Twelve tips for using simulation to teach about conformity behaviors in medical education.

Decision-making at different moments in patient care is fraught with potential latent threats. Social influence is one such threat that is increasingly being reported in healthcare and medical education. While different teaching modalities might bring attention to the various ways in which learners conform during clinical decision-making, simulation stands alone as a robust experiential approach to trigger and influence behaviors of learners. Our article provides 12 tips for teaching about conformity using simulation as a modality. This article contributes to medical education because of its focus on a variety of nuances and adaptations required in the simulation scenario design and reflective feedback when teaching about the impact of social influence on clinical decision making. While such a learning outcome presents an unusual challenge for teachers and learners, the ultimate outcome remains the same - that is - to provide meaningful learning while holding honesty and safety of our learners as core values.

Experiences of pressure to conform in postgraduate medical education.

BACKGROUND: Perception of pressure to conform prevents learners from actively participating in educational encounters. We expected that residents would report experiencing different amounts of pressure to conform in a variety of educational settings. METHODS: A total of 166 residents completed questionnaires about the frequency of conformity pressure they experience across 14 teaching and clinical settings. We examined many individual characteristics such as their age, sex, international student status, level of education, and tolerance of ambiguity; and situational characteristics such as residency program, type of learning session, status of group members, and type of rotation to determine when conformity pressure is most likely to occur. RESULTS: The majority of participants (89.8%) reported pressure to conform at least sometimes in at least one educational or clinical setting. Residents reported higher rates of conformity during informal, rather than formal, teaching sessions, p < .001. Also, pressure was greater when residents interacted with higher status group members, but not with the same or lower level status members, p < .001. Effect sizes were in the moderate range. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that most residents do report feeling pressure to conform in their residency settings. This result is consistent with observations of medical students, nursing students, and clerks conforming in response to inaccurate information within experimental studies. Perception of pressure is associated with the setting rather than the trainee personal characteristics.

Outcomes of surgical treatment alone in patients with superficial soft tissue sarcoma regardless of size or grade.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Currently, standard treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is wide local excision and adjuvant radiation, but radiation may be unnecessary in superficial STS. The primary objective is to assess local recurrence rates in patients treated with surgical management alone for superficial STS. METHODS: A retrospective cancer registry review of patients treated with surgery alone for superficial STS at the Tom Baker Cancer Center (TBCC) was performed. Patient and tumor characteristics as well as recurrence data were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients met study criteria. Local and overall recurrence rates were 7/61 (11.5%) and 12/61 (19.7%), respectively. The proportion with a T2 tumor was 38.8% versus 33.3% (P = 0.69), with Grade 2 or 3 tumors was 59.2% versus 83.3% (P = 0.14), and with resection margins <1 cm was 28.6% versus 75.0% (P = 0.008) for patients without and with recurrence, respectively. Median time to recurrence was 1.7 (0.4-5.2) years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection alone appears to be a viable option for superficial STS that can save patients from potential side effects of radiation. The association between recurrence and inadequate margins (<1 cm) requires additional treatment be offered to this subset of patients.

Vertical Scar Breast Reduction: Does Gathering the Incision Matter?

BACKGROUND: The vertical scar bilateral breast reduction is a highly effective technique to reduce breast volume and create long-lasting aesthetic improvements. A cited disadvantage is the inability to adequately shorten the vertical scar, leading to chest wall scars or inframammary puckers. Gathering or cinching sutures have been described as a strategy to confront this issue. This article aims to determine if suture gathering is an effective methods to (1) reduce the incision length, (2) shorten the areola-to-inframammary fold (IMF) distance, and (3) reduce the pucker revision rate. METHODS: All patients undergoing vertical breast reduction performed by the senior author (E.H.F.) from 2001 to 2007 were included. The patient population was divided into "gather" and "no gather" groups depending on how the vertical incision was closed. RESULTS: There were 203 patients in the "no gather" group and 193 in the "gather" group. Age, body mass index, and resection weight were statistically but not clinically different. The percent reduction in vertical incision length was significantly greater in the "gather" group (34.2 ± 9.9% vs. 12.2 ± 5.9%). Both groups showed a gradual lengthening of areola-to-IMF distance postoperatively. Suture gathering had no impact on the pucker revision rate but increased healing complications. CONCLUSION: Gathering sutures significantly reduce the incision length in the operating room but do not change the areola-to-IMF distance or pucker revision rate. Gathering negatively influences skin vascularity and wound healing. It is acceptable and necessary to have a longer areola-to-IMF distance in a vertical reduction to accommodate increased projection.

