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BACKGROUND: Ethnically Chinese adults in Canada and the United States face multiple barriers in accessing equitable, culturally respectful care at the end-of-life. Palliative care (PC) is committed to supporting patients and families in achieving goal-concordant, high-quality serious illness care. Yet, current PC delivery may be culturally misaligned. Therefore, understanding ethnically Chinese patients' use of palliative care may uncover modifiable factors to sustained inequities at the end-of-life. OBJECTIVE: To compare the use and delivery of PC in the last year of life between ethnically Chinese and non-Chinese adults. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All Ontario adults who died between January 1st, 2012, and October 31st, 2022, in Ontario, Canada. EXPOSURES: Chinese ethnicity. MAIN MEASURES: Elements of physician-delivered PC, including model of care (generalist; specialist; mixed), timing and location of initiation, and type of palliative care physician at initial consultation. KEY RESULTS: The final study cohort included 527,700 non-Chinese (50.8% female, 77.9 ± 13.0 mean age, 13.0% rural residence) and 13,587 ethnically Chinese (50.8% female, 79.2 ± 13.6 mean age, 0.6% rural residence) adults. Chinese ethnicity was associated with higher likelihoods of using specialist (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53, 95%CI 1.46-1.60) and mixed (aOR 1.32, 95%CI 1.26-1.38) over generalist models of PC, compared to non-Chinese patients. Chinese ethnicity was also associated with a higher likelihood of PC initiation in the last 30 days of life (aOR 1.07, 95%CI 1.03-1.11), in the hospital setting (aOR 1.24, 95%CI 1.18-1.30), and by specialist PC physicians (aOR 1.33, 95%CI 1.28-1.38). CONCLUSIONS: Chinese ethnicity was associated with a higher likelihood of mixed and specialist models of PC delivery in the last year of life compared to adults who were non-Chinese. These observed differences may be due to later initiation of PC in hospital settings, and potential differences in unmeasured needs that suggest opportunities to initiate early, community-based PC to support ethnically Chinese patients with serious illness.
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BACKGROUND: We studied the relationships among psychiatrist supply, practice patterns, and access to psychiatrists in Ontario Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) with differing levels of psychiatrist supply. METHODS: We analyzed practice patterns of full-time psychiatrists (n = 1379) and postdischarge care to patients who had been admitted to hospital for psychiatric care, according to LHIN psychiatrist supply in 2009. We measured the characteristics of psychiatrists' patient panels, including sociodemographic characteristics, outpatient panel size, number of new patients, inpatient and outpatient visits per psychiatrist, and percentages of psychiatrists seeing fewer than 40 and fewer than 100 unique patients. Among patients admitted to hospital with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression (n = 21,123), we measured rates of psychiatrist visits, readmissions, and visits to the emergency department within 30 and 180 days after discharge. RESULTS: Psychiatrist supply varied from 7.2 per 100 000 residents in LHINs with below-average supply to 62.7 per 100 000 in the Toronto Central LHIN. Population-based outpatient and inpatient visit rates and psychiatric admission rates increased with LHIN psychiatrist supply. However, as the supply of psychiatrists increased, outpatient panel size for full-time psychiatrists decreased, with Toronto psychiatrists having 58% smaller outpatient panels and seeing 57% fewer new outpatients relative to LHINs with the lowest psychiatrist supply. Similar patterns were found for inpatient practice. Moreover, as supply increased, annual outpatient visit frequency increased: the average visit frequency was 7 visits per outpatient for Toronto psychiatrists and 3.9 visits per outpatient in low-supply LHINs. One-quarter of Toronto psychiatrists and 2% of psychiatrists in the lowest-supply LHINs saw their outpatients more than 16 times per year. Of full-time psychiatrists in Toronto, 10% saw fewer than 40 unique patients and 40% saw fewer than 100 unique patients annually; the corresponding proportions were 4% and 10%, respectively, in the lowest-supply LHINs. Overall, follow-up visits after psychiatric discharge were low, with slightly higher rates in LHINs with a high psychiatrist supply. INTERPRETATION: Full-time psychiatrists who practised in Ontario LHINs with high psychiatrist supply saw fewer patients, but they saw those patients more frequently than was the case for psychiatrists in low-supply LHINs. Increasing the supply of psychiatrists while funding unlimited frequency and duration of psychotherapy care may not improve access for patients who need psychiatric services.
