House Staff Participation in Patient Safety Reporting: Identification of Predominant Barriers and Implementation of a Pilot Program.

OBJECTIVES: Patient safety event (PSE) reporting is a critical element for healthcare organizations that are striving for continuous quality improvement. Although resident physicians routinely provide the majority of direct patient care, the level of their participation in PSE reporting historically has been low. In addition, as part of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's Next Accreditation System, the Clinical Learning Environment Review site visit assesses residents' engagement in PSE reporting at each accredited academic institution. The objective of this study was to understand the common barriers to PSE reporting and design an intervention to increase the number of PSE reports by resident physicians. METHODS: We surveyed 304 residents and fellows to assess attitudes toward the PSE reporting system and identify barriers to submitting online PSE reports. Based on this analysis of barriers, we piloted interventions with the internal medicine residency program and measured their effect on resident PSE reporting. RESULTS: Of the survey respondents, 58% had never submitted a PSE report. The most commonly identified barriers were too much time required to submit a report (38% of all respondents), lack of education on how or what to report (37%), lack of feedback or change after reporting (19%), and concern for repercussions or lack of anonymity (13%). Based on this analysis of barriers, we piloted interventions with the internal medicine residency program to educate residents about PSE reporting through a reminder message in their orientation e-mail, informational slides at the end of conferences that described what and how to report, a pocket card with reporting instructions, and leadership encouragement during walk rounds by chief medical residents and the program director. Compared with the 10 weeks before the start of the intervention, the number of PSE reports submitted by internal medicine residents more than doubled, from 16 to 37 reports (P < 0.01). This increase in resident PSE reporting was sustained for 20 weeks despite the interventions lasting only 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: A resident-driven intervention that fostered a culture of encouragement for PSE reporting through leadership support and targeted education increased the number of PSE reports submitted by internal medicine residents at our health system. Hospitals and health systems should seek to understand the common barriers to PSE reporting from this important group of direct patient care providers and administer structured educational programs to encourage their participation.

Perioperative Laboratory Abnormalities in Gynecologic Oncology Surgical Patients.

Background: Laboratory blood testing incurs financial costs and the blood draws can increase discomfort, yet minimal data exists regarding routine testing in gynecologic oncology surgical patients. Additionally, an increasing number of gynecologic oncology surgeries are performed via a laparoscopic approach. Thus, further investigation into perioperative laboratory testing for gynecologic oncology patients is warranted. An increasing number of gynecologic oncology surgeries are performed via a laparoscopic approach. Thus, further investigation into perioperative laboratory testing for gynecologic oncology patients is warranted. Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the frequency and etiology of perioperative laboratory test abnormalities in patients undergoing laparoscopic and laparotomy surgery in a gynecologic oncology service, and (2) to establish an evidence-based algorithm to reduce unnecessary laboratory testing. Materials and Methods: A single-institution retrospective study was completed, investigating laparoscopic and laparotomic surgeries over 4 years. Information on preoperative and postoperative laboratory data, surgical parameters, perioperative interventions, and patient demographics was collected. Quality-assurance data were reviewed. Data were tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 22. A Student's t-test was used to test for group differences for continuous variables with equal variance, the Mann-Whitney-U test for continuous variables when unequal variance was detected, and Pearson's χ2 was used to investigate categorical variables of interest. p-Values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the relationships among multiple predictors and each identified outcome. Results: The study included 481 subjects (168 laparoscopies, 313 laparotomies). Patients undergoing laparoscopy were, on average, younger (53.5 versus 57.4), with lower body mass indexes (29.7 versus 33.0) and lower rates of diabetes (10.7% versus 19.5%), compared to patients undergoing laparotomy. Overall, >98% of patients underwent at least one preoperative and postoperative laboratory test, totaling 8060 preoperative and 5784 postoperative results. The laparoscopy group was significantly less likely to have postoperative metabolic abnormalities or to undergo perioperative blood transfusion. Patients taking an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin-II-receptor blocker, or diuretic were significantly more likely to have elevated creatinine preoperatively (odds ratio [OR]: 5.0; p < 0.001) and postoperatively (OR: 7.1; p < 0.001), and this remained true for each group when divided by surgical approach. Perioperative complications meeting institutional quality assurance criteria occurred in 1.7% of laparoscopy patients compared to 11.8% of laparotomy patients (p < 0.001); perioperative laboratory testing was not a factor in the diagnosis of these complications. Conclusions: Clinically significant laboratory abnormalities are uncommon and are less likely to be found on routine perioperative testing in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparoscopy, compared to patients undergoing laparotomy. This suggests a role for limiting perioperative laboratory blood testing. (J GYNECOL SURG 32:111).

Bleb morphology characteristics and effect on positional intraocular pressure variation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To study bleb morphology and positional intraocular pressure (IOP) change (IOP supine to IOP sitting). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this observational case series, blebs were graded for height, extent, vascularity, microcysts, and "ring of steel." Positional IOP change was analyzed using the paired t test. Associations between IOP change and bleb morphologies were evaluated by regression adjusting for inter-eye dependency. RESULTS: Ninety-five eyes of 68 subjects were included. Decreased bleb height (P = .05), absence of microcysts (P = .02), and increased bleb vascularity (P = .02) were associated with larger positional IOP change. Twenty patients with a filter in one eye and a medically treated fellow eye had larger positional IOP change in the medically treated eye (6.1 vs 4.6 mm Hg, respectively; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Successful filtration surgery results in both lower IOP and less positional IOP change compared with medically treated eyes. Bleb features associated with smaller positional IOP change include higher elevation, microcysts, and less vascularity.

Radial density distribution and symmetry of a Potexvirus, narcissus mosaic virus.

Narcissus mosaic virus is a Potexvirus, a member of the Flexiviridae family of filamentous plant viruses. Fiber diffraction patterns from oriented sols of narcissus mosaic virus have been used to determine the symmetry and structural parameters of the viral helix. The virions have a radius of 55+/-5 A. The viral helix has a pitch of 34.45+/-0.5 A, with 7.8 subunits per turn of the helix. We conclude that all members of the Potexvirus genus have close to 8 subunits per helical turn.