Factors leading to overutilisation of hospital pathology testing: the junior doctor's perspective.

Objective Pathology overutilisation is a significant issue affecting the quality and cost of health care. Because junior medical officers (JMOs) order most pathology tests in the hospital setting, the aim of the present study was to identify the main reasons for hospital pathology overutilisation from the perspective of the JMO. Methods A qualitative method, using focus group methodology, was undertaken. Sixteen JMOs from two hospitals participated in three focus groups. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Three major themes contributed to overutilisation: the real and perceived expectations of senior colleagues, the level of JMO clinical experience and strategies to manage JMO workload around clinical systems. Within these themes, 12 subthemes were identified. Conclusions Overutilisation of hospital pathology testing occurs when there are high social costs to JMOs for underordering, with little cost for overordering. Interventions should restore this balance through reframing overutilisation as both a costly and potentially harmful activity, promoting a supportive culture with regular senior guidance, and addressing clinical systems in which missed tests create an excessive workload. What is known about the topic? Mean overutilisation rates of pathology testing are reported to be as high as 44%. Although numerous studies have reported successful efforts to decrease hospital pathology overutilisation, no primary research was identified that examined the JMO perspective on this subject. What does this paper add? Clinical need is not the primary factor guiding the pathology-ordering decisions of junior practitioners; rather, medical team culture, limited JMO experience and systems factors have a significant role. What are the implications for practitioners? The social and behavioural determinants of pathology ordering must be considered to achieve appropriate pathology test utilisation. These include senior medical officer engagement, the guidance of JMOs and clinical workflows.

ADHERENCE TO INFLUENZA VACCINATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS DURING AND AFTER INFLUENZA A (H1N1) PANDEMIC.

This study evaluated the adherence to influenza vaccination among medical students in 2010 and 2011. From August to December 2011, a questionnaire was used to record the influenza vaccination in 2010 and 2011, reasons for acceptance of the influenza vaccine and knowledge of healthcare workers about the influenza vaccine recommendation. One hundred and forty-four students from the 2ndto the 6th years of the medical school were interviewed. A great adherence to pandemic influenza vaccine was noted in 2010, (91% of the students), with "self-protection" being the most common reason cited for vaccination. Other determinants for the vaccination during pandemic were "convenient access to vaccine" and "encouragement by peers and teachers in workplaces and at the university". However, there was a great decay in the acceptance to vaccine in the next influenza season (2011). Only 42% of the students received the vaccine. They claimed "lack of time" and "have forgotten to take the vaccine" as the main reasons. The "knowledge on the recommendation of influenza vaccine to healthcare workers" increased when the students come to attend the last year of the medical school, but that was an insufficient motivator for vaccination. Strategies to increase vaccination should be based on the abovementioned aspects for the adoption of effective measures in both, pandemic and seasonal periods.

Pediatric hospital admissions from influenza A (H1N1) in Brazil: effects of the 2010 vaccination campaign.

lIn 2009, the influenza A (H1N1) virus spread rapidly around the world, causing the first pandemic of the 21st Century. In 2010, there was a vaccination campaign against this new virus subtype to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the disease in some countries, including Brazil. Herein, we describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients under 19 years of age who were hospitalized with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection in 2009 and 2010. We retrospectively reviewed files from the pediatric patients who were admitted to a university hospital with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection in 2009 and 2010. There were 37 hospitalized patients with influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 and 2 in 2010. In 2009, many of the hospitalized children had an underlying chronic disease and a lower median age than those not hospitalized. Of the hospitalized patients, 78% had a chronic disease, primarily pneumopathy (48%). The main signs and symptoms of influenza were fever (97%), cough (76%), and dyspnea (59%). Complications occurred in 81% of the patients. The median length of hospitalization was five days; 27% of the patients required intensive care, and two died. In 2010, two patients were hospitalized with influenza A (H1N1): one infant with adenovirus co-infection who had received one previous H1N1 vaccine dose and presented with respiratory sequelae and a 2-month-old infant who had a hospital-acquired infection. An impressive reduction in hospital admissions was observed in 2010 when the vaccination campaign took place in Brazil.

