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Important: please update your RDS app to version 4.7.3 Details with newsletter below.

Please update your RDS app to v4.7.3

We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2.  After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. 

To update to the latest release:

 On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Fertility Awareness

What’s new:

There are no major changes since this guideline was last updated.

 

Introduction

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a method of contraception based on a knowledge and interpretation of the menstrual cycle and an abstinence of penetrative sex during the most fertile period. There are three main methods used to determine the fertile period:


• Ovulation method observes cervical mucus changes
• Symptothermal method records body temperature daily
• Rhythm method makes calendar calculations of previous cycles

Clients should be given appropriate information about the methods and useful contacts for
instruction in their use.
FAM are more effective when women receive specialist training. Women interested in using
FAM for contraception purposes should be signposted to an organisation, service or local
recognised practitioner offering teaching. Information is available on the Fertility website
www.fertilitycare.org.uk

 

 

Efficacy

Observational methods measuring mucus and temperature have a failure rate of less than 1%
with perfect use and the rhythm method a failure rate of 9% with perfect use. Many drop to
25% failure when typical use is measured. However, efficacy is dependent on the woman’s
age, how often she has sex and her ability to adhere to the method. Efficacy is greater if more
than one of the above methods are used together

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • NFP gives fertility control to the couple and can have a positive effect on relationships.
  • There are no physical side effects and it is universally acceptable to all faiths and cultures.

 

Disadvantages

  • It can take 3 to 6 months to collect enough information to reliably use the method.
  • NFP normally requires daily observation, which might be affected by life events.
  • The period of abstinence can be long in some individuals.
  • There is no protection from STIs.

 

Recommended client group

  • Clients with objections to artificial contraception, often for religious reasons.
  • Clients wishing to avoid hormones or any invasive procedures.

 

Equipment

  • Can be purchased at most major chemists.
  • Computerised devices which measure hormonal changes in the urine are also available and help predict the fertile period.
  • Computerised thermometers help to predict the length of menstrual cycles.

 

Lactational amenorrhoeic method (LAM)

LAM can be used effectively in the postnatal period provided clients fulfil three criteria:

  1. are amenorrhoeic (no bleeding after 56 days postnatal)
  2. are fully breast-feeding and not giving the baby any other liquid or solid food (except
    infrequent water or vitamins ) with no more than 4 hours between feeds during the day and
    6 hrs overnight
  3. are less than 6 months postpartum.

LAM has a failure rate of 2%

The effect of expressing breast milk on the efficacy of LAM is not known but it may potentially be reduced. 

Fertility Care Scotland

This organisation will supply an information pack to interested individuals and arrange a tutor.
Telephone: 0141 352 7930
See website for centres and teachers.

 

References

  1. FSRH Clinical Effectiveness Unit. FSRH Clinical Guideline: Fertility Awareness Methods [Internet]. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare; 2015 Jun [cited 2023 May]. Available from: https://www.fsrh.org/standards-and-guidance/documents/ceuguidancefertilityawarenessmethods/
  2. Sexwise [Internet]. The Family Planning Association (FPA); 2014 Jan. Fertility awareness methods; [updated 2018 Oct; cited 2023 May]. Available from: https://www.sexwise.org.uk/contraception/fertility-awareness-methods
  3. Fertility Care Scotland [Internet]. Fertility Care Scotland; 2022 [cited 2023 May]. Available from: https://fertilitycare.org.uk/

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 31/05/2023

Next review date: 31/05/2027

Author(s): West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Sexual Health Clinical Guidelines Group .

Version: 8.1

Approved By: West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Sexual Health