Healthcare service use for children with chronic complex diseases: A longitudinal six-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: The objective was analysed the patterns use of healthcare services of this population and the influence of their clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. DESIGN AND METHODS: A six-year longitudinal follow-up study was performed to evaluate the annual healthcare resources use and clinical data among children with complex chronic diseases in Spain between 2015 and 2021. The sample trends in healthcare usage and the associated factors were analysed using ANCOVA and multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS: Patients had high attendance during the follow-up period, with >15 episodes year. This trend decreased over time, especially in children with oncological diseases compared with other diseases (F (16.75; 825.4) = 32.457; p < 0.001). A multivariable model showed that children with a greater number of comorbidities (ß = 0.17), shorter survival time (ß = -0.23), who had contact with the palliative care unit (ß = 0.16), and whose mothers had a higher professional occupation (ß = 0.14), had a greater use of the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS: Children with a higher number of comorbidities and the use of medical devices made a greater frequentation of health services, showing a trend of decreasing use over time. Socioeconomic factors such as mothers' occupational status determine healthcare frequentation. These results suggest the existence of persistent gaps in care coordination sustained over time. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Systematized and coordinated models of care for this population should consider the presence of inequalities in health care use.

Spanish transcultural adaptation of the 4AT score for the evaluation of delirium in the emergency department: a prospective diagnostic test accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is one of the most common adverse events in older people during hospitalization, especially in the emergency department. Reliable, easy-to-use instruments are necessary to properly manage delirium in this setting. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic validity of the Spanish version of the 4 'A's Test (4AT) in the ED. METHODS: A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in patients over 65 years old admitted to the Emergency Department who did not have a formal diagnosis of dementia or a severe mental health disorder. Face and content validity were evaluated by an expert panel. Emergency nurses performed the evaluation with 4AT, whilst blinded and trained researchers assessed patients with the Revised Delirium Rating Scale as the gold standard. The content validity index, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios, Youden's Index and ROC curves were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the instrument. RESULTS: Of 393 eligible patients, 380 were finally analyzed. Content validity yielded a median content validity index of 4 (interquartile range: 0). The Spanish 4AT sensitivity (95.83%; 95% ECI: 78.9-99.9%), specificity (92.98%; 95% CI: 89.8-95.4%), positive predictive value (47.92%) and negative predictive value (99.7%) were satisfactory. Youden's index was 0.89. Positive likelihood ratio was 13.65, and negative likelihood ratio 0.045. The area under the curve was 0.97. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the 4AT for use in the Emergency Departments is easy-to-use and applicable. The validation results indicate that it is a valid instrument with sufficient predictive validity to identify patients at risk of delirium in the Emergency Departments. Moreover, it is a tool that facilitates the management of an adverse event that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity.

Predictive factors for foot pain in the adult population.

BACKGROUND: Foot pain has been associated to factors like: fat, body mass index, age increased, female gender and the presence of pathologies. Although evidence is limited. The purpose is to determine the predictive factors for foot pain in the adult population. METHODS: From January to December 2021, 457 patients were > 18 years, gave signed informed consent to take part to this cross sectional study. All completed demographic data and various questionnaires related to pain: Foot Function Index, EuroQoL-5D and Visual Analogue Scale (foot pain). Anthropometric measurements were obtained using McPoil platform and foot posture was assessed by the Foot Posture Index (FPI). To determine whether a volume change is a predictive factor for foot pain, a parameter was established: the volumetric index for footwear (VIF). Factors linked to the presence of pain, including the considered VIF variables, were analyzed through multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the study population, 40.7% were male and 59.3% female. The mean age of 39.06 years and a body mass index of 25.58 Kg/cm2. The logistic regression model had a classification capability of 72.4%, a sensitivity of 72.3% and a specificity of 73%, in which, the predictors considered were the variables found to have a significant association with FFI-pain > 45 points,, showed that younger women, with a higher BMI, higher values of right FPI (pronation), poorer overall perceived health and with problems in walking were more likely to experience foot pain. CONCLUSION: Predictive factors for foot pain in the adult population include gender, age, Body Mass Index, FPI on the right foot, perceived health and mobility. Clinical implication, the presented measure aids physicians in assessing their patients´ foot pain likelihood.

Determinants of Communication Failure in Intubated Critically Ill Patients: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study from the Perspective of Critical Care Nurses.