Pediatric hospital admissions from influenza A (H1N1) in Brazil: effects of the 2010 vaccination campaign

lIn 2009, the influenza A (H1N1) virus spread rapidly around the world, causing the first pandemic of the 21st Century. In 2010, there was a vaccination campaign against this new virus subtype to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the disease in some countries, including Brazil. Herein, we describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients under 19 years of age who were hospitalized with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection in 2009 and 2010. We retrospectively reviewed files from the pediatric patients who were admitted to a university hospital with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection in 2009 and 2010. There were 37 hospitalized patients with influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 and 2 in 2010. In 2009, many of the hospitalized children had an underlying chronic disease and a lower median age than those not hospitalized. Of the hospitalized patients, 78% had a chronic disease, primarily pneumopathy (48%). The main signs and symptoms of influenza were fever (97%), cough (76%), and dyspnea (59%). Complications occurred in 81% of the patients. The median length of hospitalization was five days; 27% of the patients required intensive care, and two died. In 2010, two patients were hospitalized with influenza A (H1N1): one infant with adenovirus co-infection who had received one previous H1N1 vaccine dose and presented with respiratory sequelae and a 2-month-old infant who had a hospital-acquired infection. An impressive reduction in hospital admissions was observed in 2010 when the vaccination campaign took place in Brazil.

Factors associated with clinical, immunological and virological responses in protease-inhibitor-experienced Brazilian children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy containing lopinavir-ritonavir.

This study evaluates clinical, virological and immunological responses to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy based on Lopinavir/ritonovir (LPV/r) in previously protease -inhibitor-experienced children. The study included 29 Brazilian children (median age = 5.91 years) who had failed previous ARV therapy and had begun a regimen based on LPV/r. At 12 months follow-up, a good virological response to LPV/r therapy was defined as achieving an undetectable viral load or as a decrease in plasma HIV RNA levels to > 1 log. A good immunological response was defined as an increase in CD4+ cell count from baseline sufficient to attain a better CDC immune stage classification. The number of infectious episodes 12 months before and 12 months after beginning LPV/r was assessed. Sixteen (55.2%) and 19 (65.5%) of 29 patients exhibited good virological and immunological responses, respectively. Baseline CD4+ values (>500) predicted both virological and immunological responses (p<0.05). Older children were less likely to develop an immunological response (p<0.001) than younger children. Nine children receiving 3 ARV drugs plus LPV/r showed an immunological response (100%) compared to 10/20 (50%) children receiving 2 drugs plus LPV/r (p=0.01). A lower number (n<5) of infectious episodes was noted after 12 months follow-up in children using the LPV/r regimen (p=0.006). There was a positive correlation between children whose baseline CD4+ values were greater than 500 cells/mm(3) and virological responses. Although virological responses to therapy were seen in about half the children (55.2%), the use of HAART containing LPV/r provided clinical and immmunological benefits.

Factors associated with clinical, immunological and virological responses in protease-inhibitor-experienced brazilian children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy containing Lopinavir-Ritonavir

This study evaluates clinical, virological and immunological responses to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy based on Lopinavir/ritonovir (LPV/r) in previously protease -inhibitor-experienced children. The study included 29 Brazilian children (median age = 5.91 years) who had failed previous ARV therapy and had begun a regimen based on LPV/r. At 12 months follow-up, a good virological response to LPV/r therapy was defined as achieving an undetectable viral load or as a decrease in plasma HIV RNA levels to > 1 log. A good immunological response was defined as an increase in CD4+ cell count from baseline sufficient to attain a better CDC immune stage classification. The number of infectious episodes 12 months before and 12 months after beginning LPV/r was assessed. Sixteen (55.2 percent) and 19 (65.5 percent) of 29 patients exhibited good virological and immunological responses, respectively. Baseline CD4+ values (>500) predicted both virological and immunological responses (p<0.05). Older children were less likely to develop an immunological response (p<0.001) than younger children. Nine children receiving 3 ARV drugs plus LPV/r showed an immunological response (100 percent) compared to 10/20 (50 percent) children receiving 2 drugs plus LPV/r (p=0.01). A lower number (n<5) of infectious episodes was noted after 12 months follow-up in children using the LPV/r regimen (p=0.006). There was a positive correlation between children whose baseline CD4+ values were greater than 500 cells/mm³ and virological responses. Although virological responses to therapy were seen in about half the children (55.2 percent), the use of HAART containing LPV/r provided clinical and immmunological benefits.

Social well-being of siblings living with a child with diabetes:a qualitative study.

Qualitative data were collected to determine the impact on children where the sibling have diabetes. This study represents an attempt to achieve a broad perspective and understanding of effects on the well child and family relations. In-depth interviews were conducted with siblings and their parents exploring the impact of diabetes on sibling's daily lives, sibling relationships and knowledge of diabetes. In this study we gained first hand knowledge of the actions and reactions of children to their siblings in the context of their daily lives. A semi-structured interview guide was used to assist data collection. A sample of 32 participants was interviewed involving well children and their parents.