Health Boards In Scotland Research Articles

The benefits of using a first generation SEM scanner versus an equipment selection pathway in preventing HAPUs.

Several studies have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes in pressure ulcer prevention using the SEM scanner, but none have compared it with other methods. In one of Scotland's health boards, 'hot spot' wards had been unable to reduce the number of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) after several years of focused improvement work. In addition, other wards showed high use of dynamic therapy systems with associated costs. This review compares the use of a first generation SEM scanner versus a mattress and equipment selection pathway over a 6-week period. The findings show that the SEM scanner wards had zero HAPU while the equipment pathway wards developed a total of 4 HAPU. The two SEM scanner wards showed a 11% and 33% reduction in dynamic therapy use, while the pathway wards showed an average 40% increase. Consideration should be given to using SEM scanners to support staff decision-making to reduce HAPU development and dynamic therapy usage.

P–466 Fertility preservation for medical reasons: International and intra-national variation in provision and the gap between guideline and practice

Abstract Study question What is the gap between guidance and practice of fertility preservation between countries and within countries with common clinical guidelines? Summary answer Substantial variation in provision of FP exists between countries and within individual countries with gaps between national and international guidelines and policies governing provision. What is known already A robust guideline on female FP was published by ESHRE in 2020, advising the application of FP in cancer and other conditions where treatment with cytotoxic agents or surgery will compromise reproductive function. Across Europe, in 13 countries (43.3%) FP is funded for all available FP procedures, in 13 countries (43.3%) no FP funding is available, and in 4 countries (13.3%) at least one FP option is funded. Variation in state provision of fertility care in different countries in Europe was highlighted in the ESHRE guidance. It did not specifically examine individual national policies or whether a national policy exists. Study design, size, duration Five clinicians performing FP in Europe were contacted to collect current FP provision data. Policies retrieved from the internet were not included as they could not be verified. Finally, FP funding policies for 135 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England, 14 Health Boards in Scotland, 7 Health Boards in Wales and 5 Trusts in Northern Ireland and 17 policies for regional heath services in Spain were included were included. Participants/materials, setting, methods Policies on FP for the UK and Spain were reviewed (n = 178), including policies from the 161 regions from the four nations of the UK and policies of 17 autonomous bodies in Spain. Information on funded procedures, type of conditions included for funding and duration of storage were extracted. The provision of FP was compared to the current European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Main results and the role of chance In England, 127/128 (99%) CCGs fund cryopreservation of oocytes, sperm and embryos. Cancer is the exclusive indication in 11%. Provision of FP for transgender individuals is specified in 28%, ovarian tissue cryopreservation is funded in 8% and storage funding varies from five to ten years. In Scotland, a national policy is applied. All 14 health boards equitably fund cryopreservation of oocytes, sperm, embryos and ovarian and testicular tissue. Funding is provided for cancer, medical conditions which may impair fertility and transgender individuals. Storage funding is based on a five yearly review until age 43 in women and 60 in men. In Wales and Northern Ireland, cryopreservation of oocytes, sperm and embryos is funded for people undergoing medical or surgical treatment that is likely to make them infertile, provision for transgender individuals is not specified and ovarian tissue cryopreservation is not funded. In Spain, all 17 Health Services fund cryopreservation of oocytes, sperm and embryos for patients whose fertility is at risk due to gonadotoxic treatments or other pathological processes. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is funded in 94%, provision for transgender individuals is specified in 12%, and storage funding is available until the age of 50 in women and 55 in men. Limitations, reasons for caution Inability to retrieve fertility preservation policies for every country in Europe is a limitation, for which ongoing collaboration is sought. The variable nature of FP provision is likely to be multi-factorial; a lag in publication of guidelines and updated policies, ethical considerations and resource distribution may govern health policies. Wider implications of the findings: The study highlights that provision of FP not only varies between countries but is also inconsistent within the same country. It is clear that there is a gap between ideal, evidence-based practice and actual provision. Variation in policies limits uniform access to care for patients. Trial registration number Not applicable.

