Glottic patency during noninvasive ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) provides ventilatory support for patients with respiratory failure. However, the glottis can act as a closing valve, limiting effectiveness of NIV. This study investigates the patency of the glottis during NIV in patients with acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: Electrical activity of the diaphragm, flow, pressure and videolaryngoscopy were acquired. NIV was randomly applied in pressure support (PSV) and neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) mode with two levels of support. The angle formed by the vocal cords represented glottis patency. RESULTS: Eight COPD patients with acute exacerbation requiring NIV were included. No differences were found in median glottis angle during inspiration or peak inspiratory effort between PSV and NAVA at low and high support levels. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that glottis patency during inspiration in patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD is not affected by mode (PSV or NAVA) or level of assist (5 or 15 cm H2O) during NIV.

Are digital interventions for smoking cessation in pregnancy effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Smoking in pregnancy remains a global public health issue due to foetal health risks and potential maternal complications. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to explore: (1) whether digital interventions for pregnancy smoking cessation are effective, (2) the impact of intervention platform on smoking cessation, (3) the associations between specific Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) delivered within interventions and smoking cessation and (4) the association between the total number of BCTs delivered and smoking cessation. Systematic searches of 9 databases resulted in the inclusion of 12 published articles (n = 2970). The primary meta-analysis produced a sample-weighted odds ratio (OR) of 1.44 (95% CI 1.04-2.00, p = .03) in favour of digital interventions compared with comparison groups. Computer-based (OR = 3.06, 95% CI 1.28-7.33) and text-message interventions (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.07-2.38) were the most effective digital platform. Moderator analyses revealed seven BCTs associated with smoking cessation: information about antecedents; action planning; problem solving; goal setting (behaviour); review behaviour goals; social support (unspecified); and pros and cons. A meta-regression suggested that interventions using larger numbers of BCTs produced the greatest effects. This paper highlights the potential for digital interventions to improve rates of smoking cessation in pregnancy.

Real-time teleophthalmology video consultation: an analysis of patient satisfaction in rural Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Teleophthalmology, particularly real-time video consultation, holds great potential in Australia and similar countries worldwide, where geography, population and medical workforce distribution make it difficult to provide specialist eye services outside of major cities. Assessment and referrals from rural optometrists are vital to the success of teleophthalmology. While there is good evidence for the efficacy of such services, there is limited evidence for patient satisfaction with video consultation. METHODS: To evaluate patient satisfaction with teleophthalmology, the current study recruited patients who underwent a video consultation with Lions Outback Vision, for a follow-up telephone-based questionnaire assessing satisfaction. Regression analysis was performed assessing which demographic features and which features of the video consultation itself were associated with highest overall satisfaction. RESULTS: One hundred and nine of the 137 eligible patients completed the questionnaire (79.6 per cent; 55 per cent male; mean age 64.61 years). The majority of the participants were either 'Very satisfied' (69.1 per cent) or 'Satisfied' (24.5 per cent) with the service. No one reported being either 'Dissatisfied' or 'Very dissatisfied'. Linear regression did not reveal any demographic or follow-up variables as predictive of greater total satisfaction; however, participants who were older, felt they could easily explain their medical problems to the doctor in the video consultation and believed that telemedicine enabled them to save money and time, and were more likely to report higher overall satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Teleophthalmology is a promising new way to overcome barriers to the delivery of eye care services to rural and remote populations. This study demonstrates a high level of overall satisfaction with teleophthalmological video consultation and patients are accepting of this emerging consultation modality, regardless of age.

Surgical treatment of thalamic tumors in children.