AIM: To explore what factors determine communication with awake intubated critically ill patients from the point of view of critical care nursing professionals. BACKGROUND: Impaired communication frequently affects mechanically ventilated patients with artificial airways in the intensive care unit. Consequences of communication breaches comprise emotional and ethical aspects as well as clinical safety, affecting both patients and their conversation partners. Identification of determining factors in communication with awake intubated patients is needed to design effective action strategies. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method. A total of 11 participants from three intensive care units of three Majorcan public hospitals, selected by purposive sampling, were interviewed. FINDINGS: Three major themes regarding the communication determinants of the awake intubated critically ill patients were identified from the interviewees' statements: factors related to the patient (physical and cognitive functionality to communicate, their relational and communicative style and their personal circumstances), to the context (family presence, ICU characteristics, workload, availability/adequacy of communication aids, features of the messages and communication situations) and, finally, those related to the professionals themselves (professional experience and person-centredness). CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals determinants that influence communication with the awake intubated patient, as there are attitudes and professional beliefs. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The discovery of relations between different kinds of determinants (of patient, context or professionals) provides a multi-factor perspective on the communicative problem which should be considered in the design of new approaches to improve communicative effectiveness. This study is reported according to the COREQ checklist.

Clinical and functional assessment in patients admitted with pluripathological dysphagia according to the mode of feeding: Through a gastrostomy tube or oral.

INTRODUCTION: Multipathological patients are a vulnerable population with high comorbidity, functional impairment, and nutritional risk. Almost 50% of these hospitalized patients have dysphagia. There is no consensus on whether placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube provides greater clinical benefit. The purpose of this study was to know and compare 2 groups of multipathological patients with dysphagia according to the mode of feeding: PEG vs. oral. METHOD: Retrospective descriptive study with hospitalized patients (2016-19), pluripathological, with dysphagia, nutritional risk, over 50 years with diagnoses of: dementia, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), neurological disease, or oropharyngeal neoplasia. Terminally ill patients with jejunostomy tube or parenteral nutrition were excluded. Sociodemographic variables, clinical situation, and comorbidities were evaluated. Bivariate analysis was performed to compare both groups according to their diet, establishing a significance level of p < .05. RESULTS: 1928 multipathological patients. The PEG group consisted of 84 patients (n122). A total of 84 were randomly selected to form the non-PEG group (n434). This group had less history of bronchoaspiration/pneumonia (p = .008), its main diagnosis was stroke versus dementia in the PEG group (p < .001). Both groups had more than a 45% risk of comorbidity (p = .77). CONCLUSIONS: multipathological patients with dysphagia with PEG usually have dementia as their main diagnosis, however, stroke is the most relevant pathology in those fed orally. Both groups have associated risk factors, high comorbidity, and dependence. This causes their vital prognosis to be limited regardless of the mode of feeding.

Sedation in pediatric palliative care: The role of pediatric palliative care teams.

OBJECTIVES: Palliative sedation (PS) consists of the use of drugs to alleviate the suffering of patients with refractory symptoms, through a reduction in consciousness. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence of and indications for PS in patients treated by pediatric palliative care teams (PPCT), and the relationship between PS, the place of death, and the characteristics of the care teams. METHODS: Ambispective study with the participation of 14 PPCT working in Spain. RESULTS: From January to December 2019, a total of 164 patients attended by these PPCT died. Of these, 83 (50.6%) received PS during their last 24 hours. The most frequent refractory symptoms were terminal suffering (n = 40, 48.2%), dyspnea (n = 9, 10.8%), pain (n = 8, 9.6%), and convulsive state (n = 7, 8.4%). Sedation in the last 24 hours of life was more likely if the patient died in hospital, rather than at home (62.9% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.01); if the parents had not expressed their preference regarding the place of death (69.2% vs. 45.2%, p = 0.009); and if the PPCT had less than 5 years' experience (66.7% vs. 45.5%, p = 0.018). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: PS is a real possibility in pediatric end-of-life care and relates to care planning and team expertise.

