Review Article - Diabetes Technology in the Hospital: An Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There have been many developments in diabetes technology in recent years, with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pump therapy (CSII) and automated insulin delivery (AID) becoming progressively accepted in outpatient diabetes care. However, the use of such advanced diabetes technology in the inpatient setting is still limited for several reasons, including logistical challenges and staff training needs. On the other hand, hospital settings with altered diet and stress-induced hyperglycemia often pose challenges to tight glycemic control using conventional treatment tools. Integrating smarter glucose monitoring and insulin delivery devices into the increasingly technical hospital environment could reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. This narrative review describes the most recent literature on the use of diabetes technology in the hospital and suggests avenues for further research. RECENT FINDINGS: Advanced diabetes technology has the potential to improve glycemic control in hospitalized people with and without diabetes, and could add particular value in certain conditions, such as nutrition therapy or perioperative management. Taken together, CGM allows for more accurate and patient-friendly follow-up and ad hoc titration of therapy. AID may also provide benefits, including improved glycemic control and reduced nursing workload. Before advanced diabetes technology can be used on a large scale in the hospital, further research is needed on efficacy, accuracy and safety, while implementation factors such as cost and staff training must also be overcome.

Quality indicators for appropriate in-hospital pharmacotherapeutic stewardship: An international modified Delphi study.

AIMS: In-hospital prescribing errors may result in patient harm, such as prolonged hospitalisation and hospital (re)admission, and may be an emotional burden for the prescribers and healthcare professionals involved. Despite efforts, in-hospital prescribing errors and related harm still occur, necessitating an innovative approach. We therefore propose a novel approach, in-hospital pharmacotherapeutic stewardship (IPS). The aim of this study was to reach consensus on a set of quality indicators (QIs) as a basis for IPS. METHODS: A three-round modified Delphi procedure was performed. Potential QIs were retrieved from two systematic searches of the literature, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. In two written questionnaires and a focus meeting (held between the written questionnaire rounds), potential QIs were appraised by an international, multidisciplinary expert panel composed of members of the European Association for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (EACPT). RESULTS: The expert panel rated 59 QIs and four general statements, of which 35 QIs were accepted with consensus rates ranging between 79% and 97%. These QIs describe the activities of an IPS programme, the team delivering IPS, the patients eligible for the programme and the outcome measures that should be used to evaluate the care delivered. CONCLUSIONS: A framework of 35 QIs for an IPS programme was systematically developed. These QIs can guide hospitals in setting up a pharmacotherapeutic stewardship programme to reduce in-hospital prescribing errors and improve in-hospital medication safety.

Emergency management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the current management of pediatric epileptic seizures in non-hospital settings and the efficacy of early therapeutic intervention with rescue medication in Japan. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was based on an online survey of caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy. The survey consisted of questions regarding seizure frequency and symptoms, the use of rescue medication, and emergency medical care. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the time to rescue medication administration and seizure resolution. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 1147 caregivers of pediatric patients with epilepsy. Of the patients described in the study, 98.5 % had been prescribed anti-seizure medication, 95.3 % had more than a few seizures per year, and 90.3 % used rescue medication. The time to seizure resolution was significantly reduced when rescue medication was administered early. Overall, 28.4 % of the patients required emergency transport to hospital, which increased disruption to the lives of caregivers, who returned to their normal activities after an average of 17.2 h. CONCLUSION: Emergency transport of patients places a significant burden on caregivers. Earlier administration of rescue medications is associated with a reduction in the need for emergency room visits, which reduces the burden on the patient as well as the caregiver.

The effect of different care delivery models in a hospital setting on patient- and nurse-related outcomes: A systematic review with narrative synthesis.

