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Objectives: The fundamental role of medical education is the transformation of students to doctors, through a process of education and professional identity formation (PIF), which can be informed by several educational, behavioural and emotional factors. PIF has been deemed to be of equal importance to the acquisition of clinical knowledge and skills and includes constructs such as professionalism, leadership and resilience. We aimed to assess p rofessional i dentity formation, professiona l ism, l eadership a nd r esilience (PILLAR) in the junior years of medical school in the 2020/2021 academic year and illustrate the potential role of quantitative assessment to demonstrate progression in these areas. In this research, we provide the methods and baseline results for the PILLAR study. Methods: We implemented a compulsory assessment in pre-clinical years of graduate entry and direct entry medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland. Validated scales were used to assess students' PILLAR. Descriptive and univariable statistical techniques were used to compare student scores between respective years. Results: A total of 1311 students (92% response rate) provided their consent for research. For the psychometric scales, there were no evident trends among the years on these assessment measures. Results indicated significant differences in all measures, however, these did not correspond to ascending years of seniority. Conclusion: The PILLAR methodology provides important information on the challenges of quantitatively assessing medical students in the four key areas of PIF, professionalism, leadership, and resilience. Our cross-sectional results point to cohort effects, without the expected progression per year in the cross-sectional data, or suggest that the chosen quantitative measures may be problematic for these constructs in pre-clinical students. Therefore, while we believe that PILLAR has potential as a progress test for these constructs, this will only truly be elucidated by repeated measures of each cohort over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the impact of cognitive impairment poststroke on outcomes at 5 years.Methods: Five-year follow-up of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) prospective cohort. Two hundred twenty-six ischemic stroke survivors completed Montreal Cognitive Assessments at 6 months poststroke. Outcomes at 5 years included independence in activities of daily living, receipt of informal care, quality of life, and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence interval [CI]) and β coefficients (95% CI) are reported.Results: One hundred one stroke survivors were followed up at 5 years. Cognitive impairment at 6 months was independently associated with worse quality of life (B [95% CI]: -0.595 [-0.943 to -0.248]), lower levels of independence (B [95% CI]: -3.605 [-5.705 to -1.505]), increased likelihood of receiving informal care (OR [95% CI]: 6.41 [1.50-27.32]), and increased likelihood of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI]: 4.60 [1.22-17.40]). Conclusion: Cognitive impairment poststroke is associated with a range of worse outcomes. More effective interventions are needed to improve outcomes for this vulnerable group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects 25% of the general population, occurring 2 times more often in females compared with males. Taping is a valuable component of the management plan for altering lower limb biomechanics and providing pain relief; however, the effects of alternative taping techniques, such as Mulligan knee taping, appear yet to be researched. Purpose: To determine whether the Mulligan knee taping technique altered levels of perceived knee pain and lower limb biomechanics during a single-legged squat (SLSq) in adult females with PFP. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 20 female patients with PFP, aged 18 to 35 years, participated in this study. Participants performed 3 to 5 SLSq on their most symptomatic limb during a taped (Mulligan knee taping technique) and nontaped (control) condition. During the eccentric phase of the SLSq, the 3-dimensional kinematics (250 Hz) of the knee and hip and the ground-reaction forces (1000 Hz) and muscle activation patterns (1000 Hz) of the gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis oblique were measured. Participants’ perceived maximum knee pain was also recorded after the completion of each squat. Results: Between-condition differences were found for hip kinematics and gluteus medius activation but not for kinetics or vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis muscle activity (timing and activation). Compared with the nontaped condition, the Mulligan knee taping technique significantly (P = .001) reduced perceived pain during the SLSq (mean ± SD: 2.29 ± 1.79 and 1.29 ± 1.28, respectively). In the taped condition compared with the control, the onset timing of the gluteus medius occurred significantly earlier (120.6 ± 113.0 and 156.6 ± 91.6 ms, respectively; P = .023) and peak hip internal rotation was significantly reduced (6.38° ± 7.31° and 8.34° ± 7.92°, respectively; P = .002). Conclusion: The Mulligan knee taping technique successfully reduced knee pain in participants with PFP. This is the first study to establish a link between Mulligan knee taping and the reduction of PFP in conjunction with decreased hip internal rotation and earlier activation of gluteus medius. Clinical Relevance: The Mulligan knee taping technique may benefit the clinical environment by providing an alternative evidence-based treatment plan for PFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Informal caregivers are vital to the long-term care and rehabilitation of stroke survivors worldwide. However, caregiving has been associated with negative psychological outcomes such as anxiety and depression, which leads to concerns about caregiver as well as stroke survivor well-being. Furthermore, caregivers may not receive the support and service provision they require from the hospitals and community. Aims This study examines caregiver psychological well-being and satisfaction with service provision in the context of stroke. Methods Caregiver data were collected as part of the ASPIRE- S study, a prospective study of secondary prevention and rehabilitation which assessed stroke patients and their carers at six-months post stroke. Carer assessment included measurement of demographics, satisfaction with care ( UK Healthcare Commission National Patient Survey of Stroke Care), psychological distress ( Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and vulnerability ( Vulnerable Elders Scale). Logistic regression analyses and chi-squared tests were performed using stata version 12. Results Analyses from 162 carers showed substantial levels of dissatisfaction (37·9%) with community and hospital services, as well as notable levels of anxiety (31·3%) and depressive symptoms (18·8%) among caregivers. Caregiver anxiety was predicted by stroke survivor anxiety ( OR = 3·47, 95% CI 1·35-8·93), depression ( OR = 5·17, 95% CI 1·83-14·58), and stroke survivor cognitive impairment ( OR 2·35, 95% CI 1·00-5·31). Caregiver depression was predicted by stroke survivor anxiety ( OR = 4·41, 95% CI 1·53-12·72) and stroke survivor depression ( OR = 6·91, 95% CI 2·26-21·17). Conclusion Findings indicate that caregiver and stroke survivor well-being are interdependent. Thus, early interventions, including increased training and support programs that include caregivers, are likely to reduce the risk of negative emotional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inability to recognize stroke warning signs and delay in seeking medical attention for recognized symptoms contribute to treatment delay, thus limiting the potential for intervention and impacting negatively on potential stroke outcome. Aim To examine knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in the adult population in Ireland. Methods In 2009, 1000 members of the general public were interviewed by telephone using quota-based population sampling of adults (≥18 years). Information was gathered using the Stroke Awareness Questionnaire ( SAQ). Results 71% of participants could correctly list two or more risk factors for stroke, typically generic lifestyle risk factors. Two-thirds could not identify two warning signs for stroke. While 31% could identify two or more stroke warning signs, there was no consistency in warning signs identified. Less than 50% stated they would call an ambulance if having a stroke. Overall, there were significant gaps in knowledge, with poorest levels evident in those aged ≥65 years. Conclusions Survey findings provide first evidence on levels of knowledge of stroke risk factors and warning signs in the Irish adult population. Awareness of stroke warning signs was poor, as was awareness of the need to call emergency services and the potential for acute stroke intervention. These factors contribute to delay in seeking medical attention following stroke, with resulting implications for stroke outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response by A. Hickey and colleagues to a letter to the editor about their article "The effect of the Mulligan knee taping technique on patellofemoral pain and lower limb biomechanics," published in a previous issue is presented.