Vocational rehabilitation for emergency services personnel: a scoping review.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to examine and map the range of vocational rehabilitation available for emergency services personnel. Introduction: Employee work absence due to illness and injury is an international burden. The emergency service sector (police officers, firefighters and ambulance/paramedic staff) workforce has been shown to report a higher prevalence of illness/injury and sick leave compared to the general population. Despite the evidence of physical and psychological problems that emergency service sector workers can face, vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions and the structure and effectiveness of VR for these workers are less well known. Inclusion criteria: This scoping review considered studies that included adult emergency medical services (EMS) personnel (e.g. police officers, firefighters and ambulance/paramedic staff), regardless of age, sex or rank. EMS personnel from any developed nation were included. The interventions included any VR regardless of condition, work status (VR to prevent sick leave or for workers on sick leave) or focus (e.g. mental health issues, neurological problems or musculoskeletal conditions). VR interventions can include work conditioning, work hardening, physiotherapy, counseling, functional restoration and occupational rehabilitation. Methods: Published and unpublished literature in English from 2007 to 2017 was included in this review. A three-step search strategy was followed that included five databases and nine websites. Data extraction was performed by two reviewers using a pre-determined data extraction form developed by the authors. Results: This review identified 24,271 sources of information, of which 48 were screened at full-text stage, and 22 sources were eligible to be included in the final scoping review. The majority of the sources provided evidence of VR for police officers and firefighters. VR is typically provided in residential rehabilitation settings as well as some outpatient, off-site and workplace settings. The main type of VR provided is physical, but there is also evidence of psychological rehabilitation and addiction/substance misuse rehabilitation. Conclusions: This review demonstrated that there is a lack of information in the public domain on VR for staff working in the emergency service sector, as well as a lack of rigorous evaluation available on the effectiveness of VR within the emergency service sector. There is inconsistent provision of VR internationally for emergency service sector staff

Conducting initial telephone consultations in primary care: a scoping review.

Background - Telephone consultations are increasingly used in primary care to deliver healthcare services to patients. However, there has been no review produced which identifies and maps the elements of the components, skills and training required to deliver telephone consultations in primary care. This review maps the evidence and can be used to inform clinical service and staff development. Method - A scoping review was conducted using JBI methodology. Inclusion criteria for this review included: Participants – any study focusing on any qualified healthcare practitioner working within primary care services; Concept – was any initial telephone consultation within primary care; Context – was primary care within developed nations defined as having very high human development. A three step search strategy was adopted to include published and unpublished literature in English from 2002 to 2017. Results - The search identified 3378 sources of literature. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts then full text against the inclusion criteria which resulted in 18 articles included in this scoping review. Data was extracted by two independent reviewers relevant to the review question: components, skills and training in telephone consultations. The 18 articles involved five countries, 144 healthcare professionals and between 55-1506 patients. The key attributes for telephone consultations (components, skills and training) were synthesised into tabular display and provide guidance on the main elements required for providing this service in primary care

John Campbell Brown OBE (1947–2019)

Obituary: John Campbell Brown OBE (1947–2019) - Astronomer Royal for Scotland and inspirational solar physicist, by Lyndsay Fletcher, Nicolas Labrosse and Alec MacKinnon

The effect of position on the lumbar intervertebral disc.

This thesis comprises three phases with a combined aim which was to investigate the effect of position on the lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD). The effect of position on the lumbar IVD in asymptomatic subjects and subjects with discogenic low back pain (DLBP) was explored using positional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (pMRI). Convenience samples of 11 asymptomatic and 34 DLBP subjects were recruited to have sagittal and axial pMRI scans performed in sitting (Neutral, Flexed and Extended), standing and lying (Supine and Prone extension) positions. The sagittal plane migration of the nucleus pulposus (NP) of each lumbar IVD in each position was measured from the sagittal and axial pMRI scans. Within and between group inferential analysis was performed using nonparametric tests. Both the asymptomatic and DLBP subjects demonstrated that position had statistically significant effects on the sagittal plane NP migration. Both groups demonstrated significantly greater posterior sagittal plane NP migration in Neutral and Flexed sitting positions compared to the other positions. However, between group comparisons identified that the asymptomatic subjects also demonstrated significantly greater posterior sagittal plane NP migration than the DLBP subjects. This pattern was more common in the upper lumbar IVDs (L1/2 and L2/3) between positions and less common in the lower IVDs (L4/5 and L5/S1) between positions. New knowledge regarding the behaviour of the lumbar IVD emerged from this research. The differences detected between the asymptomatic and DLBP subjects suggest that some current theories regarding DLBP may be incorrect. The results also support imaging of DLBP subjects in sitting positions as opposed to current supine positions. Although the limitations of the study reduce generalisation of the results, the implications for clinical practice, imaging and suggestions for further research from this work are important to improve understanding and conservative management of DLBP

