resource optimisation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed rapid advances in the healthcare domain in recent years, especially in the emergency field, where AI is likely to radically reshape medical service delivery. Although AI has substantial potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency in hospitals, research on its applications in Emergency Department building design remains relatively scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate Emergency Department facility design by identifying the challenges and opportunities of using AI...

In the recent years, packaging made of conventional plastics has been increasingly replaced by materials believed to be more sustainable. However, perceived sustainability must align with scientific assessments, such as life cycle assessments (LCAs). This review analysed 53 peer-reviewed studies published in the time range 2019-2023, aiming at understanding the state of the art in LCA about the environmental impacts of packaging by focusing on the comparison between plastics and alternative materials. The literature showed that consumer perceptions often differ from LCA findings and revealed that, frequently, conventional plastics are not the least environmentally friendly choice...

There is mounting evidence that the pre-medical emergency team (pre-MET) of rapid response systems is underutilised in clinical practice due to suboptimal structures and processes and resource constraints. In this perspective article, we argue for examining the pre-MET through a 'Behaviour Change Wheel' lens to improve the pre-MET and maximise the associated patient safety benefits. Using pre-MET communication practices as an example, we illustrate the value of the COM-B model, where clinicians' 'capability', 'opportunity', and 'motivation' drive 'behaviour'...

The effective assessment of wounds, both acute and hard-to-heal, is an important component in the delivery by wound care practitioners of efficacious wound care for patients. Improved wound diagnosis, optimising wound treatment regimens, and enhanced prevention of wounds aid in providing patients with a better quality of life (QoL). There is significant potential for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health-related areas such as wound care. However, AI-based systems remain to be developed to a point where they can be used clinically to deliver high-quality wound care...

To reduce global CO2 emissions in line with EU targets, it is essential that we replace fossil-derived plastics with renewable alternatives. This provides an opportunity to develop novel plastics with improved design features, such as better reusability, recyclability, and environmental biodegradability. Although recycling and reuse of plastics is favoured, this relies heavily on the infrastructure of waste management, which is not consistently advanced on a worldwide scale. Furthermore, today's bulk polyolefin plastics are inherently unsuitable for closed-loop recycling, but the introduction of plastics with enhanced biodegradability could help to combat issues with plastic accumulation, especially for packaging applications...

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated changes to clinical research methodology, with clinical studies being carried out via online/remote means. This mixed-methods study aimed to identify which digital tools are currently used across all stages of clinical research by stakeholders in clinical, health and social care research and investigate their experience using digital tools. DESIGN: Two online surveys followed by semistructured interviews were conducted...

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative anxiety and depression symptoms among older surgical patients are associated with poor postoperative outcomes, yet evidence-based interventions for anxiety and depression have not been applied within this setting. We present a protocol for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in three surgical cohorts: cardiac, oncological and orthopaedic, investigating whether a perioperative mental health intervention, with psychological and pharmacological components, reduces perioperative symptoms of depression and anxiety in older surgical patients...

Due to the rising demand in cross-sectional thoracic imaging, anterior mediastinal lesions are being identified with increasing frequency. Following iterative and multidisciplinary discussions, the BTOG Thymic Malignancies Special Interest Group have developed an algorithm to standardise the diagnostic approach for these relatively uncommon but important conditions which span from benign (thymic remnant, thymic hyperplasia and thymic cysts) to suspected localised thymomas to suspected more aggressive malignancy (thymic carcinoma, lymphoma and germ cell tumours)...

BACKGROUND: We compared the cost-consequence of a home-based multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) model of care, based on task-shifting of directly observed therapy (DOT) and MDR-TB injection administration to lay health workers, to a routine clinic-based strategy within an established national TB programme in Eswatini. METHODS: Data on costs and effects of the two ambulatory models of MDR-TB care was collected using documentary data and interviews in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions of Eswatini...

A well-developed road network plays a crucial role in fostering social and economic progress within a region. However, road crashes resulting in massive injuries and deaths profoundly affect socioeconomic development. There is a need therefore to identify working approaches used in road safety strategic management which provide evidence and a foundation to achieve safer road transport. This may be achieved through a systematic literature review considering both state-of-the-art technologies and best practice...

