This study supports the view that patients with specific IgE to grass pollen are at risk of thunderstorm-related asthma. The details of the causal pathway from storm to asthma attack are not clear. Case-control and time series studies are being carried out.

Background: We have developed a winter forecasting service to predict when patients with COPD are at higher risk of an exacerbation and alert them via an automated telephone call.

No abstract

Patients found the automated interactive calling, combined with a health risk forecast, both viable and useful, welcoming the information and tools it offered. In many cases, it added to patients' understanding of their illness and promoted better self-management. Future research should focus on the potential impact of the service in terms of health outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

No abstract

Despite large sun protection behaviour intervention campaigns there has not been a marked reduction in the incidence of skin cancer. This study explored the awareness and understanding of global solar UV index (UVI) information presented to the public in weather forecasts and whether individuals changed their sun exposure/protection behaviour as a result of receiving such information. A cross-sectional, face-to-face survey was undertaken in Devon and Cornwall in the South West of England between 20 August and 7 September 2008. 466 interviews were completed; 53% at beach locations and 38% in town centres. The specified targets for the interviews were achieved: males (n = 232), females (n = 234); resident (n = 251), tourist (n = 215); aged 16-34 (n = 156), 35-54 (n = 158), and 55 years plus (n = 152). Sixty-seven percent of participants had heard of the UVI (the predominant source being television broadcasts). Only 40% were able to state correctly that a value of 7 would be considered to be 'high'. Sixty percent indicated that knowing the UVI value did not influence their sun protection behaviour. Awareness of UVI in the UK appears to have altered little in the past decade and although some improvements in understanding have been observed, it is concerning that this information is not influencing most individual's sun protection behaviour.

No abstract