Feasibility and acceptability of PDConnect: a collaborative approach to physical activity for people with Parkinson's.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel collaborative telehealth-based physical activity intervention for people with Parkinson's. The benefits of physical activity for people with Parkinson's (PwP) are widely acknowledged; however, a significant proportion remain inactive. How best to support physical activity and long-term participation remain unknown. PDConnect aims to support physical activity behaviour change and self-management for PwP. A convergent fixed parallel mixed methods study was undertaken. 31 PwP were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Usual care consisted of standard physiotherapy once a week for six-weeks. PDConnect consisted of: i) the same volume of physiotherapy, delivered by physiotherapists; ii) 12 weekly sessions of group exercise, delivered by fitness instructors; and iii) 12-weeks' supported self-management, whereby the fitness instructor contacted the PwP once per month. All staff delivering PDConnect had specialist training in Parkinson's. All physiotherapy, group exercise and support sessions were delivered via Microsoft Teams. Primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability measures. Secondary outcomes included motor, non-motor and wellbeing measures assessed at baseline, 6, 18 and 30-weeks. PDConnect was shown to be feasible and safe. No adverse events occurred in either group. Retention rates were high (74%); only 2 participants withdrew due to issues with technology, with 6 withdrawing due to health not related to Parkinson's. Response rates for self-reported outcome measures was 97%, and for activity diaries 95%. Compliance with PDConnect was high, and 83% of participants reported that the PDConnect manuals were helpful. Participants were very satisfied with PDConnect and perceived that participation increased exercise confidence, and knowledge and understanding of Parkinson's. Participation was reported to positively impact upon Parkinson's symptoms, with perceived improvements in flexibility, muscle strength, physical activity levels, and endurance. 50% of those receiving PDConnect reported that they were much improved compared to 10% in the usual care group. PDConnect is therefore feasible in terms of implementation and was rated as highly acceptable among PwP. A large-scale trial is being designed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of PDConnect

Components, skills and training for conducting initial telephone consultations in primary care: a scoping review protocol.

Review objective/question: The objective of this scoping review is to examine the characteristics of initial telephone consultations conducted in primary care settings and to map the existing evidence on the components, skills and training recommended for initial telephone consultations in current primary care. This scoping review will be guided by the following questions: 1) What components are included or are recommended in the literature to be included in primary care initial telephone consultations? 2) What skills are reported or recommended in the literature for primary care practitioners to deliver in initial telephone consultations? 3) What training is recommended for primary care practitioners delivering initial telephone consultations

The mental wellbeing of engineering students: a scoping review protool. [Protocol]

The mental wellbeing (MW) of higher education students is a subject that has increased in visibility in recent years. In 2010, a systematic review looking at mental health in students worldwide highlighted that student mental health is poorer than the general population. In a UK survey, 20% of students considered themselves to have poor MW with 13% reporting suicidal thoughts, and 92% identifying as having had feelings of mental distress. The survey also highlighted that students generally do not disclose mental health issues with their institutions with 80% reporting stigma as a barrier. Engineering degree programmes are challenging and competitive in nature with a male-skewed gender balance. The majority of engineering students are young adult males with nearly 85% of engineering undergraduates identified as men in the UK. In Australia, it is 84.4%, Canada 86.3%, USA 81.3%. and EU 72.6%. Before carrying out a systematic review to identify the effectiveness of interventions for mental well being in engineering students, it is important to identify existing research in this area. A scoping review to map the available evidence of mental well being in engineering students should therefore be carried out. An initial search of the JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, Prospero and Cochrane Library have not identified any systematic reviews or protocols on this topic area. Considering the lack of mapping of existing research, it is appropriate that a systematic scoping review is conducted on this topic. A systematic scoping review would potentially highlight key themes relating to the mental well being of engineering students

The health-oriented attitudes and lifestyles of allied health professions university students.

The health-orientated attitudes and lifestyles of allied health professions university students was a research project using quantitative methods (survey and measuring tool) to 1) Explore Health Sciences students' understanding/response towards the concept of 'health' and attitudes on whether they believed RGU can influence their health positively or negatively, and 2) Explore current health-promoting lifestyles in Health Sciences students

Interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of engineering students: a scoping review.

Engineering students enter a challenging and competitive sector in higher education and are potentially at risk of poor mental health and or mental wellbeing. It is important to raise awareness of and support good mental health and wellbeing for engineering students. We carried out a scoping review using Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. Published sources of evidence were searched for this review via: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycInfo, Compendex, Web of Science, Emerald, Epistemonikos and Business Source Complete. Searches were conducted in January 2019 and updated in January 2020, and March 2022. Two reviewers independently screened all titles and abstracts, full text sources and extracted data using a form developed by the authors. Results: Searches identified 191 sources of evidence after title screening and 33 sources of evidence were included for final extraction following full-text screening. This represented over 4000 engineering students from 10 countries. Included studies were predominantly pilots, which suggests a lack of diverse research methods in the existing research base. Studies also varied in approaches to reporting. Interventions included training, relaxation, technology use, alternative teaching models, support services and a study break witha range of outcome measures used to evaluate intervention effects. Results of included studies noted reduced stress and anxiety, improved academic achievement, improved communication, motivation, physiological responses, attitude, and increased physical activity, health awareness and confidence. Mindfulness activities appear to be accepted by and helpful to engineering students. Conclusions: This review mapped interventions to support mental health and wellbeing in engineering students but identifies a need for further high-quality robust studies that are transparently reported using reporting guidelines