Preliminary findings on the experiences of care for women who suffered early pregnancy losses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Women who suffer an early pregnancy loss require specific clinical care, aftercare, and ongoing support. In the UK, the clinical management of early pregnancy complications, including loss is provided mainly through specialist Early Pregnancy Assessment Units. The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the way in which maternity and gynaecological care was delivered, as health systems moved to rapidly reconfigure and re-organise services, aiming to reduce the risk and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PUDDLES is an international collaboration investigating the pandemic's impact on care for people who suffered a perinatal bereavement. Presented here are initial qualitative findings undertaken with UK-based women who suffered early pregnancy losses during the pandemic, about how they navigated the healthcare system and its restrictions, and how they were supported. METHODS: In-keeping with a qualitative research design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with an opportunity sample of women (N = 32) who suffered any early pregnancy loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analysed using a template analysis to understand women's access to services, care, and networks of support, during the pandemic following their pregnancy loss. The thematic template was based on findings from parents who had suffered a late-miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death in the UK, during the pandemic. RESULTS: All women had experienced reconfigured maternity and early pregnancy services. Data supported themes of: 1) COVID-19 Restrictions as Impractical & Impersonal; 2) Alone, with Only Staff to Support Them; 3) Reduction in Service Provision Leading to Perceived Devaluation in Care; and 4) Seeking Their Own Support. Results suggest access to early pregnancy loss services was reduced and pandemic-related restrictions were often impractical (i.e., restrictions added to burden of accessing or receiving care). Women often reported being isolated and, concerningly, aspects of early pregnancy loss services were reported as sub-optimal. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide important insight for the recovery and rebuilding of health services in the post-pandemic period and help us prepare for providing a higher standard of care in the future and through any other health system shocks. Conclusions made can inform future policy and planning to ensure best possible support for women who experience early pregnancy loss.

Evaluation of a Specialised Counselling Service for Perinatal Bereavement.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Petals: a charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire. Petals provides counselling for women and couples who have suffered perinatal bereavement, or trauma during pregnancy or birth. This paper attempts to evaluate the effect of counseling interventions at this difficult time. METHODS: Outcomes were recorded in 107 patients using the CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation) system. CORE was developed to assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies. CORE-OM (CORE Outcome Measure) involves a questionnaire that assesses subjective well-being, symptoms/problems, function, and risk to self and others. The CORE-OM questionnaire was completed before and after the counselling sessions. RESULTS: The CORE-OM scores were summated into a global representation of severity. Severity decreased in all patients. Symptoms of psychological pathology were also decreased in all cases. CONCLUSION: Offering a free specialised counselling for parents suffering perinatal loss seems to be associated with an improvement in psychological outcomes. It is possible that it is more effective among a clinical population. However, we are uncertain of the natural history of the psychological problems this group of clients are experiencing. Having a control group would show how much of any natural improvement is due to the therapy; conversely, it is possible that without intervention these problems worsen with time, so a control group could actually amplify the effect.

Petals: An Assessment of the Outcomes of a Service for Bereavement during Childbirth.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Petals: a charitable organisation in Cambridgeshire. Petals provides counselling for women and couples who have suffered perinatal bereavement, or trauma during pregnancy or birth. This paper attempts to evaluate the effect of counseling interventions at this difficult time. METHODS: Outcomes were recorded in 42 patients using the CORE (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation) system. CORE was developed to assess the effectiveness of psychological therapies. CORE-OM (CORE Outcome Measure) involves a questionnaire that assesses subjective well-being, symptoms / problems, function, and risk to self and others. The CORE-OM questionnaire was completed before and after the counselling sessions. RESULTS: The CORE-OM scores were summated into a global representation of severity. Severity decreased in all patients. Symptoms of psychological pathology were also decreased in all cases. CONCLUSION: A review of the available literature indicates that little is known about the efficacy of therapy for perinatal bereavement and trauma. These original data suggest convincing efficacy and benefits, but the numbers involved are small.Further trials with greater sample sizes are required.