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Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud , Médicos/provisión & distribución , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina , Psiquiatría , Cobertura Universal del Seguro de Salud , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Auditoría Médica , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ontario , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/estadística & datos numéricos , Recursos Humanos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Large multispecialty physician group practices, with a central role for primary care practitioners, have been shown to achieve high-quality, low-cost care for patients with chronic disease. We assessed the extent to which informal multispecialty physician networks in Ontario could be identified by using health administrative data to exploit natural linkages among patients, physicians, and hospitals based on existing patient flow. METHODS: We linked each Ontario resident to his or her usual provider of primary care over the period from fiscal year 2008/2009 to fiscal year 2010/2011. We linked each specialist to the hospital where he or she performed the most inpatient services. We linked each primary care physician to the hospital where most of his or her ambulatory patients were admitted for non-maternal medical care. Each resident was then linked to the same hospital as his or her usual provider of primary care. We computed "loyalty" as the proportion of care to network residents provided by physicians and hospitals within their network. Smaller clusters were aggregated to create networks based on a minimum population size, distance, and loyalty. Networks were not constrained geographically. RESULTS: We identified 78 multispecialty physician networks, comprising 12,410 primary care physicians, 14,687 specialists, and 175 acute care hospitals serving a total of 12,917,178 people. Median network size was 134,723 residents, 125 primary care physicians, and 143 specialists. Virtually all eligible residents were linked to a usual provider of primary care and to a network. Most specialists (93.5%) and primary care physicians (98.2%) were linked to a hospital. Median network physician loyalty was 68.4% for all physician visits and 81.1% for primary care visits. Median non-maternal admission loyalty was 67.4%. Urban networks had lower loyalties and were less self-contained but had more health care resources. INTERPRETATION: We demonstrated the feasibility of identifying informal multispecialty physician networks in Ontario on the basis of patterns of health care-seeking behaviour. Networks were reasonably self-contained, in that individual residents received most of their care from providers within their respective networks. Formal constitution of networks could foster accountability for efficient, integrated care through care management tools and quality improvement, the ideas behind "accountable care organizations."
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Organizaciones Responsables por la Atención/organización & administración , Enfermedad Crónica/terapia , Prestación Integrada de Atención de Salud/organización & administración , Médicos/organización & administración , Atención Primaria de Salud/organización & administración , Organizaciones Responsables por la Atención/normas , Análisis por Conglomerados , Redes Comunitarias , Prestación Integrada de Atención de Salud/normas , Manejo de la Enfermedad , Práctica de Grupo/organización & administración , Práctica de Grupo/normas , Relaciones Médico-Hospital , Humanos , Relaciones Interprofesionales , Registro Médico Coordinado , Ontario , Grupo de Atención al Paciente/organización & administración , Grupo de Atención al Paciente/normas , Atención Primaria de Salud/normas , Especialización , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is associated with mortality and morbidity benefits. Treatment adherence rates of 20% to 60% for patients with diabetes and obesity undermines CR effectiveness. Identification of factors that account for poorer adherence to CR in these populations is needed. METHODS: Data from 12 003 CR patients from 1995 to 2010 were analyzed. Differences in characteristics were compared between groups of patients classified by the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and obesity. Sequential logistic regression was conducted to examine the extent to which biopsychosocial factors account for the higher likelihood of CR non-adherence. RESULTS: The proportion of CR non-adherence was 44% for patients without obesity or diabetes, 52% for patients with diabetes and no obesity, 56% for patients with obesity and no diabetes and 59% for patients with diabetes and obesity. After adjustment for all baseline factors, the presence of obesity or diabetes remained associated with an increased risk of CR nonadherence compared to no obesity or no diabetes (diabetes only [odds ratio (OR) 1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.38; p=0.001]; obesity only [OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.04-1.36; p=0.01]). The presence of both diabetes and obesity and their relationship to CR nonadherence is not significant (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.947-1.37; p=0.16) after adjusting for body fat percentage and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and obesity were independent determinants of CR program nonadherence. The influence of having both diabetes and obesity was moderated by waist circumference and body fat percentage. Patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity or both may require greater attention and consideration with respect to CR delivery.