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Introduction Management of coronary heart disease (CHD), a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the UK, in primary care, remains sub-optimal. This work aimed to: evaluate impact of a community pharmacy-led intervention on appropriateness of treatment and quality of life of CHD patients; describe opinions and experiences of community pharmacists and GPs and use management of change literature as an explanatory framework for the findings. Methods The thesis comprises: two literature reviews (pharmacy-led interventions for CHD and NHS-based studies using change theories); an RCT evaluating the service; questionnaire surveys and qualitative interviews with community pharmacists and GPs, and comparison of a new model of change with two change theories. Results Review of pharmacy interventions revealed only small-scale studies demonstrating benefit for CHD patients. The change review revealed use of change management theories to implement change and as explanatory frameworks for change initiatives, in the NHS, but not in the pharmacy setting. The RCT recruited 1493 patients (980 intervention, 513 control), 70 pharmacies (102 pharmacists) and 48 practices (208 GPs). No significant differences were found in primary outcomes (appropriateness of treatment or quality of life). Questionnaires revealed positive attitudes to the service but need for pharmacist access to patient records and improved GP/community pharmacist relationships. Qualitative interviews indicated more divergent views. Attitudes were influenced by understanding and previous experience of medicines management, change drivers and implementation processes. Themes conceptualised into a ‘change readiness’ model, had similarities with Lewin’s planned change approach and Pettigrew’s receptivity model. All three models identified areas of sub-optimal intervention implementation and delivery. The new service did not improve appropriateness of treatment or quality of life because it was implemented and delivered sub-optimally. There is a need for greater use of an evidence based systematic approach to introduce new services, but research is required to confirm this approach would confer the hypothesised benefits.

The existence of a trauma induced secondary cardiac injury (TISCI) remains in doubt. The risk factors and pathological processes that lead to its development are not known, whilst the effects of TISCI on injured patient outcome are uncertain. Concurrently, the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a trauma population and its influence on mortality are inconclusive. The aim of this research project was to address these specific areas of uncertainty. Critically injured patients (n=135) were retrospectively investigated for the incidence and nature of adverse cardiac events (ACEs), and levels of the cardiac specific biomarkers Troponin I, B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Heart-type Fatty Acid Binding Protein were measured. Biomarkers and cardiac events were evaluated against outcome. Thereafter, the relationship of pro-inflammatory cytokines with TISCI was explored. A prospective cohort study of 199 trauma patients followed, to confirm the existence of TISCI and describe its clinical features, risk factors and outcomes. Finally, coronary artery calcium, as a marker of CHD, was evaluated on 432 CT scans of the chest of trauma patients aged 45 years or over, and its association with survival after injury was established. ACEs and early biomarker rises occurred in trauma patients and both were unrelated to the severity of chest injury. Each was associated with higher mortality, and confirmed the existence of TISCI. Risk factors for the development of the condition included increasing age, worsening tissue injury and shock. A relationship with cytokines was demonstrated, and implicated acute inflammation in the pathogenesis of TISCI. Calcification on CT scans revealed the incidence of CHD in an injured cohort approached 70%, although its presence did not impact survival. There exists a trauma induced secondary cardiac injury which was related to poorer outcome. The condition was associated with inflammation. CHD was widespread in older trauma patients but was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-205). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-130). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.