A multifaceted provider-centred intervention versus usual care to improve the recognition and diagnosis of depression in primary health care: a hybrid study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted intervention to implement an adapted guideline for the management of depression in primary health care. METHODS: A hybrid trial was carried out to determine the effect of a multicomponent provider-centred intervention to improve the detection and diagnosis of depression in primary care, as part of the guideline implementation process, and to collect information about barriers and facilitators in a real-world context. Before the multicomponent intervention, a descriptive cross-sectional study was performed to assess the population prevalence of depression in the participating health centres and to detect possible differences. Subsequently, a quasi-experimental two-phase study was carried out with a concurrent control group to assess the impact of the multicomponent intervention on the main outcomes (detection of depression, evaluation of its severity and the use of structured methods to support the diagnosis). RESULTS: Nine-hundred seventy-four patients took part in the first phase. According to their clinical records, the prevalence of depression ranged from 7.2% to 7.9%, and there were no significant differences between the health centres scheduled to receive the intervention and those in the control group. In the experimental phase, 797 randomly selected participants received the multicomponent intervention. Adjusted multivariable analysis performed before the implementation revealed no significant differences in depression between the experimental and control groups. However, after the intervention, modest but significant differences were observed, which persisted at 1 year after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent intervention for the implementation of a clinical guideline for the management of depression in primary care produced improvements in the identification of depression and in the degree of severity recorded.

Quality of Life, Physical and Mental Health, and Economic Evaluation of Family Caregivers of Chronic Dependent Children: INFAPRINT Cohort Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers for children with complex chronic illnesses may experience emotional and physical strain, especially as concerns attention overload and the perceptions of their own psychosocial situation. These concerns, together with the additional financial cost and the socioeconomic inequalities that arise from caregiving responsibilities, create major challenges to the health status of this population group. METHODS: A prospective analytical longitudinal study will be conducted, based on an exposed cohort of adult caregivers (parents or guardians) for children with complex chronic processes, to evaluate the impact of caregiving responsibilities on the health status of this population group. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The practical implications of this study are of great significance for clinical practice. The results of this study have the potential to inform the decision-making process in the healthcare sector and guide future research initiatives. The findings of this study will provide crucial insights into the health-related quality of life of caregivers of children with complex chronic illnesses, which will be valuable in addressing the challenges faced by this population group. This information can be used to improve the availability and accessibility of appropriate health services and to facilitate the development of more equitable health outcomes for caregivers of children with complex chronic illnesses. By highlighting the extent to which this population is affected both physically and mentally, the study can contribute to the development of clinical practices that prioritize the health and well-being of caregivers in the care of children with complex chronic illnesses.

"It's That They Treated Me Like an Object": A Qualitative Study on the Participation of People Diagnosed with Psychotic Disorders in Their Health Care.

The mental health recovery model is based on shared decision making, in which patients' preferences and perceptions of the care received are taken into account. However, persons with psychosis usually have very few opportunities to participate in this process. The present study explores the experiences and perceptions of a group of patients with psychosis-in some cases longstanding, in others more recently diagnosed-concerning their participation in the decisions taken about the approach to their condition and about the attention received from healthcare professionals and services. For this purpose, we performed a qualitative analysis of the outcomes derived from five focus groups and six in-depth interviews (36 participants). Two major themes, with five sub-themes, were identified: shared decision-making (drug-centred approach, negotiation process, and lack of information) and the care environment and styles of clinical practice as determinants (aggressive versus person-centred environments, and styles of professional practice). The main conclusions drawn are that users want to participate more in decision making, they want to be offered a range of psychosocial options from the outset and that their treatment should be based on accessibility, humanity and respect. These findings are in line with the guidelines for clinical practice and should be taken into account in the design of care programmes and the organisation of services for persons with psychosis.

End of life in patients attended by pediatric palliative care teams: what factors influence the place of death and compliance with family preferences?

Each year, more than 8 million children worldwide require specialized palliative care, yet there is little evidence available in pediatrics on the characteristics of the end of life in this context. Our aim is to analyze the characteristics of patients who die in the care of specific pediatric palliative care teams. This is ambispective, analytical observational, multicenter study conducted between 1 January and 31 December 2019. Fourteen specific pediatric palliative care teams participated. There are 164 patients, most of them suffering from oncologic, neurologic, and neuromuscular processes. The follow-up time was 2.4 months. The parents voiced preferences in respect of the place of death for 125 of the patients (76.2%). The place of death for 95 patients (57.9%) was at the hospital and 67 (40.9%) was at home. The existence of a palliative care team for over 5 years is more likely to be related to families voicing preferences and their fulfillment. Longer follow-up times by pediatric palliative care teams were observed in families with whom preferences regarding the place of death were discussed and in patients who died at home. Patients who did not receive home visits, when the pediatric palliative care team did not provide full care and when preferences regarding the place of death were not discussed with parents, were more likely to die in the hospital.   Conclusions: Advance planning of end-of-life care is one of the most important aspects of pediatric palliative care. The provision of services by the teams and the follow-up time are related to parents' expressed preferences and the place of death. What is Known: • Various studies have shown how the availability of pediatric palliative care services improves the quality of life of patients and their families while reducing costs. • The place of death is an important factor influencing the quality of end-of-life care for dying people. The increase in palliative care teams increases the number of deaths in the home and having this care available 24/7 increases the probability of dying at home. What is New: • Our study identifies how a longer follow-up time of patients by palliative care teams is significantly associated with death at home and with express and comply with the preferences expressed by families. • Home visits by the palliative care team increase the likelihood that the patient will die at her home and that the preferences expressed by the palliative care team families will be cared for.

