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A research programme of multi-centre clinical trials led by Professor Suzanne Hagen has established Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) as an effective treatment for women with prolapse. Hagen's team has also successfully developed a Prolapse Symptom Scale and further tested a Prolapse Staging System to improve outcome measurement for women's health physiotherapists in the UK (20% and 15% clinical uptake respectively). The research has informed local, national and international guidelines and changed practice in 48% of UK physiotherapists. The research has also raised awareness of PFMT treatment for prolapse, with 70% of UK physiotherapists reporting an increase in prolapse referrals.
A quiet technology revolution in the UK has been changing the way that police officers on the beat and hospital nurses access and record information, using handheld electronic notebooks that bring large time and cost savings. This revolution began as a University of Glasgow research programme and led to the creation of a successful spin-out company, Kelvin Connect. Acquired in 2011 by the UK's largest provider of communications for emergency services, Kelvin Connect has grown to 30 staff. Its Pronto systems are now in use by 10% of UK police forces and nursing staff in several UK hospitals.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the most commonly used medical tests which assist in diagnosing heart disorders worldwide. However, diagnosis relies on accurate interpretation of ECG recordings. Studies by University of Glasgow researchers have led to changes to international guidelines for ECG-based diagnosis of a heart attack (myocardial infarction; MI) and have led to significant refinements to the automated ECG analysis software called the `Glasgow Program'. Commercialisation of the Program since 2008 has resulted in its incorporation into some of the market-leading medical devices, with approval of the Glasgow Program by the FDA and more than 40,000 devices sold worldwide, potentially aiding millions of patients around the world. The Program assists hospital doctors, family practitioners and others such as first responding emergency services, e.g. ambulance and fire services, with the reliable interpretation of ECGs, enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with a variety of heart problems.
University of Glasgow research on service design, delivery, and performance in healthcare settings shaped strategies for integrating health and social care organisations in the, then newly formed, East Glasgow Community Health Care Partnership resulting in changes to the organisational development and partnership working practices. Additionally, the research contributed to intelligence and improved practices for ensuring patient safety in Lancaster Royal Infirmary. Through a series of workshops, targeted research communication and collaborative working on strategic planning, the research on service delivery and resilience in healthcare settings contributed to, and shaped developments of, Emergency Guidance and Business Continuity Planning prepared by NHS Scotland, the Scottish Government and NHS 24.
Around the world policy initiatives have aimed to increase the engagement of clinicians in the management of health services and research has shown that this contributes to improved patient healthcare. Research led by Professor Ian Kirkpatrick at Leeds University Business School (LUBS) has identified obstacles to this engagement and proposed ways to overcome them. The findings have been distilled into training and educational material which has been delivered to National Health Service (NHS) staff and guidance which has been used by NHS organisations to improve practice. Collectively, this work has contributed to improved and more efficient patient healthcare in several NHS trusts.
Research at Hull into hypersensitivity of the airways has provided novel insights into the epidemiology and causes of cough, and its burden on patients. This was achieved by the development of novel methodologies that allow the rigorous and objective testing of new and existing drugs. Patients benefit through the online provision of a diagnostic tool, and Proctor & Gamble have successfully exploited the cloned cell receptors in their drug development programme resulting in a new range of pharmaceuticals for cough. The work has underpinned the standardisation of cough challenge methodology through incorporation in national and international healthcare guidelines leading to a widespread improvement in patient treatment.
Approximately 152,000 strokes and 49,000 stroke-related deaths occur in the UK every year; of these, 85% are caused by blockage of a blood vessel in the brain (acute ischaemic stroke). The economic burden of stroke in the UK is estimated at £3.75bn with hospital inpatient care accounting for 82% this cost. Since the 1990s advances in thrombolytic treatments (which dissolve blood clots) have limited the extent of damage and subsequent impairment; however their use has been restricted due to ambiguity between stroke onset and stroke symptom presentation. University of Glasgow research has challenged the restrictions associated with thrombolysis treatment which has significantly influenced the wider use and applicability of thrombolytic treatment. This research has influenced new guideline recommendations and emergency stroke care patterns, through the implementation of dedicated acute stroke centres, and contributed to the on-going improvement in stroke survival rates.
Infantile nystagmus (IN), previously known as congenital nystagmus, is a condition that impairs vision by causing continual and involuntary oscillatory movements of the eyes. IN begins in infancy and is a lifelong disorder, affecting over 88,000 people in the UK. Leicester is the leading UK centre for research into the underlying mechanisms and treatment of IN: discovering the genetic mutations behind some of the common forms of nystagmus; pioneering early diagnosis of IN; and conducting randomised clinical trials into drug treatments and other therapies. The centre provides advanced scientific and medical knowledge, and support and advice to sufferers of this physically and psychologically debilitating condition. The work has resulted in new methods of diagnosis which are more comfortable and convenient for patients and enable cost-savings for healthcare providers; and has led to the testing and subsequent prescription of pharmacological treatments which offer patients improvements in quality of life.
Bowel cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. University of Glasgow researchers have established Xeloda (an oral 5-fluorouracil precursor) and XELOX (a chemotherapeutic regimen combining Xeloda with oxaliplatin) as highly effective, targeted therapies for patients with bowel cancer. Since 2008, European regulatory approval of these therapies has been incorporated into major international clinical guidelines. The research has transformed patient care by improving the treatment experience, with more convenient dosing schedules and fewer side effects compared with previous chemotherapy procedures. Xeloda and XELOX have transformed chemotherapy for bowel cancer and decreased therapeutic costs, potentially saving around £4,762 (Xeloda) and £947 (XELOX) per patient for the NHS.