A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Pediatric Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Cases and Racial Disparities From the 2016 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence, treatment, and outcomes of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) and associated racial disparities have been described in adults, but research in the pediatric population is limited. The purpose of this study is to provide a nationally representative characterization of pediatric NSTI and determine the presence of any racial disparities. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was analyzed from 2016 through 2020. Patients aged less than 20 y with a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier's gangrene, or gas gangrene (based on International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes) were included for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 355 patients were identified. Black and Hispanic patients accounted for the most admissions in 2016 and 2018, respectively (P = 0.024). Compared to White patients, more Black patients were insured by Medicaid (P = 0.037) and were in the first zip code-based income quartile (P = 0.005). The leading infection overall was necrotizing fasciitis and most patients (81.7%) underwent a surgical procedure by the first calendar day after admission. Although the proportion of Black patients undergoing subcutaneous tissue and fascia excisions was more than that of White patients (P = 0.005), there were no significant differences by race in the time to first procedure, the total number of procedures, or number of postoperative complications. Our amputation and mortality rates were low and unreportable, but there were no differences by race. CONCLUSIONS: NSTI is rare in the pediatric population and mortality is low. Black patients are disproportionately diagnosed, but these disparities do not extend to disease treatment or outcomes.

Direct oral anticoagulant therapy in adolescent venous thromboembolism: A systematic review.

Adolescent venous thromboembolism (VTE) has unique challenges in management, complications, and compliance to anticoagulants. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been approved for pediatric VTE management, with an increasing use especially in adolescents. Primary objective is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DOAC therapy in adolescent VTE. Secondary objectives include adverse events, bleeding events, and overall mortality. A SR protocol was registered in PROSPERO 2022 (CRD42022363928). Databases were searched from inception to September 22, 2022. Studies with children aged 10-18 years, VTE diagnosis, DOAC therapy, randomized control trials (RCTs), cohort, and relevant study types were included. Studies including prophylaxis, non-DOAC therapy, arterial thrombosis, age outliers, non-relevant study types were excluded. Findings are reported in accordance to PRISMA 2020. Nine reports from five studies, published between 2016 and 2022, were included. Rivaroxaban was the most common DOAC. VTE recurrence was 0.02% in the rivaroxaban phase III trial and one patient in the dabigatran phase IIb/III trial. Complete/partial thrombus resolution (CR/PR) was 76.6% in the rivaroxaban phase III trial, and 83.9% in the dabigatran phase IIb/III trial. CR/PR was found to be 68.4% in Dhaliwal et al. study and 83.3% in Hassan et al. study. Major bleeding occurred in one patient. Headache and gastrointestinal symptoms were commonly seen. All-cause mortality occurred in a patient due to cancer progression. DOAC therapy in adolescent VTE had CR/PR in two-thirds of the patients, with low incidence of VTE recurrence and major bleeding. As there are only two randomized controlled trial (RCTs), future adolescents' studies are required to validate our results.

The SAGES MASTERS program bariatric surgery pathway selects 10 seminal publications on adjustable gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is one of the clinical pathways of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Masters Program, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is one of the three anchoring bariatric procedures. To improve surgeon lifelong learning, the Masters Program seeks to identify sentinel articles of each of the 3 bariatric anchoring procedures. In this article, we present the top 10 articles on LAGB. METHODS: A systematic literature search of papers on LAGB was completed, and publications with the most citations and citation index were selected and shared with SAGES Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Committee members for review. The individual committee members then ranked these papers, and the top 10 papers were chosen based on the composite ranking. RESULTS: The top 10 sentinel publications on LAGB contributed substantially to the body of literature related to the procedure, whether for surgical technique, novel information, or outcome analysis. A summary of each paper including expert appraisal and commentary is presented here. CONCLUSION: These seminal articles have had significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the LAGB procedure. Bariatric surgeons should use this resource to enhance their continual education and acquisition of specialized skills.