Is it Possible to Reduce Pain-Related Fear in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis? a Systematic Review of Randomised Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions in reducing pain-related fear outcomes in people with knee osteoarthritis who have or have not had previous knee surgery, and to analyze whether included trials reported their interventions in full detail. METHODS: Systematic searches were carried out in the Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus from the inception of the database up to November 2019. Searches were manually updated to July 2021. We included randomized clinical trials that evaluated pain-related fear outcomes as a primary or secondary outcome in adults with knee osteoarthritis. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2 and the GRADE approach evaluated the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence, respectively. RESULTS: Eighteen trials were included. Four trials evaluated pain-related fear as a primary outcome and all evaluated kinesiophobia in samples that had previously undergone a knee surgical procedure. These trials found that interventions based primarily on cognitive aspects (e.g. cognitive-behavioral principles) can be effective in reducing kinesiophobia. Trials evaluating pain-related fear as the secondary outcome also found that interventions that included cognitive aspects (e.g. pain neuroscience education) decreased the levels of pain-related fear (e.g. fear of falling or kinesiophobia) in patients with or without a previous knee surgery. However, serious to very serious risk of bias and imprecisions were found in included trials. Thus, the certainty of the evidence was judged as low and very low using the GRADE approach. All trials reported insufficient details to allow a complete replication of their interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions that include cognitive aspects may be the best option to reduce pain-related fear in people with knee osteoarthritis. However, we found a general low and very low certainty of the evidence and the findings should be considered with caution.

A new form of checking obsessive-compulsive disorder in physicians: Another consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. A case series.

The current article provides information that facilitates early identification of a new form of checking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) detected in physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article describes three cases of professional checking OCD in physicians. Physicians with checking OCD are obsessively concerned about making a mistake that will result in fatal consequences. The most frequent strategies of neutralization include avoiding direct contact with patients by taking sick or vacation leaves; compulsively studying for many hours daily (neglecting other aspects of life); checking the status of their patients by arranging additional follow-up consultations or making phone calls even out of working hours; repeatedly checking the medical history of their patients, and persistently recalling the last appointment. Physicians with check OCD often seek reassurance from their colleagues and consult the scientific literature for information about issues they used to be competent in. These patients may also experience anticipatory anxiety and mental blocks. However, egodystony is milder than in other forms of OCD. The COVID pandemic may have exacerbated these neutralization behaviors, since it has forced physicians to adapt to a new work environment. The recommended treatments (Exposure with Response Prevention Therapy or/and SSRI) provide beneficial effects in a short time.

Consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on complex multimorbid elderly: Follow-up of a community-based cohort. SAMAC3 Study.