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Terapia por Ejercicio/estadística & datos numéricos , Modelos Estadísticos , Obesidad/terapia , Cooperación del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Prevención Secundaria/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiología , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/fisiopatología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/epidemiología , Obesidad/fisiopatología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can be significantly reduced by immunization in mice. Th17 cells play an essential role in the protective immune response. Th1 immunity has also been demonstrated to play a role in the protective immune response and can compensate in the absence of IL-17. To further address the potential of Th1 immunity, we investigated the efficacy of immunization in mice deficient in IL-23p19, a cytokine that promotes Th17 cell development. We also examined the course of Helicobacter infection in unimmunized mice treated with Th1 promoting cytokine IL-12. C57BL/6, IL-12 p35 KO, and IL-23 p19 KO mice were immunized and challenged with H. pylori. Protective immunity was evaluated by CFU determination and QPCR on gastric biopsies. Gastric and splenic IL-17 and IFNγ levels were determined by PCR or by ELISA. Balb/c mice were infected with H. felis and treated with IL-12 therapy and the resulting gastric bacterial load and inflammatory response were assessed by histologic evaluation. Vaccine induced reductions in bacterial load that were comparable to wild type mice were observed in both IL-12 p35 and IL-23 p19 KO mice. In the absence of IL-23 p19, IL-17 levels remained low but IFNγ levels increased significantly in both immunized challenged and unimmunized/challenged mice. Additionally, treatment of H. felis-infected Balb/c mice with IL-12 resulted in increased gastric inflammation and the eradication of bacteria in most mice. These data suggest that Th1 immunity can compensate for the lack of IL-23 mediated Th17 responses, and that protective Th1 immunity can be induced in the absence of immunization through cytokine therapy of the infected host.
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Infecciones por Helicobacter/inmunología , Helicobacter pylori/inmunología , Inmunidad/inmunología , Células TH1/inmunología , Células Th17/inmunología , Animales , Anticuerpos/inmunología , Infecciones por Helicobacter/microbiología , Inmunización/métodos , Interferón gamma/inmunología , Subunidad p35 de la Interleucina-12/inmunología , Subunidad p19 de la Interleucina-23/inmunología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Vacunación/métodosRESUMEN
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterial pathogen that resides at the gastric mucosa and has a world-wide prevalence of over 50%. Infection usually lasts for the life of the host, and although all infected individuals will develop histologic gastritis only a subset will develop symptomatic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric MALT lymphoma, or gastric adenocarcinoma. The bacterial and host factors that determine clinical outcome and influence the development of widely varying diseases have not been elucidated. We compared disease in Helicobacter-infected severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice on different genetic backgrounds with their corresponding immunocompetent partners to determine if the genetics of the host significantly impacts the innate inflammatory outcome, independent of variations in bacterial virulence factors. BALB/c SCID and C57BL/6 SCID mice developed equivalent histologic gastritis by 8 weeks of infection. Immunocompetent BALB/c mice and C57BL/6 mice developed significantly lower or higher degrees of inflammation respectively. Innate inflammation in immunodeficient mice on the C57BL/6 background remained low even in the absence of the regulatory cytokine IL-10. These results demonstrate that adaptive immunity is not required for the generation of low level inflammation in response to Helicobacter infection and that the degree of inflammation is consistent among different genetic backgrounds. Additionally, this inflammation is limited even in the absence of regulatory T cells.
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The risk of relapsing bacteremia was assessed retrospectively among a cohort of 348 patients who underwent peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion within 6 weeks of a documented bacteremia. The overall risk of relapsing bacteremia was low (three of 348; 0.9%) when PICC insertion was performed in the context of a recent bloodstream infection. The relapse risk was higher when PICCs were inserted within 2 days (two of 31; 6.5%) versus at least 3 days (one of 317; 0.3%) after documentation of bacteremia (P = .02).
