Study shows how the NHS fails to deliver in poor areas

In a study of general practices in the west of Scotland, researchers from the University of Glasgow have found that :
- Patients in poor areas had a greater number of psychological problems;
- Patients in poor areas suffer from more long-term illness and larger numbers of different chronic health problems;
- Despite having more problems to discuss, consultations in deprived areas were generally shorter than in affluent areas;
- Doctors in deprived areas reported being under greater stress, especially after long consultations;
- For patients with psychological problems in deprived areas, the consultation with their GP was less helpful than it was for patients with psychological problems in affluent areas.

The reference for the original journal article is:
Mercer, SW and Watt, GCM (2007) The Inverse Care Law: Clinical Primary Care Encounters in Deprived and Affluent Areas of Scotland. Annals of family medicine 5(6) 503-10
Click here for full text from publisher - Athens account required:
http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/5/6/503

New books in the library

It's been two or three weeks since the last new book list so there are few more than normal....


Balogun, J. Exploring strategic change, HD31 BAL 2004

Beckwith, S. Oxford handbook of nurse prescribing, QV748 BEC 2007

Blumenfield, M. Psychosomatic medicine, WM90 BLU 2006

Bowker, L. K. Oxford handbook of geriatric medicine, WT27 BOW 2006

Bowlby, J. A secure base : clinical application of attachment theory, WM460 BOW 2005

Campling, F. Living with a long-term illness : the facts, WA590 CAM 2006

Daft, R. L. The leadership experience, HM141 DAF 2008

Frith, C. Making up the mind : how the brain creates our mental world, WL300 FRI 2007

Green, S. A. An anthology of psychiatric ethics, WM62 GRE 2006

Herbert, M. Typical and atypical development : from conception to adolescence, WS105 HER 2003

Huczynski, A. Organizational behaviour : an introductory text, HD31 HUC 2007

Iversen, L. L. Speed, ecstasy, ritalin : the science of amphetamines, QV38 IVE 2006

Jeannerod, M. Motor cognition : what actions tell the self, WL300 JEA 2006

Johns, C. Transforming nursing through reflective practice, WY86 JOH 2005

Johns, C. Becoming a reflective practitioner, WY18 JOH 2004

Kinsella, P. Cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome : a guide for clinicians, WB146 KIN 2007

Lathe, R. Autism, brain, and environment, WM203.5 LAT 2006

Maden, T. Treating violence : a guide to risk management in mental health, WM600 MAD 2007

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. A call to debate : a call to action : a report on the health of the population of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2007-2008, WA900 CAL 2007

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Clinical governance and risk management : achieving safe, effective, patient-focused care and services. National overview : October 2007, WX27 CLI 2007

Northouse, P. G. Leadership : theory and practice, HM141 NOR 2007

Olson, K. R. Poisoning & drug overdose, QV600 OLS 2007

Pedler, M. A manager's guide to leadership, HM141 PED 2004

Scottish Government. Well? what do you think? (2006) : the third national Scottish survey of public attitudes to mental health, mental wellbeing and mental health problems, WM31 BRA 2007

Siegrist, J. Social inequalities in health : new evidence and policy implications, WX27 SIE 2006
Simonsen, T. Illustrated pharmacology for nurses, WY100 SIM 2006

Stuart-Hamilton, I. The psychology of ageing : an introduction, WT145 STU 2006

Taylor, D. Maudsley prescribing guidelines, QV77 TAY 2007

University of Hamburg. Treatment of problem cocaine use : a review of the literature, WM270 TRE 2007

Yukl, G. Leadership in organizations, HM141 YUK 2006

Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report published

The latest report from the Chief Medical Officer was published today. In presenting his report, Dr Harry Burns said:
"Scotland's health is improving, but support and intervention in early life is essential if the nation is to close the gap between affluent and deprived areas"
"We have been very innovative in Scotland in designing and implementing health improvement programmes. Other countries have found much to admire in the way Scots as a nation have responded to the challenge of smoking"
"Although the health of all sections of the community in Scotland is improving we can not disguise the fact that it is not improving fast enough for the poorest sections of our society. As my report makes clear, early interventions to improve the health and development of children is key to narrowing the gap in adult health"

Links : Pain Assessment Scales for elderly people

Following last week's conference organised by the Primary Care Palliative Care Team ("Don't you forget about me", 31st October) the Library has compiled a list of links to pain assessment scales for elderly people. The list can be found on this page of our website.

Ovid SP available on NHS Scotland eLibrary

The Ovid resources on the NHS Scotland eLibrary, which offer access to the major clinical databases (for example, Medlne, CINAHL and PsycINFO among others...) now have a an optional link to the updated version - Ovid SP. For the time being dual access is available to the existing interface and to Ovid SP but from February next year Ovid SP will be standard. The main difference is the basic search screen which allows searching using natural language and lists results ranked for relevance. The basic search might be useful for new or occasional users of the databases but for proper literature searches it's advised to use the Ovid syntax option which allows access to the subject heading search option.

Other features on Ovid SP include RSS feeds for table of contents or search alerts and the ability to search across ebooks as well as databases.

Training on the new interface will be available from library staff in due course but feel free to ask for advice meantime.

Evaluation of three UK community alcohol prevention programmes

The UK Community Alcohol Prevention Programme (UKCAPP) has published its final report. The report was commissioned by the Alcohol Education and Research Council and covers projects it part-funded in Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham. The report can be found here.

New Books

A report of the books added to stock at the Maria Henderson Library during September and October is now available here