Asthma — Medical Perspectives Book
1
436 Asthma - Medical Perspectives Book by A J Wardlaw, BlOS Scientific Publishers, St Thomas House, Becket Street, Oxford OX1 1SJ. 1993 (ISBN 1 872748 26 0). Illus. 195 pages. €78.95. This book provides a comprehen- sive update on recent advances which have enhanced the under- standing of the pathogenesis of asthma, and led to new develop- ments in the drug management of this important disease. Although it is aimed at ‘the non-asthma specialist’, and those with a ‘limited understanding of immunology and cell biology’, the level of detail in these areas is in fact considerable, and not particularly relevant for physiotherapists. (I found it very difficult to comprehend, despite having taught some immunology to our physiotherapy students!) There is a good section on the advances in current drug manage- ment, but again this is likely to be more valuable to the medical profession and pharmacists than to physiotherapists. The author makes the point that treatment failures are often related to poor compliance and inappro- Asthma is characterised by variable airflow obstruction caused by a combination of oedema, smooth muscle spasm and mucus plugging, which in turn are due to airway inflammation, which is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness priate inhaler devices than to drug prescription, yet drug prescription is the only form of management that is discussed in this book. There is no mention of the role of physiotherapy, or any discussion on the value of relaxation, postural correction, breathing control Or exercise as strategies for asthma management. Therefore, this book is unlikely to be of value to non- medical health professionals. Sandy Thomas MEd MCSP DipTP Clinical Audit for Nurses and Therapists edited by Becky Malby. Scutari Press, Harrow, 1995 (ISBN 1 873853 09 2). Illus. 198 pages. f 14.99. This book aims to clarify issues around audit from a theoretical viewpoint with quite a few refer- ences backing statements made. The book has a tendency to be very academic, using ‘evaluation speak‘ constantly. I would have preferred and in fact expected some mention of collaborative projects with the other therapy professions. I note the lack of contribution from phys- iotherapy and the other therapy professions in the book. I found particularly useful the links made to the NHS Executive Letters and the examples of work identified from them. The figures and illustrations are complemen- tary, breaking the blocks of text. Audit is placed in the wider context of organisational activities and its role as a monitoring and evaluation tool is established. This book is not for beginners but will be a useful reference source for managers and physiotherapists with a specific remit for evaluation of service provision. I found it very useful in identifying issues for our ‘Audit the Enabling Link’ seminars. Yvonne Odegbami MSc Chronic Disease and Disability - A contemporary rehabilitationapproach to medical practice by Ross M Hayes MD, George H Kraft MD, Walter C Stolov MD. Demos Publica- tions, 386 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016, USA, 1996(ISBN 093995746 9). Illus. 279 pages. $29.95. The title of this book suggests it is written for medical practitioners. The preface, however, states the book is designed to be used by health care professionals who are being exposed to the concepts of chronic disease and disability for the first time. Therein lies the crux of this book’s problems. It appears to attempt to be all things to all people. The book is clearly divided into five main areas: principles in the diagnosis and management of chronic disease and disability; management problems of disability diseases; common disabilities requiring chronic care; the rehabilitation of children and the elderly; and psychosocial and voca- tional aspects of disability. The early chapters irritated me in their superficiality, especially chapter 3 which appears to suggest that electrotherapy is the only modality of treatment used by physiotherapists. Some areas were covered well - eg chapter 3 on sexual counselling - whereas other areas were inadequately dealt with and occasionally incorrect - eg by stating that fluid intake should be reduced if the patient has urge or frequency. On finishing the book I had some- what revised my decision. This was a brave attempt to cover a huge subject. In no way could be used as a dedicated textbook but it is never- theless useful to have on the library shelf as an overview for people considering working in the field of disability. Carole Brown MCSP Physiotherapy, July 1996, vol82, no 7
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Transcript of Asthma — Medical Perspectives Book
436
Asthma - Medical Perspectives Book by A J Wardlaw, BlOS Scientific Publishers, St Thomas House, Becket Street, Oxford OX1 1SJ. 1993 (ISBN 1 872748 26 0). Illus. 195 pages. €78.95.
This book provides a comprehen- sive update on recent advances which have enhanced the under- standing of the pathogenesis of asthma, and led t o new develop- ments in the drug management of this important disease. Although it is aimed a t ‘the non-asthma specialist’, and those with a ‘limited understanding of immunology and cell biology’, the level of detail in these areas is in fact considerable, and not particularly relevant for physiotherapists. (I found it very difficult t o comprehend, despite having taught some immunology t o our physiotherapy students!)
There is a good section on the advances in current drug manage- ment, but again this is likely to be more valuable to the medical profession and pharmacists than to physiotherapists.
The author makes the point that treatment failures are often related t o poor compliance and inappro-
Asthma is characterised by variable airflow obstruction caused by a combination of oedema, smooth muscle spasm and mucus plugging, which in turn are due to airway inflammation, which is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness
priate inhaler devices than to drug prescription, yet drug prescription is the only form of management that is discussed in this book.
There is no mention of the role of physiotherapy, or any discussion on the value of relaxation, postural
correction, breathing control Or exercise as strategies for asthma management. Therefore, this book is unlikely t o be of value to non- medical health professionals.
Sandy Thomas MEd MCSP DipTP
Clinical Audit for Nurses and Therapists edited by Becky Malby. Scutari Press, Harrow, 1995 (ISBN 1 873853 09 2). Illus. 198 pages. f 14.99.
This book aims t o clarify issues around audit from a theoretical viewpoint with quite a few refer- ences backing statements made. The book has a tendency to be very academic, using ‘evaluation speak‘ constantly. I would have preferred and in fact expected some mention of collaborative projects with the other therapy professions. I note the lack of contribution from phys- iotherapy and the other therapy professions in the book.
I found particularly useful the links made to the NHS Executive Letters and the examples of work identified from them. The figures and illustrations are complemen- tary, breaking the blocks of text. Audit is placed in the wider context of organisational activities and its role as a monitoring and evaluation tool is established.
This book is not for beginners but will be a useful reference source for managers and physiotherapists
with a specific remit for evaluation of service provision. I found it very useful in identifying issues for our ‘Audit the Enabling Link’ seminars.
Yvonne Odegbami MSc
Chronic Disease and Disability - A contemporary rehabilitation approach to medical practice by Ross M Hayes MD, George H Kraft MD, Walter C Stolov MD. Demos Publica- tions, 386 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016, USA, 1996(ISBN 093995746 9). Illus. 279 pages. $29.95.
The title of this book suggests it is written for medical practitioners. The preface, however, states the book is designed to be used by health care professionals who are being exposed to the concepts of chronic disease and disability for the first time.
Therein lies the crux of this book’s problems. I t appears t o attempt to be all things to all people.
The book is clearly divided into five main areas: principles in the diagnosis and management of
chronic disease and disability; management problems of disability diseases; common disabilities requiring chronic care; the rehabilitation of children and the elderly; and psychosocial and voca- tional aspects of disability.
The early chapters irritated me in their superficiality, especially chapter 3 which appears to suggest that electrotherapy is the only modality of treatment used by physiotherapists. Some areas were covered well - eg chapter 3 on sexual counselling - whereas other areas were inadequately dealt with and occasionally incorrect - eg by stating that fluid intake should be reduced if the patient has urge or frequency.
On finishing the book I had some- what revised my decision. This was a brave attempt to cover a huge subject. In no way could be used as a dedicated textbook but it is never- theless useful to have on the library shelf as an overview for people considering working in the field of disability.
Carole Brown MCSP
Physiotherapy, July 1996, vol82, no 7
