Establishment and evaluation of a post caesarean acute pain service in a perinatological center:retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of establishing a Post Caesarean Acute Pain Service. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: University Hospital Brno. METHODS: We evaluated all patients undergoing delivery via Caesarean Section under anaesthesia in the periods 10/2009 - 9/2010 and 11/2010 - 10/2011. During the postoperative period at predefined times, we measured the Visual Analogue Scale, Additional Analgesic Requests, blood pressure, pulse rate and recorded any complications. We compared the Visual Analogue Scale Score and number of Additional Analgesic Requests in two groups of women, 212 patients before and 195 patients after the establishment of an Acute Pain Service in the first 72 hours after Caesarean Section. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in Visual Analogue Scale Score between the groups (p<0.05). The number of Additional Analgesic Requests 24-72 hours after Caesarean Section decreased below one requirement per 24 hours. The most effective analgesic method after Caesarean Section during the first 24 hours postoperatively was epidural analgesia. There was no statistically significant difference 24-72 hours after Caesarean Section between the methods of analgesia used. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, implementation of a Post Caesarean Acute Pain Service led to decrease in Visual Analogue Scale Score postoperatively. KEYWORDS: Acute Pain Service, postoperative analgesia, Caesarean Section, non-opioid analgesia, opioid analgesia, epidural analgesia.

[Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty]. / Prevence tromboembolické nemoci po implantaci totální endoprotézy kycelního kloubu.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The authors compare the frequency of thromboembolic disease in the patients receiving prophylactic therapy for 10 days with that in the patients having a prolonged course of preventive treatment recommended for up to 35 days after total hip arthroplasty (THA). MATERIAL The group first evaluated comprised patients undergoing total hip replacement in 2005 and 2006 when enoxaparin was administered for 10 days after surgery. Patients with revision THA were not included. The other group included patients operated on in 2008 who received preventive treatment for 35 post-operative days either with enoxaparin for the whole time, or with enoxaparin for 10 days of hospital stay and then warfarin up to the 35th day after surgery. Patients under going revision THA and those taking other prophylactic agents were not evaluated. METHODS The evaluation of the 2005/6 group included retrospective reviews of medical records, questionnaires sent to the patients and information received from their general practitioners. The 2008 group assessment was based on the information obtained at the patient's follow-up visit at 3 months and completed with data from the questionnaires and medical notes. We focused on the records of distal or proximal deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities and of pulmonary embolism including cases with a fatal outcome. Complications associated with pharmacological prevention were also recorded. RESULTS In the 2005/6 group including 478 patients with an average age of 67.2 years, 23 (4.8 %) patients developed thrombo- embolic disease within 3 months of surgery, six patients had pulmonary embolism of which two of them died. The thromboembolic complication developed at a median of 30.5 post-operative days, i.e., after patient discharge from hospital. In the 2008 group comprising 289 patients with an average age of 63.8 years, three patients (1 %) developed thromboembolic disease within 3 months of surgery. Of them, one woman had deep vein thrombosis in relation to a high factor VIII level; and one developed pulmonary embolism with no fatal outcome. Only the minority of patients (6.9 %) continued enoxaparin therapy, the majority (93.1 %) preferred conversion to warfarin after discharge from hospital. Of the total number of 289 patients evaluated, complications associated with prophylactic treatment were recorded in 52 patients (18 %), name- ly, in 35 patients (12.1 %) it was difficult to establish the correct dosage of warfarin, in 13 patients (4.5 %) warfarin caused minor bleeding or dyspepsia and in 4 patients (1.4 %) major bleeding was recorded. DISCUSSION In our study the patients receiving a 10-day prophylactic therapy showed a slightly higher occurrence of thromboembolic disease within 3 months of THA surgery (4.8 %) than the patients reported by Eikelboom et al. (4.3 %). The results of prolonged prophylactic treatment for at least 35 days were similar, thromboembolic disease was found in 1 % of the patients. The development of thromboembolic event was recorded in our study at a median of 30.5 post-operative days, as compared with a median of 17 days in the study by Liebermann et al. In both studies, most of the thromboembolic complications developed after the patients had been discharged from hospital. The majority of patients chose warfarin for prolonged preventive treatment. There was a high complication rate (18 %) due to not finding the correct warfarin dosage or because of its overdose CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing THA are at high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. The risk can be markedly reduced by prolonged pharmacological ophylaxis It is recommended that the use of warfarin for this prolonged therapy should be care- fully considered, because its optimal dose is difficult to establish and its overdose may cause serious complications.

