Interventions to improve wellbeing among obstetricians and midwives at Cork University Maternity Hospital.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing body of research demonstrating stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue among those working in obstetrics and gynaecology. The literature is lacking with respect to targeted interventions aimed at improving staff wellbeing. AIMS: To investigate whether an intervention which increases support for staff is feasible to implement and effective at improving staff wellbeing. METHODS: This study was conducted in a tertiary university teaching maternity hospital. All doctors in training (DITs) (N = 28) and midwives (N = 69) working in the delivery suite were invited to participate. Wellbeing was assessed by measuring burnout, compassion fatigue, and perceived stress using validated questionnaires. These were distributed pre-intervention and 6 months after implementation of the interventions. The support interventions consisted of posters promoting self-care, team bonding sessions, and end of shift meetings. RESULTS: Eighteen (64%) DITs and 22 (31%) midwives returned pre-intervention questionnaires. Thirteen (18%) midwives retuned post-intervention questionnaires, of which five midwives (7%) returned both the pre-intervention questionnaire and the post-intervention questionnaire. Eighty-seven percent of participants were experiencing emotional exhaustion pre-intervention. There was a statistically significant decrease in the Professional Quality of Life burnout score from pre-intervention (M = 25.8) to post-intervention (M = 21.4), p = 0.02. End of shift meetings were discontinued after 5 weeks due to low attendance. End of shift meetings provided an opportunity for support and debriefing; however, the timing of these sessions impaired their long-term feasibility. CONCLUSION: DITs and midwives of this sample are experiencing high levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. End of shift meetings for midwives and team bonding sessions for DITs may positively impact on wellbeing, but in current format, they are not feasible for long-term implementation. The low level of participation highlights a challenge in implementing institution-wide support interventions.

Secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures: evaluation of the Lille University Hospital's Fracture Liaison Service between January 2016 and January 2018.

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of our Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) over a period of 2 years. Osteoporosis medication was prescribed for 243 patients, and zoledronic acid was the main drug prescribed (60.2%). INTRODUCTION: A Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) was implemented at Lille University Hospital in 2016. The main purpose of this study was to assess the performance of the FLS using criteria proposed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). METHODS: The criteria used were patient identification, patient evaluation, post-fracture assessment timing, vertebral-fracture identification, blood and bone mineral density (BMD) testing, falls prevention, multifaceted health and lifestyle risk-factor assessment, and medication initiation and review. RESULTS: Between January 2016 and January 2018, 736 patients (≥ 50 years old) with a recent history of fragility fracture (≤ 12 months) were identified. The identification rate for hip fractures was 74.2%. However, patient evaluation for all type of fractures was quite low (30.3%) since many patients failed to attend the FLS unit. The reasons for non-attendance were refusal, agreed but subsequently failed to attend, and still waiting to be seen. In all, 256 patients (76.6% female, mean (SD) age 74.3 (11.0) years) were seen at the FLS. Mean (SD) post-fracture assessment timing was 13.3 (9.3) weeks. Of the 139 patients seen for a non-vertebral fracture, 103 were assessed for vertebral fractures, and at least one new vertebral fracture was found in 45 of them (43.7%). Osteoporosis medication was prescribed for 243 (94.9%) patients. The main osteoporosis drug prescribed was zoledronic acid (60.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures has improved since the implementation of the FLS. However, patient identification, patient evaluation, and post-fracture assessment timing still need to be improved.

Hospital enterprise Architecture Framework (Study of Iranian University Hospital Organization).

BACKGROUNDS: Nowadays developing smart and fast services for patients and transforming hospitals to modern hospitals is considered a necessity. Living in the world inundated with information systems, designing services based on information technology entails a suitable architecture framework. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to present a localized enterprise architecture framework for the Iranian university hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using two dimensions of implementation and having appropriate characteristics, the best 17 enterprises frameworks were chosen. As part of this effort, five criteria were selected according to experts' inputs. According to these criteria, five frameworks which had the highest rank were chosen. Then 44 general characteristics were extracted from the existing 17 frameworks after careful studying. Then a questionnaire was written accordingly to distinguish the necessity of those characteristics using expert's opinions and Delphi method. The result showed eight important criteria. In the next step, using AHP method, TOGAF was chosen regarding having appropriate characteristics and the ability to be implemented among reference formats. In the next step, enterprise architecture framework was designed by TOGAF in a conceptual model and its layers. For determining architecture framework parts, a questionnaire with 145 questions was written based on literature review and expert's opinions. The results showed during localization of TOGAF for Iran, 111 of 145 parts were chosen and certified to be used in the hospital. CONCLUSION: The results showed that TOGAF could be suitable for use in the hospital. So, a localized Hospital Enterprise Architecture Modelling is developed by customizing TOGAF for an Iranian hospital at eight levels and 11 parts. This new model could be used to be performed in other Iranian hospitals.

