Outcomes Following Implementation of an Electronic Model for Perioperative Hematologic Consultation.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic consultations (e-consults) for periprocedural hematologic questions were introduced at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in 2011. We sought to explore the relationship between the availability of e-consults, referral patterns, and surgical outcomes. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study of all perioperative hematologic consultations from 2006 to 2018 was conducted. Patient characteristics, indications, and outcomes were analyzed. Primary outcome measures were time from consult to surgery and operative morbidity via Clavien-Dindo classification. Secondary outcomes included consult volume and procedural outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of 357 consultations, 62% were conducted via e-consults. 68.3% had associated procedural data and constituted the study cohort. Annual consult volume increased from 7 in 2006 to 41 in 2018, a 5.8-fold increase. E-consults comprised 20% of consults in 2011 but had risen to 92.3% in 2018. Time to resolution of e-consults after 2011 improved compared to pre-face-to-face (FTF-pre, P = 0.001) and FTF-post (P = 0.002). Time from consult to surgery remained unchanged. 8.4% had major complications (Clavien-Dindo >2) with readmission or reoperation occurring in 4.0% and 3.7%, respectively. Intraoperative and postoperative transfusions were required in 15.2% and 13.1% of cases, respectively. Hematologic complications (i.e., deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism) occurred in 3.5%. Comparison between FTF and e-consults revealed no significant differences in these outcomes (P > 0.05, all). CONCLUSIONS: E-consults for perioperative hematologic issues were rapidly adopted and addressed more quickly than FTF consultation while time to surgery was unchanged despite increased consult volume. Adoption of the e-consult model was not associated with changes in the assessed operative outcomes.

Complexity of patients with or without infectious disease consultation in tertiary-care hospitals in Germany.

PURPOSE: Patients seen by infectious disease (ID) specialists are more complex compared to patients treated by other subspecialities according to Tonelli et al. (2018). However, larger studies on the complexity of patients related to the involvement of ID consultation services are missing. METHODS: Data of patients being treated in 2015 and 2019 in four different German university hospitals was retrospectively collected. Data were collected from the hospitals' software system and included whether the patients received an ID consultation as well as patient clinical complexity level (PCCL), case mix index (CMI) and length of stay (LOS) as a measurement for the patients' complexity. Furthermore, a comparison of patients with distinct infectious diseases treated with or without an ID consultation was initiated. RESULTS: In total, 215.915 patients were included in the study, 3% (n = 6311) of those were seen by an ID consultant. Patients receiving ID consultations had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher PCCL (median 4 vs. 0), CMI (median 3,8 vs. 1,1) and deviation of the expected mean LOS (median 7 days vs. 0 days) than patients in the control group. No differences among hospitals or between years were observed. Comparing patients with distinct infectious diseases treated with or without an ID consultation, the differences were confirmed throughout the groups. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving ID consultations are highly complex, frequently need further treatment after discharge and have a high economic impact. Thus, ID specialists should be clinically trained in a broad spectrum of diseases and treating these complex patients should be sufficiently remunerated.

Child participation during outpatient consultations: a mixed methods study.

Although children wish to be included in their own healthcare, they recognize a gap between their right to be heard and their ability to become involved. Despite adaptation of medical consultation styles which suit a more patient-centered approach, data on the current state of child participation in clinical encounters are missing. We aimed to assess actual child participation in a Dutch pediatric clinic. Children aged 4-18 years visiting a pediatric outpatient clinic for consultation after general practitioner's referral were included. Sixteen consultations of six pediatricians were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Quantitative measurement included word count and speech turn; conversation analysis with qualitative appraisal provided data on participatory behavior. Quantitative child participation equaled parent participation in turns (28% vs 29%, respectively), but remained limited in words (relative contribution 11% for child, 23% for parent and 66% for pediatrician). Children spoke on average six words per speech turn. Child age correlated positively with participation in words (p = 0.022, r = 0.566) and turns (p = < 0.001, r = 0.746). Children were mostly involved during social history taking, introduction, and physical examination but did not actively speak during the decision-making process. Children took an active role by instigating talks. Qualitative facilitators included appropriate language and verbal or non-verbal child allocated turns. Adults involved children by asking them questions and verifying their opinions or plans with the child. Teenagers participated most during the entire consultation, while younger children were more likely to lose their focus by the end of the conversation. CONCLUSION: Despite increased turn taking, children's verbal participation remains low in pediatric consultations. If pediatricians and parents maintain a triadic conversation style throughout every stage of the medical encounter, child participation may increase. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Verbal child participation varies between 4 and 17%, measured in turns, words, speech time, or utterances. • Child participation is limited to social talk, laughter, and providing medical information. WHAT IS NEW: • Child speech turns equal parental speech turns (28%), but average relative word count remains low (11%). • Three percent of the children's turns are defined a "contributing in decision making, giving their opinion or give consent," which equals three turns per consultation.

