/library/oar/handle/123456789/39579 2025-11-10T21:42:22Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/1007 Title: The William Hardy Shield for infant welfare rediscovered Authors: Attard Montalto, Simon; Savona-Ventura, Charles Abstract: In 2008, a large commemorative silver-mounted shield was handed over to the Department of Paediatrics by the heirs of a previous Malta Chief Government Medical Officer. Subsequent investigations confirmed that this was the prestigious William Hardy Challenge Shield that had been commissioned by the National Baby Welfare Council (UK) and subsequently awarded every year from 1925. This shield was presented to the Malta Mothers and Infants Association in 1947 in appreciation for Malta’s sterling work in infant support and record keeping during the period of hostilities during the Second World War, 1939-1944. This paper explores the philosophy behind this award, the history since its arrival in Malta and reviews changes in healthcare and, specifically, infant mortality rates that justified the shield’s award to Malta during an extremely difficult period in the country’s history. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/1006 Title: Comparison of body mass index of a national cohort of Maltese children over a 3-year interval Authors: Farrugia Sant Angelo, Victoria; Grech, Victor E. Abstract: Aims: To compare body mass index (BMI) at 7 years and at 9 years of age in a national cohort of children in Malta, born in 2001, and to compare the results with an earlier study carried out in 2007 in this same cohort. Methods: BMI measurement of all children in the second year of formal school and again in the fourth year. Results: In 2008, data was collected from a total of 3435 children (girls 48.9%, boys 51.1%) with a mean age of 6.8 years. The same procedure was carried out in 2010 on the same cohort of children. A total of 3090 children participated in the second round of data collection (girls 49.5%, boys 50.5%). Based on WHO criteria (using the 2007 WHO Child Growth Reference BMI-for-age 5-19 charts), over a quarter of Maltese children aged 7 years were found to be overweight or obese in 2008. This proportion rose to just over 40% when the same cohort was measured in 2010 at the age of 9 years. A significant prevalence of overweight and obese boys was found in Gozo for both studies. Children attending Independent (fee-paying) schools were the least overweight and obese. Discussion: Obesity in childhood in Malta is increasing despite efforts to curb this disease. More emphasis must be made on prevention strategy in childhood as this is a key factor in reducing the burden of morbidity and mortality of childhood disease. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/1005 Title: The Malta experience : a retrospective study of two types of peritoneal dialysis catheters Authors: Sultana, Angela; Schembri, Mark Abstract: Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the one year and two year survival rate of the double cuff coiled Tenchkoff catheter (TC) and the double cuff coiled Swan Neck (SN) catheter. The incidence of the following complications in the two groups were assessed: exit site infection (ESI), tunnel infection (TI), peritonitis (P), flow problems (FP), catheter tip migration (CTP), hernia development (H) and leakage (L). Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study of peritoneal dialysis catheters inserted between January 2003 and December 2008 by one surgical team at Mater Dei Hospital. Results: The one year catheter survival rate was TC 88.5% and SN 90%. There was no statistically significant difference in catheter survival rate between the two cohorts. The survival rate at 2 years post implantation of the TC catheters was 82.6% and 88.8% for the SN catheters. Conclusions: Equally good results were obtained with the two types of peritoneal dialysis catheters studied. There was no significant difference in 1 and 2 year survival between the two types of catheters. In our local experience the catheter survival rate and episodes of peritonitis per year at risk are in line with the recommendations of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD). 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/1004 Title: Health behaviour counselling in primary care : general practitioner : reported rate and confidence Authors: Saliba, Mario; Sammut, Mario R.; Vickers, Kristin S.; Calleja, Neville Abstract: Aims: The study aimed to identify variables associated with General Practitioners’ (GPs’) self-reported rate of health behaviour change counselling and confidence in counselling abilities. Methodology: This study was a repeat of a similar study carried out at the Mayo Clinic in 2007. The same tool and methodology were used with the permission of the authors. Variables measured by the questionnaire included: participants’ characteristics, physical activity, smoking status, healthy eating behaviour, self-reported rate of counselling behaviour, extent of training in counselling, perceived importance of counselling, confidence for health behaviour change counselling. A comparative analysis of the results was made. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z