[New antithrombotics in the prevention of venous thromboembolia and new anti-platelet drugs]. / Nová antitrombotika v prevenci zilní tromboembolie a nové protidestickové léky.

We first present a brief overview of new antithrombotic agents that are assumed to replace coumarines and heparin in many indications; this overview provides information on pentasaccharides, direct thrombin inhibitors and direct factorXa inhibitors. Secondly, since the new drugs with antiplatelet effect act through blockade of the reactions involved in blood platelet activation, we review and discuss the substances that interfere with this process. The current antiplatelet therapy focuses mainly on an inhibition of platelet aggregation stimulated by ADP, reducing the risk of arterial occlusions.

Thrombelastography during an acute normovolemic hemodilution in patient undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

The aim of our study was to monitor a patient undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) with an extraordinary large blood loss of 3600 ml. The perioperative bleeding was minimalized through an acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH). During the procedure we monitored the patient's hemocoagulation profile. ANH is one of the possibilities for practical and pragmatic hemotherapy. It is a safe and effective method when facing massive blood loss or when it is necessary to temporarily replace or substitute the blood with a fluid during the operation (through a transfusion of allogeneic blood); and the patient benefits from the procedure. We argue that during ANH, the hypercoagulatory state appears in the patient--and even during the introduction of a combined solution of both crystalloids and colloids. In fact, during ANH it should not be recommended to provide a substitute for the patient's blood using only a single crystalloid solution alone (Tab. 2, Ref. 16).

[Peripheral arterial disease and diabetes]. / Ischemická choroba dolních koncetin a diabetes.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disease characterised by narrowing and blockade of peripheral arteries, usually based on underlying obliterating atherosclerosis. According to the results of large epidemiological studies, the risk of PAD in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is fourfold higher compared to non-diabetic population. Patients with DM and PAD have a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Diabetes worsens the prognosis of patients with PAD; the onset of PAD in diabetics occurs at an earlier age, the course is faster than in non-diabetic patients and the disease is often diagnosed at its advanced stages. All these factors reduce the likelihood of revascularisation in DM patients with PAD. A range of factors (higher age, arterial hypertension, smoking, obesity, hyperfibrinogenaemia, insulin resistance etc.) contribute to the development of PAD in DM. Diabetes control is an independent risk factor of PAD as every 1% increase of hemoglobin A1C is associated with 28% increase of PAD. There are different clinical signs of PAD in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In addition to the history of claudications, PAD diagnostic criteria include the presence of murmur over the large arteries, signs of chronic ischemia on the skin and distal ulcerations and gangrene. Among the imaging techniques, non-invasive investigations including Doppler pressure measurement, ankle brachial pressure index, color duplex ultrasonography, plethysmography, transcutaneous tension measurement, MR and CT angiography are preferred. Ankle brachial pressure index measurement is the easiest and the main investigation technique. The key principles of PAD treatment in diabetic patients include modification of risk factors, pharmacotherapy and revascularisation interventions aimed at improving clinical signs and prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Antiplatelet treatment may prevent PAD progression and reduce cardiovascular events in DM patients. Early diagnosis of PAD in DM patients, rigorous prevention and aggressive management of the risk factors may significantly impact on the high incidence of amputations and decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

The importance of rheological parameters in the therapy of microcirculatory disorders.