Improving clinician agreement and comfort through the development of a pediatric behavioral health huddle tool.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized pediatric patients with behavioral health (BH) diagnoses awaiting transfer can exhibit behaviors that may lead to workplace violence such as aggression. Workplace violence can lead to discomfort in caring for these patients. Huddles can be used as a tool to identify potential for violence, to help address workplace violence, and improve clinician situational awareness. METHODS: Utilizing QI methodology, a BH specific huddle tool was created and implemented on an Acute Care floor that identified key components such as triggers and behavioral stability. Mixed methods were used to study the intervention including focus groups, surveys and measurement of agreement (surrogate for situational awareness). The aims of this quality improvement (QI) project were to 1) improve situational awareness by increasing agreement between team members 2) improve the overall comfort of the clinical team caring for BH patients by 10%. RESULTS: Agreement between clinicians on patient stability increased by 20%. Comfort in caring for BH patients increased by 4%. Providers reported the tool increased their understanding (89%) and communication (81%) regarding plan of care. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: Standardized huddle tool can be utilized to increase situational awareness among team members caring for patients with behavioral health diagnoses and may help to address workplace violence.

Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults experiencing homelessness and unstable housing: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) experience more stressors compared to housed peers, yet little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these youth. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how YAEH perceived the pandemic's impact on their well-being and coping. METHODS: YAEH were recruited from those participating in an HIV prevention study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysis was guided by Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping. RESULTS: Four major themes were identified from interviews with 40 youth: (1) ongoing harms, (2) COVID-19 as a stressor, (3) mental health impacts, and (4) coping strategies. Participants described unmet basic needs, emotions of frustration and anxiety, and several coping strategies including substance use. CONCLUSION: Many YAEH reported experiencing continued challenges that were compounded by the stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special considerations are needed to address pandemic-related exacerbations of mental health symptoms and substance use among YAEH.

Physical activity interventions for cancer-related fatigue: A scoping review of randomized controlled trials from a Nursing Science Precision Health Model perspective.

BACKGROUND: The Nursing Science Precision Health (NSPH) Model has the potential to guide research on the development, testing, and targeting of interventions. PURPOSE: This scoping review examines the relationship between physical activity (PA) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) within the context of the NSPH Model. METHODS: The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guided this review. We included randomized controlled trials in people with cancer that investigated PA interventions and measured change in CRF as an outcome. DISCUSSION: A total of 181 studies met the eligibility criteria. Over 20 different instruments were used to measure CRF. The most common PA interventions were strength training (48%), walking (36%), cycling (26%), and yoga (15%). A limited number of studies reported phenotypic characteristics (32/181, 17%) or biomarkers (31/181, 17%) associated with CRF. CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified the body of existing research exploring CRF and PA from a precision health perspective.

A guide to using technological applications to facilitate systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: A systematic review (SR) synthesizes evidence in a reproducible way and informs evidence-based decision-making. SRs are time-intensive, particularly with respect to staying organized, maintaining records, and managing different phases of the process. Although there are numerous methodological guides to lead researchers in the approach to SRs to minimize bias and enhance rigor, there is less focus on technological approaches that can make the SR process easier for researchers. AIM: To guide researchers through the currently available technological applications that can assist with the SR process and synthesis of scientific literature. METHODOLOGY: Key ways that technological applications can facilitate the SR process are examined. RESULTS: Specific applications are discussed and stratified by their support of one or multiple phases of the systematic review process. Key features, strengths, and limitations are provided for technological applications that support the SR process. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: This paper guides researchers in different ways technology can support SRs. Through use of these applications, the researcher can complete SRs in a timely manner and manage the process effectively.