Cycling injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention during the first COVID-19 lockdown period: A multi-centre SCottish Orthopaedic Research collaborativE (SCORE) study

IntroductionThe COVID-19 lockdown resulted in decreased vehicle use and an increased uptake in cycling. This study investigated the trends in cycling-related injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention during the COVID-19 lockdown period compared with similar time periods in 2018 and 2019. MethodsData were collected prospectively for patients in 2020 and collected retrospectively for 2019 and 2018, from hospitals within four NHS Scotland Health Boards encompassing three major trauma centres. All patients who sustained an injury as a result of cycling requiring orthopaedic intervention were included. Patient age, sex, mechanism of injury, diagnosis and treatment outcome from electronic patient records. ResultsNumber of injuries requiring surgery 2020: 77 (mean age/years – 42.7); 2019: 47 (mean age/years - 42.7); 2018: 32 (mean age/years – 31.3). Overall incidence of cycling injuries 2020: 6.7%; 2019: 3.0%; 2018: 2.1%. Commonest mechanism of injury: fall from bike 2020 n = 54 (70.1%); 2019 n = 41 (65.1%); 2018 n = 25 (67.6%). Commonest injury type: fracture 2020 n = 68 (79.1%); 2019 n = 33 (70.2%); 2018 n = 20 (62.5%). Commonest areas affected: Upper extremity: 2020 n = 45 (58.5%); 2019 n = 25 (53.2%); 2018 n = 25 (78.1%). Lower extremity: 2020 n = 23 (29.9%); 2019 n = 14 (29.7%); 2018 n = 7 (21.8%). ConclusionA significant increase in the number of cycling related injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention, a greater proportion of female cyclists and an older mean age of patients affected was observed during the COVID-19 lockdown period compared with previous years. The most common types of injury were fractures followed by lacerations and fracture-dislocations. The upper extremity was the commonest area affected.

A national survey of community rehabilitation service provision for people with long Covid in Scotland

Background: Over 50 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed globally as of November 2020. Evidence is rapidly emerging on the epidemiology of COVID-19, and its impact on individuals and potential burden on health services and society. Between 10–35% of people with COVID-19 may experience post-acute long Covid. This currently equates to between 8,129 and 28,453 people in Scotland. Some of these people will require rehabilitation to support their recovery. Currently, we do not know how to optimally configure community rehabilitation services for people with long Covid. Methods: This national survey aimed to provide a detailed description of current community rehabilitation provision for people with long Covid in Scotland. We developed, piloted, and conducted a national electronic survey of current community rehabilitation service provision for people presenting with long Covid symptomatology. Our sample were the Allied Health Professions Directors of all 14 territorial NHS Health Boards in Scotland. Fixed response and narrative data were analysed descriptively. Results: Responses were received from all respondents (14/14), enabling a national picture to be gained. Almost all Health Boards (13/14) currently deliver rehabilitation for people with long Covid within pre-existing services. Fatigue (11/14) and respiratory conditions (9/14) were the two most common presenting problems of patients. Most long Covid community rehabilitation services are delivered through a combination of face-to-face and digital contact (13/14). Conclusions: Community rehabilitation for people with long Covid is an emerging reality. This survey provides a national picture of current community rehabilitation for people with long Covid. We do not know how community rehabilitation can be optimally delivered for this population. This is vital as community rehabilitation services were already under pressure prior to the emergence of COVID-19. Further research is urgently required to investigate the implementation, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of differing models of community rehabilitation for this patient population.

Perceptions, practices and educational needs of community nurses to manage frailty.

Early intervention on frailty can help prevent or delay functional decline and onset of dependency. Community nurses encounter patients with frailty routinely and have opportunities to influence frailty trajectories for individuals and their carers. This study aimed to understand nurses' perceptions of frailty in a community setting and their needs for education on its assessment and management. Using an exploratory qualitative design we conducted focus groups in one Health Board in Scotland. Thematic content analysis of data was facilitated by NVivo© software. A total of 18 nurses described the meaning of frailty as vulnerability, loss and complex comorbidity and identified processes of caring for people with frailty. They identified existing educational needs necessary to support their current efforts to build capability through existing adversities. Our study indicates that current practice is largely reactive, influenced by professional judgement and intuition, with little systematic frailty-specific screening and assessment.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Serosurveillance in a Patient Population Reveals Differences in Virus Exposure and Antibody-Mediated Immunity According to Host Demography and Healthcare Setting.

Identifying drivers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure and quantifying population immunity is crucial to prepare for future epidemics. We performed a serial cross-sectional serosurvey throughout the first pandemic wave among patients from the largest health board in Scotland. Screening of 7480 patient serum samples showed a weekly seroprevalence ranging from 0.10% to 8.23% in primary and 0.21% to 17.44% in secondary care, respectively. Neutralization assays showed that highly neutralizing antibodies developed in about half of individuals who tested positive with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, mainly among secondary care patients. We estimated the individual probability of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and quantified associated risk factors. We show that secondary care patients, male patients, and 45–64-year-olds exhibit a higher probability of being seropositive. The identification of risk factors and the differences in virus neutralization activity between patient populations provided insights into the patterns of virus exposure during the first pandemic wave and shed light on what to expect in future waves.

