The association between health service systems and pressure injury problems of individuals with chronic spinal cord injury in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a health service system is an independent influencing factor of having pressure injury (PI) problems in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) living in three countries. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data from the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey (InSCI) were analyzed. The PI problems were assessed using the Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scales (dichotomized to "having problem" and "not having problem". Health service systems were categorized as an inpatient-oriented SCI specialized system and a primary care-oriented system. A directed acyclic graph was applied to create a multivariable logistic regression model to determine the independent influencing factors of PI problems. RESULTS: Of 790 included participants, 277 (35%) had PI problems. Being recruited from countries with inpatient-oriented SCI specialized systems (Model 1) and visiting rehabilitation medicine/SCI physicians at least once a year (Model 2) is an independent negative correlating factor of PI problems (odds ratio = 0.569 [95%CI: 0.374-0.866] and 0.591 [95%CI: 0.405-0.864], respectively). CONCLUSION: SCI-specialized health service systems might be a protective factor of PI problems in middle-income country contexts. This result suggests the importance of having SCI-specialized services in middle-income countries to reduce the prevalence of PI problems.

Do individuals from an SCI-specialized rehabilitation facility have fewer secondary health conditions than those from a non-SCI-specialized rehabilitation facility? Analysis of the InSCI database from a middle-income country.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether attending an SCI-specialized rehabilitation facility (SSRF) is independently associated with having fewer secondary health conditions (SHCs) in middle-income country contexts. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Four rehabilitation facilities in Thailand (one SSRF and three non-SSRF). METHODS: Data from a Thai arm of the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey (InSCI) were analyzed. SHCs occurring within the last three months were evaluated using the Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Scale. A causal diagram was applied to create a multivariable regression model to determine the independent effect of attending in the SSRF on having SHC as a single condition and as a sum score. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirteen individuals with chronic SCI were included in this study. Two hundred and nineteen participants (70%) were recruited from the SSRF. Being recruited from the SSRF was an independent negative correlating factor of the SHC sum score with an unstandardized coefficient of -1.12 (95% CI: -2.00-0.24). Being recruited from the SSRF was also an independent negative correlating factor of having bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and pressure ulcer SHC with an odds ratio of 0.32 (95% CI: 0.16-0.59), 0.43 (95% CI: 0.22-0.84), and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.24-0.89), respectively. CONCLUSION: Attending an SSRF was significantly associated with having fewer SHCs, specifically, bladder dysfunctions, sexual dysfunctions, and pressure ulcers. These results suggest the importance of having SSRF in middle-income countries for delivering effective care to people with SCI and standardized education to health care providers.

Effect of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on Heart Rate Responses to Walking in People with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), exposure of body parts to brief periods of circulatory occlusion and reperfusion, has been shown to improve cardiovascular responses to exercise in healthy individuals but its effects in people with MS are unknown. Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of RIC on heart rate responses to walking in people with MS. Design: Double blind randomized controlled trial. Setting: Multiple sclerosis clinic of tertiary care center teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Methods: Three cycles of RIC were delivered by occluding the upper arm with a blood pressure cuff inflated to a pressure of 30 mmHg above the systolic blood pressure. In the sham group, the blood pressure cuff was inflated to 30 mmHg below diastolic blood pressure. Heart rate responses to the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the tolerability of RIC using a numerical rating scale for discomfort (0-10), and adverse events were studied. Results: Seventy-five participants (RIC -38 and Sham-37) completed the study. RIC was well tolerated. Compared to sham, RIC significantly decreased the rise in heart rate (P = 0.04) and percentage of predicted maximum heart rate (P = 0.016) after the 6MWT. Conclusion: RIC was well tolerated and improved the heart rate response to walking in people with MS. Further studies on RIC in the management of MS are needed.

