Assessment tools for reflection in healthcare learners: A scoping review.

Reflection has been integrated in many healthcare educations programs to achieve deeper learning and improve professional practice. A variety of evaluation tools are used to assess reflection, but few guides are available to inform educators in their choice of a relevant evaluation tool. The aim of this paper is to identify all existing evaluation tools published along with their strengths and weaknesses. A review strategy retrieved tools available in Medline, PsychInfo, CINALH and Eric databases. The procedures outlined by Munn and colleagues were used to synthetize the information. Additionally, the reflection dimensions assessed in each tool (when sufficient information was available) were analyzed deductively, using thematic analysis according to the Killion and Todnem framework. Subthemes were identified inductively. Forty-five papers were identified, reporting on 34 different tools. The tools were based on a variety of theoretical models. Some had evidence of adequate validity and fidelity. Eleven components of reflection were identified across tools. No tool encompassed all components, but most tools included between three and five components. Context surrounding evaluation should be carefully considered when choosing an evaluation tool for reflection. There is a need for further research to validate the psychometric properties of reflection evaluation tools.

Vitamin D in the prevention of exacerbations of asthma in preschoolers (DIVA): protocol for a multicentre randomised placebo-controlled triple-blind trial.

INTRODUCTION: Preschoolers have the highest rate of emergency visits and hospitalisations for asthma exacerbations of all age groups, with most triggered by upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and occurring in the fall or winter. Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in Canadian preschoolers with recurrent asthma exacerbations, particularly in winter. It is associated with more URTIs and, in patients with asthma, more oral corticosteroid (OCS) use. Although evidence suggests that vitamin D supplements significantly decrease URTIs and asthma exacerbations requiring OCS, there is insufficient data in preschoolers. This study aims to determine the impact of vitamin D3 supplementation on exacerbations requiring OCS, in preschoolers with recurrent URTI-induced asthma exacerbations. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a phase III, randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicentre trial of vitamin D3 supplementation in children aged 1-5 years, with asthma triggered by URTIs and a recent history of frequent URTIs and OCS use. Children (n=865) will be recruited in the fall and early winter and followed for 7 months. They will be randomised to either the (1) intervention: two oral boluses of 100 000 international unit (IU) vitamin D3 (3.5 months apart) with 400 IU vitamin D3 daily; or (2) control: identical placebo boluses with daily placebo. The primary outcome is the number of exacerbations requiring OCS per child, documented by medical and pharmacy records. Secondary outcomes include number of laboratory-confirmed viral URTIs, exacerbation duration and severity, parent functional status, healthcare use, treatment deintensification, cost and safety. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received ethical approval from all sites. Results will be disseminated via international conferences and manuscripts targeting paediatricians and respirologists, and to families of asthmatic children via our Quebec parents-partners outreach programme. If proven effective, findings may markedly influence the management of URTI-induced asthma in high-morbidity preschoolers and could be directly implemented into practice with an update to clinical guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03365687.

Risk factors associated with anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events following receipt of 2009 monovalent AS03-adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine in Quebec, Canada.

INTRODUCTION: In Quebec, Canada, receipt of the 2009 AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine was associated with increased risk of anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events (ALE), especially among women of childbearing age. In response to this safety signal, a case-control study was conducted to identify potential risk factors. METHODS: A total of 435 ALE (50 anaphylaxis) occurring <24h following pandemic vaccination were compared to 849 age-gender matched controls randomly selected from the provincial Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Registry. More than 60 potential risk factors were evaluated through phone interviews and included demographic information, medical history, medication use or acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) concurrent with vaccination and other risk factors associated with general allergy. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated with unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Factors associated with increased risk of anaphylaxis included concurrent ARI (18% cases vs. 4% controls, ORadj 7.67, 95%CI: 3.04-13.37), food allergy (26% cases vs. 4% controls, ORadj 3.84, 95%CI: 1.51-9.74) and vaccination during the first four weeks of the campaign (66% cases vs. 50% controls, ORadj 2.16, 95%CI: 1.10-4.25) whereas alcohol exposure (≥1 drink/week) was associated with reduced risk (29% cases vs. 42% controls, ORadj 0.26, 95%CI: 0.13-0.57). These factors were also significantly associated with any ALE but the strength of association was weaker. Allergy to components found in the vaccine (e.g., egg, thimerosal) was infrequent and did not significantly differ between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Increased anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events observed in association with AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine remain mostly unexplained despite extensive risk factor review. However, prior to mass vaccination with similar formulations this safety signal warrants further consideration and better understanding. In particular, the predominance among women of childbearing age may be a clue to underlying biological or hormonal influences on adverse immunological responses to vaccine.

