Sheila M Bird
Biographic Data
| ID | 5501526 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sheila M Bird |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sheila M |
| FAMILY NAME | Bird |
| SIGNATURE | BIRD S M |
| AFFILIATIONS | MRC Biostatistics Unit |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6378-8382 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 5 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 23 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2002 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Multiple Systems Estimation for Modern Slavery
Performing censuses on stigmatized or vulnerable populations is challenging, however, for such populations partial enumeration is often possible using different lists or sources. If the sources overlap then multiple systems estimation (MSE) methods can be applied to obtain an estimate of the total population. These are typically expressed by a log-linear model which permits positive/negative dependencies between lists. This paper considers issues…
Public Health Perspective on UK-identified Victims of Modern Slavery
Links between identified-victims, which occur if escape of one has led to rescue of others (as cluster of victims in single location or controlled-individuals across a network of locations), have implications for how the totality of victims of modern slavery is estimated. Information from identified-victims can help to identify densely or dangerously trafficked-routes. Vulnerability of victims is not ended by their liberation: evidence-based heal…
Empowering small-scale, community-based fisheries through a food systems framework
Take-home naloxone is a global issue, in practice and in research
Effect of initiating drug treatment on the risk of drug-related poisoning death and acquisitive crime among offending heroin users
For heroin-using offenders, initial contact with treatment services does not appear to reduce the likelihood of a future acquisitive offence
Ageing opioid users’ increased risk of methadone-specific death in the UK
International testing and explanation are needed of UK's sharp age-related increase in the risk of methadone-specific death. Clients should be alerted that their risk of methadone-specific death increases as they age
Survey representativeness, quantifying uncertainty, and the importance of well-posed questions about the administration of take-home naloxone
Take-Home Emergency Naloxone to Prevent Heroin Overdose Deaths after Prison Release
The naloxone investigation (N-ALIVE) randomized trial commenced in the UK in May 2012, with the preliminary phase involving 5,600 prisoners on release. The trial is investigating whether heroin overdose deaths post-prison release can be prevented by prior provision of a take-home emergency supply of naloxone. Heroin contributes disproportionately to drug deaths through opiate-induced respiratory depression. Take-home emergency naloxone is a novel…
Experimental and Epidemic Risks
I wish to caution against undue weight being given to received wisdom and false assumptions of ‘expertise’, particularly in the context of new epidemics. I argue that, in some cases, reliance on received wisdom can lead to poor decision-making in public health terms, whether we are talking about Mad Cow Disease, the likelihood of a novel strain of influenza causing many fatalities, or the best way to reduce overdose deaths soon after release from…
Injecting drug users in Scotland, 2006
Using Bayesian capture-recapture analysis, we estimated the number of current injecting drug users (IDUs) in Scotland in 2006 from the cross-counts of 5670 IDUs listed on four data-sources: social enquiry reports (901 IDUs listed), hospital records (953), drug treatment agencies (3504), and recent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses (827 listed as IDU-risk). Further, we accessed exact numbers of opiate-related drugs-related deaths (DRDs) in 2006 an…
A record linkage study of hospital episodes for drug treatment clients in Scotland, 1996–2006
Despite drug users’ high mortality rates, their contacts with hospital and psychiatric treatment have received comparatively little quantification. We provide a comprehensive summary and characterisation of the hospital and psychiatric treatment episodes of a national cohort of drug treatment clients during 1996–2006. Drug treatment records were linked to national registers of deaths, hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses and hospital and psychiatric…
Mortality of those who attended drug services in Scotland 1996–2006
Drug-users in Scotland are exposed to variously increased mortality risks. HCV-diagnosed individuals are particularly vulnerable, and may need additional support
Toxicology of Scotland's drugs-related deaths in 2000–2007
Scotland has a new database on drugs-related deaths (DRDs). We review the prior toxicology and demography of Scotland's DRDs in 2000–2007. Each DRD was cross-classified by the presence/absence of heroin (H); methadone (M); diazepam (D); and alcohol (A). Comparisons were made by era (2000–2002, 2003–2005 and 2006–2007), sex and age-group (under 35 years and 35+ years). Data were for 1007 DRDs in 2000–2002 (180 female); 1011 in 2003–2005 (206 femal…
Hospitalisation for an alcohol-related cause among injecting drug users in Scotland
P1-241 High drug-related death rate soon after hospital discharge for drug-treatment clients in Scotland
Background Leading causes of death for drug-treatment clients across Scotland, 1996–2006, were drug-related (1383 DRDs) and non-drug-related suicides (269). We investigate DRD-risk by time since most recent hospital stay. Methods Drug-treatment records were linked to national registers of deaths, hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses, and hospital/psychiatric episodes. We calculated DRD-rates (and suicide-rates): during hospitalisation, within 28 day…
Meta‐analysis of drug‐related deaths soon after release from prison