AIM: To synthesize and assess the effectiveness of different care delivery models in a hospital setting, taking into account patient- and nurse-related outcomes. DESIGN: A systematic review with narrative synthesis in which a comparison was made between different care delivery models. METHODS: The search string consisted of four clusters: 'nursing', 'care delivery models', 'hospital setting' and 'quantitative research designs'. Four electronic databases were searched from the inception of the databases to January 2023: Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science. RESULTS: In total, 19 studies were included in the systematic review. The most commonly compared care delivery models were functional nursing to primary nursing (n = 6), patient allocation to team nursing (n = 4), team nursing to primary nursing (n = 3) and functional nursing to modular nursing (n = 3). Only one randomized crossover trial was found, other included studies were pretest-posttest designs or quasi-experimental designs. The implementation of a nursing care delivery model was the study intervention. The following aspects of the intervention were not reported or inadequately described by the majority of the authors; tailoring of an intervention, modifications to an intervention and the adherence or fidelity to the intervention. Job satisfaction and quality of nursing care were the most commonly reported nursing outcomes, while patient satisfaction was the most commonly reported patient outcome. Due to a high heterogeneity in outcome measures between the studies, a meta-analysis of the included studies was not possible. All included studies had a high risk of overall bias. CONCLUSION: This systematic review found mixed evidence, inconsistent reporting of certain elements of the interventions, high heterogeneity in outcome measures and low methodological quality. Although this systematic review could not answer which nursing care delivery model is the most effective or most promising, other important findings from this review may inform future research. IMPACT: There are differences in care delivery model descriptions and a lack of agreement on the strengths and weaknesses of the care delivery models. No clear-cut answer can be given about the effect of different care delivery models in a hospital setting on patient- and nurse-related outcomes. Job satisfaction and quality of nursing care were the most commonly reported nursing outcomes, while patient satisfaction was the most commonly reported patient outcome. This review can support the development of future care delivery redesign strategies. REPORTING METHOD: The systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Relationship of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics to mechanical restraint used in a psychiatric hospital in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Coercive measures have been applied in mental health fields throughout history, denying people with mental illness the ability to decide, even though there is increasing evidence that these measures bring few benefits to these individuals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyse the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics most likely associated with the use of mechanical restraints (MRs) in psychiatric hospital settings. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a descriptive, comparative and analytical cross-sectional study in people with mental disorders who were hospitalized in two hospitals in the Autonomous Valencian Community (Spain). We included a total of 91 participants who completed the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Barrat's Impulsiveness Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: The results we collected indicated that the patients most likely to be mechanically restrained were younger people with less awareness of their symptoms and disease, previous admissions to a psychiatric hospital and cohabitation with parents and/or family. In addition, having been admitted involuntarily, previously having had MRs applied, presenting more positive psychotic symptoms and habitual caffeine consumption all predicted the use of MRs. CONCLUSIONS: The variables that were able to predict MR were involuntary admission, previous use of MR, the presence of positive psychotic symptoms and caffeine consumption. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Evaluation of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients can help health professionals, especially nurses, to recognize patients who are at risk of requiring MR. This allows mental health practitioners to take these factors into account during interventions or when implementing programmes designed to reduce the use of coercive measures in psychiatric hospital settings. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? Coercive measures have been applied in mental health fields throughout history, with no benefits to these patients. What were the main findings? There are studies that relate some variables to MR in psychiatric settings, but we have been able to find variables capable of predicting MR such as involuntary admission, previous use of MR, the presence of positive psychotic symptoms and caffeine consumption. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The findings of this study allow for the reduction of MRs in psychiatric units. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics found to be related to MR will help professionals identify when a patient is admitted in order to use specific interventions aimed at preventing the use of MRs during admission. This is the first study to indicate a relationship between caffeine consumption and the use of MRs. Further studies will be necessary to verify if controlled caffeine supplementation during admission to psychiatric units could become an additional strategy contributing to preventing the application of MR specifically in individuals who habitually consume coffee or caffeine-containing beverages daily. REPORTING METHOD: We have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines using the STROBE reporting method. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

How much do we know about nursing care delivery models in a hospital setting? A mapping review.

