'It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine': Navigating no- and low-alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK.

INTRODUCTION: Concerns have been raised that consumption of no- and low-alcohol drinks by those who are in recovery could lead to a relapse to past drinking behaviours. However, little is known regarding how individuals use these products to substitute alcohol and support their sobriety. METHODS: This article draws on an ethnographic study of women's experiences of recovery within online sobriety communities in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 UK-based women. The dataset was analysed and coded from a pragmatist feminist standpoint using a grounded theoretical approach to specifically address the research question: 'How do women in recovery navigate the protective and risk factors associated with no- and low-alcohol drinks through practices of consumption?' RESULTS: Women in recovery navigate no- and low-alcohol drinks as potential harm-reduction tools and relapse triggers by engaging in nuanced practices of substitution. Contrasting examples include direct substitution and temporary avoidance in early recovery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Substitution practices are informed by the temporality of participants' recovery journeys, the social situation, and the products. Participants selectively replicate and resist their former drinking practices to balance their perceived harm-reduction benefits and relapse triggers of no- and low-alcohol drinks. Important considerations are raised for those in recovery who may want to use no- and low-alcohol drinks as a harm reduction tool, and for recovery modalities that promote them. It concludes with calls for more clarity regarding the definition and labelling of no- and low-alcohol drinks, and for a greater understanding of their use across different recovery cultures.

Online Sobriety Communities for Women's Problematic Alcohol Use: A Mini Review of Existing Qualitative and Quantitative Research.

The increase in women's drinking is one of the most prominent trends in alcohol consumption in the UK in recent history, possibly exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown measures. Higher rates of drinking are associated with substantial economic, health, and social costs. However, women are less likely to seek treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) than men and have less successful treatment outcomes from traditional treatment paths, such as 12-step programs and in-patient care. Female heavy drinkers may also experience particular forms of gendered stigma that affect their experiences of addiction and recovery and their desire or ability to access these more "traditional" services. This review provides an overview of existing qualitative and quantitative research regarding online sobriety communities that are predominantly utilised by women, such as non-12-step alcohol online support groups (AOSGs) and temporary abstinence initiatives (TAIs). This is a small-but expanding-body of literature emerging as "sober curiosity" and "mindful drinking" are trending in Western contexts such as the UK, particularly amongst young women who do not identify with traditional, binary recovery language such as "alcoholic" and "addict." This review highlights the gaps in research and concludes that further research regarding these new treatment pathways, and women's experiences when utilising them, must be conducted to provide more evidence-based options for women who want to address problematic drinking. Public health bodies could also learn more effective strategies from these innovative solutions to reduce alcohol consumption generally.

A cost comparison study to review community versus acute hospital models of nursing care delivered to oncology patients.

PURPOSE: Ireland's Sláintecare health plan is placing an increased focus on primary care. A community oncology nursing programme was developed to train community nurses to deliver care in the community. While the initial pilot was proven to be clinically safe, no cost evaluation was carried out. This study aims to compare the costs of providing cancer support services in a day-ward versus in the community. METHODS: 183 interventions (40 in day-ward and 143 in community) were timed and costed using healthcare professional salaries and the Human Capital method. RESULTS: From the healthcare provider perspective, the day-ward was a significantly cheaper option by an average of €17.13 (95% CI €13.72 - €20.54, p < 0.001). From the societal perspective, the community option was cheaper by an average of €2.77 (95% CI -€3.02 - €8.55), although this was a non-significant finding. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the community service may be significantly cheaper from the societal perspective. CONCLUSIONS: Given the demand for cost-viable options for primary care services, this programme may represent a national option for cancer care in Ireland when viewed from the societal perspective.

British Thoracic Society quality standards for home oxygen use in adults.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the quality standards document is to provide healthcare professionals, commissioners, service providers and patients with a guide to standards of care that should be met for home oxygen provision in the UK, together with measurable markers of good practice. Quality statements are based on the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Guideline for Home Oxygen Use in Adults. METHODS: Development of BTS Quality Standards follows the BTS process of quality standard production based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence process manual for the development of quality standards. RESULTS: 10 quality statements have been developed, each describing a key marker of high-quality, cost-effective care for home oxygen use, and each statement is supported by quality measures that aim to improve the structure, process and outcomes of healthcare. DISCUSSION: BTS Quality Standards for home oxygen use in adults form a key part of the range of supporting materials that the society produces to assist in the dissemination and implementation of a guideline's recommendations.

Endobronchial valves for patients with heterogeneous emphysema and without interlobar collateral ventilation: open label treatment following the BeLieVeR-HIFi study.

