Building excellence into medical and health professional education programs.

There is a need for schools that train medical and health professionals to reflect on whether their education program is aligned to current demands and challenges. Such a reflection is not a luxury but a necessity, as achieving minimum standards is not enough. A school should aim for excellence and incorporate best practice in their education program. The ASPIRE-to-Excellence award panels have elaborated on examples of excellence in a number of themes in medical and health professional education. These are presented in a series of articles to be published in Medical Teacher in 2024 and 2025. The frameworks and critical elements described in these articles may be used by institutions as a first step in an evaluation of their program. The frameworks and elements described and examples can be used as a resource for schools and other healthcare learning organizations to consider as they endeavor to improve their education program.

Report card on access to rural health care in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Canadians living in rural communities continue to experience challenges in accessing rural health care. The Rural Road Map for Action (RRM) was developed in February 2017 and provides a guiding framework for a coordinated, pan-Canadian approach to physician rural work force planning and improved access to rural health care. METHODS: The Rural Road Map Implementation Committee (RRMIC) was formed in February 2018 to support the implementation of the RRM. The RRMIC was co-sponsored by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada and had a broad membership that deliberately crossed sectors supporting the RRM's social accountability vision. RESULTS: In April 2021, the \"Rural Road Map: Report Card on Access to HealthCare in Rural Canada\" was discussed at a Society of Rural Physicians of Canada national forum. Next steps included: focusing on equitable access to rural health care service delivery; enhancing rural physician resource planning including national medical licensure and the adoption of more effective strategies for rural physician recruitment and retention; improving access to rural specialty care; supporting the work of the National Consortium on Indigenous Medical Education; and developing metrics as useful tools to facilitate change in rural health care, social accountability in medical education and provisions for supporting the delivery of virtual health care. DISCUSSION: Collaborative partnerships and commitments from all key stakeholders will be critical to addressing national and regional health work force needs. No one sector alone can fix the inequitable health care realities of people living in rural communities in Canada.

Characterization of the Inflammatory Response to Severe COVID-19 Illness.

Rationale: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global threat to health. Its inflammatory characteristics are incompletely understood.Objectives: To define the cytokine profile of COVID-19 and to identify evidence of immunometabolic alterations in those with severe illness.Methods: Levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and sTNFR1 (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) were assessed in plasma from healthy volunteers, hospitalized but stable patients with COVID-19 (COVIDstable patients), patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission (COVIDICU patients), and patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring ICU support (CAPICU patients). Immunometabolic markers were measured in circulating neutrophils from patients with severe COVID-19. The acute phase response of AAT (alpha-1 antitrypsin) to COVID-19 was also evaluated.Measurements and Main Results: IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and sTNFR1 were all increased in patients with COVID-19. COVIDICU patients could be clearly differentiated from COVIDstable patients, and demonstrated higher levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, and sTNFR1 but lower IL-10 than CAPICU patients. COVID-19 neutrophils displayed altered immunometabolism, with increased cytosolic PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2), phosphorylated PKM2, HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α), and lactate. The production and sialylation of AAT increased in COVID-19, but this antiinflammatory response was overwhelmed in severe illness, with the IL-6:AAT ratio markedly higher in patients requiring ICU admission (P < 0.0001). In critically unwell patients with COVID-19, increases in IL-6:AAT predicted prolonged ICU stay and mortality, whereas improvement in IL-6:AAT was associated with clinical resolution (P < 0.0001).Conclusions: The COVID-19 cytokinemia is distinct from that of other types of pneumonia, leading to organ failure and ICU need. Neutrophils undergo immunometabolic reprogramming in severe COVID-19 illness. Cytokine ratios may predict outcomes in this population.

The Royal College of surgeons multidisciplinary guidelines on elective tracheostomy insertion in COVID-19 ventilated patients.

BACKGROUND: The current COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous strain on healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding of COVID-19 is rapidly evolving. Pneumonia associated with COVID-19 may lead to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The rise in patients requiring mechanical ventilation may lead to an increase in tracheostomies being performed in patients with COVID-19. Performing tracheostomy in patients with active SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a number of challenges. METHODS: These guidelines were written following multidisciplinary agreement between Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Respiratory Medicine and the Department of Anaesthetics and Critical Care Medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. A literature review was performed and a guideline for elective tracheostomy insertion in patients with COVID-19 proposed. CONCLUSION: The decision to perform tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 should be undertaken by senior members of the multidisciplinary team. Steps should be taken to minimise risks to healthcare workers.