To deal with the upcoming challenges and complexity of the nursing profession, it is deemed important to reflect on our current organization of care. However, before starting to rethink the organization of nursing care, an overview of important elements concerning nursing care organization, more specifically nursing models, is necessary. The aim of this study was to conduct a mapping review, accompanied by an evidence map to map the existing literature, to map the field of knowledge on a meta-level and to identify current research gaps concerning nursing models in a hospital setting. Next to nursing models, two other organizational correlates seem to be of importance when looking at the organization of nursing care: nurse staffing and skill mix. Although it seems that in recent research, the theoretical focus on the organization of nursing care has been left behind, the increasingly complex healthcare environment might gain from the use of nursing theory, or in this case, care delivery models. As almost no fundamental studies have been done toward the combination of care delivery models, nurse staffing, and skill mix, those elements should be taken into account to fully capture the organization of nursing care in future research.

In vitro activity of sanitizers against mono- and polymicrobial biofilms of C. parapsilosis and S. aureus.

The emergence of disinfectant-resistant microorganisms poses a significant threat to public health. These resilient pathogens can survive and thrive in hospital settings despite routine disinfection practices, leading to persistent infections and the potential for outbreaks. In this study, we investigated the impact of 11 different commercial sanitizers at various concentrations and exposure times on biofilms consisting of clinical and nosocomial environmental isolates of Candida parapsilosis and Staphylococcus aureus. Among the sanitizers tested, 0.5% and 2.0% chlorhexidine (CLX), 10% polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-I), a disinfectant based on quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), 2% glutaraldehyde, and 0.55% orthophthalaldehyde (OPA) demonstrated efficacy against both C. parapsilosis and S. aureus in monospecies and mixed biofilms. Analysis showed that 0.5% CLX and 10% PVP-I had fungicidal and bactericidal activity against all biofilms. However, the sanitizer based on QAC and 0.55% OPA proved to be bacteriostatic and fungicidal against both monospecies and mixed biofilms. In mixed biofilms, despite the last four sanitizers exerting fungicidal action, the reduction of fungal cells was approximately 4 log10 CFU/mL compared to monospecies biofilms, showing that the interaction provided more resistance of the yeast to the sanitizer. Formation of mixed biofilms in hospital settings can create an ecological niche that enhances the survival of pathogens against routine sanitization procedures. Therefore, effective sanitization practices, including regular cleaning with effective sanitizers, should be implemented to prevent C. parapsilosis/S. aureus biofilm formation in healthcare settings.

From burden to benefit: a multi-site study of the impact of allied health work-based learning placements on patient care quality.

Allied health clinical placements take place within an increasingly overstretched health care system where demand for services often exceeds availability of resources. Within this environment, student placements are often perceived as an additional burden to an already overwhelmed workforce. This study explored whether the quality of patient care was enhanced when services were re-designed using a collaborative partnership approach to more purposefully integrate students into delivery of care. Using an embedded multiple case study design, data were collected through focus groups and interviews, patient experience surveys, and secondary administrative data sources. Cases were across physiotherapy and occupational therapy in six different hospital settings. Perception of care provided by students was viewed positively by all stakeholders, including patients. Perceived health outcomes of faster improvement of health condition, improved mobility and function identified through our qualitative findings were supported by quantitative service delivery markers such as increased therapy sessions, more patients being discharged home instead of to other care facilities and reduced length of stay. Health care providers and students alike perceived improvements in service efficiencies whilst maintaining high quality care. This study has provided preliminary evidence towards improved patient care when a partnering approach is adopted whereby students are intentionally integrated into services that otherwise might not have been delivered. Furthermore, it has shifted the associated narrative from students as additional burden to students as benefit.

A qualitative exploration of patient safety in a hospital setting in Spain: Policy and practice recommendations on patients' and companions' participation.

