Evaluation of prognostic scores for status epilepticus in the neurology ICU: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Status epilepticus (SE) in the neurology intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with significant morbidity. We aimed to evaluate the utility of existing prognostic scores, namely the Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS), Epidemiology Based Mortality Score in Status Epilepticus (EMSE)-EACE and Encephalitis-Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus-Diazepam Resistance-Image Abnormalities-Tracheal Intubation (END-IT), among SE patients in the neurology ICU. METHODS: Neurology ICU patients with SE requiring continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) monitoring over a 10 year period were included. The STESS, EMSE-EACE and END-IT scores were applied retrospectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the discriminatory value of the scores for inpatient mortality and functional decline, as measured by increase in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on discharge. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients were included in the study, of which 71 (83.5%) had refractory SE. Inpatient mortality was 36.5%. Sixty - seven (78.8%) of patients suffered functional decline, with a median mRS of 5 upon hospital discharge. The AUCs of the STESS, EMSE-EACE and END-IT scores associated with inpatient mortality were 0.723 (95% CI 0.613-0.833), 0.722 (95% CI 0.609-0.834) and 0.560 (95% CI 0.436-0.684) respectively. The AUCs of the STESS, EMSE-EACE and END-IT scores associated with functional decline were 0.604 (95% CI 0.468-0.741), 0.596 (95% CI 0.439-0.754) and 0.477 (95% CI 0.331-0.623). SIGNIFICANCE: SE was associated with high mortality and morbidity in this cohort of neurology ICU patients requiring cEEG monitoring. The STESS and EMSE-EACE scores had acceptable AUCs for prediction of inpatient mortality. However, the STESS, EMSE-EACE and END-IT were poorly-correlated with discharge functional outcomes. Further refinements of the scores may be necessary among neurology ICU patients for predicting discharge functional outcomes.

A framework for evaluating predictive models.

Predictive models provide estimates on an individual's probability of having a disease or developing a disease/disease outcome. Clinicians often use them to support clinical decision-making. Many prediction models are published annually; online versions of models (such as MDCalc and QxMD) facilitate their use at the point of care. However, before using a model, the clinician should first establish that the model has undergone external validation demonstrating satisfactory predictive performance. Ideally, the model should also demonstrate improved outcomes from an impact analysis. This article summarizes the basic steps of predictive model evaluation, and is followed by an application example.

Effective online large-group teaching in health professions education.

Online large-group teaching (OLGT), employed to reach a large group of learners in separate physical locations, allows asynchronous learning and facilitates social distancing. While online large-groups can be a powerful and resource-lean means of health professions education, it has challenges and potential pitfalls that may affect the learning process and outcomes. Through a sociomateriality framework, this article describes strategies for effective online large-group teaching in health professions education in three key strands. Firstly, to optimize learning, OLGT sessions should match learning needs with appropriate OLGT platforms, incorporate strategies to sustain learner attention, and accommodate learners of different abilities. Secondly, to develop a learning culture, OLGT must not only focus on cognitive aspects of learning but also build a community of practice, nurture digital professionalism and professional identity. Thirdly, we discuss the avoidance of pitfalls such as cognitive overload of both tutors and learners, technical issues and security risks, mitigating inequities in access to online learning, and the use of program evaluation to plan for sustained improvements. We conclude with a case vignette that discusses the challenges of OLGT and the application of the above strategies in a teaching scenario.

Personal protective equipment training for non-healthcare workers in the Covid-19 pandemic: Effectiveness of an evidence-based skills training framework.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale quarantine facilities staffed with non-healthcare workers (NHCW) were instrumental in preventing community spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019). The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a newly developed procedural skills training framework in ensuring personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance of PPE-naïve NHCWs. METHODS: We developed a PPE procedural skills training framework for NHCWs using the Learn, See, Practice, Prove, Do, and Maintain (LSPPDM) framework and international guidelines on PPE for healthcare workers. The NHCWs underwent PPE training using this framework, conducted by a team of Infection Prevention nurses, prior to being stationed within the CCF. Effectiveness of the LSPPDM PPE training framework was assessed using: 1) competency assessment scores for NHCWs, 2) PPE compliance rates from daily audit findings, and, 3) healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection rates of NHCWs. RESULTS: A total of 883 NHCWs had completed the PPE training and demonstrated competency in PPE compliance, fulfilling 100% of the checklist requirements. Mean PPE compliance of all NHCWs during the 11-week study period was noted to be >96%. The post-implementation improvement was statistically significant when the compliance was expressed in 3-days blocks) and in bed management staff (P = < 0.05). None of the 883 NHCWs who underwent PPE training via the LSPPDM framework were diagnosed with healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: An evidence-based skills training framework is effective in PPE training of large numbers of NHCWs, resulting in high compliance of appropriate PPE use and prevention of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection.

Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia and risk of ischemic stroke among young Asian adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is emerging as a possible risk factor for stroke, possibly because of accelerated atherosclerosis. There are no previous publications evaluating homocyst(e)ine in young Asian ischemic stroke patients. We conducted a case-control study examining homocyst(e)ine, vitamin B12, and folate levels in young, first-ever Asian ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 109 consecutive young (<50 years) first-ever hospitalized ischemic stroke patients and 88 age/gender-matched hospital-based controls during a period of 18 months. Prevalence of vascular risk factors was assessed; fasting homocyst(e)ine, vitamin B12, and folate were assayed. Stroke mechanisms were subtyped using TOAST study criteria. RESULTS: Mean age was 43.8 (cases) and 43.1 (controls) years; 71.6% were male (cases and controls). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were significantly more prevalent in cases. Mean fasting homocyst(e)ine levels were significantly higher in cases (13.7 micro mol/L, 95% CI: 12.7 to 14.9) than controls (10.8 micro mol/L, 95% CI: 9.9 to 11.8, P<0.001). Mean vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in cases (299.5 pmol/L, 95% CI: 266.7 to 332.3) than controls (394.5 pmol/L, 95% CI: 357.9 to 431.0, P<0.001). Folate levels were not significantly different. Mean homocyst(e)ine levels were significantly elevated in large-artery strokes (16.9 micro mol/L, 95% CI: 14.5 to 19.7, P<0.001) but not other stroke subtypes compared with controls. Compared with the lowest homocyst(e)ine quartile, the highest quartile was significantly associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 4.3 for ischemic stroke and 25.3 for large-artery stroke. Using a logistic regression model, the adjusted odds ratio was 5.17 (95% CI: 1.96 to 13.63, P=0.001) for every 1 micro mol/L increase in log homocyst(e)ine. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is an independent risk factor for ischemic strokes in young Asian adults. The relationship between increasing homocyst(e)ine and stroke risk is strong, graded, and significant. The association with large-artery strokes suggests that hyperhomocyst(e)inemia may increase stroke risk via a proatherogenic effect.