Determinants of pregnant women's satisfaction with interactions with health providers at antenatal consultation in primary health care in Southern Mozambique in 2021: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The Ministry of Health of Mozambique (MISAU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend enhancing pregnant women's satisfaction with health care services in order to advance maternal and child health. This study aims to assess the levels and determinants of pregnant women's satisfaction regarding their interactions with antenatal care (ANC) providers, the services of which were provided at the primary health care level in southern Mozambique. METHODOLOGY: We conducted an observational, quantitative, and cross-sectional study from November 4 to December 10, 2021. A structured questionnaire was administered to pregnant women who attended ANC during that period. The characteristics of the participants were illustrated using descriptive statistics; to analyse pregnant women's satisfaction determinants, we estimated crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using logistic regression models. All analyses were performed in SPSS version 24 using a 5% significance level. RESULTS: We selected 951 pregnant women with a mean age of 25 years old; 14% attained a secondary educational level, 36% were married or living in a marital relationship, and 85.9% reported being satisfied with their current ANC. Factors that reduced the odds of being satisfied were the following: an "insufficient" ANC duration (AOR = 0.173; 95% CI: 0.079, 0.381); inadequate ANC waiting area (AOR = 0.479; 95% CI: 0.265, 0.863); women's perception about the existing norm of nonattendance in case of late arrival to the ANC (AOR = 0.528; 95% CI 0.292, 0.954); the perception of the existing norm that women are obliged to give birth in same health facility where ANC occurred (AOR = 0.481; 95% CI: 0.273, 0.846); and the perception that delivered ANC is not important for foetal health (AOR = 0.030; 95% CI:0.014, 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the pregnant women mentioned being satisfied with the ANC they received. The perception of short consultation duration, inadequate waiting spaces, strict linkage rules to specific health facilities and ANC norms, the perception that the received ANC is not relevant for foetal well-being are determinants of not being satisfied with ANC, and these determinants can be addressed by reorganizing ANC and, indeed, are modifiable by the improved paced implementation of the MISAU strategies for quality maternal and child health care.

In-Hospital Formula Supplementation in Appalachian Women Intending to Exclusively Breastfeed.

OBJECTIVE: In-hospital formula supplementation places infants at risk for early breastfeeding cessation. The study's aim was to identify predictive and protective factors for in-hospital formula supplementation in individuals documented as wanting to exclusively breastfeed and residing in a geographic region with adverse social determinants of health and low breastfeeding rates. Additionally, we wished to determine if lactation consultation served as a protective factor against supplementation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we retrospectively reviewed 500 randomly selected charts of newborns born in a 12 month period at a regional tertiary care hospital. We included healthy, full-term neonates having a recorded maternal decision to exclusively breastfeed. Maternal-newborn dyad characteristics were compared between those exclusively breastfeeding and those with in-hospital formula supplementation. RESULTS: Of the 500 charts, 70% of individuals desired to exclusively breastfeed. Overall, 41% of breastfed newborns were supplemented with formula before discharge, and 32% of women met with lactation consultants prior to supplementation. No statistically significant association was present between exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and meeting with a hospital lactation consultant (p = 0.55). When controlling for the confounders of maternal demographics and lactation consultation, significant associations with formula supplementation included Cesarean delivery (odd ratio: 2.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-4.16), primiparity (2.48, 1.27-4.87), and high school level of education (2.78, 1.33-5.78). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal characteristics of high school level educational, primiparity, and Caesarean delivery place individuals at risk for in-hospital formula supplementation in individuals wishing to exclusively breastfeed. Addressing barriers to exclusive breastfeeding is essential to enhance maternal and newborn health equity.

'When the visible body is no longer the seer': The phenomenology of perception and the clinical gaze in video consultations.

Video technology enabled professionals and patients to conduct consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person health care was minimised to reduce the spread of the virus. We present findings of a study of video-consulting through in-depth qualitative remote interviews with 40 health professionals, managers, support staff and 10 patients in health-care services across the UK from 2020 to 2021. Drawing on Foucault's concept of the clinical gaze, Merleau-Ponty's work on the phenomenology of perception and Ihde's postphenomenology we interpreted the ways in which remote consultations shaped patient-professional interactions, mediating and framing what was seen, revealed and known. We found that participating in video consultations not only involved creative adaption and adjustment to a virtual clinic but also changed how professionals and patients saw and were seen. We argue that this mode of consulting can transform boundaries and perceptions, alter aspects of clinical presence, knowledge and embodiment and thus both change and incorporate the clinical gaze.

Influence of Physical Attractiveness and Gender on Patient Preferences in Digital Doctor Consultations: Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: The rise of digital health services, particularly digital doctor consultations, has created a new paradigm in health care choice. While patients traditionally rely on digital reviews or referrals to select health care providers, the digital context often lacks such information, leading to reliance on visual cues such as profile pictures. Previous research has explored the impact of physical attractiveness in general service settings but is scant in the context of digital health care. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to fill the research gap by investigating how a health care provider's physical attractiveness influences patient preferences in a digital consultation setting. We also examine the moderating effects of disease severity and the availability of information on health care providers' qualifications. The study uses signal theory and the sexual attribution bias framework to understand these dynamics. METHODS: Three experimental studies were conducted to examine the influence of health care providers' physical attractiveness and gender on patient preferences in digital consultations. Study 1 (n=282) used a 2×2 between-subjects factorial design, manipulating doctor attractiveness and gender. Study 2 (n=158) focused on women doctors and manipulated disease severity and participant gender. Study 3 (n=150) replicated study 2 but added information about the providers' abilities. RESULTS: This research found that patients tend to choose attractive doctors of the opposite gender but are less likely to choose attractive doctors of the same gender. In addition, our studies revealed that such an effect is more prominent when the disease severity is high. Furthermore, the influence of gender stereotypes is mitigated in both the high and low disease severity conditions when service providers' qualification information is present. CONCLUSIONS: This research contributes to the literature on medical information systems research and sheds light on what information should be displayed on digital doctor consultation platforms. To counteract stereotype-based attractiveness biases, health care platforms should consider providing comprehensive qualification information alongside profile pictures.

Implementation of Inpatient Electronic Consultations During the COVID-19 Crisis and Its Sustainability Beyond the Pandemic: Quality Improvement Study.

BACKGROUND: Limiting in-person contact was a key strategy for controlling the spread of the highly infectious novel coronavirus (COVID-19). To protect patients and staff from the risk of infection while providing continued access to necessary health care services, we implemented a new electronic consultation (e-consult) service that allowed referring providers to receive subspecialty consultations for patients who are hospitalized and do not require in-person evaluation by the specialist. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the impact of implementing e-consults in the inpatient setting to reduce avoidable face-to-face referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This quality improvement study evaluated all inpatient e-consults ordered from July 2020 to December 2022 at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. The impact of e-consults was assessed by evaluating use (eg, number of e-consults ordered), e-consult response times, and outcome of the e-consult requests (eg, resolved electronically or converted to the in-person evaluation of patient). RESULTS: There were 1543 inpatient e-consults ordered across 11 participating specialties. A total of 53.5% (n=826) of requests were addressed electronically, without the need for a formal in-person evaluation of the patient. The median time between ordering an e-consult and a specialist documenting recommendations in an e-consult note was 3.7 (IQR 1.3-8.2) hours across all specialties, contrasted with 7.3 (IQR 3.6-22.0) hours when converted to an in-person consult (P<.001). The monthly volume of e-consult requests increased, coinciding with surges of COVID-19 cases in California. After the peaks of the COVID-19 crisis subsided, the use of inpatient e-consults persisted at a rate well above the precrisis levels. CONCLUSIONS: An inpatient e-consult service was successfully implemented, resulting in fewer unnecessary face-to-face consultations and significant reductions in the response times for consults requested on patients who are hospitalized and do not require an in-person evaluation. Thus, e-consults provided timely, efficient delivery of inpatient consultation services for appropriate problems while minimizing the risk of direct transmission of the COVID-19 virus between health care providers and patients. The service also demonstrated its value as a tool for effective inpatient care coordination beyond the peaks of the pandemic leading to the sustainability of service and value.

