First Testing of Literature-Based Models for Predicting Increase in Body Weight and Adipose Tissue Mass After Kidney Transplantation.

Introduction: Weight gain is a risk factor for poor clinical outcomes following kidney transplantation. Research Question: This study's aim was a first testing of 2 models to identify patients early after kidney transplantation who are at risk for weight gain and increase in adipose tissue mass in the first year after kidney transplantation. Design: The literature-based models were evaluated on longitudinal data of 88, respectively 79 kidney transplant recipients via ordinary and Firth regression, using gains ≥ 5% in weight and adipose tissue mass respectively as primary and secondary endpoints. Results: The models included physical activity, smoking cessation at time of kidney transplantation, self-reported health status, depressive symptomatology, gender, age, education, baseline body mass index and baseline trunk fat as predictors. Area under the curve was 0.797 (95%-CI 0.702 to 0.893) for the weight model and 0.767 (95%-CI 0.656 to 0.878) for the adipose tissue mass model-showing good, respectively fair discriminative ability. For weight gain ≥ 5%, main risk factors were smoking cessation at time of transplantation (OR 16.425, 95%-CI 1.737-155.288) and better self-reported baseline health state (OR 1.068 for each 1-unit increase, 95%-CI 1.012-1.128). For the adipose tissue mass gain ≥ 5%, main risk factor was overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25) at baseline (odds ratio 7.659, 95%-CI 1.789-32.789). Conclusions: The models have potential to assess patients' risk for weight or adipose tissue mass gain during the year after transplantation, but further testing is needed before implementation in clinical practice.

Supporting Behavior Change After AECOPD - Development of a Hospital-Initiated Intervention Using the Behavior Change Wheel.

After hospitalization due to acute COPD exacerbations, patient-manageable behaviors influence rehospitalization frequency. This study's aim was to develop a hospital-ward-initiated Behaviour-Change-Wheel (BCW)-based intervention targeting patients' key health behaviors, with the aim to increase quality of life and reduce rehospitalization frequency. Intervention development was performed by University Hospital Zurich working groups and followed the three BCW stages for each of the three key literature-identified problems: insufficient exacerbation management, lack of physical activity and ongoing smoking. In stage one, by analyzing published evidence - including but not limited to patients' perspective - and health professionals' perspectives regarding these problems, we identified six target behaviors. In stage two, we identified six corresponding intervention functions. As our policy category, we chose developing guidelines and service provision. For stage three, we defined eighteen basic intervention packages using 46 Behaviour Change Techniques in our basic intervention. The delivery modes will be face-to-face and telephone contact. In the inpatient setting, this behavioral intervention will be delivered by a multi-professional team. For at least 3 months following discharge, an advanced nursing practice team will continue and coordinate the necessary care package via telephone. The intervention is embedded in a broader self-management intervention complemented by integrated care components. The BCW is a promising foundation upon which to develop our COPD intervention. In future, the interaction between the therapeutic care team-patient relationships and the delivery of the behavioral intervention will also be evaluated.

Development of an integrated model of care for allogeneic stem cell transplantation facilitated by eHealth-the SMILe study.

PURPOSE: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation would benefit from re-engineering care towards an integrated eHealth-facilitated care model. With this paper we aim to: (1) describe the development of an integrated care model (ICM) in allogeneic SteM-cell-transplantatIon faciLitated by eHealth (SMILe) by combining implementation, behavioral, and computer science methods (e.g., contextual analysis, Behavior Change Wheel, and user-centered design combined with agile software development); and (2) describe that model's characteristics and its application in clinical practice. METHODS: The SMILe intervention's development consisted of four steps, with implementation science methods informing each: (1) planning its set-up within a theoretical foundation; (2) using behavioral science methods to develop the content; (3) choosing and developing its delivery method (human/technology) using behavioral and computer science methods; and (4) describing its characteristics and application in clinical practice. RESULTS: The SMILe intervention is embedded within the eHealth enhanced Chronic Care Model, entailing four self-management intervention modules, targeting monitoring and follow-up of important medical and symptom-related parameters, infection prevention, medication adherence, and physical activity. Interventions are delivered partly face-to-face by a care coordinator embedded within the transplant team, and partly via the SMILeApp that connects patients to the transplant team, who can monitor and rapidly respond to any relevant changes within 1 year post-transplant. CONCLUSION: This paper provides stepwise guidance on how implementation, behavioral, and computer science methods can be used to develop interventions aiming to improve care for stem cell transplant patients in real-world clinical settings. This new care model is currently being tested in a hybrid I effectiveness-implementation trial.

New-onset obesity after liver transplantation-outcomes and risk factors: the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

Weight gain after liver transplantation (LTx) facilitates development of new-onset obesity; however, its risk factors and outcomes are poorly understood. We identified the impact of new-onset obesity on cardiovascular events (CVEs) and patient survival, and risk factors for new-onset obesity. Multiple Cox regression models examined risk factors for CVEs, patient survival, and new-onset obesity in 253 adults (mean age 52.2 ± 11.6 years, male gender 63.6%, mean follow up 5.7 ± 2.1 years). Cumulative incidence of post-LTx CVE was 28.1%; that of new-onset obesity was 21.3%. Regardless of CVE at LTx, post-LTx CVEs were predicted by new-onset obesity [Hazard Ratio (HR), 2.95; P = 0.002] and higher age at LTx (HR, 1.05; P < 0.001). In patients without known pre-LTx CVEs (n = 214), risk factors for post-LTx CVEs were new-onset obesity (HR, 2.59; P = 0.014) and higher age (HR, 1.04; P = 0.001). Survival was not associated with new-onset obesity (P = 0.696). Alcoholic liver disease predicted new-onset obesity (HR, 3.37; P = 0.025), female gender was protective (HR, 0.39; P = 0.034). In 114 patients with available genetic data, alcoholic liver disease (HR, 12.82; P = 0.014) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HR, 10.02; P = 0.048) predicted new-onset obesity, and genetics remained borderline significant (HR, 1.07; P = 0.071). Early introduction of post-LTx weight management programs may suggest a potential pathway to reduce CVE risk.

Perception of late effects among long-term survivors after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Descriptive analysis and validation of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. A sub-study of the PROVIVO study.

PURPOSE: To give a first description of the perception of late effects among long-term survivors after Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and to validate the German Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data from the cross-sectional, mixed-method PROVIVO study, which included 376 survivors from two Swiss HSCT-centres. First, we analysed the sample characteristics and the distribution for each BIPQ item. Secondly, we tested three validity types following the American Educational Research Association (AERA)Standards: content validity indices (CVIs) were assessed based on an expert survey (n = 9). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) explored the internal structure, and correlations tested the validity in relations to other variables including data from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the number and burden of late effects and clinical variables. RESULTS: In total, 319 HSCT recipients returned completed BIPQs. For this sample, the most feared threat for post-transplant life was long lasting late effects (median = 8/10). The expert-survey revealed an overall acceptable CVI (0.82), three items-on personal control, treatment control and causal representation-yielded low CVIs (<.78). The CFA confirmed that the BIPQ fits the underlying construct, the Common-Sense Model (CSM) (χ2 (df) = 956.321, p = 0.00). The HADS-scores correlated strongly with the item emotional representation (r = 0.648; r = 0.656). CONCLUSION: According to its overall content validity, the German BIPQ is a promising instrument to gain deeper insights into patients' perceptions of HSCT late effects. However, as three items revealed potential problems, improvements and adaptions in translation are therefore required. Following these revisions, validity evidence should be re-examined through an in-depth patient survey.