2020 edition of the Rourke Baby Record: What is new in preventive care of children up to 5 years of age?

OBJECTIVE: To update primary care providers practising well-child and well-baby clinical care on the evidence that contributed to the recommendations of the 2020 edition of the Rourke Baby Record (RBR). QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Pediatric preventive care literature was searched from June 2016 to May 2019, primary research studies were reviewed and critically appraised using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology, and recommendations were updated where there was support from the literature. MAIN MESSAGE: Notable changes in the 2020 edition of the RBR include the recommendations to limit or avoid consumption of highly processed foods high in dietary sodium, to ensure safe sleep (healthy infants should sleep on their backs and on a firm surface for every sleep, and should sleep in a crib, cradle, or bassinette in the parents' room for the first 6 months of life), to not swaddle infants after they attempt to roll, to inquire about food insecurity, to encourage parents to read and sing to infants and children, to limit screen time for children younger than 2 years of age (although it is accepted for videocalling), to educate parents on risks and harms associated with e-cigarettes and cannabis, to avoid pesticide use, to wash all fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled, to be aware of the new Canadian Caries Risk Assessment Tool, to note new red flags for cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental problems, and to pay attention to updated high-risk groups for lead and anemia screening. CONCLUSION: The RBR endeavours to guide clinicians in providing evidence-informed primary care to Canadian children. The revisions are rigorously considered and are based on appraisal of a growing, albeit still limited, evidence base for pediatric preventive care.

The 2020 Rourke Baby Record release: A time for reflection and looking forward.

The Rourke Baby Record (RBR) is a health supervision guide for providing care and anticipatory guidance to children aged 0 to 5 years in Canada. First developed in 1979, it has been revised regularly to ensure that it remains current and evidence-informed. The RBR has a longstanding relationship with the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), and relies on this organization for its expertise to inform the RBR guide's content. The 2020 edition of the RBR includes many recommendations based on evidence provided in current CPS position statements. The RBR Working Group is planning to develop app-based resources and an adapted RBR for clinical care provision in this challenging pandemic time to ensure that Canadian infants and children continue to receive high-quality care.

Initial Assessment of the Percutaneous Electrical Phrenic Nerve Stimulation System in Patients on Mechanical Ventilation.

OBJECTIVES: Maintaining diaphragm work using electrical stimulation during mechanical ventilation has been proposed to attenuate ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. This study assessed the safety and feasibility of temporary percutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation on user-specified inspiratory breaths while on mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Two-center, nonblinded, nonrandomized study. SETTING: Hospital ICU. PATIENTS: Twelve patients mechanically ventilated from 48 hours to an expected 7 days. INTERVENTIONS: Leads were inserted to lie close to the phrenic nerve in the neck region using ultrasound guidance. Two initial patients had left-sided placement only with remaining patients undergoing bilateral lead placement. Percutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation was used for six 2-hour sessions at 8-hour intervals over 48 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data collected included lead deployment success, nerve conduction, ventilation variables, work of breathing, electrical stimulation variables, stimulation breath synchrony, and diaphragm thickness measured by ultrasound at baseline, 24, and 48 hours. Primary endpoints included ability to capture the left and/or right phrenic nerves and maintenance of work of breathing within defined limits for 80% of stimulated breaths. Lead insertion was successful in 21 of 22 attempts (95.5%). Analysis of 36,059 stimulated breaths from 10 patients with attempted bilateral lead placement demonstrated a mean inspiratory lag for phrenic nerve stimulation of 23.7 ms (p < 0.001 vs null hypothesis of <88ms). Work of breathing was maintained between 0.2 and 2.0 joules/L 96.8% of the time, exceeding the 80% target. Mean diaphragm thickness increased from baseline by 7.8% at 24 hours (p = 0.022) and 15.0% at 48 hours (p = 0.0001) for patients receiving bilateral stimulation after excluding one patient with pleural effusion. No serious device/procedure-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the ability to safely and successfully place percutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation leads in patients on mechanical ventilation and the feasibility of using this approach to synchronize electrical stimulation with inspiration while maintaining work of breathing within defined limits.