BACKGROUND: The restrictions imposed during the management of the pandemic led to lack of care of other health problems. PURPOSE: To assess changes in the health status of complex multimorbidity elderly, functional and cognitive capacities, perception of the social surroundings, care provided by the nurses, including nursing diagnosis and interventions, use of health services, adverse events, and use of devices and technical help during the first 6 months of the Covid-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A 1-year longitudinal cohort study was conducted. METHODS: Ninety-seven complex multimorbid elderly attended in primary care were evaluated every 3 months in a health area of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS). The research was called "SAMAC3 study". RESULTS: Significant negative changes were observed in the functional and cognitive capacity of the elderly, and in several nursing diagnoses. A decrease was observed in the frequency of visit to the nurses, hospital admittance, length of hospital stays, and falls. CONCLUSIONS: The functional and cognitive capacities of the cohort became worse. However, a significant decrease in the frequency of use of health services was observed. The nurses detected significant changes in activity-exercise, cognitive-perception, and roles-relationships, but their interventions were mostly centered on resolving clinical matters that required immediate attention. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study allowed us to observe that a situation of social and health stress has worsened the health indicators of multimorbid elderly, and the clinical care of community nurses was insufficient to providing care for the deterioration of the physical and cognitive domains.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of hydroxychloroquine for the prevention of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Recruitment into randomized trials of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for prevention of COVID-19 has been adversely affected by a widespread conviction that HCQ is not effective for prevention. In the absence of an updated systematic review, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized trials that study the effectiveness of HCQ to prevent COVID-19. METHODS: A search of PubMed, medRxiv, and clinicaltrials.gov combined with expert consultation found 11 completed randomized trials: 7 pre-exposure prophylaxis trials and 4 post-exposure prophylaxis trials. We obtained or calculated the risk ratio of COVID-19 diagnosis for assignment to HCQ versus no HCQ (either placebo or usual care) for each trial, and then pooled the risk ratio estimates. RESULTS: The pooled risk ratio estimate of the pre-exposure prophylaxis trials was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.58-0.90) when using either a fixed effect or a standard random effects approach, and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.55-0.95) when using a conservative modification of the Hartung-Knapp random effects approach. The corresponding estimates for the post-exposure prophylaxis trials were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.72-1.16) and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.62-1.35). All trials found a similar rate of serious adverse effects in the HCQ and no HCQ groups. DISCUSSION: A benefit of HCQ as prophylaxis for COVID-19 cannot be ruled out based on the available evidence from randomized trials. However, the "not statistically significant" findings from early prophylaxis trials were widely interpreted as definite evidence of lack of effectiveness of HCQ. This interpretation disrupted the timely completion of the remaining trials and thus the generation of precise estimates for pandemic management before the development of vaccines.

Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule for Adverse Events in Multimorbid Patients in Emergency and Hospitalisation.

(1) Background: There is currently a global consensus that the quality of comprehensive care for acutely hospitalised elderly people should include addressing functionality and mobility, cognitive status, prevention of pressure ulcers, urinary incontinence, falls and delirium, as well as pain control and medication-related problems. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a clinical prediction rule for multimorbid patients admitted to an acute care hospital unit for any of the five adverse events included in our vulnerability pentad: falls, pressure ulcers, urinary incontinence, pain and delirium. (2) Methods: Longitudinal analytical clinimetric study, with two cohorts. The study population will consist of multimorbid patients hospitalised for acute care, referred from the Emergency Room. A clinical prediction rule will be proposed, incorporating predictive factors of these five adverse outcomes described. This study has received funding, awarded in November 2020 (PI-0107-2020), and was approved in October 2019 by the Research Ethics Committee ″Costa del Sol″. (3) Conclusions: Preventing adverse events in hospitalised patients is particularly important for those with multimorbidity. By applying a clinical prediction rule to detect specific risks, an estimate can be obtained of their probability of occurrence.

Competency Gradients in Advanced Practice Nurses, Specialist Nurses, and Registered Nurses: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: Identifying differences in the competencies of different areas of nursing is a crucial aspect for determining the scope of practice. This would facilitate the creation of a formal structure for clinical practice in advanced and specialised services. The aims of this study are to analyse the distribution of advanced competencies in registered, specialist and advanced practice nurses in Spain, and to determine the level of complexity of the patients attended by these nurses. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed on registered, specialist and advanced practice nurses, all of whom completed an online survey on their perceived level of advanced competencies and their professional characteristics. (3) Results: In total, 1270 nurses completed the survey. Advanced practice nurses recorded the highest self-perceived level of competency, especially for the dimensions of evidence-based practice, autonomy, leadership and care management. (4) Conclusions: Among registered, specialist and advanced practice nurses, there are significant differences in the level of self-perceived competencies. Patients attended by advanced practice nurses presented the highest levels of complexity. Understanding these differences could facilitate the creation of a regulatory framework for clinical practice in advanced and specialized services.

A protocol for a randomized trial measuring flowmetry in risk areas for pressure ulcer: Hyperoxygenated fatty acids vs olive oil.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are a common adverse event in healthcare. To date, no flowmetry studies have been conducted to compare hyperoxygenated fatty acids (HFA) vs. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) in alleviating this condition. AIMS: To determine and evaluate the effect of the application of HFA vs. EVOO on tissue oxygenation and perfusion in heels under pressure, in healthy persons and in hospitalised patients. DESIGN: Two-phase experimental study. METHODS: Phase 1 will be conducted with healthy subjects, using a randomised, open study design, evaluating an intrasubject control group. Phase 2 will focus on hospitalised subjects, with a randomised, open study group vs. a control group. DISCUSSION: This Project is undertaken to identify the mechanisms that intervene in the genesis of pressure ulcers and to determine whether there are differences in outcomes between the application of HFA vs. EVOO as a preventive measure The results of this study are of economic importance (due to the price difference between the products used) and will also impact on usual clinical practice for patients with impaired mobility and liable to suffer from pressure ulcers, by considering an alternative to established preventive measures.