Rheological conditions basically influence tissue perfusion, oxygen and nutrient supply, tissue regeneration and in its consequence the course of pathological processes, especially in microcirculation and partially even in macrocirculation. Haemorheotherapy has shown to be successful in several indications (critical disorders in microcirculation) when other methods of therapy have failed. In this study we describe the changes of effectivity indicators in haemorheopheresis treatment and their clinical importance in cases of eye microcirculation, statoacoustic apparatus and disorders of the lower extremities. We treated with haemorheopheresis (separator Cobe.Spetra + Evaflux filter) 24 patients (16 patients with age related macular degeneration, 5 with critical peripheral arterial foot disease, and 3 with acute hearing loss). After the procedures alpha2-macroglobulin decreases by about 58%, fibrinogen by about 69%, IgM by about 61%, LDL-cholesterol by about 77%, apolipoprotein B by about 76% and lipoprotein(a) by about 63%. It corresponds with a decrease in blood and plasma viscosity and clinical improvement in the observed patients, i.e. visual improvement, acceleration of tissue defect healing and improvement in hearing. We noticed 7.1% clinically insignificant side-effects. The method of haemorheopheresis was safe. It led to improvement in patients' clinical condition in the above mentioned indications when other methods of treatment failed.

[The profylaxis of venous thromboembolism in gynecology]. / Profylaxe venóizního tromboembolizmu v gynekologii.

The venous thromboembolism is a serious disease, but it is possible to some extend eliminate it by properthromboprophylaxis. The recommendations in gynecology result from guidelines not only in surgery and the internal medicine, but also from specific gynecologic conditions. The early and frequent mobilization is recommended for minor gynecological surgery and laparoscopic procedures. For major gynecological surgery and laparoscopic procedures in whom additional VTE risk factors are present, low molecular weight heparin is indicated. In major gynecological surgery for malignancy, low molecular heparin is needed in dose at least 4,000 antiXa IU. The prolonged prophylaxis for 28 days is also suitable in this setting.

[Prevention of venous thromboembolism in psychiatry]. / Prevence zilní tromboembolické nemoci v psychiatrii.

The hospitalized patients of the psychiatric wards represent a risk group for the development of venous thromboembolism. Apart from sedative administration, total movement reduction, bad life style and daily routine and increased body weight, there is negative impact of dehydration, prolonged hospitalization and sometimes immobilisation in consequence of mechanical restraints. A large amount of patients are treated with antipsychotics that have a series of adverse effects. Depending of the drug used, the most frequent of them are somnolence, fatigue, extrapyramidal syndrome, hypotension, hepatotoxicity, increased body weight, prolongation of the QT interval of the ECG with a risk of ventricular arrhythmias, hematopoietic disorders, lipid or glycide metabolism disorders or hyperprolactinemia. Another potential adverse effect of these drugs is the heightened risk of venous thromboembolism development (deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism). There is the risk of a pathological blood clotting event in psychiatric patients, especially those treated with antipsychotics. Although it is not high, it can have fatal consequences when combined with a relatively frequent pulmonary embolism and difficult diagnostics of thromboembolism. An algorithm for thromboembolism prevention has been developed. It involves important general risk factors of venous thrombosis (VTE history, immobilisation, malignancy, age over 75 years etc.) and also markers (physical restraints, dehydration, obesity, antipsychotics use) that can participate in the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis in the hospitalized psychiatric patients with limited motility. The authors believe that this prophylaxis is indicated, safe, effective and that it improves the quality of life at relatively low costs.

[Prevention of venous thromboembolism in internal medicine and neurology]. / Prevence zilní tromboembolické nemoci ve vnitrním lékarství a v neurologii.

Many hospitalized patients are under an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. They should have adequate pharmacological prophylaxis. Clinical studies including meta-analyses prove that low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis of venous thromboembolisms is equally effective as that employing unfractionated heparin and it features less bleeding complications. The effectiveness of pharmacological prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin in hospitalized patients at internal medicine departments has been proven by the MEDENOX study when enoxaparin in a dose of 40 mg was administered subcutaneously and the PREVENT study when subcutaneous dalteparin 5 000 units j. was administered daily. In the MEDENOX study, enoxaparin administration was confirmed to decrease the relative risk of venous thromboembolisms by 63% without increasing any adverse effects during the prophylaxis and the PREVENT study showed that dalteparin administration was followed by a highly significant reduction of asymptomatic venous thromboses in hospitalized patients. According the ACCP guideline for thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized internal medicine patients with clinical risk factor of venous thromboembolism (tumors, heart failures, sepsis, VTE history and serious pulmonary condition), low molecular weight heparin or mini-doses of unfractionated heparin are to be administered. The recent recommendations discourage the use of acetyl-salicylic acid in monotherapy treatment for venous thromboembolism prevention.