INTRODUCTION: Patients' and companions' participation in healthcare could help prevent adverse events, which are a significant cause of disease and disability. Before designing interventions to increase participation, it is first necessary to identify attitudes to patient safety. This study aimed to explore patients' and companions' perceptions, attitudes and experiences of patient safety, taking into account contextual factors, such as cultural background, which are not usually captured in the literature. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with a theoretical sampling of 13 inpatients and 3 companions in a university hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Information was obtained from individual and triangular interviews. A descriptive thematic content analysis was conducted by four analysts and a consensus was reached within the research team on the key categories that were identified. We also conducted a card-sorting exercise. RESULTS: All informants emphasized the role of good communication with health professionals, a calm environment and the need for patient education. Discursive positions differed by cultural background. Informants from a Pakistani-Bangladeshi background emphasized language barriers, while those from European and Latin-American backgrounds stressed health professionals' lack of time and the need for more interdisciplinary teamwork. The card-sorting exercise identified several opportunities to enhance participation: checking patient identification and medication dispensation, and maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. CONCLUSION: This exploration of informants' discourse on patient safety identified a wide variety of categories not usually considered from institutional perspectives. The findings of this study could enrich interventions in areas with diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as current frameworks based exclusively on institutional perspectives. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The results of the study were communicated to patients and accompanying persons via telephone or email. Similarly, a focus group was held with a patient forum to comment on the results. In the design of subsequent interventions to improve patient safety at the hospital, the proposals of patients and companions for their participation will be included together with healthcare professionals' opinions.

The Role of Wearable Sensors to Monitor Physical Activity and Sleep Patterns in Older Adult Inpatients: A Structured Review.

Low levels of physical activity (PA) and sleep disruption are commonly seen in older adult inpatients and are associated with poor health outcomes. Wearable sensors allow for objective continuous monitoring; however, there is no consensus as to how wearable sensors should be implemented. This review aimed to provide an overview of the use of wearable sensors in older adult inpatient populations, including models used, body placement and outcome measures. Five databases were searched; 89 articles met inclusion criteria. We found that studies used heterogenous methods, including a variety of sensor models, placement and outcome measures. Most studies reported the use of only one sensor, with either the wrist or thigh being the preferred location in PA studies and the wrist for sleep outcomes. The reported PA measures can be mostly characterised as the frequency and duration of PA (Volume) with fewer measures relating to intensity (rate of magnitude) and pattern of activity (distribution per day/week). Sleep and circadian rhythm measures were reported less frequently with a limited number of studies providing both physical activity and sleep/circadian rhythm outcomes concurrently. This review provides recommendations for future research in older adult inpatient populations. With protocols of best practice, wearable sensors could facilitate the monitoring of inpatient recovery and provide measures to inform participant stratification and establish common objective endpoints across clinical trials.

Consistency in the prevalence and associated factors of frailty determined by two instruments among hospitalised older adults: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the consistency in the prevalence and associated factors of frailty determined by the physical-originated Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses and Loss of weight (FRAIL) scale and the multidimensional Tilburg Frailty Indicators (TFI) scale. BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of frailty and the identification of its associated factors could guide the development and implementation of holistic and individualised treatment plan. However, recommendations regarding the selection of frailty assessment tools are inconclusive. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study, the reporting of which followed the STROBE guidelines. METHODS: A total of 1220 older adults were recruited from a university affiliated tertiary hospital in Xi'an City, Northwest China, and administrated with a social-demographic and health-related information sheet, the FRAIL, the TFI, the Short-Form Mini-Nutritional Assessment, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the 5-level EuroQol 5 dimensions questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical-originated and multidimensional frailty was 55.2% and 77.6%, respectively. The consistency between the two scales was low. Taking the combined use of the two instruments as the reference, the TFI and FRAIL could identify 89.99% and 64.02% of the participants with frailty. Polypharmacy, health-related quality of life and sleep quality were found to be associated with both physical-originated and multidimensional frailty. Nutritional status and level of physical activity were additionally identified as the independent associated factors of multidimensional frailty. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of frailty among hospitalised older adults is high. There is low consistency between the FRAIL and TFI in detecting frailty. The TFI exhibited higher sensitivity in detecting individuals with frailty and its associated factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings of this study supported a single use of the TFI for the assessment of frailty in the hospital setting.

Work stress and motivation in psychologists in the hospital setting: the role of primary cognitive appraisal.

