UK CropNet: a collection of databases and bioinformatics resources for crop plant genomics.
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The UK Crop Plant Bioinformatics Network (UK CropNet) was established in 1996 in order to harness the extensive work in genome mapping in crop plants in the UK. Since this date we have published five databases from our central UK CropNet WWW site (http://synteny.nott.ac.uk/) with a further three to follow shortly. Our resource facilitates the identification and manipulation of agronomically important genes by laying a foundation for comparative analysis among crop plants and model species. In addition, we have developed a number of software tools that facilitate the visualisation and analysis of our data. Many of our tools are made freely available for use with both crop plant data and with data from other species. (+info)
Encouraging GPs to undertake screening and a brief intervention in order to reduce problem drinking: a randomized controlled trial.
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BACKGROUND: GPs are in a key position to screen the population for problem drinking. However, so far this has not been extensively undertaken in general practice. Thus, studies relating to encouraging the undertaking in general practice of screening and initiating a brief intervention for problem drinking are needed. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare three approaches direct mail, telephone contact and academic detailing to encourage GPs to undertake screening and a brief intervention (SBI) for problem drinking. METHODS: A total of 143 GPs in Copenhagen County were randomly assigned to the three approaches. The outcome measures were the proportion of GPs who requested the SBI package (uptake rate) and the fraction of GPs who started using the package (utilization rate). The costs of each approach were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the direct mailing approach, uptake rates were significantly higher among GPs approached by telephone (30 versus 72%; P = 0.0001) and in the academic detailing approach (30 versus 67%; P = 0.0006). There was no significant difference between telephone contact and academic detailing (72 versus 67%; P = 0.75). There was a higher utilization rate in the academic detailing approach than in telephone contact (61 versus 31%; P = 0.023). There was no significant difference between direct mail and telephone contact (57 versus 31%; P = 0.16) or between direct mail and academic detailing (57 versus 61%; P = 0.95). The respective costs of the telephone and academic detailing approaches were 10 and 16 times that of the direct mailing approach. CONCLUSION: Telephone contact and academic detailing are more effective than direct mail in encouraging GPs to request an SBI package, but GPs who were approached by academic detailing were more likely to have utilized the package than GPs who were approached by telephone. The relatively high uptake and utilization rates obtained in the academic detailing approach suggest that this approach is to be preferred in encouraging a rapid uptake of SBI among GPs. However, the high costs associated with this approach need to be taken into consideration. (+info)
Health and hazard surveillance--needs and perspectives.
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Health and hazard surveillance is the on-going collection, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of information aimed at improving the health, work ability, and well-being of workers. Hazard surveillance supplemented by quantitative risk assessment is the most prevention-oriented domain of surveillance. However, information on exposures and stress factors is often lacking. Computer-assisted expert judgment is a new approach to improve knowledge on hazards. Surveillance of work organizations and psychosocial factors is a challenging area which still requires research. Statistics on occupational injuries and diseases are available, but nonspecific coding and insufficient interpretation often limit their usefulness. Systematic surveys of new types of cases and the linking of different data bases are becoming more feasible. Methodological work is needed to develop indicators of work ability and work-related symptoms. Among the many possibilities to develop surveillance are the use of information technology, the application of hazard communication principles, and the development of practical aids for surveillance at the company level. (+info)
Questionnaire survey of California consumers' use and rating of sources of health care information including the Internet.
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OBJECTIVE: To understand how Californians use and rate various health information sources, including the Internet. RESEARCH DESIGN: Computer-assisted telephone interviews through which surveys were conducted in English or Spanish. SUBJECTS: A household sample generated by random digit dialing. The sample included 1007 adults (18+), 407 (40%) of whom had access to the Internet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Past health information sources used, their usefulness and ease of use; future health information sources, which are trusted and distrusted; and concerns about integrating the Internet into future health information seeking and health care behaviors. RESULTS: Physicians and health care providers are more trusted for information than any other source, including the Internet. Among those with Internet access, a minority use it to obtain health information, and a minority is "very likely" to use e-mail to communicate with medical professionals or their own doctors and nurses, to refill prescriptions, or to make doctor appointments. Also, most of those with Internet access are "unlikely" to make their medical records available via the Internet, even if securely protected. CONCLUSIONS: The public, including frequent Internet users, has major concerns about the confidentiality of electronic medical records. Legislation may not assuage these fears and a long-term, open and collaborative process involving consumers and organizations from all the health care sectors may be needed for full public assurance. (+info)
The rise and fall of the medical mediated searcher.
