Helen Busby

Bio: Helen Busby is an academic researcher from University of Nottingham. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biobank & Public health. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 15 publications receiving 1231 citations. Previous affiliations of Helen Busby include University of Leicester.

Estimating the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the community: the comparative prevalence of symptoms at different anatomical sites, and the relation to social deprivation

Abstract: BACKGROUND Epidemiologically-based rheumatology healthcare needs assessment requires an understanding of the incidence and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the community, of the reasons why people consult in primary care, and of the proportion of people who would benefit from referral to secondary care and paramedical services. This paper reports the first phase of such a needs assessment exercise. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE To estimate the relative frequency of musculoskeletal pain in different, and multiple, anatomical sites in the adult population. SETTING Three general practices in the former Tameside and Glossop Health Authority, Greater Manchester, UK, a predominantly urban area. DESIGN Population survey. METHODS An age and sex stratified sample of 6000 adults from the three practices was mailed a questionnaire that sought data on demographic factors, musculoskeletal symptoms (pain in the past month lasting for more than a week), and physical disability (using the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire- mHAQ). The areas of pain covered were neck, back, shoulder, elbow, hand, hip, knee, and multiple joints. The Carstairs index was used as a measure of social deprivation of the postcode sector in which the person lived. RESULTS The response rate after two reminders was 78.5%. Non-responders were more likely to live in areas of high social deprivation. People who lived in more deprived areas were also more likely to report musculoskeletal pain, especially backpain. After adjusting for social deprivation the rates of musculoskeletal pain did not differ between the practices and so their results were combined. After adjustment for social deprivation, the most common site of pain was back (23%; 95% CI 21, 25) followed by knee (19%; 95% CI 18, 21), and shoulder (16%; 95% CI 14, 17). The majority of subjects who reported pain had pain in more than one site. The prevalence of physical disability in the community rose with age. It was highest in those with multiple joint problems but was also high in those with isolated back or knee pain. CONCLUSION Musculoskeletal pain is common in the community. People who live in socially deprived areas have more musculoskeletal symptoms. Estimates of the overall burden of musculoskeletal pain that combine the results of site specific surveys will be too high, those that do not adjust for socioeconomic factors will be too low.

Biobanks, national identity and imagined communities: The case of UK biobank

Abstract: Recent years have seen the emergence of a number of large-scale national and regional genetic biobanks. Amongst these biobanks are those population collections that, as their name suggests, seek to...

Bodies of knowledge : lay and biomedical understandings of musculoskeletal disorders

Abstract: Les AA. examinent de quelle maniere les specialistes de la recherche biomedicale envisagent les pathologies qui affectent a la fois le squelette et les muscles. Ils montrent en quoi l'expertise a evolue en ce domaine. Ils etudient le lien entre connaissance scientifique et sociologie medicale. Ils s'attachent a distinguer les differents niveaux de competence en matiere de connaissance des maladies qui touchent a la fois le squelette et les muscles. Ils presentent un certain nombre de donnees epidemiologiques collectees en Grande-Bretagne concernant ce type d'affection. Ils envisagent les pratiques professionnelles liees a l'expertise en ce domaine

Biobanks, bioethics and concepts of donated blood in the UK

Abstract: In recent years international bioethics bodies have made prominent declarations about the uses of donated tissue and related information in genetic research(1). Following the 'legislative' mode of bioethics(2), these organisations have put forward a number of general principles with a view to promoting the fair and equitable use of donated tissue in such research. However, government policies in this field are shaped differently in different national regimes. In this paper, I use recent debates in the UK about a national genetic 'biobank' to illustrate how the shape and texture of policy discussions surrounding the use of donated blood for genetic research have been built upon a prior national consensus that regarded blood as a public good.

Knee pain and osteoarthritis in older adults: a review of community burden and current use of primary health care

Abstract: BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis is the single most common cause of disability in older adults, and most patients with the condition will be managed in the community and primary care. AIM To discuss case definition of knee osteoarthritis for primary care and to summarise the burden of the condition in the community and related use of primary health care in the United Kingdom. DESIGN Narrative review. METHOD A literature search identified studies of incidence and prevalence of knee pain, disability, and radiographic osteoarthritis in the general population, and data related to primary care consultations. Findings from UK studies were summarised with reference to European and international studies. RESULTS During a one year period 25% of people over 55 years have a persistent episode of knee pain, of whom about one in six in the UK and the Netherlands consult their general practitioner about it in the same time period. The prevalence of painful disabling knee osteoarthritis in people over 55 years is 10%, of whom one quarter are severely disabled. CONCLUSION Knee osteoarthritis sufficiently severe to consider joint replacement represents a minority of all knee pain and disability suffered by older people. Healthcare provision in primary care needs to focus on this broader group to impact on community levels of pain and disability.

Musculoskeletal pain in the Netherlands: prevalences, consequences and risk groups, the DMC3-study

Abstract: The objective of this paper was to present estimates on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain of five different anatomical areas and ten anatomical sites, and their consequences and risk groups in the general Dutch population. Cross-sectional data from a population-based study of a sex-age stratified sample of Dutch inhabitants of 25 years and older were used. With a postal questionnaire data was assessed on musculoskeletal pain, additional pain characteristics (location, duration, course), its consequences (utilization of health care, sick leave and limitation in daily life) and general socio-demographic characteristics. The top three of self-reported musculoskeletal pain (point prevalence (Pp) with 95% confidence interval (CI)) was: (1) low back pain, Pp=26.9% (95% CI 25.5–28.3); (2) shoulder pain, Pp=20.9% (95% CI 19.6–22.2); and (3) neck pain, Pp=20.6% (95% CI 19.3–21.9). In most cases the pain was described as continuous or recurrent and mild. In every three out of ten cases the complaints about pain were accompanied by limitations in daily living. Between 33 and 42% of those with complaints consulted their general practitioner about their pain. With the exception of persons who are work disabled, general sociodemographic characteristics cannot be used to identify high risk groups. Musculoskeletal pain is common in all subgroups of the population and has far-reaching consequences for health, work and the use of health care.

The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of neck pain (NP) in the world population and to identify areas of methodological variation between studies. A systematic search was conducted in five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, OSH-ROM, and PsycINFO), followed by a screening of reference lists of relevant papers. Included papers were extracted for information and each paper was given a quality score. Mean prevalence estimates were calculated for six prevalence periods (point, week, month, 6 months, year, and lifetime), and considered separately for age, gender, quality score, response rate, sample size, anatomical definition, geography, and publication year. Fifty-six papers were included. The six most commonly reported types of prevalence were point, week, month, 6 months, year, and lifetime. Except for lifetime prevalence, women reported more NP than men. For 1-year prevalence, Scandinavian countries reported more NP than the rest of Europe and Asia. Prevalence estimates were not affected by age, quality score, sample size, response rate, and different anatomical definitions of NP. NP is a common symptom in the population. As expected, the prevalence increases with longer prevalence periods and generally women have more NP than men. At least for 1-year prevalence Scandinavian countries report higher mean estimates than the rest of Europe and Asia. The quality of studies varies greatly but is not correlated with the prevalence estimates. Design varies considerably and standardisation is needed in future studies.