Surgeon factors but not hospital factors associated with length of stay after colorectal surgery - A population based study.

AIM: Length of stay (LOS) after colorectal surgery (CRS) is a significant driver of healthcare utilization and adverse patient outcomes. To date, there is little high-quality evidence in the literature examining how individual surgeon and hospital factors independently impact LOS. We aimed to identify and quantify the independent impact of surgeon and hospital factors on LOS after CRS. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using validated health administrative databases, encompassing all patients from the province of Ontario, Canada. All patients from 121 hospitals in Ontario who underwent elective CRS between 2008 and 2019 in Ontario were included, and factors pertaining to these patients and their treating surgeon and hospital were assessed. A negative binomial regression model was used to assess the independent effect of surgeon and hospital factors on LOS, accounting for a comprehensive collection of determinants of LOS. To minimize unmeasured confounding, the analysis was repeated in a subgroup comprising patients undergoing lower-complexity CRS without postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 90,517 CRS patients were analysed. Independent of patient and procedural factors, low surgeon volume (lowest volume quartile) was associated with a 20% increase in LOS (95% CI: 12-29, p < 0.0001) compared to high surgeon volume (highest volume quartile). In the 22,639 patients undergoing uncomplicated lower-complexity surgeries, a 43% longer LOS was seen in the lowest volume surgeon quartile (95% CI: 26-61, p < 0.0001). In both models, more years-in-practice was associated with a small increase in LOS (RR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02-1.03, p < 0.0001). Hospital factors were not significantly associated with increased LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon factors, including low surgeon volume and increasing years-in-practice, were strongly and independently associated with longer LOS, whereas hospital factors did not have an independent impact. This suggests that LOS is driven primarily by surgeon-mediated care processes and may provide actionable targets for provider-level interventions to reduce LOS after CRS.

Selection of Patients With Rectal Cancer for Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy: Are T Category and Nodal Status All That Matters?

BACKGROUND: Although the accuracy of preoperative MRI staging has been established on follow-up histopathologic examination, the reproducibility of MRI staging has been evaluated in studies with expert radiologists reading a large sample of MRI images and therefore is not generalizable to the real-world setting. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrater reliability of MRI for distance to the mesorectal fascia, T category, mesorectal lymph node status, and extramural depth of invasion for preoperative staging of primary rectal cancer. DESIGN: This was a prospective, cross-sectional survey. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included GI radiologists. INTERVENTIONS: Participants read 5 preselected staging MRIs using a synoptic report and participated in an educational Webinar. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distance to the mesorectal fascia, T category, extramural depth of invasion, and mesorectal lymph node status for each MRI were abstracted. Data were analyzed in aggregate using percentage of agreement, Fleiss κ, and interclass correlation coefficients to assess interrater reliability. RESULTS: Reliability was highest for distance to the mesorectal fascia with an intraclass correlation of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.27-0.80). Kappa scores for T category, mesorectal lymph node status, and extramural depth of invasion were 0.38 (95% CI, 0.23-0.46), 0.41 (95% CI, 0.32-0.49), and 0.37 (95% CI, 0.16-0.82). There was no difference when radiologists were stratified by experience or volume. LIMITATIONS: Scores may have been affected by MRI selection, because they were chosen to demonstrate diagnostic challenges for the Webinar and did not reflect a representative sample. CONCLUSIONS: Interrater reliability was highest for distance to mesorectal fascia, and therefore, it may be a more reliable criterion than T category, extramural depth of invasion, or mesorectal lymph node status. Combined with the fact that an uninvolved mesorectal fascia is more consistent with the overall goal of rectal cancer surgery, it should be considered as an important MRI criterion for preoperative treatment decision making in the real-world setting. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A763.

Evaluating an Innovative eLearning Pain Education Interprofessional Resource: A Pre-Post Study.

