Ulster Medical Journal

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK. Through early detection and improved treatments more people than ever are surviving this disease. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the cornerstones of management, but these invasive treatments can cause a number of long-term and late effects. Using qualitative methods this study aimed to; explore peoples experiences with long-term and late effects of colorectal cancer, how these effects impacted on their lives and how participants managed them...

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INTRODUCTION: Decisions made by medical students on future career choice have demonstrated concordance with subsequent postgraduate career path. This study aimed to understand the factors that impact undergraduate career decision making. METHODS: An anonymous voluntary survey consisting of binominal, Likert and free text responses was distributed to all medical students registered at Queen's University Belfast (QUB). Data was collected over 6 weeks in April-May 2021...

BACKGROUND: While research has led to significant advancements in the health and life expectancy of children with Down Syndrome (DS), there remains a significant burden of disease and health inequity. Further research, focused on areas of greatest need, is imperative to address this. An understanding of what research has been undertaken, and any existing gaps, helps to guide future academic efforts. METHODS: We utilised an epistemological approach to summarise two decades of paediatric DS literature...

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AIMS: There is evidence of disparate levels of care for members of ethnic minority communities with inflammatory bowel disease in various NHS Trusts and Health Boards in England and Scotland. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was any association between the existence of disparate levels of care and the ethnic composition of the management boards of NHS Trusts and Health Boards. It also examined the ethnic composition of Health and Wellbeing Boards associated with these Trusts in England...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has made neurology clinic waiting times longer. To prevent a build-up of patients waiting, we introduced a neurology advanced referral management system (NARMS) to deal with new referrals from GPs, using advice, investigations, or the telephone, as alternatives to face-to-face (FF) assessment. METHODS: For six months, electronic referrals from GPs were triaged to the above categories. We recorded the numbers in each category, patient satisfaction, inter-consultant triage variation, re-referrals, and calculated CO2 emissions...

Assisted suicide and euthanasia are two forms of what is being called 'assisted dying', and they are touted by proponents as "progressive" and "compassionate". In fact, they are, on the contrary, relics from the last century: today, in the 21st century, we have moved beyond such archaic solutions - we now have, instead, proper evidence-based palliative care. It is this that should be demanded for all. This article will dispel the myths around dying that are often cited. It will also explore the oft-overlooked tragedies generated by assisted suicide, in the hope you, the reader, can be better informed about this retrogressive practice...

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PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound and fluoroscopic-guided aspiration and therapeutic injection of Baker's cysts in the relief of pain and pressure symptoms. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, single-arm study of consecutive patients referred from the Orthopaedic service for image-guided aspiration followed by therapeutic injection of symptomatic Baker's cysts was performed with institutional approval in the context of a Quality Improvement project...

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BACKGROUND: Cancer has been assumed to be associated with a high-risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. Protective measures have incorporated modifications in cancer treatments. There are conflicting data about the impact of COVID-19 infection and outcomes in cancer patients. We aim to describe the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer in Northern Ireland reported within the UK Coronavirus Cancer Monitoring Project (UKCCMP)...

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