OBJECTIVE In the past, the outcome of surgical treatment for thalamic tumor was poor. These lesions were often considered inoperable. However, contemporary microsurgical techniques, together with improvements in neuroimaging that enable accurate presurgical planning, allow resection to be accomplished in a safer way. METHODS The medical records, imaging studies, and operative and pathology reports obtained for pediatric patients who were treated for thalamic tumors at the authors' department were reviewed. Neuronavigation and intraoperative monitoring of motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were used. Preoperative tractography, which helped to identify internal capsule fibers, was very important in selecting the surgical strategy. Postoperatively, an MRI study performed within 24 hours was used to assess the extent of tumor resection as partial (≤ 90%), subtotal (> 90%), or gross total (no residual tumor). RESULTS Since 2002, 27 children with thalamic tumors have been treated at the authors' department. There were 9 patients with unilateral thalamic tumors, 16 with thalamopeduncular tumors, and 2 with a bilateral tumor. These last 2 patients underwent endoscopic biopsy and implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Thirty-nine tumor debulking procedures were performed in the remaining 25 patients. Different surgical approaches were chosen according to tumor location and displacement of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (as studied on axial T2-weighted MRI) and corticospinal tract (as studied on diffusion tensor imaging with tractography, after it became available). In 12 cases, multiple procedures were performed; in 7 cases, these were done as part of a planned multistage resection. In the remaining 5 cases, the second procedure was necessary because of late recurrence or regrowth of residual tumor. At the end of the surgical phase, of 25 patients, 15 (60%) achieved a gross-total resection, 4 (16%) achieved a subtotal resection, and 6 (24%) achieved a partial resection. Eighteen patients harbored low-grade tumors in our series. In this group, the mean follow-up was 45 months (range 4-132 months). At the end of follow-up, 1 patient was dead, 12 patients were alive with no evidence of disease, 4 patients were alive with stable disease, and 1 was lost to follow-up. All patients were independent in their daily lives. The outcome of high-grade tumors in 9 patients was very poor: 2 patients died immediately after surgery, 6 died of progressive disease, and 1 was alive with residual disease at the time of this report. CONCLUSIONS This institutional review seems to offer further evidence in favor of attempts at radical resection in pediatric patients harboring unilateral thalamic or thalamopeduncular tumors. In low-grade gliomas, radical resection in a single or staged procedure can be curative without complementary treatment. Recurrences or residual regrowth can be safely managed surgically. In high-grade tumors, the role of and opportunity for radical or partial resection remains a matter of debate.

Videodermoscopy and Curettage: The Value of Simple Procedures During Mohs Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Mohs surgery (MS) is regarded as one of the most efficient surgical procedures for the treatment of skin tumors. OBJECTIVES: Delineating tumor margins accurately is important in limiting broad excisions during conventional surgery and in reducing the number of stages during Mohs procedure. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the role of 2 simple procedures, curettage and videodermoscopy (VDS), in determining margins during MS for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the head and neck. RESULTS: The use of both procedures offered a good intraoperative margin definition and consequently small surgical defects in 197 patients affected by BCC. Recurrences in basal cell cancers, which included both primary and recurrent lesions, occurred less frequently than in the institution's previous experience, appearing in only 8 of 197 cases (approx. 4%). CONCLUSION: In the authors' experience, both VDS and curettage were found advantageous in delineating tumor margins while treating BCC with MS.

Patient perceptions of text-messages, email, and video in dermatologic surgery patients.

INTRODUCTION: We developed dermatology patient education videos and a post-operative text message service that could be accessed universally via web based applications. A secondary outcome of the study was to assess patient opinions of text-messages, email, and video in the health care setting which is reported here. METHODS: An investigator-blinded, randomized, controlled intervention was evaluated in 90 nonmelanoma MMS patients at Wake Forest Baptist Dermatology. Patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 for exposure to: 1) videos with text messages, 2) videos only, 3) text messages-only, or 4) standard of care. Assessment measures were obtained by the use of REDCap survey questions during the follow up visit. RESULTS: 1) 67% would like to receive an email with information about the procedure beforehand 2) 98% of patients reported they would like other doctors to use educational videos as a form of patient education 3) 88% of our patients think it is appropriate for physicians to communicate to patients via text message in certain situations. CONCLUSION: Nearly all patients desired physicians to use text-messages and video in their practice and the majority of patients preferred to receive an email with information about their procedure beforehand.

Language acquisition: hesitations in the question/answer dialogic pair / Aquisição da linguagem: hesitações no par dialógico pergunta/resposta

PURPOSE: (1) To verify the existence (or not) of hesitation marks in the beginning of utterances in children's discourse; and (2) to determine to what extent the presence/absence of these marks could be explained by retrievable facts in the production conditions of their discourses. METHODS: Interview situations with four children aged 5-6 years attending Kindergarten level II in a public preschool at the time of the data collection were analyzed. The interviews were recorded on audio and video, inside a soundproof booth, with high fidelity equipment. Afterwards, the recordings were transcribed by six transcribers that were specially trained for this task. Transcription rules that prioritized the analyses of hesitations were used. For the analysis of retrievable facts in the production conditions of children's discourse, the dialogic pair question-answer was adopted. RESULTS: A correlation between presence/absence of hesitation in the beginning of utterances in children and type of question (open/closed) made by the collocutor was observed. When the question was closed ended, the utterances were preferably initiated without hesitation marks, and when the question was open ended, the utterances were preferably initiated with hesitation marks. CONCLUSION: The presence/absence of hesitation marks in the beginning of utterances in children was found to be dependent on the production conditions of their discourses. .