Objective: The challenges of moving the pain education agenda forward are significant worldwide, and resources, including online, are needed to help educators in curriculum development. Online resources are available but with insufficient evaluation in the context of prelicensure pain education. Therefore, this pre-post study examined the impact of an innovative eLearning model: the Pain Education Interprofessional Resource (PEIR) on usability, pain knowledge, beliefs, and understanding of pain assessment skills including empathy. Methods: Participants were students (N = 96) recruited from seven prelicensure health sciences programs at the University of Toronto. They worked through three multifaceted modules, developed by an interprofessional team, that followed a patient with acute to persistent postsurgical pain up to one year. Module objectives, content, and assessment were based on International Association for the Study of Pain Pain Curricula domains and related pain core competencies. Multimedia interactive components focused on pain mechanisms and key pain care issues. Outcome measures included previously validated tools; data were analyzed in SPSS. Online exercises provided concurrent individual feedback throughout all modules. Results: The completion rate for modules and online assessments was 100%. Overall usability scores (SD) were strong 4.27/5 (0.56). On average, pain knowledge scores increased 20% (P < 0.001). The Pain Assessment Skills Tool was sensitive to differences in student and expert pain assessment evaluation ratings and was useful as a tool to deliver formative feedback while engaged in interactive eLearning about pain assessment. Conclusions: PEIR is an effective eLearning program with high student ratings for educational design and usability that significantly improved pain knowledge and understanding of collaborative care.

Postoperative ERAS Interventions Have the Greatest Impact on Optimal Recovery: Experience With Implementation of ERAS Across Multiple Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs incorporate evidence-based practices to minimize perioperative stress, gut dysfunction, and promote early recovery. However, it is unknown which components have the greatest impact. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine which components of ERAS programs have the largest impact on recovery for patients undergoing colorectal surgery. METHODS: An iERAS program was implemented in 15 academic hospitals. Data were collected prospectively. Patients were considered compliant if >75% of the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative predefined interventions were adhered to. Optimal recovery was defined as discharge within 5 days of surgery with no major complications, no readmission to hospital, and no mortality. Multivariable analysis was used to model the impact of compliance and technique on optimal recovery. RESULTS: Overall, 2876 patients were enrolled. Colon resections were performed in 64.7% of patients and 52.9% had a laparoscopic procedure. Only 20.1% of patients were compliant with all phases of the pathway. The poorest compliance rate was for postoperative interventions (40.3%) which was independently associated with an increase in optimal recovery (RR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.81-2.47). Compliance with ERAS interventions remained associated with improved outcomes whether surgery was performed laparoscopically (RR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.23-1.96) or open (RR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.68-3.13). However, the impact of ERAS compliance was significantly greater in the open group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative compliance is the most difficult to achieve but is most strongly associated with optimal recovery. Although our data support that ERAS has more effect in patients undergoing open surgery, it also showed a significant impact on patients treated with a laparoscopic approach.

Patient and Physician Preferences for Nonoperative Management for Low Rectal Cancer: Is It a Reasonable Treatment Option?

BACKGROUND: Although the body of evidence supporting nonoperative management for rectal cancer has been accumulating, there has been little systematic investigation to explore how physicians and patients value the tradeoffs between oncologic and functional outcomes after abdominal perineal resection and nonoperative management. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elicit patient and physician preferences for nonoperative management relative to abdominal perineal resection in the setting of low rectal cancer. DESIGN: We conducted a standardized interviews of patients and a cross-sectional survey of physicians. SETTINGS: Patients from 1 tertiary care center and physicians from across Canada were included. PATIENTS: The study involved 50 patients who were previously treated for rectal cancer and 363 physicians who treat rectal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included standardized interviews using the threshold technique with patients and surveys mailed to physicians. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: We measured absolute increase risk in local regrowth and absolute decrease in overall survival that patients and physicians would accept with nonoperative management relative to abdominal perineal resection. RESULTS: Patients were willing to accept a 20% absolute increase for local regrowth (ie, from 0% to 20%) and a 20% absolute decrease in overall survival (ie, from 80% to 60%) with nonoperative management relative to abdominal perineal resection, whereas physicians were willing to accept a 5% absolute increase for local regrowth (ie, from 0% to 5%) and a 5% absolute decrease in overall survival (ie, from 80% to 75%) with nonoperative management relative to abdominal perineal resection. LIMITATIONS: Data were subject to response bias and generalizable to only a select group of patients with low rectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Offering nonoperative management as an option to patients, even if oncologic outcomes are not equivalent, may be more consistent with the values of patients in this setting. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A688.

