Continuing professional education of Iranian healthcare professionals in shared decision-making: lessons learned.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we sought to assess healthcare professionals' acceptance of and satisfaction with a shared decision making (SDM) educational workshop, its impact on their intention to use SDM, and their perceived facilitators and barriers to the implementation of SDM in clinical settings in Iran. METHODS: We conducted an observational quantitative study that involved measurements before, during, and immediately after the educational intervention at stake. We invited healthcare professionals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, East Azerbaijan, Iran, to attend a half-day workshop on SDM in December 2016. Decisions about prenatal screening and knee replacement surgery was used as clinical vignettes. We provided a patient decision aid on prenatal screening that complied with the International Patient Decision Aids Standards and used illustrate videos. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a questionnaire to assess their familiarity with SDM, a questionnaire based on theoretical domains framework to assess their intention to implement SDM, a questionnaire about their perceived facilitators and barriers of implementing SDM in their clinical practice, continuous professional development reaction questionnaire, and workshop evaluation. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively and with multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Among the 60 healthcare professionals invited, 41 participated (68%). Twenty-three were female (57%), 18 were specialized in family and emergency medicine, or community and preventive medicine (43%), nine were surgeons (22%), and 14 (35%) were other types of specialists. Participants' mean age was 37.51 ± 8.64 years with 8.09 ± 7.8 years of clinical experience. Prior to the workshop, their familiarity with SDM was 3.10 ± 2.82 out of 9. After the workshop, their belief that practicing SDM would be beneficial and useful (beliefs about consequences) (beta = 0.67, 95% CI 0.27, 1.06) and beliefs about capability of using SDM (beta = 0.32, 95% CI -0.08, 0.72) had the strongest influence on their intention of practicing SDM. Participants perceived the main facilitator and barrier to perform SDM were training and high patient load, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Participants thought the workshop was a good way to learn SDM and that they would be able to use what they had learned in their clinical practice. Future studies need to study the level of intention of participants in longer term and evaluate the impact of cultural differences on practicing SDM and its implementation in both western and non-western countries.

Clinical Results of Meniscal Repair Using Submeniscal Horizontal Sutures.

BACKGROUND: Parts of the implants placed over the meniscus during meniscal repair can wear down the cartilage in the contact zones and cause chronic synovitis. Placing horizontal sutures under the meniscus may overcome this potential hazard. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the midterm results of arthroscopic meniscal repair using submeniscally placed out-in horizontal sutures. METHODS: One hundred and three meniscal repairs with submeniscal horizontal out-in technique in 103 patients were performed between 2009 and 2012. Our indications for meniscal repair were all longitudinal tear in red-red and red-white zone with acceptable tissue quality. Clinical evaluation included the Tegner and Lysholm knee scores and clinical success was defined as absence of joint-line tenderness, locking, swelling, and a negative McMurray test. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 19 months (range, 14 to 40 months). The time interval from injury to meniscal repair ranged from 2 days to 390 days (median, 96 days). At the end of follow-up, the clinical success rate was 86.5%. Fourteen of 103 repaired menisci (13.5%) were considered failures according to Barrett's criteria. The mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 39.6 preoperatively to 84.5 postoperatively (P<0.001). Eighty five patients (82.5%) had an excellent or good result according to Lysholm knee score. Tegner activity score improved significantly (P<0.01) from an average of 3.4 (range, 2-6) preoperatively to 5.9 (range, 5-8) postoperatively. Statistical analysis showed that age, simultaneous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, chronicity of injury did not affect the clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that acceptable midterm results are expected from submeniscal horizontal out-in repair technique. This technique is cheap, safe and has the advantage of avoiding chondral abrasion caused by solid implants and suture materials placed over the meniscus.

Comparison of three skin closure methods in knee mid-anterior incisions.

BACKGROUND: Few clinical trials have studied the functional and cosmetic outcomes using different closure techniques for surgical incisions. Since wound and rupture closure methods may influence the healing process and cosmetic outcome, the present study aims at comparing three different suture techniques. METHODS: In a clinical trial, sixty patients with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture were studied. At the end of the operation and after subcutaneous tissue closure, the skin incision was divided into three equal parts. Each part was randomly sutured using one of three techniques: simple, vertical mattress, or semisubcuticular suture techniques. After six months follow-up, we take a picture of the healed wound in each individual. The cosmetic outcome was rated and evaluated by three Orthopedic Surgeons according to the visual analogue scale (zero to 10). During the study, wounds were followed up for inflammation, infection, or discharges. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between cosmetic results of different suturing methods. The mean and standard deviation of VAS scores for three different observer were 5.62±1.39, 5.62±1.13, 5.65±1.29 in the simple suture; 6.05±1.33, 6.13±1.01, 5.93±1.02 in the vertical mattress technique and 5.72±1.82, 5.81±097 and 5.77±0.99 in the semisubcutaneous method. Overall agreements between observers were weak to moderate. Slight superiority of the semisubcuticular sutures were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The methods used for suturing an anterior midline incision of the knee does not seem to affect the final cosmetic outcome. The concept of different surgeons from a favorable cosmetic result could totally differ.

Arthroscopic evaluation of the accuracy of clinical examination versus MRI in diagnosing meniscus tears and cruciate ligament ruptures.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee joint has often been regarded as a noninvasive alternative to diagnostic arthroscopy. In day-to-day clinical practice, the MRI scan is routinely used to support the diagnosis for meniscus or ligamentous injuries prior to recommending arthroscopic examination and surgery. On the other hand, rapidly progressing medical technology sometimes obscures the importance of history and physical examination. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of physical examination and MRI scanning in the diagnosis of knee injury, including meniscus tears and cruciate ligament ruptures. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study, 120 patients with knee injury who were candidates for arthroscopy were referred to Tabriz Shohada Hospital during a one-year period. Prior history of arthroscopy or knee surgery was considered as exclusion criteria. Before ordering an MRI and arthroscopy, a thorough physical examination of the affected knee was performed and a preliminary diagnosis made. The results of arthroscopy were considered as the definitive diagnosis, therefore the results of the physical examination and MRI were judged accordingly. RESULTS: Of the 120 evaluated patients with knee injuries, there were 108 males and 12 females with a mean age of 29.13 ± 7.37 (16-54) years. For medial meniscus injuries, clinical examination had an accuracy of 85%, sensitivity of 94.8%, and specificity of 75.8%. Lateral meniscus injuries had the following results: accuracy (85%), sensitivity (70.8%) and specificity (88.5%). Clinical examination of anterior cruciate injuries had an accuracy of 95.8%, sensitivity of 98.6% and specificity of 91.7%. According to MRI results, for medial meniscus injuries there was an accuracy of 77.5%, sensitivity of 84.2%, and specificity of 71.4%. In lateral meniscus injuries, MRI had an accuracy of 85.8%, sensitivity of 56.5% and 92.8% specificity. MRI evaluation of anterior cruciate injuries was 92.5% for accuracy, 98.6% for sensitivity, and 83.3% for specificity. Both clinical examination and MRI were 100% for posterior cruciate injuries. Overall, in isolated injuries, the accuracy of clinical examination was relatively better than with complicated cases. The opposite results were seen for MRI findings in this regard. CONCLUSION: According to our results, both physical examination and MRI scans are very sensitive and accurate in the diagnosis of knee injuries, with a mild preference for physical examination. MRI should be reserved for doubtful cases or complicated injuries.