Rourke Baby Record 2017: Clinical update for preventive care of children up to 5 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process and evidence used to update preventive care recommendations in the 2017 Rourke Baby Record to assist primary care providers' decisions around which maneuvers to prioritize and implement in practice. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: A search of the literature from June 2013 to June 2016 was conducted, using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology to critically appraise primary research studies, and recommendations were changed where there was substantial support from the new literature. MAIN MESSAGE: The important changes in preventive care recommendations for children up to 5 years of age include the addition of body mass index monitoring as of 2 years of age; stronger evidence to support the introduction of allergenic foods without delay (strength of recommendation change from fair to good); the recommendation to ask validated questions regarding the effects of poverty; evidence showing no safe level of lead exposure in children; the recommendation of a daily sleep duration; the upgrade of recommendation strength from fair to good of items related to the prevention and detection of adverse childhood experiences, including assessment of bruising in babies younger than 9 months; and blood pressure monitoring only for children at risk. CONCLUSION: Early childhood exposures and habits have short- and long-term health consequences. The Rourke Baby Record will continue to publish updates to ensure that primary care providers are equipped to promote lifelong health and well-being through evidence-informed care in young children.

Pathways to rural family practice at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

OBJECTIVE: To assess Memorial University of Newfoundland's (MUN's) commitment to a comprehensive pathways approach to rural family practice, and to determine the national and provincial effects of applying this approach. DESIGN: Analysis of anonymized secondary data. SETTING: Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Memorial's medical degree (MD) graduates practising family medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador as of January 2015 (N = 305), MUN's 2011 and 2012 MD graduates (N = 120), and physicians who completed family medicine training programs in Canada between 2004 and 2013 and who were practising in Canada 2 years after completion of their postgraduate training (N = 8091). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: National effect was measured by the proportion of MUN's family medicine program graduates practising in rural Canada compared with those from other Canadian family medicine training programs. Provincial effect was measured by the location of MUN's MD graduates practising family medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador as of January 2015. Commitment to a comprehensive pathways approach to rural family practice was measured by anonymized geographic data on admissions, educational placements, and practice locations of MUN's 2011 and 2012 MD graduates, including those who completed family medicine residencies at MUN. RESULTS: Memorial's comprehensive pathways approach to training physicians for rural practice was successful on both national and provincial levels: 26.9% of MUN family medicine program graduates were in a rural practice location 2 years after exiting their post-MD training from 2004 to 2013 compared with the national rate of 13.3% (national effect); 305 of MUN's MD graduates were practising family medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador as of 2015, with 36% practising in rural areas (provincial effect). Of 114 MD students with known background who graduated in 2011 and 2012, 32% had rural backgrounds. Memorial's 2011 and 2012 MD graduates spent 20% of all clinical placement weeks in rural areas; of note, 90% of all first-year placements and 95% of third-year family medicine clerkship placements were rural. For the 25 MUN 2011 and 2012 MD graduates who also completed family medicine residencies at MUN, 38% of family medicine placement weeks were spent in rural communities or rural towns. Of the 30 MUN 2011 and 2012 MD graduates practising family medicine in Canada as of January 2015, 42% were practising in rural communities or rural towns; 73% were practising in Newfoundland and Labrador and half of those were in rural communities and rural towns. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive rural pathways approach that includes recruiting rural students and exposing all medical students to extensive rural placements and all family medicine residents to rural family practice training has resulted in more rural generalist physicians in family practice in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada.

From pipelines to pathways: the Memorial experience in educating doctors for rural generalist practice.

