Suchergebnisse

AbstractProbation matters because of its role in creating a humane justice system. At probation's core is a value base which unites the profession and has been sustained through political change. The politically driven restructuring of probation through 'Transforming Rehabilitation' did not build on probation's achievements, nor was it evidence led. International examples show the negative impact of privatisation if values are secondary to profit. The fragmentation of service provision and removal of the requirement of a unifying probation qualification framework also pose major threats to the profession. The new Probation Institute will be important in maintaining professional identity and standards.

Abstract. Background: Telephone helplines are considered to play an important role in preventing suicide and self-harm among callers in distress. However, inconsistency in the methods of evaluating such services has limited the firm conclusions that can be drawn. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of a UK-based helpline from a service user and helpline worker perspective. Method: Callers were asked about their mental state at the beginning and end of the call with a short questionnaire. Helpline workers were surveyed about their experiences of using the questionnaire as part of routine service provision. Results: The helpline was successful at reducing suicidal and self-harming ideation. The short questionnaire method was also successfully integrated into routine practice. Conclusion: Evaluating the efficacy of helplines can be successfully achieved using the short questionnaire method.

<i>Objective:</i> To describe and compare the information obstetricians and geneticists in five European countries report they would give following the prenatal diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome. <i>Methods:</i> 388 obstetricians and 269 geneticists from Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK completed a brief questionnaire assessing two variables: the information they reported providing to parents following the prenatal diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome (categorized as positive or negative); and their perceptions of the quality of life with the condition. <i>Results:</i> Geneticists were more likely than obstetricians to report providing more positive than negative information about Klinefelter syndrome than equal amounts of positive and negative information or more negative than positive information about the condition (excess positive information). Regardless of specialty, the information that health professionals reported providing was predicted by their perceptions of the quality of life with the condition, and the country from which they came. Those perceiving quality of life as greater were more likely to provide an excess positive information, as were health professionals from Germany and the UK. <i>Conclusions:</i> These results suggest that the information parents across Europe receive after the prenatal diagnosis of Klinefelter syndrome varies according to the specialty and country of the health professionals consulted, and their perceptions of quality of life with the condition. This variation seems to reflect personal, cultural and professional differences between health professionals.