Fast-track training of temporary healthcare support workers to supplement hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, which generated concerns that the NHS could be overwhelmed. The predicted increase in the number of patients requiring hospitalisation prompted the need to increase the number of clinical staff working on hospital wards, particularly healthcare support workers (HCSWs), who play a crucial role in addressing the care needs of older people. This article describes how one health board in Scotland trained and redeployed volunteers among its staff to work as temporary HCSWs in its main hospital during the pandemic. A fast-track, one-day training course was delivered in March and April 2020 to 104 staff from various backgrounds - some non-clinical - by a team of volunteer trainers. Staffing during an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, presents significant challenges, but the experience at NHS Borders shows that it is possible to develop a training course rapidly and provide additional band 2 staff to supplement the support workforce in a time of crisis.

A Look at the History of Biosimilar Adoption: Characteristics of Early and Late Adopters of Infliximab and Etanercept Biosimilars in Subregions of England, Scotland and Wales - A Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundRegions within England, Scotland and Wales show variation in rate of adoption of biosimilar infliximab and etanercept.ObjectivesThis study aims to examine how local decisions and practices in regions within England, Scotland and Wales might explain initial variation in market dynamics of biosimilar and originator infliximab and etanercept.MethodsMarket data provided by the National Health Service (NHS) on biosimilar and originator infliximab and etanercept uptake were analysed for the 10 historical regions of England, 14 health boards in Scotland and 7 health boards in Wales (2015–2018). Findings were discussed in ten semi-structured interviews: on a national level with an industry representative (1), on a regional level with NHS employees in England (6), Scotland (1) and Wales (1), and on a local level with a representative of a clinical commissioning group in England (1).ResultsTenders for infliximab and etanercept in England, Scotland and Wales have consistently resulted in a biosimilar as the best value biological. Early and late biosimilar adopters are seen, with overall convergence towards high biosimilar market shares over time. Qualitative results suggest that biosimilar adoption was positively influenced by (a) a price difference between biosimilar and originator product making it worthwhile to switch patients; (b) a good relationship between commissioner and provider in England resulting in gain share agreements; (c) leadership on biosimilars in regional NHS offices in England or Scottish and Welsh health boards; (d) key opinion leaders or leading hospitals that start using biosimilars early and gain experience.ConclusionsThis study has shown that the savings potential drives biosimilar use. Regions with a proactive attitude, good stakeholder relationships, and clinician engagement were identified as early adopters.

A national survey of community rehabilitation service provision for people with long Covid in Scotland.

Background: Over 50 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed globally as of November 2020. Evidence is rapidly emerging on the epidemiology of COVID-19, and its impact on individuals and potential burden on health services and society. Between 10-35% of people with COVID-19 may experience post-acute long Covid. This currently equates to between 8,129 and 28,453 people in Scotland. Some of these people will require rehabilitation to support their recovery. Currently, we do not know how to optimally configure community rehabilitation services for people with long Covid. Methods: This national survey aimed to provide a detailed description of current community rehabilitation provision for people with long Covid in Scotland. We developed, piloted, and conducted a national electronic survey of current community rehabilitation service provision for people presenting with long Covid symptomatology. Our sample were the Allied Health Professions Directors of all 14 territorial NHS Health Boards in Scotland. Fixed response and narrative data were analysed descriptively. Results: Responses were received from all respondents (14/14), enabling a national picture to be gained. Almost all Health Boards (13/14) currently deliver rehabilitation for people with long Covid within pre-existing services. Fatigue (11/14) and respiratory conditions (9/14) were the two most common presenting problems of patients. Most long Covid community rehabilitation services are delivered through a combination of face-to-face and digital contact (13/14). Conclusions: Community rehabilitation for people with long Covid is an emerging reality. This survey provides a national picture of current community rehabilitation for people with long Covid. We do not know how community rehabilitation can be optimally delivered for this population. This is vital as community rehabilitation services were already under pressure prior to the emergence of COVID-19. Further research is urgently required to investigate the implementation, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of differing models of community rehabilitation for this patient population.

