scholarly journals A88 PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN PERSPECTIVE OF TELE-HEALTH IN GASTROENTEROLOGY

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 59-60
Author(s):  
M Tomaszewski ◽  
B Zhao ◽  
H Kim ◽  
R A Enns ◽  
B Bressler ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Given the social distancing measures employed to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, tele-health has rapidly expanded and is now routinely used in new patient encounters and in follow up appointments across Canada. Aims To determine the patient and physician perspective towards tele-health in a gastroenterology outpatient setting. Methods An anonymous voluntary online survey was distributed to patients who had previously undergone at least one tele-health visit in a tertiary care gastroenterology outpatient setting. A separate online survey was distributed to gastroenterologists practising across Canada. Results A total of 181 patients from British Columbia (59.8% female) completed the survey. The tele-health appointment was the first visit for 21.8% of patients. Appointments occurred by phone call alone (61.4%) or by video and audio software (38.6%) and started within 5 minutes of the scheduled time in 75% of visits. Patient satisfaction with the tele-health visit was high (8.54 on a scale of 0–10; 0 completely dissatisfied, 10 extremely satisfied; IQR 8–10). Most patients did not perceive a difference in likelihood of compliance compared to a non-tele-health visit (90.6%), were not concerned about the lack of physical exam during a tele-health visit (82.4%) and did not with-hold information they would have revealed in person (88.7%). After the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients would prefer tele-heath visits (39.2%), whereas others would prefer in office visits (28.5%) and the remainder were indifferent (32.3%). Post-pandemic, most patients would prefer tele-health for follow up visits (68.4%), over tele-health for all possible visits (27.9%) or no tele-health visits (3.8%). A total of 25 Canadian gastroenterologists (28.0% female; 60% academic practice, 40% community practice) completed a separate survey. Regarding the lack of physical exam in tele-health, 44% of physicians believed this did not affect the quality of their assessment, whereas some physicians believed it had either minimally (48%) or greatly (8%) impaired the quality of their assessment. Almost all physicians (96%) perceived that patients either appreciate tele-health as much as or more than in office visits. Post-pandemic, most physicians (96%) supported a hybrid model of both tele-health and in office visits. Appointments for follow up of benign endoscopic pathology results (96%), follow up visits (92%), consultations prior to endoscopy (76%) were deemed to be most appropriate for tele-health. Follow up of malignant pathology results (24%) and consultations for new patients (32%) were thought to be less appropriate for tele-health visits. Conclusions Patient and physician satisfaction with tele-health in a Canadian outpatient gastroenterology setting is high. Most patients and physicians wish for tele-health to remain available in the post-pandemic setting. Funding Agencies Gastrointestinal Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia

Author(s):  
Rhonda Johnston ◽  
Rita F. Kobb ◽  
Claire Marty ◽  
Padraic McVeigh

Study Design: An online survey modeled after the TeleENT Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Medical Communication Competence Scale (MCCS) were administered to gauge patient experience with electronic medical record-based telemedicine visits. Results: Participants noted several advantages of telemedicine visits over traditional in-office visits: shorter visits, saving money, and avoiding potential exposure during the pandemic. Thirty-six percent of the patients agreed that the quality of care was hindered by the lack of a physical exam, and 61.7% of the patients agreed that they prefer a face-to-face visit rather than telemedicine consultation. Most patients were satisfied with the care they received via telemedicine (Likert 6.19/7), and 95.8% of the patients would use telemedicine again. Participants self-reported an average saving of $108.70 when using telemedicine. When comparing the telemedicine cohort to the in-office control, the telemedicine patients noted an improved ability to communicate with their physician in 5 out of 8 domains of the MCCS. Conclusion: Surgical preoperative consultation, postoperative follow-up, and routine visits were conducted via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a new direction for surgical appointments and consultations. This study shows that telehealth provides satisfactory care and increases access to surgical care for patients when external factors prevent the traditional physician–patient interaction. With better-perceived communication via telemedicine appointments, patients may subjectively feel that they can express their symptoms and gather information from the doctor regarding their diagnosis more efficiently.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1105-1108
Author(s):  
Kristin C. Turza ◽  
Thomas Brien ◽  
Steven Porbunderwala ◽  
Christopher M. Bell ◽  
Shauna Lorenzo-rivero ◽  
...  