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Bacteriemia/complicaciones , Cateterismo Venoso Central , Cateterismo Periférico , Bacteriemia/microbiología , Cateterismo Venoso Central/efectos adversos , Cateterismo Periférico/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Recurrencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This trial aimed to determine whether intraoperative graft assessment with criteria for graft revision would decrease the proportion of patients with 1 or more graft occlusions or stenoses or major adverse cardiac events 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A single-center, randomized, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial was designed. Patients were randomized to either of 2 groups: intraoperative graft patency assessment using indocyanine-green fluorescent angiography and transit-time flowmetry, with graft revision according to a priori criteria (imaging group), or standard intraoperative management (control group). Patients underwent follow-up angiography at 1 year. RESULTS: Between September 2005 and August 2008, 156 patients undergoing isolated coronary bypass grafting were enrolled (imaging, n = 78; control, n = 78). Demographic and angiographic characteristics were similar between groups. Operative, crossclamp, and cardiopulmonary bypass times were all nonsignificantly longer in the imaging arm. The number of grafts per patients was similar (imaging, 3.0 +/- 0.7; control, 3.0 +/- 0.7). The frequency of major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization) was not different between groups at 1 year postoperatively (imaging, 7.7%; control, 7.7%). One-year angiography was performed in 107 patients (imaging, 55 patients/160 grafts; control, 52 patients/152 grafts). The proportion of patients with 1 graft occlusion or more was comparable in the imaging (30.9%) and control (28.9%) groups (relative risk [95% confidence interval], 1.1 [0.6-1.9]; P = .82), as were other graft patency end points. The incidence of saphenous vein graft occlusion was high in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Routine intraoperative graft assessment is safe but does not lead to a marked reduction in graft occlusion 1-year after bypass grafting. The incidence of saphenous vein graft failure remains high despite contemporary practice and routine intraoperative graft surveillance.
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Puente de Arteria Coronaria , Oclusión de Injerto Vascular/prevención & control , Grado de Desobstrucción Vascular , Adulto , Angiografía con Fluoresceína , Fluoroscopía , Oclusión de Injerto Vascular/epidemiología , Humanos , Verde de Indocianina , Periodo Intraoperatorio , Reología/métodos , Vena Safena/trasplante , Método Simple CiegoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Social phobia is associated with long-term impairment and disability. Environmental and genetic influences may be important in etiology and persistence. This is the first study to examine the association of work characteristics with social phobia in a representative nationally employed population. METHOD: Self-reported work characteristics were linked to 12-month social phobia diagnosed by the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview in 24 324 employed individuals from the Canadian Community Health Survey. RESULTS: High job strain (OR = 1.62, 95%CI, 1.06 to 2.49) and job insecurity (OR = 2.47, 95%CI, 1.73 to 3.51) were associated with an increased risk of 12-month social phobia, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, prevalent depression, and other work characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Work characteristics are associated with social phobia. Characteristics such as job insecurity may be a consequence of illness in employed populations, while high job strain may increase the risk of symptoms. More investigation is needed of the relation between work and social phobia to understand how to reduce occupational disability.
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Empleo/psicología , Empleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Trastornos Fóbicos/epidemiología , Lugar de Trabajo/psicología , Lugar de Trabajo/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/diagnóstico , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/epidemiología , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/psicología , Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: We determined the proportion of workers meeting criteria for major depressive episodes in the past year and examined the association between psychosocial work-stress variables and these episodes. METHODS: Data were derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2, a population-based survey of 24324 employed, community-dwelling individuals conducted in 2002. We assessed depressive episodes using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Of the original sample, 4.6% (weighted n=745948) met criteria for major depressive episodes. High job strain was significantly associated with depression among men (odds ratio [OR]=2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29, 4.37), and lack of social support at work was significantly associated with depression in both genders (men, OR=2.70; 95% CI=1.55, 4.71; women, OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.71, 3.29). Women with low levels of decision authority were more likely to have depression (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.06, 2.39) than were women with high levels of authority. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of the workforce experienced major depressive episodes in the year preceding our study. Gender differences appear to affect work-stress factors that increase risk for depression. Prevention strategies need to be developed with employers and employee organizations to address work organization and to increase social support.