Medication utilization evaluation of dabigatran and rivaroxaban within a large, multi-center health system.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this medication utilization evaluation (MUE) was to determine the appropriateness of dabigatran and rivaroxaban while also reviewing outcomes for safety and effectiveness within a large, multi-center health system. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed using the system's electronic medical record. A data inquiry was requested and generated for dabigatran usage from July 28, 2011 through July 28, 2012 and for rivaroxaban from March 1, 2012 to July 31, 2012 at eight health system hospitals. All patients receiving at least one dose were eligible for inclusion in the MUE. RESULTS: For dabigatran, 78 of 390 unique patient encounters were analyzed (20%). All 62 rivaroxaban encounters were included in the analysis. Dabigatran was used for appropriate indications in 94% of encounters and 82% for rivaroxaban. Based on indication and renal function, 87% of dabigatran patients and 92% of rivaroxaban patients received correct dosing. For patients transitioning to or from another anticoagulant, appropriate transitions occurred in 44% of dabigatran transitions and 48% of rivaroxaban transitions. At discharge, 83% of dabigatran and 86% of rivaroxaban therapy was continued. There were no reported strokes or systemic embolism with dabigatran, but one reported deep vein thrombosis occurred during hospitalization with rivaroxaban therapy. Documented bleeds in 5% of dabigatran and 3% of rivaroxaban patients. Patient education was documented for 37% of dabigatran and 26% of rivaroxaban patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: This MUE revealed the appropriate use of dabigatran and rivaroxaban therapy with few safety outcomes within a large, multi-center health system.

Reasons behind non-adherence of healthcare practitioners to pediatric asthma guidelines in an emergency department in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of childhood bronchial asthma in Saudi Arabia has increased in less than a decade from 8% to 23%. Innovations in the management of asthma led to the development of evidence based clinical practice guidelines and protocols to improve the patients' outcomes. The objectives of this study are to examine the compliance of the healthcare providers in the Pediatrics Emergency Department, in King Khalid University Hospital, with the recommendations of the Pediatrics Asthma Management Protocol (PAMP), and to explore the reasons behind non-adherence. METHODS: This study is designed in 2 parts, a patients' chart review and a focus group interview. The medical records of all the children who presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) and were diagnosed as asthmatic, during the period from the 1st of January 2009 to the 31st of March 2009, were reviewed to investigate the compliance of healthcare providers (physicians and nurses) with 8 recommendations of the PAMP which are considered to be frequently encountered evidence-practice gaps, and these are 1) documentation of asthma severity grading by the treating physician and nurse 2) limiting the prescription of Ipratropium for children with severe asthma 3) administration of Salbutamol through an inhaler and a spacer 4) documentation of parental education 5) prescription of systemic corticosteroids to all cases of acute asthma 6) limiting chest x-ray requisition for children with suspected chest infection 7) management of all cases of asthma as outpatients, unless diagnosed as severe or life threatening asthma 8) limiting prescription of antibiotics to children with chest infection. The second part of this study is a focus group interview designed to elicit the reasons behind non-adherence to the recommendations detected by the chart review. Two separate focus group interviews were conducted for 10 physicians and 10 nurses. The focus group interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Theory-based content analysis was used to analyze interviews into themes and sub-themes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 657 charts were reviewed. The percentage of adherence by the healthcare providers to the 8 previously mentioned recommendations was established. There was non-adherence to the first 5 of the 8 aforementioned recommendations. Analysis of the focus group interview revealed 3 main themes as reasons behind non-compliance to the 5 recommendations mentioned above and those are 1) factors related to the organization, 2) factors related to the asthma management protocol 3) factors related to healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: The organizational barriers and the lack of an implementation strategy for the protocol, in addition to the attitude and beliefs of the healthcare providers, are the main factors behind non-compliance to the PAMP recommendations.

