Phenotypes of Velopharyngeal Tube Law in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE: The biomechanics of upper airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains poorly understood. The goal of this study is to compare the area-pressure relationship (tube law) of the velopharynx at peak inspiration and peak expiration. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Academic tertiary medical center. METHODS: The velopharyngeal tube law was quantified in a convenience sample of 20 OSA patients via step reductions in nasal mask pressure during drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The velopharyngeal airspace cross-sectional area was estimated from endoscopy while luminal pressure was recorded with a catheter. The tube law was quantified for nasal mask pressures from 14 to 0 cmH2O at peak inspiration and at peak expiration in all patients. The tube law was also quantified during the breathing cycle at a constant nasal mask pressure of 4 cmH2O in 3 patients representing different phenotypes. RESULTS: Velopharyngeal compliance (the slope of the tube law) was not statistically different in the peak inspiration versus peak expiration tube laws. Three phenotypes were observed, namely inspiratory collapse (phenotype 1), expiratory collapse (phenotype 2 = palatal prolapse), and a mostly stable airway during inspiration and expiration that collapsed as CPAP was reduced (phenotype 3). CONCLUSION: Velopharyngeal compliance is not significantly different at peak inspiration and peak expiration, which suggests that muscle tone is low when luminal pressure is above the closing pressure. Additional studies are needed to investigate how different phenotypes of velopharyngeal collapse may affect therapeutic outcomes.

Advancing Zebrafish Husbandry: Takeaways From the 2024 Husbandry Workshop and Husbandry Summit.

The 2024 Zebrafish Husbandry Workshop and Summit held during the World Aquaculture Society Meeting in San Antonio focused on key areas for improving zebrafish husbandry research. Discussions highlighted the need for comprehensive literature on husbandry, better communication and collaboration between researchers and facility staff, and the adoption of a standardized reference diet. Current literature lacks comprehensive data and often overlooks crucial factors such as housing density and space requirements for fish development. Collaborative efforts between researchers and facility managers are essential for acquiring accurate husbandry data and minimizing pathogen risks. Standardizing descriptive language and parameter lists in publications and enhancing communication between facilities can improve research quality. Action items proposed include better communication of incoming fish information, standardization of pathogen monitors, transparency in husbandry practices, and fostering a spirit of collaboration among organizations. The summit emphasized the importance of increased PI awareness about husbandry, testing existing standardized diets, forming consortia to oversee diet standardization, creating unified repositories and forums, and conducting evidence-based husbandry studies.

Predictors of the length of stay in psychiatric inpatient units: a retrospective study for the Paris Psychiatry Hospital Group.

Objective: Shortening the length of hospital stay (LOS) has become a major challenge for psychiatric hospitals in reducing unnecessary costs and improving the patient healthcare experience. We investigated the key factors associated with a long psychiatric hospitalization. Method: This was a retrospective study of 8,870 full-time psychiatric hospital stays (6,216 patients) in the Paris Psychiatry Hospital Group, with a discharge in 2022. We used machine learning tools and univariate and multivariate methods to explore the impact of demographic, pathway-related, and clinical variables on the LOS. Results: LOS >30 days was associated with age >55 years {odds ratio [OR] =2 [95% confidence interval 1.7-2.3]}, admission from outside the sectorization zone [OR=1.2 (1.1-1.3)], admission via a psychiatric emergency unit [OR, 1.2 (1.1-1.4)], and some clinical severity markers, such as psychotic disorder diagnosis [OR, 1.5 (1.3-1.7)], mandatory care [request of a third party, OR, 2.5 (2.1-2.9); case of imminent danger, OR, 2.3 (1.9-2.7)], the presence of seclusion and mechanical restraint measures (highlighting the positive effect of restraint duration), the somatic comorbidity for female sex [OR, 1.4 (1.2-1.7)], and treatment resistance [OR, 1.4 (1.2-1.6)]. Conversely, LOS ≤30 days was associated with being in a relationship [OR, 0.6 (0.5-0.8)], admission during a travel-related psychiatric episode [OR, 0.5 (0.3-0.6)], and personality and behavior disorders [OR, 0.7 (0.6-0.9)]. We found no significant association for features such as sex and a lack of treatment compliance. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first recent study to investigate and highlight the impact of factors related to various illness severity markers, medication adherence, and patient journeys on the length of psychiatric hospital stay. A better understanding of long-stay risk factors might be helpful for optimizing the allocation of medical resources and anticipating tailored therapeutic programs.

