This week we have attended 2 new clinical meetings with a view to supporting them with literature searches etc. This is an increasing aspect of our work and one we are happy to expand. Consequently the blog is a little short on content this week!
Things in the news
Today in the Lancet "Effect of smoke-free legislation on perinatal and child health: a systematic review and meta-analysis"
Background
Smoke-free legislation has the potential to reduce the substantive disease burden associated with second-hand smoke exposure, particularly in children. We investigated the effect of smoke-free legislation on perinatal and child health.Methods
We searched 14 online databases from January, 1975 to May, 2013, with no language restrictions, for published studies, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for unpublished studies. Citations and reference lists of articles of interest were screened and an international expert panel was contacted to identify additional studies. We included studies undertaken with designs approved by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care that reported associations between smoking bans in workplaces, public places, or both, and one or more predefined early-life health indicator. The primary outcomes were preterm birth, low birthweight, and hospital attendances for asthma. Effect estimates were pooled with random-effects meta-analysis. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42013003522.
Findings
We identified 11 eligible studies (published 2008—13), involving more than 2·5 million births and 247 168 asthma exacerbations. All studies used interrupted time-series designs. Five North American studies described local bans and six European studies described national bans. Risk of bias was high for one study, moderate for six studies, and low for four studies. Smoke-free legislation was associated with reductions in preterm birth (four studies, 1 366 862 individuals; −10·4% [95% CI −18·8 to −2·0]; p=0·016) and hospital attendances for asthma (three studies, 225 753 events: −10·1% [95% CI −15·2 to −5·0]; p=0·0001). No significant effect on low birthweight was identified (six studies, >1·9 million individuals: −1·7% [95% CI −5·1 to 1·6]; p=0·31).
Interpretation
Smoke-free legislation is associated with substantial reductions in preterm births and hospital attendance for asthma. Together with the health benefits in adults, this study provides strong support for WHO recommendations to create smoke-free environments
Things about job satisfaction?
A bit of fun or serious statistics - you decide - but this week saw the release of figures showing the relationship between different jobs and levels of life satisfaction. I've extracted some here with their ranking:(1) Clergy
(2) Chief executives and senior officials
(7) Medical practitioners
(12) Physiotherapists
(16) Therapy professionals
(28) Midwives
(29) Pharmacists
(31) Dental practitioners
(41) Records clerks and assistants
(43) Librarians
(57) Health professionals
(65) Nurses
(84) Health associate professionals
(100) Medical radiographers
(101) Medical secretaries
(116) Receptionists
(119) Psychologists
(137) Medical and dental technicians
(153) Occupational therapists
(162) Paramedics
(175) Social workers
(177) Laboratory technicians
(198) Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
(274) Publicans and managers of licensed premises
Things about Mothering Sunday
Coming up this Sunday but do you know its origins?Mums are traditionally given flowers on Mothering Sunday which is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it's often called Mothers' Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name.
Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or 'mother' church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or cathedral of the area.
Inevitably the return to the 'mother' church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.) [If only! Mine or at least their clutter seems a permanent fixtures ~ Gill] And most historians think that it was the return to the 'Mother' church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.
As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift. (Source)
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