Protocol for an implementation study of an evidence-based home cardiac rehabilitation programme for people with heart failure and their caregivers in Scotland (SCOT:REACH-HF)

IntroductionDespite evidence that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential component of care for people with heart failure, uptake is low. A centre-based format is a known barrier, suggesting that home-based...

Toward microelimination of hepatitis C and HIV coinfection in NHS Tayside, Scotland: Real-world outcomes.

Background and aimsNHS Tayside is a health board in Scotland which serves around 400 000 residents. Approximately, 2761 are estimated to be persons who inject drugs (PWID), and therefore at risk of infections such as hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV. There are few studies exploring mechanisms and success of eliminating HCV in HIV co‐infected PWID using real‐world data. This study aims to empirically assess HCV treatment outcomes in people living with HIV (PLHIV) to evaluate progress toward microelimination of HCV in the HIV‐positive population in Tayside.MethodsHCV testing and treatment details for PLHIV stored on clinical databases dating from 2001 were extracted and anonymized. HCV treatment uptake among co‐infected patients eligible for HCV treatment was calculated. Reinfection incidence was calculated in person years. Confidence intervals were calculated assuming Poisson distribution. Caldicott Guardian approval was obtained to access patient data (ref: IGTCAL 5677).ResultsNinety‐six percent of PLHIV were tested for HCV across nine services and aware of their HCV status. From 2001 to 2019, 58 PLHIV were HCV co‐infected. Four left the area and five died prior to HCV treatment. Forty‐nine were eligible for HCV treatment. Thirty were treated with PEGylated interferon (Peg‐IFN); 18 with direct acting antivirals (DAA). One is yet to be treated. Twelve treated with Peg‐IFN did not achieve sustained viral response (SVR12); 10 were retreated, two died prior to re‐treatment. Injecting drug use was the mode of HCV transmission for 39 of 49 patients. Proportion who achieved SVR12 is 75%; 92% if treated with DAAs. Annual proportions of PLHIV treated for HCV increased from 3.57% in the Peg‐IFN era to 66.67% in the DAA era. Reinfection incidence is 0.2 per 100 person years (CI −0.3 to 0.7).ConclusionsNHS Tayside has made progress toward microelimination of HCV among PLHIV. The most common mode of HCV transmission in PLHIV in NHS Tayside is injecting drug use. DAAs increased the proportion of co‐infected PLHIV treated for HCV and produced superior SVR12 results compared to Peg‐IFN.

Emergency admission risk stratification tools in UK primary care: a cross-sectional survey of availability and use.

BackgroundStratifying patient populations by risk of adverse events was believed to support preventive care for those identified, but recent evidence does not support this. Emergency admission risk stratification (EARS) tools have been widely promoted in UK policy and GP contracts.AimTo describe availability and use of EARS tools across the UK, and identify factors perceived to influence implementation.Design and settingCross-sectional survey in UK.MethodOnline survey of 235 organisations responsible for UK primary care: 209 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England; 14 health boards in Scotland; seven health boards in Wales; and five local commissioning groups (LCGs) in Northern Ireland. Analysis results are presented using descriptive statistics for closed questions and by theme for open questions.ResultsResponses were analysed from 171 (72.8%) organisations, of which 148 (86.5%) reported that risk tools were available in their areas. Organisations identified 39 different EARS tools in use. Promotion by NHS commissioners, involvement of clinical leaders, and engagement of practice managers were identified as the most important factors in encouraging use of tools by general practices. High staff workloads and information governance were identified as important barriers. Tools were most frequently used to identify individual patients, but also for service planning. Nearly 40% of areas using EARS tools reported introducing or realigning services as a result, but relatively few reported use for service evaluation.ConclusionEARS tools are widely available across the UK, although there is variation by region. There remains a need to align policy and practice with research evidence.

Pan-Scotland tonsillectomy outcomes: A national cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to assess the current post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and return to theatre rates in Scotland. National cross-sectional study. Tonsillectomy outcomes data were collated for all NHS patients undergoing tonsillectomy in Scotland between 1998-2002 and 2013-2017. Using Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland retrospective data, 30-day re-admission and 30-day return to theatre rates allowed an assessment of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates. Data were validated through comparison with an audit conducted in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde between 2015 and 2016. Tonsillectomy was performed in 27819 patients between 1998 and 2002, and 23184 patients between 2013 and 2017. 30-day re-admission rates increased considerably between the 1998-2002 and 2013-2017 cohorts, from 4.7% to 12.1% in paediatric patients, and 9.8%-19.9% in adult patients. Similarly, 30-day "return to theatre rates" increased between the two cohorts, from 1.2% to 1.7% in paediatric patients, and 3.6%-4.9% in adult patients. Re-admission and return to theatre rates were similar across Health Boards for both adult and paediatric tonsillectomies in each cohort. Current 30-day re-admission and return to theatre rates are significantly higher than the majority of reported series to date. The rising rate of tonsillectomy haemorrhage between cohorts is likely to be multifactorial, possibly reflecting an underestimation of previous rates and the changing profile of the tonsillectomy patient. A detailed audit of current practice is needed to investigate these tonsillectomy outcomes, which are similar across all Health Boards in Scotland. Of most significance are the implications for accurate patient consent and non-elective ENT service provision.