Patch monitors for arrhythmia monitoring in patients for suspected inherited arrhythmia syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing evaluation for an inherited arrhythmia syndrome undertake a series of ambulatory investigations including 24-h Holter monitor, exercise treadmill testing (ETT), and others. Patch monitors may simplify the evaluation, providing accurate arrhythmia evaluation and QT assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients referred for evaluation of an inherited arrhythmia syndrome underwent standard investigations, including 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), 24-h Holter monitoring, ETT, along with supplemental monitoring using a 7-day ECG patch monitor. Heart rates (HR), corrected QT intervals (QTc), and ectopic burden were compared across monitoring modalities. Among 35 patients that wore the patch monitor, the median age was 39 years (54% male). There was intermediate correlation between resting HR across modalities (r = .58-.66) and poor correlation of peak HR (r = .27-.39). There was intermediate correlation between resting QTc intervals across modalities (r = .72-.77) but negligible correlation between QTc intervals at peak HR across modalities (r = -.01 to -.06). There was good correlation in PAC and PVC ectopic burden across the Holter and patch monitor. CONCLUSION: Patch monitors may simplify the evaluation of patients for an inherited arrhythmia syndrome and provide resting QT assessment over time. However, QTc interval comparison at peak HRs remains variable, and may be limited by the single-lead ECG vector when using the patch monitor. Apart from QTc intervals at peak HR, patch monitors demonstrated good correlation with the ECG and Holter monitor for other parameters.

Differential calcium sensitivity in NaV 1.5 mixed syndrome mutants.

KEY POINTS: SCN5a mutations may express gain-of-function (Long QT Syndrome-3), loss-of-function (Brugada Syndrome 1) or both (mixed syndromes), depending on the mutation and environmental triggers. One such trigger may be an increase in cytosolic calcium, accompanying exercise. Many mixed syndromes mutants, including ∆KPQ, E1784K, 1795insD and Q1909R, are found in calcium-sensitive regions. Elevated cytosolic calcium attenuates gain-of-function properties in ∆KPQ, 1795insD and Q1909R, but not in E1784K. By contrast, elevated cytosolic calcium further exacerbates gain-of-function in E1784K by destabilizing slow inactivation. Action potential modelling, using a modified O'Hara Rudy model, suggests that elevated heart rate rescues action potential duration in ∆KPQ, 1795insD and Q1909R, but not in E1784K. Action potential simulations suggest that E1784K carriers have an increased intracellular sodium-to-calcium ratio under bradycardia and tachycardia conditions. Elevated cytosolic calcium, which is common during high heart rates, ameliorates or exacerbates the mixed syndrome phenotype depending on the genetic signature. ABSTRACT: Inherited arrhythmias may arise from mutations in the gene for SCN5a, which encodes the cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel, NaV 1.5. Mutants in NaV 1.5 result in Brugada Syndrome (BrS1), Long-QT Syndrome (LQT3) or mixed syndromes (an overlap of BrS1/LQT3). Exercise is a potential arrhythmogenic trigger in mixed syndromes. We aimed to determine the effects of elevated cytosolic calcium, which is common during exercise, in mixed syndrome NaV 1.5 mutants. We used whole-cell patch clamp to assess the biophysical properties of NaV 1.5 wild-type (WT), ∆KPQ, E1784K, 1795insD and Q1909R mutants in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transiently transfected with the NaV 1.5 α subunit (WT or mutants), ß1 subunit and enhanced green fluorescent protein. Voltage-dependence and kinetics were measured at cytosolic calcium levels of approximately 0, 500 and 2500 nm. In silico, action potential (AP) model simulations were performed using a modified O'Hara Rudy model. Elevated cytosolic calcium attenuates the late sodium current in ∆KPQ, 1795insD and Q1909R, but not in E1784K. Elevated cytosolic calcium restores steady-state slow inactivation (SSSI) to the WT-form in Q1909R, but depolarized SSSI in E1784K. Our AP simulations showed a frequency-dependent reduction of AP duration in ∆KPQ, 1795insD and Q1909R carriers. In E1784K, AP duration is relatively prolonged at both low and high heart rates, resulting in a sodium overload. Cellular perturbations during exercise may affect BrS1/LQT3 patients differently depending on their individual genetic signature. Thus, exercise may be therapeutic or may be an arrhythmogenic trigger in some SCN5a patients.