Outcomes in early trials of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using endobronchial valves for the treatment of patients with advanced emphysema were inconsistent. However improvements in patient selection with focus on excluding those with interlobar collateral ventilation and homogeneous emphysema resulted in significant benefits in the BeLieVeR-HIFi study compared with sham treated controls. In this manuscript we present data from the control patients in the BeLieVeR-HIFi study who went on to have open label endobronchial valve treatment after completion of the clinical trial (n=12), combined with data from those in the treatment arm who did not have collateral ventilation (n=19). Three months after treatment FEV1 increased by 27.3 (36.4)%, residual volume reduced by 0.49 (0.76) L, the 6 min walk distance increased by 32.6 (68.7) m and the St George Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD score improved by 8.2 (20.2) points. These data extend the evidence for endobronchial valve placement in appropriately selected patients with COPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN04761234; Results.

Endobronchial valves for emphysema: an individual patient-level reanalysis of randomised controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial valve placement has potential as a treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, a robust evidence base will be needed to convince commissioners of healthcare that it is a high-value treatment. We sought to develop the evidence base by performing an individual patient-level analysis of randomised controlled trials in people with heterogeneous emphysema and an absence of collateral ventilation. METHODS: A literature search (PROSPERO register CRD42016048127) identified two trials meeting these criteria, the BelieVeR-HIFi and STELVIO studies. Anonymised individual patient data were obtained from investigators and analysed. The primary outcome measure was a comparison of change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) from baseline between the treatment and control groups. Secondary end points were change from baseline in 6 min walk distance (6MWD), Medical Research Council dyspnoea score and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: 114 individuals were treated with 3-month to 6-month follow-up data available for 101 individuals. FEV1 improved by 23.1 (±28.3)% in patients treated with valves with a mean (95% CI) difference in response between groups of 17.8 (26.5, 9.2)% (p<0.0001). Relative to controls valve placement was associated with a fall in residual volume of 0.64 (0.43, 0.86) L (p<0.0001), a 9.5 (3.5, 15.6) unit fall in SGRQ (p=0.0022) and a 64.2 (94.0, 34.5) m increase in 6MWD. There were three deaths in the treatment arm and the pneumothorax rate was 15%. CONCLUSIONS: These data strengthen the evidence that endobronchial valve treatment can produce clinically meaningful improvements in appropriately selected COPD patients.

The Impact of Homogeneous Versus Heterogeneous Emphysema on Dynamic Hyperinflation in Patients With Severe COPD Assessed for Lung Volume Reduction.

Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) is a pathophysiologic hallmark of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of emphysema distribution on DH during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in patients with severe COPD. This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data among severe COPD patients who underwent thoracic high-resolution computed tomography, full lung function measurements and maximal CPET with inspiratory manouvers as assessment for a lung volume reduction procedure. ΔIC was calculated by subtracting the end-exercise inspiratory capacity (eIC) from resting IC (rIC) and expressed as a percentage of rIC (ΔIC%). Emphysema quantification was conducted at 3 predefined levels using the syngo PULMO-CT (Siemens AG); a difference >25% between best and worse slice was defined as heterogeneous emphysema. Fifty patients with heterogeneous (62.7% male; 60.9 ± 7.5 years old; FEV1% = 32.4 ± 11.4) and 14 with homogeneous emphysema (61.5% male; 62.5 ± 5.9 years old; FEV1% = 28.1 ± 10.3) fulfilled the enrolment criteria. The groups were matched for all baseline variables. ΔIC% was significantly higher in homogeneous emphysema (39.8% ± 9.8% vs.31.2% ± 13%, p = 0.031), while no other CPET parameter differed between the groups. Upper lobe predominance of emphysema correlated positively with peak oxygen pulse, peak oxygen uptake and peak respiratory rate, and negatively with ΔIC%. Homogeneous emphysema is associated with more DH during maximum exercise in COPD patients.

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves for patients with heterogeneous emphysema and intact interlobar fissures (the BeLieVeR-HIFi study): a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction surgery improves survival in selected patients with emphysema, and has generated interest in bronchoscopic approaches that might achieve the same effect with less morbidity and mortality. Previous trials with endobronchial valves have yielded modest group benefits because when collateral ventilation is present it prevents lobar atelectasis. METHODS: We did a single-centre, double-blind sham-controlled trial in patients with both heterogeneous emphysema and a target lobe with intact interlobar fissures on CT of the thorax. We enrolled stable outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who had a forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of less than 50% predicted, significant hyperinflation (total lung capacity >100% and residual volume >150%), a restricted exercise capacity (6 min walking distance <450 m), and substantial breathlessness (MRC dyspnoea score ≥3). Participants were randomised (1:1) by computer-generated sequence to receive either valves placed to achieve unilateral lobar occlusion (bronchoscopic lung volume reduction) or a bronchoscopy with sham valve placement (control). Patients and researchers were masked to treatment allocation. The study was powered to detect a 15% improvement in the primary endpoint, the FEV1 3 months after the procedure. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered at controlled-trials.com, ISRCTN04761234. FINDINGS: 50 patients (62% male, FEV1 [% predicted] mean 31·7% [SD 10·2]) were enrolled to receive valves (n=25) or sham valve placement (control, n=25) between March 1, 2012, and Sept 30, 2013. In the bronchoscopic lung volume reduction group, FEV1 increased by a median 8·77% (IQR 2·27-35·85) versus 2·88% (0-8·51) in the control group (Mann-Whitney p=0·0326). There were two deaths in the bronchoscopic lung volume reduction group and one control patient was unable to attend for follow-up assessment because of a prolonged pneumothorax. INTERPRETATION: Unilateral lobar occlusion with endobronchial valves in patients with heterogeneous emphysema and intact interlobar fissures produces significant improvements in lung function. There is a risk of significant complications and further trials are needed that compare valve placement with lung volume reduction surgery. FUNDING: Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on behalf of the MRC-NIHR partnership.