CONTEXT: This report describes the community context, concept and mission of The Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Memorial), Canada, and its 'pathways to rural practice' approach, which includes influences at the pre-medical school, medical school experience, postgraduate residency training, and physician practice levels. Memorial's pathways to practice helped Memorial to fulfill its social accountability mandate to populate the province with highly skilled rural generalist practitioners. Programs/interventions/initiatives: The 'pathways to rural practice' include initiatives in four stages: (1) before admission to medical school; (2) during undergraduate medical training (medical degree (MD) program); (3) during postgraduate vocational residency training; and (4) after postgraduate vocational residency training. Memorial's Learners & Locations (L&L) database tracks students through these stages. The Aboriginal initiative - the MedQuest program and the admissions process that considers geographic or minority representation in terms of those selecting candidates and the candidates themselves - occurs before the student is admitted. Once a student starts Memorial's MD program, the student has ample opportunities to have rural-based experiences through pre-clerkship and clerkship, of which some take place exclusively outside of St. John's tertiary hospitals. Memorial's postgraduate (PG) Family Medicine (FM) residency (vocational) training program allows for deeper community integration and longer periods of training within the same community, which increases the likelihood of a physician choosing rural family medicine. After postgraduate training, rural physicians were given many opportunities for professional development as well as faculty development opportunities. Each of the programs and initiatives were assessed through geospatial rurality analysis of administrative data collected upon entry into and during the MD program and PG training (L&L). Among Memorial MD-graduating classes of 2011-2020, 56% spent the majority of their lives before their 18th birthday in a rural location and 44% in an urban location. As of September 2016, 23 Memorial MD students self-identified as Aboriginal, of which 2 (9%) were from an urban location and 20 (91%) were from rural locations. For Year 3 Family Medicine, graduating classes 2011 to 2019, 89% of placement weeks took place in rural communities and 8% took place in rural towns. For Memorial MD graduating classes 2011-2013 who completed Memorial Family Medicine vocational training residencies, (N=49), 100% completed some rural training. For these 49 residents (vocational trainees), the average amount of time spent in rural areas was 52 weeks out of a total average FM training time of 95 weeks. For Family Medicine residencies from July 2011 to October 2016, 29% of all placement weeks took place in rural communities and 21% of all placement weeks took place in rural towns. For 2016-2017 first-year residents, 53% of the first year training is completed in rural locations, reflecting an even greater rural experiential learning focus. LESSONS LEARNED: Memorial's pathways approach has allowed for the comprehensive training of rural generalists for Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of Canada and may be applicable to other settings. More challenges remain, requiring ongoing collaboration with governments, medical associations, health authorities, communities, and their physicians to help achieve reliable and feasible healthcare delivery for those living in rural and remote areas.

Does rural generalist focused medical school and family medicine training make a difference? Memorial University of Newfoundland outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Rural recruitment and retention of physicians is a global issue. The Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, was established as a rural-focused medical school with a social accountability mandate that aimed to meet the healthcare needs of a sparse population distributed over a large landmass as well as the needs of other rural and remote areas of Canada. This study aimed to assess whether Memorial medical degree (MD) and postgraduate (PG) programs were effective at producing physicians for their province and rural physicians for Canada compared with other Canadian medical schools. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included medical school graduates who completed their PG training between 2004 and 2013 in Canada. Practice locations of study subjects were georeferenced and assigned to three geographic classes: Large Urban; Small City/Town; and Rural. Analyses were performed at two levels. (1) Provincial level analysis compared Memorial PG graduates practicing where they received their MD and/or PG training with other medical schools who are the only medical school in their province (n=4). (2) National-level analysis compared Memorial PG graduates practicing in rural Canada with all other Canadian medical schools (n=16). Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Overall, 18 766 physicians practicing in Canada completed Canadian PG training (2004-2013), and of those, 8091 (43%) completed Family Medicine (FM) training. Of all physicians completing Canadian PG training, 1254 (7%) physicians were practicing rurally and of those, 1076 were family physicians. There were 379 Memorial PG graduates and of those, 208 (55%) completed FM training and 72 (19%) were practicing rurally, and of those practicing rurally, 56 were family physicians. At the national level, the percentage of all Memorial PG graduates (19.0%) and FM PG graduates (26.9%) practicing rurally was significantly better than the national average for PG (6.4%, p<0.000) and FM (12.9%, p<0.000). Among 391 physicians practicing in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), 257 (65.7%) were Memorial PG graduates and 247 (63.2%) were Memorial MD graduates. Of the 163 FM graduates, 148 (90.8%) were Memorial FM graduates and 118 (72.4%) were Memorial MD graduates. Of the 68 in rural practice, 51 (75.0%) were Memorial PG graduates and 31 (45.6%) were Memorial MD graduates. Of the 41 FM graduates in rural practice, 39 (95.1%) were Memorial FM graduates and 22 (53.7%) were Memorial MD graduates. Two-sample proportion tests demonstrated Memorial University provided a larger proportion of its provincial physician resource supply than the other four single provincial medical schools, by medical school MD for FM (72.4% vs 44.3%, p<0.000) and for overall (63.2% vs 43.5% p<0.000), and by medical school PG for FM (90.8 % vs 72.0%, p<0.000). CONCLUSION: This study found Memorial University graduates were more likely to establish practice in rural areas compared with the national average for most program types as well as more likely to establish practice in NL compared with other single medical schools' graduates in their provinces. This study highlights the impact a comprehensive rural-focused social accountability approach can have at supplying the needs of a population both at the regional and rural national levels.

Producing a socially accountable medical school: AMEE Guide No. 109.