Remote and technology-mediated working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of nurses working in general practice (the GenCo Study).

AIM: To explore how nurses working in general practice experienced remote and technology-mediated working during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Exploratory qualitative study with nursing team members working in general practices in England and national nurse leaders. METHODS: Data were collected between April and August 2022. Forty participants took part in either semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis informed by the PERCS (Planning and Evaluating Remote Consultation Services) Framework. University of York ethics approval [HSRGC/2021/458/I] and Health Research Authority approval were obtained [IRAS:30353. Protocol number: R23982. Ref 21/HRA/5132. CPMS: 51834]. The study was funded by The General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust. RESULTS: Participants continued to deliver a significant proportion of patient care in-person. However, remote and technology-mediated care could meet patients' needs and broaden access in some circumstances. When remote and technology-mediated working were used this was often part of a blended model which was expected to continue. This could support some workforce issues, but also increase workload. Participants did not always have access to remote technology and were not involved in decision-making about what was used and how this was implemented. They rarely used video consultations, which were not seen to add value in comparison to telephone consultations. Some participants expressed concern that care had become more transactional than therapeutic and there were potential safety risks. CONCLUSION: The study explored how nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic engaged with remote and technology-mediated working. It identifies specific issues of access to technology, workload, hybrid working, disruption to therapeutic relationships, safety risks and lack of involvement in decision-making. Changes were implemented quickly with little strategic input from nurses. There is now an opportunity to reflect and build on what has been learned in relation to remote and technology-mediated working to ensure the future development of safe and effective nursing care in general practice. IMPACT: The paper contributes to understanding of remote and technology-mediated working by nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicates to employers and policy makers how this can be supported moving forward. REPORTING METHOD: Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (O'Brien et al., 2014). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This was a workforce study so there was no patient or public contribution. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: The paper highlights specific issues which have implications for the development of remote, technology-mediated and blended working for nurses in general practice, care quality and patient safety. These require full attention to ensure the future development of safe and effective nursing care in general practice moving forward.

Let's talk about work: pilot study of an education program on discussing work participation with cancer patients for general practitioners in training.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients report that they lack support from healthcare providers when it comes to returning to or maintaining employment. In the education of general practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands, there is little attention given to discussing work participation with patients. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate a newly developed education program for GPs in training that focuses on discussing work participation with cancer patients. METHODS: Two groups of in total twenty-one GPs in training participated in the education program. GPs were educated about the importance of discussing work participation with patients, work-related problems cancer patients can experience, and advice they can give to support cancer patients regarding work issues. In this pilot study using a mixed-method design, participants evaluated the program in two self-developed questionnaires and in a focus group discussion. RESULTS: Seventeen participating GPs (81%) indicated that the education program was suitable for implementation in the education curriculum. Eleven participants (52%) reported that they had never discussed work participation with cancer patients before. Directly after the education program, eighteen participants (86%) reported that they planned to discuss work participation more often with their patients. Four months after the program, 67% indicated they had applied their new knowledge and skills in practice by discussing work participation and by referring cancer patients to occupational health professionals or online resources. According to the GPs in training, integrating the topic of work participation into other education for GPs in training and focusing on a broader group of patients could improve the impact of the education program. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this pilot study, the newly developed education program increased the awareness of GPs in training on the importance of discussing work participation with cancer patients. Future studies should focus on whether cancer patients experience more support from their GPs for maintaining and returning to employment after their GP has participated in the training program.

Teleconsultation Platforms Versus WhatsApp Consultations: Evaluating Patients and Physicians' Attitudes.

Background: Since the 1990s, society has witnessed a surge in information and communication technologies that extended to the health care system. Teleconsultation platforms have become widely established tools that provide an opportunity for emerging countries such as Lebanon to expand and advance health care services. However, their use in Lebanon remains limited considering many people's preference to resort to nonmedical platforms such as WhatsApp for consultations. Methods: The purpose of this mixed-method study is to evaluate patients' and physicians' attitudes toward teleconsultation platforms versus WhatsApp consultations in Lebanon. In the quantitative component, 1,467 patients were administered a self-developed questionnaire, while in the qualitative component, a semistructured interview was conducted with 14 physicians practicing in Lebanon. Results: Results revealed that teleconsultation platforms and WhatsApp are not interchangeable. Patients' and physicians' experiences, perceptions, and satisfaction with teleconsultation platforms and WhatsApp are discussed. Conclusions: Individual and governmental recommendations for safer, more controlled, and more ethical online consultation practices are provided for both physicians and patients, through both modalities.

