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Running - Fitness and Injuries - ing and improving co-ordination are well A self-help guide illustrated throughout the text. However, by Vivian Grisogono. John Murray Publishers care (as in books) must be Ltd, London, 1994 (ISBN 0 7195 5064 5). lllus. taken as many may to 256 Daqes. f 13.99. diagnose their problem and implement . _

This is the fourth book by the author on sporting injuries with particular reference to self-help and prevention. This book is divided into 17 chapters, covering many of the more common injuries and their management. There are also chapters dedicated to training, diet, prevention, running risks and severity factors.

The author stresses that the book is primarily for the lay audience with no specific qualifications in injury treatment/ management. Such books are extremely difficult to write and in particular, to pitch at the right level. There is no doubt that the text gives a runner andor coach some useful practical information. ‘Exercises’ for mobilisation, strengthen-

appropriate exercises. Self-help is then counter-productive.

The book has a recommended reading list for the reader who wants to know more. This would be useful for student physiotherapists or junior physiother. apists who want more in-depth reading and facts on running injuries. This book will no doubt be of interest and value to runnerdcoaches. It will also be of value to juniorh-experienced physiotherapists or doctors who wish to acquire a basic knowledge of fitness and running injuries. Further reading, as recommended, would be necessary before undertaking manage- ment of such injuries and the devising of fitness programmes.

Grant Downie MCSP

Clinical Audit in Palliative Care edited by lrene Higginson. Radcliffe Medical Press Ltd, 15 Kings Meadow, Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford OX2 ODP, 1994 (ISBN 1 870905 64 4). 224 pages. f 14.95.

This recently published book edited by Dr I Higginson, an acknowledged expert in the field of audit in palliative care, brings together a comprehensive review of clinical audit issues in palliative care.

Eighteen contributors from the UK, Canada and Ireland representing varied backgrounds (medicine, nursing, health services research, and management) share their experience and offer guidance on developing clinical audit in a range of different settings w i n g a variety of different approaches.

The first chapter by Charles Shaw traces the developments in quality assurance and audit generally and set5 the scene in relation to palliative care. In the chapters that follow there is a clear and logical progression from the theory of audit to the methods and approaches; culminating in reports from clinicians who provide practical examples of changes in practice and improvements in patient care as a result of findings. The book is well presented, easy to understand and sets out potentially difficult concepts with clarity. For example the chapter covering analysis of results is written in a clear and accessible style.

An excellent and candid account of the benefits and difficulties associated with interviewing bereaved carers is provided by Julia Addington Hall and Mark McCarthy .

Six chapters address Irene Higginson’s well-known Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS). An interesting account provided by Eduardo Bruera and Susan Macdonald describes patient involvement in an assessment schedule.

A comprehensive critical appraisal draws the main strands together and provides a balanced account of the progress to date and the challenges facing palliative care in respect of audit.

Unusually, the appendix is particularly useful as it gives examples of the audit tools and details of the research

instruments. It is acknowledged throughout that a

multi-professional approach to audit is essential in the context of palliative care, so it was disappointing that there were few contributions from disciplines other than doctors and nurses.

It might also have been useful to explore some of the more qualitative approaches (ie focus groups, critical incident techniques) as they a re particularly relevant in examining the less tangible, interpersonal aspects of palliative care.

This book has relevance for all health professionals who are either contemplat- ing audit or have experience in audit in the palliative care setting, although it will appeal predominantly to doctors and nurses. M Christine lngleton MA RGN RCNT

The War Diary of St Thomas’ Hospital 1939-1 945 edited by Frank and Dorothea Cockett, the Starling Press Ltd, Rogerstone, Newport, Gwen!, NPI 9FO. 1991. Illus. (no price given).

The plaque on display in the central hall of St Thomas’s is reproduced in this book which recalls the members of staff who died while on duty during the September 1940 bombing of the hospital. Among them were four physiotherapists - listed as Miss M Doucet, Miss S Dunn, Miss G Lockyer and Miss B Mortimer Thomas.

The diary is a factual record of the daily events of the London Blitz which were written by an unknown official. During this time the hospital was hit by five large-scale bombs, several small bombs and there were several near-misses. The pre-medical school moved to Hydestile, Godalming, in September 1940, and stayed until 1945, as bombing of London intensified. During the war years research was carried out a t the hospital into ‘crush syndrome’ and the use of oxygen therapy in the treatment of wound shock.

Heel-kick drill

Push& drill

Knee pick-up drill

I I

Stride length control drill

Shown here are some commonly used drills to emphasise certain elements of running action illustrated in ‘Running Fitness and Injuries - A self-help guide’

Physlotherapy, September 1994, vol80, no 9