Digital endpoints in clinical trials: emerging themes from a multi-stakeholder Knowledge Exchange event.

BACKGROUND: Digital technologies, such as wearable devices and smartphone applications (apps), can enable the decentralisation of clinical trials by measuring endpoints in people's chosen locations rather than in traditional clinical settings. Digital endpoints can allow high-frequency and sensitive measurements of health outcomes compared to visit-based endpoints which provide an episodic snapshot of a person's health. However, there are underexplored challenges in this emerging space that require interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. A multi-stakeholder Knowledge Exchange event was organised to facilitate conversations across silos within this research ecosystem. METHODS: A survey was sent to an initial list of stakeholders to identify potential discussion topics. Additional stakeholders were identified through iterative discussions on perspectives that needed representation. Co-design meetings with attendees were held to discuss the scope, format and ethos of the event. The event itself featured a cross-disciplinary selection of talks, a panel discussion, small-group discussions facilitated via a rolling seating plan and audience participation via Slido. A transcript was generated from the day, which, together with the output from Slido, provided a record of the day's discussions. Finally, meetings were held following the event to identify the key challenges for digital endpoints which emerged and reflections and recommendations for dissemination. RESULTS: Several challenges for digital endpoints were identified in the following areas: patient adherence and acceptability; algorithms and software for devices; design, analysis and conduct of clinical trials with digital endpoints; the environmental impact of digital endpoints; and the need for ongoing ethical support. Learnings taken for next generation events include the need to include additional stakeholder perspectives, such as those of funders and regulators, and the need for additional resources and facilitation to allow patient and public contributors to engage meaningfully during the event. CONCLUSIONS: The event emphasised the importance of consortium building and highlighted the critical role that collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and cross-sector efforts play in driving innovation in research design and strategic partnership building moving forward. This necessitates enhanced recognition by funders to support multi-stakeholder projects with patient involvement, standardised terminology, and the utilisation of open-source software.

Perspectives of Multidisciplinary Faculty on the Design of Nursing Informatics Curriculum.

This study aimed to understand the experiences and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration in nursing informatics curriculum design. The study was conducted from 9-20 August 2023 with 14 multidisciplinary faculty members. Surveys and interviews focused on perceptions of interdisciplinary communication, importance of collaboration, challenges encountered, and training needs to identify barriers to effective curriculum development. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The results revealed significant challenges, including differences in terminology and thought processes between disciplines, role ambiguity, and cultural/methodological differences. The results of the study highlight the importance of collaboration, which is critical to the development of an effective and cohesive nursing informatics curriculum.

Philosophy leading the way: An interdisciplinary approach to study communication of severe diagnoses.

This paper explores a brand-new interdisciplinary approach applied to an enduring problem: the communication of severe diagnoses. The moment when physicians explain the diagnosis to patients and their relatives is sensitive, particularly for a disease that is rarely diagnosed early. The first part of the article is dedicated to the context of this delicate doctor-patient interaction. With this framework in mind, the paper delves into the innovative interdisciplinary methodology developed in the pilot study Communi.CARE, conducted in a hospital in Northern Italy, which focuses on the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). SARS-CoV-2 impact on the study development is highlighted. The study aims to explore the topic by combining different areas of expertise, including medicine, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. The contribution of philosophy is here presented as essential: it has a leading role in the conception of the study, its development, and the elaboration of results. It is shown throughout the study, from methodology to the analysis of results. Strengths and weaknesses of the methodology are discussed. In conclusion, further philosophical considerations on effective and ethical communication in this delicate context are recommended.

Beyond the M.D.: Transdisciplinary approaches of high-volume dual degree M.D./Masters programs at U.S. allopathic medical schools.

PURPOSE: Transdisciplinarity has been described as a fusion of theories, methods, and expertise across disciplinary boundaries to address complex, global problems. This approach has coincided with an increase in US medical schools offering masters degrees along with an MD degree to equip medical students to practice in complex, interconnected health systems. This study focused on medical schools that graduate the most dual degree students per year and explored the alignment of such programs with a transdisciplinary approach. METHODS: We identified 19 allopathic medical schools that annually graduated an average of 10 or more dual-degree students from 2015-2020. We surveyed these schools and asked participants to describe the reason(s) their institutions offered dual-degree programs. Two authors coded the narrative responses from the survey. RESULTS: Responses were received from 17 of the 19 schools. The analysis of participants' responses regarding their institutions' purpose for offering dual programs revealed several themes associated with a transdisciplinary approach to training. The most common themes were expand skill sets beyond a medical degree (73%), provide opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration (67%), expand career interest and goals (60%), develop leaders (53%), enhance residency applications (47%) and further the institution's vision and mission (45%). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first comprehensive evaluation of MD/Masters programs in the United States that includes a summary of the medical schools with the largest dual degree programs and their reasons for offering them. The findings support the hypothesis that allopathic medical schools recognize the need for a transdisciplinary approach to prepare students for the complexities in healthcare. These programs provide students with opportunities for additional areas of expertise, leadership development, enhancement of competitiveness for residency application, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Medical schools without dual-degree programs may consider developing these programs to provide benefits to students and institutions.