Characterization of Myocardial Repolarization Reserve in Adolescent Females With Anorexia Nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Patients with anorexia nervosa exhibit abnormal myocardial repolarization and are susceptible to sudden cardiac death. Exercise testing is useful in unmasking QT prolongation in disorders associated with abnormal repolarization. We characterized QT adaptation during exercise in anorexia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-one adolescent female patients with anorexia nervosa and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers performed symptom-limited cycle ergometry during 12-lead ECG monitoring. Changes in the QT interval during exercise were measured, and QT/RR-interval slopes were determined by using mixed-effects regression modeling. Patients had significantly lower body mass index than controls; however, resting heart rates and QT/QTc intervals were similar at baseline. Patients had shorter exercise times (13.7±4.5 versus 20.6±4.5 minutes; P<0.001) and lower peak heart rates (159±20 versus 184±9 beats/min; P<0.001). The mean QTc intervals were longer at peak exercise in patients (442±29 versus 422±19 ms; P<0.001). During submaximal exertion at comparable heart rates (114±6 versus 115±11 beats/min; P=0.54), the QTc interval had prolonged significantly more in patients than controls (37±28 versus 24±25 ms; P<0.016). The RR/QT slope, best described by a curvilinear relationship, was more gradual in patients than in controls (13.4; 95% confidence interval, 12.8-13.9 versus 15.8; 95% confidence interval, 15.3-16.4 ms QT change per 10% change in RR interval; P<0.001) and steepest in patients within the highest body mass index tertile versus the lowest (13.9; 95% confidence interval, 12.9-14.9 versus 12.3; 95% confidence interval, 11.3-13.3; P=0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the absence of manifest QT prolongation, adolescent anorexic females have impaired repolarization reserve in comparison with healthy controls. Further study may identify impaired QT dynamics as a risk factor for arrhythmias in anorexia nervosa.

Health information management and physiotherapy faculty collaboration to discover the use of health informatics hiding in plain sight in an entry-level DPT program.

Background: Many educational disciplines, especially in health professions, are required by accrediting bodies to introduce or include health informatics (HI); however, faculty (academics) teaching this content may not be well prepared. Objective: The aim of this project was to explore how a doctoral physical therapy (DPT) program could more accurately represent compliance with HI accreditation requirements by identifying hidden instances of relevant content within the curriculum. Method: This exploratory, mixed methods, action research study utilised document review, questionnaires and interviews in the collection of quantitative and qualitative data to enable assessment of knowledge about HI, to determine if HI content was already incorporated in current courses, and, whether the content was accurately reflected in course student learning objectives (SLOs). Change in faculty understanding of HI as a result of this study was also assessed. Results: Of 16 DPT faculty, 13 participated in the pre-interview questionnaire; 8 (50%) representing 22/39 courses participated in the full study. Most were unfamiliar with HI and had unrecognised HI already incorporated in their courses leading to several SLO revisions and additions. Interview and post-interview questionnaire results documented significant increases in HI understanding among faculty. Conclusion: Physical therapy and HIM collaboration was successful in identifying HI content hiding in plain sight. Results revealed multiple instances of unrecognised HI content across the DPT curriculum. Revised and newly added SLOs, with others likely to follow due to this study, will assist faculty with future reaccreditation and in preparing graduates to more fully utilise HI in today's digital healthcare environments.

Using Photovoice to Stimulate Reflection and Collaboration in Health Professions Students Through an Interprofessional Education Activity.