Treatment pathways and quality improvement for patients with acute myocardial infarction at a tertiary care center.

The timely diagnosis and treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) have become paramount to improving outcomes in this population. Many states, including North Carolina, have established systems to guide regional emergency providers in caring for STEMI. We describe the current pathway for diagnosis and treatment of STEMI for providers referring patients to Duke University Hospital, including a system for expedited patient transport and activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory from a wide referral base. There is also a structured process for review of cases and quality improvement, which incorporates physicians, administrators, and emergency medical personnel.

Documento de consenso multidisciplinar para la implantación del Proceso Asistencial Integrado Fibromialgia en el área hospitalaria dependiente del Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real / No disponible

Introducción: en el año 2005 se publicó en Andalucía el Proceso Asistencial Integrado (PAI) Fibromialgia para dotar de un protocolo válido de actuación a los profesionales sanitarios ante los pacientes con esta patología. En el año 2009 se decidió realizar un documento que permitiera la adaptación del PAI al Área Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario Puerto Real para facilitar su implantación. Objetivo: desarrollar un documento de consenso sobre la implantación del PAI Fibromialgia en el Área Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario Puerto Real realizado por representantes de las principales especialidades sanitarias que intervienen en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de dicha patología, así como representantes de las asociaciones de pacientes. Método: se revisó el documento de la Junta de Andalucía sobre el PAI Fibromialgia y los nuevos aspectos sobre dicha patología en la literatura médica actual, intentando adaptarlos a la realidad asistencial de los centros sanitarios dependientes del Hospital Universitario Puerto Real. Se emplearon algunas de las técnicas habituales para realizar consensos (grupo nominal y brainstorming). Conclusión: el PAI Fibromialgia editado por la Junta de Andalucía es un documento que, aunque importante, no se puede implementar como tal en la realidad asistencial de los centros sanitarios dependientes del Hospital Universitario Puerto Real. Tomando dicho documento como base se creó un documento de implantación del proceso, para ello se contó con la participación y consenso de Especialistas de Atención Especializada Hospitalaria y Atención Primaria así como de las Asociaciones de Pacientes con Fibromialgia. Este documento está permitiendo la implementación progresiva del PAI Fibromialgia en el Área Sanitaria del Hospital Universitario Puerto Real (AU)

Introduction: an integrated healthcare process for fibromyalgia -Proceso Asistencial Integrado (PAI) Fibromialgia- was published in 2005 in Andalusia to provide healthcare professionals with a valid protocol for the management of patients with this disease. In 2009 a decision was made to write a document allowing PAI to be adapted to the healthcare area served by Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real in order to facilitate its implementation. Objective: to develop a consensus document on the implementation of PAI Fibromialgia in the healthcare area served by Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real by representatives of the major healthcare specialties involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, as well as representatives of patient associations. Method: the document published by Junta de Andalucía on the PAI Fibromialgia project, and the new aspects of this disease in the current medical literature were all reviewed in an attempt to adjust this process within the actual practice of healthcare centers served by Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real. Some common consensus techniques were used (nominal group and brainstorming). Conclusion: the PAI Fibromialgia paper edited by Junta de Andalucía is a document that, while relevant, cannot be implemented as such within the actual practice of healthcare centers served by Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real. Based on this paper a process implementation document was developed with the aid and consensus of in-hospital specialized care and primary care specialists, as well as fibromyalgia patient associations. This document is now allowing the gradual implementation of PAI Fibromialgia in the healthcare area served by Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real (AU)

A palliative care initiative in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital.

Turkey is among the countries with only "capacity building activity"" in terms of palliative care development according to the mapping levels reported by the International Observatory on End of Life Care (http://www.eolc-observatory.net/global/pdf/world_map.pdf). Palliative care units are lacking even in major hospitals. Although some medical oncologists and pain specialists have been providing pain control and symptom relief to some extend, all these interventions remain a fragmented approach to care since there are no palliative care programs. Establishing palliative care services should be a priority in the development of comprehensive cancer care, particularly in a country where more than 60% of the cancer patients present with advanced stage disease. Like all the other university hospitals in the country, palliative care services have not been established so far in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital for several reasons although almost all the modern cancer treatment modalities have been provided to cancer patients. A group of health professionals have recently started a palliative care initiative in the hospital with an aim to raise awareness and to implement basic palliative care interventions to the current cancer care. This paper aims to tell the story of how this initiative get started and which step were taken so far.