The effect of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstructions on preoperative planning of tibial plateau fractures: a case-control series.

BACKGROUND: Tibial plateau fractures are a common intra-articular injury for which computed tomography (CT) scans are routinely used for preoperative planning. Three-dimensional reconstructions of CT scans have been increasingly investigated in recent years, however their role has yet to be defined. We wish to investigate the role of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstructions (3D-CT) in the preoperative planning of tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: Twelve cases of tibial plateau fractures including plain film radiographs and conventional CT scans were distributed to 21 observers (orthopaedic residents and consultants). The observers filled out a preoperative plan checklist created for this study. Three months later the same cases were distributed, in random order, this time including 3D-CT reconstructions. The same preoperative checklists were completed, and compared to the previous checklists. RESULTS: The preoperative plan checklist was able to detect differences between cases and between observers. No significant differences were detected between the total plan scores when comparing conventional CT to 3D-CT. Sub-analysis of plan specifics (incisions, hardware, adjuncts) was also not significantly different. The level of training of the observer or the fracture complexity did not affect these results. CONCLUSIONS: No significant changes were made to observer's preoperative plans with the addition of 3D-CT. 3D-CT reconstructions come at a cost to the system, and therefore their usefulness should be investigated prior to widespread use. Our study demonstrates that the addition of 3D-CT reconstructions to the preoperative workup of tibial plateau fractures did not change management plans when compared to plans made using traditional CT-scans.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Patellar Tendon, Hamstring Tendon, and Double-Bundle ACL Reconstructions: Patient-Reported and Clinical Outcomes at a Minimal 2-Year Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare 3 anatomically positioned autografts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, by measuring patient-reported disease-specific quality of life at 2 years postoperatively. DESIGN: Double-blinded, randomized clinical trial with intraoperative computer-generated treatment allocation. Patients and an independent trained evaluator were blinded. SETTING: University-based orthopedic referral practice. PATIENTS: Three hundred thirty patients (14-50 years; 183 male patients) with isolated ACL deficiency were equally randomized to: (1) patellar tendon, PT: 28.7 years (SD = 9.7); (2) quadruple-stranded hamstring tendon, HT: 28.5 years (SD = 9.9); and (3) double bundle using HT, DB: 28.3 years (SD = 9.8); 322 patients completed 2-year follow-up. INTERVENTION: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using PT, HT, or DB autografts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measured at baseline, 1 and 2 years postoperatively-primary: anterior cruciate ligament quality-of-life scores; secondary: International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, KT-1000 arthrometer, pivot shift, range of motion, Tegner activity, Cincinnati Occupational Scale, and single-leg hop. Proportions of correct graft type guesses by the patients and evaluator assessed blinding effectiveness. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not different. Anterior cruciate ligament quality-of-life scores increased over time for all groups (P = 0.001) but were not different at 2 years (P = 0.591): PT = 84.6 (SD = 16.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 81.4-87.8), HT = 82.5 (SD = 17.7, 95% CI = 79.2-85.9), and DB = 82.4 (SD = 17.5, 95% CI = 79.1-85.7). Two-year KT-1000 side-to-side differences (PT = 1.86 mm; HT = 2.97 mm; DB = 2.65 mm) were statistically significant between PT-HT (P = 0.002) and PT-DB (P = 0.044). The remaining secondary outcomes were not statistically different. Correct graft type guesses occurred 51% of the time for patients and 46% for the evaluator. CONCLUSIONS: Two-year disease-specific quality-of-life outcome was not different between the ACL reconstruction techniques. The PT reconstructions had significantly lower side-to-side differences on static stability measures. Patient and evaluator blinding was achieved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1 (Therapeutic Studies). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This high-quality, large, double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) addresses the insufficient evidence in the literature comparing PT, single-bundle hamstring, and DB hamstring reconstructions for ACL rupture in adults. In addition to the clinical and functional results, this RCT uniquely reports on the disease-specific, patient-reported quality-of-life outcome at 2 years postoperatively.