Endovascular Management of Acute Embolic Occlusion of the Superior Mesenteric Artery: A 12-Year Single-Centre Experience.

PURPOSE: Retrospective evaluation of 12-year experience with endovascular management of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) due to embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2003 to 2014, we analysed the in-hospital mortality of 37 patients with acute mesenteric embolism who underwent primary endovascular therapy with subsequent on-demand laparotomy. Transcatheter embolus aspiration was used in all 37 patients (19 women, 18 men, median age 76 years) with embolic occlusion of the SMA. Adjunctive local thrombolysis (n = 2) and stenting (n = 2) were also utilised. RESULTS: We achieved complete recanalization of the SMA stem in 91.9 %. One patient was successfully treated by surgical embolectomy due to a failed endovascular approach. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy was performed in 73.0 % (n = 27), and necrotic bowel resection in 40.5 %. The total in-hospital mortality was 27.0 %. CONCLUSION: Primary endovascular therapy for acute embolic SMA occlusion with on-demand laparotomy is a recommended algorithm used in our centre to treat SMA occlusion. This combined approach for the treatment of AMI is associated with in-hospital mortality rate of 27.0 %.

[Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) resistance in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) as bioindicator of the treatment strategy]. / Rezistence na kyselinu acetylosalicylovou u nemocných s ischemickou chorobou srdecní jako bioindikátor lécebné strategie.

BACKGROUND: The interest in aspirin resistance has been increasing during the last few years, with researchers earnestly pursuing alternative anti-platelet therapies and devices for measuring platelet aggregation. The recent studies suggest that 5-45% of patients taking aspirin do not experience adequate anti-platelet effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: There is scant evidence proving that aspirin resistance has some clinical consequences. To assess the prevalence of aspirin resistance in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) two independent methods were used: platelet aggregation in platelet rich plasma (PRP) after induction by propylgallate (CPG), and assessment of platelet function by PFA 100 method. The study population consisted of 424 patients treated for IHD on the 2nd Dept. of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Hradec Kralove. The age, gender, diagnosis and effect of therapy were characterized in this group of the patients. Daily ASA dose was 100 mg. We used two methods to monitor ASA treatment efficacy: a) thrombocyte aggregation after induction by CPG, b) the assessment of platelet function by PFA 100 method. a) Of the patients studied by CPG platelet aggregation, 51 (12.1%) pts were resistant to ASA dose 100 mg/day, and 32 (7.6%) pts remained resistant even after increasig the dose to 200 mg/day. In 80 (20%) pts, the daily ASA dose of less than 100 mg was sufficient to inhibit platelet function. b) Although the PFA-100 system is not able to detect the difference between low and high ASA dose, we found 53 (15.2%) patients aspirin resistant using this method. CONCLUSIONS: In the patients with IHD treated with 100 mg of ASA per day, our study has shown that the prevalence of aspirin resistance was 12.1% using CPG method, and 15.2% using PFA-100 method. Aspirin resistance was dose dependent. Prevalence of ASA resistance in patients treated with 200 mg of ASA per day was only 7.6% using the CPG method.

A prognostic score to identify low-risk outpatients with acute deep vein thrombosis in the upper extremity.

