Pharmaceutical industry funding of events for healthcare professionals on non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in Australia: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the nature, frequency and content of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC)-related events for healthcare professionals sponsored by the manufacturers of the NOACs in Australia. A secondary objective is to compare these data to the rate of dispensing of the NOACs in Australia. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study examined consolidated data from publicly available Australian pharmaceutical industry transparency reports from October 2011 to September 2015 on NOAC-related educational events. Data from April 2011 to June 2016 on NOAC dispensing, subsidised under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), were obtained from the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics of NOAC-related educational events including costs (in Australian dollars, $A), numbers of events, information on healthcare professional attendees and content of events; and NOAC dispensing rates. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 2797 NOAC-related events, costing manufacturers a total of $A10 578 745. Total expenditure for meals and beverages at all events was $A4 238 962. Events were predominantly attended by general practitioners (42%, 1174/2797), cardiologists (35%, 977/2797) and haematologists (23%, 635/2797). About 48% (1347/2797) of events were held in non-clinical settings, mainly restaurants, bars and cafes. Around 55% (1551/2797) of events consisted of either conferences, meetings or seminars. The analysis of the content presented at two events detected promotion of NOACs for unapproved indications, an emphasis on a favourable benefit/harm profile, and that all speakers had close ties with the manufacturers of the NOACs. Following PBS listings relevant to each NOAC, the numbers of events related to that NOAC and the prescribing of that NOAC increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the substantial investment in NOAC-related events made by four pharmaceutical companies had a promotional purpose. Healthcare professionals should seek independent information on newly subsidised medicines from, for example, government agencies or drug bulletins.

Neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation project in Japan.

In July 2007, the Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (NCPR) program in Japan was launched to ensure that all staff involved in perinatal and neonatal medicine can learn and practice NCPR based on the Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations developed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. In 1978 in North America, a working group on pediatric resuscitation was formed by the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiac Care Committee and concluded that the resuscitation of newborns required a different strategy than the resuscitation of adults. The original first edition of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program textbook was published in 1987. The NCPR program consists of three courses for health-care providers and two courses for instructors. A course and B course are for newly certified health-care providers and course S is for health-care providers who are renewing their certification. As of 31 March 2019, 3,227 advanced instructors (I instructor) and 1,877 basic instructors (J instructor) were trained to teach A, B, and S courses to health-care providers on the basis of their license. In total 7,075 A courses and 4,012 B courses were held; 131 651 people attended A course or B course of the NCPR program, and 77 367 were certified. A total of 1,865 S courses, which were developed in 2015, were held and 12 875 people attended this course. Here, we introduce the background, purpose, history, and content of the development of the NCPR program in Japan.

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes): A new model for educating primary care providers about treatment of substance use disorders.

BACKGROUND: Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) trains and mentors primary care providers (PCPs) in the care of patients with complex conditions. ECHO is a distance education model that connects specialists with numerous PCPs via simultaneous video link for the purpose of facilitating case-based learning. This article describes a teleECHO clinic based at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that is focused on treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and behavioral health disorders. METHODS: Since 2005, specialists in treatment of SUDs and behavioral health disorders at Project ECHO have offered a weekly 2-hour Integrated Addictions and Psychiatry (IAP) TeleECHO Clinic focused on supporting PCP evaluation and treatment of SUDs and behavioral health disorders. We tabulate the number of teleECHO clinic sessions, participants, and CME/CEU (continuing medical education/continuing education unit) credits provided annually. This teleECHO clinic has also been used to recruit physicians to participate in DATA-2000 buprenorphine waiver trainings. Using a database of the practice location of physicians who received the buprenorphine waiver since 2002, the number of waivered physicians per capita in US states was calculated. The increase in waivered physicians practicing in underserved areas in New Mexico was evaluated and compared with the rest of the United States. RESULTS: Since 2008, approximately 950 patient cases have been presented during the teleECHO clinic, and more than 9000 hours of CME/CEU have been awarded. Opioids are the substances discussed most commonly (31%), followed by alcohol (21%) and cannabis (12%). New Mexico is near the top among US states in DATA-2000 buprenorphine-waivered physicians per capita, and it has had much more rapid growth in waivered physicians practicing in traditionally underserved areas compared with the rest of the United States since the initiation of the teleECHO clinic focused on SUDs in 2005. CONCLUSION: The ECHO model provides an opportunity to promote expansion of access to treatment for opioid use disorder and other SUDs, particularly in underserved areas.

Ponseti Brasil: a national program to eradicate neglected clubfoot - preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: After hearing about the reproducible and excellent results of the Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment, a group of Brazilian orthopaedic surgeons organized and participated in a standardized national program to teach the Ponseti technique in 21 different cities across Brazil. METHODS: A total of 21 Ponseti symposiums were organized in a standard fashion from January, 2007 to December, 2008. They consisted of a two-day program with lectures, hands-on cast application, and discussion of local clinical cases presented by orthopaedic surgeons. Thirteen Brazilian orthopaedic surgeons, who had been trained by the University of Iowa or centers recognized by them, taught the method. Financial support for travel was provided by an English charity: La Vida (Vital Investment for Developing Aid in Latin America). The physicians who attended the symposiums answered questionnaires before and after the training. RESULTS: About 7% of the 8000 orthopaedic surgeons in Brazil (556 orthopaedic surgeons) were trained. These orthopaedic surgeons stated that they had treated about 4905 babies in the previous year via other methods, including extensive surgery. Seventeen percent of the surgeons did not know about the Ponseti technique at the start of the symposium. Eighty-eight percent reported they felt able to treat children with the Ponseti technique after the symposium. Ninety-four percent of respondents reported that the symposium changed their way of treating clubfoot CONCLUSIONS: These Ponseti symposiums brought about an exchange of medical information and empowered the participants. This program is a good educational tool which can be used in eradicating neglected clubfoot in Brazil.

[Balint group work in Germany - results from a survey of Balint group leaders]. / Praxis der Balintgruppenarbeit in Deutschland- Ergebnis einer Umfrage unter Leitern von Balintgruppen.

OBJECTIVES: Based on a postal survey of Balint group leaders from the year 2004, this study analyses the characteristics of Balint group work as described by Michael Balint (1896-1970)in modern Germany. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to 503 German Balint group leaders, 333 (66.2 %) of whom returned the questionnaire (40.5 % women, mean age 57.2 years). RESULTS: Most Balint group leaders are specialists in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy (30.6 %), psychiatry and psychotherapy (17.1 %) or are general practitioners (12.3 %). Psychoanalysts rarely serve as Balint group leaders. Sessions are normally held every 2 weeks (26.7 %) or once a month (26.4 %). Despite the original intention of Michael Balint, the idea of holding weekly Balint groups is now seldom(3.9 %). 85 %of the Balint group leaders prefer sessions lasting 90 minutes. An average of 8.6 participants attend, with 2.1 persons missing. There is a great heterogeneity in the professions of Balint group leaders. 17.4 % of them are older 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Balint group work in Germany is well integrated in both general practice and psychotherapy, and it is still of great interest to many specialists of other disciplines as well as a good way to realize further education. The ideas of Michael Balint are very much alive, but - because of the changed realities in the medical field - no longer as he originally foresaw, but in settings adapted to the new situations in medicine.

Coccidioidomycosis: knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare providers--Arizona, 2007.

Coccidioidomycosis presumably causes ≤ 33% of community-acquired pneumonias cases, although < 15% of the patients are tested for coccidioidomycosis. We assessed healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding coccidioidomycosis diagnosis and treatment in Arizona. A survey was mailed to 7,608 eligible healthcare providers licensed by the Arizona medical, osteopathic, and nursing boards in October and December 2007. We used weights to adjust for non-response and multivariate logistic regression models to identify predictors of ≥ 70% correct regarding knowledge and treatment practices. Of 1,823 (24%) respondents, 53% were physicians, 52% were male, and the mean age was 51 years. Approximately 50% reported confidence in their ability to treat coccidioidomycosis, and 21% correctly answered all four treatment questions. Predictors of ≥ 70% correct concerning knowledge and treatment practices included always counseling patients after diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8-7.1); specializing in infectious diseases (AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.0-5.7); and having received coccidioidomycosis continuing medical education (CME) in the last year (AOR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.6). These findings demonstrate that coccidioidomycosis CME improves knowledge of disease diagnosis and management, underscoring the need for a comprehensive coccidioidomycosis education campaign for healthcare providers in Arizona.