The Epidemiology of Cleft Lip and Palate in Canada, 1998 to 2007.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the birth prevalence, gender distribution, and pattern of surgical intervention for clefts in Canada (1998 to 2007). Also to highlight the difficulties associated with studying the epidemiology of clefts using the current data collection mechanisms. METHODS: Epidemiologic data acquired from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. SETTING: Population-based study in Canada 1998 to 2007. PATIENTS: All live births with an International Classification of Diseases (9th or 10th revision) diagnostic code for cleft palate or for cleft lip with or without cleft palate or with a surgical intervention code for repair of cleft lip or cleft palate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Birth prevalence, gender distribution, and pattern of surgical intervention. RESULTS: There were 3,015,325 live births in Canada (1998 to 2007). The mean birth prevalence was 0.82 per 1000 live births for cleft lip with or without cleft palate and 0.58 per 1000 live births for cleft palate. The birth prevalence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate was significantly higher in boys, with a stable boy to girl ratio of 1.75:1. Cleft palate was significantly greater in girls; however, the boy to girl ratio decreased from 0.97:1 in 1998 to 0.59:1 in 2007. The median age of repair in Canada from 1998 to 2007 was 4.7 months for cleft lip and 11.6 months for cleft palate. Thirty percent of patients underwent cleft palate repair after age 1. CONCLUSION: The birth prevalence of cleft palate and cleft lip with or without cleft palate is stable in Canada. An increasing birth prevalence of cleft palate in girls is suggested. The timing of surgical intervention is consistent with current standards. The challenges associated with collecting these data in Canada are discussed.

Improving clinical reasoning and communication during handover: An intervention study of the BRIEF-C tool.

BACKGROUND: Existing handover communication tools often lack a clear theoretical foundation, have limited psychometric evidence, and overlook effective communication strategies for enhancing diagnostic reasoning. This oversight becomes critical as communication breakdowns during handovers have been implicated in poor patient care. To address these issues, we developed a structured communication tool: Background, Responsible diagnosis, Included differential diagnosis, Excluded differential diagnosis, Follow-up, and Communication (BRIEF-C). It is informed by cognitive bias theory, shows evidence of reliability and validity of its scores, and includes strategies for actively sending and receiving information in medical handovers. DESIGN: A pre-test post-test intervention study. SETTING: Inpatient internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery units at one tertiary care hospital. INTERVENTION: The BRIEF-C tool was presented to internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery faculty and residents who participated in an in-person educational session, followed by a 2-week period where they practised using it with feedback. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical handovers were audiorecorded over 1 week for the pre- and again for the post-periods, then transcribed for analysis. Two faculty raters from internal medicine and orthopaedic surgery scored the transcripts of handovers using the BRIEF-C framework. The two raters were blinded to the time periods. RESULTS: A principal component analysis identified two subscales on the BRIEF-C: diagnostic clinical reasoning and communication, with high interitem consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 and 0.99, respectively). One sample t-test indicated significant improvement in diagnostic clinical reasoning (pre-test: M=0.97, SD=0.50; post-test: M=1.31, SD=0.64; t(64)=4.26, p<0.05, medium to large Cohen's d=0.63) and communication (pre-test: M=0.02, SD=0.16; post-test: M=0.48, SD=0.83); t(64)=4.52, p<0.05, large Cohen's d=0.83). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates evidence supporting the reliability and validity of scores on the BRIEF-C as good indicators of diagnostic clinical reasoning and communication shared during handovers.

