Chronic oedema: a prevalent health care problem for UK health services

Chronic oedema is a major clinical problem worldwide, which has many important secondary consequences for health, activity and participation. Effective treatment planning and organisation of services is dependent on an understanding of the condition and its epidemiology. This cross sectional study was designed to estimate the point prevalence of chronic oedema within the health services of one UK urban population and to determine the proportions that have concurrent leg ulceration. Patients with chronic oedema were ascertained by health care professionals in one acute and one community hospital, all relevant out-patient and community nursing services, general practices and all nursing/residential homes in one urban catchment area (Derby City). The presence and distribution of oedema was confirmed through a brief clinical examination. A battery of demographic and clinical details was recorded for each case. Within the study population of Derby City residents, 971 patients were identified with chronic oedema (estimated crude prevalence 3.93 per 1,000, 95% CI 3.69-4.19). The prevalence was highest amongst those aged 85 or above (28.75 per 1,000) and was higher amongst women (5.37 per 1,000) than men (2.48 per 1,000). The prevalence amongst hospital in-patients was 28.5%. Only 5 (3%) patients in the community population had oedema related to cancer or cancer treatment. Of the 304 patients identified with oedema from the Derby hospitals or community health services 121 (40%) had a concurrent leg ulcer. Prevalence statistics and current demographic trends indicate that chronic oedema is a major and growing health care problem

The Queensland cancer risk study: General population norms for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G)

Objective: To derive Australian normative scores for the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Population (FACT-GP) and to confirm its factor structure. Methods: Quality of life (QoL) data (as measured by the FACT-GP) were collected within the Queensland Cancer Risk Study (QCRS) in 2004. The QCRS explored cancer screening and cancer risk behaviours among 9419 English-speaking residents of Queensland aged 20–75 years. Information was collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews and augmented by mailed, Self-Administered Questionnaires (SAQ). A total of 2727 participants largely comparable to the general population of Queensland self-completed the FACT-GP; however, participants were somewhat higher educated, more likely to have had cancer and less likely to be of indigenous heritage. Results: The Queensland population reported a FACT-GP summary score of 85.9 (SD515.1), with subscale scores (range: 19.2 for social well-being to 25.1 for physical wellbeing (PWB)). In this study, men and women within different age groups reported similar QoL. QoL was clinically and significantly lower among participants not married, with a body mass index (BMI) deviating from normal weight and with one or more self-reported morbidities. A four-factor solution was confirmed with good goodness-of-fit indices (RSMEAo0.05 for all three age groups). Conclusions: The reference values from the general population reported here can be used for comparison with the QoL measured in populations of cancer patients, providing a benchmark against which clinicians can evaluate the impact of the disease and/or the treatments on QoL

Exercise for health: a randomized, controlled trial evaluating the impact of a pragmatic, translational exercise intervention on the quality of life, function and treatment-related side effects following breast cancer

Exercise for Health was a randomized, controlled trial designed to evaluate two modes of delivering (face-to-face [FtF] and over-the-telephone [Tel]) an 8-month translational exercise intervention, commencing 6-weeks post-breast cancer surgery (PS). Outcomes included quality of life (QoL), function (fitness and upper body) and treatment-related side effects (fatigue, lymphoedema, body mass index, menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression and pain). Generalised estimating equation modelling determined time (baseline [5 weeks PS], mid-intervention [6 months PS], post-intervention [12 months PS]), group (FtF, Tel, Usual Care [UC]) and time-by-group effects. 194 women representative of the breast cancer population were randomised to the FtF (n = 67), Tel (n = 67) and UC (n = 60) groups. There were significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects on QoL, fitness and fatigue with differences being observed between the treatment groups and the UC group. Trends observed for the treatment groups were similar. The treatment groups reported improved QoL, fitness and fatigue over time and changes observed between baseline and post-intervention were clinically relevant. In contrast, the UC group experienced no change, or worsening QoL, fitness and fatigue, mid-intervention. Although improvements in the UC group occurred by 12-months post-surgery, the change did not meet the clinically relevant threshold. There were no differences in other treatment-related side effects between groups. This translational intervention trial, delivered either FtF or Tel, supports exercise as a form of adjuvant breast cancer therapy that can prevent declines in fitness and function during treatment and optimise recovery post-treatment