The effectiveness of a posted information package on the beliefs and behavior of musculoskeletal practitioners: the UK Chiropractors, Osteopaths, and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists Low Back Pain ManagemENT (COMPLeMENT) randomized trial.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a printed information package on the low back pain (LBP)-related beliefs and reported behavior of musculoskeletal practitioners (chiropractors, osteopaths, and musculoskeletal physiotherapists) across the United Kingdom. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A substantial proportion of musculoskeletal practitioners in United Kingdom does not follow current LBP guideline recommendations. METHODS: In total, 1758 practitioners were randomly allocated to either of the 2 study arms. One arm was posted a printed information package containing guideline recommendations for the management of LBP (n = 876) and the other received no intervention (n = 882). The primary outcome measure consisted of 3 "quality indicators" (activity, work, and bed-rest) relating to a vignette of a patient with LBP, in which responses were dichotomized into either "guideline-inconsistent" or "guideline-consistent." The secondary outcome was the practitioners' LBP-related beliefs, measured using the Health Care Providers Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 6 months. RESULTS: Follow-up at 6 months was 89%. The changes in reported behavior on the quality indicators were as follows: activity, odds ratio (OR) 1.29 (95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.61) and number needed to be treated (NNT), 19 (15-28); work, OR 1.35 (1.07-1.70) and NNT 19 (14-29); and bed-rest, OR 1.31 (0.97-1.76) and NNT 47 (33-103). The composite NNT for a change from guideline-inconsistent to guideline-consistent behavior on at least 1 of the 3 quality indicators was 10 (9-14). LBP-related beliefs were significantly improved in those who were sent the information package (P = 0.002), but only to a small degree (mean difference, 0.884 scale points; 95% confidence interval, 0.319-1.448). CONCLUSION: Printed educational material can shift LBP-related beliefs and reported behaviors of musculoskeletal practitioners, toward practice that is more in line with guideline recommendations.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in palliative medicine: a survey.

All doctors are required to undertake Continuing Professional development (CPD)--for good practice and for the purposes of annual appraisal and re-validation. The medical workforce in palliative medicine is diverse. Many doctors work on a part time basis, with the same CPD requirements as those working fulltime. This survey was undertaken: to establish whether doctors had fulfilled their CPD requirements in the year 2001-2002 and to identify problems or difficulties experienced by doctors in undertaking CPD. A questionnaire was sent to all doctors known to be working in non-training posts within palliative medicine in October 2002, requesting information on CPD undertaken between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002. Questions were also asked regarding knowledge and understanding of appraisal and revalidation. The response rate was 53% (381/721). Palliative medicine was the main post for 276 (72%) respondents and 169 were on the specialist register (44%). The subgroup most likely to have fulfilled CPD requirements were those on the Specialist Register (64%), and those least likely were those holding a contract with a charitable organisation (33%). Less than half of those not on the specialist register understood CPD and revalidation requirements. Overall, only 43% of respondents were meeting CPD requirements (median 25 credits; range 5-375 hours). This study has highlighted widespread barriers to the successful planning, participation in, and recording of, CPD for palliative medicine doctors, with those who are not on the specialist register appearing to be particularly disadvantaged. Individual doctors' information needs need to be addressed, but organisational support for CPD is also required. We believe many of these issues also apply in other specialities.

Delivery of child development services by videoconferencing: a review of four years' experience in Queensland.

In 2001 the Child Development Unit (CDU) in Brisbane piloted a series of monthly multidisciplinary case discussions via videoconference in the area of child development. During 2001 two sessions were provided; during 2004 there were 40. The substantial growth in 2004 was due to the expansion of child development services to include special interest group meetings and multipoint case conference meetings. In 2004, a total of 49 h of videoconferencing was conducted. The average session length was 75 min. Education and training sessions were delivered to 32 hospitals and health centres in Queensland and northern New South Wales. The maximum number of sites involved during a single videoconference was 25. The average number of attendees for each videoconference was five per site, including allied health staff, nurses and paediatricians. The delivery of child development services via videoconference has been shown to be useful in Queensland, especially for allied health staff working in regional and remote areas. The growth of the programme indicates its acceptance as a mainstream child development service in Queensland.

General practitioners' knowledge on childhood developmental and behavioural disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood developmental and behavioural disorders are increasingly being recognised, with high demands for earlier diagnosis and intervention. In Singapore, referrals to the Child Development Unit, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, originate mainly from primary health care practitioners, who therefore should have adequate baseline knowledge of normal development as well as common developmental and behavioural disorders. METHODOLOGY: A pilot study, using a questionnaire survey, was conducted, with the aim of assessing existing knowledge in childhood developmental and behavioural paediatrics amongst a cohort of general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore. True/False questions on normal development as well as developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disability, were structured. These disorders were selected because of their relatively higher prevalence. RESULTS: A total of 48 GPs were surveyed, representing 2% of non-specialists practising in the private sector. The median total score (T-score) was 9 (range 6 to 13) of a possible 14. Only just over a-third of the group achieved the pass rate (defined arbitrarily as 75%) for T-score, with two-thirds replying correctly to all questions on normal development. Scores for factual ASD/ADHD questions were also not ideal, with some myths being believed as truths. CONCLUSION: The scores reflect knowledge and educational deficits in developmental paediatric medicine amongst the study cohort. Expected to provide holistic care and counselling, these GPs are currently insufficiently equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to support families of special-needs children. Education and training programmes in this aspect of paediatric medicine are clearly needed, through the organisation of CME lectures and incorporation of various developmental topics into the training curriculum. This will enable early identification and diagnosis of childhood developmental and behavioural disorders, which will in turn allow greater optimisation of potential and functionality in these special-needs children.