Aims The transition from prison back into the community is particularly hazardous for drug‐using offenders whose tolerance for heroin has been reduced by imprisonment. Studies have indicated an increased risk of drug‐related death soon after release from prison, particularly in the first 2 weeks. For precise, up‐to‐date understanding of these risks, a meta‐analysis was conducted on the risk of drug‐related death in weeks 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 compared …
Targets for Hepatitis C virus test uptake and case-finding among injecting drug users
We re-analyse data on new diagnoses of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) for injectors in prison or attending general practices which were relied on for the cost-effectiveness of HCV testing in injectors. We use these revised estimates to suggest readily achievable targets in Scottish general practices on HCV diagnoses for injectors born in 1956–1975. Using audit data from general practices around Edinburgh, we confirm that, with effort, the suggested targ…
Over 1200 drugs-related deaths and 190,000 opiate-user-years of follow-up
Heroin users/injectors’ risk of drugs-related death by sex and current age is weakly estimated both in individual cohorts of under 1000 clients, 5000 person-years or 50 drugs-related deaths and when using cross-sectional data. A workshop in Cambridge analysed six cohorts who were recruited according to a common European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) protocol from drug treatment agencies in Barcelona, Denmark, Dublin, Lis…
Missing targets on drugs-related deaths, and a Scottish paradox
Fatal Accident Inquiries into 97 Deaths Over Five Years in Scottish Prison Custody
In March 2005, The Herald newspaper reported the findings of a fatal accident inquiry into JCB's death in a Scottish prison on 11 January 2002. Statistically, how exceptional was an elapsed time of 38 months? Freedom of Information requests yielded answers for 97 deaths over five years in Scottish prison custody. Written determinations were made in 42/97 fatal accident inquiries: waiting for dissemination took more than 90 days (10) or from death…
Estimating the prevalence, incidence and cessation of injecting drug use in Glasgow 1960–2000
Modelling the spread of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in Glasgow
Inside Methodologies
A resume, with key European results, is given of Willing Anonymous Salivary HIV/Hepatitis C (WASH‐C) surveillance studies for estimating HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence among prisoners, and associated risk behaviours. The WASH methodology was acceptable to prisoners, with participation rates of 75% to 88% in EC Network, UK and Irish prison studies; one‐third of nearly 9,000 male participant adult prisoners had a history of injection drug use, half…
Take-Home Emergency Naloxone to Prevent Heroin Overdose Deaths after Prison Release
The naloxone investigation (N-ALIVE) randomized trial commenced in the UK in May 2012, with the preliminary phase involving 5,600 prisoners on release. The trial is investigating whether heroin overdose deaths post-prison release can be prevented by prior provision of a take-home emergency supply of naloxone. Heroin contributes disproportionately to drug deaths through opiate-induced respiratory depression. Take-home emergency naloxone is a novel…
Inside Methodologies
A resume, with key European results, is given of Willing Anonymous Salivary HIV/Hepatitis C (WASH‐C) surveillance studies for estimating HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence among prisoners, and associated risk behaviours. The WASH methodology was acceptable to prisoners, with participation rates of 75% to 88% in EC Network, UK and Irish prison studies; one‐third of nearly 9,000 male participant adult prisoners had a history of injection drug use, half…
Estimating the prevalence, incidence and cessation of injecting drug use in Glasgow 1960–2000
Modelling the spread of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in Glasgow
Fatal Accident Inquiries into 97 Deaths Over Five Years in Scottish Prison Custody
In March 2005, The Herald newspaper reported the findings of a fatal accident inquiry into JCB's death in a Scottish prison on 11 January 2002. Statistically, how exceptional was an elapsed time of 38 months? Freedom of Information requests yielded answers for 97 deaths over five years in Scottish prison custody. Written determinations were made in 42/97 fatal accident inquiries: waiting for dissemination took more than 90 days (10) or from death…
Meta‐analysis of drug‐related deaths soon after release from prison
Aims The transition from prison back into the community is particularly hazardous for drug‐using offenders whose tolerance for heroin has been reduced by imprisonment. Studies have indicated an increased risk of drug‐related death soon after release from prison, particularly in the first 2 weeks. For precise, up‐to‐date understanding of these risks, a meta‐analysis was conducted on the risk of drug‐related death in weeks 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 compared …
Targets for Hepatitis C virus test uptake and case-finding among injecting drug users
We re-analyse data on new diagnoses of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) for injectors in prison or attending general practices which were relied on for the cost-effectiveness of HCV testing in injectors. We use these revised estimates to suggest readily achievable targets in Scottish general practices on HCV diagnoses for injectors born in 1956–1975. Using audit data from general practices around Edinburgh, we confirm that, with effort, the suggested targ…
Over 1200 drugs-related deaths and 190,000 opiate-user-years of follow-up
