To see if patient satisfaction with psychotropics (PSP) could be used as a patient-oriented outcome variable in the evaluation of PSP drugs in clinical epidemiological studies, relationships between PSP, clinical status, QoL, compliance and the type of antipsychotic were analyzed. Elements of validation of PSP were also assessed.

In a 6-month prospective study, 933 schizophrenic outpatients with initiation or change to their antipsychotic treatment were enrolled. Psychiatrists completed five CGI-SCH scales (positive, negative, cognitive, depressive and global), hospitalization, compliance, and prescription variables. Patients completed PSP, EuroQoL scales, sexual function and compliance variables.

A satisfactory structural equation model was obtained showing significant relationships PSP/compliance (coef. = 0.16), QoL/PSP (coef. = 0.37), clinical status/QoL (coef. = 0.61), clinical status/compliance (coef. = 0.09). Patients receiving olanzapine were more satisfied than patients receiving other atypicals (coef. =0 12) and had better clinical status than patients treated with typicals (coef. = 0.08). Evolution of PSP was related to clinical status, QoL, and continuation of treatment (all P < 001). Sensitivity to change of PSP was moderate (effect size = 0.2).

PSP produced consistent results in relation to validated outcome variables. However, a single-item measure was not sufficiently sensitive to change. Multi-item questionnaires evaluating different dimensions are needed.

Intranasal steroid sprays are fundamental in the medical management of inflammatory rhinological conditions. Side effects are common, but these may be related to the method of application rather than the medication itself.

A survey was distributed to patients using intranasal steroid sprays at the ENT out-patient clinic at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary over three months. This evaluated the spray technique used, side effects and compliance.

Of 103 patients, 22 patients (21.4 per cent) reported side effects, including nasal irritation and epistaxis. Of the 20 patients with epistaxis, 80 per cent used an ipsilateral hand technique (p = 0.01). Thirty patients demonstrated poor compliance because of lack of symptom improvement or side effects. Seventy-seven per cent of this group used the ipsilateral hand technique.

Patients who used their ipsilateral hand to apply the intranasal steroid spray were more likely to develop epistaxis and have poor compliance than those who used other techniques. Patients who struggle with compliance because of side effects should avoid this method of intranasal steroid application.

The research about follow-up patterns of women attending high-risk breast-cancer clinics is sparse. This study sought to profile daughters of breast-cancer patients who are likely to return versus those unlikely to return for follow-up care in a high-risk clinic.

Our investigation included 131 patients attending the UCLA Revlon Breast Center High Risk Clinic. Predictor variables included age, computed breast-cancer risk, participants' perceived personal risk, clinically significant depressive symptomatology (CES–D score ≥ 16), current level of anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), and survival status of participants' mothers (survived or passed away from breast cancer).

A greater likelihood of reattendance was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.07, p = 0.004), computed breast-cancer risk (AOR = 1.10, p = 0.017), absence of depressive symptomatology (AOR = 0.25, p = 0.009), past psychiatric diagnosis (AOR = 3.14, p = 0.029), and maternal loss to breast cancer (AOR = 2.59, p = 0.034). Also, an interaction was found between mother's survival and perceived risk (p = 0.019), such that reattendance was associated with higher perceived risk among participants whose mothers survived (AOR = 1.04, p = 0.002), but not those whose mothers died (AOR = 0.99, p = 0.685). Furthermore, a nonlinear inverted “U” relationship was observed between state anxiety and reattendance (p = 0.037); participants with moderate anxiety were more likely to reattend than those with low or high anxiety levels.

Demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors were found to be independently associated with reattendance to a high-risk breast-cancer clinic. Explication of the profiles of women who may or may not reattend may serve to inform the development and implementation of interventions to increase the likelihood of follow-up care.

Adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea can be a therapeutic surgical challenge if other treatments fail or are rejected. We report the outcomes of a series of 17 patients for whom standard device-based treatments failed or could not be used. These patients were considered unsuitable for a lesser operation and therefore underwent multilevel upper airway reconstruction.

Data from 17 consecutive patients were collected prospectively. This included pre- and post-surgery findings for clinical assessments, body mass index, sleep questionnaires, and laboratory polysomnograms. Patients underwent a combination of modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, transpalatal advancement and various tongue reduction procedures.

Analyses revealed statistically and clinically significant reductions in: mean apnoea-hypopnoea index scores (from 36.3 pre-operatively to 14.5 post-operatively, p < 0.001), mean Epworth sleepiness scale scores (from 11.3 to 5.3, p < 0.001) and mean snoring severity scores (from 6.9 to 1.3, p < 0.001). Body mass index remained unchanged.

Multilevel upper airway reconstructive surgery was associated with large reductions in both objective and patient-centred subjective measures of obstructive sleep apnoea severity.

Patient adherence with emergency department (ED) referral has not been well studied in Canada, and there are no Canadian studies assessing patient follow-up for evaluation of cardiovascular disease. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion of patients who adhered with an ED referral to a cardiac evaluation and risk assessment (CERA) clinic in Calgary, Alta. Secondary objectives included determining the final diagnoses and outcomes for patients attending CERA appointments. We also assessed the association between adherence and various system and patient factors.

A retrospective review of 385 patients who were referred to CERA from EDs in the study region between June 1, 2004, and Apr. 7, 2005, was performed. Hospital charts and the database at the medical examiner's office were reviewed for patients who did not attend their CERA appointment.

The majority of patients (345/385, 89.6%) followed through with their referral to CERA. No deaths were identified from hospital records or from the medical examiner's office for nonadherent patients. Of the 315 patients who completed their follow-up, 225 (71.4%) were diagnosed with noncardiac or low-risk cardiac disease, whereas 90 (28.6%) were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The referring hospital was the only variable significantly associated with adherence with the referral (p = 0.004).

The great majority of patients referred to CERA from Calgary EDs were adherent with the referral. Future studies may identify factors impairing adherence that are amenable to intervention. Implementation of a referral model similar to the one used by CERA may improve adherence with attendance at other outpatient clinics.