Best practice: quality assessment outcomes of the Practice Enhancement Program among family physicians in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Increased family physician workloads have strained primary care. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency and types of quality concerns identified among Saskatchewan's family physicians, changes in these concerns over time, associated physician characteristics, and recommendations made for improvement. In this repeated cross-sectional study (1997-2020), we examined family physician assessment reports from the Saskatchewan Practice Enhancement Program, a mandatory practice review strategy, for quality concerns on three outcomes: care, medical record, and facility. We recorded demographic and practice characteristics, the presence or absence of quality concerns, and the type of recommendations made. Concern incidence was calculated both overall and across subperiods, and three outcome-specific multiple logistic regression models were developed. Recommendations made were quantified, and their nature was evaluated using thematic analysis. Among 824 assessments, 20.8% identified concerns, with a statistically significant increase in 2015-20 over earlier years (14.2% versus 43.4%, P < .001). Corresponding proportions also significantly increased within each quality outcome (6.0%-37.1%, P < .001 for care concerns; 12.7%-19.6%, P = .03 for medical record concerns; 3.9%-21.0%, P < .001 for facility concerns). We found statistically significant adjusted associations between care concerns and both urban location [odds ratio (OR): 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30, 3.8] and international medical training (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.2); facility concerns and solo practice (OR: 2.5 95% CI: 1.10, 5.7); and medical record concerns and male gender (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.3), solo practice (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.7), and increased age. Reflecting a statistically significant interaction found between age as a continuous covariate and time period, older physicians were more likely to have a medical record concern in later years (OR: 1.072; 95% CI: 1.026, 1.120) compared to earlier ones (OR: 1.021; 95% CI: 1.001, 1.043). Among physicians where a concern was identified, recommendations most frequently pertained to documentation (91.2%), chronic disease management (78.2%), cumulative patient profiles (62.9%), laboratory investigations (53.5%), medications (51.8%), and emergency preparedness (51.2%). A concerning and increasing proportion of family physicians have quality gaps, with identifiable factors and recurring recommendations. These findings provide direction for strategic support development.

Is Call Karma Real? Resident After-Hours On-Call Imaging at the University of Saskatchewan: An Assessment of Call Volumes Including Inter-Resident Variability.

PURPOSE: Quantify resident caseload during call and determine if there are consistent differences in call volumes for individuals or resident subgroups. METHODS: Accession codes for after-hours computed tomography (CT) cases dictated by residents between July 1, 2012 and January 9, 2017 were reviewed. Case volumes by patient visits and body regions scanned were determined and categorized according to time period, year, and individual resident. Mean shift Relative Value Units (RVUs) were calculated by year. Descriptive statistics, linear mixed modeling, and linear regression determined mean values, differences between residents, associations between independent variables and outcomes, and changes over time. Consistent differences between residents were assessed as a measure of good or bad luck / karma on call. RESULTS: During this time there were 23,032 patients and 30,766 anatomic regions scanned during 1,652 call shifts among 32 residents. Over the whole period, there were on average 10.6 patients and 14.3 body regions scanned on weekday shifts and 22.3 patients and 29.4 body regions scanned during weekend shifts. Annually, the mean number of patients, body regions, and RVUs scanned per shift increased by an average of 0.2 (1%), 0.4 (2%), and 1.2 (5%) (all p < 0.05) respectively in regression models. There was variability in call experiences, but only 1 resident had a disproportionate number of higher volume calls and fewer lower volume shifts than expected. CONCLUSIONS: Annual increases in scan volumes were modest. Although residents' experiences varied, little of this was attributable to consistent personal differences, including luck or call karma.

Cross-sectional study of pediatric pain prevalence, assessment, and treatment at a Canadian tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Painful experiences are common among hospitalized children. Long-term negative biopsychosocial consequences of undertreated pain are recognized. AIMS: The study benchmarks pain prevalence, assessment, and treatment as first steps to improve pain care in a Canadian tertiary hospital. METHODS: Single-day audits were undertaken on the pediatric ward (PW), pediatric emergency department (ED), and maternal services (MS). Participants (child or caregiver proxy) reported hospital pain experiences in the preceding 24 h; medical records were reviewed for assessment and treatment. RESULTS: Among 84 participants, pain prevalence ranged from 75% to 88%; mean pain intensity ranged from 5.7 to 6.5/10. Prevalence of moderate to severe pain was 78% on PW, 65% in ED, and 55% on MS; needle pokes were the most frequent cause of worst pain. Documentation of pain assessment varied by setting (PW, 93%; ED, 13%; MS, 0%). Documented maximum pain scores were significantly lower compared to participant report (mean difference 4.5/10, SD 3.1, P < 0.0001). A total 29% (6/21) of infants with heel lance or injection received breastfeeding or sucrose, and 29% (7/24) of participants receiving other needle procedures had documented or reported topical lidocaine use. All participants on MS underwent needle procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is experienced commonly by infants and children in PW, ED, and MS. Pain assessment documentation is not routine and underestimates participant report. Evidence-based pain management strategies are underutilized. An institution-wide quality improvement approach is required to address pain care. Pain assessment and needle pain prevention and treatment should be prioritized in these pediatric acute care and newborn care settings.