Health systems worldwide are confronted with challenges due to increased demand from their citizens, an aging population, a variety of health risks and limited resources. Key health stakeholders, including academic institutions and medical schools, are urged to develop a common vision for a more efficient and equitable health sector. It is in this environment that Boelen and Heck defined the concept of the "Social Accountability of Medical Schools" - a concept that encourages schools to produce not just highly competent professionals, but professionals who are equipped to respond to the changing challenges of healthcare through re-orientation of their education, research and service commitments, and be capable of demonstrating a positive effect upon the communities they serve. Social Accountability calls on the academic institution to demonstrate an impact on the communities served and thus make a contribution for a just and efficient health service, through mutually beneficial partnerships with other healthcare stakeholders. The purpose of this Guide is to explore the concept of Social Accountability, to explain it in more detail through examples and to identify ways to overcome obstacles to its development. Although in the Guide reference is frequently made to medical schools, the concept is equally applicable to all forms of education allied to healthcare.

Édition 2020 du Relevé postnatal Rourke: Quoi de neuf en soins préventifs des enfants jusqu'à 5 ans?

OBJECTIF: Renseigner les fournisseurs de soins de première ligne qui dispensent des soins de médecine préventive durant l'enfance quant aux données ayant servi de fondement aux recommandations de l'édition 2020 du Relevé postnatal Rourke (RBR). QUALITÉ DES DONNÉES: Une recherche a effectuée parmi les publications sur les soins préventifs en pédiatrie entre les mois de juin 2016 et mai 2019, les principales études de recherche ont été revues et rigoureusement évaluées à l'aide de la méthode GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) et les recommandations ont été actualisées là où les publications étayaient des changements. MESSAGE PRINCIPAL: Les changements notables de l'édition 2020 du RBR sont les recommandations de limiter ou d'éviter les aliments très transformés et riches en sodium alimentaire, de veiller au sommeil sécuritaire (les nourrissons en bonne santé doivent dormir sur le dos et sur une surface rigide à tous les dodos, et ils doivent dormir dans un moïse, un berceau ou une couchette dans la chambre des parents pendant les 6 premiers mois de vie), de ne pas emmailloter les nourrissons après qu'ils aient tenté de se retourner, de s'informer de l'insécurité alimentaire, d'encourager les parents à lire et à chanter aux nourrissons et aux enfants, de limiter le temps que les enfants de moins de 2 ans passent devant un écran (bien que ce soit accepté pour les appels vidéo), de renseigner les parents sur les risques et les torts associés aux cigarettes électroniques et au cannabis, d'éviter les pesticides, de laver tous les fruits et légumes ne pouvant être pelés, de connaître l'existence du nouvel Outil national d'évaluation du risque de caries, de noter les nouveaux symptômes alarmants de paralysie cérébrale et de problèmes neurodéveloppementaux et de porter attention aux nouveaux groupes à risque élevé pour le dépistage du plomb et de l'anémie. CONCLUSION: Le RBR s'efforce de guider les cliniciens pour leur permettre de dispenser des soins de première ligne factuels aux enfants canadiens. Les révisions sont rigoureusement étudiées, et sont basées sur l'évaluation d'une base de données probantes croissante, quoique toujours limitée, sur les soins préventifs en pédiatrie.

Rourke Baby Record 2014: Evidence-based tool for the health of infants and children from birth to age 5.

OBJECTIVE: To update the 2011 edition of the Rourke Baby Record (RBR) by reviewing current best evidence on health supervision of infants and children from birth to 5 years of age. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: The quality of evidence was rated with the former (until 2006) Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care classification system and GRADE (grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation) approach. MAIN MESSAGE: New evidence has been incorporated into the 2014 RBR recommendations related to growth monitoring, nutrition, education and advice, development, physical examination, and immunization. Growth is monitored with the World Health Organization growth charts that were revised in 2014. Infants' introduction to solid foods should be based on infant readiness and include iron-containing food products. Delaying introduction to common food allergens is not currently recommended to prevent food allergies. At 12 months of age, use of an open cup instead of a sippy cup should be promoted. The education and advice section counsels on injuries from unstable furniture and on the use of rear-facing car seats until age 2, and also includes information on healthy sleep habits, prevention of child maltreatment, family healthy active living and sedentary behaviour, and oral health. The education and advice section has also added a new environmental health category to account for the effects of environmental hazards on child health. The RBR uses broad developmental surveillance to recognize children who might be at risk of developmental delays. Verifying tongue mobility and patency of the anus is included in the physical examination during the first well-baby visit. The 2014 RBR also provides updates regarding the measles-mumps-rubella, live attenuated influenza, and human papillomavirus vaccines. CONCLUSION: The 2014 RBR is the most recent update of a longstanding evidence-based, practical knowledge translation tool with related Web-based resources to be used by both health care professionals and parents for preventive health care during early childhood. The 2014 RBR is endorsed by the Canadian Paediatric Society, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Dietitians of Canada. National and Ontario versions of the RBR are available in English and French.