OBJECTIVE: Today's healthcare system requires interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) to improve health outcomes. IPCP often begins with interprofessional education (IPE), which should stimulate meaningful idea exchange. This study's purpose was to assess the impact of a photovoice-based IPE experience on the attitudes and beliefs of students in two health professions programs. METHODS: Forty-two Doctor of Physical Therapy students and 13 Radiation Therapy students created photovoice slides representing the most significant "thing" in their professional education. Students discussed their slides in small groups followed by a large-group discussion. A pretest-posttest survey containing researcher-generated questions and the Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education-Revised (SPICE-R2) and a post-activity evaluation were administered. RESULTS: Forty-two students completed the pretest survey; 35 completed the posttest survey. A statistically significant difference was found between pretest (M=4.07, SD=0.91) and posttest (M=4.45, SD=0.70) SPICE-R2 total scores, t(928)=7.22, p<0.001. Statistically significant differences were found for all SPICE-R2 factor scores. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: 1) students learned about the other profession, 2) the IPE experience was meaningful, and 3) the IPE experience could be improved. CONCLUSIONS: The photovoice IPE experience stimulated student reflection, interprofessional collaboration, and new perceptions about the other health profession. Future studies should focus on similar activities offered earlier in the education program.

The Degree of Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Is Associated with Risk of Postoperative Complications in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and impact of hypoalbuminemia in bariatric surgery patients is poorly characterized. We describe its distribution in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients undergoing primary or revision surgeries and assess its impact on postoperative complications. METHODS: The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program Database (2015 to 2021) was analyzed. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as Severe (< 3 g/dL), Moderate (3 ≤ 3.5 g/dL), Mild (3.5 ≤ 4 g/dL), or Normal (≥ 4 g/dL). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios of postoperative complications compared to those with Normal albumin after controlling for procedure, age, gender, race, body mass index, functional status, American Society of Anesthesia class, and operative length. RESULTS: A total of 817,310 patients undergoing Primary surgery and 69,938 patients undergoing Revision/Conversion ("Revision") surgery were analyzed. The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia was as follows (Primary, Revision): Severe, 0.3%, 0.6%; Moderate, 5.2%, 6.5%; Mild, 28.3%, 31.4%; Normal, 66.2%, 61.4%. Primary and Revision patients with hypoalbuminemia had a significantly higher prevalence (p < 0.01) of several co-morbidities, including hypertension and insulin-dependent diabetes. Any degree of hypoalbuminemia increased the odds ratio of several complications in Primary and Revision patients, including readmission, intervention, and reoperation. In Primary patients, all levels of hypoalbuminemia also increased the odds ratio of unplanned intubation, intensive care unit admission, and venous thromboembolism requiring therapy. CONCLUSION: Over 30% of patients present with hypoalbuminemia. Even mild hypoalbuminemia was associated with an increased rate of several complications including readmission, intervention, and reoperation. Ensuring nutritional optimization, especially prior to revision surgery, may improve outcomes in this challenging population.

Weight Nadir and Long-Term Weight Outcomes After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Diverse Cohort of Adolescents and Young Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is currently the most common bariatric procedure performed in adolescents and young adults in the United States (USA), but there are limited data available on long-term postoperative weight outcomes in these patients. This single-institution US study follows longitudinal weight data in a diverse group of patients undergoing LSG at age 25 years or younger. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients 25 years or younger who underwent LSG at our institution between 2013 and 2020. All weight data documented in the medical record through January 2023 was included. We calculated weight change postoperatively as percent total weight loss (%TWL) relative to preoperative weight. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one patients underwent LSG, at a mean age of 23.1 years. Within this cohort, 56.1% identified as non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, and 39.7% had private health insurance. The mean %TWL at weight nadir was 28.5% at a mean of 1.35 years postoperatively. The mean long-term %TWL (in patients with ≥ 4 years of follow-up) was 11.8% at a mean of 5.6 years postoperatively, with 43 of the 84 patients with long-term weight data (51%) within 10% of their preoperative weight at most recent follow-up. CONCLUSION: Adolescents and young adults undergoing LSG at our institution had weight nadir comparable to published results during the first 1 to 2 years postoperatively, but the majority developed significant weight recurrence over the ensuing years. Our findings highlight the need for adjuvant weight loss strategies to improve the durability of weight outcomes after LSG in this population.

