642 research outputs found

    Reduction of Crab Mortality in Seed Cages

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    The purpose of this project is to find out what cage design works best to let the crabs escape and reduce m01tality. My hope is this study will help others in the aquaculture industry reduce mortality and get more yield from their seed

    Living with AIDS in Uganda: a qualitative study of patients' and families' experiences following referral to hospice

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    Background: Globally, the majority of people with HIV/AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa. While the increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy is improving the outlook for many, its effects are yet to reach all of those in need and patients still present with advanced disease. This paper reports findings from qualitative interviews with patients living with AIDS and their caregivers who were receiving palliative care from Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). We aimed to understand what motivated patients and their families to seek formal healthcare, whether there were any barriers to help- seeking and how the help and support provided to them by HAU was perceived. Methods: We invited patients with AIDS and their relatives who were newly referred to HAU to participate in qualitative interviews. Patients and carers were interviewed in their homes approximately four weeks after the patient’s enrolment at HAU. Interviews were translated, transcribed and analysed using narrative and thematic approaches. Results: Interviews were completed with 22 patients (10 women and 12 men) and 20 family caregivers, nominated by patients. Interviews revealed the extent of suffering patients endured and the strain that family caregivers experienced before help was sought or accessed. Patients reported a wide range of severe physical symptoms. Patients and their relatives reported worries about the disclosure of the AIDS diagnosis and fear of stigma. Profound poverty framed all accounts. Poverty and stigma were, depending on the patient and family situation, both motivators and barriers to help seeking behaviour. Hospice services were perceived to provide essential relief of pain and symptoms, as well as providing rehabilitative support and a sense of caring. The hospice was perceived relieve utter destitution, although it was unable to meet all the expectations that patients had. Conclusion: Hospice care was highly valued and perceived to effectively manage problems such as pain and other symptoms and to provide rehabilitation. Participants noted a strong sense of being “cared for”. However, poverty and a sense of stigma were widespread. Further research is needed to understand how poverty and stigma can be effectively managed in hospice care for patients for advanced AIDS and their families

    Pain in people living with HIV and its association with healthcare resource use, well-being and functional status

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    Objective: We describe the prevalence of pain and its associations with healthcare resource utilisation and quality-of-life. Design: The POPPY Study recruited three cohorts: older PLWH (≥50 years, n = 699), younger demographically/lifestyle similar PLWH (<50 years, n = 374) and older demographically/lifestyle similar HIV-negative (≥50 years, n = 304) people from April 2013-February 2016. Methods: Current pain and pain-related healthcare use was collected via a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression assessed between-group differences in the prevalence of pain in the past month and current pain after controlling for potential confounders. Associations between current pain and healthcare resource use, reported joint problems, depressive symptoms, quality-of-life and functional status were assessed in PLWH using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-squared tests. Results: Pain in the past month was reported by 473/676 (70.0%) older PLWH, 224/357 (62.7%) younger PLWH and 188/295 (63.7%) older HIV-negative controls (p = 0.03), with current pain reported in 330 (48.8%), 134 (37.5%) and 116 (39.3%), respectively (p = 0.0007). Older PLWH were more likely to experience current pain, even after adjustment for confounders. Of those with pain in the past month, 56/412 (13.6%) had missed days of work or study due to pain, and 520 (59%) had seen a doctor about their pain. PLWH experiencing current painhad more depressive symptoms, poorer quality-of-life on all domains, and greater functional impairment, regardless of age group. Conclusions: Even in the effective ART era, pain remains common in PLWH and has a major impact on quality-of-life and associated healthcare and societal costs. Interventions are required to assist clinicians and PLWH to proactively manage pain
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