Hypersensitivity reaction to parenteral nutrition in an intrauterine growth-restricted newborn: a case report.

Hypersensitivity reaction to parenteral nutrition (PN) in infants is a rare condition, especially in the neonatal period. The authors report the case of a neonate with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) who presented symptoms of anaphylaxis while receiving standard PN. Given the very common practice of neonatal PN use, especially in newborns with IUGR, clinicians should be alerted about possible acute reactions to this useful therapy.

Safe vaccination of patients with egg allergy with an adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Because influenza vaccine contains some residual egg protein, there is a theoretic risk of anaphylaxis when vaccinating patients with egg allergy. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of anaphylaxis in children with egg allergy administered an adjuvanted monovalent 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 influenza vaccine (Arepanrix; GlaxoSmithKline, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). METHODS: Patients with confirmed egg allergy with a history of respiratory or cardiovascular reactions after egg ingestion were vaccinated in 2 divided doses (10% and 90%) administered at a 30-minute interval, whereas children with other types of egg-induced allergic reactions were vaccinated with a single dose. All patients remained under observation for 60 minutes after vaccination. A 24-hour follow-up telephone call was made to detect any delayed reaction. The main outcome was the occurrence of an anaphylactic reaction according to criteria specified by the Brighton Collaboration. RESULTS: Among the 830 patients with confirmed egg allergy, only 9% required the vaccine to be administered in divided doses. No patient had an anaphylactic reaction. Nine patients had minor allergic symptoms treated with an antihistamine (1 in the 60 minutes after vaccination and 8 in the following 23 hours), and 3 others received salbutamol (1 in the first 60 minutes after vaccination). Further vaccination of more than 3600 other children with reported egg allergy caused no anaphylaxis based on the criteria of the Brighton Collaboration, although 2 patients received epinephrine for symptoms compatible with allergy. CONCLUSION: Although anaphylaxis after influenza immunization is a theoretic risk, vaccination of patients with egg allergy with an adjuvanted monovalent pH1N1 influenza vaccine resulted in no cases of anaphylaxis and on that basis appears safe.

Preemptive use of high-dose fluticasone for virus-induced wheezing in young children.

BACKGROUND: Although virus-induced wheezing is common in preschool-age children, optimal management remains elusive. We examined the efficacy and safety of preemptive treatment with high-dose fluticasone in reducing the severity of recurrent virus-induced wheezing in children. METHODS: We randomly assigned 129 children who were 1 to 6 years of age to receive 750 microg of fluticasone propionate (ex-valve [manufacturer-measured] dose) or placebo twice daily, beginning at the onset of an upper respiratory tract infection and continuing for a maximum of 10 days, over a period of 6 to 12 months. The primary outcome was rescue oral corticosteroid use. Secondary outcomes included symptoms, use of beta(2)-agonists, acute care visits, hospitalizations, discontinuation of the study drug, change in growth and bone mineral density, basal cortisol level, and adverse events. RESULTS: Over a median period of 40 weeks, 8% of upper respiratory tract infections in the fluticasone group led to treatment with rescue systemic corticosteroids, as compared with 18% in the placebo group (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30 to 0.83). Children who were treated with fluticasone, as compared with those who were given placebo, had smaller mean (+/-SD) gains from baseline in height (6.23+/-2.62 cm [unadjusted value]; z score, -0.19 +/-0.42 vs. 6.56+/-2.90 cm [unadjusted value]; z score, 0.00+/-0.48; difference between groups in z score from baseline to end point, -0.24 [95% CI, -0.40 to -0.08]) and in weight (1.53+/-1.17 kg [unadjusted value]; z score, -0.15+/-0.48 vs. 2.17+/-1.79 kg [unadjusted value]; z score, 0.11+/-0.43; difference between groups in z score from baseline to end point, -0.26 [95% CI, -0.41 to -0.09]). There were no significant differences between the groups in basal cortisol level, bone mineral density, or adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In preschool-age children with moderate-to-severe virus-induced wheezing, preemptive treatment with high-dose fluticasone as compared with placebo reduced the use of rescue oral corticosteroids. Treatment with fluticasone was associated with a smaller gain in height and weight. Given the potential for overuse, this preventive approach should not be adopted in clinical practice until long-term adverse effects are clarified. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00238927.)