The Ferguson Operating Anoscope (FOA) is a surgical instrument, which can facilitate transanal excision of appropriate rectal tumors within 15 cm of the anal verge. Previous work showed low recurrence (4.3%) for favorable T1 tumors (no lymphovascular invasion, well/moderate differentiation, negative margins). This follow-up study evaluates outcomes in rectal cancer excised with FOA at a tertiary care center. T1 rectal cancer patients were identified in a prospectively maintained database. Tumor pathology and patient characteristics were reviewed. Primary outcomes include tumor recurrence and patient and disease-free survival. Secondary outcomes are quality of excision (intact specimen). Twenty-eight patients had pathologic stage T1 rectal cancer (average 8 ± 2.6 cm from the anal verge). Final path demonstrated 14 per cent to be well differentiated, 82 per cent moderately differentiated, and 93 per cent without angiolymphatic invasion. All specimens removed were intact. One patient had a true local recurrence and underwent a salvage operation 24 months after her index operation. Patient survival was 96.4 per cent (n = one death from primary lung cancer) at median follow-up 64 ± 35 months. With appropriate tumor selection and quality of initial resection, FOA has demonstrated utility in achieving optimal oncologic resection of T1 rectal tumors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Vella ◽  
Cynthia Formosa

Background: We sought to determine patient and ulcer characteristics that predict wound healing in patients living with diabetes. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 99 patients presenting with diabetic foot ulceration. Patient and ulcer characteristics were recorded. Patients were followed up for a maximum of 1 year. Results: After 1 year of follow-up, ulcer characteristics were more predictive of ulcer healing than were patient characteristics. Seventy-seven percent of ulcers had healed and 23% had not healed. Independent predictors of nonhealing were ulcer stage (P = .003), presence of biofilm (P = .020), and ulcer depth (P = .028). Although this study demonstrated that the baseline hemoglobin A1c reading at the start of the study was not a significant predictor of foot ulcer outcome (P = .603, resolved versus amputated), on further statistical analyses, when hemoglobin A1c was compared with the time taken for complete ulcer healing (n = 77), it proved to be significant (P = .009). Conclusions: The factors influencing healing are ulcer stage, presence of biofilm, and ulcer depth. These findings have important implications for clinical practice, especially in an outpatient setting. Prediction of outcome may be helpful for health-care professionals in individualizing and optimizing clinical assessment and management of patients. Identification of determinants of outcome could result in improved health outcomes, improved quality of life, and fewer diabetes-related foot complications.


Author(s):  
S Sunil Kumar ◽  
Oliver Joel Gona ◽  
Nagaraj Desai ◽  
B Shyam Prasad Shetty ◽  
KS Poornima ◽  
...  

Introduction: Vitamin K Antagonists (VKAs) have been in use for more than 50 years. They have remained as mainstay therapy in the prevention of thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valves and venous thromboembolism. Despite many years of clinical experience with VKAs, the quality of anticoagulation achieved in routine clinical practice is suboptimal. Aim: To study the effects of structured Anticoagulation Clinic (ACC) interventions on patient centred outcomes in subjects taking VKAs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among patients taking VKAs enrolled in ACC. A total of 169 patients receiving VKAs for at least six months with 4 INR (International Normalised Ratio) values and completed 12 months of follow-up were analysed. Anticoagulation related quality measures like Time in the Therapeutic Range (TTR), Percentage of International Normalised Ratios in the therapeutic Range (PINRR) and clinical outcomes like stroke, systemic embolic events and bleeding was analysed at the time of enrolment and compared with those during ACC care. Results: Among 352 patients enrolled in ACC, 169 patients were eligible for analysis. The mean age of the study population was 55.62±13.77 years. Atrial fibrillation (59%) was the most common indication for VKA therapy. Hypertension (66.3%) was the most common co-morbidity. Mean TTRs were significantly higher in the ACC care when compared with the pre-ACC care at 12 months follow-up (77.58±8.85% vs 51.01±16.7%, p<0.0001). There was a significant improvement in TTRs as early as three months of ACC intervention (73.18±13.56%). At the time of enrolment, 21.9% of patients had individual TTRs (i-TTR) >70% which increased to 70.4% at 12 months of follow-up. INR testing was done more frequently in ACC care. Adverse clinical events were higher in pre-ACC care than ACC care (4.7% vs 2.4%, p>0.05). Major bleeding and thromboembolic events were higher in pre-ACC care than ACC care (1.8% vs. 0.6% and 2.4% vs. 0.6% respectively). Conclusion: ACC services helps in achieving better quality of anticoagulation control as measured by time in therapeutic range translating into better clinical outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Castaldo ◽  
Christian Jervelund ◽  
Deborah Corcoran ◽  
Henrik B. Boysen ◽  
Sandra C. Christiansen ◽  
...  