Impact of changes to invite methodology on equality of access to the National Breast Screening Programme in the South of England.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary change in policy was implemented in 2020. Breast screening services in England were advised to change from timed appointments to an open invitation for invitees to contact the service and arrange an appointment. This change to invitation methodology had potential benefits and risks including impacting inequalities in uptake. Qualitative data were collected by online questionnaire from 23 service providers and routinely collected quantitative uptake data were analysed to investigate the impact of open invitations on the National Programme in the South of England. Office for National Statistics and general practitioner (GP) practice profile data enabled the modelling of sociodemographic characteristics of breast screening invitees at each GP practice. Most services changed to open invitations (17/23), 82% of which altered administrative capacity and/or procedures to accommodate this change. Logistic benefits were reported including a more consistent flow of participants, fewer long gaps and fewer wasted slots. The change to open invitations was associated with a 7.2% reduction in the percentage of participants screened, accounting for participant sociodemographics and historical screening provider uptake. The inequality in screening uptake experienced by participants of minority ethnic background was exacerbated by the change to open invitations. Open invitations, whilst affording logistic benefits in an unprecedented pandemic era, were associated with reduced overall uptake and exacerbation of existing health inequality experienced by women of minority ethnic background. The broader impact on services highlighted the need for sustainability of measures taken to accommodate such operational changes.

Women's experiences of early pregnancy loss services during the pandemic: A qualitative investigation.

PROBLEM: Early pregnancy losses [EPL] are common, varied, and require different courses of management and care. BACKGROUND: In the UK, women who suspect or suffer a pregnancy loss are usually provided specialist care in early pregnancy assessment units [EPAUs]. Their configuration has recently been evaluated, but recommendations for change in-line with best practice for optimum outcomes were unable to be implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic health system shock. AIM: To compare women's experiences of EPAUs during the pandemic to themes previously found in qualitative work undertaken with women who utilised EPAUs before the pandemic. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured virtual interviews, with women (N = 32) who suffered an early pregnancy loss during the pandemic; analysing transcripts using Template Analysis, based on findings about women's (pre-pandemic) experiences of EPAU from The VESPA Study. FINDINGS: We report on seven key themes: Barriers to Accessing Services; Communication & Information; Retention of Relational Care; Involvement in Care Decisions; Staffs' Attitude or Approach; Efficiency of Service Delivery; Sensitive Patient Management. DISCUSSION: Sensitive patient management and woman-staff interactions in EPAU settings remain a fundamental issue. Women also reported their experiences of EPAUs were comparatively worse during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Women valued the care provided by EPAUs and found services to be efficient, despite pandemic-related restrictions. However, psychological recognition surrounding EPL and appropriate, sensitive, relational care and support continue to be areas in need of improvement. Our recommendation is to implement the improvements suggested by VESPA as a priority to ameliorate present sub-optimal experiences and prevent further deterioration.

A consensus statement on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for post-pandemic recovery and re-build.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant lifecourse rupture, not least to those who had specific physical vulnerabilities to the virus, but also to those who were suffering with mental ill health. Women and birthing people who were pregnant, experienced a perinatal bereavement, or were in the first post-partum year (i.e., perinatal) were exposed to a number of risk factors for mental ill health, including alterations to the way in which their perinatal care was delivered. Methods: A consensus statement was derived from a cross-disciplinary collaboration of experts, whereby evidence from collaborative work on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic was synthesised, and priorities were established as recommendations for research, healthcare practice, and policy. Results: The synthesis of research focused on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal health outcomes and care practices led to three immediate recommendations: what to retain, what to reinstate, and what to remove from perinatal mental healthcare provision. Longer-term recommendations for action were also made, categorised as follows: Equity and Relational Healthcare; Parity of Esteem in Mental and Physical Healthcare with an Emphasis on Specialist Perinatal Services; and Horizon Scanning for Perinatal Mental Health Research, Policy, & Practice. Discussion: The evidence base on the effect of the pandemic on perinatal mental health is growing. This consensus statement synthesises said evidence and makes recommendations for a post-pandemic recovery and re-build of perinatal mental health services and care provision.

