Discussing adverse outcomes with patients

Author(s):  
Andy S.L. Tan ◽  
Thomas H. Gallagher

Few communication challenges are as difficult for healthcare providers as talking with patients about adverse events, especially when the adverse event was due to a medical error. Ethicists and professional organizations have long endorsed open communication with patients about adverse events and errors in their care. Over the past decade, however, there has been a substantial increase in attention being paid to transparent communication with patients. Many countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada have undertaken major disclosure initiatives. The Joint Commission, the body responsible for the accreditation of most US healthcare facilities, requires that patients be informed of all outcomes in their care, including ‘unanticipated outcomes’. In this chapter, we will explore the special aspects of disclosure in the oncology context, among many other important aspects. The chapter concludes by considering a disclosure case study, and discussing next steps for disclosure in oncology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ahmed Yahya Ayoub ◽  
Nezar Ahmed Salim ◽  
Belal Mohammad Hdaib ◽  
Nidal F Eshah

Background/Aims Unsafe medical practices lead to large numbers of injuries, disabilities and deaths each year worldwide. An understanding of safety culture in healthcare organisations is vital to improve practice and prevent adverse events from medical errors. This integrated literature review aimed to evaluate healthcare staff's perceptions of factors contributing to patient safety culture in their organisations. Methods A comprehensive in-depth review was conducted of studies associated with patient safety culture. Multiple electronic databases, such as PubMed, Wolters Kluwer Health, Karger, SAGE journal and Biomedical Central, were searched for relevant literature published between 2015 and 2020. The keywords ‘patient safety culture’, ‘patient safety’, ‘healthcare providers’, ‘adverse event’, ‘attitude’ and ‘perception’ were searched for. Results Overall, 18 articles met the inclusion criteria. Across all studies, staff highlighted several factors that need improvement to facilitate an effective patient safety culture, with most dimensions of patient safety culture lacking. In particular, staffing levels, open communication, feedback following an error and reporting of adverse events were perceived as lacking across the studies. Conclusion Many issues regarding patient safety culture were present across geographical locations and staff roles. It is crucial that healthcare managers and policymakers work towards an environment that focuses on organisational learning, rather than punishment, in regards to medical errors and adverse incidents. Teamwork between units, particularly during handovers, also requires improvement.


Author(s):  
Arinola Joda ◽  
Oluwaseun Ajetunmobi ◽  
Olubusola Olugbake

Background: Poisons are chemical substances that produce harmful effects on the body. About 0.3 million people die annually from poisoning. Poisons are produced by animals, plants, microorganisms, and food contamination. Poisoning is a global public health problem, especially in children and teenagers and healthcare providers ought to provide protocols for its management. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to document the mode, knowledge of antidotes, and management of poisoning by healthcare providers in selected community pharmacies and hospitals in Lagos state. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study data were collected using questionnaires administered to 112 providers in selected community pharmacies and hospitals in Lagos state. The obtained data were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results were presented as frequency tables and charts. Results: A response rate of 85.7% was achieved. The most common mode of poisoning was accidental (89% and 68% among pharmacists and physicians, respectively) and the highest incidence was among children 0-5 years old (41.5% and 48.3% among pharmacists and physicians, respectively). Management was mainly via gastric decontamination with activated charcoal in pharmacies and supportive care in the hospitals. Knowledge and availability of antidotes and management of poisoning were poor. Conclusion: Management of poisoning was generally inadequate and the prominence of a poison control center was recognized. The establishment of poison control centers in healthcare facilities and the organization of updated lectures for healthcare providers will go a long way to improving poisoning management in the state.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés F Loaiza-Betancur ◽  
Edison Andrés Pérez Bedoya ◽  
Víctor Alfonso Díaz-López ◽  
Andrés Mauricio Echavarría-Rodríguez ◽  
Iván Chulvi-Medrano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This overview aims to identify, appraise, and summarize the findings of all relevant systematic reviews about the benefits and harms of different exercise training modalities on blood pressure in normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and high blood pressure adults. Methods This overview of systematic reviews protocol was reported following the PRISMA-P Statement. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Epistemonikos to identify systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adults with or without a diagnosis of high blood pressure that compared exercise training interventions with other or no exercise interventions. Major outcomes will be blood pressure and adverse events. Pairs of reviewers will independently screen the systematic reviews for inclusion, extract data, and appraise the methodological quality. The GRADE approach will be used to evaluate the quality of the evidence. Discussion Findings from this study will contribute to the knowledge base in the area by providing a systematic synthesis of the certainty of the evidence for the effects of the different training modalities on blood pressure. These assessments might also assist in both the development of clinical practice guidelines and to strengthen evidence-informed decision making in healthcare. Finally, this study might serve to inform patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and decision-makers about the benefits and adverse events related to different exercise training modalities, as well as the knowledge gaps in the body of evidence. Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42021247062