BACKGROUND: No studies have identified which patients with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are at low risk for adverse events within the first week of therapy. METHODS: We used data from Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbólica to explore in patients with upper-extremity DVT a prognostic score that correctly identified patients with lower limb DVT at low risk for pulmonary embolism, major bleeding, or death within the first week. RESULTS: As of December 2014, 1135 outpatients with upper-extremity DVT were recruited. Of these, 515 (45%) were treated at home. During the first week, three patients (0.26%) experienced pulmonary embolism, two (0.18%) had major bleeding, and four (0.35%) died. We assigned 1 point to patients with chronic heart failure, creatinine clearance levels 30-60 mL min(-1) , recent bleeding, abnormal platelet count, recent immobility, or cancer without metastases; 2 points to those with metastatic cancer; and 3 points to those with creatinine clearance levels < 30 mL min(-1) . Overall, 759 (67%) patients scored ≤ 1 point and were considered to be at low risk. The rate of the composite outcome within the first week was 0.26% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.004-0.87) in patients at low risk and 1.86% (95% CI 0.81-3.68) in the remaining patients. C-statistics was 0.73 (95% CI 0.57-0.88). Net reclassification improvement was 22%, and integrated discrimination improvement was 0.0055. CONCLUSIONS: Using six easily available variables, we identified outpatients with upper-extremity DVT at low risk for adverse events within the first week. These data may help to safely treat more patients at home.

Physician implementation of and patient adherence to recommendations from comprehensive geriatric assessment.

PURPOSE: The goals of this study were to develop and determine the feasibility of interventions designed to increase both primary care physician implementation of and patient adherence to recommendations from ambulatory-based consultative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), and to identify sociodemographic and intervention-related predictors of physician and patient adherence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine community-dwelling older persons who failed a screen for functional impairment, depressive symptoms, falls, or urinary incontinence received outpatient CGA consultation. These patients and the 115 physicians who provided primary care for them received one of three adherence interventions, each of which had a physician education component and a patient education and empowerment component. Recommendations were classified as physician-initiated or self-care and as "major" or "minor"; one was deemed "most important". Adherence rates were determined on the basis of face-to-face interviews with patients. RESULTS: Based on 528 recommendations for 139 subjects, physician implementation of "most important" recommendations was 83% and of major recommendations was 78.5%. Patient adherence with physician-initiated "most important" and "major" recommendations were 81.8% and 78.8% respectively. In multivariate models, only the status of the recommendation of "most important" (odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.3 to 4.5) and health maintenance organization (HMO) status of the patient (odds ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.6) remained significant in predicting physician implementation. The logistic model predicting patient adherence to physician-initiated recommendations included male patient gender (odds ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.0), the status of the recommendation of "most important" (odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.8), total number of recommendations (odds ratio 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), and total number of problems identified by CGA (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.7). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that relatively modest interventions strategies are feasible and lead to high levels of physician implementation of and patient adherence to physician-initiated CGA recommendations. These interventions appear to be particularly effective in HMO patients and for recommendations that were deemed to be "most important".

Managing geriatric syndromes: what geriatric assessment teams recommend, what primary care physicians implement, what patients adhere to.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the responses of primary care physicians and patients to recommendations from a community-based comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) program for management of four target conditions: falls, depression, urinary incontinence, and functional impairment. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Senior centers, meal sites, senior housing, and other community sites as screening locations; and a community-bases academic practice as the location for CGA. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 150 older patients living in the community who have one or more of the four target conditions and who received CGA. MEASUREMENTS: Physician implementation and patient adherence rates were ascertained during a face-to-face structured interview with the patient 3 months after CGA. RESULTS: Two hundred twelve of 528 (40%) CGA recommendations were clearly or possible related to the target or target-related conditions. Of these 212 recommendations, 59% required a physician's order for implementation. The remaining 41% were patient self-care recommendations. Overall physician implementation across conditions was 70%; implementation rates were highest for falls and lowest for functional impairment. Overall patient adherence rate was 85% for physician-implemented recommendations and 46% for self-care recommendations. Patient adherence to recommendations for counseling or support groups and exercise programs was particularly low. CONCLUSIONS: When examining the process of care of community-based CGA, patient as well as physician adherence must be considered. Although patient adherence to physician-initiated recommendations was high for all conditions, it varied substantially across target conditions and types of recommendations for self-care recommendations.

