Behind the Headset: Predictive Accuracy of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Voice Symptoms in Call Centers

Objective: This study examines factors predicting self-reported voice symptoms in call center workers. Methods: Multivariate analysis and predictive modeling assess personal, work-related, acoustic, and behavioral factors. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves are employed. Results: Age and sleep patterns impacted voice quality and effort, while workplace factors influenced symptom perception. Unhealthy vocal behaviors related to tense voice and increased effort, while hydration was protective. Voice acoustics showed diagnostic potential, supported by ROC data. These findings emphasize voice symptom complexity in call center professionals, necessitating comprehensive assessment. Limitations: This study recognizes its limitations, including a moderate-sized convenience sample and reliance on PROM metrics. Future research should incorporate more objective measures in addition to self-reports and acoustic analysis. Value: This research provides novel insights into the interplay of personal, occupational, and voice-related factors in developing voice symptoms among call center workers. Predictive modeling enhances risk assessment and understanding of individual susceptibility to voice disorders. Conclusion: Results show associations between various factors and self-reported voice symptoms. Protective factors include sleeping more than six hours and consistent hydration, whereas risk factors include working conditions, such as location and behaviors like smoking. Diagnostic models indicate good accuracy for some voice symptom PROMs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive models considering work factors, vocal behaviors, and acoustic parameters to understand voice issues complexity.

Objetivo: Este estudio examina los factores que predicen los síntomas de voz en los trabajadores de call centers. Métodos: Se utilizan análisis multivariados y modelos predictivos para evaluar factores personales, laborales, acústicos y de comportamiento. Se emplean Modelos Lineales Generalizados (GLM) y curvas ROC. Resultados: La edad y los patrones de sueño afectaron la calidad vocal y el esfuerzo, mientras que los factores laborales influyeron en la percepción de síntomas. Los comportamientos vocales no saludables se relacionaron con voz tensa y mayor esfuerzo, mientras que la hidratación fue protectora. Los parámetros acústicos de voz mostraron potencial diagnóstico respaldado por datos de ROC. Los hallazgos subrayan complejidad de síntomas vocales en profesionales de centros de llamadas, requiriendo una evaluación integral. Limitaciones: Este estudio reconoce sus limitaciones, que incluyen una muestra de conveniencia de tamaño moderado y la dependencia de medidas PROMs. Futuras investigaciones deberían incorporar medidas objetivas, además de los autorreportes y análisis acústico. Importancia: Esta investigación aporta nuevos conocimientos sobre factores personales, laborales y síntomas de voz en trabajadores de call centers. El modelado predictivo mejora la evaluación de riesgos y la comprensión de la susceptibilidad individual a trastornos de la voz. Conclusión: Los resultados muestran asociaciones entre diversos factores y los síntomas vocales reportados. Los factores de protección incluyen dormir más de seis horas y una hidratación constante; los factores de riesgo incluyen las condiciones de trabajo, como la ubicación y comportamientos como fumar. Los modelos de diagnóstico indican una buena precisión para algunas PROMs de síntomas de la voz, lo que subraya la necesidad de modelos integrales que tengan en cuenta los factores laborales, los comportamientos vocales y los parámetros acústicos para comprender la complejidad de los problemas de la voz.

Compliance with World Health Organization COVID-19 preventive behaviors in rural counties in Western Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended various measures to tackle COVID-19, and were adopted by many governments, targeting behavior change among citizens to lower the transmission. There was a paucity of data on the patterns of compliance with different measures within individuals and whether people adhere to all recommended measures or cautiously prefer few but not others. Understanding compliance behaviors and associated factors is important for developing interventions to increase compliance. Methods: cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in the western region of Kenya. A sample of 806 participants was selected using a stratified sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the participants. Compliance was assessed with six behaviors: hand sanitation, proper hygiene, no handshaking, social distancing, and other guidelines. Latent analysis was used to identify behavioral patterns. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic characteristics, in terms of frequency distribution, and percentages. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between demographic characteristics and compliance level. Results: compliance was highest for masking (85.3%), and was lowest for social distancing (60.2%). The majority of participants were found to be full compliers (class 1: 40.5%), there was an increased probability of full compliance among those aged between 18-30 years (OR= 1.042; 95% CI: 0.307-13.052, p < 0.040) compared to those aged ≥70. Conclusion: using facemasks had the highest rate of compliance, followed by hand sanitization and proper hygiene. However, overall, the findings showed that while compliance with some protocol behaviors is high, individuals comply consistently across recommended compliance behaviors.

Bridging the Gaps: The Transformative Effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Preventive Measures Among Medical and Health Sciences College Students in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Background The global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted the activities of medical and health profession education institutions. This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 on medical and health profession education students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward preventive measures and their commitment to precautionary measures before, during, and after the pandemic. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2023 using an online, structured, validated questionnaire survey to gather information from medical and health sciences students from three universities, encompassing five colleges in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The minimum required sample size was estimated using the Epi Info software as 380. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (Released 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Statistical tests including Student's t-test, chi-squared test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test were applied. Results The findings revealed that personal experiences with COVID-19 infection had a significant impact on students' attitudes and commitment to preventive measures (p<0.05). Among the participants, 172 students (45%) reported having contracted COVID-19. Students with clinical exposure showed a higher level of understanding and adherence to preventive measures (248 students, 68%), compared to pre-clinical students (198 students, 52%) (p<0.05). Positive attitudes were observed toward practices such as sneezing etiquette (289 students, 76%) and flu vaccination (314 students, 83%) (p<0.05). However, negative attitudes were observed toward mask-wearing (155 students, 41%) and social distancing (144 students, 38%), particularly among male students (p<0.05). Conclusion The study provided valuable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical and health sciences students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward preventive measures and the importance of introducing COVID-19 prevention measures in the pre-clinical phase as well as mental health support to promote positive attitudes and enhance adherence to preventive measures.

Particulate matter reduction efficiency analysis of sprinkler system as targeted control measures for construction activity.

Air pollution caused by the construction industry in the form of particulate matter (PM) has increased to an alarming level. The effects on the health of construction workers are found to be hazardous despite the current advancement in construction methods and practices. In particular, the efficiency of existing control measures for reducing PM from various construction activities has not been improved to the desired level. This study investigated the factors that influence the efficiency of a sprinkler system-based control measure when water spraying and dust suppressant solutions are used. The real-time PM exposure was measured during hollow-block cutting activity using Alphanese OPC-N3 sensors in dust chamber. The dust suppressant suppresses dust particles by initially forming a solidified film on the particle surface, and the high cohesion of this film enhances the suppression rate by promoting dust particle coagulation. It was observed that when using a dust suppressant, the PM concentration at 100 bar exceeded concentrations at other pressures, resulting in increased efficacy in reducing PM10. Additionally, water spraying at 115 bar was determined to be the optimal control measure for achieving a significant percentage of PM reduction in a shorter period. These findings can be highly beneficial if the water sprinkler system can be modified into a smart mobility-based sprinkler system either ground-based or drone-based at construction sites in improving PM reduction efficiency particularly on high PM emitting activities.

NBS-SNI, an extension of the network-based statistic: Abnormal functional connections between important structural actors.

Elucidating the coupling between the structure and the function of the brain and its development across maturation has attracted a lot of interest in the field of network neuroscience in the last 15 years. Mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that the onset of certain brain disorders is linked with the interplay between the structural architecture of the brain and its functional processes, often accompanied with unusual connectivity features. This paper introduces a method called the network-based statistic-simultaneous node investigation (NBS-SNI) that integrates both representations into a single framework, and identifies connectivity abnormalities in case-control studies. With this method, significance is given to the properties of the nodes, as well as to their connections. This approach builds on the well-established network-based statistic (NBS) proposed in 2010. We uncover and identify the regimes in which NBS-SNI offers a gain in statistical resolution to identify a contrast of interest using synthetic data. We also apply our method on two real case-control studies, one consisting of individuals diagnosed with autism and the other consisting of individuals diagnosed with early psychosis. Using NBS-SNI and node properties such as the closeness centrality and local information dimension, we found hypo- and hyperconnected subnetworks and show that our method can offer a 9 percentage points gain in prediction power over the standard NBS.

Human protein-protein interaction networks: A topological comparison review.