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Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/epidemiología , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/etiología , Estrés Psicológico/complicaciones , Estrés Psicológico/etiología , Lugar de Trabajo , Adolescente , Adulto , Canadá/epidemiología , Factores de Confusión Epidemiológicos , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/prevención & control , Empleo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Oportunidad Relativa , Factores de Riesgo , Apoyo Social , Estrés Psicológico/prevención & control , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
We compared manual and computer-assisted bloodstream infection surveillance for adult inpatients at two hospitals. We identified hospital-acquired, primary, central-venous catheter (CVC)-associated bloodstream infections by using five methods: retrospective, manual record review by investigators; prospective, manual review by infection control professionals; positive blood culture plus manual CVC determination; computer algorithms; and computer algorithms and manual CVC determination. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, plus the kappa statistic (kappa) between investigator review and other methods, and we correlated infection rates for seven units. The kappa value was 0.37 for infection control review, 0.48 for positive blood culture plus manual CVC determination, 0.49 for computer algorithm, and 0.73 for computer algorithm plus manual CVC determination. Unit-specific infection rates, per 1,000 patient days, were 1.0-12.5 by investigator review and 1.4-10.2 by computer algorithm (correlation r = 0.91, p = 0.004). Automated bloodstream infection surveillance with electronic data is an accurate alternative to surveillance with manually collected data.
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Algoritmos , Sepsis/epidemiología , Cateterismo/efectos adversos , Cateterismo Venoso Central/efectos adversos , Infecciones Comunitarias Adquiridas , Infección Hospitalaria/epidemiología , Humanos , Control de Infecciones , Sepsis/diagnóstico , Sepsis/etiologíaRESUMEN
The Havana trial, a randomized, prospective study, demonstrated that expert interpretation of genotypic resistance test (GRT) results improved virological outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients for whom highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was failing. The impact of expert advice in routine clinical practice is unknown. We retrospectively evaluated the virological outcomes of 74 patients for whom HAART was failing and whose clinical providers accepted or rejected HAART regimens recommended by an expert panel who routinely reviewed GRT results. Fifty (68%) of 74 patients received regimens recommended by the expert panel ("advice accepted" [AA]), and 24 patients (32%) received regimens per the clinician's preference ("advice rejected" [AR]). After 24 weeks, AA and AR groups had median decreases in the plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load of 2.6 and 1.3 log(10) copies/mL, respectively (P=.0001). Twenty-six (52%) of 50 patients in the AA group and 5 (21%) of 24 patients in the AR group had a plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load of <50 copies/mL (P=.01). Consideration should be given to enlisting expert assistance in the interpretation of GRT results in routine clinical practice.
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Farmacorresistencia Viral/genética , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por VIH/virología , Transcriptasa Inversa del VIH/genética , VIH-1/genética , Relaciones Interprofesionales , Adulto , Fármacos Anti-VIH/uso terapéutico , Terapia Antirretroviral Altamente Activa/métodos , Terapia Antirretroviral Altamente Activa/tendencias , Recuento de Linfocito CD4 , Femenino , Genotipo , Transcriptasa Inversa del VIH/antagonistas & inhibidores , VIH-1/efectos de los fármacos , VIH-1/enzimología , Humanos , Masculino , Mutación , Estudios Prospectivos , ARN Viral/sangre , ARN Viral/genética , Proyectos de Investigación , Estudios Retrospectivos , Inhibidores de la Transcriptasa Inversa/uso terapéutico , Insuficiencia del Tratamiento , Carga ViralRESUMEN
Existing data stored in a hospital's transactional servers have enormous potential to improve performance measurement and health care quality. Accessing, organizing, and using these data to support research and quality improvement projects are evolving challenges for hospital systems. The authors report development of a clinical data warehouse that they created by importing data from the information systems of three affiliated public hospitals. They describe their methodology; difficulties encountered; responses from administrators, computer specialists, and clinicians; and the steps taken to capture and store patient-level data. The authors provide examples of their use of the clinical data warehouse to monitor antimicrobial resistance, to measure antimicrobial use, to detect hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, to measure the cost of infections, and to detect antimicrobial prescribing errors. In addition, they estimate the amount of time and money saved and the increased precision achieved through the practical application of the data warehouse.