Using the MEDiPORT humanoid robot to reduce procedural pain and distress in children with cancer: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous port needle insertions are painful and distressing for children with cancer. The interactive MEDiPORT robot has been programmed to implement psychological strategies to decrease pain and distress during this procedure. This study assessed the feasibility of a future MEDiPORT trial. The secondary aim was to determine the preliminary effectiveness of MEDiPORT in reducing child pain and distress during subcutaneous port accesses. METHODS: This 5-month pilot randomized controlled trial used a web-based service to randomize 4- to 9-year-olds with cancer to the MEDiPORT cognitive-behavioral arm (robot using evidence-based cognitive-behavioral interventions) or active distraction arm (robot dancing and singing) while a nurse conducted a needle insertion. We assessed accrual and retention; technical difficulties; outcome measure completion by children, parents, and nurses; time taken to complete the study and clinical procedure; and child-, parent-, and nurse-rated acceptability. Descriptive analyses, with exploratory inferential testing of child pain and distress data, were used to address study aims. RESULTS: Forty children were randomized across study arms. Most (85%) eligible children participated and no children withdrew. Technical difficulties were more common in the cognitive-behavioral arm. Completion times for the study and needle insertion were acceptable and >96% of outcome measure items were completed. Overall, MEDiPORT and the study were acceptable to participants. There was no difference in pain between arms, but distress during the procedure was less pronounced in the active distraction arm. CONCLUSION: The MEDiPORT study appears feasible to implement as an adequately-powered effectiveness-assessing trial following modifications to the intervention and study protocol. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02611739.

Meta-analysis of timing of endovascular aneurysm treatment in subarachnoid haemorrhage: inconsistent results of early treatment within 1 day.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To systematically review and meta-analyse the data on impact of timing of endovascular treatment in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) to determine if earlier treatment is associated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced case fatality. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane database, EMBASE and Web of Science to identify studies for inclusion. The measures of effect utilised were unadjusted/adjusted ORs. Effect estimates were combined using random effects models for each outcome (poor outcome, case fatality); heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 index. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to account for heterogeneity and risk of bias. RESULTS: 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. Treatment <1 day was associated with a reduced odds of poor outcome compared with treatment >1 day (OR=0.40 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.56; I2=0%)) but not when compared with treatment at 1-3 days (OR=1.16 (95% CI 0.47 to 2.90; I2=81%)). Treatment at <2 days and at <3 days were associated with similar odds of poor outcome compared with later treatment (OR=1.20 (95% CI 0.70 to 2.05; I2=73%; OR=0.71 (95% CI 0.36 to 1.37; I2=71%)). Early treatment was associated with similar odds of case fatality compared with later treatment, regardless of how early/late treatment were defined (OR=1.80 (95% CI 0.88 to 3.67; I2=34%) for treatment <1 day vs days 1-3; OR=1.71 (95% CI 0.72 to 4.03; I2=54%) for treatment <2 days vs later; OR=0.90 (95% CI 0.31 to 2.68; I2=48%) for treatment <3 days vs later). CONCLUSIONS: In only 1 of the analyses was there a statistically significant result, which favoured treatment <1 day. The inconsistent results and heterogeneity within most analyses highlight the lack of evidence for best timing of endovascular treatment in SAH patients.

Communicative Access Measures for Stroke: Development and Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Tool.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) develop a systems-level quality improvement tool targeting communicative access to information and decision-making for stroke patients with language disorders; and (2) evaluate the resulting tool-the Communicative Access Measures for Stroke (CAMS). DESIGN: Survey development and evaluation was in line with accepted guidelines and included item generation and reduction, survey formatting and composition, pretesting, pilot testing, and reliability assessment. SETTING: Development and evaluation were carried out in hospital and community agency settings. PARTICIPANTS: The project used a convenience sample of 31 participants for the survey development, and 63 participants for the CAMS reliability study (broken down into 6 administrators/managers, 32 frontline staff, 25 participants with aphasia). Eligible participants invited to the reliability study included individuals from 45 community-based organizations in Ontario as well as 4400 individuals from communities of practice. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were analyzed using kappa statistics and intraclass correlations for each item score on all surveys. RESULTS: A tool, the CAMS, comprising 3 surveys, was developed for health facilities from the perspectives of (1) administrators/policymakers, (2) staff/frontline health care providers, and (3) patients with aphasia (using a communicatively accessible version). Reliability for items on the CAMS-Administrator and CAMS-Staff surveys was moderate to high (kappa/intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs], .54-1.00). As expected, reliability was lower for the CAMS-Patient survey, with most items having ICCs between 0.4 and 0.6. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CAMS may provide useful quality improvement information for health care facilities with an interest in improving care for patients with stroke and aphasia.