Protein-Protein Interaction Networks aim to model the interactome, providing a powerful tool for understanding the complex relationships governing cellular processes. These networks have numerous applications, including functional enrichment, discovering cancer driver genes, identifying drug targets, and more. Various databases make protein-protein networks available for many species, including Homo sapiens. This work topologically compares four Homo sapiens networks using a coarse-to-fine approach, comparing global characteristics, sub-network topology, specific nodes centrality, and interaction significance. Results show that the four human protein networks share many common protein-encoding genes and some global measures, but significantly differ in the interactions and neighbourhood. Small sub-networks from cancer pathways performed better than the whole networks, indicating an improved topological consistency in functional pathways. The centrality analysis shows that the same genes play different roles in different networks. We discuss how studies and analyses that rely on protein-protein networks for humans should consider their similarities and distinctions.

Identification of cost-effective biosecurity measures to reduce Salmonella along the pork production chain.

The continued occurrence of salmonellosis cases in Europe attributed to the consumption of pork products highlights the importance of identifying cost-effective interventions. Certain biosecurity measures (BSMs) may be effective in reducing the prevalence of specific pathogens along the pork production chain and their presence in food products. The objective of this study was to identify pathogen-specific, cost-effective BSMs to reduce Salmonella at different stages of the pork production chain in two European countries - Austria (AT) and the United Kingdom (UK). For this purpose, a cost-benefit analysis was conducted based on the epidemiological output of an established quantitative microbiological risk assessment that simulated the implementation effect of the BSMs based on their risk ratios. For each of the BSMs, the associated costs and benefits were assessed individually and country-specifically. For both AT and UK, nine different BSMs were evaluated assuming a countrywide implementation rate of 100%. The results showed that four BSMs were cost-effective (benefit-cost ratio > 1) for AT and five for the UK. The uncertainty regarding the cost-effectiveness of the BSMs resulted from the variability of individual risk ratios, and the variability of benefits associated with the implementation of the BSMs. The low number of cost-effective BSMs highlights the need for holistic risk-based models and economic assessments. To increase the willingness to implement BSMs and maximize the benefits for stakeholders, who carry the majority of the implementation costs, epidemiological assessments of BSM effectiveness should consider the impact on several relevant pathogens simultaneously.

Outcome measurement: Design of a social impact framework to measure shifts in the ecosystem for inclusion.

Children with disabilities need comprehensive intervention spanning health, education, and social systems from infancy through adulthood, with ongoing assessment of outcomes. While assistive technology is crucial, it must be complemented by inclusive learning options and other systemic interventions. Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory guides this approach. A project in South Africa's Northern Cape Province utilized Acumen's Lean Data methodology for monitoring and evaluation. This methodology emphasizes rapid, technology-enabled data collection to inform stakeholders effectively. The project focused on disability awareness, referral systems, assistive technology provision, and early childhood development, adapting programs for various stakeholders and virtual delivery during COVID-19 lockdowns. Results underscored the interconnectedness of assistive technology with broader inclusion efforts and the importance of adaptability and continuous assessment. Further research is recommended to explore the project's role in fostering disability inclusion comprehensively. This ecosystemic approach highlights the necessity of holistic intervention and ongoing evaluation for sustainable social transformation and inclusion.

The case for screening for diabetes distress, depression, and anxiety.

Our goal was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a sample of U.S. military veterans with type 2 diabetes and elevated diabetes distress (DD). Cross-sectional analyses were conducted. The association between DD and anxiety and depression was assessed with logistic regression. Almost 80% of persons with elevated DD had clinically significant anxiety or depression symptoms. The odds of depression and anxiety increased with DD severity. Given the large overlap of depression and anxiety with elevated DD, we recommend providers screen for all three conditions and, if positive, connect to resources for diabetes self-management and/or clinical treatment.