Telemedical Asthma Education and Health Care Outcomes for School-Age Children: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine in a school-based setting involving partnerships between a child with asthma and health care provider can provide patients and caregivers with opportunities to better manage chronic conditions, communicate among partners, and collaborate for solutions in convenient locations. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review examined outcomes for school-age children with asthma involving asthma-based telemedical education. METHODS: Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, we searched 4 databases with terms related to asthma, education, and pediatrics. Included articles involved a school-based setting, children and adolescents, a telemedical mechanism for training, empirical study designs, and peer review. We extracted data regarding (a) participant background, (b) research methods and purpose, and (c) outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 408 articles were identified. Five met inclusion criteria. Three studies were randomized and 2 were cohort studies. In addition to clinical and educational outcomes, studies reported on satisfaction, self-management, asthma knowledge gain, and quality of life (QOL). We found support for caregiver/parent QOL and participant self-management behaviors. We also found mixed results for participant QOL. Clinical outcomes showed mixed support regarding airway inflammation improvement, medication use improvement, improvements in symptom burden and symptom-free days, and spirometry improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Results of real-time telemedically delivered asthma education to improve QOL, enhance symptom management ability, and reduce symptom burden were positive or nonsignificant. No study indicated negative effects due to telemedicine. Limited results indicate that patient education can, under certain circumstances, positively influence asthma burden. Further validation of intervention methods and tools as well as outcome measurement consistency is recommended.

Stylet Use Does Not Improve Diagnostic Outcomes in Endobronchial Ultrasonographic Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasonographically guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) of thoracic structures is a commonly performed tissue sampling technique. The use of an inner-stylet in the EBUS needle has never been rigorously evaluated and may be unnecessary. METHODS: In a prospective randomized single-blind controlled clinical trial, patients with a clinical indication for EBUS-TBNA underwent lymph node sampling using both with-stylet and without-stylet techniques. Sample adequacy, diagnostic yield, and various cytologic quality measures were compared. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one patients were enrolled, with 194 lymph nodes sampled, each using both with-stylet and without-stylet techniques. There was no significant difference in sample adequacy or diagnostic yield between techniques. The without-stylet technique resulted in adequate samples in 87% of the 194 study lymph nodes, which was no different from the with-stylet adequacy rate (82%; P = .371). The with-stylet technique resulted in a diagnosis in 50 of 194 samples (25.7%), which was similar to the without-stylet group (49 of 194 [25.2%]; P = .740). There was a high degree of concordance in the determination of adequacy (84.0%; 95% CI, 78.1-88.9) and diagnostic sample generation (95.4%; 95% CI, 91.2-97.9) between the two techniques. A similar qualitative number of lymphocytes, malignant cells, and bronchial respiratory epithelia were recovered using each technique. CONCLUSIONS: Omitting stylet use during EBUS-TBNA does not affect diagnostic outcomes and reduces procedural complexity. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.Gov: No. NCT 02201654; URL:www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Electromagnetic navigation transthoracic needle aspiration for the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules: a safety and feasibility pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary nodules remain a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Minimally invasive biopsy methods include bronchoscopy and CT guided transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA). A novel electromagnetic guidance transthoracic needle aspiration (ETTNA) procedure which can be combined with navigational bronchoscopy (NB) and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in a single setting has become available. METHODS: A prospective pilot study examining the safety, feasibility and diagnostic yield of ETTNA in a single procedural setting. All patients enrolled underwent EBUS for lung cancer staging followed by NB and ETTNA. Feasibility of performing ETTNA and a safety assessment by recording procedural related complications including pneumothorax or bleeding was performed. Diagnostic yield of ETTNA defined by a definitive pathologic tissue diagnosis was recorded. An additional diagnostic yield analysis was performed using a cohort analysis of combined interventions (EBUS + NB + ETTNA). All non-diagnostic biopsies were either followed with radiographic imaging or a surgical biopsy was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-four subjects were enrolled. ETTNA was feasible in 96% of cases. No bleeding events occurred. There were five pneumothoraces (21%) of which only two (8%) subjects required drainage. The diagnostic yield for ETTNA alone was 83% and increased to 87% (P=0.0016) when ETTNA was combined with NB. When ETTNA and NB were performed with EBUS for complete staging, the diagnostic yield increased further to 92% (P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first human pilot study demonstrating an acceptable safety and feasibility profile with a novel ETTNA system. Further studies are needed to investigate the increased diagnostic yield from this pilot study.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Sheath Cryoprobe for Bronchoscopic Lung Biopsy in a Porcine Model.