Outcomes of SADI and OAGB Compared to RYGB from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program: The North American Experience.

BACKGROUND: Rapid adoption of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in the last decade aptly reflects the desire of patients and surgeons for alternatives to RYGB and DS. While SG provides good outcomes, other options that address specific patient needs are warranted. Recently approved by ASMBS, SADI, and OAGB have garnered increasing interest due to their single anastomosis technique. METHODS: Using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program database, we examined laparoscopic and robotic cases from 2018 to 2021 to understand the percentage of primary bariatric surgery cases that are SADI and OAGB. We used coarsened exact matching to match patients who underwent SADI or OAGB to patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). We examined outcomes of matched patients using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 667,979 patients that underwent bariatric-metabolic surgery, 1326 (0.2%) underwent SADI, and 2541 (0.4%) underwent OAGB. SADI was not identified in the database until 2020. In 2020, there were 487 SADI procedures compared to 839 in 2021. From 2018 to 2021, OAGBs went from 149 to 940. Compared with RYGB, SADI was associated with higher rates of anastomotic or staple line leak (OR 2.21 (95% CI 1.08-4.53)) and sepsis (OR 3.62 (95% CI 1.62-8.12)). Compared with RYGB, OAGB was associated with lower rates of gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 0.29 (95% CI 0.12-0.71)) and bowel obstruction (OR 0.10 (95% CI 0.02-0.39)). Of note, there were no differences between these procedures and RYGB for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: More SADIs and OAGBs are being performed. However, there were higher complication rates associated with the SADI procedure. Further studies will be needed to better understand the key drivers for these outcomes.

Perioperative risk factors for 30-day mortality after bariatric surgery: is functional status important?

BACKGROUND: Although the mortality from bariatric surgery is low, perioperative determinants of morbidity and mortality in the bariatric surgery population to date have not been fully defined. This study aimed to evaluate the factors capable of predicting perioperative mortality based on preoperative characteristics with a national patient sample. METHODS: From the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database, all the primary bariatric procedures performed between 2007 and 2009 were identified. Using univariate analysis, factors associated with increased perioperative (30-day) mortality were identified. Logistic regression was used to select correlates of 30-day mortality, which were subsequently integrated into a simplified clinical scoring system based on the number of comorbid risk factors. RESULTS: The study identified 44,408 patients (79 % women, 21 % men) with a mean age of 45 ± 11 years. The cumulative 30-day perioperative mortality rate was 0.14 %. The majority of the procedures performed included laparoscopic gastric bypass (54 %) followed by laparoscopic gastric banding (33 %) and open gastric bypass (7 %). Independent predictors associated with significantly increased mortality included age >45 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.45], male gender (AOR = 1.77), a body mass index (BMI) of 50 kg/m(2) or higher (AOR, 2.48), open bariatric procedures (AOR, 2.34), diabetes (AOR, 2.88), functional status of total dependency before surgery (AOR, 27.6), prior coronary intervention (AOR, 2.66), dyspnea at preoperative evaluation (AOR, 4.64), more than 10 % unintentional weight loss in 6 months (AOR, 13.5), and bleeding disorder (AOR, 2.63). Ethnicity, hypertension, alcohol abuse, liver disease, and smoking had no significant association with mortality in this study. Risk stratification based on the number of preoperative comorbid factors showed an exponential increase in mortality as follows: 0-1 comorbidities (0.03 %), 2-3 comorbidities (0.16 %), and 4 comorbidities or more (7.4 %). CONCLUSION: This model provides a straightforward, precise, and easily applicable tool for identifying bariatric patients at low, intermediate, and high risk for in-hospital mortality. Notably, baseline functional status before surgery is the single most powerful predictor of perioperative survival and should be incorporated into risk stratification models.