The dental COVID-19 paradox: Disparity in behaviors inside and outside dental schools in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the personal and professional behavior and assess the perceptions of protection and fear of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among faculty, staff, and students from all 10 Canadian dental schools during the second year of the pandemic. METHOD: Participants from a Pan-Canadian prospective study answered monthly questionnaires about their activities between April 2021 and March 2022. In May 2022, additional questions were asked about their perception of protection, fear of infection, and instances of COVID-19 testing. RESULTS: Six hundred participants were initially recruited. Over time, the participants spent less time at home and increased their participation in indoor social activities, a trend influenced by the fluctuations in COVID-19 cases (ß = â€’0.02). Over 90% of the participants were fully vaccinated, which decreased their fear of contracting the virus (χ2[4, 241‒243] = 196.07, p < 0.0001). Yet, their attitude toward protective measures did not change, and they followed them within school. CONCLUSIONS: This work shows a paradoxical behavior among dental students, staff, and faculty members in Canadian dental schools. While factors such as the vaccine's limited efficacy and a desire to protect others may contribute to stringent protective behaviors within dental schools, the mandatory nature of these measures was likely the primary motivator for the compliance. Despite potential efforts to minimize exposure to the virus during risk periods and the frequent COVID-19 testing, this paradoxical behavior raises questions about professional responsibilities extending beyond the workplace. Thus, dental schools should incorporate education about the rationale behind following different protocols and the potential consequences of outside school behaviors.

Child speech developmental norms in Greek monolinguals: whole word and consonant accuracy.

Child phonological development in standard Greek is aptly represented by both single-case and cross-sectional studies. While some quantitative measures exist, such as the 75% criterion in the acquisition of singletons and clusters, reported norms require replication to fine-tune existing indicators, inform non-existent ones, and better reflect children's typical developmental speech in contemporary Greece. Our cross-sectional study addresses this gap, in terms of consonant inventory acquisition, and percentage accuracy of words, singletons, clusters, and cluster reductions. Phonological Assessment for Greek (PAel) procedures facilitated data elicitation from 254 Greek-speaking participants, aged 2;0-7;0, equally represented for gender. Our study comprehensively informs quantitative norms on whole word accuracy (WWA), percentage of consonants correct (PCC), PCC variation across the different age groups of children, and the WWA-PCC correlation along the developmental path in this cross-sectional study. A schematic representation models children's normative PCC-WWA profiles, facilitating the determination of phonological disorder in Greek with direct clinical application on diagnosis and intervention.

The Effects of Phonological Complexity on Word Production in French-Speaking Children.

Word complexity indices, such as the Index of Phonetic Complexity (IPC) and the Word Complexity Measure (WCM), code a word in terms of featural and structural properties that pose difficulty in phonological development. Studies have investigated the influence of complexity indices on vocabulary development; however, few have examined their influence on consonant accuracy. Furthermore, these indices were developed for English-speaking children and have not been widely applied to other languages. This study investigates whether a word's phonological complexity influences how accurately it is produced in French-speaking children. Four databases consisting of the productions of children (n = 74), aged 1;11 to 4;9, were analyzed. Words were coded in terms of the IPC, WCM, and parameters that add complexity during phonological development. Using mixed-effects logistic regression, we examined whether phonological complexity as determined by the IPC, WCM, or by alternative indices better accounts for the influence of complexity on production. We also investigated whether the accuracy of a target sound/structure was influenced by a word's complexity. Results indicated that complexity based on the IPC or WCM significantly influenced consonant accuracy; however, indices tapping fewer features provided superior model fit. At younger ages, the presence of fricatives/liquids and, at all ages, the presence of alveopalatal fricatives, codas, and clusters significantly influenced accuracy. Findings were inconclusive as to whether whole word complexity influenced the accuracy of a target sound/structure. Results suggest that current complexity indices provide only approximate indications of how featural and structural properties of words influence production.