COVID-19 vaccination status in people with spinal cord injury: Results from a cross-sectional study in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: To assess COVID-19 vaccination status among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twelve hospitals from all regions of Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eighty people with SCI were randomly selected from the Thai SCI registry database. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome, which was the COVID-19 vaccination status, and the secondary outcomes, which were the number of vaccination doses, satisfaction and dissatisfaction aspects, and barriers to vaccination, were recorded using a specifically developed questionnaire over the telephone during February to March 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, bivariate, and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Of the 96 people with SCI who were able to respond, the prevalence of receiving at least one dose was 77% but the prevalence of receiving a booster dose was 20%. Being non-traumatic SCI correlated negatively with having received any vaccination doses when compared to traumatic SCI. Most of the participants were satisfied with the government provision of COVID-19 vaccines. The major barriers to vaccination were problems related to a negative attitude toward the vaccination, followed by transportation difficulties and wheelchair-inaccessible vaccination sites. CONCLUSIONS: Seventy-seven percent of people with SCI participating in this study received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas only 20% of them received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. To increase the prevalence of vaccination, healthcare providers should deliver the fact regarding COVID-19 vaccination to reduce negative attitudes, as well as remove physical barriers to vaccination places for people with SCI.

Dissonance in views between healthcare professionals and adults with a spinal cord injury with their understanding and interpretation of exercise intensity for exercise prescription.

Objectives: To evaluate the difference between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Asia regarding knowledge and interpretation of 'exercise intensity' for aerobic exercise prescription. Methods and study design: A survey was distributed to practising HCP and adults with SCI. It was completed in participants' local language on topics related to the importance of exercise frequency, intensity, time and type; methods for monitoring and terms related to exercise intensity prescription. χ2 analysis was used to detect differences in HCP or those with SCI. Results: 121 HCP and 107 adults with an SCI ≥1 years (C1-L4) participated. Responses revealed 61% of all HCP ranked 'intensity' being most important whereas only 38% respondents from the SCI group ranked it as high importance (p=0.008). For those with SCI, 'frequency' was most important (61%) which was significantly higher than the 45% selected by HCPs (p=0.030). Of the 228 respondents on average only 34% believed that the terms, 'moderate' and 'vigorous' provided enough information for aerobic exercise intensity prescription. HCP most often used HR methods compared with the SCI group (90% vs 54%; p<0.01). Both groups frequently used the subjective measures of exercise intensity, for example, Ratings of Perceived Exertion (8%3 vs 76% for HCP and SCI), HCP also frequently used speed (81%) and SCI also frequently relied on 'the affect' or feelings while exercising (69%). Conclusions: These differences must be considered when developing clinical-practice exercise guidelines and health referral educational pathways for adults with SCI in Asia.

Health care and rehabilitation services utilization, benefits and satisfaction: a community survey of individuals with spinal cord injury in Thailand.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore and report on health care and rehabilitation service utilization, rehabilitation service benefits, and levels of satisfaction of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in communities in Thailand. SETTING: Four rehabilitation facilities in Thailand, two university hospitals (Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Chiang Mai Province and Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok), one large provincial hospital (Ratchaburi Hospital in Ratchaburi Province), and one national rehabilitation institute (Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute in Nonthaburi Province). METHODS: This study was part of the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey (InSCI). Individuals with SCI completed a set of questionnaires, then data related to their health care and rehabilitation services were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 320 participants, most were male (71%), and the majority were living with paraplegia (73%). In cases of mild illnesses where hospitalization was not required, 46% went to a nearby health service hospital. In cases of serious illnesses where hospitalization was required, 39% went to a higher-level hospital. The majority (80%) were satisfied with their experience with health care services. The three top preferred products and services in descending order were wheelchairs and cushions, increased disability pension, medication and medical equipment including bladder relaxants, urinary catheters and urine bags. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with SCI living in communities in Thailand preferred treatment at a nearby district hospital for mild illnesses with one-third transferring to a higher-level hospital for serious illnesses. The majority were satisfied with the health care services and rehabilitation services.

Cultural validation and language translation of the scientific SCI exercise guidelines for use in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand.