Rural health activism over two decades: the Wonca Working Party on Rural Practice 1992-2012.

The Wonca Working Party on Rural Practice (WWPRP) was formed in 1992 in response to the realization that rural healthcare faced many serious and similar challenges around the world. Over the years the members of the committee have come from many different countries but found inspiration and strength in developing and sharing educational and health system innovations that could be modified and applied to different rural settings. The 11 world rural health conferences organized by the WWPRP over the first two decades since it was founded brought together a range of people, from rural doctors and other front-line healthcare workers to administrators and educational leaders, who connected with and learned from each other to advance rural health care around the world. The WWPRP policy documents and conference consensus statements have been important in shaping rural health care in a number of different contexts, and have led to issues of rural health care rising to prominence on the world stage. The WWPRP has throughout been an activist lobby group with a focus on the rural communities it serves rather than its members, and enters its third decade with much left to be done.

Relevé postnatal Rourke 2017: Mise à jour clinique en matière de soins préventifs chez les enfants de 5 ans et moins.

OBJECTIF: Décrire le processus et les données probantes ayant servi à mettre à jour les recommandations en matière de soins préventifs du RPR 2017 afin d'aider les professionnels de soins de première ligne à prendre les décisions sur les manœuvres à prioriser et à mettre en application dans la pratique. QUALITÉ DES DONNÉES: Nous avons effectué une recherche des publications médicales entre juin 2013 et juin 2016 en ayant recours à la méthodologie GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) pour évaluer rigoureusement les principales études de recherche, et en présence d'un appui substantiel dans les nouvelles publications, nous avons modifié les recommandations. MESSAGE PRINCIPAL: Les changements importants des recommandations en matière de soins préventifs pour les enfants de 5 ans et moins sont l'ajout de la surveillance de l'indice de masse corporelle à compter de 2 ans; des données probantes plus robustes étayant l'introduction d'aliments allergènes sans délai (changement de la qualité de la recommandation de passable à bonne); la recommandation de poser aux parents des questions validées sur les effets de la pauvreté, des données probantes montrant qu'il n'existe aucun niveau sécuritaire d'exposition des enfants au plomb; une recommandation en matière de durée quotidienne du sommeil; la qualité de la recommandation est passée de passable à bonne pour les éléments liés à la prévention et au dépistage des expériences défavorables durant l'enfance, y compris l'évaluation des ecchymoses chez les bébés de moins de 9 mois; et la surveillance de la tension artérielle exclusivement chez les enfants à risque. CONCLUSION: Les expositions et les habitudes durant la petite enfance ont des conséquences sur la santé à court et à long terme. Le RPR continue de publier des mises à jour pour veiller à ce que les professionnels de la santé soient équipés pour favoriser la santé et le bien-être tout au long de la vie par l'entremise de soins éclairés par des données probantes aux jeunes enfants.

Clinical value of the red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio in the assessment of prognosis in critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio is a novel biomarker and its prognostic effect on critically ill patients with sepsis has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to identify the prognostic value of the RDW to albumin ratio in these patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. A Cox proportional hazards model and restricted cubic spline model were used to determine the association of RDW to albumin ratio with mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were applied, and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to compare the predictive value. Results: A total of 3,969 eligible patients were enrolled. The median RDW to albumin ratio was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors at 30 and 90 days. Patients were divided into groups according to the RDW to albumin ratio, and the risk of 30- and 90-day mortality markedly increased in the group with a higher ratio. The relationship between the RDW to albumin ratio as a continuous variable and 30-day mortality also showed an upward trend in the restricted cubic spline. The AUC of the RDW to albumin ratio was 0.633 in discriminating 30-day mortality which was similar to that of the lactate to albumin ratio (AUC =0.617; P=0.133) and higher than that of the neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio (AUC =0.559; P<0.001). Conclusions: The RDW to albumin ratio is a promising biomarker for assessing the prognosis of critically ill patients with sepsis. Its predictive value in determining mortality was found to be similar to that of the lactate to albumin ratio and superior to that of the neutrophil percentage to albumin ratio.