Meta-analysis of the quantitative effectiveness of risk management measures (RMM) in the workplace.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This paper describes an evaluation and analysis of an updated version of ECEL v3.0-an integrated risk management measure (RMM) library developed as part of a CEFIC LRI initiative. The occupational module contains extensive data on the quantitative effectiveness of RMMs to control inhalation and dermal exposure in the workplace. The objective was to investigate the effectiveness and variability in effectiveness of RMM and to explore the difference between optimal and non-optimal RMM applications in the workplace. METHODS: A new database structure and interface were developed and the content of the database was updated with a systematic literature review and integration with other databases (totalling 3373 records from 548 studies). To analyse the data, Bayesian linear mixed models were constructed with the study as a random effect and various study characteristics and RMM categories as fixed effects individually in separate models. A multivariate mixed model was used on a stratified dataset to test (amongst others) the conditions of RMM use. RESULTS: Analyses of the data indicated effectiveness values for each RMM category (for example ~87% for technical emission controls compared with ~60% for technical dispersion controls). Substantial variability in effectiveness was observed within and between different types of RMM. Seven study characteristics (covariables) were included in the analyses, which indicated a pronounced difference in as-built (optimal/experimental) and as-used (workplace) conditions of RMM use (93.3% and 74.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This library provides a reliable evidence base to derive base estimates of RMM effectiveness-beneficial for both registrant and downstream users. It stresses the importance of optimal use of RMMs in the workplace (technical design/functioning, use, and maintenance). Various challenges are foreseen to further update ECEL to improve guidance, for deriving improved estimates and ensure user-friendliness of the library.

Sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with negative illness perception in patients newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, or psoriatic arthritis-a survey based cross-sectional study.

When newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis (IA), acquiring self-management skills is beneficial, to enhance quality of life. The personal beliefs and mental representations patients hold about their illness, known as illness perception, significantly influence the development of these skills. Recognizing characteristics that affect illness perception is key to identifying patients requiring additional support for the development of self-management skills. This study aimed at identifying the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with a negative illness perception. This cross-sectional study was based on survey data from patients diagnosed for ≤ 2 years. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) was used to measure illness perception. After psychometric testing, we divided the B-IPQ into two domains: (1) a control domain and (2) a consequence domain. We performed logistic regression analyses with multiple imputations. A total of 1,360 patients (61% females) were included. Among them, 64%, 20%, and 16% were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), respectively. Younger patients with lower socioeconomic status, a diagnosis of PsA or axSpA, high disease activity (OR 3.026, CI 2.208;4.147), severe physical disability (OR 4.147. CI 2.883;6.007), severe pain (OR 3.034, CI 1.991;4.622), and severe fatigue (OR 2.612, CI 1.942;3.513) were significantly more likely to report having a negative illness perception. Younger patients with a higher symptom burden, increased disease activity, lower socioeconomic status, and a diagnosis of PsA or axSpA may require additional attention and support in rheumatology clinical practice to aid in the development of their self-management skills.

Patient-reported outcome measures for primary hyperparathyroidism: a systematic review of measurement properties.

BACKGROUND: The quality of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used to assess the outcomes of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), a common endocrine disorder that can negatively affect patients' health-related quality of life due to chronic symptoms, has not been rigorously examined. This systematic review aimed to summarize and evaluate evidence on the measurement properties of PROMs used in adult patients with PHPT, and to provide recommendations for appropriate measure selection. METHODS: After PROSPERO registration (CRD42023438287), Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Trials were searched for full-text articles in English investigating PROM development, pilot studies, or evaluation of at least one PROM measurement property in adult patients with any clinical form of PHPT. Two reviewers independently identified studies for inclusion and conducted the review following the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Methodology to assess risk of bias, evaluate the quality of measurement properties, and grade the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: From 4989 records, nine PROM development or validation studies were identified for three PROMs: the SF-36, PAS, and PHPQoL. Though the PAS demonstrated sufficient test-retest reliability and convergent validity, and the PHPQoL sufficient test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and responsiveness, the certainty of evidence was low-to-very low due to risk of bias. All three PROMs lacked sufficient evidence for content validity in patients with PHPT. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon the available evidence, the SF-36, PAS, and PHPQoL cannot currently be recommended for use in research or clinical care, raising important questions about the conclusions of studies using these PROMs. Further validation studies or the development of more relevant PROMs with strong measurement properties for this patient population are needed.

Psychometric properties of the Disability of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) in subjects with frozen shoulder: a reliability and validity study.