The aim of this study was to explore in a hospital setting the relationships between work motivation and stress among psychologists working in hospitals. The second aim was to identify the respective roles of threat appraisal and challenge appraisal in this population. We expected work stress to have a motivational impact in the workplace, with primary cognitive appraisal (e.g., threat or challenge) playing a crucial role. The study included a large sample of 430 French psychologists recruited in French hospitals with a mean age of 33.68 ± 8.73 years. We assessed perceived work stress, work motivation, and primary cognitive appraisal. Analysis showed two main outcomes. First, perceived stress in the workplace impacts work motivation; specifically, the higher the perceived stress, the less motivation is self-determined. Second, threat cognitive appraisal has a direct and negative motivational impact, but also an indirect impact via perceived stress. However, appraisal of work as a cognitive challenge also directly and positively impacts motivation in the workplace, without indirect effects. Finally, work stress, work motivation and primary cognitive appraisals are significantly related with the workplace. These relationships support complementarity with the Transactional Model of Stress and SDT motivational approach in a theoretical and practical perspective in the workplace.

A qualitative study exploring clinicians' attitudes toward responding to and escalating care of deteriorating patients.

Recognition and escalation of the deteriorating patient is multifaceted and relevant to all clinicians involved. However, little evidence exists exploring how clinicians from different professions make decisions about early signs of clinical deterioration and how this affects their actions. The aim of this study was to explore interprofessional clinicians' and students' experiences of responding to and escalating care of deteriorating patients. A convenience sample of clinicians and students from acute hospital settings in regional Australia participated in focus groups. Participants were able to identify barriers, facilitators, and strategies for improvement during the recognition and escalation of the deteriorating patient. Four themes were detected throughout the 38 focus group discussions: a Standardized Approach, Workplace Culture and Teamwork, Confidence and Experience, and Communication. Although standardization of systems and processes supported clinician's recognition and escalation of the deteriorating patient, use and misuse of the systems by some participants were identified as barriers to seeking assistance. Positive workplace culture and teamwork were important to promoting the escalation of care. Participants identified that experience in recognizing and responding to deteriorating patients increased their confidence.

Healthcare Resource Utilization of Patients With COVID-19 Visiting US Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Severe cases of COVID-19 have overwhelmed hospital systems across the nation. This study aimed to describe the healthcare resource utilization of patients with COVID-19 from hospital visit to 30 days after discharge for inpatients and hospital-based outpatients in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Premier Healthcare Database COVID-19 Special Release, a large geographically diverse all-payer hospital administrative database. Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) were identified by their first, or "index," visit between April 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, with a principal or secondary discharge diagnosis of COVID-19. RESULTS: Of 1 454 780 adult patients with COVID-19, 33% (n = 481 216) were inpatients and 67% (n = 973 564) were outpatients. Among inpatients, mean age was 64.4 years and comorbidities were common. Most patients (80%) originated from home, 10% from another acute care facility, and 95% were admitted through the emergency department. Of these patients, 23% (n = 108 120) were admitted to intensive care unit and 14% (n = 66 706) died during index hospitalization; 44% were discharged home, 15% to nursing or rehabilitation facility, and 12% to home health. Among outpatients, mean age was 48.8 years, 44% were male, and 60% were emergency department outpatients (n = 586 537). During index outpatient visit, 79% were sent home but 10% had another outpatient visit and 4% were hospitalized within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is associated with high level of healthcare resource utilization and in-hospital mortality. More than one-third of inpatients required post hospital healthcare services. Such information may help healthcare providers better allocate resources for patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Relationship between prehospital modified Charlson Comorbidity Index and septic shock 30-day mortality.

CONTEXT: In the prehospital setting, early identification of septic shock (SS) at risk of poor outcome is mainly based on clinical vital signs alteration evaluation. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is an in-hospital tool used for burden of co-morbidity assessment. We report the relationship between the modified prehospital CCI, and 30-day mortality of SS patients initially cared for in the prehospital setting by a mobile ICU (MICU). METHODS: SS patients defined according to the 2016 sepsis-3 conference cared for by MICU between February 2017 and December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. The modified prehospital CCI calculation was based on the available comorbid conditions collected in the prehospital setting. A threshold of ≥5, was chosen according to previous results. RESULTS: Five-hundred and twenty-nine patients were included among which 154 suffering from septic shock were analysed. Presumed origin of septic shock was mainly pulmonary (36%), digestive (33%) and urinary (16%). 30 day-mortality reached 33%. Logistic regression after propensity score matching found a significant association between the 30-day mortality in the modified prehospital CCI ≥ 5: aOR = 1.12 [1.07-1.31], p = 0.041. CONCLUSION: Among septic shock patients initially cared for by a MICU in the prehospital setting, a significant association between 30-day mortality. A modified prehospital CCI of at least 6 appears to be useful for early identification of septic shock patients with poorer outcome.

