Optimizing teacher basic need satisfaction in distributed healthcare contexts.

Optimizing teacher motivation in distributed learning environments is paramount to ensure high-quality education, as medical education is increasingly becoming the responsibility of a larger variety of healthcare contexts. This study aims to explore teaching-related basic need satisfaction, e.g. teachers' feelings of autonomy, competence and relatedness in teaching, in different healthcare contexts and to provide insight into its relation to contextual factors. We distributed a digital survey among healthcare professionals in university hospitals (UH), district teaching hospitals (DTH), and primary care (PC). We used the Teaching-related Basic Need Satisfaction scale, based on the Self-Determination theory, to measure teachers' basic needs satisfaction in teaching. We studied relations between basic need satisfaction and perceived presence of contextual factors associated with teacher motivation drawn from the literature. Input from 1407 healthcare professionals was analyzed. PC healthcare professionals felt most autonomous, UH healthcare professionals felt most competent, and DTH healthcare professionals felt most related. Regardless of work context, teachers involved in educational design and who perceived more appreciation and developmental opportunities for teaching reported higher feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in teaching, as did teachers who indicated that teaching was important at their job application. Perceived facilitators for teaching were associated with feeling more autonomous and related. These results can be utilized in a variety of healthcare contexts for improving teaching-related basic need satisfaction. Recommendations for practice include involving different healthcare professionals in educational development and coordination, forming communities of teachers across healthcare contexts, and addressing healthcare professionals' intentions to be involved in education during job interviews.

How is self-regulated learning documented in e-portfolios of trainees? A content analysis.

BACKGROUND: It is assumed that portfolios contribute to self-regulated learning (SRL). Presence of these SRL processes within the documentation kept in portfolios is presupposed in common educational practices, such as the assessment of reflective entries. However, questions can be asked considering the presence of SRL within portfolios. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the documentation of SRL processes within the electronic (e)-portfolio content of medical trainees. SRL consists of numerous processes, for this study the focus was on self-assessment via reflection and feedback, goal-setting and planning, and monitoring, as these are the processes that health professions education research mentions to be supported by portfolios. METHODS: A database containing 1022 anonymous e-portfolios from General Practitioner trainees was used to provide descriptive statistics of the various available e-portfolio forms. This was followed by a quantitative content analysis of 90 e-portfolios, for which, a codebook was constructed to rate the documentation of the included SRL processes. RESULTS: The numbers of forms in the e-portfolios varied to a great extent. Content analysis showed a limited documentation of reflective entries, and available entries mainly described events and experiences without explanations and context. Feedback was generally limited to comments on what went well and lacked specificity, context and suggestions for future action. Learning goals and plans were short of specificity, but did contain challenging topics and different goals were compatible with each other. 75% of the e-portfolios showed (limited) signs of monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The e-portfolio content showed limited documentation of SRL processes. As documentation of SRL requires time and asks for a high level of introspection and writing skills, one cannot expect documentation of SRL processes to appear in e-portfolio content without efforts.

Personal-professional Development Program Fosters Resilience During COVID-Pandemic.

Problem: Epidemiological data throughout the academic world show an upswing in mental health concerns among students, even more significant during the ongoing COVID-pandemic. Many universities have recognized these problems and started counseling programs. However, currently reported stress levels and mental health problems at many universities remain substantial. Approach: Our medical faculty features an evidence informed longitudinal program on personal-professional development (LPPD) integrated into the core curriculum to strengthen wellbeing and support the student as a whole. Outcomes: With our LPPD program we show that it is possible to successfully enable personal-professional development and well-being, especially in unexpected times when resilience is needed. The safe learning environment the teacher-coaches created has proven to be an important condition in this regard. Next steps: The LPPD program will be further evaluated and both results and program materials will be shared with the academic community through web-pages, online material and research papers.

Influence of age on the outcome of antitumour necrosis factor alpha therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of age on the effectiveness and tolerance of antitumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 730 patients of the Dutch Rheumatoid Arthritis Monitoring (DREAM) register were categorised into three groups according to their age at initiation of anti-TNFalpha therapy (<45, 45-65 and >65 years). Effectiveness of anti-TNFalpha therapy was primarily assessed by longitudinal analysis of the DAS28 during the first 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Improvement in disease activity and physical functioning was significantly less in elderly patients, correcting for relevant confounders. Elderly patients reached the EULAR categories of good responders and remission less often than younger patients. Drug survival, co-medication use and tolerance were comparable between the three age groups. CONCLUSION: Anti-TNFalpha therapy significantly reduced disease activity in all age groups of patients; however, it appeared less effective in elderly compared with younger RA patients.

Disease activity as a risk factor for myocardial infarction in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at greater risk of developing coronary heart disease than the general population. Systemic inflammation may contribute to this risk. This study investigated whether the level of disease activity is associated with the risk of developing myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with RA. METHODS: A case-control study was performed within a large prospective cohort of patients with RA. Cases were patients who developed their first MI after the diagnosis of RA, controls were patients with RA without MI. Cases and controls had similar RA disease duration. Traditional and disease-specific risk factors for MI were collected and a time-averaged disease activity score (DAS28) was calculated. The data were analysed using conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Cases of MI were significantly older, were more often male, with higher body mass index (BMI) and total cholesterol and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) serum levels than controls. Time-averaged disease activity was similar for cases and controls. The raw odds ratio for MI in patients with a "high" (>4.0) versus a "low" (

Influence of age and gender on the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of age and gender on the components of the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to clarify whether a high DAS28 can be equally interpreted in all age groups, independent of gender. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 553 patients with RA was studied for approximately 20 years after diagnosis. The single measures of disease activity and the share of different components of the DAS28 (eg, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ESR) were analysed and compared between three age groups (<45, 45-65 and >65 years) and per gender, using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The performance of the DAS28 and its components was explored in moderate to high and low DAS28 categories. Linear mixed model analysis was used to design the models best predicting ESR and the share of ESR. RESULTS: ESR significantly increased with age, independent of other variables of disease activity. This increase was more pronounced in male than in female patients. Nevertheless, the share of ESR increased with age only in male patients with a low DAS28 (<3.2). If the DAS28 score was >3.2, age and gender did not have a significant effect on any components of the DAS28. C-reactive protein (CRP) and DAS28(CRP) were not influenced by age. CONCLUSIONS: A high DAS28 was found to perform equally in all age groups, in men and women, despite the elevating effect of age on ESR. In elderly men with low disease activity, remission rate could be underestimated by an elevated ESR.

[Alendronate more effective than alfacalcidol in the prevention of osteoporosis in patients with rheumatic disease who are starting glucocorticoid therapy]. / Alendroninezuur effectiever dan alfacalcidol voor preventie van osteoporose bij patiënten met een reumatische ziekte die starten met glucocorticoïdtherapie.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of alendronate and alfacalcidol in the prevention ofglucocorticoid-related osteoporosis in patients with a rheumatic disease. DESIGN: Randomised, double-blind, double-placebo clinical trial (www. clinicaltrials.gov; number: NCT00138983). METHODS: A total of 201 patients with rheumatic disease who were starting glucocorticoid treatment at a daily dose that was equivalent to at least 7.5 mg of prednisone were randomised to alendronate (10 mg) and a placebo capsule ofalfacalcidol daily (n = 100) or alfacalcidol (1 microg) and a placebo tablet ofalendronate daily (n = 101) for 18 months. Primary outcome was change in lumbar spine bone mineral density at 18 months. The main secondary outcome was the incidence of morphometrically confirmed vertebral deformities. RESULTS: Overall, 163 patients completed the study. The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine increased by 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1-3.1) in the alendronate group and decreased by 1.9% (95% CI: -3.I--0.7) in the alfacalcidol group. At 18 months the mean difference in change in bone mineral density between the two groups was 4.0% (95% CI: 2.4-5-5). Three patients in the alendronate group had a new vertebral deformity, compared with 8 patients in the alfacalcidol group, including 5 symptomatic vertebral fractures in 3 patients; the hazard ratio was 0.4 (95% CI: 0.1-1.4). CONCLUSION: Alendronate was more effective than alfacalcidol in preventing glucocorticoid-induced bone loss during this 18-month trial in patients with rheumatic diseases who were starting glucocorticoid treatment.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Fifty patients with RA participated in 3 groups: recent onset active RA (n = 20), longstanding active RA (n = 20) and long-standing RA in remission (n = 10), and were compared with 20 healthy controls. The activity of the HPA-axis was assessed under basal conditions and in response to stress (insulin tolerance test, ITT). In addition, patients with recent onset RA underwent a corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) test and a dexamethasone suppression test. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-6 were also measured. RESULTS: Basal plasma, salivary and urinary cortisol levels and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were not different between patients with RA and healthy controls. During the ITT, cortisol levels were consistently lower in RA patients than in healthy controls. ACTH levels during the ITT were not different between patients with RA and healthy controls. ACTH and cortisol responses to CRH were assessed only in patients with recent onset RA and were found to be within normal limits. Basal circulating plasma IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with active RA than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Under the standardized conditions of the ITT, patients with RA have decreased plasma cortisol levels compared to healthy controls, despite elevated levels of IL-6. The defect is probably located at the adrenal level and may be of pathogenetic significance for the development of chronic arthritis.

Efficacy and safety of daily risedronate in the treatment of corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in men and women: a randomized trial. European Corticosteroid-Induced Osteoporosis Treatment Study.

Long-term use of high-dose corticosteroids often results in bone loss, which may lead to osteoporosis-related fractures. This was a multicenter, double-blind study in which 290 ambulatory men and women receiving high-dose oral corticosteroid therapy (prednisone > or = 7.5 mg/day or equivalent) for 6 or more months were randomized to receive placebo, risedronate 2.5 mg/day, or risedronate 5 mg/day for 12 months. All patients received calcium 1 g and vitamin D 400 IU daily. The primary endpoint was lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) at month 12. Additional measurements included BMD at the femoral neck and trochanter and the incidence of vertebral fractures. Overall, there were statistically significant treatment effects on BMD at 12 months at the lumbar spine (p < 0.001), femoral neck (p = 0.004), and trochanter (p = 0.010). Risedronate 5 mg increased BMD at 12 months by a mean (SEM) of 2.9% (0.49%) at the lumbar spine, 1.8% (0.46%) at the femoral neck, and 2.4% (0.54%) at the trochanter, whereas BMD was maintained only in the control group. Although not powered to show fracture efficacy, we observed a reduction in the incidence of vertebral fractures of 70% in the combined risedronate treatment groups, relative to placebo (p = 0.042). Risedronate was well tolerated, had a good safety profile, and was not associated with gastrointestinal adverse events. We conclude that risedronate increases BMD and potentially reduces the incidence of vertebral fractures in patients with corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: an update with focus on mechanisms involved in toxicity.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an update of the current knowledge of the mechanism of action of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with an emphasis on the mechanisms involved in toxicity. We also considered strategies currently used to prevent or decrease toxicity of MTX. METHODS: We reviewed the literature dealing with the subjects of MTX treatment of RA, the mechanisms of action of low-dose MTX regarding efficacy and toxicity, and strategies used to prevent or decrease MTX toxicity. RESULTS: MTX is a fast working and effective second-line antirheumatic agent (SLA). Its use is limited mainly because of side effects. The mechanisms of action regarding efficacy and toxicity are probably determined by different metabolic pathways. Recent data indicate that the antiinflammatory effect of MTX is mediated by adenosine. However, MTX side effects can only partly be explained by folate antagonism and may also depend on its action on other related metabolic pathways. The latter include the homocysteine-methionine-polyamine pathway and purine metabolism. Variants in these metabolic routes (ie, the C677T mutation in the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] gene), may predispose to the development of side effects. Currently the most promising strategy to decrease or prevent toxicity of MTX is concomitant prescription of folic acid or folinic acid. Other strategies are currently under investigation. CONCLUSIONS: MTX benefits a majority of RA patients. Approximately 30% of patients, however, abandon treatment because of drug-related side effects. Folic acid or folinic acid likely reduces MTX toxicity. More data, however, are needed to evaluate a potential detrimental effect on the antirheumatic efficacy of MTX.

Modified sharp method: factors influencing reproducibility and variability.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In rheumatoid arthritis, joint radiography is still the most frequently used instrument to assess the progression of joint damage. Unfortunately, the poor quality of the radiographic scoring methods available has a negative impact on the power in clinical trials. This study focuses on the influence of the following 4 factors on radiographic scores according to van der Heijde's modification of the Sharp method: intraobserver variation, interobserver variation, follow-up time, and number of measurement occasions within a patient series. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-two patients in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis were followed up. During the first 3 years, radiographs of the hands and feet were taken twice yearly and scored by 3 observers. The scoring process was repeated after an additional 3-year period. Correlation coefficients and differences between observers were calculated to define variability. The influence of the 4 factors on variability was studied. RESULTS: One observer assigned a significantly higher score than the other 2, who had been trained together. Interobserver variability decreased as follow-up time increased. Interobserver correlation coefficients became higher, with smaller differences between observers for progression scores than for absolute scores. Increasing the number of measurements within a patient series led to higher scores. Intraobserver correlation coefficients were high, and a training effect occurred when the time between measurements was 1 year, resulting in lower scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that, and shows how, the investigated factors influence the variability of the modified Sharp method. It is extremely important to take interobserver variation into account when designing protocols for multicenter clinical trials. A progression scoring method is recommended for studies assessing radiographic damage or clinical trials.

Hepatotoxicity of parenteral gold therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of severe hepatotoxic reaction during gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. The previous literature on this condition is reviewed and the possible mechanisms of gold-induced hepatotoxicity are discussed.

Dermatomyositis with subclinical myositis and spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumothorax: case report and review of the literature.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a clinical entity characterized by a distinctive cutaneous rash and inflammatory myopathy. Besides skin and muscle, the disease can also involve other internal organs, especially the lungs. We describe a patient with dermatomyositis and incomplete signs of myositis who developed pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and massive subcutaneous emphysema. This case illustrates a rare pulmonary complication of DM, and underscores that muscular involvement in this disease is not always reflected in laboratory and/or histological abnormalities.

Single- versus dual-energy quantitative computed tomography for spinal densitometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lumbar bone mineral density was measured by both single- and dual-energy quantitative computed tomography in 109 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results were corrected for the age-related increase in vertebral fat content by converting them to percentages of expected densities, using sex and energy-level specific regression equations obtained in a normal reference population. The percentages of expected density are approximately 10% lower in the single- than in the dual-energy mode, both in the patients with and without prednisone therapy. This difference is statistically highly significant, and is positively correlated with the duration of the disease and with the degree of radiological joint destruction. The data suggest that the vertebral fat content may be increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as a consequence of disease-dependent mechanisms.

Excess mortality emerges after 10 years in an inception cohort of early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate mortality rates, causes of death, time trends in mortality, prognostic factors for mortality, and the relationship between disease activity and mortality over a 23-year period in an inception cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: A prospective inception cohort of RA patients diagnosed between January 1985 and October 2007 was followed for up to 23 years after diagnosis. Excess mortality was analyzed by comparing the observed mortality in the RA cohort with the expected mortality based on the general population of The Netherlands, matched for age, sex, and calendar year. Period analysis was used to examine time trends in survival across calendar time. Prognostic factors for mortality and the influence of the time-varying Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) on mortality were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Causes of death were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1,049 patients in the cohort, 207 patients died. Differences in observed and expected mortality emerged after 10 years of followup. No improvement in survival was noted over calendar time. Significant baseline predictors of survival were sex, age, rheumatoid factor, disability, and comorbidity. Higher levels of DAS28 over time, adjusted for age, were associated with lower survival rates, more so in men (hazard ratio [HR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.35-1.85) than in women (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.42). CONCLUSION: Excess mortality in RA emerged after 10 years of disease duration. Absolute survival rates have not improved in the last 23 years and a trend toward a widening mortality gap between RA patients and the general population was visible. Higher disease activity levels contribute to premature death in RA patients.

Decreased prolactin response to hypoglycaemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare basal and stimulated prolactin levels between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls, and to assess the effects of antirheumatic treatment on prolactin concentrations. METHODS: Serum prolactin was assessed under basal conditions and during an insulin tolerance test (ITT) in 20 patients with recently diagnosed active rheumatoid arthritis and 20 age and sex matched controls. The patients were reassessed after two weeks' treatment with naproxen and after six months' additional treatment with either sulfasalazine or methotrexate. Disease activity was assessed by the disease activity score (DAS). RESULTS: Basal levels of prolactin were not significantly different between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and controls. Prolactin responses to hypoglycaemia were less in untreated rheumatoid patients than in controls. DAS scores correlated negatively with the area under the curve (AUC) for prolactin concentrations during the ITT. Treatment with naproxen for two weeks did not influence either basal or stimulated prolactin levels. After six months of antirheumatic treatment, prolactin responses to hypoglycaemia increased significantly to levels observed in controls. At the same time point, DAS had improved considerably. The improvement correlated with the increase in AUC of prolactin during the ITT (r = 0.48; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis have a decreased prolactin response to hypoglycaemia induced stress. The response recovers following treatment with antirheumatic drugs.

Glucocorticosteroids in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Glucocorticosteroids are used frequently in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Data supporting their efficacy and safety are still meagre. Glucocorticosteroids may be used systemically with different routes of administration (oral, i.m. and i.v.), in different doses and for different periods of time. The effectiveness of glucocorticosteroids in reducing inflammation in the short term has been shown for oral treatment in a dose of 7.5 mg prednisolone daily or more, for i.m. pulses (120 mg methylprednisolone every 4 weeks) and for i.v. methylprednisolone pulses. For longer periods of treatment, the evidence suggesting effectiveness of low-dose oral glucocorticosteroids is more limited. Some data suggest that different regimens of glucocorticosteroids may retard the development of erosions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The toxicity of short-term treatment is relatively low. For long-term treatment, the development of osteoporosis is a serious problem. Concomitant therapy with either calcitriol or bisphosphonates may reduce this risk.

Leflunomide and methotrexate.

Methotrexate and leflunomide are both effective drugs in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate has been available for many years, whereas leflunomide is a relatively new drug. Several large trials describing its efficacy and safety in comparison with both sulfasalazine and methotrexate and with placebo have been published recently. It appears that leflunomide is approximately equally effective as sulfasalazine and methotrexate. New data are also available on the mechanism of action of leflunomide especially. This drug probably acts as an immunomodulatory agent by interfering with the de novo synthesis of pyrimidines.

Postural control in rheumatoid arthritis patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of compensatory visual and attentional control strategies for standing balance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with severe knee joint impairment. DESIGN: Experimental 2-group design. SETTING: Specialized clinic for orthopedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation in The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients without comorbidity (age range, 65 +/- 7.7 yr; 16 women, 2 men) from a consecutive sample of patients with RA scheduled for total knee arthroplasty; 23 controls of the same age group also were tested (13 women, 10 men). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: By means of a dual-plate force platform, the velocity of center of pressure (COP) fluctuations were analyzed in the anteroposterior and lateral sway directions during quiet standing with eyes open, eyes closed, and while performing a secondary attention-demanding arithmetic task. RESULTS: Patients showed an average 80% greater COP velocity in both directions of sway compared with controls. In addition, stability deteriorated substantially more in patients than controls when deprived of visual information, which was associated with the degree of knee destruction. The effect of the arithmetic task was small and similar in patients and controls. CONCLUSION: RA patients with severe knee joint impairment can have a substantial basic postural instability; their relatively high reliance on visual information suggests impaired sensory feedback from the lower limbs. Current research is aimed at determining whether these postural deficits can be improved by total knee replacement.