Association of hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices among nurse interns: A cross-sectional study using canonical correlation analysis.

Background and Aims: Nurse interns may be at a similar or higher risk than registered nurses. The key elements and mechanisms involved in the effects of safety climate on safety performance are not well understood. This study explores the relationship between the perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices among nurse interns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 178 nurse interns in three tertiary university hospitals in Chongqing city, China. The Chinese version of the Hospital Safety Climate Scale (HSCS) was used to measure the perceived hospital safety climate of nurse interns. Compliance behavior was measured using the Compliance with Occupational Safety Practice Scale (COSPS). Canonical correlation analysis and multiple linear regression modeling were used to examine their relationship. Results: Total scores for the HSCS and COSPS were 92 (80,100) and 185 (175,185) [M (P25, P75)], respectively. Canonical correlation coefficients for canonical variates 1 and 2 were 0.636 (p < 0.001) and 0.414 (p < 0.001), respectively. Nurse interns' compliance with occupational safety practices was mainly influenced by management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and absence of job hindrance. Multiple linear regression showed that management support of HSCS accounted for 37.1% of the variance in compliance (ß = 0.283, p = 0.039). Conclusion: Nurse interns reported high levels of perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices. Younger nurse interns reported a lower level of perceived hospital safety climate. Nurse educators can improve interns' compliance by promoting better management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and fewer job hindrance.

Police legitimacy and procedural justice for children and youth: a scoping review of definitions, determinants, and consequences.

Introduction: Understanding police legitimacy among children and youth is important for building a just and democratic society. Although the volume of studies on police legitimacy among underaged persons has grown in recent decades, the findings on the relationships between police legitimacy and procedural justice and their definitions, associated determinants, and consequences remain heterogeneous across studies and across political and legal contexts. Given these heterogeneities, the conclusions and implications generated by this research are far from comprehensive. Method: This scoping review offers readers a comprehensive and comparative understanding of this topic by answering the following questions. (1) How can we define police legitimacy and procedural justice for children and youth? (2) What are the determinants of police procedural justice and legitimacy for children and youth? (3) What are the consequences of police procedural (in)justice and (il)legitimacy for children and youth? (4) Among children and youth, who are the vulnerable groups receiving less legitimate and unjust treatment from the police? A scoping review of the literature published between January 1, 1990 and May 31, 2022 was conducted based on four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest. Guided by the scoping review screening framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley, that is, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, and the checklist provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute for quality assessment, 47 publications, consisting of 38 quantitative studies and 9 qualitative studies, were retained in the final sample. Results: The results synthesize the operational and subjective interpretations of police legitimacy offered by the respondents in the studies reviewed which is followed by the discussion of conceptual and measurement issues. The key correlates of police legitimacy identified in these studies were police procedural justice and behavior, followed by experience and contact with the police, relationships with other authority figures, and personal competence in moral reasoning and self-control. In addition to compliance and cooperation, cynicism, trust, and health were related to police (il)legitimacy. Discussion: We argue that in addition to building and maintaining police legitimacy, it is vital to remedy the negative consequences of injustice in police-youth encounters. Systematic Review Registration: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-9-0064/, INPLASY202490064.

Comparing the Efficiency of Laryngeal Mask Airway and Endotracheal Tube Insertion in Airway Management in Patients Planning for Elective Orthopedic Surgery under General Anesthesia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The present study compared respiratory parameters between the two methods of airway establishment, ETT and LMA, for patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery with general anesthesia. Methods: This randomized double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia, in Bandar Abbas, Iran, from January 2021 to December 2021. Using a random allocation table, the study participants were randomly divided into two groups, to employ either ETT (n=48) or LMA insertion (n=48). The study's ultimate goal was to assess the respiratory parameters in 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes following intubation. Results: At all-time points, the average of peak airway pressure (P peak) and P plateau parameters in the ETT group was much higher than the EMA group (p<0.001 in all comparisons). The value of dynamic lung compliance in the LMA group was significantly higher than the ETT group in all considered time periods (p<0.001 in all comparisons). The upward trend in the value of this index was significant only in the LMA group (p=0.030). There were no significant differences in arterial oxygen saturation and end-tidal carbon dioxide levels between the two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: In terms of arterial oxygen saturation stability and at the same time providing respiratory dynamic compliance, the LMA device outperformed the ETT.

Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme: An Overview.

To address the challenges posed by the globalization of regulatory agencies, it is essential to harmonize regulatory requirements, assess Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, license production facilities, manage product recalls, and improve information exchange. The Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) provides a robust framework for tackling these global issues. Through the PIC/S GMP Forum, PIC/S facilitates informal interactions among non-member authorities, professionals, and various organizations with the Committee, fostering networking and collaboration. Furthermore, PIC/S has developed a comprehensive guide on GMP requirements for inspectorates and organizations, ensuring consistent standards across borders. The scheme collaborates with other organizations to enhance and complement collective efforts. With 56 countries involved in PIC/S, whether as members or through the Accession and Pre-Accession Process, the exchange of inspection reports among authorities verifies compliance with PIC/S standards, leading to fewer and more targeted inspections and reducing redundancy. This study's purpose is to establish uniform GMP standards by providing extensive training for inspectors and promoting collaboration and networking among regional and international bodies, regulatory authorities, and other relevant organizations. This approach seeks to build trust in inspections, optimize resource use, and foster a more efficient regulatory environment. Through these efforts, PIC/S continues to play a pivotal role in advancing global pharmaceutical regulatory practices.

Healthcare Workers' Perception and Compliance on Personal Protective Equipment Use in Critical Care Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bahrain.

Introduction Contact precautions or the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically gowns and gloves, has become a common practice in intensive care units (ICUs) as part of robust infection prevention and control efforts. Hence, a positive attitude toward PPE used among healthcare workers (HCWs) is critical to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Aim This study aimed to determine the perception and compliance of HCWs working at critical care units regarding PPE used at government hospitals (GHs) in Bahrain. Subject and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs working in critical units at GHs, Bahrain. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of three sections was sent to the targeted HCWs. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, job category, etc.), previous participation in PPE training, and a 15-item questionnaire to assess the perception and compliance of HCWs regarding PPE use. Results Among the 119 HCWs enrolled, 73.1% were females, and 48.7% were between 31 and 40 years old. The results of this study suggested that although 95.8% of participants received education about PPE use, only 48.7% had a good perception of PPE, and an even smaller percentage (12.6%) demonstrated good compliance. A positive, highly statistically significant correlation was found between perception and compliance scores (p<0.001). Increased perception and compliance scores were associated with increasing age, non-Bahrainis, and years of experience. Interestingly, doctors were more likely to demonstrate lower perception and compliance scores toward PPE use. Conclusion The perception of HCWs regarding PPE use was adequate, but their actual adherence was unsatisfactory. However, doctors' perceptions and compliance with PPE use were significantly lower than other HCWs. Further larger studies are required to establish the level of perception and compliance among HCWs in our region.

Factors associated with suboptimal adherence to antihypertensive medication: Cross-sectional study using nationally representative databases.

Suboptimal adherence to antihypertensive medication is a major challenge in controlling blood pressure. However, limited studies exist on suboptimal adherence to hypertension, especially in Korea. This study investigates factors associated with suboptimal adherence, including non-treatment and non-adherence. Study populations were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2007 to 2021. Participants were classified into three groups based on treatment and adherence to antihypertensive medication using a self-reported questionnaire. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed using KNHANES data to investigate associations for suboptimal adherence with covariates. In KNHANES, the adherent, non-adherent, and non-treatment groups consisted of 13,831 (92.8 %), 460 (3.1 %), and 612 (4.1 %) subjects, respectively. In the adjusted model, age, hypertension diagnosis duration, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high hemoglobin levels were associated with receiving treatment. Older age, longer hypertension diagnosis duration, comorbid diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease were associated with adherence. This study showed the characteristics of non-adherent and non-treatment hypertensive patient groups in Korea. Based on this study, further individualized health interventions are required.

