Unveiling the Crystal Ball: Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients.

Introduction: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe form of stroke with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite its impact, research has often focused on ischemic strokes, making ICH an essential area to explore. Methods: A retrospective cohort study spanning 5 years was conducted in an Oman-based tertiary care teaching hospital's emergency room. Data from patients diagnosed with spontaneous ICH, confirmed by cranial CT scans, were analyzed. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: Among 163 emergency room (ER)-presented patients with ICH, 89 met the inclusion criteria. Most were male (69.66%), with hypertension (69/89) and diabetes mellitus (43/89) being common comorbidities. Hematoma size was a crucial predictor of poor outcomes, especially for larger hematomas (>60 cm³). Midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhages, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes. However, variables such as age, gender, history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and anticoagulant use did not show significant associations with disability outcomes. Favorable outcomes (mRS <3) were observed in 47.2% of patients, while 30.3% had a major disability (mRS 3-5), and 22.5% succumbed to their illness (mRS 6). Conclusion: This study enhances our understanding of ICH outcomes, highlighting the importance of hematoma size, midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhage, blood pressure control, and GCS scores in predicting disability. Future research could explore additional prognostic factors and interventions for ICH patients. How to cite this article: Al-Alawi AKA, Hazra D, Al-Hassani MJK, Al-Jamoudi ASA. Unveiling the Crystal Ball: Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(12):895-901.

Identification of Asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections Among Healthcare Workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the incidence and features of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary hospital in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021 among HCWs with no history of COVID-19 infection. An online questionnaire collected sociodemographic and clinical data. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed using nasopharyngeal/throat swabs, which were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Analyses were performed using the Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test or univariate ordinary least squares regression, as appropriate. Results: A total of 583 HCWs participated in the study, most of whom were female (56.6%), and the mean age was 35 ± 8 years. Only 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.3-12.3%) of the HCWs were at high exposure risk as they were directly involved in the care of COVID-19-infected patients. Overall, 4.1% (95% CI: 2.7-6.1%) of the HCWs screened positive for SARS-CoV-2, of which 20.8% developed symptoms within two weeks. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in high-, intermediate-, low- and miscellaneous-risk areas was 1.8% (95% CI: <0.1-9.6%), 2.6% (95% CI: <0.1-6.5%), 5.3% (95% CI: 0.3-9.3%) and 4.8% (95% CI: <0.1-69.3%), respectively. Working in high-risk areas was associated with increased compliance with various infection control strategies (P <0.001). Conclusion: There was a greater frequency of SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCWs working in low-risk areas, whereas HCWs who worked in high-risk areas were significantly more likely to report increased compliance with infection control strategies.

Impact of Fatigue on Emergency Physicians' Decision-making for Computed Tomographic Scan Requests and Inpatient Referrals: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Medical Center of the Sultanate of Oman.

Objective: Multiple factors contribute to decision fatigue experienced by emergency physicians (EPs). This study examines the association between decision fatigue and the frequency of computed tomographic (CT) scan requests and inpatient referrals among EPs. Methods: This retrospective database analysis was done for 3 months. Scans and inpatient referral requests were coded and analyzed to assess the impact of physician fatigue on decision-making. Subsequently, the outcomes were evaluated. Results: The majority of patients (n = 481; 51.1%) had a CT brain request. Among these requests, the morning shift (8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) accounted for the highest number (n = 400; 42.5%), followed by the evening shift (3:00-11:00 p.m.) (n = 345; 36.7%). Approximately one-third of the patients (n = 301; 31.9%) had positive CT scan findings. Statistical analysis comparing the first and the second halves of each shift did not reveal significant variations in the percentage of negative CT results (p-value: 0.093). Inpatient referral was necessary for over half of the patients (n = 1,048; 52.7%), and the majority of these referrals (n = 778; 74.2%) were deemed necessary for treatment under various surgical or medical specialties. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of negative inpatient referrals between the first and the second halves of the afternoon shift (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: Fatigue among EPs was observed, leading to more frequent consultations without inpatient admission during the latter half of the afternoon shift. However, the study found no significant impact of decision fatigue on CT scan decision-making. How to cite this article: Al-Arimi AH, Hazra D, Al-Alawi AKA. Impact of Fatigue on Emergency Physicians' Decision-making for Computed Tomographic Scan Requests and Inpatient Referrals: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Medical Center of the Sultanate of Oman. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(9):620-624.

Characteristics, Trends, and Factors Associated With Publication Among Residents of Oman Medical Specialty Board Programs.

BACKGROUND: Research during residency is associated with better clinical performance, improved critical thinking, and increased interest in an academic career. OBJECTIVE: We examined the rate, characteristics, and factors associated with research publications by residents in Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) programs. METHODS: We included residents enrolled in 18 OMSB residency programs between 2011 and 2016. Resident characteristics were obtained from the OMSB Training Affairs Department. In April 2018, MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases were searched independently by 2 authors for resident publications in peer-reviewed journals using standardized criteria. RESULTS: Over the study period, 552 residents trained in OMSB programs; 64% (351 of 552) were female, and the mean age at matriculation was 29.4 ± 2.2 years. Most residents (71%, 393 of 552) were in the early stages of specialty training (R ≤ 3) and 49% (268 of 552) completed a designated research block as part of their training. Between 2011 and 2016, 43 residents published 42 research articles (range, 1-5 resident authors per article), for an overall publication rate of 8%. Residents were the first authors in 20 (48%) publications. Male residents (odds ratio [OR] = 2.07; P = .025, 95% CI 1.1-3.91) and residents who completed a research block (OR = 2.57; P = .017, 95% CI 1.19-5.57) were significantly more likely to publish. CONCLUSIONS: Research training during residency can result in tangible research output. Future studies should explore barriers to publication for resident research and identify interventions to promote formal scholarly activity during residency.