Reducing the Gap in Knowledge and Expectations between Clinicians and People with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or Adrenal Conditions: Simulation via Instant Messaging-Birmingham Advance: Patient and Public Involvement (SIMBA-PPI) Study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of SIMBA as an educational intervention for both HCPs and people with either PCOS or adrenal conditions and to study the change in knowledge of people with PCOS or adrenal conditions about the conditions and expectations from the HCPs involved in their care following SIMBA-PPI sessions. METHODS: Two SIMBA-PPI sessions (SIMBA-PPI Polycystic ovary syndrome (SIMBA-PCOS) and SIMBA-PPI Adrenal conditions (SIMBA-Adrenal conditions)) were conducted in September 2021 and March 2022. In both sessions, HCPs interacted with moderators on patient management through WhatsApp. Patients with respective conditions underwent workshop-style learning in the same cases. SIMBA-PCOS transcripts were also translated into Brazilian Portuguese and workshops were held in both Brazilian Portuguese and English. The two groups (HCPs and patients) were then brought together to discuss exploring gaps in knowledge and expectations. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test compared differences in pre- and post-SIMBA self-reported confidence levels in HCPs and patients. Qualitative data from the online recordings were transcribed and analysed with inductive thematic analysis to identify gaps in knowledge and expectations from managing the cases. RESULTS: 48 HCPs and 25 patients participated in our study. When compared to pre-SIMBA confidence levels, SIMBA-PPI sessions effectively improved clinicians' confidence in managing PCOS (40.5%, p < .001) and adrenal conditions (23.0%, p < .001) post-SIMBA. Patient participants' confidence in HCPs significantly increased in the PCOS session (SIMBA-PCOS: 6.25%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Integration of PPI into SIMBA improved HCPs' confidence in managing PCOS and adrenal conditions. SIMBA-PPI also improved patients' confidence in HCPs. Our findings suggest that participating in SIMBA-PPI sessions can reduce the gap in knowledge and expectations between patients and HCPs involved in their care.

SX-ELLA biodegradable stent for benign oesophageal strictures: a systematic review and proportion meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aimed to analyse the use of the SX-ELLA biodegradable stent (BDS) for benign oesophageal strictures through the assessment of clinical and technical success, differences in pre- and post-BDS insertion dysphagia scores, rates of stent migration, and safety. METHODS: A systematic review was reported according to PRISMA guidelines, with a prospectively registered protocol. The databases PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to March 2022. Studies assessing the use of the SX-ELLA BDS in adults with benign oesophageal strictures were included. A pooled data analysis was conducted to analyse the clinical and technical success associated with BDS use, rate of stent migration, and safety. RESULTS: Of the 1509 articles identified, 16 studies treating 246 patients were eligible for inclusion. BDS was clinically successful in 41.9% of cases (95% CI = 35.7 - 48.1%), defined as those who experienced complete symptom resolution following BDS insertion. Technical success was achieved in 97.2% of patients (95% CI = 95.1 - 99.3%). A pooled analysis concluded a decrease in mean dysphagia score of 1.8 points (95% CI = 1.68 - 1.91) following BDS insertion. Re-intervention was required in 89 patients (36.2%, 95% CI = 30.2 - 42.2%), whilst stent migration occurred in 6.5% of patients (95% CI = 3.4 - 9.6%). A total of 37 major clinical complications related to BDS insertion were reported (15.0%, 95% CI = 10.5 - 19.5%). CONCLUSION: The pooled data analysis demonstrates the high technical and moderate clinical success of the SX-ELLA biodegradable stent, supporting its use for benign oesophageal strictures in adults. However, greater evidence is required for more robust conclusions to be made in terms of success when compared to alternative methods of intervention, such as endoscopic dilation.