Assessment of quality of midwifery care in labour and delivery wards of selected Kordestan Medical Science University hospitals.

PURPOSE: Quality improvement of reproductive health care has been announced as one of five global strategies to accelerate progress toward reproductive health goals. The World Health Organization emphasises the evaluation of structure, procedure and outcome of health services to improve quality of care. This study aims to assess the quality of provided care in labour and delivery units in two selected Kordestan Medical Science University hospitals. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A descriptive study methodology was utilised to assess the quality of care provided to 96 women with normal pregnancies. Two checklists were used to observe procedures of care and structure together with a questionnaire utilised to assess satisfaction ratings of patients. Data were analysed by SPSS 11.5. FINDINGS: Midwifery care was provided in different stages of labour, with the following mean percentages of compatibility with desirable situation: first stage of labour (71.4 per cent), second stage of labour (63.03 per cent), third stage of labour (80.63 per cent) and first 2 hours after labour (70.50 per cent). The lowest scores were related to the domains of "emotional support", "hand wash" and "assessment of vital signs". ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper develops instructions for care provision or promotion of partograph use for continuous monitoring and evaluation of quality of care by managers. Increasing midwifery personnel and providing facilities for accompanied people to improve quality of emotional care can lead to quality improvement, and finally the women's health and satisfaction.

[Interdisciplinarity and chronic pain therapy--implementation of a new Interdisciplinary Center at the University Hospital Dresden on the basis of an integrated health care contract]. / Interdisziplinarität in der chronischen Schmerztherapie--Etablierung eines neuen fachübergreifenden Zentrums am Uni- versitätsklinikum Dresden auf der Grundlage eines Vertrages zur integrierten Versorgung.

Due to the bio-psycho-social complexity and presence of various health departments, chronic pain requires interdisciplinary cooperation which enables the accurate evaluation of the clinical findings and is a prerequisite for an individual and resource-oriented therapeutic concept focusing on both physical and mental activation. This concept forms the basis of medical care at the University Pain Center, which was founded in April 2004 at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden. Since then, day care and inpatient services have been provided in addition to well-established outpatient care. The motive behind the foundation of the Pain Center was to sensitize health insurers to the complex problems of chronic pain and existing regional structural deficits. Following a draft version of a coherent multimodal, interdisciplinary healthcare concept along with full cost accounting after 1 1/2 years, an integrative healthcare contract got signed by two health insurances (AOK-Sachsen and VdAK) in June 2004. After two years of existence, the first experiences, results and especially the Pain Center's treatment spectrum ought to be demonstrated.

Spiritual interventions: how, when, and why nurses use them.

Researchers have performed limited studies regarding what nurses believe spirituality can do for their patients, the spiritual services they have offered, and under what circumstances. Because much of the extant research has only examined nurses involved in terminal care at different hospitals, it remains unclear upon which shared ideas and practices might nursing staff create a culture of spiritual care within a hospital. To address this situation, this study reports findings from a survey of bedside nurses at a university hospital.

2003 Circle of Life Awards.

These three winning programs are changing palliative and end-of-life care in their communities, stretching the boundaries of conventional thinking, redefining eligibility, seeking out previously underserved populations, and otherwise serving as role models.

[Integrating problem-based learning into traditional medical courses: the PBL approach to Pediatrics in Berlin]. / Einbindung von Problemorientiertem Lernen in den konventionellen Studiengang: Das Berliner "Pädiatrie POL-Praktikum".

Integrating a problem-based learning (PBL) approach into the classical curriculum for medical students is often considered difficult because of fundamental differences in the two teaching methods. At the Charité, the medical school of Berlin's Humboldt University, students with a regular medical curriculum are offered to choose between a regular and a PBL class for their course in Paediatrics. During the three-week course in PBL Paediatrics medical students spend the morning in different clinics of the "Otto Heubner Centre for Paediatrics". They are strongly involved in the medical care of 3-4 patients with typical paediatric diseases. Each afternoon, one of the students presents a patient. Patient problems are discussed according to the seven steps of PBL. Subsequently, students use different tools and sources through self-studies to obtain information on the specific disease. By integrating the principles of "Evidence-based medicine" students are trained to critically appraise the medical literature. At the end of the course students are asked to evaluate the quality of the medical teacher, thus allowing for continuous improvement of the teaching methods. We conclude that the principles of PBL can be integrated into a conventional curriculum in medical school.

