This study aimed to assess the experiences of police officers facing a public inquiry following a traumatic work-related event. Interviews of 11 officers were analyzed for qualitative themes. Quantitative measures of social support and current level of distress were compared with a sample of paramedics and firefighters matched for traumatic experiences and involvement in postmortem reviews. In response to the events leading to the inquiry, reactions consistent with posttraumatic stress were common. Review processes were typically prolonged. Common negative consequences included lack of professional advancement, strained family relations, and inaccurate and sensationalized media attention. An important mediating factor was the quality of organizational support. Following the inquiry, police officers rarely felt a sense of vindication and frequently reported a diminished sense of commitment to their work. In conclusion, review processes following work-related trauma have many negative consequences for police officers. Suggestions for intervention include crisis intervention services with officers, organizational development, and the enhancement of peer support programs.
Owing to the severity of its corrosive effects, an alkaline hearing-aid battery in the external auditory meatus is an otological emergency. This report emphasizes the particular risk to confused elderly patients and points out that a delay in diagnosis is common. Aetiology, clinical features and treatment are discussed with reference to three recent cases.
Betamethasone valerate nasal aerosol in a daily dose of 400 n% was compared with a placebo in a double-blind trial involving 103 patients with summer hay fever. The patients' and physicians' preference for the active compound was statistically significant (F<0 001), with 88% of the patients receiving betamethasone valerate obtaining substantial relief of symptoms. The analysis of patients' daily symptom scores showed that nasal symptoms were significantly reduced by the active aerosol (/'<0001). A day-by-day comparison of nasal symptom scores with pollen counts indicated a decreasing allergic response as the season progressed; possible reasons for this are discussed. No clinically significant side effects were observed. Short tetracosactrin tests from ten randomly chosen patients on betamethasone valerate showed no abnormality and nasal swabs for Candida culture from a further thirty-two patients were negative. It is concluded that intranasal betamethasone valerate is an effective and safe form of therapy for seasonal rhinitis.
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