Documented nursing practices of pain assessment and management when communicating about pain in dementia care.

AIM: To evaluate nurses' documented practice when communicating about pain for people with dementia in hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. METHOD: Medical records were retrieved from four inpatient units in a district and a tertiary teaching hospital of people aged 65 years and over with documented dementia. Data were extracted on nurses' documented pain assessment and management. Pain frequency and association between patient self-report, pain scores, cognition levels and analgesics used during hospitalization were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multivariate regression examined patient characteristics, pain characteristics and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: One-hundred patient records met the inclusion criteria between 1 January and 31 August 2017. Sixty-six percent of patients with dementia had pain documented at least once during hospitalization with 58% reported as moderate to severe pain intensity. Patients' pain severity during admission was associated with their length of hospital stay. Ninety-three percent of nurses used a self-reporting pain tool and 7% used an observational pain tool. Pain scores were not associated with patients' cognition level, nurses' pain reports or analgesic management. CONCLUSION: Pain frequently occurs in people with dementia during hospitalization. Fragmented pain reporting influences the translation of pain messages. Disproportionate pain tool application and non-association between pain scores and analgesic management suggest a potential knowledge gap among nurses about the practical use of pain tools and practice gap between pain assessment and management in dementia care. IMPACT: Pain was regularly assessed by nurses and implemented as a fifth vital sign for people with dementia in hospitals. However, the high frequency of pain affects care outcomes. Areas for improvement include nursing practice of pain assessment and management in dementia care in hospitals. Further understanding of the usefulness of pain tools and the efficacy of pain scores when communicating about pain in dementia care in hospitals is required.

Prehospital Shock Precautions on Triage (PSPoT) score to assess in-hospital mortality for septic shock.

CONTEXT: In the prehospital setting, early identification of septic shock (SS) with high risk of poor outcome is a daily issue. There is a need for a simple tool aiming to early assess outcome in order to decide delivery unit (emergency department (ED) or intensive care unit (ICU)). In France, prehospital emergencies are managed by the Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence (SAMU). The SAMU physician decides the destination ward either to the ICU or to the ED after on scene severity assessment. We report the association between The Prehospital Shock Precautions on Triage (PSPoT) score, and in-hospital mortality of SS patients initially cared for in the prehospital setting by a mobile ICU (MICU). METHODS: SS patients cared for by MICU were prospectively included between February 2017 and July 2019. The PSPoT score was established by adding shock index>1 and criterion based on past medical history: age >65 years and at least 1 previous comorbidity (chronic cardiac failure, chronic renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous or actual history of cancer, institutionalization, hospitalisation within previous 3 months. A threshold of ≥2, was arbitrarily chosen for clinical relevance and usefulness in clinical practice. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty-nine with a median age of 72 [20-93] years were analysed. SS origin was mainly pulmonary (54%), abdominal (19%) and urinary (15%). The median PSPoT score was 2 [1-2]. PSPoT score and PSPoT score ≥ 2 were associated with in-hospital mortality: OR = 1.24 [0.77-2.05] and OR = 2.19 [1.09-4.59] respectively. CONCLUSION: We report an association between PSPoT score, and in-hospital mortality of SS patients cared for by a MICU. A PSPoT score ≥ 2 early identifies poorer outcome.