CONTEXT: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand. OBJECTIVE: To culturally validate and translate the Scientific Exercise Guidelines for Adults with Spinal Cord Injury (SEG-SCI) for use in four Asian countries. DESIGN: Systematic Review. PARTICIPANTS: N/A. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to identify all published English- and local-language studies conducted in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand, testing the effects of exercise training interventions on fitness and cardiometabolic health in adults with acute or chronic SCI. Protocols and results from high-quality controlled studies were compared with the SEG-SCI. Forward and backward translation processes were used to translate the guidelines into Bahasa Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Thai languages. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the review criteria. At least one study from each country implemented exercise prescriptions that met or exceeded the SEG-SCI. Two were controlled studies. In those two studies, relative to control conditions, participants in exercise conditions achieved significant improvements in fitness or cardiometabolic health outcomes only when the exercise intervention protocol met or exceeded the SEG-SCI. During the language translation processes, end-users confirmed that SEG-SCI language and terminology were clear. CONCLUSION: Clinical researchers in Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Thailand have implemented exercise protocols that meet or exceed the SCI-SEG. Results of high-quality studies align with the SEG-SCI recommendations. Based on this evidence, we recommend that the SEG-SCI be adopted in these countries. The cultural validation and translation of the SEG-SCI is an important step towards establishing consistent SCI exercise prescriptions in research, clinical and community settings around the world.

Video-based learning versus traditional lecture-based learning for osteoporosis education: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patient education about osteoporosis is an important component of osteoporosis treatment. AIM: To compare the effectiveness of osteoporosis education between video-based learning and traditional lecture-based learning. METHODS: Participants who attended the Outpatient Department of Siriraj Hospital during June 2017 to November 2017 were recruited. Ten-question pre- and post-tests were used to evaluate participant osteoporosis knowledge. After finishing the pre-test, patients were randomized to receive osteoporosis education via either traditional lecture-based or video-based learning for 25 min. After the training, patient questions about the subject matter were answered, and then the post-test was administered. Change in score was compared between groups using non-inferiority test at a non-inferiority margin of - 1. RESULTS: Of 413 participants, 207 and 206 people were allocated to the lecture-based group and the video-based group, respectively. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, change in score between pre-test and post-test, or change in score between pre-test and retention test between groups. Non-inferiority test revealed the change in score after video-based learning to be non-inferior to traditional lecture-based learning at a difference of > - 1, α = 0.05 (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Video-based osteoporosis education can be used as part of a fracture liaison service to provide essential information about osteoporosis to both patients and caregivers. Video-based education is an efficient and effective tool that will reduce dependency on clinicians to provide lecture-based osteoporosis instruction. CONCLUSIONS: Since video- and lecture-based education were found to be equally effective, a standard package for both education techniques should be developed and implemented for all patients.

Survival following the placement of gastrostomy tube in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Around a third of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience dysphagia. There is a need for disease-specific information on survival following placement of gastrostomy tube in people with MS. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study survival following gastrostomy in patients with MS. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, home enteral feeding database and death certificates of people with MS who had gastrostomy from 2005 to 2017. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors associated with mortality after gastrostomy. RESULTS: Median survival of 53 patients with MS after gastrostomy was 21.73 months. Median duration of hospital stay after gastrostomy was 14 days (IQR 5.25, 51.5). Survival at 30 days, 3 months, 1, 2, 5 and 10 years were 100% (53/53), 98.1% (52/53), 81.1% (43/53), 54.7% (29/53), 22.4% (11/49) and 6.8% (3/44), respectively. Of 53 patients, 24 died due to respiratory tract infection. Patients who had gastrostomy tube before 50 years of age survived longer (median 28.48 months) compared with those who had the gastrostomy after age 50 years (median 17.51 months) (p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: Around 54% of patients with MS survived two or more years following gastrostomy. Younger patients had better survival. The most frequent cause of death was respiratory infection.

Effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on walking in people with multiple sclerosis: double-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is the exposure of body parts to brief periods of circulatory occlusion and reperfusion. Recent studies have also shown that RIPC can improve exercise performance in healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of RIPC on walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: This was a double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. We used three cycles of RIPC delivered by occluding the upper arm with a blood pressure (BP) cuff inflated to a pressure of 30 mm Hg above the systolic BP. In patients in the sham intervention group, the BP cuff was inflated only to 30 mm Hg below diastolic BP. Outcome measures included the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), gait speed, the Borg rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, the tolerability of the RIPC using a Numerical Rating Scale for discomfort from 0 to 10, and adverse events. We identified responders meeting the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) established in the literature in each group. RESULTS: Seventy-five participants completed the study (RIPC: 38 and Sham: 37). The distance walked during the 6MWT improved by 1.9% in the sham group and 5.7% in the RIPC group (p=0.012). The number of responders meeting MCID criteria in the RIPC group was significantly greater compared with the sham intervention group. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Single cycle of RIPC resulted in immediate improvement in walking distances during 6MWT in people with MS. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: NCT03153553.

