Sound-Field Speech Evoked Auditory Brainstem Responsein Cochlear-Implant Recipients

Background and Objectives@#Currently limited information is available on speech stimuli processingat the subcortical level in the recipients of cochlear implant (CI). Speech processing inthe brainstem level is measured using speech-auditory brainstem response (S-ABR). The purposeof the present study was to measure the S-ABR components in the sound-field presentationin CI recipients, and compare with normal hearing (NH) children. Subjects and Methods:In this descriptive-analytical study, participants were divided in two groups: patients withCIs; and NH group. The CI group consisted of 20 prelingual hearing impairment children (meanage=8.90 ± 0.79 years), with ipsilateral CIs (right side). The control group consisted of 20healthy NH children, with comparable age and sex distribution. The S-ABR was evoked bythe 40-ms synthesized /da/ syllable stimulus that was indicated in the sound-field presentation. @*Results@#Sound-field S-ABR measured in the CI recipients indicated statistically significantdelayed latencies, than in the NH group. In addition, these results demonstrated thatthe frequency following response peak amplitude was significantly higher in CI recipients,than in the NH counterparts (p<0.05). Finally, the neural phase locking were significantlylower in CI recipients (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings of sound-field S-ABR demonstratedthat CI recipients have neural encoding deficits in temporal and spectral domains atthe brainstem level; therefore, the sound-field S-ABR can be considered an efficient clinicalprocedure to assess the speech process in CI recipients. J Audiol Otol 2020;24(2):71-78

From Visiting a Physician to Expecting Antibiotics: Korean Perspectives and Practices toward Respiratory Tract Infections

Antibiotic resistance is steadily rising worldwide. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common indications, mostly imprudent, for antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient setting. In Korea, antibiotic prescription rate for RTIs is still high. As physician visit and antibiotic prescribing are influenced by patient's perceptions and beliefs, we aimed to explore the general public's perspectives and practices toward RTIs and to develop the ‘RTI clinical iceberg.’ A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Wonju Severance Christian Hospital (WSCH) among 550 adults attending outpatient departments during January 2016. Differences in distributions between groups were examined using two-tailed Pearson χ² test. Using the Andersen's behavioral model as a conceptual framework, we constructed logistic regression models to assess factors associated with physician visit. Of 547 participants with complete questionnaires, 62.9% reported having experienced an RTI in the previous six months; 59.3% visited a physician for the illness, most commonly because the symptoms were severe or prolonged, and approximately 16% of them expected an antibiotic prescription from the visit. Perceptions of symptoms severity, the need factor, most strongly influenced physician visit. Predisposing and enabling factors such as inappropriate expectations for antibiotic for a sore throat or having national health insurance also influenced physician visit. Almost all participants who reported asking for an antibiotic were prescribed one, with a 37.1% non-adherence rate. Conclusively, public education on self-care for RTI symptoms that addresses their main concerns may reduce physician visits. Improving physician-patient relationship and informing patients about the lack of antibiotic benefit for most RTIs may also reduce antibiotic prescriptions.

Patient Accounting Systems: Are They Fit with the Users' Requirements? / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: A patient accounting system is a subsystem of a hospital information system. This system like other information systems should be carefully designed to be able to meet users' requirements. The main aim of this research was to investigate users' requirements and to determine whether current patient accounting systems meet users' needs or not. METHODS: This was a survey study, and the participants were the users of six patient accounting systems used in 24 teaching hospitals. A stratified sampling method was used to select the participants (n = 216). The research instruments were a questionnaire and a checklist. The mean value of > or =3 showed the importance of each data element and the capability of the system. RESULTS: Generally, the findings showed that the current patient accounting systems had some weaknesses and were able to meet between 70% and 80% of users' requirements. CONCLUSIONS: The current patient accounting systems need to be improved to be able to meet users' requirements. This approach can also help to provide hospitals with more usable and reliable financial information.

The relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life among elderly people.

This study aims to identify the relationship between spiritual well-being and quality of life among elderly people residing in Kahrizak Senior House, Tehran, Iran. It was an analytical study. After obtaining approval from the ethics committee of the Iran University of Medical Sciences Research Deputy; the 141 elderly people residing in Kahrizak Senior House who signed the inform consent were recruited by census. Data were collected by Ellison & Palutzian Spiritual Well-Being Index and Short Form Quality of Life (SF-36). The mean score of quality of life was (50.36 ± 11.3). The mean score of spiritual well-being was (96.26 ± 17.93). There was a positive correlation between spiritual well-being and quality of life (P = .008). According to positive correlation between spiritual well-being and quality-of-life scores, awareness of the importance of spiritual well-being in caring of these people is recommended.