The effectiveness of a non-tourniquet procedure on peripheral intravenous catheterization in older patients: A pilot study

AbstractIn the DECODE project, data were collected from 3,114 surveys filled by symptomatic patients RT-qPCR tested for SARS-CoV-2 in a single university centre in March-September 2020. The population demonstrated balanced sex and age with 759 SARS-CoV-2( +) patients. The most discriminative symptoms in SARS-CoV-2( +) patients at early infection stage were loss of taste/smell (OR = 3.33, p < 0.0001), body temperature above 38℃ (OR = 1.67, p < 0.0001), muscle aches (OR = 1.30, p = 0.0242), headache (OR = 1.27, p = 0.0405), cough (OR = 1.26, p = 0.0477). Dyspnea was more often reported among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Cough and dyspnea were 3.5 times more frequent among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.28, p < 0.0001). Co-occurrence of cough, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste/smell (OR = 4.72, p = 0.0015) appeared significant, although co-occurrence of two symptoms only, cough and loss of smell or taste, means OR = 2.49 (p < 0.0001). Temperature > 38℃ with cough was most frequent in men (20%), while loss of taste/smell with cough in women (17%). For younger people, taste/smell impairment is sufficient to characterise infection, whereas in older patients co-occurrence of fever and cough is necessary. The presented study objectifies the single symptoms and interactions significance in COVID-19 diagnoses and demonstrates diverse symptomatology in patient groups.

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How Do Patients with Life-Limiting Illness and Caregivers Want End-Of-Life Prognostic Information Delivered? A Pilot Study

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9070784 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 784

Author(s):

Ebony T. Lewis ◽

Kathrine A. Hammill ◽

Maree Ticehurst ◽

Robin M. Turner ◽

Sally Greenaway ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Health Services ◽

End Of Life ◽

Older Patients ◽

Prognostic Information ◽

Clinical Scenarios ◽

Delivery Format ◽

Patient Groups ◽

To Receive

We aimed to identify the level of prognostic disclosure, type of prognostic information and delivery format of prognostic communication that older adults diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or caregivers prefer to receive. We developed and pilot tested an open-ended survey to 15 older patients and caregivers who had experience in health services for life-limiting illness either for a relative, friend or themselves. Five hypothetical clinical scenarios of prognostic options were presented to ascertain preferences. The preferred format to receive prognostic information was verbal delivery by the clinician with a written summary. Photos and videos were less favoured, and a table with numbers/percentages was least preferred. Distress levels to the prognostic scenarios were low, with the exception of a photo. We conclude that older patients/caregivers want end-of-life prognostic information delivered the traditional way, verbally by clinicians. Options to deliver prognostic information may vary across patient groups but empower clinicians in introducing end-of-life discussions with patients/caregivers. Our study illustrates the feasibility of involving terminal patients and caregivers in research that contributes to eliciting prognostic preferences. Further research is needed to understand whether the prognostic preferences of hospitalized patients with life-limiting illness differ.

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Perceived health care climate, diabetes knowledge and self-care practice of Hong Kong Chinese older patients: a pilot study

Journal of Clinical Nursing ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00892.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 534-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Catharine Siu-Ling Lee ◽

Ann Tak-Ying Shiu

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Older Patients ◽

Self Care ◽

Perceived Health ◽

Hong Kong Chinese ◽

Care Practice ◽

Diabetes Knowledge

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A community model of group rehabilitation for older patients with chronic heart failure: A pilot study

Disability and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1080/09638280600646219 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 28 (23) ◽

pp. 1491-1497 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Elsie Hui ◽

Hui Yang ◽

Lap S. Chan ◽

Kevin Or ◽

Diana T. F. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Chronic Heart Failure ◽

Older Patients ◽

Community Model ◽

Group Rehabilitation

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A pilot study of the S-MAP (Solutions for Medications Adherence Problems) intervention for older adults prescribed polypharmacy in primary care: study protocol

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-019-0506-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. E. Patton ◽

J. J. Francis ◽

E. Clark ◽

F. Smith ◽

C. A. Cadogan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Process Evaluation ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Older Patients ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

Self Report ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Limited Effectiveness

Abstract Background Adhering to multiple medications as prescribed is challenging for older patients (aged ≥ 65 years) and a difficult behaviour to improve. Previous interventions designed to address this have been largely complex in nature but have shown limited effectiveness and have rarely used theory in their design. It has been recognised that theory (‘a systematic way of understanding events or situations’) can guide intervention development and help researchers better understand how complex adherence interventions work. This pilot study aims to test a novel community pharmacy-based intervention that has been systematically developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (12-domain version) of behaviour change. Methods As part of a non-randomised pilot study, pharmacists in 12 community pharmacies across Northern Ireland (n = 6) and London, England (n = 6), will be trained to deliver the intervention to older patients who are prescribed ≥ 4 regular medicines and are non-adherent (self-reported). Ten patients will be recruited per pharmacy (n = 120) and offered up to four tailored one-to-one sessions, in the pharmacy or via telephone depending on their adherence, over a 3–4-month period. Guided by an electronic application (app) on iPads, the intervention content will be tailored to each patient’s underlying reasons for non-adherence and mapped to the most appropriate solutions using established behaviour change techniques. This study will assess the feasibility of collecting data on the primary outcome of medication adherence (self-report and dispensing data) and secondary outcomes (health-related quality of life and unplanned hospitalisations). An embedded process evaluation will assess training fidelity for pharmacy staff, intervention fidelity, acceptability to patients and pharmacists and the intervention’s mechanism of action. Process evaluation data will include audio-recordings of training workshops, intervention sessions, feedback interviews and patient surveys. Analysis will be largely descriptive. Discussion Using pre-defined progression criteria, the findings from this pilot study will guide the decision whether to proceed to a cluster randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the S-MAP intervention in comparison to usual care in community pharmacies. The study will also explore how the intervention components may work to bring about change in older patients’ adherence behaviour and guide further refinement of the intervention and study procedures. Trial registration This study is registered at ISRCTN: 10.1186/ISRCTN73831533

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