Does a clinical pathway improve the quality of care for sickle cell anemia?

BACKGROUND: Clinical pathways are often implemented to improve care, yet their effect on quality of care and outcomes is often not evaluated. The Johns Hopkins Children's Center instituted a clinical pathway in early 1996 to improve the care for pediatric sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and used a retrospective before-after study to describe how quality of care and outcomes changed after introduction of the pathway. RESULTS: Physicians used the pathway in 43% of eligible admissions, with use decreasing over time. Patients on the pathway were more likely to receive each of its required elements than those not on the pathway (odds ratios [OR] 1.15-2.49). After pathway implementation, even patients not on the pathway were more likely to receive incentive spirometry than those admitted before pathway availability (OR 1.40). Pathway use was associated with longer length of stay (LOS) and time to oral pain medication, while readmission rates did not change. DISCUSSION: Use of a clinical pathway improved quality of care by increasing compliance with specific care elements, with mixed results on outcomes. Pathways may improve care for all patients, including nonpathway-treated patients, by influencing underlying practice patterns. Quality improvement committees must regularly monitor outcomes after pathway implementation to evaluate the need for pathway reinforcement and refinement.

La antibioterapia en monodosis: una opción de mejora en las neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad / Single-dosse antibiotic therapy: an option for improvement in community-acquired pneumonias

Introducción: El tratamiento de las neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad (NAC) con antibióticos en monoterapia y monodosis (MM) ha demostrado la misma efectividad clínica que las pautas clásicas de antibioterapia fraccionada, a la vez que disminuye la estancia hospitalaria. Esto hace que la MM constituya una opción de mejora. Objetivo: Comprobar sí las características del tratamiento de las NAC con MM eran exportables a un hospital diferente de aquellos en los que se habían descrito inicialmente. Material y método. Estudio de intervención para la mejora de la calidad, en el período de enero a mayo de 1999. Tipo de muestreo: consecutivo. Datos recogidos: edad, sexo, puntuación APACHE II e índice de Charlson para comorbilidades, tiempo de estancia, mortalidad a 30 días, reingresos en los 10 días siguientes del alta hospitalaria, tiempos de enfermería en preparar y suministrar el tratamiento. En la etapa I se compararon las pautas de MM con levofloxacino o ceftriaxona frente a la pauta clásica de cefotaxima cada 6 h acompañada de un macrólido cada 12 h. En la etapa II se compararon entre sí las pautas de MM: levofloxacino frente a ceftriaxona. Durante todo el estudio se aplicaron guías de práctica clínica comunes a todos los pacientes con NAC. En la etapa III, según los resultados obtenidos y a las evidencias bibliográficas, el grupo de expertos seleccionó la pauta definitiva. Resultados: En la etapa I el tiempo medio ñ desviación estándar (DE) de estancia de las NAC tratadas con MM fue de 151 ñ 80,6 h frente a 204 ñ 110,4 horas en el tratamiento clásico, siendo la diferencia estadísticamente significativa y clínicamente relevante. No se detectaron diferencias en la mortalidad y reingresos; el tiempo de enfermería fue de 4 min/paciente/día en la MM frente a 16 minutos en el tratamiento clásico. En la segunda etapa no se detectaron diferencias entre los dos tipos de MM empleadas; si bien no se alcanzó el tamaño adecuado de la muestra. El grupo de expertos seleccionó la MM con levofloxacino por permitir un tratamiento secuencia¡ sin cambio de fármaco y porque su biodisponibilidad oral próxima al cien por cien permite iniciar el tratamiento oral rápidamente. Comentario: Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que la MM supone una opción de mejora en nuestro hospital, dado que al disminuir los tiempos de estancia por paciente junto con un ahorro en el tiempo de enfermería mejora la utilización de las camas sin incrementar los riesgos para el paciente (AU)

Out-patient and home-parenteral antibiotic therapy (OHPAT): evaluation of the impact of one year's experience in Tayside.