Increasing Access to Health Administrative Data with ICES Data & Analytic Services.

The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is one of only a few organizations in Ontario permitted to access, link and analyze health administrative data for the purpose of generating evidence to inform decisions in policy and practice. Although ICES is a leading research institute, its access to the data has historically been restricted to scientists with an ICES affiliation. This requirement, designed to meet ICES' data privacy and security obligations, created barriers with respect to the widespread use of Ontario's data assets. In 2014, as part of the government's commitment to the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, ICES launched the Data & Analytic Services platform, which is aimed at increasing access to data and analytic services to investigators external to ICES. In making the data widely available to the broader research community, this initiative engages investigators involved in front-line care, stimulates new avenues of research and fosters collaboration that was previously challenging or unfeasible.

Mortality trends in women and men with COPD in Ontario, Canada, 1996-2012.

IMPORTANCE: COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Mortality trends offer an indication of how well a society is doing in fighting a disease. OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in all-cause, lung cancer, cardiovascular and COPD mortalities in people with COPD, overall and in men and women. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Population, cohort study using health administrative data from Ontario, Canada, 1996 to 2011. EXPOSURE: A previously validated COPD case definition was used to identify all people with COPD. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: All-cause, lung cancer, cardiovascular and COPD mortality rates were determined annually from 1996 to 2011 overall, and in men and women. All-cause trends were compared with all-cause trends in the non-COPD population. All rates were standardised to the 2006 Ontario population. RESULTS: The prevalence of COPD was 11.0% in 2011. Over the study period, all-cause mortality decreased significantly more in men with COPD than the non-COPD population. The same was not observed in women. COPD-specific and lung cancer mortalities, which started higher in men with COPD, decreased faster in them than in women with COPD with the two rates becoming more similar over time. Cardiovascular disease mortality declined at a relatively equal rate in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Mortality in people with COPD has decreased; however, the decrease has been greater in men than in women. Public health interventions and medical care appear to be improving mortality in individuals with COPD but more research is needed to determine if they are benefiting both sexes equally.

Quantifying comorbidity in individuals with COPD: a population study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with many types of comorbidity. We aimed to quantify the real world impact of COPD on lower respiratory tract infection, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, psychiatric disease, musculoskeletal disease and cancer, and their impact on COPD through health services. A population study using health administrative data from Ontario, Canada, in 2008-2012 was conducted. Absolute and adjusted relative rates of ambulatory care visits, emergency department visits and hospitalisations for the comorbidities of interest in people with and without COPD were determined and compared. Among 7 241 591 adults, 909 948 (12.6%) had COPD. Over half of all lung cancer, a third of all lower respiratory tract infection and cardiovascular disease, a quarter of all low trauma fracture, and a fifth of all psychiatric, musculoskeletal, non-lung cancer and diabetes ambulatory care visits, emergency department visits and hospitalisations in Ontario were used by people with COPD. Individuals with COPD used about five times more health services for lung cancer, and two times more health services for lower respiratory tract infections and cardiovascular disease than people without COPD. Individuals with COPD use a disproportionate amount of health services for comorbid disease, placing significant burden on the healthcare system.

Prevalence of Physiologic Sexual Dysfunction Is High Following Treatment for Rectal Cancer: But Is It the Only Thing That Matters?