Background: Novel subcutaneous (SC) prophylactic therapies are transforming the treatment landscape of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Although questions are being raised about their cost, little attention has been paid to the cost and quality of life (QoL) impact of using on-demand‐only medications. Objective: We assessed the overall economic burden of on-demand‐only treatment for HAE and compared patient QoL with patients who received novel SC prophylactic therapies. Methods: US Hereditary Angioedema Association members were invited to complete an anonymous online survey to profile attack frequency, treatment use, and the presence of comorbidities as well as economic and socioeconomic variables. We modeled on-demand treatment costs by using net pricing of medications in 2018, indirect patient and caregiver costs, and attack-related direct billed costs for emergency department admissions, physician office visits, and/or hospitalizations. QoL was assessed by using the Angioedema Quality of Life questionnaire. Results: A total of 1225 patients (31.4%) responded. Of these, 737 adults with HAE (type I or II) met the inclusion criteria and completed the survey. Per patient/year direct costs associated with modeled on-demand‐only treatment totaled $363,795, with additional indirect socioeconomic costs of $52,576 per patient/year. The greatest improvement in QoL was seen in patients who used novel SC prophylactic therapies, with a 59.5% (p < 0.01) improvement in median impairment scores versus on-demand‐only treatment. In addition, patients who used novel SC prophylactic therapies reported a 77% reduction in the number of attacks each year when compared with those who used on-demand‐only treatment. Conclusion: Our real-world patient data showed the cost and QoL burden of HAE treatment with on-demand‐only therapy. Use of novel SC prophylaxis can lead to sizeable reductions in attack frequency and statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in QoL. These data could be useful to clinicians and patients as they consider therapy options for patients with HAE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-176
Author(s):  
P.K Purushothaman ◽  
Dhanyan Harshidan ◽  
Priyangha Elangovan

Bell's palsy is the most common facial nerve disorder. The clinical symptoms of Bell's palsy include facial muscle paralysis, difficulty in eating, drinking and talking. Bell's palsy management is still controversial. Many patients recover spontaneously; some require medicines like corticosteroids, antiviral drugs and other managements.To study the effectiveness of Bell's palsy management that has been followed in our institution.This analysis had carried out from June 2016 to June 2019at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai. Total of 30 patients with Bell's palsy who had admitted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology had enrolled in this study. All the patients underwent thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigation, and the results were statistically analyzed and discussed.Out of 30 patients, 16(53%) patients were males, and 14(47%) patients were females. 53.3% of patients had onset of symptoms after 48 hours. There was a statistical significant improvement in House-Brackman scale on 6 months follow-up.The therapeutic measures for Bell's palsy if initiated within 72 hours of onset aids in bringing better outcome and improves the quality of life in patients.


10.2196/31647 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e31647
Author(s):  
Tamara W van Hal ◽  
Juul MPA Van den Reek ◽  
Hans MM Groenewoud ◽  
Marcel C Pasch ◽  
Frank HJ Van den Hoogen ◽  
...  