BACKGROUND: Transbronchial forceps biopsy (FBx) has been the preferred method for obtaining bronchoscopic lung biopsy specimens. Cryoprobe biopsy (CBx) has been shown to obtain larger and higher quality samples, but is limited by its inability to retrieve the sample through the working channel of the bronchoscope, requiring the bronchoscope to leave the airway for sample retrieval. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated a novel device using a sheath cryobiopsy (SCBx). This method allows for specimen retrieval through the working channel of the bronchoscope, with the scope remaining inside the airway. METHODS: This prospective, randomized controlled, single-blinded porcine study compared a 1.1-mm SCBx probe, a 1.9-mm CBx probe, and 2.0-mm FBx forceps. Assessment of histologic accessibility, sample quantity and quality, number of attempts to acquire and retrieve samples, cryoprobe activation time, fluoroscopy activation time, technical feasibility, and complications were compared. RESULTS: Samples adequate for standard pathologic processing were retrieved with 82.1% of the SCBx specimens, 82.9%% of the CBx specimens, and 30% of the FBx specimens. The histologic accessibility of both SCBx (P = .0002) and CBx (P = .0003) was superior to FBx. Procedure time for FBx was faster than for both SCBx and CBx, but SCBx was significantly faster than CBx (P < .0001). Fluoroscopy time was lower for both SCBx and CBx compared with FBx. There were no significant bleeding events. CONCLUSIONS: SCBx is a feasible technique providing a higher quality lung biopsy specimen compared with FBx and can successfully be retrieved through the working channel. Human studies are needed to further assess this technique with additional safety data.

New dentist shows commitment to community and profession.

In 2005, Dr. Jose Peralez won the ADA's Golden Apple Award for New Dentist Leadership. He is a second-career native of the Rio Grande Valley who returned after his 1995 graduation from dental school to serve the community he grew up in. Dr. Peralez helped to purchase, manage, and staff a mobile clinic, create a voucher program administered through school nurses, and engage legislators in issues of oral health care for the underserved. He believes that "habits of involvement" are cross generational and contagious.

Mentor says learning is a two-way street.

This year's winner of the ADA award for Individual Achievement in Mentoring, Dr. Ronald Stifter explains how opportunities exist for established dentists to mentor students and young practitioners. In a changing professional world where competition, debt, and diversity have grown, the guidance of a mature dentist is a valuable way to invest in the future of the profession.

A randomized controlled trial evaluating airway inspection effectiveness during endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has revolutionized the evaluation of patients with mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. Limitations of conventional endobronchial ultrasound (C-EBUS) bronchoscopes include the inability to perform a complete airway inspection, low definition optics, and limited maneuverability. These limitations require the use of a standard bronchoscope to perform an airway examination prior to the EBUS procedure. Recently, a hybrid endobronchial ultrasound (H-EBUS) bronchoscope with high definition optics and increased maneuverability has been introduced. Our objective was to assess the ability of H-EBUS to perform a full airway inspection and TBNA. METHODS: Patients referred for EBUS-TBNA were prospectively randomized to either form of EBUS from November 2013 to January 2014. The primary outcome was the airway segment visualization in each lobe using an EBUS bronchoscope. Secondary outcomes included the number of bronchoscopes used per procedure, procedure length, diagnostic yield and specimen adequacy. RESULTS: Sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA were randomized to H-EBUS (n=30) or C-EBUS (n=32). In cases in which EBUS-TBNA was the only procedure performed (n=32), use of a second bronchoscope to perform an adequate airway inspection was significantly higher in C-EBUS compared to H-EBUS (5 vs. 0, P=0.046). There was better segmental visualization achieved in multiple lobes when using H-EBUS (P<0.01). No differences in TBNA sample diagnostic yield, specimen adequacy or procedure time were noted when comparing bronchoscopes (P= NS). CONCLUSIONS: Use of an H-EBUS may improve the ability to perform an adequate airway inspection potentially obviating the need for a conventional bronchoscope.