters of respondents cited that PGx guidelines were needed to help facilitate a PGx service, although 63.6% also stated that they had previously never looked for a PGx recommendation. Most respondents cited PGx as a low or medium learning priority. Conclusion. Our survey suggests that further education is required to prepare the UK pharmacy workforce for the advent of PGx. A focus on the provision of, and education around, PGx guidelines is needed. In addition, the disparity identified between pharmacists at different stages of their career will need to be addressed with tailored and targeted educational packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relates an experience on the impact of computers on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in Great Britain. Comparison between the symptoms of the disease with that of the patient and National Databank; Diagnosis of cholecystitis; Treatment for the abdominal pain.

Background: Compared to men in the general population, men in substance use treatment are more likely to perpetrate intimate partner abuse (IPA). The ADVANCE group intervention for men in substance use treatment is tailored to address substance use and IPA in an integrated way. In a feasibility trial pre-COVID, men who received the ADVANCE intervention via face-to-face group delivery showed reductions in IPA perpetration. Due to COVID-19, ADVANCE was adapted for remote digital delivery. Methods/design: This mixed-methods non-randomised feasibility study, with a nested process evaluation, will explore the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the ADVANCE digital intervention to men in substance use treatment who have perpetrated IPA towards a female partner in the past year. Sixty men will be recruited from seven substance use treatment services in Great Britain. The ADVANCE digital intervention comprises a preparatory one-to-one session with a facilitator to set goals, develop a personal safety plan, and increase motivation and a preparatory online group to prepare men for taking part in the intervention. The core intervention comprises six fortnightly online group sessions and 12 weekly self-directed website sessions to recap and practise skills learned in the online group sessions. Each website session is followed by a one-to-one video/phone coaching session with a facilitator. Men will also receive their usual substance use treatment. Men's female (ex) partners will be invited to provide outcome data and offered support from integrated safety services (ISS). Outcome measures for men and women will be sought post intervention (approximately 4 months post male baseline interview). Feasibility parameters to be estimated include eligibility, suitability, consent, recruitment, attendance, retention and follow-up rates. In-depth interviews or focus groups will explore the intervention's acceptability to participants, facilitators and ISS workers. A secondary focus of the study will estimate pre-post-differences in outcome measures covering substance use, IPA, mental health, self-management, health and social care service use, criminal justice contacts and quality of life. Discussion: Findings will inform the design of a multicentre randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the ADVANCE digital intervention for reducing IPA. Trial registration: The feasibility study was prospectively registered: ISRCTN66619273. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of classroom observation data is seen as increasingly important in research on the impact of high-stakes language tests or new foreign-language programmes on students, teachers and other stakeholders. Video-recordings of language teaching and learning in classrooms impacted by such tests or programmes can provide revealing data, which, however, may be difficult to analyse in raw recorded form. The organisation of video-recordings into an interactive database facilitates the retrieval and analysis of data in response to particular research questions. Informed by current research on the use of video in education, especially educational research, and by the relevant video database literature, this paper describes a video database developed by the University of Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages (Cambridge ESOL) Examinations operation, part of Cambridge Assessment, the new identity of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). This paper describes three Cambridge ESOL impact studies for which the data were collected, and discusses the video-recording equipment used, approaches adopted and decisions made. It then outlines the aims, principles and approaches involved in the development of the impact research video database, including software selection, main design features and envisaged future uses. A step-by-step account for the likely video database user is included, along with sample screenshots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on several issues regarding medical care in Great Britain. Non-surgical management of peripheral vascular disease; Drugs for peptic ulcers; Infectivity of tuberculosis.

Background: Patients continue to suffer from medically unexplained symptoms otherwise referred to as persistent physical symptoms (PPS). General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the management of PPS and require further training. Patients are often frustrated with the care they receive. This study aims to assess the acceptability of an 'integrated GP care' approach which consists of offering self-help materials to patients with PPS and offering their GPs training on how to utilise cognitive behavioural skills within their consultations, as well as assessing the feasibility of conducting a future trial in primary care to evaluate its benefit. Methods: A feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in primary care, South London, UK. GP practices (clusters) were randomly allocated to 'integrated GP care plus treatment as usual' or 'treatment as usual'. Patients with PPS were recruited from participating GP practices before randomisation. Feasibility parameters, process variables and potential outcome measures were collected at pre-randomisation and at 12- and 24-weeks post-randomisation at cluster and individual participant level. Results: Two thousand nine hundred seventy-eight patients were identified from 18 GP practices. Out of the 424 patients who responded with interest in the study, 164 fully met the eligibility criteria. One hundred sixty-one patients provided baseline data before cluster randomisation and therefore were able to participate in the study. Most feasibility parameters indicated that the intervention was acceptable and a future trial feasible. 50 GPs from 8 GP practices (randomised to intervention) attended the offer of training and provided positive feedback. Scores in GP knowledge and confidence increased post-training. Follow-up rate of patients at 24 weeks was 87%. However estimated effect sizes on potential clinical outcomes were small. Conclusions: It was feasible to identify and recruit patients with PPS. Retention rates of participants up to 24 weeks were high. A wide range of health services were used. The intervention was relatively low cost and low risk. This complex intervention should be further developed to improve patients'/GPs' utilisation of audio/visual and training resources before proceeding to a full trial evaluation. Trial registration: NCT02444520 (ClinicalTrials.gov). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]