Medically assisted reproduction for people living with HIV in Europe: A cross-country exploratory policy comparison.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the availability and accessibility of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) for people living with HIV in Europe, including the feasibility of cross-border care. METHODS: We used a polymorphous engagement approach, primarily based on digital and email-based interviews with representatives of national HIV organizations, clinical researchers (infectious disease and/or infertility specialists), European and national professional societies (fertility and/or infectious disease), national regulatory authorities and individual clinics in 14 countries in the WHO European region. The research design and results were also informed by two surveys and a review of the secondary literature, news articles and clinic websites. RESULTS: Although MAR is possible for people living with HIV in 12 out of the 14 countries mapped, accessing services can be challenging for logistical or financial reasons. People living with HIV also face barriers to MAR independent of their HIV status, such as limitations on single women and same-sex couples accessing services. Cross-border care is available for most patients who are self-financing but is limited for publicly funded patients. CONCLUSIONS: Even when MAR is available to and accessible for people living with HIV, there may still be barriers to treatment. Further research on patient experiences is needed to understand these discrepancies between availability and accessibility on paper and in practice.

Does involving patients in treatment decisions affect perceptions of treatments and therapists?

Psychotherapists may offer patients more or less involvement when deciding on a treatment. The aim of the present research was to examine whether perceptions of the treatment and therapist differ when a therapist uses a paternalistic style in making treatment decisions or a more collaborative approach, in which the patient helps in selecting treatment. In the study, 172 participants, recruited from a university setting and a national sample, listened to a simulated conversation representing either a paternalism or informed-choice model of a therapist-patient interaction. The participants then rated their expectation the treatment would help the patient, their perception of the therapist's trustworthiness, and their own preference for relying on clinicians for knowledge and decisions. Analysis indicated that among participants preferring to rely on clinicians, perceptions did not differ reliably based on the type of interaction they heard. However, participants wanting more involvement in treatment choices perceived greater treatment effectiveness and clinician trustworthiness for the interaction in which the patient was offered treatment choices. These results suggest that if therapists adopt a collaborative approach, it has the potential to enhance perceptions of individuals preferring the collaborative style without negatively affecting those who prefer less involvement in treatment decisions.

A Multicenter Study Evaluating the Effect of Ulipristal Acetate during Myomectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare surgical experience at myomectomy between patients with myomas pretreated with ulipristal acetate versus no pretreatment. DESIGN: A prospective, observational, multicenter study of myomectomy procedures by any route (hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, or laparotomy) (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Five university-affiliated hospitals including tertiary care and community sites. PATIENTS: Any patient who underwent hysteroscopic, laparotomic, or laparoscopic myomectomy regardless of medical pretreatment. INTERVENTIONS: Surgeons completed a Web-based questionnaire after each myomectomy procedure. Surgeons evaluated visualization, the myoma-myometrium relationship, extrusion, fluid deficit, blood loss, and overall ease of hysteroscopic myomectomies. For laparotomic/laparoscopic myomectomies, plane delineation, myoma separation, blood loss, and overall ease were assessed. The total surgical experience score was calculated by summing the values for each subscale. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 309 myomectomies were evaluated by 52 surgeons (response rate = 83%) at 5 institutions. Of 140 hysteroscopic myomectomies, 84 (60%) were performed without pretreatment, 29 (21%) after ulipristal acetate pretreatment, and 27 (19%) after pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/other. Of 169 laparotomic/laparoscopic myomectomies, 104 (62%) were performed without pretreatment, 46 (27%) after ulipristal acetate, and 19 (11%) after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/other. The mean surgical experience score (±standard deviation) was comparable between the no pretreatment and ulipristal acetate groups for hysteroscopic myomectomies (13.8 ± 2.2 vs 13.3 ± 2.2, p = .35) and laparotomic/laparoscopic myomectomies (12.9 ± 4.1 vs 12.1 ± 4.2, p = .30). Compared with no pretreatment, more laparotomic/laparoscopic myomectomies after ulipristal acetate pretreatment were associated with difficult delineation of surgical planes (22 [47.8%] vs 23 [22.1%], p = .002) and difficult myoma separation (20 [43.5%] vs 21 [20.2%], p = .003). More myomas were described as soft with ulipristal acetate pretreatment (14 [30.4%] vs 17 [16.4%], p = .049). The rates of profuse/abundant endometrium during hysteroscopy were similar between the no pretreatment (21 [25.0%]) and ulipristal acetate (7 [24.1%], p = .93) groups. CONCLUSION: Despite differences in surgical nuances, the overall myomectomy experience was not negatively affected by ulipristal acetate pretreatment.

Dexamethasone for antiemesis in laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the beneficial and harmful effects of dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in women undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. DATA SOURCES: We searched the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE (from 1946 to January 2012), Embase (from 1980 to 2012 week 3), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (from inception to January 2012), and ISI Web of Knowledge (from 1950 to January 2012). We also screened trial registries, reference lists of retrieved studies, and other sources of unpublished literature. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers screened in duplicate and independently searched results for inclusion. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing dexamethasone with a placebo in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Two reviewers completed data extraction and assessed trials for bias in duplicate and independently. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence across studies at the outcome level. A total of 13 RCTs with 1,695 patients met inclusion criteria. Data were pooled based on the random-effects model. The use of prophylactic dexamethasone significantly decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea (relative risk [RR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.71), postoperative vomiting (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.25-0.48), the need for rescue antiemetics (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.29-0.52), and time to meet discharge criteria (mean 28.5 minutes, 95% CI 24.6-32.4). The estimated number needed to treat to prevent nausea in one patient was eight (95% CI 5-13), whereas that for vomiting was five (95% CI 4-6). There was no observed increase in adverse events. The quality of the evidence ranged from very low to moderate. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides evidence that dexamethasone decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery, with no observed increase in side effects.