Strategies to Reduce Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Government Agencies

Despite regulatory efforts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 104 cases of nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries (OIIs) per 10,000 full-time workers required time away from work in 2015. Although OII rates in private and public sectors are high, the rates among state and local government agencies were over 50% higher than private sector rates in 2015, especially in the healthcare industry. OIIs can lead to reduced organizational productivity and performance. Guided by the leader member exchange theory (LMXT) and risk homeostasis theory (RHT), the purpose of this single case study was to explore effective strategies that supervisors in a government agency in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States use to reduce OIIs. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with 8 purposefully selected supervisors who had reduced OIIs and the review of company documents. Data were analyzed using inductive coding of phrases, word frequency searches, and theme identification. Four themes emerged: managing employee risk-taking behaviors reduced OIIs, communicating the importance of safety with employees decreased OIIs, having high-quality relationships with employees reduced and mitigated OIIs, and continuous education and training reduced OIIs. Both the LMXT and RHT were essential in exploring the role that education and training played in reducing OIIs. Findings may provide government agencies with valuable information that may lead to a healthier and safer work environment, increased productivity and profitability, and healthier lifestyles inside and outside of the workplace

Trends in Caregiving Literature for Alzheimer's Disease Patients and a Survey of Selected Public Library Collections

This study describes an overview and analysis of recent literature about the challenges that adult children of Alzheimer's disease patients face when caring for their loved one at home. It also includes a survey of the Alzheimer's disease collections at Chapel Hill, NC Public Library, Durham County, NC Library, and the Wake County, NC Library System and an evaluation of the materials available to adult and child patrons at each library in light of the best resources available currently

The impact of co-located NHS walk-in centres on emergency departments

Objectives: To determine the impact of establishing walk-in centres alongside emergency departments on attendance rates, visit duration, process, costs and outcome of care. Methods: Eight hospitals with co-located emergency departments and walk-in centres were compared with eight matched emergency departments without walk-in centres. Site visits were conducted. Routine data about attendance numbers and use of resources were analysed. A random sample of records of patients attending before and after walk-in centres opened were also assessed. Patients who had not been admitted to hospital were sent a postal questionnaire. Results: In most sites, the walk-in centres did not have a distinct identity and there were few differences in the way services were provided compared with control sites. Overall, there was no evidence of an increase in attendance at sites with walk-in centres, but considerable variability across sites. The proportion of patients managed within the four-hour NHS target improved at sites both with and without walk-in centres. There was no evidence of any difference in re-consultation rates, costs of care or patient outcomes at sites with or without walk-in centres. Conclusions: Most hospitals in this study implemented the walk-in centre concept to a very limited extent. Consequently there was no evidence of any impact on attendance rates, process, costs or outcome of care

Comparing care at walk-in centres and at accident and emergency departments: an exploration of patient choice, preference and satisfaction

Objectives: To explore the impact of establishing walk-in centres alongside emergency departments on patient choice, preference and satisfaction. Methods: A controlled, mixed-method study comparing eight emergency departments with co-located walk-in centres with the same number of ‘traditional’ emergency departments. This paper focuses on the results of a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of users. Results: Survey data demonstrated that patients were frequently unable to distinguish between being treated at a walk-in centre or an A&E department, and even where this was the case, opportunities to exercise choice about their preferred care provider were often limited. Few made an active choice to attend a co-located walk-in centre. Patients attending walk-in centres were just as likely to be satisfied overall with the care they received as their counterparts who were treated in the co-located A&E facility, although a small proportion of walk-in centre users did report greater satisfaction with some specific aspects of their care and consultation. Conclusions: Whilst one of the key policy goals underpinning the co-location of walk-in centres next to an A&E department was to provide patients with more options for accessing healthcare and greater choice, leading in turn to increased satisfaction, this evaluation was able to provide little evidence to support this. The high percentage of patients expressing a preference for care in an established emergency department compared to a new walk-in centre facility raises questions for future policy development. Further consideration should therefore be given to the role that A&E focused walk-in centres play in the Department of Health’s current policy agenda, as far as patient choice is concerned

The Ursinus Weekly, February 24, 1958

Martin Zippin to speak at Y seminar on art, Feb. 26 • Grundy crowned; Whitians named at annual Lorelei • Army med service topic at pre-med meeting tonite • Seniors present Gold in the hills March 7 and 8 • Campus Chest \u2758 charities • Ursinus photo enthusiast shows camera art in UC Library foyer • Freshman women get colors at ceremonies • Cub & Key Society requests outlines from junior men • WSGA names May queen - J. Martin; Molitor, manager • Tau Sig and Sig Rho dance held Saturday night • Editorial: Art and the student • Nothing new under Ur sun (us) • Ode to idiots • Letters to the editor • Ursinus wrestlers visit Wilkes for meet, Fri. and Sat. • Swimming and basketball finds belles victorious • U.C. cagers downed again; PMC & Swarthmore victors • Matmen trounce PMC; Record now 5 wins, one loss • Sophomores elect Drummond and Watson to MSGAhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1400/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, January 13, 1958