OBJECTIVE: An out-patient and home parenteral antibiotic therapy programme for the treatment of suitable infections was developed over a four year period. This paper describes the impact of one year's experience of its implementation on various measures of outcome. DESIGN: Each patient treatment has a full integrated care pathway (ICP) and patient satisfaction questionnaire completed. The ICP documents the clinical progress of the patient and incorporates various measures of quality of care on the 101 number of patients treated from April 1998 to March 1999 are presented here. SETTING: Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (now Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust). SUBJECTS: Patients with a range of infections requiring intravenous antibiotics. MAIN MEASURES: Number of patients treated with various infections, clinical and microbiological outcome, drug and vascular access complication rates, impact on drug costs and in-patient bed days, and measurement of patient satisfaction/quality of life. RESULTS: Patients were treated over a 12 month period. 51.5 per cent had skin & soft tissue infections and 22.8 per cent bone & joint sepsis. 57 per cent of patients received out-patient and 34 per cent self or carer administered home therapy. Ninety-four per cent of patients were cured or improved following treatment. Only 7.5 per cent of patients required an unscheduled admission to hospital. Twelve per cent of patients had some type of vascular device related adverse event (partly due to a faulty batch of lines) and six per cent of patients had a drug related reaction. The additional daily cost of drugs was minimal (< 12 Pounds/day) and more than 1,461 bed days have been saved across the Directorates. The patient satisfaction level was high.

Decrease in expenditures and selected nosocomial infections following implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in antimicrobial use and expenditures and the rates of selected nosocomial infections due to resistant organisms associated with implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program. DESIGN: Before-after trial comparing 1992 (pre-program), 1993 (a transition year), and 1994 (after full implementation of the program). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Academic medical center, all patients and physicians. INTERVENTION: An antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program with prior approval requirement for use of restricted agents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Antimicrobial use and expenditures, rates of selected nosocomial infection marker events. RESULTS: Between 1992 and 1994, there were substantial decreases in antimicrobial use, from 158,107 to 137,364 defined daily doses, and in expenditures from $2,486,902 ($24.01 per patient day) to $1,701,522 ($18.49 per patient day). After adjusting for changes in purchase prices and census days, we estimated savings attributable to the program of $279,573 in 1993 and $389,814 in 1994. In addition, we found significant decreases between 1992 and 1994 in the rates of enterococcal bacteremia (.34 vs .16 events per 1,000 patient days; P = .016), selected gram-negative bacteremia (.26 vs .11; P = .015), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization or infection (.66 vs .20; P < .0001), and Stenotrophomonas colonization or infection (.35 vs .17; P = .019). No significant change occurred in rates of nosocomial candidemia or Clostridium difficile toxin-positive diarrhea. Values for 1993 were intermediate between those of 1992 and 1994. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an antimicrobial-prescribing improvement program was associated with substantial savings in antimicrobial use and expenditures and significant decreases in rates of selected nosocomial infections due to resistant organisms.

A large private university hospital system. The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center.

Clinical trials are a major commitment for a university-based comprehensive cancer center. In 1992, The Johns Hopkins Hospital registered 3508 new patients with cancer and, from this large population, 2880 patients were entered in clinical trials (many patients participated in more than one protocol). The Oncology Center, one of many departments at Johns Hopkins that conducts clinical research, participates in phase I and II new drug trials, phase III comparative studies, and, increasingly, in epidemiologic and prevention research. This calls for much broader participation by community hospitals and for many more patients who normally would not come to Johns Hopkins for their care. There are more than 100 protocols available from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, but Johns Hopkins may participate in no more than 20 at any given time. Thus, every research facility must be selective about the trials in which it participates, given the finite number of hours, dollars, and resources available to carry out these programs. The institution provides safeguards to protect the interest of the patient. These include review and annual overseeing of the concept, design, and specifics of the proposed study. The pharmacy and nursing staff play an important role in control of chemotherapy distribution and use. Patients and physicians, however, must understand the questions the study is asking and agree that they are worth answering. There are problems in motivation; information; costs to the patient, hospital, insurers, and the physician; the concept of the placebo; and informed consent. Clinical research is the most ethical way to test drugs, radiation therapy, surgical procedures, or other new treatments. The clinical trial must meet rigorous criteria of design, conduct, and analysis. The patient must understand the issues and be a volunteer. We must make every effort to help patients and physicians get information about clinical trials and to participate if they choose.