Quantum annealing for nearest neighbour compliance problem.

Quantum Computing has emerged as a promising alternative, utilising quantum mechanics for faster computations. This paper explores the nearest neighbour compliance (NNC) Problem in Gate-based Quantum Computers, where quantum gates are constrained to operate on physically adjacent qubits. The NNC problem aims to optimise the insertion of SWAP-gates to ensure compliance with these constraints while minimising their count. This work introduces Quantum Annealing to tackle the NNC problem, proposing two Quadratic Unconstrained Optimisation Problem formulations. The formulations are tested on a contemporary Quantum Annealer, and their performance is compared with previous methods. It shows that the prospect of using Quantum Annealing is promising, however, the current state of the hardware makes that finding the embedding is the limiting factor.

The prevalence of antiretroviral drug interactions with other drugs used in women living with HIV and its association with HIV drug change and patient compliance.

BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and commonly used co-medications in HIV patients, especially women, impact treatment efficacy and patient safety. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to study the prevalence and types of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between antiretroviral therapy drugs (ARTs) and comedications among a female population with HIV. Additionally, the study investigates the association of these DDIs with ART medication changes and treatment adherence. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 632 adult women living with HIV (WLHIV). Data was retrospectively extracted from patient files. Drug.com interaction checker website was used to assess DDIs between ART and non-ART medications. Changes to the ART regimen previously attributed to ART side effects or patient non-adherence were considered drug changes. RESULTS: A total of 429 WLHIV (mean age: 44.05 ± 9.50) were eligible. The prevalence of DDIs between ART and non-ART medications was 21.4%, with 4.7% minor, 18.4% moderate, and 8.9% major interactions. The highest prevalence of DDI was among cardiovascular medication users (71.7%), followed by central nervous system drugs (69.2%). Changing medications resulted in a decrease in DDIs, with significant reductions in total and minor interactions. Participants without DDIs had better adherence to ART. DDI between ART and non-ART medications was significantly associated with ART drug change, even after accounting for side effects attributed to ARTs, indicating an independent twofold association (OR = 1.99, CI 1.04-3.77). Moreover, further adjustments for HIV viral load and CD4 + cell count did not change the significance of the association (OR = 2.01, CI 1.03-3.92). CONCLUSION: DDIs in WLHIV impact adherence to ART. Altering ART may not be directly related to ART side effects, but rather primarily due to interactions with non-ART medications. Modifying non-ART drug regimens can reduce the likelihood of DDIs.

Application of Alfalfa App in the management of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, mobile medical technology has made great progress in chronic disease management, but its application in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) still needs to be clarified. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether the newly developed smartphone app for patients with AF (Alfalfa App) can improve anticoagulation knowledge, drug treatment compliance, and satisfaction of AF patients. METHODS: Alfalfa App integrates the functions of patient education, remote consultation, and medication reminder through a simple user interface. From June 2020 to December 2020, patients with AF were recruited in five large tertiary hospitals in China. Patients were randomly divided into the Alfalfa App or routine nursing groups. Patients' knowledge, medication adherence, and satisfaction with anticoagulation were assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months. RESULTS: In this randomized controlled trial, 113 patients with AF were included, 57 patients were randomly assigned to the Alfalfa App group, and 56 patients were randomly assigned to the routine nursing group. Forty-eight patients in the Alfalfa App group completed a three-month follow-up, and 48 patients in the routine nursing group completed a three-month follow-up. Basic demographic data were comparable between the two groups. The average age of AF patients was 61.65 ± 11.01 years old, and 61.5% of them were male. With time (baseline to 3 months), the knowledge scores of the Alfalfa App group (P<.001) and the routine nursing group (P = .002) were significantly improved, the compliance scores of the routine nursing group(P<.001) and Alfalfa App group(P<.001) significantly improved. Compared with the routine nursing group, patients' knowledge level and medication compliance using the Alfalfa App at 1 month and 3 months were significantly higher (all P < .05). There were significant differences in knowledge and compliance scores between the two groups with time (all P < .05). The satisfaction degree of drug treatment in the Alfalfa App group was significantly better than that in the routine nursing group (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Alfalfa App significantly improved the anticoagulation knowledge, drug treatment compliance, and satisfaction of AF patients. In oral anticoagulation management for AF patients, mobile medical technology that integrates the functions of patient education, remote consultation, and medication reminder may be helpful. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number, ChiCTR1900024455. Registered on July 12, 2019.

Influence of compliance and resistance of the test lung on the accuracy of the tidal volume delivered by the ventilator.

BACKGROUND: Large variations in respiratory system compliance and resistance may cause the accuracy of tidal volume (VT) delivery beyond the declared range. This study aimed at evaluating the accuracy of VT delivery using a test lung model to simulate pulmonary mechanics under normal or disease conditions. METHODS: In vitro assessment of the VT delivery accuracy was carried out on two commercial ventilators. Measurements of the inspired and expired VT from the ventilator and FlowAnalyser were compared to evaluate the separated and combined influences of compliance and resistance on the delivered VT accuracy. To do this, the errors of five delivered volumes (30 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml, 300 ml, and 500 ml) were checked under 29 test conditions involving a total of 27 combinations of resistance and compliance. RESULTS: For the tested ventilator S1 with a flow sensor near the expiratory valve, the average of expired VT errors (ΔVTexp) in three measurements (4 test conditions for each measurement) correlated to test lung compliance (r=-0.96, p = 0.044), and the average of inspired VT errors (ΔVTins) correlated to compliance (r = 0.89, p = 0.106); for the tested ventilator S2 with a flow sensor located at the Y piece, no clear relationship between compliance and ΔVTexp or ΔVTins was found. Furthermore, on two ventilators tested, the current measurements revealed a poor correlation between test lung resistance and ΔVTins or ΔVTexp, and the maximum values of ΔVTexp and ΔVTins correspond to the maximum resistance of 200 cmH2O/(L/s), at which the phenomenon of the flap fluttering in the variable orifice flow senor was observed, and the recorded peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak) was much higher than the Ppeak estimated by the classical equation of motion. In contrast, at the lower resistance values of 5, 20, 50 and 100 cmH2O/(L/s), the recorded Ppeak was very close to the estimated Ppeak. Overall, the delivered VT errors were in the range of ± 14% on two ventilators studied. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the placement site of the flow sensor in the ventilator circuit, the compliance and resistance of the test lung have different influences on the accuracy of VT delivery, which is further attributed to different fluid dynamics effects of the compliance and resistance. The main influence of compliance is to raise the peak inspiratory pressure Ppeak, thereby increasing the compression volume within the ventilator circuit; whereas a high resistance not only contributes to elevating Ppeak, but more importantly, it governs the gas flow conditions. Ppeak is a critical predictive indicator for the accuracy of the VT delivered by a ventilator.

Lived experiences of adults' non-compliance with psychiatric medication for depression.

Background: Non-compliance with psychiatric medication among patients diagnosed with depression ranges from 28% to 52% exacerbating illness and reducing treatment effectiveness. There is a paucity of research on medication non-compliance and its causes in South Africa and globally, and an urgent need to develop appropriate interventions. Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of adults living with depression who are non-compliant with their psychiatric medication and formulate recommendations to facilitate their medication compliance. Setting: The study was conducted in a psychiatric ward at a public hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: The study employed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design. Ten adults' lived experiences were explored using in-depth individual interviews, and Tech's coding method was used to analyse data. Results: Two themes emerged from the data: adults living with major depression offered several reasons for non-compliance, and adults living with major depression experienced non-compliance, which created a setback to their recovery. Conclusion: Non-compliance with medication is a common challenge among adults receiving mental health care and treatment. Ensuring compliance to medication is crucial for improving the prognosis of psychiatric conditions. Therefore, it is essential for healthcare practitioners in the field of psychiatry to have a comprehensive understanding of medication compliance and to effectively address any challenges that may arise in this area. Contribution: This paper contributes to the research field and adds knowledge to clinical nursing practice by exploring adults' experiences with non-compliance to psychiatric medications while living with depression in the South African context.