Faculty, students get together for fireside chats • European views of Americans told at IRC meeting • Lantern contest offers prizes to writers and artists • Satellites topic at chem meeting tonight in S-12 • Library receives 400 dollar grant • Lorelei discussed, proctors named at MSGA meeting • Student teachers\u27 tales amuse SEAP meeting • Picasso exhibition opens at Philadelphia art museum • Tranquilizers subject of pre-med meeting, Jan. 8 • Podolak captains color guard • Sig Nu & Delta Pi to hold final fling January 18 • Editorial: It\u27s our move now • Trim the wick and brighten the Lantern • Prize poems • Picasso: Biography • Valentine Day opener set for girls\u27 badminton team • Girls\u27 basketball opener set for Feb. 12 with G\u27burg • UC grapplers beat Haverford 19-13 in season\u27s opener • Varsity cagers lose; J.V.s beat Swarthmore, Haverford • Bears scalped by Indians 81-69 in year-end game • Beta Sig mardi gras held • Frosh give dance: Beneath the sea • Many fields included in new library accessionshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1397/thumbnail.jp

Eicosapentaenoic acid is more effective than docosahexaenoic acid in inhibiting proinflammatory mediator production and transcription from LPS-induced human asthmatic alveolar macrophage cells

Background & aims: The purpose of the study was to determine which of the active constituents of fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is most effective in suppressing proinflammatory mediator generation and cytokine expression from LPS-stimulated human asthmatic alveolar macrophages (AMΦ). Methods: The AMΦ were obtained from twenty-one asthmatic adults using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Cells were pretreated with DMEM, pure EPA, an EPA-rich media (45% EPA/10% DHA), pure DHA, a DHArich media (10% EPA/50% DHA) or Lipovenos® (n-6 PUFA), and then exposed to Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) (-) or LPS (+). Supernatants were analyzed for leukotriene (LT)B4, prostaglandin (PG)D2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β production. Detection of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression levels was quantified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: 120 μM pure EPA and EPA-rich media significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed TNF-a and IL-1b mRNA expression and the production of LTB4, PGD2 and TNF-a and IL-1b in LPS-stimulated primary AMφ cells obtained from asthmatic patients to a much greater extent than 120 mM pure DHA and DHA-rich media respectively. Conclusions: This study has shown for the first time that EPA is a more potent inhibitor than DHA of inflammatory responses in human asthmatic AMΦ cells

A Study on Marketing Behaviour of Rural Youth Entrepreneurs among Seven Different Ventures

The study was conducted among 210 rural youth entrepreneurs of seven different ventures in Krishnagiri district to assess their marketing behaviour. The entrepreneurial ventures selected for the study were Sericulture, Mushroom Production, Hi-tech nurseries (Polyhouse), Fruit and flower nursery, Fisheries, Poultry farming and Value addition (Tamarind processing and Millet based cookies).

Cost-effectiveness of telehealth for patients with depression: Evidence from the Healthlines randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Depression is a prevalent long-term condition that is associated with substantial resource use. Telehealth may offer a cost-effective means of supporting the management of people with depression. AIMS: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of a telehealth intervention ('Healthlines') for patients with depression. METHOD: A prospective patient-level economic evaluation conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial. Patients were recruited through primary care, and the intervention was delivered via a telehealth service. Participants with a confirmed diagnosis of depression and PHQ-9 score ≥10 were recruited from 43 English general practices. A series of up to 10 scripted, theory-led, telephone encounters with health information advisers supported participants to effect a behaviour change, use online resources, optimise medication and improve adherence. The intervention was delivered alongside usual care and was designed to support rather than duplicate primary care. Cost-effectiveness from a combined health and social care perspective was measured by net monetary benefit at the end of 12 months of follow-up, calculated from incremental cost and incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Cost-consequence analysis included cost of lost productivity, participant out-of-pocket expenditure and the clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 609 participants were randomised - 307 to receive the Healthlines intervention plus usual care and 302 to receive usual care alone. Forty-five per cent of participants had missing quality of life data, 41% had missing cost data and 51% of participants had missing data on either cost or utility, or both. Multiple imputation was used for the base-case analysis. The intervention was associated with incremental mean per-patient National Health Service/personal social services cost of £168 (95% CI £43 to £294) and an incremental QALY gain of 0.001 (95% CI -0.023 to 0.026). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £132 630. Net monetary benefit at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20 000 was -£143 (95% CI -£164 to -£122) and the probability of the intervention being cost-effective at this threshold value was 0.30. Productivity costs were higher in the intervention arm, but out-of-pocket expenses were lower. CONCLUSIONS: The Healthlines service was acceptable to patients as a means of condition management, and response to treatment after 4 months was higher for participants randomised to the intervention. However, the positive average intervention effect size was modest, and incremental costs were high relative to a small incremental QALY gain at 12 months. The intervention is not likely to be cost-effective in its current form. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: None. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence