RESUMO
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are an important tool to support individualisation of medical training in a competency-based setting and are increasingly implemented in the clinical speciality training for endocrinologist. This study aims to assess interrater agreement and factors that potentially impact EPA scores. Five known factors that affect entrustment decisions in health profesions training (capability, integrity, reliability, humility, agency) were used in this study. A case-vignette study using standardised written cases. Case vignettes (n = 6) on the topics thyroid disease, pituitary disease, adrenal disease, calcium and bone disorders, diabetes mellitus, and gonadal disorders were written by two endocrinologists and a medical education expert and assessed by endocrinologists experienced in the supervision of residents in training. Primary outcome is the inter-rater agreement of entrustment decisions for endocrine EPAs among raters. Secondary outcomes included the dichotomous interrater agreement (entrusted vs. non-entrusted), and an exploration of factors that impact decision-making. The study protocol was registered and approved by the Ethical Review Board of the Netherlands Association for Medical Education (NVMO-ERB # 2020.2.5). Nine endocrinologists from six different academic regions participated. Overall, the Fleiss Kappa measure of agreement for the EPA level was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.03-0.22) and for the entrustment decision 0.24 (95% CI 0.11-0.37). Of the five features that impacted the entrustment decision, capability was ranked as the most important by a majority of raters (56%-67%) in every case. There is a considerable discrepancy between the EPA levels assigned by different raters. These findings emphasise the need to base entrustment decisions on multiple observations, made by a team of supervisors and enriched with factors other than direct medical competence.
Assuntos
Corticosteroides/efeitos adversos , Insuficiência Adrenal/induzido quimicamente , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Betametasona/análogos & derivados , Dermatite Atópica/tratamento farmacológico , Substituição de Medicamentos/efeitos adversos , Administração Cutânea , Corticosteroides/administração & dosagem , Insuficiência Adrenal/sangue , Insuficiência Adrenal/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Adrenal/tratamento farmacológico , Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados , Betametasona/administração & dosagem , Betametasona/efeitos adversos , Biomarcadores/sangue , Dermatite Atópica/diagnóstico , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/administração & dosagem , Hidrocortisona/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Indução de Remissão , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Endocrine disorders in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancers are associated with substantial adverse physical and psychosocial effects. To improve appropriate and timely endocrine screening and referral to a specialist, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group (IGHG) aims to develop evidence and expert consensus-based guidelines for healthcare providers that harmonize recommendations for surveillance of endocrine disorders in CAYA cancer survivors. Existing IGHG surveillance recommendations for premature ovarian insufficiency, gonadotoxicity in males, fertility preservation, and thyroid cancer are summarized. For hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) dysfunction, new surveillance recommendations were formulated by a guideline panel consisting of 42 interdisciplinary international experts. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE (through PubMed) for clinically relevant questions concerning HP dysfunction. Literature was screened for eligibility. Recommendations were formulated by drawing conclusions from quality assessment of all evidence, considering the potential benefits of early detection and appropriate management. Healthcare providers should be aware that CAYA cancer survivors have an increased risk for endocrine disorders, including HP dysfunction. Regular surveillance with clinical history, anthropomorphic measures, physical examination, and laboratory measurements is recommended in at-risk survivors. When endocrine disorders are suspected, healthcare providers should proceed with timely referrals to specialized services. These international evidence-based recommendations for surveillance of endocrine disorders in CAYA cancer survivors inform healthcare providers and highlight the need for long-term endocrine follow-up care in subgroups of survivors and elucidate opportunities for further research.