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 209-220
Author(s):  
Lars Fernández Rodríguez ◽  
Javier Olaya Cuartero ◽  
José Miguel Martínez-Sanz

  El cross country es una modalidad del ciclismo de mountain bike (MTB), cuyas competiciones se caracterizan por dar un determinado número de vueltas a un circuito con una distancia desde 6-9km hasta 40-200km. En estos eventos, es importante planificar una estrategia dietético-nutricional para mitigar la aparición de resultados adversos relacionados con la nutrición. El objetivo de este estudio fue realizar la planificación dietético-nutricional de un ciclista de MTB que disputa una competición de cross country. El ciclista es un varón de 27 años (VO2max=74.46 ml•kg-1•min-1; PAM=420W; altura=1.81m; peso=78.6kg; % masa grasa=9.47, sumatorio de pliegues=61.9mm) con 3 años de experiencia en el entrenamiento y competición de pruebas MTB a nivel regional. La intervención tuvo lugar en el gabinete Alinua de la Universidad de Alicante, cuya finalidad fue mejorar la composición corporal y elaborar una programación dietético-nutricional para disputar una carrera de MTB el 23-2-2020 en la provincia de Alicante. La intervención incluía las recomendaciones para deportistas de resistencia y se dividió en un periodo de preparación, periodo de 3 semanas previas a la carrera y periodo competitivo. El participante realizó satisfactoriamente la prueba, se adhirió a la planificación, y no manifestó ningún problema. Para un ciclista, afrontar un evento de estas características con éxito requiere de un asesoramiento teórico-práctico y una programación dietético-nutricional de manera individualizada que trate de contribuir nutricionalmente antes, durante y después de la práctica del ejercicio, así como aminorar la posible aparición de contratiempos que puedan poner en riesgo el rendimiento y la salud. Abstract. Cross Country is a modality of mountain bike cycling (MTB), whose competitions are characterized by giving a certain number of laps to a circuit with a distance from 6-9km to 40-200km. In these events, it is important to plan a dietetic-nutritional strategy to mitigate the appearance of nutrition-related adverse outcomes. The purpose of the study was to plan the dietetic-nutritional planning of a MTB cyclist who competes in a Cross Country competition. The cyclist is a 27-year-old male (VO2max=74.46 ml•kg-1•min-1; MAP=420W; height=1.81m; weight=78.6kg; % fat mass=9.47; sum of 8 skinfolds=61.9mm) with 3 years of experience in training and competing in MTB events at a regional level. The intervention took place in the Alinua cabinet of the University of Alicante, whose purpose was to improve the body composition and to elaborate a dietetic-nutritional program to dispute a MTB race on 23-2-2020 in the province of Alicante. The intervention included the recommendations for endurance athletes and was divided into a preparation period, a period of 3 weeks before the race and a competitive period. Finally, the participant successfully completed the race according to the planning and did not manifest any problems. For a cyclist, facing an event of these characteristics successfully requires theoretical-practical advice and dietary-nutritional programming in an individualized way that tries to contribute at a nutritional level before, during and after physical exercise, as well as to reduce the possible appearance of setbacks that may jeopardize performance and health.