[New developments and innovations in psychotherapy for obesity]. / Neue Entwicklungen und Innovationen in der ­Psychotherapie bei Adipositas.

INTRODUCTION: This contribution highlights novel developments and innovations in psychological psychotherapy for patients with obesity. It underscores the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to treatment, which incorporates not only traditional methods but also contemporary psychotherapeutic modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Current research suggests that assessing the effectiveness of psychotherapy should not solely rely on changes in weight, but should also consider other outcomes such as subjective quality of life and mental health. Furthermore, the role of telemedicine and blended psychotherapy is emphasized as promising approaches to enhance accessibility and effectiveness of treatment. Through a case study of a 55-year-old woman with obesity and psychiatric comorbidities, the effectiveness of a multimodal psychotherapeutic approach is demonstrated.

Multidisciplinary management of patients with cancer in France: The SINPATIC qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Health policymakers have tried to improve the care pathway for cancer patients by improving collaboration between participating healthcare professionals by involving the general practitioner (GP). OBJECTIVE(S): To explore how patients, GPs, oncologists and nurses interacted and how they perceived, in their practice, professional roles, collaboration, and cancer care pathways. METHODS: Between January 2018 and December 2021, we conducted a qualitative study that combined phenomenology and a general inductive analysis, based on semi-structured interviews with cancer patients and their GPs, oncologists, and nurses in France. RESULTS: Our analysis of 59 interviews showed that the stakeholders had different perceptions of the cancer care pathway. Task division was implicit and depended on what each health professional thought he/she should be doing; this led to the blurring of certain tasks (announcement of the diagnosis, coordination, and follow-up). The healthcare professionals were stuck in frameworks centred on their own needs and expectations and were unaware of the other health professionals' needs and expectations. Outside the hospital, GPs and nurses worked in isolation; they were not aware of the other stakeholders and did not communicate with them. GPs and nurses justified this attitude by the lack of a perceived need. Interprofessional communication varied as a function of the needs, involvement and knowledge of the other health professionals and was often mediated by the patient. CONCLUSION: In the cancer management in France, to improve cancer care pathway, there is a need to train healthcare professionals in interprofessional collaboration delivering care tailored to patient needs and preferences.

In the management of patients with cancer, the division of tasks between health professionals was not clear and was not discussed by the group.Communication within the health professionals was mediated often by the patient.Interprofessional collaboration is strongly encouraged by France's public health policies but was not mentioned or put into practice by the health professionals.

[Current diagnostics and therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis]. / Aktuelle Diagnostik und Therapie der chronischen Rhinosinusitis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis is a prevalent condition with significant implications for both patients and society at large. The diagnostic and treatment approaches are primarily guided by the EPOS2020 guidelines in Europe, which increasingly delve into the molecular -mechanism of the disease and its resulting phenotypes. In recent years, biologics have emerged as a promising option, in particular for cases that are refractory to conventional therapies. However, the management landscape has become more intricate, necessitating consideration and potential concurrent treatment of comorbidities. Moreover, the utilization of biologics is accompanied by substantial costs, warranting personalized assessment for each patient. Hence, the establishment of specialized boards comprising clinicians from diverse disciplines to collaborate on treatment recommendations is imperative.

[For transdisciplinarity in nursing]. / Pour la transdisciplinarité en sciences infirmières.

In the 1960s, the integration of nursing training into university led to the development of theories specific to the discipline. Although described as "nursing-specific", these theories have significant conceptual shortcomings. Since 1990, interdisciplinary approaches have been emerging to enrich nursing practice and theory. Today, it is crucial to adopt a transdisciplinary approach in order to respond effectively to current and future healthcare needs.

[Importance of neuro-urological care in patients with spinal cord injuries/diseases]. / Stellenwert der neuro-urologischen Betreuung von Patienten mit Rückenmarkverletzungen/-erkrankungen.