OBJETIVOS: (1) Verificar a existência (ou não) de marcas hesitativas no início de enunciados no discurso de crianças; e (2) verificar em que medida a presença/ausência dessas marcas se explicaria por fatos recuperáveis na produção de seus discursos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas situações de entrevistas de quatro crianças com 5-6 anos de idade que frequentavam o nível II de uma escola pública de Educação Infantil na época da coleta dos dados. As entrevistas foram gravadas, em áudio e em vídeo, no interior de uma cabine acústica, com material de alta fidelidade. Posteriormente, as gravações foram transcritas por seis transcritores treinados para essa tarefa. Foram utilizadas normas de transcrição que priorizavam a análise das hesitações. Para a análise de fatos recuperáveis das condições de produção dos discursos das crianças, foi adotado o par dialógico pergunta-resposta. RESULTADOS: Foi observada correlação entre presença/ausência de hesitação em início de enunciados das crianças e tipo de pergunta (aberta/fechada) feita pelo interlocutor. Quando a pergunta era do tipo fechada, os enunciados iniciaram-se, preferencialmente, sem marca hesitativa; já quando a pergunta era do tipo aberta, os enunciados iniciaram-se, preferencialmente, com marcas hesitativas. CONCLUSÃO: A presença/ausência de marcas hesitativas em início de enunciados das crianças mostrou-se como dependente das condições de produção de seus discursos. .

Audio-recorded information to patients considering participation in cancer clinical trials - a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Patient information in cancer clinical trial is challenging. The value of audio-recording interventions for patients considering participating in clinical trials is unclear. The primary aim of this randomized study was to investigate effects of audio-recorded information on knowledge and understanding in patients considering participation in a clinical trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients scheduled for information about a phases 2 or 3 trial by one of the 13 participating oncologists at the Department of Oncology during the study period (2008-2013) were eligible. The intervention consisted of an audio-recording on compact disc (CD) of the information at the medical consultation in which the patients were informed about a trial. Knowledge and understanding was measured by the questionnaire, Quality of Informed Consent. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were randomized, 70% of the calculated sample size (n = 186). Sixty-seven patients were randomized to the intervention. In total, 101 patients (78%) completed questionnaires. No statistical significant differences were found between the groups with respect to knowledge and understanding. The level of knowledge was relatively high, with the exceptions of the risks associated with, and the unproven nature of, the trial. Overall, patients who declined participation scored statistically significant lower on knowledge. CONCLUSION: The present study was underpowered and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. Still, 130 patients were included with a response rate of 78%. A CD including the oral information about a clinical trial did not show any effects on knowledge or understanding. However, the levels of knowledge were high, possible due to the high levels of education in the study group. Information on risks associated with the trial is still an area for improvement.

Motivating underserved Vietnamese Americans to obtain colorectal cancer screening: evaluation of a culturally tailored DVD intervention.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death among Vietnamese Americans, yet screening remains underutilized. We investigated the effectiveness of a culturally tailored DVD intervention in promoting CRC screening among unscreened Vietnamese Americans age 50 and over. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted a trial comparing twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed DVD in Vietnamese, with twenty-eight subjects who received a mailed brochure in Vietnamese. Subjects completed telephone surveys at baseline, One-month, and one-year. The primary outcome was receipt of screening. Secondary measures were participants' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about CRC screening. Two focus groups explored the intervention's acceptability and effectiveness. RESULTS: At one year, CRC screening rates of 57.1% and 42.9% were observed in experimental and control group respectively (p=0.42), Subjects in both groups showed increased knowledge about CRC after one month. Focus group findings revealed that the DVD was an effective method of communicating information and would help promote screening. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that culturally tailored, linguistically appropriate content is more important than the type of media used. This relatively low intensity, low cost intervention utilizing a DVD can be another useful method for outreach to the often hard-to-reach unscreened population.

Does source of patient recruitment affect the impact of communication on trust?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how comparable outcomes of medical communication research are when using different patient accrual methods by comparing cancer patients organization members with outpatient clinic patients. METHODS: In an experimental video-vignettes study, the impact of oncologist communication on trust was tested. Background characteristics (socio-demographics, trait anxiety, health locus of control and attachment style), reported trust, and the impact of communication on trust were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Cancer patient organization members (n=196) were younger and higher educated than clinical patients (n=148). Members felt more personal control over their health (p<.01) but were also more anxious (p<.05). They reported lower trust in general health care (p<.05), in their own oncologist (p<.001) and in the oncologist in the videos (p<.05). The impact of oncologist communication on trust was similar for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable differences in trust levels, both groups appear equally affected by oncologist communication. Thus, although including cancer patient organization members may impact the generalizability of some findings, using these participants to investigate communication appears justified. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Cancer patient organization members may regard their oncologist more critically. Research including both members and patients recruited through hospital clinics could take group membership into account as a possible confounder. Nonetheless, communicating competence, honesty and caring may benefit the relation with these patients similarly as with other patients.

