Carer preferences for home support services in later stage dementia

Objectives: To examine the relative importance of different home support attributes from the perspective of carers of people with later-stage dementia.

Method: Preferences from 100 carers, recruited through carers’ organisations, were assessed with a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) survey, administered online and by paper questionnaire. Attributes were informed by an evidence synthesis and lay consultations. A conditional logit model was used to estimate preference weights for the attributes within a home support ‘package’.

Results: The most preferred attributes were ‘respite care, available regularly to fit your needs’ (coefficient 1.29, p = < 0.001) and ‘home care provided regularly for as long as needed’ (coefficient 0.93, p = < 0.001). Cost had a significant effect with lower cost packages preferred. Findings were similar regardless of the method of administration, with respite care considered to be the most important attribute for all carers. Carers reported that completing the DCE had been a positive experience; however, feedback was mixed overall.

Conclusions: These carer preferences concur with emerging evidence on home support interventions for dementia. Respite care, home care and training on managing difficulties provided at home are important components. Carers’ preferences revealed the daily challenges of caring for individuals with later stage dementia and the need for tailored and specialised home support.     

宁波市北仑区2013-2014年儿童哮喘流行病学调查

目的调查宁波市北仑区0~14岁儿童哮喘发病率、发病规律及危险因素,为制定防治措施提供参考。方法2013年1月-2014年1月,采用整群抽样法抽取北仑区19所学校0~14岁儿童为调查对象进行问卷调查,对筛查出的疑似哮喘儿童进行确诊,并对其人口学特征进行分析,采用logistic回归方程分析危险因素。结果调查收回有效问卷23 781份,共检出哮喘患儿534例,发病率为2.25%,男女发病率比例为1.92:1。其中发病较轻患儿占44.01%,中度占31.46%,重度占24.53%。发病时间以换季、冬季为主,分别占35.96%、32.02%。多因素logistic回归分析显示,呼吸道感染、药物过敏史、家族过敏史和食物过敏史是儿童哮喘发病的危险因素(P<0.05)。结论北仑区儿童哮喘发病率较高,具有性别和季节发病差异,应加大对患病危险因素的宣传,规范标准化治疗方案,减少儿童哮喘疾病的发生。     

The tension biology of wound healing

Following skin wounding, the healing outcome can be: regeneration, repair with normal scar tissue, repair with hypertrophic scar tissue or the formation of keloids. The role of chemical factors in wound healing has been extensively explored, and while there is evidence suggesting the role of mechanical forces, its influence is much less well defined. Here, we provide a brief review on the recent progress of the role of mechanical force in skin wound healing by comparing laboratory mice, African spiny mice, fetal wound healing and adult scar keloid formation. A comparison across different species may provide insight into key regulators. Interestingly, some findings suggest tension can induce an immune response, and this provides a new link between mechanical and chemical forces. Clinically, manipulating skin tension has been demonstrated to be effective for scar prevention and treatment, but not for tissue regeneration. Utilising this knowledge, specialists may modulate regulatory factors and develop therapeutic strategies to reduce scar formation and promote regeneration.