Exploring Student Perspectives and Experiences of Online Opportunities for Virtual Care Skills Development: Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Caring profession students require skills and competencies to proficiently use information technologies for providing high-quality and effective care. However, there is a gap in exploring the perceptions and experiences of students in developing virtual care skills within online environments. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to better understand caring professional students' online learning experiences with developing virtual care skills and competencies. METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed methods approach, integrating both a cross-sectional survey and individual interviews, was used to better understand caring professional students' online learning experiences with developing virtual care skills and competencies. RESULTS: A total of 93 survey and 9 interview participants were drawn from various faculties, including students from education, nursing, medicine, and allied health. These participants identified the barriers, facilitators, principles, and skills related to learning about and delivering virtual care, including teaching methods and educational technologies. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the growing body of educational research on virtual care skills by offering student insights and suggestions for improved teaching and learning strategies in caring professions' programs.

Observational Study of Conformity in Yet Another Medical Learning Environment: Conformity to Preceptors During High-Fidelity Simulation.

Purpose: Altering one's behavior to comply with inaccurate suggestions made by others (i.e., conformity) has been studied since the 1950s. Although several studies have documented its occurrence in medical education, it has yet to be examined in a high-fidelity simulation environment. It was hypothesized that a large majority of learners would conform to a preceptor. Patients and Methods: A total of 42 student dyads (a medical student paired with a resident) participated in one of four clinical scenarios to manage the diagnosis and treatment of a simulated patient encounter. Once the learners became familiar with the patient's case, a preceptor entered the simulation, offered an equivocal suggestion about diagnosis or management, and then left. Two raters observed the video recordings of how the learners managed the case after this suggestion was made. The nature of these interactions was also documented. Results: Sixteen (38.10%) of the 42 medical student dyads conformed to the equivocal information presented by the preceptors. Observations of these interactions showed that all of the medical students conformed to the residents, but not all of the medical students conformed to the preceptors. Conclusion: Many learners conform to preceptors by acting on their equivocal suggestion when managing a patient case during high-fidelity simulation.

The effect of simulation in improving students' performance in laparoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in using simulators for laparoscopic surgery training, and simulators have rapidly become an integral part of surgical education. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled studies that compared the use of different types of simulators. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed published randomized clinical trials that compared simulators versus standard apprenticeship surgical training of surgical trainees with little or no prior laparoscopic experience. Of the 551 relevant studies found, 17 trials fulfilled all inclusion criteria. The effect sizes (ES) with 95 % confidence intervals [CI] were calculated for multiple psychometric skill outcome measures. RESULTS: Data were combined by means of both fixed- and random-effects models. Meta-analytic combined effect size estimates showed that novice students who trained on simulators were superior in their performance and skill scores (d = 1.98, 95 % CI: 1.20-2.77; P < 0.01), were more careful in handling various body tissue (d = 1.08, 95 % CI: 0.36-1.80; P < 0.01), and had a higher accuracy score in conducting laparoscopic tasks (d = 1.38, 95 % CI: 0.30-2.47; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Simulators have been shown to provide better laparoscopic surgery skills training for trainees than the traditional standard apprenticeship approach to skill development. Surgical residency programs are highly encouraged to adopt the use of simulators in teaching laparoscopic surgery skills to novice students.