Apunte de Cátedra: Cadena de audio

"Cadena de audio" es un texto de carácter académico que propone bases teóricas y tecnológicas sobre la grabación de sonido directo en audiovisuales actualizado al año 2020. Destinado a estudiantes de primer año de la carrera de Artes Audiovisuales (FdA, UNLP) se desarrollan conceptos teóricos con el objetivo de conocer cada eslabón de la cadena, accesorios y aplicaciones externas más utilizadas en esta práctica. A su vez, propone una relación dialéctica entre lo técnico y lo estético, donde el "saber hacer" esté atravesado por las preguntas "qué hacer, por qué hacer y para qué hacer".Facultad de Arte

Does quality of life among breast cancer survivors one year after diagnosis differ depending on urban and non-urban residence? A comparative study

Background: This study examined the quality of life (QOL), measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) questionnaire, among urban (n=277) and non-urban (n=323) breast cancer survivors and women from the general population (n=1140) in Queensland, Australia. ----------\ud Methods: Population-based samples of breast cancer survivors aged <75 years who were 12 months post-diagnosis and similarly-aged women from the general population were recruited between 2002 and 2007. ----------\ud Results: Age-adjusted QOL among urban and non-urban breast cancer survivors was similar, although QOL related to breast cancer concerns was the weakest domain and was lower among non-urban survivors than their urban counterparts (36.8 versus 40.4, P<0.01). Irrespective of residence, breast cancer survivors, on average, reported comparable scores on most QOL scales as their general population peers, although physical well-being was significantly lower among non-urban survivors (versus the general population, P<0.01). Overall, around 20%-33% of survivors experienced lower QOL than peers without the disease. The odds of reporting QOL below normative levels were increased more than two-fold for those who experienced complications following surgery, reported upper-body problems, had higher perceived stress levels and/or a poor perception of handling stress (P<0.01 for all). ----------\ud Conclusions: Results can be used to identify subgroups of women at risk of low QOL and to inform components of tailored recovery interventions to optimize QOL for these women following cancer treatment

Comités mixtos hospitalarios: un desafío para la gestión

El equipo del Programa de Educación Permanente en Salud y Trabajo del Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Buenos Aires ha desarrollado entre 2010 y 2017 trabajos de investigación sobre la implementación de la política pública que habilitó la constitución de Comités Mixtos hospitalarios a partir del 2011. En esta ponencia se recuperan los resultados y conclusiones del proceso de investigación sobre la implementación de la política pública en cuanto a Gestión en Salud y Seguridad en el trabajo y Participación de los trabajadores –a través de sus representantes gremiales- en los hospitales dependientes del Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Se describen las modalidades que adopta la participación en estos espacios mixtos y los alcances de su incidencia en la gestión hospitalaria. En función de aportar a la evaluación participativa de la política pública desde un enfoque de derechos, se revisan las experiencias de diversos comités mixtos hospitalarios desde la perspectiva de sus miembros. Se mencionan finalmente los desafíos que, a nuestro entender, implica la habilitación de espacios de participación de los representantes de los trabajadores para la gestión ministerial y hospitalaria.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FAHCE

Comités mixtos hospitalarios: un desafío para la gestión

El equipo del Programa de Educación Permanente en Salud y Trabajo del Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Buenos Aires ha desarrollado entre 2010 y 2017 trabajos de investigación sobre la implementación de la política pública que habilitó la constitución de Comités Mixtos hospitalarios a partir del 2011. En esta ponencia se recuperan los resultados y conclusiones del proceso de investigación sobre la implementación de la política pública en cuanto a Gestión en Salud y Seguridad en el trabajo y Participación de los trabajadores –a través de sus representantes gremiales- en los hospitales dependientes del Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Se describen las modalidades que adopta la participación en estos espacios mixtos y los alcances de su incidencia en la gestión hospitalaria. En función de aportar a la evaluación participativa de la política pública desde un enfoque de derechos, se revisan las experiencias de diversos comités mixtos hospitalarios desde la perspectiva de sus miembros. Se mencionan finalmente los desafíos que, a nuestro entender, implica la habilitación de espacios de participación de los representantes de los trabajadores para la gestión ministerial y hospitalaria.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FAHCE