Reported needs of information resources, research tools, connectivity and infrastructure among African Pharmacological Scientists to improve future patient care and health

Objective: This study analyzed data from a study on the value of libraries to understand the specific role that the MEDLINE database plays in relation to other information resources that are available to health care providers and its role in positively impacting patient care.Methods: A previous study on the use of health information resources for patient care obtained 16,122 responses from health care providers in 56 hospitals about how providers make decisions affecting patient care and the role of information resources in that process. Respondents indicated resources used in answering a specific clinical question from a list of 19 possible resources, including MEDLINE. Study data were examined using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to determine the number of information resources used and how they were used in combination with one another.Results: Health care professionals used 3.5 resources, on average, to aid in patient care. The 2 most frequently used resources were journals (print and online) and the MEDLINE database. Using a higher number of information resources was significantly associated with a higher probability of making changes to patient care and avoiding adverse events. MEDLINE was the most likely to be among consulted resources compared to any other information resource other than journals.Conclusions: MEDLINE is a critical clinical care tool that health care professionals use to avoid adverse events, make changes to patient care, and answer clinical questions.

Download Full-text

An Introduction to Robotically Assisted Surgical Systems: Current Developments and Focus Areas of Research

Current Robotics Reports ◽

10.1007/s43154-021-00064-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 321-332

Author(s):

Julian Klodmann ◽

Christopher Schlenk ◽

Anja Hellings-Kuß ◽

Thomas Bahls ◽

Roland Unterhinninghofen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Data Science ◽

Interdisciplinary Cooperation ◽

Medical Device Manufacturers ◽

Contextual Support ◽

Surgical Data ◽

Introductory Paper ◽

Assistance Systems ◽

Imaging Sensors ◽

Future Patient

Abstract Purpose of Review Robotic assistance systems for diagnosis and therapy have become technically mature and widely available. Thus, they play an increasingly important role in patient care. This paper provides an overview of the general concepts of robotically assisted surgical systems, briefly revisiting historical and current developments in the surgical robotics market and discussing current focus areas of research. Comprehensiveness cannot be achieved in this format, but besides the general overview, references to further readings and more comprehensive reviews with regard to particular aspects are given. Therefore, the work at hand is considered as an introductory paper into the topic and especially addresses investigators, researchers, medical device manufacturers, and clinicians, who are new to this field. Recent Findings The current research in Robotically Assisted Surgical Systems (RASS) increasingly uses established robotic platforms. To minimize the patient trauma while optimizing the dexterity of the surgeon, miniaturized instruments and semi-autonomous assistance functions are developed. To provide the surgeon with all necessary information in an adequate manner, novel imaging sensors as well as techniques for multimodal sensory feedback and augmented reality are investigated. The Surgical Data Science applies data management and processing approaches including machine learning on medical data to provide optimal, individualized and contextual support to the surgeon. Summary Robotic systems will significantly influence future patient care. Since they must fulfill manifold medical, technical, regulatory and economic requirements, their development calls for a close, active and interdisciplinary cooperation between stakeholders from hospitals, industry and science.

Download Full-text

The Value of Library and Information Services in Patient Care: Canadian Results From an International Multisite Study

Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association / Journal de l Association de bilbiothèques de la santé du Canada ◽

10.5596/c13-063 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 138 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joan C. Bartlett ◽

Joanne Gard Marshall

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

International Study ◽

Clinical Situation ◽

Information Services ◽

Information Resources ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Choice Of Treatment ◽

Recent Patient

Introduction: This paper presents the Canadian results from a larger, international study with the objective of assessing the value of health library and information services and their impact on patient care. Methods: Data were collected using a web-based survey of healthcare providers in 13 Canadian hospitals collectively served by four libraries, and data were analyzed statistically using SPSS. The survey centred on a specific, recent, patient care incident for which the respondent had sought information. Follow-up semi-structured phone interviews with librarians at the participating sites provided supplemental data. Results: Twelve hundred and thirty-one people from the Canadian sites responded to the survey. Over 70% indicated that their management of the clinical situation changed as a result of the information. Positive changes included advice given to patient or family (48%), choice of drugs (31%), and choice of treatment (30%); adverse events that were avoided included patient misunderstanding of disease (23%), additional tests or procedures (18%), and patient mortality (5%). Results also showed which information resources were used and from where they were accessed. The information resources were valued as much, if not more, than other sources of information such as laboratory reports or medical records. Discussion: The results showed that participants perceive health library and information services to be highly valued and reported that their use has a positive impact on a range of patient care outcomes. They also highlighted the preferred information resources and access points among different groups of health professionals.

Download Full-text

Future patient care: tele-empowerment

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1258/135763302320302019 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 52-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sharon Levy ◽

David A Bradley ◽

Moya J Morison ◽

Michael T Swanston ◽

Sylvia Harvey

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Future Patient

Download Full-text

Future Patient Care: Tele-Empowerment

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x020080s224 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 8 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 52-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sharon Levy ◽

David A Bradley ◽

Moya J Morison ◽

Michael T Swanston ◽

Sylvia Harvey

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Future Patient

Download Full-text

Patient-Care Questions that Physicians Are Unable to Answer

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association ◽

10.1197/jamia.m2398 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 407-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

John W. Ely ◽

Jerome A. Osheroff ◽

Saverio M. Maviglia ◽

Marcy E. Rosenbaum

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Patient Care ◽

Primary Care Physicians ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Information Resources ◽