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported high rates of sexual dysfunction in patients treated for rectal cancer, most studies have been limited by retrospective design, failure to use validate instruments, and a limited number of female patients. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to 1) prospectively assess changes in sexual function before and after treatment for rectal cancer and 2) identify potential areas for improved care of patients who have rectal cancer with sexual dysfunction. DESIGN: This study is a prospective, longitudinal survey. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at 4 tertiary care academic hospitals. PATIENTS: The patients included had newly diagnosed rectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment Quality of Life Cancer Module and Colorectal Cancer Module, International Index of Erectile Function, and Female Sexual Function Index questionnaires before the start of treatment, after the completion of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-five patients completed the study, and the overall results showed significant sexual dysfunction in both male and female subjects that continued to increase from baseline up to 1 year after surgery. In male subjects, sexual activity, interest, and enjoyment remained relatively stable, despite increasing sexual problems. However, for female patients, although sexual activity and interest remained relatively stable, sexual enjoyment worsened as sexual problems increased. LIMITATIONS: The study closed before reaching the target sample size owing to lower than anticipated accrual rates. Post hoc analysis included qualitative interviews with patients to explore reasons for low recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that sexual problems continue to increase up to 1 year after surgery. Despite this, sexual interest in both male and female patients remained relatively unchanged suggesting that other aspects of sexuality, not just physiologic function, also need to be evaluated. Future studies to assist and educate physicians on how to initiate a discussion about sexuality and identify patients in "distress" because of sexual problems are important.

Improving multidisciplinary cancer conferences: a population-based intervention.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) facilitate the discussion of appropriate diagnostic and treatment options for an individual cancer patient. In 2007, a study conducted in Ontario found that 52 % of hospitals were able to provide access to MCCs. In 2006, Cancer Care Ontario published minimum standards for MCCs. A framework for measurement was developed to monitor MCCs at the hospital, regional, and provincial level. The objective of this study was to review the results from initial efforts to improve quality and access through a population-based intervention. METHODS: Data collection was completed prospectively between October to December in 2009, 2010, and 2011. A criterion satisfaction score (CSS) was developed on the basis of indicators including MCC frequency, type of patient case review, the presence of a chair and coordinator, and the attendance of appropriate medical staff members. For each hospital and region, the overall number of MCCs, patients discussed, and CSSs was calculated. RESULTS: Data were available from 13 of 14 regions in 2009 and all 14 regions in 2010 and 2011. The number of MCCs increased from 660 in 2009 to 798 in 2011 (p = 0.06). The number of patients discussed at MCCs increased from 4,695 in 2009 to 5,702 in 2011 (p = 0.22). The CSS scores across the regions improved significantly across 2009-2011 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A population-based intervention has been associated with an improvement in access and quality of MCCs.

Subtotal colectomy in severe ulcerative and Crohn's colitis: what benefit does the laparoscopic approach confer?

BACKGROUND: Comparative outcome data for laparoscopic and open subtotal colectomy in IBD are lacking and often difficult to interpret owing to low case volumes, heterogeneity in case mix, and variation in laparoscopic technique. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the safety of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy in severe colitis and to determine whether the laparoscopic approach improved short-term outcomes in comparison with the open approach. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from a prospectively maintained clinical database. SETTING: This study was conducted at a single center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing subtotal colectomy for either ulcerative or Crohn's colitis between 2000 and 2011 were included. INTERVENTION: A standardized operative technique was used for both laparoscopic and open subtotal colectomies. Cases performed by non-laparoscopic surgeons were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative outcome measures were operative duration, estimated blood loss, total morphine requirement, and length of postoperative stay. Postoperative outcome measures were the rates of minor and major complications. RESULTS: Laparoscopic subtotal colectomies were performed in 131 of 290 cases (45.2%). Nine patients required conversion to an open procedure (6.9%). The uptake of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy increased from 10.2% in 2000/2001 to 71.7% in 2010/2011. Regression analysis with propensity-score adjustment for operative approach revealed that the operative duration was 25.5 minutes longer in laparoscopic cases (95% CI 12.3-38.6; p < 0.001), but that patients experienced fewer minor complications (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.23-0.96; p = 0.04) and required less morphine (adjusted difference, -72.8 mg; 95% CI 4.9-141; p = 0.04). LIMITATIONS: The inherent selection bias of this retrospective cohort study may not be accounted for by multivariate analysis with propensity-score adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic subtotal colectomy is safe and may reduce the rate of minor postoperative complications. The increase in operative duration reflects the technical demands associated with this procedure (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A160).

