OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of laparoscopic or open colectomy with fast track or standard perioperative care on patient's immune status and stress response after surgery. METHODS Patients with nonmetastasized colon cancer were randomized to laparoscopic or open colectomy with fast track or standard care. Blood samples were taken preoperatively (baseline), and 1, 2, 24, and 72 hours after...

BACKGROUND Over recent years, the number of compulsory admissions in many countries has increased, probably as a result of the shift from inpatient to outpatient mental health care. This might be mitigated by formal or collaborative relationships between services. METHODS In a retrospective record linkage study, we compared two neighboring districts, varying in level of service integration. T...

in the community, third-sector and statutory organisations, can all contribute. For general practice and primary care this will certainly require different training and more resources. The experience for all could be quite different: an individual with ‘stress’ booking straight into their choice of groups run by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services; a patient with psychos...

In a trial of 360 patients with hernia or varicose veins, day care surgery provided an economic alternative to the provision of surgical aftercare either in the surgical wards of a district hospital or in a convalescent hospital. There was only slightly more work for general practitioners. Most of the additional work for the community services was carried out by district nurses, with an average...

Background Persons with alcohol use disorders benefit from continuing care, but few receive aftercare or ongoing monitoring after completing an episode of addiction treatment. A recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that a smartphone intervention provided effective continuing care for alcohol use disorders. The Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (A-CHESS),...

BACKGROUND The discharge process from hospital to home for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) is often complex, and most are in need of tailored and coordinated community services at home. One solution is to discharge patients to inpatient short-stay community residential aftercare (CRA). The aim of this study was to explore how patients with SMI experience a stay in CRA established in a...

OBJECTIVE To assess a comprehensive multicomponent intervention against a low intensity intervention for promoting physical activity in chronic low back pain patients. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. SETTING Inpatient rehabilitation and aftercare. SUBJECTS A total of 412 patients with chronic low back pain. INTERVENTIONS A multicomponent intervention (Movement Coaching) comprising o...