How widely has ANTT been adopted in NHS hospitals and community care organisations in England and Scotland?

To the detriment of patient safety, the important clinical competency of aseptic technique has been notoriously variable in practice, and described ambiguously in the literature, internationally. From a UK perspective, attempts have been made to improve patient safety by reducing variability and improving education and practice through standardisation. The Welsh Government mandated Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) as a specific national standard in 2015. All healthcare organisations in England are required by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to have a single standard aseptic technique, demonstrable by the clinical governance indicators of education, training, competency assessment and compliance audit. In Scotland, an education-based initiative was launched by NHS Education for Scotland in 2012. To review the impact of these and other initiatives on the current status of aseptic technique, all NHS trusts in England and NHS health boards in Scotland were assessed under the Freedom of Information procedure. 93% of NHS trusts in England use a single standard for aseptic technique. In 88% of these trusts the single standard was stipulated as being ANTT. In Scotland, 62% of NHS acute and community care hospitals within health boards use a single standard. In 56% of these, the single standard was ANTT. When including those that use ANTT in combination with other techniques ANTT usage is 73%. These data demonstrate significant progress in standardising aseptic technique education, assessment and governance, and confirms ANTT as the de facto aseptic technique used in NHS trusts in England and health boards in Scotland.

COVID-19 and Hospital Palliative Care – A service evaluation exploring the symptoms and outcomes of 186 patients and the impact of the pandemic on specialist Hospital Palliative Care

Background: Patients hospitalised with COVID-19 have increased morbidity and mortality, which requires extensive involvement of specialist Hospital Palliative Care Teams. Evaluating the response to the surge in demand for effective symptom management can enhance provision of Palliative Care in this patient population. Aim: To characterise the symptom profile, symptom management requirements and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 positive patients referred for Palliative Care, and to contextualise Palliative Care demands from COVID-19 against a ‘typical’ caseload from 2019. Design: Service evaluation based on a retrospective cohort review of patient records. Setting/participants: One large health board in Scotland. Demographic data, patient symptoms, drugs/doses for symptom control, and patient outcomes were captured for all COVID-19 positive patients referred to Hospital Palliative Care Teams between 30th March and 26th April 2020. Results: Our COVID-19 cohort included 186 patients (46% of all referrals). Dyspnoea and agitation were the most prevalent symptoms (median 2 symptoms per patient). 75% of patients were prescribed continuous subcutaneous infusion for symptom control, which was effective in 78.6% of patients. Compared to a ‘typical’ caseload, the COVID-19 cohort were on caseload for less time (median 2 vs 5 days; p < 0.001) and had a higher death rate (80.6% vs 30.3%; p < 0.001). The COVID-19 cohort replaced ‘typical’ caseload; overall numbers of referrals were not increased. Conclusions: Hospitalised COVID-19 positive patients referred for Palliative Care may have a short prognosis, differ from ‘typical’ caseload, and predominantly suffer from dyspnoea and agitation. Such symptoms can be effectively controlled with standard doses of opioids and benzodiazepines.

Predicting Critical Care Needs During a Pandemic

NHS LANARKSHIRE IS THE THIRD LARGEST HEALTH BOARD IN SCOTLAND, serving a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in Lanarkshire. Its 12,000-strong team of staff work in communities...

Quinine exposure and the risk of acute kidney injury: a population-based observational study of older people.