Background One in three patients with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA). If left untreated, this can lead to pain, impaired function, and irreversible joint damage. Timely recognition and referral to a rheumatologist are therefore key. However, current methods used to screen patients with psoriasis for those who might benefit from referral to a rheumatologist are not performing well enough. Objective The Discovery of Arthritis in Psoriasis Patients for Early Rheumatological Referral (DAPPER) study is designed to determine the prevalence of PsA in a psoriasis population and to find parameters that can be used to develop a new or enhance an existing instrument for a rheumatological referral. Methods DAPPER is a longitudinal observational study with a 1-year follow-up. Patients with psoriasis (N=300) who are treated at an outpatient dermatological clinic will be screened extensively for signs and symptoms of PsA by a trained rheumatologist. If there is clinical suspicion of PsA and the patient is not yet treated by a rheumatologist, referral to the Department of Rheumatology will follow for confirmation of the diagnosis and further care. After 1 year, data on changes in quality of life and PsA and psoriasis disease activity will be collected from the referred patients. The screening visit will be used to gather demographical and medical data, which can later be used to develop the aforementioned screening instrument. Results Inclusion started in June 2019 and finished in June 2021. Follow-up with newly discovered patients with PsA is ongoing. Conclusions The DAPPER study is specifically designed to improve the detection of existing PsA in a dermatologic outpatient setting. Although internal validity will be tested, external validity will have to be checked using a second validation cohort. To predict the development of PsA in the future, longitudinal/prospective data collection is required and will be performed in a follow-up study (DAPPER-i). Trial Registration Dutch Trial Register NTR7604; https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7397 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/31647


Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna C Robson ◽  
Michael Shepherd ◽  
Mwidimi Ndosi ◽  
Lorraine Harper ◽  
Caroline Flurey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background People with a connective tissue disease (CTD) or systemic vasculititis have diseases which can be life and organ threatening, require complicated medication regimens and impact on all aspects of health-related quality of life. People are routinely managed across multiple medical specialities and have to navigate their way through complex health care systems. The aim of this study was to investigate current psychological and self-management support available for people with CTDs and vasculitis in rheumatology and nephrology departments in the UK. Methods An online survey of health professionals in rheumatology and nephrology departments was conducted with follow-up interviews. The survey comprised 45 multiple-choice and free-text questions. Quantitative material was analysed descriptively. Follow-up interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically, together with free-text survey responses, to identify health professionals’ perceptions on unmet needs and key improvements required. Results The online survey included 120 health professional respondents (34 % specialist nurses, 51% doctors and 12 % allied health professionals and pharmacists). Respondents worked primarily in rheumatology (52.9%) and nephrology (21.5%). Access to self-management programmes or clinics for people with CTD and vasculitis was available in 23% of rheumatology and 8% of nephrology departments. In response to the question “How well is your team providing self-management support to people with CTD and vasculitis?”, 38% of respondents reported not very well, or not well at all. Direct access to psychological support (either within their department or within the hospital) was available for patients in 76.9% of nephrology and 32.8% of rheumatology departments. Where psychological referrals were direct, the assessment of the quality of the service by health professionals was higher than when the referrals were indirect (i.e when patients were either referred to primary care or asked to self-refer) (X2=13.83, p &lt; 0.001). Over 80% of health-professional respondents reported they would like additional training in providing self-management support. Key themes from the qualitative data included the need for dedicated psychological support within departments, self-management programmes (specifically for people with CTD and vasculitis or opening up established programmes for people with other conditions), the benefits of a whole team approach (specialist teams not individual clinicians working to empower patients to take a lead in managing their own care), individual staff training needs ( training in brief psychological interventions and support for health professionals to set up self-management programmes) and signposting to additional resources for patients and their families ( disease-specific written and online information and support from patient charities). Conclusion People with CTD and vasculitis have complex needs and systemic improvements in support are required. Patients in nephrology departments are more likely to have access to psychological support than those in rheumatology. There is inadequate access to structured self-management programmes in both nephrology and rheumatology. Disclosures J.C. Robson None. M. Shepherd None. M. Ndosi None. L. Harper None. C. Flurey None. S. Logan None. K. Austin None. E. Dures None.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (04) ◽  
pp. 571-575
Author(s):  
Hamid Assadeck ◽  
Moussa Toudou-Daouda ◽  
Zakaria Mamadou ◽  
Mahadi Moussa-Konate ◽  
Fatimata Hassane-Djibo ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the management of epilepsy in the elderly at a tertiary referral center in Niger to obtain a comprehensive understanding to determine the intrahospital deficiencies to improve and to make recommendations in terms to improve the management of epilepsy in the elderly in Niger. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective study at the Neurology Outpatient Clinic of the National Hospital of Niamey (Niger) over a period of 5 years from May 2013 to May 2018, collecting all cases of patients aged 60 years or over diagnosed with epilepsy by neurologists. From the registers of consultation, we collected and analyzed for each patient the demographic, clinical, etiological, and therapeutic data, as well as the outcomes during follow-up visits. Results Of the 4,576 patients of all ages seen during the period of our study, we included 62 patients aged 60 years or over diagnosed with epilepsy with a hospital frequency of 1.35%. The mean age of patients was 65.82 ± 5.72 years (range: 60 and 83 years) with a predominance of the male sex (sex ratio at 1.6). Patients aged 60 to 64 years were the most represented (43.5%). Generalized tonic–clonic seizures were the most frequent (41.9%), followed by focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (25.8%). All patients underwent electroencephalogram. Only 30 patients (48.4%) underwent brain imaging, and mainly brain computed tomography scan. The etiologies included poststroke epilepsy (25.8%), brain tumors (3.2%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (3.2%), and cerebral meningioma (1.6%). We found 41 cases (66.1%) of epilepsy without definite etiology and with an incomplete workup. Carbamazepine and phenobarbital were the only two antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used. Conclusion The present study shows limited access to newer generation AEDs and diagnostic tests of epilepsy in Niger. Considerable efforts should be made to facilitate for people living with epilepsy the accessibility to diagnostic tests and the newer generation AEDs to improve the quality of epilepsy management in Niger.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 640-640
Author(s):  
Omar M. Rashid ◽  
Karen A. Coyne ◽  
Thomas W. Ross ◽  
David Shibata