[Diabetes control and visits to the family doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter study in primary care]. / Control de diabetes y consultas al médico de familia durante la pandemia de COVID-19: estudio multicéntrico en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) the changes in their relationship with family doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person (iPC) and telematic (TC) consultations, were associated with control of their disease. DESIGN: Multicentric study of retrospective follow-up. SETTING: Seven health centers in Tenerife, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 3543 patients with DM2. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Sex, age, iPC, TC and DM2 control using glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) during the period 2019-2021. Logistic regression models were fitted with DM2 control as an effect, and with the other measurements as independent variables. RESULTS: 50% were women. 38% were less than 65 years old. A1c was measured in 84% of patients in 2019, 68% in 2020, and 77% in 2021. 58.4% had good control in 2019, 46.1% in 2020, and 50.3% in 2021. Median iPC were 7 in 2019, 4 in 2020 and 5 in 2021 (p<0.001). The OR(95%CI) of good control in 2019 were 1.04(1.04-1.05) per year of age and 1.03(1.01-1.04) for each iPC; In 2020 they were 1.04 (1.03-1.05) per year of age, 1.05 (1.04-1.07) for each iPC and 1.04 (1.02-1.07) for each TC; in 2021 they were 1.04 (1.04-1.05) per year of age, 1.05 (1.03-1.06) for each iPC and 1.02 (1.00-1.04) for each TC. CONCLUSIONS: The control of patients with DM2 during the period 2019-2021 had a direct relationship with the change in the frequency of consultations at the health center, with differences depending on the type of consultation and the age of the patient.

An analysis of the contents of the young-onset dementia helpline: profiles of clients who consulted the helpline themselves.

BACKGROUND: Young-onset dementia (YOD) community care requires personalised approaches. Yet, the specific details of YOD consultations are unclear. This study explored how initial consultations correlate with client profiles. METHODS: Data from regional YOD helplines were used to analyze the main characteristics of people living with YOD or who had concerns about the possibility of YOD (n = 132). Among several categorical variables, the following were used for analysis: age group, sex, type of living arrangement, employment status, presence of dementia, and content of the consultation. To identify groups of items that frequently occur together, strongly connected rules were identified using association rule analysis with the a priori algorithm. To focus on the characteristics of clients, rules related to client characteristics were extracted based on the type of consultation. RESULTS: A total of 51 rules were identified for the consultations. These rules fell into two categories: (1) consultations for medical matters, which mainly involved employed individuals with undiagnosed dementia, and (2) other consultations on daily life or work, which mainly involved individuals diagnosed with dementia and were characterised by the influence of sex. These rules indicate the importance of medical involvement in confirming the diagnosis and specific individualised care following diagnosis for people living with YOD. CONCLUSION: Clients with or without a dementia diagnosis were consulted differently in the YOD helplines. Before receiving a diagnosis, medical matters were the main theme of consultations, whereas after receiving a diagnosis, adjustments to daily life or work were the main themes. The results of this study suggest that the needs of people living with YOD and the services they require may vary depending on their backgrounds.

Assessment and examination of the respiratory system.

This article aims to outline the fundamental principles of consultations with and clinical assessments of patients with symptoms that may be indicative of respiratory system pathology. The article explores how to perform a respiratory system-focused patient history and physical examination. An evaluation of clinical 'red flags' to reduce the risk of omitting serious illness is also considered, alongside the exploration of features of respiratory pathology and evidence-based clinical decision-making tools that may be used to support clinical diagnosis.