Objectivesto establish and quantify any observable association between the exposure to community prescriptions for quinine and acute kidney injury (AKI) events in a population of older adults.Designtwo observational studies using the same dataset, a retrospective longitudinal cohort study and a self-controlled case series (SCCS).SettingNHS health board in Scotland.Participantsolder adults (60+ years) who received quinine prescriptions in Tayside, Scotland, between January 2004 and December 2015. The first study included 12,744 individuals. The SCCS cohort included 5,907 people with quinine exposure and more than or equal to one AKI event.Main outcome measuredin the first study, multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for AKI comparing between episodes with and without recent quinine exposure after adjustment for demographics, comorbidities and concomitant medications. The SCCS study divided follow-up for each individual into periods ‘on’ and ‘off’ quinine, calculating incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for AKI adjusting for age.Resultsduring the study period, 273,596 prescriptions for quinine were dispensed in Tayside. A total of 13,616 AKI events occurred during follow-up (crude incidence 12.5 per 100 person-years). In the first study, exposure to quinine before an episode of care was significantly associated with an increased probability of AKI (adjusted OR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–1.33). In the SCCS study, exposure to quinine was associated with an increased relative incidence of AKI compared to unexposed periods (IRR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.15–1.26), with the greatest risk observed within 30 days following quinine initiation (IRR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.35–1.61).Conclusioncommunity prescriptions for quinine in an older adult population are associated with an increased risk of AKI.

Scottish Pre-School Vision Screening - First 3 Years of National Data.

Introduction:Pre-school orthoptic vision screening (POVS) was implemented by the Scottish government and is a standardised assessment to promote early detection of visual problems in children. The target conditions are amblyopia, refractive errors and strabismus. We present the preliminary findings for the first three years of the screening program.Methods:The data from POVS was collected retrospectively. The data includes screening years 2013 to 2016 inclusive. Data was collected from each health board in Scotland. We report the coverage, referral rate, true positives and positive predictive values.Results:A total of 167,962 children were due to have vision screening over the 3 screening years included in this paper. This figure does not include the children that opted out of the eye test (mean opt-out rate 1.8%) and children that already attend the hospital eye service (mean already attend rate 3.1%). The POVS program had a mean coverage of 85.5%, ranging from 63.7% to 94.8% between health boards. Over the 3 year screening period, the mean referral rate was found to be 17.9%. The mean true positive rate was 88.9%, and the mean positive predictive value was 86.9%.Conclusion:The Scottish data set on pre-school orthoptic vision screening has shown excellent mean coverage. A consistently high true positive rate over the three screening years demonstrates it is a sensitive screening program, which is essential for the detection of visual problems in children.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Family Nurse Partnership home visiting programme in first time young mothers in Scotland: a protocol for a natural experiment.

IntroductionIndividual, social and economic circumstances faced by young mothers (19 years or under) can challenge a successful start in life for their children. Intervening early might enhance life chances for both mother and child. The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is an intensive nurse-led home visiting programme developed in the US which aims to improve prenatal health behaviours, birth outcomes, child development and health outcomes, and maternal life course. Establishing evidence of effectiveness beyond the original US setting is important to understand where further adaptation is required within a country specific context.ObjectiveThis study will form one strand of the Scottish Government’s plan to evaluate the effectiveness of FNP as compared to usual care for mothers and their children in Scotland and will focus only on outcomes that can be identified using routine administrative data systems.MethodsThis study is a natural experiment with a case-cohort design using linked anonymised routine health, educational and social care data. Cases will be women enrolled as FNP Clients in ten NHS Health Boards in Scotland and Controls will be women who met FNP eligibility criteria but were pregnant at a time when the programme was not recruiting. Outcomes are mapped to the Scottish FNP logic model. All comparative analyses will be pre-specified, conducted on an intention to treat basis and will use multilevel regression models to compare outcomes between groups.DiscussionThe study protocol is based upon the specification of FNP commissioned by the Scottish Government. This study design is novel for the evaluation of the FNP/NFP programmes which are primarily evaluated with an RCT. Outcomes included within the study have been selected on the basis that they are outcomes FNP aims to influence and where there is routine data available to assess the outcome

Readability of statutory letters issued by Forensic Services in NHS Scotland.

Written material provides an important way for services to communicate with patients. Those who require detention under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in Forensic Services within NHS Scotland are usually issued with statutory letters that contain information about their detention. To ensure that letters are readable by patients, templates of such letters were obtained from all health boards in Scotland and analysed using readability indices. Response rate across health boards was 92% (12/13). The results were compared according to readability threshold, types of letters, legal orders and health boards. Between 11.9% and 57.6% of issued letters were found not to be readable. It was also found that there were significant differences in readability across health boards. The study modified the original template of letters, and post-modification readability significantly improved. It may be helpful for patients if NHS Scotland issued such letters with improved readability or introduced a standard template.