Prevalence of and risk factors for persistent postoperative nonanginal pain after cardiac surgery: a 2-year prospective multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Persistent postoperative pain continues to be an underrecognized complication. We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for this type of pain after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We enrolled patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement, or both, from Feb. 8, 2005, to Sept. 1, 2009. Validated measures were used to assess (a) preoperative anxiety and depression, tendency to catastrophize in the face of pain, health-related quality of life and presence of persistent pain; (b) pain intensity and interference in the first postoperative week; and (c) presence and intensity of persistent postoperative pain at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. The primary outcome was the presence of persistent postoperative pain during 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1247 patients completed the preoperative assessment. Follow-up retention rates at 3 and 24 months were 84% and 78%, respectively. The prevalence of persistent postoperative pain decreased significantly over time, from 40.1% at 3 months to 22.1% at 6 months, 16.5% at 12 months and 9.5% at 24 months; the pain was rated as moderate to severe in 3.6% at 24 months. Acute postoperative pain predicted both the presence and severity of persistent postoperative pain. The more intense the pain during the first week after surgery and the more it interfered with functioning, the more likely the patients were to report persistent postoperative pain. Pre-existing persistent pain and increased preoperative anxiety also predicted the presence of persistent postoperative pain. INTERPRETATION: Persistent postoperative pain of nonanginal origin after cardiac surgery affected a substantial proportion of the study population. Future research is needed to determine whether interventions to modify certain risk factors, such as preoperative anxiety and the severity of pain before and immediately after surgery, may help to minimize or prevent persistent postoperative pain.

Proctocolectomy for colorectal cancer--is the ileal pouch anal anastomosis a safe alternative to permanent ileostomy?

PURPOSE: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the procedure of choice in patients requiring surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). There are few data on reconstruction with the IPAA in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study assessed the outcomes of the IPAA compared to proctocolectomy and permanent ileostomy (PI) on these patients. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2013, over 2800 patients with CRC have been treated at the Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH). Demographic, surgical, pathological, and outcome data for all patients have been maintained in a database-73 patients were treated for CRC with proctocolectomy: 39 patients with IPAA and 34 patients with PI. Clinical features, pathologic findings, and survival outcomes were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Each group was similar with respect to gender, stage, and histologic grade. Patients undergoing IPAA were significantly younger. The diagnosis leading to proctocolectomy was more commonly UC or FAP in patients treated with IPAA (39/39 vs. 23/34, p = 0.001). Rectal cancer subgroups were similar in age, sex, TNM stage, T-stage, height of tumor, and histologic grade. There was no significant difference in overall or disease free survival between groups for colon or rectal primaries. Analysis using the Cochran-Armitage trend test suggests that utilization of IPAA has increased over time (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The IPAA is a viable and safe option to select for patients who would otherwise require PI. Increased experience and improved outcomes following IPAA has led to its more liberal use in selected patients.

Impact of self-management interventions on stable angina symptoms and health-related quality of life: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stable angina (CSA) has a major negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) including poor general health status, psychological distress, and inability to self-manage. METHODS: We used meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of self-management interventions for improving stable angina symptoms, HRQL and psychological well-being. Nine trials, involving 1,282 participants in total, were included. We used standard inverse-variance random-effects meta-analysis to combine the trials. Heterogeneity between trials was evaluated using chi-square tests for the tau-squared statistic and quantified using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the frequency of angina symptoms (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ], symptom diary) across trials, standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.30 (95% Confidence interval [CI] 0.14, 0.47), as well as reduction in the use of sublingual (SL) nitrates, SMD: -0.49 (95% CI -0.77, -0.20). Significant improvements for physical limitation (SAQ), SMD: 0.38 (95% CI 0.20, 0.55) and depression scores (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), SMD: -1.38 (95% CI -2.46, -0.30) were also found. The impact of SM on anxiety was uncertain due to statistical heterogeneity across trials for this outcome, I2 = 98%. SM did not improve other HRQL dimensions including angina stability, disease perception, and treatment satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: SM interventions significantly improve angina frequency and physical limitation; they also decrease the use of SL nitrates and improve depression in some cases. Further work is needed to make definitive conclusions about the impact of SM on cardiac-specific anxiety.