Contexte: Les expériences douloureuses sont courantes chez les enfants hospitalisés. Les conséquences biopsychosociales négatives à long terme d'une douleur sous-traitée sont reconnues.Objectifs: L'étude compare la prévalence, l'évaluation et le traitement de la douleur comme premières étapes pour améliorer les soins de la douleur dans un hôpital tertiaire canadien.Méthodes: Des audits d'une journée ont été effectués dans les services de pédiatrie (SP), les services d'urgence pédiatrique (SU) et les services maternels (SM). Les participants (enfant ou soignant) ont rapporté des expériences de douleur à l'hôpital au cours des 24 heures précédentes; les dossiers médicaux ont été examinés pour évaluation et traitement.Résultats: Parmi les 84 participants, la prévalence de la douleur variait de 75 % à 88 % ; l'intensité moyenne de la douleur variait de 5,7 à 6,5/10. La prévalence de la douleur modérée à sévère était de 78 % pour les services de pédiatrie, 65 % pour les services d'urgence pédiatrique et 55 % pour les services maternels ; les piqûres étaient la cause la plus fréquente des pires douleurs. La documentation de l'évaluation de la douleur variait selon le contexte (SP 93 % ; SU 13 % ; SM 0 %). Les scores maximaux de douleur documentés étaient significativement inférieurs à ceux rapportés par les participants (différence moyenne 4,5 / 10, SD 3,1, P < 0,0001). Au total, 29 % (6/21) des nourrissons ayant reçu une piqûre au talon ou une injection ont reçu un allaitement ou du saccharose, et 29 % (7/24) des participants recevant d'autres procédures d'injection avaient documenté ou signalé une utilisation topique de lidocaïne. Tous les participants des services maternels ont subi une procédure impliquant une aiguille.Conclusions: La douleur est couramment ressentie par les nourrissons et les enfants dans les services de pédiatrie, les services d'urgence pédiatrique et les services maternels. La documentation relative à l'évaluation de la douleur n'est pas systématique et sous-estime la douleur rapportée par les participants. Les stratégies de prise en charge de la douleur fondées sur des données probantes sont sous-utilisées. Une approche d'amélioration de la qualité à l'échelle de l'établissement est nécessaire pour aborder les soins de la douleur. L'évaluation de la douleur et la prévention et le traitement de la douleur causée par les aiguilles devraient être prioritaires dans ces établissements de soins pédiatriques aigus et de soins aux nouveau-nés.

Development of a risk assessment model to differentiate malignant and benign musculoskeletal soft-tissue masses on magnetic resonance imaging.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to develop a risk stratification model to differentiate benign and malignant MRI-imaged musculoskeletal soft-tissue tumours, informing decisions surrounding biopsy and follow-up imaging. METHODS: Imaging of patients who underwent MRI and subsequent biopsy to evaluate a soft-tissue mass was retrospectively reviewed. Features analysed included patient age; tumour size; shape; margins; enhancement pattern; signal intensity pattern; deep fascia, neurovascular bundle, bone and joint involvement; and the presence of necrosis, haemorrhage, oedema and intralesional fat. Univariate comparisons, by final histopathological status, employed t-tests and chi-square tests, followed by simple and multiple logistic regressions. Variables included in the final multiple regression model were used to define a three-level risk stratification strategy. RESULTS: One-hundred and ten patients were included in the analysis. Univariate relationships were identified between malignancy and age, tumour size, deep fascia involvement, neurovascular involvement, necrosis, haemorrhage, oedema and heterogeneous enhancement (all P < 0.01). Final multiple regression modelling included size, enhancement and oedema. Thirty of 40 (75%) tumours >5 cm with surrounding oedema ('high risk') were malignant, 13 of 47 (28%) tumours with one or more of tumour size >5 cm, surrounding oedema or heterogeneous enhancement ('moderate risk') were malignant, and none of the 16 tumours ≤5 cm with the absence of surrounding oedema and heterogeneous enhancement ('low risk') were malignant. CONCLUSIONS: A model including tumour size, enhancement and oedema has potential to stratify soft-tissue tumours into high-, intermediate- and low-risk categories; this may inform decisions surrounding biopsy and follow-up imaging.

Incidence and Economic Impact of Incidental Findings on 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging.

PURPOSE: The study sought to determine the incidence of incidental findings on whole-body positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and the average costs of investigations to follow-up or further characterize incidental findings. METHODS: Imaging reports of 215 patients who underwent whole-body PET/CT imaging were retrospectively reviewed. Our provincial picture archiving and communication system was queried and patient charts were reviewed to identify all investigations performed to follow-up incidental findings within 1 year of the initial PET/CT study. Costs of follow-up imaging studies (professional and technical components) and other diagnostic tests and procedures were determined in Canadian dollars (CAD) and U.S. dollars (USD) using the 2015 Ontario Health Insurance Plan Schedule of Benefits and Fees and 2016 U.S. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, respectively. RESULTS: At least 1 incidental finding was reported in 161 reports (74.9%). The mean number of incidental findings ranged from 0.64 in patients <45 years of age to 2.2 in patients 75 years of age and older. Seventy-five recommendations for additional investigations were made for 64 (30%) patients undergoing PET/CT imaging, and 14 of those were carried out specifically to follow-up incidental findings. Averaged across all 215 patients, the total cost of investigations recommended to follow-up incidental findings was CAD$105.51 (USD$127.56) per PET/CT study if all recommendations were acted on, and CAD$22.77 (USD$29.14) based on investigations actually performed. CONCLUSIONS: As the incidence of incidental findings increases with age and a larger proportion of elderly patients is expected as population demographics change, it will be increasingly important to consider incidental findings on PET/CT imaging with standardized approaches to follow-up.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Jugular Venous Pressure Assessment: Live and Online Learning Compared.

INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a novel technique for the assessment of jugular venous pressure. Distance education may allow for efficient dissemination of this technique. We compared online learning to a live course for teaching ultrasonography jugular venous pressure (u-JVP) to determine if these teaching methods yielded different levels of comfort with and use of u-JVP. METHODS: This was an interventional trial of Canadian emergency physicians who had taken a basic POCUS course. The participants were in one of three Groups: online learning (Group OL), live teaching (Group LT), control (Group C). Group LT participants also took an advanced course prior to the study that included instruction in u-JVP. The participants who took the basic course were randomized to Group OL or Group C. Group OL was subject to the intervention, online learning. Group C only received an article citation regarding u-JVP. Questionnaires were completed before and after the intervention. The primary outcome was physician self-reported use and comfort with the technique of u-JVP after online learning compared to live teaching. RESULTS: Of the 287 advanced course participants, 42 completed the questionnaires (Group LT). Of the 3303 basic course participants, 47 who were assigned to Group OL completed the questionnaires and 47 from Group C completed the questionnaires. Use of u-JVP increased significantly in Group OL (from 15% to 55%) and Group C (from 21% to 47%) with the intervention. The comfort with use did not differ between Group LT and Group OL (p=0.14). The frequency of use remained higher in Group LT than Group OL (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: Online learning increases the use and comfort with performing u-JVP for emergency physicians with prior POCUS experience. Although the comfort with use of u-JVP was similar in Groups LT and OL, online learning appears to yield levels of use that are less than those of a live course.

Exploring diversity in socioeconomic inequalities in health among rural dwelling Canadians.

PURPOSE: To describe the patterning of socioeconomic inequalities in health among rural dwelling women and men in a Canadian province, exploring diversity in associations by measure of socioeconomic position, health outcome, and demographic characteristics. METHODS: Baseline data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study was used, an ongoing prospective cohort study examining the health of rural people in Saskatchewan, Canada. Of the 11,004 eligible addresses, responses to mailed questionnaires were obtained from 4,624 (42%) households, representing 8,261 women and men. Multiple logistic regression was the primary method of analysis; generalized estimating equations were utilized to account for household clustering. Associations between 5 health outcomes (self-rated health, chronic obstructive lung disease, diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure) and 4 indicators of socioeconomic position (income, education, financial strain, occupational skill level) were assessed, with age and gender as potential effect modifiers. FINDINGS: With the exception of occupational skill level, socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators were strongly and inversely related to most health outcomes, often in a graded manner. Associations between SEP and several health outcomes were weaker for older than younger participants (heart attack, high blood pressure, lung disease) and stronger among women compared to men (high blood pressure, lung disease). CONCLUSIONS: The patterning of SEP-health associations observed in this rural Canadian sample suggests the need for health promotion strategies and policy initiatives to be broadly targeted at individuals and families occupying a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances.