B Olowokure

..Further research is required to determine whether appointment times for cervical screening can be tailored to meet these expressed needs, and the impact this has on service provision and uptake...

..To determine the links between national newspaper coverage of mumps after a press release and increased reports of clinical mumps cases...

..Impact of an infectious disease on public health diagnostic health services may be affected by the volume of media coverage which can amplify risk perception and increase demand for services...

..This report describes the frequency, nature and geographical location of acute chemical incidents of potential international concern from August 2002 to December 2003...

..To examine the incidence of meningococcal disease in a defined geographic area and relate this to rural/urban residence and material deprivation...

..We identified a significant increase in respiratory consultations in the exposed population following erection of the soil mound. Limitations associated with this type of study should be considered when interpreting the results...

..030) than late respondents. These results suggest that consideration should be given to factors other than sociodemographic differences when examining response patterns to postal surveys...

..Preventive measures together with earlier diagnostic, treatment, and referral procedures are required to reduce morbidity...

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..The results of this paper can be used to inform and influence public health policy and as evidence of a need to provide additional education and training to improve pandemic preparedness among GPs, in particular those in non-urban areas...

..0001). Bivariate analysis suggests that responses were age related, with older women (> or =45 years) experiencing poorer information provision. The issues highlighted by this study deserve further investigation in other areas...

..This study examines the distribution of selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in older people (aged >/=45 years) attending genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the West Midlands, UK...

..5%, P <0.00001). In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that healthcare professionals' knowledge of control methods for head lice varies widely and is sub-optimal and may contribute to ineffective head lice control...

..Weekly school absenteeism surveillance would not have detected pandemic influenza A(H1N1) earlier but daily absenteeism data and the development of baselines could improve the timeliness of the system...

..To describe the multidisciplinary investigation and management of a rapidly increasing number of cases of Legionnaires' disease in the North Shropshire area, UK during August 2006...

..This paper describes the UK Health Protection Agency's follow-up and assessment of individuals resident overseas who were potentially exposed to (210)Po...

..This study illustrates the continuing importance of cooling towers as a source of Legionnaires' disease and the utility of obtaining and comparing both clinical and environmental samples...

..A number of these lessons have a generic applicability to the handling of public health incidents...

..To determine knowledge of sexually transmitted chlamydia infection among university undergraduates following the introduction of a National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP)...

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..Our results may have implications for current and future vaccine strategies...

..To examine the relationship between social deprivation and risk of hospital admission for respiratory infection...

..Every winter, hospitals in the UK and other developed countries experience a surge in respiratory admissions. Ecological studies suggest that social circumstances may be an important determinant...

..91, 95% CI 2.69-12.29). Further research is required to determine the contribution of healthcare providers and parents to this health differential...

..1% in 1994 (p=ns) to 6.8% in 2000 (p<0.001). This study suggests underlying ethnic inequalities in MMR vaccine uptake and differential response to adverse vaccine publicity...

..Among 1,966 calls, fever was recorded in 19% (n = 378); 18 persons at high risk for SARS were identified. In a cross-sectional telephone survey, 95% (n = 1,060) of households knew about the campaign and 7 households reported fever...

..The World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional Office identified 40 rumors; 9 were verified to be true. Rumor surveillance informed immediate public health action and prevented unnecessary and costly responses...

..In the base case, vaccination was cost saving (pounds 12/vaccinee). In the most pessimistic scenario it cost pounds 405/life-year gained. Effective implementation should be a priority...

..Negative information experiences may influence attendance...