Is admission to an SCI specialized rehabilitation facility associated with better functional outcomes? Analysis of data from the Thai Spinal Cord Injury Registry.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of the Thai Spinal Cord Injury Registry. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether being admitted to a spinal cord injury (SCI) specialized rehabilitation facility (SSRF) is associated with better functional outcomes. SETTING: Four rehabilitation facilities in Thailand; one a SSRF and the others non-SSRFs. METHODS: Data from the one SSRF and three non-SSRFs were extracted from the Thai Spinal Cord Injury Registry. Multivariate regression analysis was used to exclude the effect of confounding factors and prove the independent association of SSRF admission with respect to Spinal Cord Independence Measurement (SCIM) at discharge. RESULTS: Among the 234 new SCI inpatients enrolled, 167 persons (71%) had been admitted to the SSRF. The SSRF had a greater proportion of persons with AIS A, B, C tetraplegia and people with AIS D, whereas the non-SSRFs had a higher proportion of patients with AIS A, B or C paraplegia. Patients discharged from the SSRF demonstrated a greater SCIM score improvement than those from the non-SSRFs (24.1 vs 17.0; p = 0.003). By using multivariate regression analysis controlling for age, time from injury to rehabilitation, severity of injury and SCIM score on admission, SSRF admission was found to be an independent predictive factor of SCIM score improvement at discharge (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Admission to an SSRF is associated with better rehabilitation outcomes. This finding supports the importance of SSRF access to improve the functional outcome of patients with SCI.

Early AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) in Post-Stroke Adult Upper Limb Spasticity: ONTIME Pilot Study.

The ONTIME study investigated whether early post-stroke abobotulinumtoxinA injection delays appearance or progression of upper limb spasticity (ULS) symptoms. ONTIME (NCT02321436) was a 28-week, exploratory, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of abobotulinumtoxinA 500U in patients with ULS (Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS] score ≥ 2) 2⁻12 weeks post-stroke. Patients were either symptomatic or asymptomatic (only increased MAS) at baseline. Primary efficacy outcome measure: time between injection and visit at which re-injection criteria were met (MAS ≥ 2 and ≥1, sign of symptomatic spasticity: pain, involuntary movements, impaired active or passive function). Forty-two patients were randomized (abobotulinumtoxinA 500U: n = 28; placebo: n = 14) with median 5.86 weeks since stroke. Median time to reach re-injection criteria was significantly longer for abobotulinumtoxinA (156 days) than placebo (32 days; log-rank: p = 0.0176; Wilcoxon: p = 0.0480). Eleven (39.3%) patients receiving abobotulinumtoxinA did not require re-injection for ≥28 weeks versus two (14.3%) in placebo group. In this exploratory study, early abobotulinumtoxinA treatment significantly delayed time to reach re-injection criteria compared with placebo in patients with post-stroke ULS. These findings suggest an optimal time for post-stroke spasticity management and help determine the design and sample sizes for larger confirmatory studies.

Facet joint orientation and tropism in lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: Although degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) are two common causes of back pain in elderly, the association between the lumbarfacet joint angle and tropism in these conditions are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference in facet joint angles between normal population and lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis patient. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The angle of lumbar facet joints were retrospectively measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether there was a difference between degenerative diseases. MRI of patients with DDD, DS, and control group at facet joint between L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 level were measured in axial view (60 subjects in each group). RESULTS: There was no difference infacetjoint angle in DDD (44.1 ± 11.9) and control (45.6 ± 8.9), but differed in DS (40.1 ± 10. 7) and control group (p = 0.010) at L4-5 level. Facet tropism showed difference between degenerative groups and control group at L4-5 level. CONCLUSION: DS group showed difference in facet joints angle and tropism when compared with control population, while DDD showed difference only in facet tropism. In addition, longitudinal studies are needed to understand the clinical significant between facet joint angle and tropism in spinal degenerative diseases.