Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

General practice vs surgical-based follow-up for patients with colon cancer: randomised controlled trial

Abstract: This trial examined the optimal setting for follow-up of patients after treatment for colon cancer by either general practitioners or surgeons. In all, 203 consenting patients who had undergone potentially curative treatment for colon cancer were randomised to follow-up by general practitioners or surgeons. Follow-up guidance recommended three monthly clinical review and annual faecal occult blood tests (FOBT) and were identical in both study arms. Primary outcome measures (measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months were (1) quality of life, SF-12; physical and mental component scores, (2) anxiety and depression: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and (3) patient satisfaction: Patient Visit-Specific Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes (at 24 months) were: investigations, number and timing of recurrences and deaths. In all, 170 patients were available for follow-up at 12 months and 157 at 24 months. At 12 and 24 months there were no differences in scores for quality of life (physical component score, P=0.88 at 12 months; P=0.28 at 24 months: mental component score, P=0.51, P=0.47; adjusted), anxiety (P=0.72; P=0.11) depression (P=0.28; P=0.80) or patient satisfaction (P=0.06, 24 months). General practitioners ordered more FOBTs than surgeons (rate ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.4), whereas more colonoscopies (rate ratio 0.7, 95% CI 0.5–1.0), and ultrasounds (rate ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–1.0) were undertaken in the surgeon-led group. Results suggest similar recurrence, time to detection and death rates in each group. Colon cancer patients with follow-up led by surgeons or general practitioners experience similar outcomes, although patterns of investigation vary.

Multiple intramuscular injections: a major source of variability in analgesic response to meperidine.

Abstract: Meperidine (ethidine) blood concentrations following multiple intramuscular injections (100 mg) over 2 days were determined in 10 female patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomies or cholecystectomies. Pain was estimated by subjective bioassay and the relationship between concentration and effect determined. The blood concentration-effect curve was steep with the range from no analgesia to complete analgesia being 0.35--0.45 microgram/ml on day 1 and 0.4--0.5 microgram/ml on day 2. The mean (+/- S.D.) minimum analgesic blood concentration was 0.5 +/- 0.1 microgram/ml (n = 32). Pain control was poor during the first 4-h dosing interval. The first injection post-surgery was also found to be the least representative of all subsequent injections. Blood concentrations fluctuated in phase with dosing interval, but were highly variable. Intra- and inter-patient peak concentrations varied by 2- and 5-fold and times taken to reach the peaks by 3- and 7-fold, respectively. Hence, meperidine blood concentrations were in excess of the minimum analgesic concentration for only about 35% of each of each 4-h dosing interval. Peak concentrations were not consistently correlated with body weight or lean tissue mass. Variable pain control following intermittent intramuscular meperidine injections was shown to be due to inadequate, fluctuating and unpredictable blood concentrations.

Revised guidelines for the publication of genetic population data

Abstract: In 2000 a new policy concerning the publication of population genetic data was set up in Forensic Science International [1] with the introduction of a new section entitled ‘‘Announcement of population data’’. Subsequently in 2010 [2] a new section on ‘‘Forensic Population Genetics’’ was introduced, and recommendations were redefined. FSI: Genetics is one of the few journals still considering population genetic data for publication and we strongly believe that this policy has contributed to the dissemination of common standards in the field all over the world and also to motivate labs and people to embark in research in the area of forensic genetics. For this reason it is our intention to continue with this policy, and recently an associate editor exclusively devoted to this topic was appointed to the journal. Despite having defined a more detailed procedure for acceptance, our journal is still receiving a massive number of submissions of varying quality in this area. Therefore it has become necessary to raise the threshold regarding the acceptance of this type of publication to ensure a high standard of published data. In addition we want to improve the submission, reviewing and publication procedures, and to correct some aspects that we have detected such as the obligation to meet ethical standards in the collection of samples including informed consent and approval by ethical committees. For this reason, we have decided to publish new guidelines for the publication of population genetic data in the journal.

Disaster preparedness among nurses: a systematic review of literature.

Abstract: Aim This review explored peer-reviewed publications that measure nurses’ preparedness for disaster response. Background The increasing frequency of disasters worldwide necessitates nurses to adequately prepare to respond to disasters to mitigate the negative consequences of the event on the affected population. Despite growing initiatives to prepare nurses for any disasters, evidence suggests they are under prepared for disaster response. Methods This is a systematic review of scientific articles conducted from 2006 to 2016 on nurses’ preparedness for disasters. SCOPUS, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL and PsychINFO were the primary databases utilized for search of literature. Keywords used in this review were as follows: ‘emergency’, ‘disaster’, ‘disaster preparedness’, ‘disaster competencies’, ‘disaster nursing’, ‘disaster role’ and ‘nurse’. Seventeen (17) articles were selected for this review. Findings Factors that increase preparedness for disaster response include previous disaster response experience and disaster-related training. However, it is widely reported that nurses are insufficiently prepared and do not feel confident responding effectively to disasters. Conclusion The findings of this review contribute to a growing body of knowledge regarding disaster preparedness in nurses and have implications for academia, hospital administration and nursing educators. The findings of this review provide evidence that could be used by nurse educators and nurse administrators to better prepare nurses for disaster response. Implications for nursing and health policy The findings from this review place an emphasis on hospitals to implement policies to address lack of preparedness among their employees. Furthermore, this review highlights the benefit of further research and provision of well-grounded disaster exercises that mimic actual events to enhance the preparedness of the nursing workforce.