640 Background: The Institute of Medicine's report on improving cancer care, along with the evolution of ASCO's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative, has helped to develop process measures into critical quality of cancer care indicators. One such measure relates to "receipt of chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer (CC) within 120 days of diagnosis" and is now being incorporated into processes including hospital accreditation (American College of Surgeons; ACS), managed care contracts and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) quality monitoring. To better understand potential pitfalls related to the strict guidelines of this measure, we sought to evaluate institutional adherence at a tertiary care cancer center and to examine the reasons for non-compliance. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all cases of stage III colon cancer reported at a single institution from 2008 – 2012. Coding for compliance was performed using standard ACS guidelines. Results: A total of 122 eligible cases were identified and consisted of 49 (40.2%) women and 73 (59.8%) men with a median age of 58 (range 32 - 77). Overall, 15 (12.3%) cases were non-compliant with 2 (1.6%) lost to follow up. Of the non-compliant cases, 14 (93.3%) cases did go on to receive chemotherapy while 1 (6.7%) never received adjuvant treatment. Of those receiving delayed treatment, 7 were due to patient-centered factors [e.g. patient timing preference (n=4), request for chemotherapy closer to home (n=2) and lost to follow up (n=1)]. Other reasons included delays at outside facilities (n=4), postoperative complications (n=1) and insurance approval (n=1). In 2 cases, designation of date of diagnosis based on suspicion rather than definitive biopsy contributed to non-compliant status. Conclusions: Our center averaged an annual compliance with the CC adjuvant therapy measure of approximately 90%. Larger scale studies are indicated to determine whether refinements in coding guides that account for patient preferences, clear diagnosis dates and cross-facility care could better reflect quality of care, and also promote improved patient-centered multidisciplinary management.


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