Quantifying health services use for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

RATIONALE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common manageable condition, is a leading cause of death. A better understanding of its impact on health-care systems would inform strategies to reduce its burden. OBJECTIVES: To quantify health services use in a large, North American COPD population. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using health administrative data from Ontario, a province with a population of 13 million and universal health-care insurance. All individuals with physician-diagnosed COPD in 2008 were identified and followed for 3 years. Proportions of all hospital visits, emergency department visits, ambulatory care visits, long-term care residence places, and homecare made or used by people with COPD were determined and rates of each compared between people with and without COPD. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 853,438 individuals with COPD (11.8% of the population aged 35 yr and older) were responsible for 24% of hospitalizations, 24% of emergency department visits, and 21% of ambulatory care visits; filled 35% of long-term care places; and used 30% of homecare services. After adjusting for several factors, people with COPD had rates of hospital, emergency department, and ambulatory care visits that were, respectively, 63%, 85%, and 48% higher than the rest of the population. Their rates of long-term care and homecare use were 56 and 59% higher, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with COPD use large and disproportionate amounts of health services. Strategies that target this group are needed to improve their health and minimize their need for health services.

The h-index in medical education: an analysis of medical education journal editorial boards.

BACKGROUND: Disciplines differ in their authorship and citation practices, thus discipline-specific h-index norms are desirable. Thus the goal of this study was to examine the relationship between the h-index and academic rank in the field of medical education, and the differences in the h-index between MD's and PhD's in this field. METHODS: Due to the absence of a formalized registry of medical educators, we sampled available editorial board membership (considered a proxy for identifying 'career' medical educators) to establish h-index values. These were determined using Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar (GS), and internet searching was used to determine their academic rank. The correlation between authors' h-indices derived from WoS and GS was also determined. RESULTS: 130 editors were identified (95 full professors, 21 associate professors, 14 assistant professors). A significant difference was noted between the h-indices of full professors and associate/assistant professors (p < .001). Median h-indices equaled 14 for full professors (Interquartile range [IQR] =11); 7 for associate professors (IQR =7) and 6.5 for assistant professors (IQR = 8). h-indices of MD's and PhD's did not differ significantly. Moderate correlation between GS and WOS h-indices was noted R = 0.46, p < .001. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide some guidance as to the expected h-indices of a select group of medical educators. No differences appear to exist between assistant professor and associate professor ranks or between MD's and PhD's.

Improving communicative access and patient experience in acute stroke care: An implementation journey.

INTRODUCTION: Patient experience for people with aphasia/families in acute care is frequently reported as negative, with communication barriers contributing to adverse events and significant long-term physical and psychosocial sequelae. Although the effectiveness of providing supported communication training and resources for health care providers in the stroke system is well documented, there is less evidence of implementation strategies for sustainable system change. This paper describes an implementation process targeting two specific areas: 1) improving Stroke Team communication with patients with aphasia, and 2) helping the Stroke Team provide support to families. The project aimed for practical sustainable solutions with potential contribution toward the development of an implementation practice model adaptable for other acute stroke contexts. METHODS: The project was designed to create a communicatively accessible acute care hospital unit for people with aphasia. The process involved a collaboration between a Stroke Team covering two units/wards led by nurse managers (19 participants), and a community-based Aphasia Team with expertise in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA™) - an evidence-based method to reduce language barriers and increase communicative access for people with aphasia. Development was loosely guided by the integrated knowledge translation (iKT) model, and information regarding the implementation process was gathered in developmental fashion over several years. OUTCOMES: Examples of outcomes related to the two target areas include provision of accessible information about aphasia to patients as well as development of two new products - a short virtual SCA™ eLearning module relevant to acute care, and a pamphlet for families on how to keep conversation alive. Potential strategies for sustaining a focus on aphasia and communicative access emerged as part of the implementation process. CONCLUSIONS: This implementation journey allowed for a deeper understanding of the competing demands of the acute care context and highlighted the need for further work on sustainability of communicative access interventions for stroke patients with aphasia and their families.