Clin Med
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Good public awareness of stroke symptoms and the need for rapid admission to hospital can improve patient outcomes. However, evidence suggests that this awareness is currently inadequate. Therefore, it is important to identify gaps in public knowledge to target public health campaigns appropriately. ⋯ General understanding of stroke was fairly good, although it was found to be worse in the youngest, oldest age and nonwhite groups. Although there was good awareness of the FAST campaign, many people did not know what the individual letters meant. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that it might take considerable time for public awareness campaigns to achieve their full impact.
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Clinical research contributes to the evidence base for the planning of improved healthcare services and creates an excellent environment for the delivery of healthcare and the recruitment and retention of excellent and well-motivated staff. In this paper, we consider the evidence that a research-intensive healthcare system might yield improved outcomes as a result of the impact of the process of research on the provision of care. We review progress in establishing clinical research networks for cancer and the evidence of the impact of the conduct of clinical cancer research in the National Health Service.
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The worldwide pandemic of obesity carries alarming health and socioeconomic implications. Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective treatment for severe obesity. It is safe, with mortality comparable to that of cholecystectomy, and effective in producing substantial and sustainable weight loss, along with high rates of resolution of associated comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes. ⋯ Increased understanding of these mechanisms will help realise therapeutic benefits by pharmacological means. Bariatric surgery improves long-term mortality but can cause long-term nutritional deficiencies. The safety of pregnancy after bariatric surgery is still being elucidated.