Significance of Patent Foramen Ovale in Patients with GOLD Stage II Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common finding in adults. A PFO is associated with right to left shunting but its importance in the aetiology of hypoxia in early COPD remains uncertain, although it has not proved possible to demonstrate a role for PFOs in the aetiology of hypoxia in patients with Global Initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage III/IV disease. We compared the characteristics of GOLD stage II patients with or without a PFO and assessed its impact on exercise performance. Methods: In 22 GOLD stage II COPD patients we measured exercise performance, arterial oxygen tension and lung function and used contrast transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) to assess the presence of a PFO. Patients (n=20) underwent TCD measurements during incremental cycle ergometry with respiratory pressures measured using an esophageal balloon catheter (n=13). Results:Twelve individuals (54%) had a PFO. Patients with a PFO were more hypoxic; mean(SD) partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2)10.2(1.1) kilopascals (kPa) vs. 11.7(0.9)kPa (p<0.01), but the presence of a PFO was not associated with reduced exercise performance either on cycle ergometry or a 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT). A strong relationship was noted between the esophageal pressure swing (PSwingEs) and the degree of shunting observed during exercise (r=0.7; p<0.001). Conclusions:The presence of a PFO in GOLD stage II COPD patients does not appear to influence exercise performance despite increased right-to-left shunting.

How do friends influence smoking uptake? Findings from qualitative interviews with identical twins.

The smoking behavior of friends is a major risk factor for adolescent smoking uptake. To explore the social context of smoking experimentation and consolidation with a particular focus on friends, the authors interviewed both members of 14 young adult identical twin pairs who were discordant for smoking. The different smoking status of twins was connected to their different friendship groups and development of different identities. Smoking respondents gravitated to the behaviors and images of the peer group who smoked. Many nonsmokers felt strong pressure from their peers not to smoke and spoke about how the images conveyed by smoking were inconsistent with their peer group's image. Adolescents and young adults are aware of the messages that smoking can convey to others and exploit these images to construct a social identity.

Reconciling population benefits and women's individual autonomy in mammographic screening: in-depth interviews to explore women's views about 'informed choice'.

OBJECTIVE: To explore women's reactions to 'informed choice' in mammographic screening. SETTING AND METHODS: Telephone interviews with a convenience sample of 106 women aged 45-70 years recruited from general practices in Sydney. RESULTS: Many (42%) women preferred an active role in decision-making. Respondents had low scores for 'uncertainty' and 'factors contributing to uncertainty' in response to explicit questions about the decision to have mammographic screening. Yet respondents indicated significantly greater willingness to have a test when the benefit of a 'new' screening test for breast cancer was expressed as relative risk reduction (RRR) (88%) than either absolute risk reduction (ARR) (78%) (McNemar's test: chi(2)1=7.14, p=0.013) or all-cause mortality (53%) (McNemar's test: chi(2)1=35.1, p<0.01). Significantly more respondents considered information about ARR 'new' to them (65%) compared with RRR information (30%) (McNemar's test: chi(2)1=25.83, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: As mammographic screening exposes well women to potential harms for an overall population benefit, it is challenging to ensure 'informed choice'. Our results suggest women will likely appreciate individual consultations as the context in which to share complex information that women in our study agreed they need to know about mammographic screening. Our results also demonstrate that women's willingness as individuals to participate in mammographic screening is influenced by 'framing effect'. Hence, the quantitative content of decision aids to promote 'informed choice' must be comprehensive and balanced.

Influence of 'framing effect' on women's support for government funding of breast cancer screening.

OBJECTIVES: To explore whether Australian women's support for government funding of mammographic screening is influenced by 'framing effect'. METHOD: Self-administered survey of 701 women in general practice to elicit their support for government funding of each of four mammographic screening programs where benefits were expressed as a relative risk reduction (RRR); absolute risk reduction (ARR); number needed to screen (NNS) and number of cases detected for additional death avoided. RESULTS: The proportion of respondents indicating they 'definitely would support funding' was significantly greater when benefits were expressed as RRR than ARR (chi 2(1) = 148.4, p < 0.0001), NNS (chi 2(1) = 126.4, p < 0.0001) or number of cases detected for additional deaths avoided (chi 2(1) = 29.0, p < 0.0001). 55.8% of women were not influenced by 'framing effect'. Younger women and those with higher educational levels were more likely to be susceptible to 'framing effect'. CONCLUSION: Having demonstrated its influence among these women, 'framing effect' should be acknowledged in future research.