BACKGROUND: PSMA PET/CT is the most sensitive molecular imaging modality for prostate cancer (PCa), yet much of the developing world has little or no access to PET/CT. [99m Tc]Tc-PSMA scintigraphy (PS) is a cheaper and more accessible gamma camera-based alternative. However, many resource-constrained departments have only a single camera without tomographic or hybrid imaging functionality, and camera time is frequently in high demand. Simplifying imaging protocols by limiting the field of view (FOV) and omitting SPECT/CT or even SPECT may provide a partial solution...

INTRODUCTION: Equitable healthcare delivery is essential and requires resources to be distributed, which include assets and healthcare workers. To date, there is no gold standard for measuring the correct number of physicians to meet healthcare needs. This rapid review aims to explore measurement tools employed to optimise the distribution of hospital physicians, with a focus on ensuring fair resource allocation for equitable healthcare delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed across PubMed, EMBASE, Emerald Insight and grey literature sources...

BACKGROUND: The drive towards ensuring the sustainability of bioresources has been linked with better valorising primary materials and developing biorefinery pipelines. Seaweeds constitute valuable coastal resources with applications in the bioenergy, biofertilizer, nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. Owing to the various sought-after metabolites they possess, several seaweed species are commercially exploited throughout Western Europe, including Ireland. Here, four commercially relevant brown (Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus) and red seaweed species (Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus) were sampled during a spring tide in July 2021 on moderately exposed shores across three coastal regions in the west of Ireland...

BACKGROUND: Testing of pooled samples is an effective strategy for increasing testing capacity while saving resources and time. This study aimed to validate pooled testing and gather real-life data on its use for Covid-19 surveillance with a gargle lavage (GL) self-sampling strategy. METHODS: Two-stage pooled testing with pools of 6 and 12 samples was used for preventive testing of an asymptomatic population and Covid-19 surveillance in Czech schools. Both GL and nasopharyngeal swabs were used for sampling...

BACKGROUND: Having a sufficient and well-functioning health workforce is crucial for reducing the burden of disease and premature death. Health workforce development, focusing on availability, recruitment, retention, and education, is inseparable from acceptability, motivation, burnout, role and responsibility, and performance. Each aspect of workforce development may face several challenges, requiring specific strategies. However, there was little evidence on barriers and strategies towards comprehensive health workforce development...

BACKGROUND: Adherence to self-management interventions is critical in both clinical settings and trials to ensure maximal effectiveness. This study reports how the Behaviour Change Wheel may be used to assess barriers to self-management behaviours and develop strategies to maximise adherence in a trial setting (the MEL-SELF trial of patient-led melanoma surveillance). METHODS: The Behaviour Change Wheel was applied by (i) using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COMB) model informed by empirical and review data to identify adherence barriers, (ii) mapping identified barriers to corresponding intervention functions, and (iii) identifying appropriate behaviour change techniques and developing potential solutions using the APEASE (Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects and safety, Equity) criteria...

Identifying the active ingredient from plant extracts and establishing its safety and efficacy remains a challenge, so there is need to develop optimised Isolation and purification method to concentrate the natural product from plant resources. In the key content areas of Pharmaceutical, natural product Industry and food application. Asclepiadaceae perennial herb Calotropis gigantea has a long history of usage in folk medicine. The purpose of this study to isolate, purified and structure elucidation of the saponin compounds...

Protoparvovirus carnivoran1 , known commonly as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a highly contagious and environmentally stable parvovirus of domestic as well as wild felids. A rapid and robust diagnostic tool will aid in implementing prompt treatment and control measures. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) as a point-of-care diagnostic tool for diagnosing feline panleukopenia was standardised using faecal samples of cats. The assay will reduce the cost and time required to diagnose feline panleukopenia...

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the number and burden of medication errors associated with prescription information transfer within the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the impact of implementing an interoperable prescription information system (a single digital prescribing record shared across NHS settings) in reducing these errors. METHODS: We constructed a probabilistic mathematical model. We estimated the number of transition medication errors that would be undetected by standard medicines reconciliation, based on published literature, and scaled this up based on the annual number of hospital admissions...

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have potential to support integrated health and social care research and practice; however, evidence of their utilisation has not been synthesised. OBJECTIVE: To identify PRO measures utilised in integrated care and adult social care research and practice and to chart the evidence of implementation factors influencing their uptake. DESIGN: Scoping review of peer-reviewed literature. DATA SOURCES: Six databases (01 January 2010 to 19 May 2023)...