A systematic review of online education initiatives to develop students remote caring skills and practices.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has altered caring professions education and the range of technological competencies needed to thrive in today's digital economy. We aimed to identify the various technologies and design strategies being used to help students develop and translate professional caring competencies into remote working environments. Eight databases were systematically searched in February 2021 for relevant studies. Studies reporting on online learning strategies designed to prepare students to operate in emerging digital economies were included. Quality assessment was undertaken using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool and/or the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Thirty-eight studies were included and synthesized to report on course details, including technologies being used and design strategies, and study outcomes including curriculum, barriers and facilitators to technology integration, impact on students, and impact on professional practice. Demonstrations of remote care, videoconferencing, online modules, and remote consultation with patients were the most common instructional methods. Audio/video conferencing and online learning systems were the most prevalent technologies used to support student learning. Students reported increased comfort and confidence when working with technology and planning and providing remote care to patients. While a recent influx in research related to online learning and caring technologies was noted, study quality remains variable. More emphasis on assessment, training, and research is required to support students in using digital technologies and developing interpersonal and technological skills required to work in remote settings.

Patient-reported outcome measures in pediatric asthma care: using theoretical domains framework to explore healthcare providers' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) play an important role in promoting and supporting patient and family-centered care. Implementing interventions like PROMs in routine clinical care require key stakeholders to change their behavior. The aim of this study was to utilize the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify barriers and enablers to the implementation of PROMs in pediatric outpatient asthma clinics from healthcare providers' perspective. METHODS: This TDF-guided qualitative descriptive study is part of a larger multi-phase project to develop the KidsPRO program, an electronic platform to administer, collect, and use PROMs in pediatrics. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 participants, which included pediatricians, nurses, allied health professionals and administrative staff from outpatient asthma clinics. All the interviews were transcribed, deductively coded, inductively grouped in themes, and categorized into barriers and enablers. RESULTS: We identified 33 themes within 14 TDF domains, which were further categorized and tabulated into 16 barriers and 17 enablers to implementing PROMs in asthma clinics. Barriers to behavioral change were attributed to personal, clinical, non-clinical, and other system-level factors; they ranged from limited awareness of PROMs to language barriers and patient's complex family background. Enablers ranged from a personal commitment to providing patient and family-centered care to administering PROMs electronically. CONCLUSION: This implementation of science-based systematic inquiry captured the complexity of PROMs implementation in pediatric outpatient clinical care for asthma. Considering the consistency in barriers and enablers to implementing PROMs across patient populations and care settings, many findings of this study will be directly applicable to other pediatric healthcare settings.

A predictive validity study of medical judgment vignettes to assess students' noncognitive attributes: a 3-year prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The admissions interview still remains the most common approach used to describe candidates' noncognitive attributes for medical school. AIM: In this prospective study, we have investigated the predictive validity of a semi-structured interview for admissions to medical school based on medical judgment vignettes: (1) ethical decision-making (moral), (2) relationships with patients and their families (altruistic), and (3) roles and responsibilities in professional relationships (dutiful). METHOD: A group of 26 medical students from the Class of 2007 participated in the interview process and provided their subsequent performance results from clerkship 3 years later. RESULTS: Inter-rater reliability of the scored interviews was high (kappa = 0.96). Our results provided evidence for both convergent and divergent predictive validity. Medical judgment vignettes scores correlated significantly with seven mandatory clerkship rotation in-training evaluation reports (r = 0.39, p < 0.05; to r = 0.55, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This semi-structured interview based on clearly defined and scored medical judgment vignettes that focus on the assessment of medical students' noncognitive attributes is promising for student's selection into medical school. The high reliability and evidence of predictive validity of clinical performance over a 3-year period suggests a workable approach to the assessment of 'compelling personal characteristics' beyond merely cognitive variables.