Patients perspectives on drug shortages in six European hospital settings - a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: It is known that drug shortages represent a major challenge for all stakeholders involved in the process, but there is little evidence regarding insights into patients' awareness and perspectives. This study aimed to investigate the patients-perceived drug shortages experience and their view on outcomes in different European hospital settings. Furthermore, we wanted to explore information preferences on drug shortages. METHODS: A retrospective, cross sectional, a mixed method study was conducted in six European hospital settings. One hospital (H) from each of this country agreed to participate: Bosnia and Herzegovina (H-BiH), Croatia (H-CR), Germany (H-GE), Greece (H-GR), Serbia (H-SE) and Poland (H-PO). Recruitment and data collection was conducted over 27 months from November 2017 until January 2020. Overall, we surveyed 607 patients which completed paper-based questionnaire. Questions related to: general information (demographic data), basic knowledge on drug shortages, drug shortages experienced during hospitalization and information preferences on drug shortage. Differences between hospital settings were analyzed using Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. For more complex contingency tables, Monte Carlo simulations (N = 2000) were applied for Fisher's test. Post-hoc hospital-wise analyses were performed using Fisher's exact tests. False discovery rate was controlled using the Bonferroni method. Analyses were performed using R: a language and environment for statistical computing (v 3.6.3). RESULTS: 6 % of patients reported experiences with drug shortages while hospitalized which led to a deterioration of their health. The majority of affected patients were hospitalized at hematology and/or oncology wards in H-BiH, H-PO and H-GE. H-BiH had the highest number of affected patients (18.1 %, N = 19/105, p < 0.001) while the fewest patients were in H-SE (1 %, N = 1/100, p = 0.001). In addition, 82.5 %, (N = 501/607) of respondents wanted to be informed of alternative treatment options if there was a drug shortage without a generic substitute available. Majority of these patients (66.4 %, N = 386/501) prefer to be informed by a healthcare professional. CONCLUSIONS: Although drug shortages led to serious medical consequences, our findings show that most of the patients did not perceive shortages as a problem. One possible interpretation is that good hospital management practices by healthcare professionals helped to mitigate the perceived impact of shortages. Our study highlights the importance of a good communication especially between patients and healthcare professionals in whom our patients have the greatest trust.

What is the incidence of medical device-related pressure injuries in adults within the acute hospital setting? A systematic review.

Medical devices provide effective therapeutic care for patients. However, medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPI) are caused by prolonged pressure or shear from a medical device on any location on the body, including mucosal cavities. The primary outcome of this quantitative systematic review was to identify the incidence of MDRPIs in adults within the acute hospital setting. Secondary outcomes include grading, anatomical location and devices that caused such injuries. Electronic databases (CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE, EBSCO Host, Health Business Elite Web of Science, PsychINFO, Google Scholar, and Research Gate) were searched for all potential primary studies between November 2019-January 2020. Studies were refined to the English language only, had no time limit from publication, and had to include participants over the age of 18 years with an MDRPI in the acute hospital setting and 720 potential primary studies were identified. Fourteen articles were identified that matched the predefined criteria and were included in the review. All included studies were critically appraised using the evidence-based librarianship critical appraisal tool and data analysis and narrative synthesis were completed. The incidence of MDRPIs in adults within the acute care setting was 28.1% (SD: 29.1%, min: 1.14%, max: 100%). 71.3% of studies documented anatomical locations of MDRPIs, 36.2% included grading of MDRIs, and 71.4% studies documented the offending medical devices. The mean quality appraisal percentage of all included studies was 76.67% (SD: 4.61%; min: 66.6%, max: 83.3%). Despite the heterogeneity of the studies, the review has identified that MDRPIs are prevalent among individuals cared for within the acute hospital setting. Thus, given the morbidity associated with these wounds, it is important to develop strategies to reduce the scope of this problem.

The oracle study - fibromyalgia, prevalence and severity in the hospital setting in the Pakistani population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and severity of fibromyalgia in hospital-visiting patients. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, from July, 2018, to January, 2019, and comprised patients aged 18-75 years of either gender. Demographic information, comorbidities and previous medications were recorded for each patient. The modified American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria 2010-11 for fibromyalgia diagnosis. If diagnosed, the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was administered to assess its severity. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. RESULTS: Of the 750 hospital-visiting patients, fibromyalgia was diagnosed in 250(33.3%); 190(76%) of them being females (p<0.0001). Comorbidities, age and increased elevated body mass index were significantly associated with fibromyalgia. Severity was not influenced by comorbidities, marital status, education or economic status (p>0.05). Menarche at a later age and menstrual irregularity were associated with fibromyalgia severity (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The hospital-based prevalence of fibromyalgia was found to be high, especially among females.