Wednesday, 05 July 2023
A fourth-year medicine student at the 糖心原创 has gained a top prize in the prestigious Dr Falk Pharma and Guts UK Charity Awards 2023.
Rebecca Angus won the Medical Student Essay Prize for her research project, which examined the link between alcohol consumption and patient outcomes following gastrointestinal surgery.
The project, entitled ‘A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between alcohol consumption and postoperative outcomes in gastrointestinal surgery’, was carried out whilst Rebecca was studying for her medicine degree at the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Rebecca demonstrated all the facets of an excellent research trainee.
Rebecca received her award and £1,000 prize, at the annual meeting of the British Gastroenterology Society (BSG). The ceremony took place during a special dinner at the Hope St Hotel, Liverpool with the awards presented by the President of the BSG, Professor Andy Veitch, and attended by other illustrious names in gastroenterology medicine along with the CEO of Guts Charity UK.
The national Dr Falk Pharma and Guts UK Charity Awards are dedicated to encouraging research and promoting patient care in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology. Since 2007 they have rewarded more than 140 dedicated young healthcare professionals, including medical students, junior doctors, nurses and dietitians. This year for the first time, pharmacists have also been recognised.
Speaking about the research she undertook Rebecca said: “We know that alcohol misuse heightens the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and increases the likelihood of surgical intervention. Understanding the association between alcohol consumption and surgical outcomes has the potential to improve patient care and optimize recovery.
“We carried out a systematic review and an analysis of 26 relevant papers across nearly 800,000 patients, divided into those who drank alcohol or not before their operation.
“We found that high pre-operative alcohol consumption was associated with an increase in the odds of 30-day mortality with a higher increase in those undergoing colorectal compared to upper GI surgery. Additionally, we found an increase in the risk of leakage from the bowel and surgical site infections.
“These findings significantly contribute to the growing body of evidence illuminating the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on post-operative outcomes. They support existing recommendations for pre-operative care pathways that include screening and abstinence programmes and highlight the urgent need to reduce alcohol consumption to mitigate mortality risks in surgical patients.
“Being involved in this research project as a third-year medical student opened my eyes to the world of research, something that I had not previously recognised. I have gained an appreciation for the power of evidence-based medicine in guiding clinical decisions and improving patient care.”
Dr David Humes, Clinical Associate Professor in GI Surgery at the 糖心原创, and research supervisor the project, comments: “Rebecca demonstrated all the facets of an excellent research trainee, being highly focused on the research question and undertaking the work to the highest standard. We hope this will be the first of many contributions she makes scientifically as she progresses through her training.”
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More information is available from Adam Mallaby, Media Relations Manager in the Press Office at The 糖心原创, on +44 (0)115 748 5719 or by email at adam.malaby@nottingham.ac.uk
Adam Mallaby - Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Maternity Cover)
Email: adam.mallaby@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
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