Postgraduate medical journal
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Asthma, a common childhood condition, often presents with chronic cough. While evaluating for chronic cough, many specialists obtain a baseline chest radiograph (CR) to assess for other causes. Usually read as 'normal', sometimes CRs will reveal evidence of airway inflammation in the form of subtle findings, such as 'increased interstitial markings' or 'peribronchial thickening'. There is sparse literature in the outpatient setting correlating findings on baseline CRs with adverse outcomes such as systemic steroid use, emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalisation. ⋯ This study shows a positive correlation between airway inflammation findings on baseline CR and subsequent ED visits in patients with asthma.
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To collect validity evidence for the chest tube insertion (CTI) test mode on the medical simulation application Touch Surgery. This was done by using Messick's contemporary framework. ⋯ A robust validity argument was constructed for the CTI test mode, which can be implemented in surgical curricula to assess learners' cognitive skills prior to hands-on simulation practice.
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Established over 2000 years ago, horoscopes remain a regular feature in contemporary society. We aimed to assess whether there could be a link between zodiac sign and medical occupation, asking the question-did your specialty choose you? ⋯ Personality types vary in different specialties. There may be links to zodiac signs which warrant further investigation.
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Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with health inequality. Previous studies have described associations between primary care prescribing rates and deprivation for individual drugs or drug classes. We explore the correlation between socioeconomic deprivation and the rate of prescribing of individual pharmaceutical drugs, and drug classes, in primary care in England, to identify prescribing inequalities that would require further investigation. ⋯ We identify novel associations of prescribing with deprivation. Further work is required to identify the underlying reasons for these associations so that appropriate interventions can be formulated to address drivers of inequality.