BACKGROUND: Frozen Shoulder (FS) is a painful condition characterized by severe pain and progressive restriction of shoulder movement, leading to functional impairment and reduced quality of life. While different Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs) tools exist for assessing shoulder diseases, few specific PROMs are validated for FS patients. PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire in FS patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four subjects (mean ± SD age = 55.4 ± 7.9 years; 55.6% female) diagnosed with FS were included and completed the DASH questionnaire, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Floor or ceiling effects were investigated. Structural validity was analysed through a unidimensional Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), internal consistency through Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability through the Intraclass Correlation coefficient (ICC), measurement error through the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and the Minimum Detectable Change (MDC), and construct validity through the hypothesis testing with the correlation with the other outcome measures used. RESULTS: No floor or ceiling effects were observed. CFA confirmed a one-factor structure after addressing local item dependency (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.055; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.077; Comparative Fit Index = 0.970; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.968). Cronbach's alpha was high (= 0.951), and test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.999; 95% CI: 0.998-1.000). SEM was equal to 0.5 points, and MDC to 1.5 points. Construct validity was considered satisfactory as 80% of the a-priori hypotheses were met. CONCLUSION: The DASH questionnaire demonstrated good psychometric properties in FS patients, supporting its use as a valuable tool for assessing the impact of FS in clinical and research settings.

Measurement properties of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) validation studies: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is important for improving mental health and reducing inequities in treatment. The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) is a valid and reliable assessment tool for MHL. This systematic review will examine and compare the measurement properties of the MHLS in different languages, enabling academics, clinicians and policymakers to make informed judgements regarding its use in assessments. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review will adhere to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology for systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and will be presented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 checklist. The review will be conducted in four stages, including an initial search confined to PubMed, a search of electronic scientific databases PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase (Elsevier), PubMed (NLM) and ERIC, an examination of the reference lists of all papers to locate relevant publications and finally contacting the MHLS original author to identify validation studies that the searches will not retrieve. These phases will assist us in locating studies that evaluate the measurement properties of MHLS across various populations, demographics and contexts. The search will focus on articles published in English between May 2015 and December 2023. The methodological quality of the studies will be evaluated using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist, and a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data synthesis will be performed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required. The publication will be in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023430924.

Feasibility of using an automated call service to collect quality of life and functional outcome data in trauma patients.

Objectives: Following up trauma patients after discharge, to evaluate their subsequent quality of life and functional outcomes, is notoriously difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Automated systems are a conceptually attractive solution. We prospectively assessed the feasibility of using a series of automated phone calls administered by Emmi Patient Engagement to survey trauma patients after discharge. Methods: Recruitment into the study was incorporated into the patient discharge process by nursing staff. For this pilot, we included trauma patients discharging home and who were able to answer phone calls. A script was created to evaluate the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale and the EuroQol EQ-5D to assess functional status and quality of life, respectively. Call attempts were made at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after discharge. Results: A total of 110 patients initially agreed to participate. 368 attempted patient encounters (calls or attempted calls) took place, with 104 (28.3%) patients answering a least one question in the study. 21 unique patients (19.1% of those enrolled) completed 27 surveys. Conclusions: Automated, scripted phone calls to survey patients after discharge are not a feasible way of collecting functional and quality of life data. Level of evidence: Level II/prospective.

Comprehensive Physiotherapy Approach for Pneumonia After Angioplasty in an 83-Year-Old Hypertensive Male Patient: A Case Report.

Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. Coronary artery disease is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. This obstruction restricts blood flow, resulting in chest pain (angina) and, in extreme cases, heart attacks. An important part of successfully treating diseases like peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease is balloon angioplasty, a commonly used medical procedure for treating narrowed or clogged arteries. An 83-year-old man who had pneumonia after angioplasty was the subject of this case study. The patient had pneumonia after angioplasty, which was managed by proper medications and cardio-respiratory physiotherapy. The patient was intubated and referred for cardio-respiratory physiotherapy. Physiotherapy treatments like mild chest vibrations, suctioning, and bed mobility exercises were given initially. After extubation, physiotherapy treatment continued with deep breathing exercises, coughing techniques, relaxation techniques, and mobility exercises for the upper limbs and lower limbs. Effective physical rehabilitation was necessary in order to minimize complications following angioplasty and allow him to resume his daily activities. Several outcome measures, like the ICU mobility scale, CURB-65 score, and chest X-ray grading scores, were used to monitor the patient's progress during rehabilitation. The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation programs emphasize the need for tailored approaches in addressing individual patient needs for comprehensive recovery.