End of life in patients under the care of paediatric palliative care teams. Multicentre observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Around 2000 children and adolescents die each year in Spain, however, we know little about the particularities of deaths in paediatrics. The purpose of this study is to document the characteristics of patients who die in the care of paediatric palliative care teams in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive, multicentre study. Fourteen teams from all over the country participated. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 164 patients. In most cases the underlying disease stemmed from oncological, neurological or neuromuscular processes. The median age at death was 6.9 years (RIC 11.2). The median follow-up time by the team was 0.3 years (RIC 0.8 years). The most frequent symptoms in the last week of life were dyspnoea, pain, increased secretions and sleep disorders. The median number of drugs administered to each patient one week prior to death was 6 (RIC 4). The place of death for 95 of the patients (57.9%) was hospital while 67 (40.9%) died at home. CONCLUSIONS: There was a wide age range of patients and they had substantial exposure to polypharmacy. The follow-up time shows that patients have late access to palliative care programmes. An effort should be made to introduce this care earlier rather than relegating it to the end of life. In Spain there is an unequal distribution of resources and not all teams can provide care at home. The place of death should be interpreted with caution.

Study protocol: a randomised, controlled trial of a nurse navigator program for the management of hepatitis C virus in patients with severe mental disorder.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of a nurse navigation program on treatment adherence and resolution of hepatitis C infection in patients with severe mental disorder. METHODS: An open, randomized, controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment. The intervention group will engage in a nurse navigation program designed by mental health nurses. The program involves active screening for patients with severe mental disorder. The patients and caregivers included in the program will receive information, training, support and guidance throughout the treatment and recovery process, which involves different healthcare professionals and units. The control group will receive the standard of care, which includes follow-up by a family physician, referral to the hepatologist, serological testing, new referral to the hepatologist, onset of treatment, and follow-up. Multidisciplinary care will be provided along a coordinated and seamless clinical pathway led by a nurse navigator. The primary endpoints are total recovery (hepatitis C cure) and treatment adherence. Occurrence of symptoms of schizophrenia and health-related quality of life will be also recorded. Follow-up of patients will be performed three and six months after the administration of antiviral treatment. The study was authorised by the Ethics Committee of Malaga in December 2021. Funding was approved in March 2021. DISCUSSION: If this intervention is proven to be effective in improving treatment access and adherence, it will represent a step forward in addressing a chronic health issue that is 16 times more prevalent in the population with severe mental disease. Finally, this intervention may lead to the detection of undertreated HCV infection in this population of patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This protocol has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier code NCT04891445 on May 18, 2021.

Prognostic stratification of older patients with multivessel coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty based on clinical and biochemical measures: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of acute coronary syndrome is rising in step with the growth of life expectancy. An increase in the age of patients with coronary artery disease has been related to in-hospital mortality, which has seen an upsurge over a short period of time. However, there is no consensus about the percutaneous coronary angioplasty strategy to follow for older patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (MVCAD). Complete revascularisation (CR) or incomplete revascularisation (ICR) strategy depends on prognosis but this has not yet been accurately described because of geriatric conditions and comorbidities. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes of clinical and biochemical parameters in older patients with MVCAD undergoing revascularisation and to establish a prognostic stratification model for CR and ICR. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This observational, longitudinal, prospective study will include 150 patients with MVCAD and subsequent revascularisation who attend the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria (Málaga, Spain). Because of the dropout rates, 180 patients will be recruited at the beginning. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and angiographic parameters, and biochemical variables, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, stress oxidative biomarkers, will be collected in the admission for coronary revascularisation and three follow-ups at 6, 12 and 18 months. Statistical analyses will be conducted with these data using CR and ICR as the primary exposure variable. Relevant explanatory variables will be selected from a predictive model for their inclusion in a prognostic stratification model. The primary outcome measures will be major adverse cardiovascular events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Protocols and patient information have been approved by the regional research ethics committee (CEIm Provincial de Málaga-PEIBA (PI0131/2020). The results will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences in Cardiology and Gerontology, and sent to participants, medical and health service managers, clinicians and other researchers.