A complex intervention for multimorbidity in primary care: A feasibility study.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of a patient-centered complex intervention for multimorbidity (CIM) based on general practice in collaboration with community health-care centers and outpatient clinics. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, diagnoses of two or more of three chronic conditions (diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic heart conditions), and a hospital contact during the previous year. The CIM included extended consultations and nurse care manager support in general practice and intensified cross-sectorial collaboration. Elements included a structured care plan based on patients' care goals, coordination of services, and, if appropriate, shifting outpatient clinic visits to general practice, medication review, referral to rehabilitation, and home care. The acceptability dimension of feasibility was assessed with validated questionnaires, observations, and focus groups. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included (mean age 72.2 (standard deviation (SD) 9.5, range 52-89); 23 (48%) were men. Thirty-seven patients had two diseases; most commonly COPD and cardiovascular disease (46%), followed by diabetes and cardiovascular disease (23%), and COPD and diabetes (15%). Eleven (23%) patients had all three conditions. Focus group interviews with patients with multimorbidity identified three main themes: (1) lack of care coordination existed across health-care sectors before the CIM, (2) extended consultations provided better care coordination, and (3) patients want to be involved in planning their treatment and care. In focus groups, health-care professionals discussed two main themes: (1) patient-centered care and (2) culture and organizational change. Completion rates for questionnaires were 98% (47/48). CONCLUSIONS: Patients and health-care professionals found the CIM acceptable.

Shielding Parenteral Nutrition Solutions From Light: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidant stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Light induces peroxide generation in parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions, creating an oxidant stress. Shielding PN from light decreases its peroxide content, which has nutrition and biochemical benefits in animals and humans. This study aims at determining whether full light protection of PN decreases the rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and/or death in very low-birth-weight infants. METHODS: Multicenter randomized controlled trial of photoprotection, using amber bags and tubing initiated during compounding of PN and maintained throughout infusion in the light-protected (LP) group. The control group (light exposed [LE]) received PN exposed to ambient light. Depending on centers, lipids were infused either separately or as all-in-one PN. RESULTS: In total, 590 infants born <30 weeks gestational age were included. At randomization, LE and LP groups did not differ clinically except for maximal FiO2 before 12 hours. The rate of BPD/death was not different between groups at 28 days (77% LP vs 72% LE, P = .16) or at 36 weeks corrected age (30% LP vs 27% LE, P = .55). Multivariate analysis showed no significant effect of photoprotection on BPD and/or death. The rate of BPD/death was significantly lower (odds ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.93; P = .02) in infants receiving all-in-one PN vs those who received lipids separately. CONCLUSION: This study did not show significant beneficial effects of photoprotection. Since the decreased rate of BPD/death found with all-in-one PN relates to a center-dependent variable, this warrants further investigation.