Heroin users/injectors’ risk of drugs-related death by sex and current age is weakly estimated both in individual cohorts of under 1000 clients, 5000 person-years or 50 drugs-related deaths and when using cross-sectional data. A workshop in Cambridge analysed six cohorts who were recruited according to a common European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) protocol from drug treatment agencies in Barcelona, Denmark, Dublin, Lis…
Missing targets on drugs-related deaths, and a Scottish paradox
Toxicology of Scotland's drugs-related deaths in 2000–2007
Scotland has a new database on drugs-related deaths (DRDs). We review the prior toxicology and demography of Scotland's DRDs in 2000–2007. Each DRD was cross-classified by the presence/absence of heroin (H); methadone (M); diazepam (D); and alcohol (A). Comparisons were made by era (2000–2002, 2003–2005 and 2006–2007), sex and age-group (under 35 years and 35+ years). Data were for 1007 DRDs in 2000–2002 (180 female); 1011 in 2003–2005 (206 femal…
Hospitalisation for an alcohol-related cause among injecting drug users in Scotland
P1-241 High drug-related death rate soon after hospital discharge for drug-treatment clients in Scotland
Background Leading causes of death for drug-treatment clients across Scotland, 1996–2006, were drug-related (1383 DRDs) and non-drug-related suicides (269). We investigate DRD-risk by time since most recent hospital stay. Methods Drug-treatment records were linked to national registers of deaths, hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses, and hospital/psychiatric episodes. We calculated DRD-rates (and suicide-rates): during hospitalisation, within 28 day…
Injecting drug users in Scotland, 2006
Using Bayesian capture-recapture analysis, we estimated the number of current injecting drug users (IDUs) in Scotland in 2006 from the cross-counts of 5670 IDUs listed on four data-sources: social enquiry reports (901 IDUs listed), hospital records (953), drug treatment agencies (3504), and recent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses (827 listed as IDU-risk). Further, we accessed exact numbers of opiate-related drugs-related deaths (DRDs) in 2006 an…
A record linkage study of hospital episodes for drug treatment clients in Scotland, 1996–2006
Despite drug users’ high mortality rates, their contacts with hospital and psychiatric treatment have received comparatively little quantification. We provide a comprehensive summary and characterisation of the hospital and psychiatric treatment episodes of a national cohort of drug treatment clients during 1996–2006. Drug treatment records were linked to national registers of deaths, hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses and hospital and psychiatric…
Mortality of those who attended drug services in Scotland 1996–2006
Drug-users in Scotland are exposed to variously increased mortality risks. HCV-diagnosed individuals are particularly vulnerable, and may need additional support
Take-Home Emergency Naloxone to Prevent Heroin Overdose Deaths after Prison Release
The naloxone investigation (N-ALIVE) randomized trial commenced in the UK in May 2012, with the preliminary phase involving 5,600 prisoners on release. The trial is investigating whether heroin overdose deaths post-prison release can be prevented by prior provision of a take-home emergency supply of naloxone. Heroin contributes disproportionately to drug deaths through opiate-induced respiratory depression. Take-home emergency naloxone is a novel…
Experimental and Epidemic Risks
I wish to caution against undue weight being given to received wisdom and false assumptions of ‘expertise’, particularly in the context of new epidemics. I argue that, in some cases, reliance on received wisdom can lead to poor decision-making in public health terms, whether we are talking about Mad Cow Disease, the likelihood of a novel strain of influenza causing many fatalities, or the best way to reduce overdose deaths soon after release from…
Effect of initiating drug treatment on the risk of drug-related poisoning death and acquisitive crime among offending heroin users
For heroin-using offenders, initial contact with treatment services does not appear to reduce the likelihood of a future acquisitive offence
Ageing opioid users’ increased risk of methadone-specific death in the UK
International testing and explanation are needed of UK's sharp age-related increase in the risk of methadone-specific death. Clients should be alerted that their risk of methadone-specific death increases as they age
Survey representativeness, quantifying uncertainty, and the importance of well-posed questions about the administration of take-home naloxone
Take-home naloxone is a global issue, in practice and in research
Empowering small-scale, community-based fisheries through a food systems framework
Multiple Systems Estimation for Modern Slavery
Performing censuses on stigmatized or vulnerable populations is challenging, however, for such populations partial enumeration is often possible using different lists or sources. If the sources overlap then multiple systems estimation (MSE) methods can be applied to obtain an estimate of the total population. These are typically expressed by a log-linear model which permits positive/negative dependencies between lists. This paper considers issues…
Public Health Perspective on UK-identified Victims of Modern Slavery
Links between identified-victims, which occur if escape of one has led to rescue of others (as cluster of victims in single location or controlled-individuals across a network of locations), have implications for how the totality of victims of modern slavery is estimated. Information from identified-victims can help to identify densely or dangerously trafficked-routes. Vulnerability of victims is not ended by their liberation: evidence-based heal…
Medicine (20 works) · Psychiatry (12 works) · Demography (10 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (10 works) · Drug (9 works) · Internal Medicine (9 works) · Demography (8 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects (7 works) · Criminology (7 works)