Clinical Information Systems ◽

Unanswered Question ◽

Test Results ◽

Clinical Questions

Abstract Objective: To describe the characteristics of unanswered clinical questions and propose interventions that could improve the chance of finding answers. Design: In a previous study, investigators observed primary care physicians in their offices and recorded questions that arose during patient care. Questions that were pursued by the physician, but remained unanswered, were grouped into generic types. In the present study, investigators attempted to answer these questions and developed recommendations aimed at improving the success rate of finding answers. Measurements: Frequency of unanswered question types and recommendations to increase the chance of finding answers. Results: In an earlier study, 48 physicians asked 1062 questions during 192 half-day office observations. Physicians could not find answers to 237 (41%) of the 585 questions they pursued. The present study grouped the unanswered questions into 19 generic types. Three types accounted for 128 (54%) of the unanswered questions: (1) “Undiagnosed finding” questions asked about the management of abnormal clinical findings, such as symptoms, signs, and test results (What is the approach to finding X?); (2) “Conditional” questions contained qualifying conditions that were appended to otherwise simple questions (What is the management of X, given Y? where “given Y” is the qualifying condition that makes the question difficult.); and (3) “Compound” questions asked about the association between two highly specific elements (Can X cause Y?). The study identified strategies to improve clinical information retrieval, listed below. Conclusion: To improve the chance of finding answers, physicians should change their search strategies by rephrasing their questions and searching more clinically oriented resources. Authors of clinical information resources should anticipate questions that may arise in practice, and clinical information systems should provide clearer and more explicit answers.

Download Full-text

Linking Patient Information Systems to Bibliographic Resources

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1634646 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 35 (02) ◽

pp. 122-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J. J. Cimino

Keyword(s):

Information Systems ◽

Patient Care ◽

Medical Informatics ◽

Patient Information ◽

Medical Information ◽

Information Resources ◽

Retrieval Strategy ◽

Experimental Systems ◽

Care Systems ◽

On Line

AbstractMedical informatics researchers have explored a number of ways to integrate medical information resources into patient care systems. Particular attention has been given to the integration of on-line bibliographic resources. This paper presents an information model which breaks down the integration task into three components, each of which answers a question: what is the user’s question?, where can the answer be found?, and how is the retrieval strategy composed? Twelve experimental systems are reviewed and their methods for addressing one or more of these questions are described.

Download Full-text

A Comparison of Tertiary Drug Resources’ Consistency Regarding Drug-Drug Interactions of Adjunctive Analgesics

Journal of Pharmacy Technology ◽

10.1177/8755122520951331 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 875512252095133

Author(s):

Andrew Lang ◽

Michael A. Veronin ◽

Justin P. Reinert

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Drug Interaction ◽

Drug Interactions ◽

Patient Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Drug Information ◽

Interaction Analysis ◽

Information Resources ◽

Care Providers ◽

Drug Drug Interaction

Background: Health care providers routinely rely on tertiary drug information resources to affirm knowledge or proactively verify the safety and efficacy of medications. Though all patient care areas are affected, the reliability of these resources is perhaps nowhere as poignant as it is in high-acuity settings, including the emergency department and the intensive care unit. As providers seek to identify adjunctive analgesics for acute pain in these areas, they must be able to rely on the integrity to whichever resource their institution has granted access. Objective: To determine the congruency of drug-drug interaction information found on 3 tertiary drug resources. Methods: A drug-drug interaction analysis was conducted on Micromedex, Lexicomp, and Medscape. Adjunctive analgesics included dexmedetomidine and ketamine, which were compared with the intravenous opioid products morphine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone. Results: Significant discrepancies were appreciated with regard to the severity of drug-drug interactions. In addition, the heterogeneity in which reaction severity and likelihood are described by each respective resource makes direct comparisons difficult. Interaction warnings for dexmedetomidine and fentanyl included a “major interaction” from Micromedex, whereas Lexicomp did not identify a risk and Medscape only recommended increased monitoring on the grounds of respiratory and central nervous system depression. Conclusions: Health care providers must remain vigilant when reviewing tertiary drug information resources. Pharmacists possess the training and skills necessary to assist interdisciplinary medical teams in providing optimal patient care through evaluating and applying the information gleaned from these resources.

Download Full-text

From Morbidity and Mortality to Quality Improvement

OTO Open ◽

10.1177/2473974x17692775 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 2473974X1769277 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel B. Spielman ◽

Wayne D. Hsueh ◽

Karen Y. Choi ◽

John P. Bent

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Residency Training Program ◽

Neck Surgery ◽

Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Educational Value ◽

Morbidity And Mortality Conference ◽

The Impact ◽

Future Patient ◽

Mortality Conference

Objective Measure the effects of a structured morbidity and mortality conference format on the attitudes of resident and faculty participants. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Otorhinolaryngology–head and neck surgery residency training program. Subjects and Methods Two changes were implemented to the structure of our morbidity and mortality conference: (1) we adopted a recently described presentation framework called situation-background-assessment-recommendation and (2) appointed a faculty moderator to lead the conference. Surveys were distributed to residents and faculty before and after these modifications were implemented to measure changes in attitude of conference attendees. Results After implementing the above changes to the morbidity and mortality conference, participant engagement increased from “moderately engaged” to “extremely engaged” ( P < .01). Among both faculty and residents, the perceived educational value of conference also improved from “moderately educational” to “extremely educational” ( P < .01). Finally in the attending cohort, the impact on future patient care increased from “no change” to “greatly enhanced” ( P < .01). Conclusion By implementing the situation-background-assessment-recommendation framework and appointing a faculty moderator to morbidity and mortality conference, participants reported significantly enhanced engagement during the conference, increased educational value of the session, and a positive impact on future patient care.

Download Full-text