[IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) TREATMENTS IN MACCABI HEALTHCARE SERVICES 2015-2020].

BACKGROUND: Previously, we have summarized IVF treatment outcomes for the years 2007-2014. In 2014, the Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended that infertile patients above 39 years of age can be offered IVF as a first line treatment, given the natural age-related decrease in ovarian reserve. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current publication is to summarize IVF treatment outcomes for the years 2015-2020, and to explore possible changes in IVF treatments following the MOH statement. METHODS: IVF treatments and live birth data were collected from Maccabi Healthcare Services' fertility treatments registry. We have included only autologous fresh and frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. A successful treatment cycle was defined if a live birth was recorded between 6 to 10 months of its initiation. RESULTS: Mean patients' age increased from 36.2 years in 2011 to 37.5 years in the 6 years surveyed (2015-2020). While the number of fresh cycles was stable, the number of FET cycles increased from 4,507 in 2015 to 6,795 in 2020. The percentage of cycles performed in private hospitals increased gradually from 72% in 2015 to 77% in 2020. The number of patients over 40 years of age increased from 3,204 in 2011, to 3,648 in 2014, and to 3,915 in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The total number of IVF cycles increased gradually from 2015 to 2020, mainly due to significant increase in FET cycles. The continued increase in mean patients' age may reflect the change in MOH recommendations.

Optimising wound monitoring: Can digital tools improve healing outcomes and clinic efficiency.

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds present significant challenges for patients and nursing care teams worldwide. Digital health tools offer potential for more standardised and efficient nursing care pathways but require further rigorous evaluation. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective matched cohort study aimed to compare the impacts of a digital tracking application for wound documentation versus traditional manual nursing assessments. METHODS: Data from 5236 patients with various wound types were analysed. Propensity score matching balanced groups, and bivariate tests, correlation analyses, linear regression, and Hayes' Process Macro Model 15 were utilised for a mediation-moderation model. RESULTS: Digital wound tracking was associated with significantly shorter healing durations (15 vs. 35 days) and fewer clinic nursing visits (3 vs. 5.8 visits) compared to standard nursing monitoring. Digital tracking demonstrated improved wound size reduction over time. Laboratory values tested did not consistently predict healing outcomes. Digital tracking exhibited moderate negative correlations with the total number of nursing visits. Regression analysis identified wound complexity, hospitalizations, and initial wound size as clinical predictors for more nursing visits in patients with diabetes mellitus (p < .01). Digital tracking significantly reduced the number of associated nursing visits for patients with peripheral vascular disease. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that digital wound management may streamline nursing care and provide advantages, particularly for comorbid populations facing treatment burdens. REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to STROBE guidelines in reporting this observational research. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: By streamlining documentation and potentially shortening healing times, digital wound tracking could help optimise nursing resources, enhance wound care standards, and improve patient experiences. This supports further exploration of digital health innovations to advance evidence-based nursing practice. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study involved retrospective analysis of existing patient records and did not directly include patients or the public in the design, conduct, or reporting of the research.