Assuntos
Sobreviventes de Câncer , Doenças do Sistema Endócrino , Doenças Hipotalâmicas , Neoplasias , Doenças da Hipófise , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide , Adolescente , Criança , Doenças do Sistema Endócrino/diagnóstico , Doenças do Sistema Endócrino/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Sobreviventes , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Objectives Visual dysfunction in patients with pituitary adenomas is a clear indication for endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). However, the visual outcomes vary greatly among patients and it remains unclear what tumor, patient, and surgical characteristics contribute to postoperative visual outcomes. Methods One hundred patients with pituitary adenomas who underwent EETS between January 2011 and June 2015 in a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. General patient characteristics, pre- and postoperative visual status, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, hormone production, radiological features, and procedural characteristics were evaluated for association with presenting visual signs and visual outcomes postoperatively. Suprasellar tumor extension (SSE) was graded 0 to 4 following a grading system as formulated by Fujimoto et al. Results Sixty-six (66/100) of all patients showed visual field defects (VFD) at the time of surgery, of whom 18% (12/66) were asymptomatic. VFD improved in 35 (35%) patients and worsened in 4 (4%) patients postoperatively. Mean visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.67 preoperatively to 0.84 postoperatively ( p = 0.04). Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) and Fujimoto grade were independent predictors of preoperative VFD in the entire cohort ( p = 0.02 and p < 0.01 respectively). A higher grade of SSE was the only factor independently associated with postoperative improvement of VFD ( p = 0.03). NFPA and Fujimoto grade 3 were independent predictors of VA improvement (both p = 0.04). Conclusion EETS significantly improved both VA and VFD for most patients, although a few patients showed deterioration of visual deficits postoperatively. Higher degrees of SSE and NFPA were independent predictors of favorable visual outcomes.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: First-line treatment for prolactinomas is a medical treatment with dopamine agonists (DAs), which effectively control hyperprolactinaemia in most patients, although post-withdrawal remission rates are approximately 34%. Therefore, many patients require prolonged DA treatment, while side effects negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Endoscopic transsphenoidal resection is reserved for patients with severe side effects, or with DA-resistant prolactinoma. Surgery has a good safety profile and high probability of remission and may thus deserve a more prominent place in prolactinoma treatment. The hypothesis for this study is that early or upfront surgical resection is superior to DA treatment both in terms of HRQoL and remission rate in patients with a non-invasive prolactinoma of limited size. METHODS: We present a combined randomised clinical trial and observational cohort study design, which comprises three unblinded randomised controlled trials (RCTs; PRolaCT-1, PRolaCT-2, PRolaCT-3), and an observational study arm (PRolaCT-O) that compare neurosurgical counselling, and potential subsequent endoscopic transsphenoidal adenoma resection, with current standard care. Patients with a non-invasive prolactinoma (< 25 mm) will be eligible for one of three RCTs based on the duration of pre-treatment with DAs: PRolaCT-1: newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve patients; PRolaCT-2: patients with limited duration of DA treatment (4-6 months); and PRolaCT-3: patients with persisting prolactinoma after DA treatment for > 2 years. PRolaCT-O will include patients who decline randomisation, due to e.g. a clear treatment preference. Primary outcomes are disease remission after 36 months and HRQoL after 12 months. DISCUSSION: Early or upfront surgical resection for patients with a limited-sized prolactinoma may be a reasonable alternative to the current standard practice of DA treatment, which we will investigate in three RCTs and an observational cohort study. Within the three RCTs, patients will be randomised between neurosurgical counselling and standard care. The observational study arm will recruit patients who refuse randomisation and have a pronounced treatment preference. PRolaCT will collect randomised and observational data, which may facilitate a more individually tailored practice of evidence-based medicine. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Library of Medicine registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) NCT04107480 . Registered on 27 September 2019, registered retrospectively (by 2 months).
Assuntos
Neoplasias Hipofisárias , Prolactinoma , Estudos de Coortes , Humanos , Estudos Observacionais como Assunto , Neoplasias Hipofisárias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hipofisárias/cirurgia , Prolactinoma/diagnóstico , Prolactinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Prolactinoma/cirurgia , Qualidade de Vida , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate whether an additional dose of NPH insulin at lunchtime might overcome the deleterious effects of waning basal insulinemia on pre-dinner and evening glucose values during insulin lispro intensive therapy with once daily basal insulin at night. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was a 10-month multicenter, randomized, crossover trial. After a 2-month run-in period, subjects injected NPH insulin once (1 x NPH) or twice (2 x NPH) daily for 4 months in a randomized order. Adult patients were included if they had HbA(1c) levels <8.5%. Efficacy measures were HbA(1c) levels, 8-point glucose profiles, and the frequency of hypoglycemia. The statistical analysis included a within-patient comparison for crossover trials. RESULTS: In all, 104 patients completed the trial. The mean HbA(1c) level before randomization was 7.1 +/- 0.85%. The HbA(1c) levels did not change significantly within patients (t test, mean difference = 0.06%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.073 to 0.20). The pre-dinner blood glucose values were significantly lower during the 2 x NPH daily protocol, with a mean difference of 0.76 mmol/l (t test, P = 0.004; CI 0.25 to 1.3). In the evening, the frequency of hypoglycemia increased significantly during the 2 x NPH daily protocol with a median difference of 0.56 mild episodes/30 days (P = 0.001) and 6.9 severe episodes/patient year (P = 0.007), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Equal HbA(1c) levels and increasing frequencies of hypoglycemia in the evening overshadow the slight improvement of the evening glucose profiles during a regimen with 2 x NPH daily insulin. Therefore, generalized use of a second injection of NPH insulin at lunchtime cannot be recommended to all adult patients with type 1 diabetes using intensive insulin lispro therapy.