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The relationship between the development of mediated online literature searching and the recruitment of medical librarians to fill positions as online searchers was investigated. The history of database searching by medical librarians was outlined and a content analysis of thirty-five years of job advertisements in MLA News from 1961 through 1996 was summarized. Advertisements for online searchers were examined to test the hypothesis that the growth of mediated online searching was reflected in the recruitment of librarians to fill positions as mediated online searchers in medical libraries. The advent of end-user searching was also traced to determine how this trend affected the demand for mediated online searching and job availability of online searchers. Job advertisements were analyzed to determine what skills were in demand as end-user searching replaced mediated online searching as the norm in medical libraries. Finally, the trend away from mediated online searching to support of other library services was placed in the context of new roles for medical librarians. (+info)
From Livingstone to ecotourism. What's new in travel medicine?
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OBJECTIVE: To review recent developments in the field of travel medicine and to outline the knowledge and resources family physicians need for providing health advice to travelers headed for tropical or developing countries. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Personal files; references from review articles and from a recent textbook of travel medicine; current guidelines on pretravel advice; and a review of the 1996 to 1999 MEDLINE database using "travel medicine" as a term and subject heading, "trave(l)lers' diarrhea" as a text word and subject heading, "immunization + travel," and "malaria + chemo prevention" were used as information sources. Priority was given to randomized controlled trials and recommendations of expert or national bodies. MAIN MESSAGE: Some elements of travel medicine, such as malaria chemoprophylaxis, have become more complex. Some valuable new preventive measures, such as hepatitis A vaccine, treated bed nets, and antimalarial drugs, have become available. Some health risks, such as cholera, have been overemphasized in the past, whereas others, such as tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, have been underemphasized. Information sources relevant for providing travel health advice have improved and expanded. Canadian evidence-based guidelines addressing most important travel health issues are now available. CONCLUSIONS: Travel medicine is a rapidly evolving field. Physicians intending to provide health advice to travelers to high-risk parts of the world should be well prepared and have access to good, up-to-date information. (+info)
Preparing patients to travel abroad safely. Part 1: Taking a travel history and identifying special risks.
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OBJECTIVE: To present for family physicians without access to a travel clinic and the Internet the questions to ask about the medical history and itinerary of their patients traveling abroad. To suggest ways to identify and advise high-risk patients. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: MEDLINE searches from 1990 to November 1998 located 51 articles on travel and diabetes, 37 on travel and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 63 on travel and heart disease, 192 on travel and pregnancy, and 298 on travel with infants or children. Additional searches were undertaken in September 1999. The quality of evidence in most articles is level III (expert opinion). There are no randomized controlled trials of the best advice for family physicians to give travelers. MAIN MESSAGE: A history should include countries to be visited, planned activities, previous tropical travel, medical history, vaccination status, whether children are traveling, pregnancy status, and patients' opinions of the risks and precautions needed. Detailed advice should be given to reduce risks. The main causes of mortality abroad are existing cardiovascular conditions and accidents. High-risk conditions to be identified in travelers are cardiovascular illness, COPD, diabetes, immunodeficiency, pregnancy, and traveling with children. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cardiovascular illness or COPD should be advised to avoid too much exertion while traveling. Detailed instruction should be given to diabetic patients on how to maintain stable glucose levels, to pregnant women on avoiding malarial infection, and to parents on protecting their children from infections and accidents. (+info)
Evaluation of the red blood cell and plasma transfusion guidelines.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine physicians' preferred content and format for the Guidelines for Red Blood Cell and Plasma Transfusion for Adults and Children before development in order to guide the development process. To obtain physicians' recommendations about the Guidelines' content, format, dissemination and future directions after development to guide future work on the Guidelines. DESIGN: Pre-post Guidelines qualitative design using 20 focus groups (nine pre and 11 post). STUDY PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and seven physicians (5-11 per group) who used at least 1 unit of blood over the past 6 months; with a minimum of 1 year in practice and not retired. A total of 24 physicians attended both pre and post focus groups. In general, specialties of participants included: general practice, surgery pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and hematology/oncology. Years of practice ranged from 1 to 35 years (mean = 7 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre Guidelines focus groups made recommendations on the content and format of the Guidelines; post Guidelines focus groups made recommendations on the same areas along with dissemination and future directions. RESULTS: Three main components of the Guidelines were evaluated: content, format and dissemination. The content, which followed as much as possible that recommended by pre Guidelines focus groups, was deemed appropriate by post Guidelines focus groups, with minor gaps noted (e.g. information on alternatives to blood products). The format addressed many of the concerns raised by pre Guidelines focus groups; however, the post Guidelines focus groups were concerned about the lack of visual aids and categorization of information. The dissemination strategy was successful at diffusing the Guidelines, with some concerns expressed about reaching specific physician target groups. CONCLUSION: The pre-post focus group method was useful in conducting an evaluation of the Guidelines and this method which examined content, format and dissemination could contribute to evaluations of other guidelines. (+info)