Primary health care team workshop: team members'perspectives

This study explored members 'perceptions of team work in two primary health care teams (PHCTs) It also examined the effect of a team-building intervention on members' perceptions centred around five topics the PHCT, role perception, communication, leadership and conflict The study used a qualitative approach with semistructured interviews before and after the intervention It was found that members perceived each other's roles only in the light of their interactions with each other Issues of hierarchy in leadership and interpersonal conflicts were raised It is concluded that the team-building intervention had some positive effects on team members' perceptions and behaviour However, further research is needed into management structures and conflict resolution in the PHCT     

Effectiveness of palliative care interventions offering social support to people with life‐limiting illness—A systematic review

Individuals managing the challenges of life‐limiting illness require adequate social support to maintain quality of life. Qualitative research reports that patients value highly the social support obtained in palliative care interventions such as day care and group therapies. This systematic review aims to summarise existing quantitative evidence on palliative care interventions that facilitate social support. Research literature was systematically searched using electronic databases and key journals. Searches returned a total of 6,247 unique titles of which sixteen were eligible for inclusion. Interventions include group therapies, group practical interventions and palliative day care. Outcome measures and study designs were heterogeneous. Only one study used a validated outcome measure of social support. Benefits were influenced by participant characteristics such as baseline distress. Partial economic evaluation was attempted by two studies. Methodological challenges include attrition and use of outcome measures that were insensitive to change. Statistically significant results were reported in psychological and physical domains. Evidence is limited due to methodological issues and a scarcity of quantitative research, particularly regarding long‐term benefits and cost‐effectiveness. Interventions may be more beneficial to some groups than others.     

Localised peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the conjunctiva

A 16‐year‐old male presented with a 3‐month history of an asymptomatic, enlarging conjunctival lesion. An excisional biopsy was performed and histologic and immunohistochemical examination showed characteristic features of a peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) adjacent to a benign compound naevus. FISH analysis, demonstrating a split‐signal at 22q12, confirmed the diagnosis. Staging investigations were negative confirming the primary nature of the lesion. The patient was treated with local wide re‐excision and chemotherapy. He remains alive and well 29 months after initial resection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:669–671. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The prevalence of nursing staff stress on adult acute psychiatric in-patient wards

Background Concerns about recent changes in acute in-patient mental healthcare environments have led to fears about staff stress and poor morale in acute in-patient mental healthcare staff. Aim To review the prevalence of low staff morale, stress, burnout, job satisfaction and psychological well-being amongst staff working in in-patient psychiatric wards. Method Systematic review. Results Of 34 mental health studies identified, 13 were specific to acute in-patient settings, and 21 were specific to other non-specified ward-based samples. Most studies did not find very high levels of staff burnout and poor morale but were mostly small, of poor quality and provided incomplete or non-standardised prevalence data. Conclusions The prevalence of indicators of low morale on acute in-patient mental health wards has been poorly researched and remains unclear. Multi-site, prospective epidemiological studies using validated measures of stress together with personal and organizational variables influencing staff stress in acute in-patient wards are required.