Title: For interest.
Sad... For interest, from BMJ email alerts.
BB Jackie Mawson.
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bmj.com: http://bmj.com/
This issue's table of contents:
http://bmj.com/content/vol323/issue7325/
Press Releases for this issue:
http://bmj.com/content/vol323/issue7325/press_release.shtml
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(1) BABIES BORN DURING SHIFT CHANGES ARE
AT HIGHER RISK OF EARLY DEATH
(Timing of birth and infant and early neonatal mortality
in Sweden 1973-95: longitudinal birth register study)
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7325/1327
Babies born between the hours of 5pm to 1am and
around 9am are at higher risk of early death, suggesting
that shift changes and the hours immediately after are
high risk periods for neonatal care, finds a study in this
week's BMJ.
Using data from the Swedish birth register, researchers
in Hong Kong analysed over 2 million births between
1973-95.
Their observations confirm previous reports that infants
born at night have a greater risk of early death (in the
first six days) than those born during the day. They also
found that there has been no improvement over the past
two decades, and that this problem is much more
serious for preterm infants. The causes are not clear,
but may be due to excess workloads, inadequate or
less experienced staff on night shifts, or out of date
systems for managing shift changes within hospitals, they
suggest.
A more in depth analysis over 24 hours showed that
there were actually two high risk periods for neonatal
care: 5pm to 1am and around 9am. The first risk period
started from the end of the normal day shift and
extended to the midnight shift. The second one, around
9am, was immediately after day shift staff were taking
over responsibilities. This pattern indicates that shift
changes and the hours immediately after are high risk
periods for neonatal care, say the authors.
The exact reasons are unclear, but better vigilance and
an improvement in shift changes may be required to
improve neonatal health care further, they conclude.
Contact:
J Karlberg, Clinical Trials Centre, University of Hong
Kong, People's Republic of China
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=================================
Birthing Beautifully,
Jackie Mawson.
Convenor of Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean Inc.
Visit our Website at: http://www.birthrites.org
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Phone: 61 08 9418 8949
Please note I am not a Professional Healthcare Provider, and all opinions given in this email are not to be taken as medical, or legal, advice. Please seek such advice from the relevant professional service.
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Too many Gods;
so many creeds,
Too many paths
that wind and
wind,
When just the art
of being kind
Is all the sad
world needs...
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- For interest. Jackie Mawson
- Jackie Mawson