Analysis of Student Use of Textbooks in an Entry-Level Physical Therapist Program.

As costs of higher education continue to rise, textbook pur¬chase is an area in which students have control over spending. The purposes of this project were to: 1) describe textbook use among current students and recent graduates in one physical therapist program, and 2) determine how this information might be utilized in addressing faculty textbook decisions in entry-level education. Electronic surveys were sent to 83 students and 229 graduates of a Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Texas. Ten faculty completed an 8-question paper survey about factors considered in requiring a textbook. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and chi-square test for independence. Thirty-two students, 28 graduates, and 7 faculty responded. A total of 23 textbooks were required during the curriculum. Only 6 of 23 required texts were reported as "useful" by students. Graduates identified 3 texts as "useful" during early clinical practice. Six faculty required textbooks for classes; 4 indicated texts were "necessary" for student success. Students purchased a small percentage of required textbooks and maintained a high level of success. Results indicate that faculty are providing the required content. Faculty should carefully consider their instructional delivery when making decisions about if required textbooks are truly required for success.

Psychosocial Measures and Outcomes Among Caregivers of Children With Tracheostomies: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Children with tracheostomies have complex medical issues that require long-term technology dependence and continuous medical care at home. Parents of tracheostomy-dependent children often assume the majority of their child's home care leading to a shift in family dynamics and a decrease in caregiver quality of life. This systematic review sought to identify instruments to measure caregiver psychosocial outcomes after their child's tracheostomy and report on the findings. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed using Medline, CINAHL, and EMBASE. REVIEW METHODS: Studies that evaluated psychosocial outcomes in caregivers of tracheostomy-dependent children were included. RESULTS: We screened a total of 1286 nonduplicate records to include a total of 12 studies assessing the psychosocial outcomes of parents of tracheostomy-dependent children. Fourteen instruments were identified. Caregivers reported lower quality of life when compared to other chronic caregiver groups. They experienced high degrees of stress, struggled to cope individually and as a family unit, and experienced decision regret and conflict. CONCLUSION: Findings from this review suggest a significant impact on caregiver psychosocial well-being, but few quantitative studies investigated this dynamic with measures validated in this caregiver population. This review demonstrates the need for longitudinal studies using validated tools to assess the long-term impacts and outcomes of caregivers of the tracheostomy-dependent child.

Qualitative Study of Barriers and Facilitators to Care Among Children in Immigrant Families.

OBJECTIVES: Children in immigrant families comprise ∼25% of US children and live in families with high levels of poverty and food insecurity. Studies suggest a decline in public benefit enrollment among children in immigrant families. We aimed to explore perspectives on barriers and facilitators in accessing care among immigrant caregivers of hospitalized children. METHODS: With a general qualitative descriptive design, we developed a semistructured interview guide using an iterative process informed by literature and content expertise. Using purposive sampling, we recruited immigrant caregivers of hospitalized children in March 2020 and conducted interviews in English or Spanish. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated to English. Three authors coded transcripts using Dedoose and identified themes via thematic analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of 12 caregiver interviews revealed barriers and facilitators in accessing healthcare and public benefit use. Barriers included healthcare system barriers, immigration-related fear, and racism and discrimination. Within healthcare system barriers, subthemes included language barriers, cost, complexity of resource application, and lack of guidance on available benefits. Within immigration-related fear, subthemes included fear of familial separation, fear of deportation, fear that benefit use affects immigration status, and provider distrust. Healthcare system facilitators of resource use included recruiting diverse workforces, utilizing language interpretation, guidance on benefit enrollment, legal services, and mental health services. Participants also recommended hospital partnership with trusted information sources, including media stations and low-cost clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant caregivers of hospitalized children identified barriers and facilitators in access to care. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of caregiver-suggested interventions.