A Prospective Clinical Audit of Sterile Surgical Glove-Donning Practices Among Young Surgeons at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sudan.

Background Adherence to aseptic protocols and proper sterilization is critical for optimal patient recovery post-surgery. The standard procedure for donning sterile surgical gloves helps manage infection risk and maintain surgical site cleanliness by following aseptic principles. This study evaluates adherence to these protocols among young surgeons at a tertiary care hospital in Sudan. Methods This prospective audit included 42 young residents and house officers at a tertiary care hospital in Sudan, following ethical clearance. Compliance with sterile surgical glove-donning practices was assessed using the World Health Organization (WHO) pre- and post-intervention criteria. Participants were observed in the operating room without prior notice. The intervention comprised a video presentation and a live demonstration. Results Pre-intervention adherence to standard criteria for donning sterile surgical gloves was 73.4% (n= 31). This rate increased significantly to 91.4% (n= 38) following the intervention and showed marked improvement. Conclusion The audit demonstrated a significant improvement in adherence to donning sterile surgical gloves practices after the intervention. Implementing WHO guidelines effectively enhances compliance, reduces infection risks, and increases awareness of aseptic practices.

Facilitators and barriers of long-term exercise adherence in healthcare workers formerly suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome : A qualitative 1-year follow-up and quantitative pilot study of the COFIT trial.

BACKGROUND: Early exercise intervention studies showed promising positive effects of physical exercising on post-COVID-19 symptoms; however, little is known about long-term training adherence and what influences it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 participants of the 8­week original exercise intervention study. Facilitators and barriers were identified via thematic analysis and compared between those participants who continued their regular exercise behavior (continuous exercise group, CEG, n = 7) and those who stopped exercising (discontinuous exercise group, DEG, n = 10). Physical performance parameters and questionnaires regarding psychological health dimensions and work ability were assessed analogously to the original study. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis showed that two of the top three facilitators, (improving physical and mental health, sport has high priority) were the same in both groups. The respective third of the top three facilitators was (re)build physical and cognitive performance in the CEG and training in the group in the DEG. The top three barriers (exhaustion, sport has little priority, procrastination) were not only the same in both groups but also in the same order. CONCLUSION: The strongest post-COVID-19 associated facilitator for long-term exercise adherence is when the need for further reconditioning is felt. The strongest post-COVID-19 associated barrier is exhaustion. Availability of exercising in a group is a key factor in increasing long-term exercise adherence.

Health-safety inspection and organisational performance of female-owned enterprises in China.

This study examines the impact of health and safety inspections on the organizational performance of female-owned enterprises in China, utilizing data from the "Health Safety and Inspection - China - 2023" dataset. The research addresses three key objectives: assessing the prevalence and outcomes of health and safety inspections among female-owned firms, analysing the average performance and sales growth, and evaluating the performance differences between inspected and non-inspected firms. The study applied descriptive analysis comprising graphs. Findings reveal that a significant majority (94.5%) of female-owned firms undergo inspections, with over half receiving formal reports. The analysis shows variable short-term performance with an average annual sales figure of 31,600,000 Chinese yuan (¥), but a positive long-term growth trend of 3% over three years. Firms subjected to health and safety inspections demonstrate better performance compared to non-inspected counterparts, with increasingly pronounced benefits over time. The study concludes that health and safety inspections positively impact long-term organizational performance. We recommend policies for increasing the frequency and quality of inspections, providing targeted support for female entrepreneurs, and conducting longitudinal and sector-specific studies to further understand the sustained effects of inspections.

