Showing papers in "Irish Medical Journal in 1980"

Trimebutine, a new antispasmodic in the treatment of dyspepsia.

Abstract: Indigestion, flatulent dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or discomfort are among the commonest complaints in adults attending their doctor’s surgery or medical out-patient department (Switz, 1976). Investigations by x-ray or endoscopy may show a peptic ulcer, diseased gall-bladder or other lesion, but in many cases objective investigations are negative. Symptoms in these patients may be caused by disordered gastro-intestinal motility rather than a welllocalised lesion, and restoration of normal motility may alleviate symptoms. Trimebutine has been shown to have a relaxant effect on gastro-intestinal smooth muscle and a regulatory effect on contractility (Frexinos, 1971). The present study was carried out to compare the symptomatic effect of Trimebutine with placebo in patients with x-ray and endoscopically negative dyspepsia.

The registration and certification of deaths in the West of Ireland. A follow-up study.

Abstract: The authors present a follow-up to a study on the extent and coverage of death certification and registration in the West of Ireland originally covering the years 1966 to 1969. The present study covers 2027 burials which took place between 1974 and 1977 (ANNOTATION)

A family planning survey.

Abstract: A survey was conducted of patients at the public and private antenatal booking clinics at the Portiuncula Hospital in Galway Ireland to assess the use of contraception by patients. The women were asked whether the pregnancy was intended whether their family planning method had failed or whether they had "taken a chance". Patients not trying to avoid pregnancy were asked about their most recent method of family planning and all patients were asked whether they had ever used the pill. Among 347 patients 94 reported most recently using the calendar method 41 the Billings method 5 the temperature method 44 the pill 9 withdrawal 8 the condom 11 mixed 6 the IUD 2 abstinence 1 the diaphragm and 124 reported no method use. Some who claimed not to have used a method were probably using some form of calendar method or withdrawal since a number stated that pregnancy was either accidental or due to taking a chance. Patients in the "mixed" group used condoms or withdrawal in association with the calendar or Billings method. 76 of 99 primigravid patients had never used any form of family planning. 112 women stated that the pregnancy was unintended. 58 of them had used the calendar method 19 the Billings method 11 no method and the rest a variety of methods. The figures show that 78 of 140 couples using a "natural" method had an unplanned pregnancy while 22 of 81 using primarily a contraceptive method (including withdrawal) had an unplanned conception. 12.7% had most recently used the pill but 32.6% had used it at some time. The figures are drawn from a very limited population but they suggest that a large number of couples attempting to plan their families are not succeeding.

Irish drug abusers I: their social background.

Abstract: This article, the first in a series of three, examined the social backgrounds of a cohort of 100 drug abusers All three papers reported on a research project organised by the Economic and Social Research Institute in conjunction with the Jervis Street Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre All subjects included in the investigation had attended the drug advisory and treatment centre for the first time between November 1977 and February 1979 Drug abusers were defined as individuals who, as a result of taking psychoactive drugs, had suffered medical, psychological or social complications Data about their backgrounds were collected using a detailed interview schedule, which examined demographic, familial, educational, occupational, legal and drug abusive history The cohort predominantly comprised single males, was over-representative of the lower middle class, and the majority were under 26 years of age Those identified as 'drug abusers' were found to be more likely to come from families of above average size, with a high level of familial problems, and the majority were found to have left school at 16 years of age A high level of unemployment was noted among the subjects, and in a large number of cases, the researchers suggested, drug misuse may have been a contributing factor to the stunting of educational or vocational development A high level of non-drug-related, non-violent criminal behaviour prior to drug abuse was also noted, with a significant increase in the number of non-drug-related non-violent convictions subsequent to beginning to misuse drugs