RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinical judgment, also known as gestalt or gut feeling, can predict deterioration and can be easily and rapidly obtained. To date, it is unknown what clinical judgement precisely entails. The aim of this study was to elucidate which features define the clinical impression of health care professionals in the ED. METHOD: A nominal group technique (NGT) was used to develop a consensus-based instrument to measure the clinical impression score (CIS, scale 1-10) and to identify features associated with either a more severe or less severe estimated disease severity. This single-center observational cohort study included 517 medical patients visiting the ED. The instrument was prospectively validated.. The predictive value of each feature for the clinical impression was assessed using multivariate linear regression analyses to adjust for potential confounders and validated in the infection group. RESULTS: The CIS at the ED was associated with ICU admission (OR 1.67 [1.37-2.03], p < 0.001), in-hospital mortality (OR 2.25 [1.33-3.81], p < 0.001), and 28-day mortality (OR 1.33 [1.07-1.65], <0.001). Dry mucous membranes, eye glance, red flags during physical examination, results of arterial blood gas analysis, heart and respiratory rate, oxygen modality, triage urgency, and increased age were associated with a higher estimated disease severity (CIS). On the other hand, behavior of family, self-estimation of the patient, systolic blood pressure, and Glascow Coma Scale were associated with a lower estimated disease severity (CIS). CONCLUSION: We identified several features that were associated with the clinical impression of health care professionals in the ED. Translating the subjective features and objective measurements into quantifiable parameters may aid the development of a novel triage tool to identify patients at risk of deterioration in the ED.
RESUMO
The weak androgen oxandrolone (Ox) increases height gain in growth-hormone (GH) treated girls with Turner syndrome (TS), but may also give rise to virilizing side effects. To assess the effect of Ox, at a conventional and low dosage, on behavior, aggression, romantic and sexual interest, mood, and gender role in GH-treated girls with TS, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted. 133 patients were treated with GH (1.33 mg/m(2)/d) from baseline, combined with placebo (Pl), Ox 0.03 mg/kg/d, or Ox 0.06 mg/kg/d from the age of eight, and with estrogens from the age of 12. The child behavior checklist (CBCL), Junior Dutch Personality Questionnaire (DPQ-J), State-subscale of the Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Scale, Romantic and Sexual Interest Questionnaire, Mood Questionnaire, and Gender Role Questionnaire were filled out before, during, and after discontinuing Ox/Pl. The changes during Ox/Pl therapy were not significantly different between the dosage groups. In untreated patients, the mean CBCL total (P=0.002) and internalizing (P=0.003) T scores, as well as the mean DPQ-J social inadequacy SD score (SDS) (P=0.004) were higher than in reference girls, but decreased during GH+Ox/Pl therapy (P<0.001, P=0.05, P<0.001, respectively). Whereas the mean total (P=0.01) and internalizing (P<0.001) T score remained relatively high, the mean social inadequacy SDS became comparable with reference values. We conclude that in GH-treated girls with TS, Ox 0.03 mg/kg/d or 0.06 mg/kg/d does not cause evident psychological virilizing side effects. Problem behavior, frequently present in untreated girls with TS, decreases during therapy, but total and internalizing problem behavior remain increased.