McMaster University

About: McMaster University is a education organization based out in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 41361 authors who have published 101269 publications receiving 4251422 citations.

Utilities and quality-adjusted life years.

Abstract: Utilities and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) are reviewed, with particular focus on their use in technology assessment. This article provides a broad overview and perspective on these two techniques and their interrelationship, with reference to other sources for details of implementation. The historical development, assumptions, strengths/weaknesses, and applications of each are summarized. Utilities are specifically designed for individual decision-making under uncertainty, but, with additional assumptions, utilities can be aggregated across individuals to provide a group utility function. QALYs are designed to aggregate in a single summary measure the total health improvement for a group of individuals, capturing improvements from impacts on both quantity of life and quality of life--with quality of life broadly defined. Utilities can be used as the quality-adjustment weights for QALYs; they are particularly appropriate for that purpose, and this combination provides a powerful and highly useful variation on cost-effectiveness analysis known as cost-utility analysis.

Long-term psychological and occupational effects of providing hospital healthcare during SARS outbreak.

Abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) found the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to be stressful, but the long-term impact is not known From 13 to 26 months after the SARS outbreak, 769 HCWs at 9 Toronto hospitals that treated SARS patients and 4 Hamilton hospitals that did not treat SARS patients completed a survey of several adverse outcomes Toronto HCWs reported significantly higher levels of burnout (p = 0019), psychological distress (p<0001), and posttraumatic stress (p<0001) Toronto workers were more likely to have reduced patient contact and work hours and to report behavioral consequences of stress Variance in adverse outcomes was explained by a protective effect of the perceived adequacy of training and support and by a provocative effect of maladaptive coping style and other individual factors The results reinforce the value of effective staff support and training in preparation for future outbreaks

Preparation of Suspensions of Washed Platelets from Humans

Abstract: Summary: Methods have been developed for the preparation of suspensions of washed platelets from humans Heparin is used in the washing fluids to prevent: thrombin generation and apyrase is used to prevent adenine nucleotide accumulation Platelets suspended in Eagle's tissue culture medium containing albumin were more responsive to ADP than platelets in Tyrode's-albumin solution Addition of fibrinogen is required for maximum sensitivity to ADP-induced aggregation These platelets can be stored for 4 hr or more at 37°C in the presence of apyrase and maintain their ability to aggregate upon the addition of low concentrations of ADP Without apyrase the platelets gradually become insensitive to ADP upon storage at 37°C; this is presumably caused by the accumulation of ADP in the suspending fluid because sensitivity can be partially restored by the addition of apyrase and further incubation

What Is Population Health

Abstract: Population health is a relatively new term that has not yet been precisely defined. Is it a concept of health or a field of study of health determinants? We propose that the definition be “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group,” and we argue that the field of population health includes health outcomes, patterns of health determinants, and policies and interventions that link these two. We present a rationale for this definition and note its differentiation from public health, health promotion, and social epidemiology. We invite critiques and discussion that may lead to some consensus on this emerging concept.