A randomized clinical trial of outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessment coupled with an intervention to increase adherence to recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Although comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been demonstrated to confer health benefits in some settings, its value in outpatient or office settings is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of outpatient CGA consultation coupled with an adherence intervention on 15-month health outcomes. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community-based sites. PATIENTS: 363 community-dwelling older persons who had failed a screen for at least one of four conditions (falls, urinary incontinence, depressive symptoms, or functional impairment) INTERVENTION: A single outpatient CGA consultation coupled with an intervention to improve primary care physician and patient adherence with CGA recommendations. MEASUREMENTS: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36), restricted activity and bed days, Physical Performance Test, NIA lower-extremity battery. RESULTS: In complete case analysis (excluding the five control group subjects who died during the follow-up period), the adjusted difference in change scores (4.69 points) for physical functioning between treatment and control groups indicated a significant benefit of treatment (P = .021). Similar benefits were demonstrated for number of restricted activity days and MOS SF-36 energy/fatigue, social functioning, and physical health summary scales. In analyses assigning scores of 0 to those who died, these benefits were greater, and significant benefits for the Physical Performance Test and MOS SF-36 emotional/well being, pain, and mental health summary scales were also demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: A single outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessment coupled with an adherence intervention can prevent functional and health-related quality-of-life decline among community-dwelling older persons who have specific geriatric conditions.

Perceived efficacy in patient-physician interactions (PEPPI): validation of an instrument in older persons.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a brief instrument--the Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions Questionnaire (PEPPI)--to measure older patients' self-efficacy in obtaining medical information and attention to their medical concerns from physicians. DESIGN: Two consecutive validation surveys. SETTING: Eleven senior multipurpose centers in Los Angeles County California. POPULATION: A convenience sample of 163 community-dwelling older persons (Survey 1: n=59, mean age=77.1 years, 76.3% female; Survey 2: n=104, mean age=77.4 years, 57.7% female). MEASURES: The 10-item PEPPI, subscales of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Coping Scale, the Mastery Scale, and global self-reported health and restricted activity days items. RESULTS: The full 10-item and a 5-item short form of PEFPI demonstrated Cronbach's alphas of 0.91 and 0.83, respectively. PEPPI demonstrated discriminant and convergent validity as hypothesized, correlating negatively with avoidant coping (r=-.27, P=.001) and positively with active coping (r=.17, P=.03) and with patient satisfaction with physician interpersonal manner (r=.49, P < .0001) and communication (r=.51, P < .0001) (values from the overall sample). Further, in the second survey, PEPPI correlated positively with self-reported health (r=.42, P < .0001), education (r = .24, P=.01) and self-mastery (r=.29, P=.01) and negatively with restricted activity days (r=-.25, P=.01). PEPPI-5 demonstrated correlations similar in magnitude, direction, and statistical significance. CONCLUSION: In either the 5- or 10-item version, PEPPI is a valid and reliable measure of older patients' perceived self-efficacy in interacting with physicians. This instrument may be useful in measuring the impact of empowerment interventions to increase older patients' personal sense of effectiveness in obtaining needed health care.

The Prevention for Elderly Persons (PEP) Program: a model of municipal and academic partnership to meet the needs of older persons for preventive services.

OBJECTIVE: To create a program to identify preventive needs for community-dwelling older persons and incorporate intervention strategies to improve implementation of these services. DESIGN: Program development and case-series. SETTING: Community-based meal sites, academically administered program. PARTICIPANTS: Persons 60 years of age or older attending meal sites and their primary care physicians. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics, self reported preventive health behaviors and services, blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: During the first 2 years of the program, 927 persons 60 years of age or older were screened. The most common physician-initiated preventive recommendations were: tetanus booster (72%), aspirin prophylaxis (68%), pneumonia vaccination (61%), and colorectal cancer screening (51%). The most common self-care recommendations have been: calcium supplementation (54% of women) and breast self examinations (51% of women). As part of the adherence intervention, we were able to complete health educator calls for 600 (65%) subjects. In addition, the physicians of 599 (65%) subjects were contacted either by telephone (n = 496) or by letter only (n = 97). CONCLUSION: A community based preventive services program can identify large numbers of unmet preventive services needs, and a dual intervention strategy aimed at meeting these needs can be delivered successfully to the majority of participants. Implementation rates of specific recommendations and impacts on health outcomes remain to be determined.

Determinants of patient adherence to consultative comprehensive geriatric assessment recommendations.

BACKGROUND: In consultative models of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), lack of implementation of CGA recommendations is well documented and appears to be a potential explanation for negative findings. The purpose of this study is to identify patient determinants of adherence to recommendations received from a community-based CGA consultative model program. METHODS: Subjects (N = 139) received self-care and/or physician-initiated CGA recommendations and were interviewed three months later to determine adherence with the most important recommendation, and health belief, communication, and social support factors associated with adherence. Independent variables were organized into the Andersen Behavioral Model for analysis. RESULTS: At the bivariate level, one predisposing factor (intention) and six enabling factors (low difficulty level, high support, high utility, high self-efficacy, agreement on the importance of the recommendation and good specific communication about the recommendation) were significant determinants of adherence. Two functional health measures and seriousness of the target condition of the recommendation were significant need factors. In the final logistic regression model, one predisposing variable (intention), one enabling variable (utility), and one need factor (high functional status), and two interaction terms significantly predicted adherence. CONCLUSION: CGA recommendations that are seen as worthwhile, not too much trouble, and able to be accomplished are the most likely to be initiated. Older adults with relatively higher functional levels are also more likely to follow through with CGA recommendations even though their needs may be lower. We found the Andersen Behavioral Model useful in the analysis of factors associated with adherence behavior to consultative CGA recommendations.

Qualitative research for the study of cancer and age.

Qualitiative research emphasizes identification, illumination, and understanding of phenomena, the meaning and theory behind which are unpresumed by the investigator. Although quantitative techniques are used to test predetermined hypotheses, qualitative techniques are used to generate hypotheses. Qualitative techniques have only begun to be used in medical research in the past decade but are especially useful in exploring content areas about which little is known and in eliciting and understanding the patient's perspective. Despite the aging of the United States population, the cancer illness experience has not been well studied in older patients. Because communication preferences, treatment decision-making styles, psychosocial issues, and the illness experience itself may be significantly different for older persons diagnosed with cancer than for younger persons, qualitative research techniques can be used to identify those differences critical to the effective health care of this burgeoning population.

Early recognition of chemical dependence.

Chemical dependence is a leading cause of morbidity and death in the United States. At least 20% of patients seen by primary care physicians in both the outpatient and inpatient setting are chemically dependent. Up to 90% of these patients go undiagnosed by their primary physicians. Chemical dependence is defined as a chronic, progressive illness characterized by the repeated and persistent use of alcohol or drugs despite negative health, family, work, financial, or legal consequences. Primary care physicians are in an ideal position to detect chemical dependence at its earliest stages, when irreversible medical consequences and death are most likely preventable. Alcohol is the most common drug of abuse. Improving the rate of recognition of chemical dependence depends on being familiar with the constellation of physical, mental, and social indicators. Early medical manifestations of alcoholism common in the primary care setting include: gastric complaints, elevated blood pressure, palpitations, traumatic injuries, headaches, impotence, and gout. Early psychosocial manifestations common in both alcohol and drug dependence include anxiety, depression, insomnia, persistent relationship conflicts, work or school problems, and financial or legal problems. Particularly useful laboratory indicators of alcoholism include elevated levels of GGT and MCV, both displaying high specificity, with the GGT level being the most sensitive. Similarly specific laboratory tests for drug dependence are not available. Any patient presenting with any of the above medical, psychosocial, or laboratory manifestations should be screened for chemical dependence. The CAGE questionnaire for alcoholism, a four-question test, is particularly well suited to the primary care setting, where it can be administered in fewer than 60 seconds. The CAGE has demonstrated high sensitivity (in the 80% range) and specificity (approximately 85%) for alcoholism. Comparably convenient instruments do not yet exist for drug dependence, although a 28-item instrument, the DAST (Drug Abuse Screening Test), has demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for drug abuse.