Cette étude examine l'impact des inspections de santé et de sécurité sur les performances organisationnelles des entreprises appartenant à des femmes en Chine, en utilisant les données de l'ensemble de données « Santé, sécurité et inspection - Chine - 2023 ¼. La recherche répond à trois objectifs clés : évaluer la prévalence et les résultats des inspections de santé et de sécurité dans les entreprises appartenant à des femmes, analyser la performance moyenne et la croissance des ventes, et évaluer les différences de performance entre les entreprises inspectées et non inspectées. L'étude a appliqué une analyse descriptive comprenant des graphiques. Les résultats révèlent qu'une majorité significative (94,5 %) des entreprises appartenant à des femmes sont soumises à des inspections, et plus de la moitié reçoivent des rapports officiels. L'analyse montre des performances variables à court terme avec un chiffre d'affaires annuel moyen de 31 600 000 yuans chinois (¥), mais une tendance de croissance positive à long terme de 3 % sur trois ans. Les entreprises soumises à des inspections de santé et de sécurité affichent de meilleures performances que leurs homologues non inspectées, avec des bénéfices de plus en plus prononcés au fil du temps. L'étude conclut que les inspections de santé et de sécurité ont un impact positif sur la performance organisationnelle à long terme. Nous recommandons des politiques visant à augmenter la fréquence et la qualité des inspections, à fournir un soutien ciblé aux femmes entrepreneurs et à mener des études longitudinales et sectorielles pour mieux comprendre les effets durables des inspections.

Predictors of follow-up of pediatric stone patients after surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated if socioeconomic and demographic factors predict post-surgical follow-up in pediatric stone patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients having kidney stone surgery at a single academic pediatric hospital over a 5 year period (2016-2020) were identified through the use of CPT® codes specific to ureteroscopy, shock wave lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Electronic charts were reviewed for patient demographics, stone characteristics, and characteristics of intervention. Unique patients with a scheduled post-operative follow-up office visit following a first time stone surgery were included in the patient cohort (Figure 1). Primary outcome was attendance of a scheduled provider visit within 6 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included completion of scheduled post-operative imaging and 24-h urine study. Univariable analysis was performed. RESULTS: 195 pediatric patients, a median age of 15.4 years (IQR: 11.34, 17.14) at surgery, were identified. The majority were non-Hispanic white (86.2%) and female (62.1%). Most had undergone ureteroscopy alone (85.6%). Of the 195 patients, 146 (74.9%) attended a post-operative office visit. Indicators of lower socioeconomic status, such as having public insurance and being from a single-parent home, were associated with not attending a scheduled follow-up visit (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Patients with a pre-operative urology clinic visit were more likely to follow-up with a clinic visit (p = 0.02), while those with a larger total stone burden treated were more likely to undergo ordered imaging (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: We found that indicators of lower socioeconomic status, such as having public insurance status and being in a single-parent household, were associated with lower pediatric follow-up compliance after kidney stone surgery, while patients seen in the urology clinic preoperatively were more likely to attend follow-up. CONCLUSION: Identifying factors that may predict non-compliance could be used to help at-risk patient populations.

Acceptability of "DIDE", a mobile application designed at facilitating care adherence of patients with substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attrition continues to be a major hurdle for addiction treatment. Through the prism of the attachment theory, this phenomenon can be understood as a manifestation of the patient's insecure attachment style, needing a highly-responsive care delivery. We developed an electronic health mobile application, co-designed with patients, aimed at helping healthcare teams respond to their patients' needs, and fostering adherence to care. This acceptability study evaluated patients everyday use of the application for eight weeks, assessing their satisfaction with the system, and its integration within professionals' current practice in our center. METHODS: This single-center, prospective study was conducted between January 2022 and December 2022. 24 adult patients with any type of addiction were included. They were granted access to the application for eight weeks, and were invited to complete the System Usability Scale questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with application's usability at the end of the study. The application uses active self-reports, which are later discussed with the healthcare team, and foster both the working alliance and the decision-making process. RESULTS: 17 patients out of 24 reached the primary endpoint. On average, over the eight-weeks period, patients logged in the application 38.2 times, and sent 5.9 messages to the healthcare team. Interestingly, 64.3% of the user logins were recorded outside of our center's working hours (either from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., or during week-ends and bank holidays), and 70.8% of the patients logged into the application at least one time between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. 18 patients completed the System Usability Scale questionnaire, which averaged a score of 81.8 out of 100. Healthcare professionals logged in the application's messaging system 4.5 times a day on average. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study shows promising results, as patients engaged well with various components of the application. It was moreover possible for healthcare workers in our center to integrate this tool in their daily activities. More work is needed to better understand the various patients' needs regarding the application, further strengthen their adherence to the intervention, and understand professionals' motivations to use the application. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04659954. Registered 09 December 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04659954 .