Irish journal of medical science
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Ureteric stents are frequently placed following endo-urological procedures. These stents cause significant morbidity for patients. Standard ureteric stents are removed by flexible cystoscopy. This procedure can be unpleasant for patients and requires additional resources. A newly designed magnetic stent allows removal in an outpatient setting. The aim of our study is to compare the magnetic stent and standard ureteric stents with regard to morbidity, pain on stent removal and cost-effectiveness. ⋯ Magnetic stents cause similar morbidity for patients compared with standard stents removed by flexible cystoscopy; they are associated with less pain at removal and are cost saving.
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Complex pelvic fractures present the orthopaedic surgeon with many challenges. 3-D printed models may provide assistance in pre-operative planning, may lead to improvements in intra-operative (i) decision making and (ii) efficiencies (time reduction, blood loss reduction, screening reduction) and may result in improvements in post-operative outcomes (fracture reduction & quality of life). The models also provide hands-on opportunities for orthopaedic trainees and patients. This may result in improvements in (i) education/training regarding the management of pelvic and acetabular fractures for orthopaedic trainees and (ii) improvements in patient consenting and overall patient satisfaction. ⋯ Whilst the authors recognize the positive subjective findings with respect to the use of 3-D printing in pelvic and acetabular trauma in our National Centre, objective findings were lacking.
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This study provides an accurate awareness of the present situation of health research in Irish hospitals both public and private. We aimed to analyze factors that may influence it and provide recommendations for active steps to improve the current situation of Irish health research based on our findings. ⋯ Our findings may serve as a useful approach to benchmark scientific output from hospitals and guide the future allocation of research spending.
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To describe rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery in a Dublin tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and to examine factors predictive of surgical and anatomical success. ⋯ This is the first study of its kind in Ireland and will help surgeons benchmark their results against international standards in the future. Accurate recording of logMAR acuity and intraoperative complications is imperative to assist with prospective studies.
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Studies have suggested that the undergraduate clinical clerkship improves medical students' attitudes to psychiatry and career interest in the specialty, but few studies have explored the sustainability of these changes. ⋯ Our findings suggest that an enriched undergraduate clinical clerkship experience can help to sustain improved attitudes to psychiatry into the final medical year. However, declining interest in the specialty a career choice prior to graduation presents an enduring challenge.