Shared Decision Making in Health Care Visits for CKD: Patients' Decisional Role Preferences and Experiences.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Research on shared decision making (SDM) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has focused almost exclusively on the modality of kidney replacement treatment. We explored what other CKD decisions are recognized by patients, what their preferences and experiences are regarding these decisions, and how decisions are made during their interactions with medical care professionals. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CKD receiving (outpatient) care in 1 of 2 Dutch hospitals. EXPOSURE: Patients' preferred decisional roles for treatment decisions were measured using the Control Preferences Scale survey administered after a health care visit with medical professionals. OUTCOME: Number of decisions for which patients experienced a decisional role that did or did not match their preferred role. Observed levels of SDM and motivational interviewing in audio recordings of health care visits, measured using the 4-step SDM instrument (4SDM) and Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity coding tools. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: The results were characterized using descriptive statistics, including differences in scores between the patients' experienced and preferred decisional roles. RESULTS: According to the survey (n=122) patients with CKD frequently reported decisions regarding planning (112 of 122), medication changes (82 of 122), or lifestyle changes (59 of 122). Of the 357 reported decisions in total, patients preferred that clinicians mostly (125 of 357) or fully (101 of 357) make the decisions. For 116 decisions, they preferred a shared decisional role. For 151 of 357 decisions, the patients' preferences did not match their experiences. Decisions were experienced as "less shared/patient-directed" (76 of 357) or "more shared/patient-directed" (75 of 357) than preferred. Observed SDM in 118 coded decisions was low (median4; range, 0 - 22). Motivational interviewing techniques were rarely used. LIMITATIONS: Potential recall and selection bias, and limited generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: We identified multiple discrepancies between preferred, experienced, and observed SDM in health care visits for CKD. Although patients varied in their preferred decisional role, a considerable number of patients expressed a preference for shared decision making for many decisions. However, SDM behavior during the health care visits was observed infrequently. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Shared decision making (SDM) may be a valuable approach for common chronic kidney disease (CKD) decisions, but our knowledge is limited. We collected patient surveys after health care visits for CKD. Patients most frequently experienced decisions regarding planning, medication, and lifestyle. Three decisional roles were preferred by comparable numbers of patients: let the clinician alone decide, let the clinician decide for the most part, or "equally share" the decision. Patients' experiences of who made the decision did not always match their preferences. In audio recordings of the health care visits, we observed low levels of SDM behavior. These findings suggest that the preference for "sharing decisions" is often unmet for a large number of patients.

Viewpoint: Nurses educating patients about drugs.

Educating patients about the drugs they take is essential for them to take them safely and effectively. This education is now commonly given by nurses as part of the huge expansion in the nurse specialist role. However, training for this role has not kept pace with practice. Nurses have expressed variable confidence in this role and expressed a wish for more formal training. Current practice often puts the information rather than the patient at the centre of the consultation with the nurse dominating the conversation. Cues to address the patient agenda are commonly missed. An animated patient who interrupts is probably not having their educational needs met. Education of the professionals around how to perform this task in an optimal way is necessary and should result in better efficacy and safety of the drugs. This could be achieved by incorporating features of Shared Decision Making and the Calgary-Cambridge consultation techniques into training and the consultation. Personalisation by attention to patient preferences, language and health literacy is essential.

Neuro-ophthalmology Emergency Department and Inpatient Consultations at a Large Academic Referral Center.