Integrity, control and regulation of the urinary tract are subject to a complex neuronal regulation, in which portions of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and somatic nervous system are involved. The spinal cord plays a central role in regulation and serves as a transmitter for the motor and sensory pathways. Bladder dysfunction followed by renal dysfunction was the most frequent cause of death in patients with spinal cord injuries/diseases (paraplegia) as recently as half a decade ago. Thanks mainly to diagnostic and therapeutic advances made in neuro-urology, urological problems are no longer life-limiting. A vital role is played not only by the actual function of the urinary tract but also by the complex interactions in patients living with paraplegia. Issues such undertreated hyperactivity of the detrusor muscle with autonomous dysregulation, incontinence with secondary skin changes, or insufficient hand function to perform intermittent catheterisation must be evaluated in an interdisciplinary approach. Spinal cord injury/disease implies numerous functional disorders and secondary impairments of the organism. In addition to bladder function, sexual dysfunction also plays a crucial role. Especially in younger patients who sustain paraplegia before or during the family planning phase, this disruption and limitation is an essential reason for reduced quality of life. Neurogenic intestinal function plays an additional crucial role with regard to quality of life and management of everyday life. In recent years, the range of neuro-urological topics has expanded significantly. The focus of our work shifted from being merely on the urinary tract and urodynamics. In particular, the diagnostic investigation and treatment of neurogenic intestinal dysfunction is increasingly in the hands of neuro-urologists. The complex presentation of paraplegia involves an interaction of bladder, intestinal and sexual dysfunction in a way that these influence one another. Therefore, the sustained care and re-integration of these patients essentially includes lifelong and regular neuro-urological care in a paraplegia centre. Last but not least, it is exactly these neuro-urological topics such as urinary tract infections, urinary and intestinal incontinence and faecal impaction, which most commonly lead to re-hospitalisation.

[The National German Transplantation Certification : Interdisciplinary and innovative]. / Zusatzweiterbildung Transplantationsmedizin : Interdisziplinär und innovativ.

The interdisciplinary additional advanced training in transplantation medicine (ZWB) has been passed with the (Model) Advanced Training Regulation 2018 and is now implemented in all federal states. It includes joint interdisciplinary contents that must be mastered by all disciplines and special skills that are specific to the individual disciplines. An organ-specific training is also possible. With its interdisciplinary approach the ZWB transplantation certification is pioneering the structure of modern transplantation centers and will thus further improve the quality of treatment for patients on the waiting lists for organ transplantation and for patients with transplanted organs.

[Portrait of an IPA PSM specialising in suicide prevention]. / Portrait d'un IPA PSM spécialisé en prévention du suicide.

Suicide prevention is a major public health issue, both nationally and internationally. The management of suicidal patients leaving emergency departments is crucial to preventing the risk of suicidal recurrence. Advanced practice nurses in psychiatry and mental health can provide real added value thanks to their specialist training, their ability to carry out a comprehensive and detailed clinical assessment, their mastery of medicinal and non-medicinal therapeutic interventions, their skills in coordinating the various players involved in the care pathway, their commitment to prevention and their skills in supporting the development of the skills of care and research teams.

The effects of multidisciplinary collaborative care on cardiovascular risk factors among patients with diabetes in primary care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary collaborative care has been widely recommended as an effective strategy for managing diabetes; however, the cardiovascular risk factors of patients with diabetes are often inadequately managed in primary care settings. This study aimed to assess the effect of multidisciplinary collaboration on cardiovascular risk factors among patients with diabetes in primary care settings. METHODS: Five databases (i.e., Medline, Embase, CINAHL, SCOPUS and CENTRAL) were systematically searched to retrieve randomised controlled trials. Studies were eligible for inclusion if the interventions included a multidisciplinary team with professionals from at least three health disciplines and focused on patients with diabetes in primary care settings. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled effects. RESULTS: In total, 19 studies comprising 6538 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that compared with usual care, multidisciplinary collaborative care significantly reduced cardiovascular risk factors, including mean systolic blood pressure (-3.27 mm Hg, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -4.72 to -1.82, p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (-1.4 mm Hg, 95 % CI: -2.32 to -0.47, p < 0.01), glycated haemoglobin (-0.42 %, 95 % CI: -0.59 to -0.25, p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein (-0.16 mmol/L, 95 % CI: -0.26 to -0.06, p < 0.01) and high-density lipoprotein (0.06 mmol/L, 95 % CI: 0.00-0.12, p < 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed multidisciplinary collaboration was more effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors when it comprised team members from a number of different disciplines, combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological components, included both face-to-face and remote interactions and was implemented in high-income countries. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary collaborative care is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk factors among patients with diabetes in primary care. Further studies need to be conducted to determine the optimal team composition.

[Geriatric ophthalmologic co-management : A case report of interdisciplinary collaboration]. / Geriatrisch-ophthalmologisches Co-Management : Ein Fallbeispiel interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit.

This case report details the assessment and interdisciplinary collaboration in the management of an 81-year-old patient presenting with acute visual impairment, dizziness, general weakness, gait disturbances and fear of falling. A holistic geriatric evaluation revealed orthostatic dysregulation and an underlying multifactorial gait disorder exacerbated by visual impairment. Ophthalmological findings included left central retinal artery branch occlusion and cataracts. A comprehensive geriatric assessment showed frailty, impaired mobility and decreased functional abilities. Subsequent patient-centered interdisciplinary approaches included treatment for retinal ischemia, orthostatic testing, medication reconciliation, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. This case emphasizes how interdisciplinary collaboration between ophthalmology and geriatrics enables proactive assessment and intervention to reduce the risk of functional decline and loss of autonomy in visually impaired patients, which is of particular relevance considering the increasing prevalence of visual impairment in the ageing population.