Does the British Orthodontic Society orthognathic DVD aid a prospective patient's decision making? A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the views of potential orthognathic patients regarding the influence of the BOS Orthognathic DVD in their decision making process. DESIGN: Qualitative, cross-sectional study. SETTING: A UK dental teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients considering orthognathic treatment. METHODS: New patients were recruited from orthognathic clinics following an initial consultation. After an appropriate time to view the DVD, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients (aged 16-48 years) in their homes. Interviews explored the attitudes and perceptions that influenced decisions about surgery, with a focus on the role of the DVD in this process. The interviews were transcribed and a framework analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: The main themes identified were participant perceptions on the patient stories, use of images, the nature of the DVD itself and its usefulness in the decision making process. Participants reported they were heavily influenced by the patient stories. Virtual animations of surgery were seen as useful; whereas the before and after images of surgery were found to be disorientating. The design of the menu resulted in confusion or information being missed. The DVD was seen as a trusted resource, whereas the Internet was seen as biased, general and sensationalistic. CONCLUSIONS: The DVD gives trusted information that patients cannot obtain or process from professional sources or the Internet. If used properly it can have a role in the decision making process, but should be seen within the context of other influences on the patient. This research has highlighted some aspects of the DVD that could be improved upon.

Improving awareness of cancer clinical trials among Hispanic patients and families: audience segmentation decisions for a media intervention.

Clinical trials hold great promise for cancer treatment; yet, Hispanic cancer patients have low rates of clinical trial participation. Lack of awareness and knowledge of clinical trials and language barriers may account for low participation rates. Patient education through audiovisual materials can improve knowledge of and attitudes toward clinical trials among Hispanic populations. In this study, 36 Hispanic cancer patients/survivors and caregivers in Florida and Puerto Rico participated in focus groups to aid in developing a Spanish-language DVD and booklet intervention designed to increase knowledge about clinical trials. Focus group results showed (a) low levels of knowledge about clinical trials, (b) uncertainty about why a physician would expect a patient to make a choice about treatment, and (c) desire for family participation in decision making. Respondents expressed various preferences for aspects of the DVD such as showing extended family in the DVD and physician explanations about key terms. On the basis of these preferences, the authors developed a creative brief for a DVD. The content of the DVD was reviewed by Hispanic community leaders and key stakeholders. A final DVD was created, in Spanish, using Hispanic patients and physicians, which contained the information deemed important from the focus groups and stakeholder interviews. The DVD is complete with companion booklet and currently undergoing a randomized control trial.

An investigation of the effect of tailored information on symptoms of anxiety and depression in Head and Neck cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if tailored information provision decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression in late stage Head and Neck (H&N) cancer patients. METHODS: This non-randomized, controlled trial was conducted with stage III or IV H&N cancer patients. Subjects were recruited at two academic health centers in Montreal. At the test center, subjects received the Multimode Comprehensive Tailored Information Package (MCTIP), while at the control center, they received normal information provision. Participants were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and 3 and 6 month later. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics then T tests and chi square tests to compare group differences and finally mixed model analysis to test differences in outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 103 subjects were recruited and of them 96 (47 tests and 49 controls) participants completed baseline, 3 and 6 month evaluations. The test group experienced lower levels of anxiety (p = 0.001) and depression (p = 0.089) than the control group. CONCLUSION: The subjects receiving tailored information had lower levels of anxiety than their counterparts. In addition, depression showed a reduction in the expected direction in the test group. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results need to be further confirmed using a randomized approach in different samples but they suggest benefits for stage III and IV H&N cancer patients receiving tailored, multi-modal information concerning their cancer.

Effects of an educational audiovisual videodisc on patients' pre-operative expectations with total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized comparative study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of an educational videodisc in modifying pre-operative patients' expectations with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to find a biophysical profile of subjects in whom this videodisc could be most effective. It was hypothesized that patients receiving standard information plus additional medical information through audiovisual videodiscs would modify their pre-operative expectations more than those only receiving the standard information through medical interviews. METHODS: Ninety-two patients (age, 50-90 years) with knee osteoarthritis waiting for TKA were randomized into two groups. All patients received general verbal information about this procedure. Forty-two patients (study group) additionally viewed an educational videodisc related to the whole process of TKA, whereas 50 patients did not view it (control group). Patients completed baseline and post-videodisc questionnaires regarding their expected results after TKA. RESULTS: Expectations with TKA were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc, except for knee range of motion and use of stairs. There were no differences in change of expectations between groups depending on demographic, functional, health, emotional, and cognitive variables, except for body mass index. The overall pre-operative, pre-intervention expectations were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, the use of this complementary tool may not be systematically recommended. In addition, it was not possible to identify a biophysical profile of patients in whom the intervention could be most effective.