Patient-Reported Experiences With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Patient Experience Survey-Inpatient Care is a validated measure for adult inpatient experience. Linking surveys with administrative data can examine the experience of patients in specific demographic or clinical groups. METHODS: We examined survey responses obtained over a 4-year period from patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve replacement in Alberta. The 56-question telephone survey was administered within 6 weeks of discharge. Surveys were linked with administrative records to identify the Canadian Classification of Intervention procedure codes, which were in scope. Responses to each question were reported as percentage in "top box," where "top box" represents the most positive answer choice (eg, "always" and "yes"). RESULTS: From April 2014 to March 2018, 1082 surveys were completed by patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve replacement. Respondents were predominantly male (73.8%), with a mean age of 64.7 ± 11.9 years. Overall, 73.3% of respondents rated their hospital care as 9 or 10 out of 10 (best), and 86.2% would "definitely recommend" the hospital to friends/family members. Top performing questions pertained to having a discussion about help needed after discharge (96.6% responding "yes") and receiving written discharge information (93.2% responding "yes"). Lack of quietness of the hospital environment at night (34.8% responding "always") and lack of staff sufficiently describing side effects of new medications (44.9% responding "always") were identified as potential areas for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide patient-reported experiences about inpatient cardiac care in Alberta hospitals. The findings could inform quality improvement initiatives that are patient-centred.

Psychosocial and career outcomes of peer mentorship in medical resident education: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Many medical residents lack ready access to social and emotional supports that enable them to successfully cope with the challenges associated with medical residency. This absence of support has been shown to lead to high levels of burnout, decreased mental wellbeing, and difficulty mastering professional competencies in this population. While there is emerging evidence that peer mentoring can be an important source of psychosocial and career-related support for many individuals, the extent of the evidence regarding the benefits of peer mentorship in medical residency education has not yet been established. We describe a protocol for a systematic review to assess the effects of peer mentoring on medical residents' mental wellbeing, social connectedness, and professional competencies. METHODS: Studies included in this review will be those that report on peer-mentoring relationships among medical residents. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies will be eligible for inclusion. No date or language limits will be applied. We will search EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Education Research Complete, and Academic Research Complete databases to identify relevant studies. Two authors will independently assess all abstracts and full-text studies for inclusion and study quality and extract study data in duplicate. DISCUSSION: This is the first systematic review to explicitly explore the role of peer mentoring in the context of medical residency education. We anticipate that the findings from this review will raise awareness of the benefits and challenges associated with peer-mentoring relationships, further the development and implementation of formal peer-mentoring programs for medical residents, and, through identifying gaps in the existing literature, inform future research efforts. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This protocol has not been registered in PROSPERO or any other publicly accessible registry.

The incidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis after elective hip arthroscopy: a prospective cohort study in low risk patients.

Prospectively assess the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) using Doppler Ultrasound, in patients receiving elective hip arthroscopy without pharmacologic/mechanical prophylaxis. One hundred and fifteen consecutive patients (mean 35.4 years, SD = 10.3) underwent elective hip arthroscopy. Patients with previous major risk factors for DVT were excluded. Signs/symptoms of DVT/pulmonary embolism were assessed at 2-week post-operatively. A bilateral whole leg Duplex color (Doppler) Ultrasonography was scheduled between 10- and 22-day post-op. The primary outcome was frequency of DVT. Secondary outcomes assessed surgical risk factors. One hundred and ten patients (mean = 34.3 years, SD = 10.1) did not get a DVT. Five patients (mean = 43.8 years, SD = 12.1) were diagnosed with a DVT, 2- to 22-day post-operatively. All DVT patients received arthroscopy in the supine position (n = 76), versus no patients in the lateral position (n = 39). Average traction time was 38 (SD = 4) and 61 (SD = 4) minutes for patients with and without a DVT, respectively. All other a priori defined risk factors were similar. Four out of five patients presented with symptoms of a DVT, confirmed by ultrasound. One patient was without symptoms/clinical findings. Four patients had a DVT restricted to the calf veins; one patient had involvement of the popliteal vein. No patients had proximal extension into the thigh or pelvis. No pulmonary emboli were suspected or occurred. The incidence of deep venous thromboembolism is 4.3%. The majority of patients had symptomatic and distal venous thromboembolic events. This study provides supportive evidence that routine prophylaxis and/or screening may not be necessary in low risk patients undergoing elective hip arthroscopy.

