Scoping review of indicators and methods of measurement used to evaluate the impact of dog population management interventions

BACKGROUND

Dogs are ubiquitous in human society and attempts to manage their populations are common to most countries. Managing dog populations is achieved through a range of interventions to suit the dog population dynamics and dog ownership characteristics of the location, with a number of potential impacts or goals in mind. Impact assessment provides the opportunity for interventions to identify areas of inefficiencies for improvement and build evidence of positive change.

METHODS

This scoping review collates 26 studies that have assessed the impacts of dog population management interventions.

RESULTS

It reports the use of 29 indicators of change under 8 categories of impact and describes variation in the methods used to measure these indicators.

CONCLUSION

The relatively few published examples of impact assessment in dog population management suggest this field is in its infancy; however this review highlights those notable exceptions. By describing those indicators and methods of measurement that have been reported thus far, and apparent barriers to efficient assessment, this review aims to support and direct future impact assessment.

Abstract P2-10-06: The long term outcomes of female patients treated with primary endocrine therapy for non-metastatic breast cancer

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

CrossFitter’s knee: patellofemoral chondral injury following high-intensity functional training

We present a case series of patients with patellofemoral joint (PFJ) chondral injuries presenting as anterior knee pain secondary to participation in high-intensity functional training programmes. We aim to highlight PFJ chondral injuries as a potential complication of military servicemen engaging in high-intensity functional training programmes. This may allow medical staff to identify the injuries early, and highlight this possible injury mechanism to Physical Training staff to help educate participants and mitigate the risk of injury.

Persistent pain after knee replacement: do factors associated with pain vary with degree of patient dissatisfaction?

OBJECTIVE

Up to 20% of patients experience long-term pain and dissatisfaction following knee replacement. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with persistent pain following knee replacement and their implications for patient satisfaction.

DESIGN

A case-controlled analysis compared patients with established persistent pain with patients who were pain-free. 2:1 frequency matching for age, gender, time from surgery and prosthesis was performed. 1310 patients were approached and 100 patients with persistent pain and 200 matched pain-free controls were included. Variables assessed included mechanical, biological, psychosocial and generalised factors.

RESULTS

The study found that the degree of dissatisfaction experienced by the patient with persistent pain following knee replacement affected the factors associated with pain. In the most dissatisfied patients, pain was associated with instability in the coronal plane (OR 19.8, 95% CI 3.8-104.0), stiffness (OR 6.4, 95% CI 2.3-18.4) and negative social support (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.1-10.0). In patients who were less dissatisfied, pain was associated with patellofemoral problems (OR 10.3, 95% CI 3.6-29.6), elevated BMI (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.7) and reduced local pain thresholds (OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.0-9.6). Depression (OR 13.6, 95% CI 1.9-96.6) and presence of proximal tibial tenderness (OR 23.5 95% CI 7.8-70.7) were strongly associated with pain regardless of level of satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with persistent pain after knee replacement are dissatisfied. This study identifies factors associated with the worst pain outcomes, which lead to the greatest levels of dissatisfaction. Particular efforts with a holistic multidisciplinary approach should be focused towards these "red flag" factors in order to minimise persistent pain after knee replacement.

Scope and limitations of a DMF bio-alternative within Sonogashira cross-coupling and Cacchi-type annulation

Pd-catalysed C-C bond formation is an essential tool within the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Many of these reactions rely heavily on polar aprotic solvents; however, despite their utility, these solvents are incompatible with the drive towards more sustainable chemical synthesis. Herein, we describe the scope and limitations of an alternative to DMF derived from renewable sources (Cyrene^TM) in Sonogashira cross-coupling and Cacchi-type annulations.

Bell's palsy: the effect on self-image, mood state and social activity

Twenty patients with idiopathic lower motor neurone paralysis, Bell's palsy, were graded clinically for severity of palsy and subjected to a battery of questionnaires to assess self-image, mood and functional disability. A range of severity of palsy was represented and a variety of disturbance with facial self-image, social activity and emotional state was found. In particular 16 expressed dissatisfaction with at least one aspect of facial appearance, seven reported disturbance of face-to-face conversation and 12 described a change in other people's attitude to them. It was concluded that there is evidence of considerable social handicap in a proportion of patients afflicted by this otherwise relatively benign condition.

Attitudes towards breast conservation in patients aged over 70 with breast cancer

Background

The majority of breast conserving surgery (BCS) is performed in younger women. There is little published information about the views of women aged over 70 regarding BCS. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of this age group towards BCS, and factors which may influence their treatment decision-making.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to all patients who were aged 70 or over at the time they had breast cancer surgery in NHS Lanarkshire between 1999 and 2013. This detailed surgical options and recommendations, timing of decision making, treatment expectations, psychological and cosmetic concerns and other factors which may have influenced any decision made e.g. travel for radiotherapy and potential side effects.

Results

Responses were received from 339 patients, 192 of whom had a mastectomy with the remaining undergoing BCS. In the mastectomy group 18 % (35) would have preferred to have BCS had it been an option, with 40 % (76) of group being happy to take neoadjuvant endocrine therapy to try and facilitate this. However, only 14 % (26) of patients would have considered neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the same aim. Almost half (82) of the mastectomy patients said that the risk of local recurrence following BCS was a factor which influenced their decision.

Conclusion

BCS is something that patients aged over 70 are interested in considering in the same way as younger patients. More than a third of patients requiring mastectomy would be willing to take neoadjuvant endocrine therapy to attempt to downstage their tumour to facilitate BCS.

Abstract P1-07-17: Breast cancer presentation in the over 70s

Aims:

Life expectancy of the population in rising, and the risk of breast cancer increases with age. Older patients with breast cancer generally present later with more advanced disease for a variety of factors. We aimed to explore the presentation of the over 70s with breast cancer, along with their attitudes towards screening.

Methods:

A questionnaire was sent to patients aged over 70 at the time of their breast cancer surgery within the three hospitals across NHS Lanarkshire. This detailed reasons and timing of presentation, in addition to thoughts about screening.

Results:

Three hundred and fifty-two questionnaires were sent to women with a mean age of 76 years, 230 were returned (65%). Sixty-four percent routinely examined their breasts with more identifying a lump themselves (70%). Knowledge of signs and symptoms beyond a lump was explored, explicitly asking about nipple inversion, nipple discharge and skin changes with all three having similar degrees of awareness (40%, 35%, 25% respectively). Distressingly only 36% of our patients were aware of any of these signs, with only 9% being aware of all three. The majority of women sought medical attention early after identifying a problem, with 39% seeing someone within days and only 6% waiting over 6 months. Personal concern was the greatest prompt for women to see a doctor (68%) followed by family or friend concern (10%). With regard to screening, 83% routinely attended screening when they were invited. Ninety percent also said they would attend if the service was routinely offered to the over 70s. Although the majority (60%) were not aware that they could opt into the screening service once over 70.

Conclusions:

Despite the belief that most older women are felt to be less breast aware than younger most of our patients routinely examined themselves and identified the pathology, before promptly seeking medical advice (70% within weeks). This is the case despite most women having no knowledge of other signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Our cohort have also shown that they are keen to continue screening over the age of 70 if it was routinely offered.

Citation Format: Murray J, Smith L, Lannigan A. Breast cancer presentation in the over 70s. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-17.