Ethics of clear health communication: applying the CLEAN Look approach to communicate biobanking information for cancer research.

Cancer innovations, such as biobanking technologies, are continuously evolving to improve our understanding and knowledge about cancer prevention and treatment modalities. However, the public receives little communication about biobanking and is often unaware about this innovation until asked to donate biospecimens. It is the researchers' ethical duty to provide clear communications about biobanking and biospecimen research. Such information allows the public to understand biobanking processes and facilitates informed decision making about biospecimen donation. The aims of this paper are 1) to examine the importance of clear communication as an ethical imperative when conveying information about cancer innovations and 2) to illustrate the use of an organizing framework, the CLEAN ( C ulture, L iteracy, E ducation, A ssessment, and N etworking) Look approach for creating educational priming materials about the topic of biobanking.

Digital video recording in the inpatient setting: a tool for improving care experiences and efficiency while decreasing waste and cost.

The need to significantly improve patient centeredness and efficiency, while reducing waste and cost, in health care is an area of focus for health policy leaders. We employed digital video recording on a postsurgical inpatient unit as a method of understanding care delivery through the eyes of patients, families, and caregivers. Key findings of the study included identification of the total number of staff (by function)-to-patient contacts and the percentage of time patients spent in their room during recovey. The use of digital video recording eliminated the impracticality of real-time observation in the inpatient setting and should be considered as a tool for helping to achieve necessary transformation in care delivery.

Cartoon distraction alleviates anxiety in children during induction of anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: We performed this study to determine the beneficial effects of viewing an animated cartoon and playing with a favorite toy on preoperative anxiety in children aged 3 to 7 years in the operating room before anesthesia induction. METHODS: One hundred thirty children aged 3 to 7 years with ASA physical status I or II were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (toy), and group 3 (animated cartoon). The children in group 2 were asked to bring their favorite toy and were allowed to play with it until anesthesia induction. The children in group 3 watched their selected animated cartoon until anesthesia induction. Children's preoperative anxiety was determined by the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) and parent-recorded anxiety Visual Analog Scale (VAS) the night before surgery, in the preanesthetic holding room, and just before anesthesia induction. RESULTS: In the preanesthetic holding room, the group 2 mYPAS and parent-recorded anxiety VAS scores were significantly lower than those of groups 1 and 3 (mYPAS: P = 0.007; parent-recorded anxiety VAS: P = 0.02). In the operating room, the children in group 3 had the lowest mYPAS and parent-recorded anxiety VAS scores among the 3 groups (mYPAS: P < 0.001; parent-recorded anxiety VAS: P < 0.001). In group 3, the mYPAS and parent-recorded anxiety VAS scores of only 3 and 5 children were increased in the operating room compared with their scores in the preanesthetic holding room, whereas the anxiety scores of 32 and 34 children in group 1 and 25 and 32 children in group 2 had increased (P < 0.001). The number of children whose scores indicated no anxiety (mYPAS score <30) in the operating room was 3 (7%), 9 (23%), and 18 (43%) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Allowing the viewing of animated cartoons by pediatric surgical patients is a very effective method to alleviate preoperative anxiety. Our study suggests that this intervention is an inexpensive, easy to administer, and comprehensive method for anxiety reduction in the pediatric surgical population.

Examining the orthopaedic examiners: reliability of the Part 2 Orthopaedic Clinical Fellowship Examination in Australia.

BACKGROUND: The Final Examination for Orthopaedic Surgeons in Australia comprises seven components of which two are written responses and five are oral examinations involving separate pairs of examiners. METHODS: The reliability of the examination process and close marking system was assessed by using a standardized DVD of a sham examination. Fifteen current examiners viewed the DVD and scored the viewed examination independently. RESULTS: The results demonstrated consistency in scoring and reliability. This validation is likely to be further increased by the current system of the pairing of examiners. Additionally, the patient-based examination segments were found to be as reliably scored as the criterion-referenced computer-based examination stations. CONCLUSIONS: Candidates for the Fellowship Examination should be reassured that this study has shown that the examination process has inter-examiner reliability and consistency.