Systematic review of the quality of economic evaluations in the otolaryngology literature.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of economic evaluations published in the otolaryngology--head and neck surgery literature, which will identify methodologic weaknesses that can be improved on in future studies. A secondary objective is to identify factors that may be associated with higher quality economic evaluations. DATA SOURCES: Ovid Medline (including PubMed), Embase, and the National Health Services Economic Evaluation databases. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic search was performed of the aforementioned databases according to PRISMA guidelines. The search was performed using otolaryngology key terms combined with the term cost. A manual search of 36 otolaryngology journals was also performed. Included studies were graded using the Quality of Health Economics Studies instrument, a 16-item checklist providing a total quality score of 100. RESULTS: Fifty studies were identified, and the mean quality rating was 54.7/100 (SD = 30.9). The most commonly omitted methodology components were a lack of discussion of limitations and biases, failure to address the negative outcomes of examined interventions, and a lack of a robust sensitivity analysis. Higher quality economic evaluations were associated with a higher journal impact factor (correlation coefficient r = 0.62, P = .0001), having an author with a PhD in health economics (r = 0.56, P = .0001), and having authors who have published prior economic evaluations (r = 0.46, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Results from this study have demonstrated that there are several methodological domains that can be improved on when publishing economic evaluations in the otolaryngology literature. Authors should follow recommended methodological and reporting guidelines to optimize the transparency and accuracy of the overall conclusions.

Diagnosis of occult scaphoid fractures: a randomized, controlled trial comparing bone scans to radiographs for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with suspected scaphoid fractures but negative radiographs are immobilized for ≥ 2 weeks and are eventually found to have no fracture. Bone scans are reportedly 99% sensitive for these injuries if done ≥ 72 hours postinjury. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if early bone scans would allow for shorter cast immobilization periods in patients with suspected scaphoid fractures. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with clinically suspected scaphoid fractures and negative radiographs were randomized to early diagnosis (bone scan within 3-5 days; n  =  12) or traditional diagnosis (radiographs 10-14 days postinjury; n  =  15). The primary outcome was number of days immobilized in a cast. RESULTS: The mean number of days immobilized was 26 in the traditional group and 29 in the bone scan group. Overall, 6 patients had scaphoid fractures (2 in the traditional diagnosis group and 4 in the bone scan group; p > 0.05), and 8 had other types of fractures. These other types of fractures included four distal radius fractures, two triquetral fractures, one trapezoid fracture, and one hamate fracture. There was no significant difference in the number of other types of fractures between groups. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using the log-rank test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between days immobilized between the radiograph and bone scan groups (p  =  0.38). CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that the use of bone scans to help diagnose occult scaphoid fractures does not reduce the number of days immobilized and that the differential diagnosis of occult scaphoid fractures should remain broad because other injuries are common.

Chinook wind barosinusitis: an anatomic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Chinook, or föhn, is a weather phenomenon characterized by a rapid influx of warm, high-pressured winds into a specific location. Pressure changes associated with chinook winds induce facial pain similar to acute sinusitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sinonasal anatomy and chinook headaches. METHODS: Retrospective computed tomography (CT) sinonasal anatomy analysis of 38 patients with chinook headaches and 27 controls (no chinook headaches). The chinook headache status was blinded from the CT reviewer. Forty-one sinonasal anatomy variants, Lund-Mackay status, and sinus size (cm(3)) were recorded. RESULTS: There were three statistically significant sinonasal anatomy differences between patients with and without chinook headaches. The presence of a concha bullosa and sphenoethmoidal cell (Onodi cell) appeared to predispose to chinook headaches (p = 0.004). Chinook headache patients had larger maxillary sinus size (right, p = 0.015, and left, p = 0.002). The Lund-Mackay score was higher in the control patients (p = 0.003) indicating that chronic sinusitis does not play a role in chinook headaches. CONCLUSION: Chinook winds are a common source of facial pain and pressure. This is the first study to show that sinonasal anatomic variations may be a predisposing factor. Anatomic variants may induce facial pain by blocking the natural sinus ostia, thus preventing adequate pressure equilibrium.