PURPOSE: Prompt neuro-ophthalmology consultation prevents diagnostic errors and improves patient outcomes. The scarcity of neuro-ophthalmologists means that the increasing outpatient demand cannot be met, prompting many emergency department (ED) referrals by non-neuro-ophthalmologists. We describe our quaternary care institution's ED and inpatient neuro-ophthalmology consultation patterns and patient outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive neuro-ophthalmology ED and inpatient consultation requests over 1 year. METHODS: We collected patient demographics, distance traveled, insurance status, referring provider details, consultation question, final diagnosis, complexity of consultation, time of consultation, and need for outpatient follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Consultation patterns and diagnoses, complexity, and follow-up. RESULTS: Of 494 consecutive adult ED and inpatient neuro-ophthalmology consultations requested over 1 year, 241 of 494 consultations (49%) occurred at night or during weekends. Of ED consultations (322 of 494 [65%]), 127 of 322 consultations (39%) occurred during weekdays, 126 of 322 consultations (39%) occurred on weeknights, and 69 of 322 consultations (22%) occurred on weekends or holidays. Of 322 ED consultations, 225 of 322 consultations (70%) were patients who initially sought treatment in the ED with a neuro-ophthalmic chief symptom. Of the 196 patients sent to the ED by a health care professional, 148 patients (148/196 [76%]) were referred by eye care specialists (74 optometrists and 74 ophthalmologists). The most common ED referral questions were for papilledema (75 of 322 [23%]) and vision loss (72 of 322 [22%]). A total of 219 of 322 patients (68%) received a final active neuro-ophthalmic diagnosis, 222 of 322 patients (69%) were cases of high or very high complexity, and 143 of 322 patients (44%) required admission. Inpatient consultations (n = 172) were requested most frequently by hospitalists, including neurologists (71 of 172 [41%]) and oncologists (20 of 172 [12%]) for vision loss (43 of 172 [25%]) and eye movement disorders (36 of 172 [21%]) and by neurosurgeons (58 of 172 [33%]) for examination for mass or a preoperative evaluation (19 of 172 [11%]). An active neuro-ophthalmic diagnosis was confirmed in 67% of patients (116 of 172). Outpatient neuro-ophthalmology follow-up was required for 291 of 494 patients (59%). CONCLUSIONS: Neuro-ophthalmology consultations are critical to the diagnosis and management in the hospital setting. In the face of a critical shortage of neuro-ophthalmologists, this study highlights the need for technological and diagnostic aids for greater outpatient access. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Remote Behavioral Interventions Facilitated by Health Care Providers at Improving Medication Adherence in Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiometabolic conditions account for over 32% of all global deaths, nearly half of the patients with cardiometabolic conditions do not take medication as prescribed. Remote behavioral interventions have been shown to potentially improve adherence in these patients and further support cost effective clinical practice. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of remote behavioral interventions at improving treatment adherence and to explore behavioral intervention components associated with it. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science in April 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses were utilized. RESULTS: In total, 40 studies, including 24,672 participants, were included. The overall quality of evidence, assessed using the RoB2 tool, was low. The intervention had a small (odds ratios [OR] = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.47, 1.96, N = 4823 p < .001) to moderate effect (SMD = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.76, N = 20,271, p < .001) on the dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced by 3.71 mmHg (95% CI: 3.99, 3.43, N = 6,527, p < .001) and participants receiving the intervention were twice more likely to achieve blood pressure (BP) control (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.61, 2.84, N = 1,172, p < .001). Generally, HBA1c decreased by 0.25% (95% CI: 0.33, 0.17, N = 6,734, p < .001), whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol dropped by 6.82 mg/dL (95% CI: 8.33, 5.30, N = 4,550, p < .001) in favor of the intervention. There was a trend suggesting a potential positive effects on reducing visits to emergency department (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.01, N = 4,182) and mortality rates (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.42, N = 1,971), and no risk for hospital readmission (OR=1.00, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.20, N = 5,402), favoring the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Despite low quality of evidence, remote consultations are effective at improving medication adherence and clinical indicators, and potentially cost-effective solution for health care services.

Most common health problems in general practice among adolescents, and young adults' survivors of lymphoma: a register-based cohort study in Norway.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the distribution of health problems in general practice (GP) among adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of lymphoma and to compare problem rates with the general population. METHODS: All GP consultations between 2006 and 2020 were identified from the national GP claims register. Diseases and complaints presented 3-10 years after the cancer diagnosis were identified using the International Classification of Primary Care codes (ICPC-2) and compared by applying logistic regression models, presented with odds ratio (OR) and 95%CI. RESULTS: A total of 2,500,557 AYAs, of whom 1105 were diagnosed with lymphoma, and over 50 million GP consultations were included. The most common causes of consultation among AYA survivors of lymphoma were related to Hodgkin's disease (13%), pregnancy (11%), respiratory diseases (9%), psychological problems (8%), musculoskeletal system (6%) and fatigue (4%). Almost all these problems were significantly higher among AYA lymphoma survivors compared to the general population (OR ranging from 1.1 to 1.5). CONCLUSION: Compared to the general population, young lymphoma survivors have increased contact with the GP for a considerable number of health problems for up to 10 years post-diagnosis. This emphasizes the importance of robust follow-up and a good flow of information between hospital and primary care.

Time intervals in the pathway to emergency cancer diagnosis.

Aim: Evidence on time-based metrics for cancers diagnosed through emergency presentation is lacking. We examined the duration of intervals from first symptoms to cancer diagnosis in the emergency versus primary care (PC) presentation route. Methods: Retrospective study of outpatients diagnosed with 15 solid cancers over 5 years. The outcome was the length of prediagnostic intervals by diagnostic route. Results: Median intervals in emergency presenters (n = 3167) were shorter than in PC presenters (n = 2215). However, intervals in emergency presenters with three or more prior PC consultations were similar to PC but remarkably longer than in those with one or two and no consultations. Conclusion: As we provide new interval measures for the emergency diagnostic pathway, results highlight the contribution of prior consultations to interval lengths.