Author(s):  
Ying Jing ◽  
Lixia Diao ◽  
Leng Han

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted as a global pandemic. The World Health Organization announced the most promising drugs in SOLIDARITY for the global trial, and several other drugs are under investigation through ongoing clinical trials to prove the effectiveness and safety of potential therapeutics. Here, we depicted the safety profile of these drugs and investigated their associated adverse events (AEs). We observed the associated AEs in different organs/systems, especially in skin and subcutaneous tissue, immune system and musculoskeletal and connective tissue. Furthermore, we observed strong bias of AEs in different groups of sex and age. Our study provides knowledge of the toxicity of potential COVID-19 drugs. While these drugs hold promise to fight the global pandemic, healthcare providers should pay attention to AEs to maximize the treatment benefit while minimizing toxicity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Ruoslahti

Critical infrastructures often lack resilience and easily lose critical functionalities if hit by adverse events. Continuity management strategies for critical infrastructure operators and the networks that they form, rely also on the functionality of other interrelated networks. Disruptions in operations may affect society and for this reason, securing the operations of critical infrastructure operators is important. The technological impacts of CPS become evident to the resilience of all fields of critical infrastructure, but there is also human elements to take into account. The research question of this study is: How to enhance business continuity of critical infrastructure? This case study research uses qualitative methods collected by conducting interviews of resilience and continuity professionals who work with Finnish critical infrastructure. Resilience and continuity management are key for critical infrastructure operators. Important factors identified were identifying risks, critical activities, key personnel, creating guidelines and procedures, and open communication, which themes were recognised as important to improve resilience and manage continuity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8675
Author(s):  
Carlos Hernández-Martínez ◽  
Lars Fernández-Rodríguez ◽  
Marcos Antonio Soriano ◽  
José Miguel Martínez-Sanz

Powerlifting is a weight-class strength sport where achieving low fat mass (FM) and high fat-free mass (FFM) is desirable to improve performance. Recent studies have evaluated the nutritional considerations of different eating patterns, such as vegan diets (VD), in athlete populations. VD are a challenge for athletes who want to attain body composition changes. The aim of this case study is to report on the body composition changes and subjective feelings of a male professional vegan powerlifter following VD for six weeks. The body mass of the powerlifter decreased from 79.3 to 77.4 kg (2.39%). Along with this, FM decreased from 15.0 to 11.4 kg (24%). Conversely, FFM increased from 64.3 to 66.0 kg (2.64%). Moreover, the powerlifter communicated no subjective feelings of low energy availability during training sessions. The VD might compromise adherence in a nutritional intervention which aims to improve body composition due to the nutritional requirements for fat loss. Therefore, more appropriate health assessments, including blood and psychological tests, are required for professional athletes. This short-term VD intervention was satisfactory for improving body composition and no adverse outcomes were reported.


2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 93-98
Author(s):  
Lynn E. Fox

Abstract Linguistic interaction models suggest that interrelationships arise between structural language components and between structural and pragmatic components when language is used in social contexts. The linguist, David Crystal (1986, 1987), has proposed that these relationships are central, not peripheral, to achieving desired clinical outcomes. For individuals with severe communication challenges, erratic or unpredictable relationships between structural and pragmatic components can result in atypical patterns of interaction between them and members of their social communities, which may create a perception of disablement. This paper presents a case study of a woman with fluent, Wernicke's aphasia that illustrates how attention to patterns of linguistic interaction may enhance AAC intervention for adults with aphasia.


Author(s):  
Pramukti Dian Setianingrum ◽  
Farah Irmania Tsani

Backgroud: The World Health Organization (WHO) explained that the number of Hyperemesis Gravidarum cases reached 12.5% of the total number of pregnancies in the world and the results of the Demographic Survey conducted in 2007, stated that 26% of women with live births experienced complications. The results of the observations conducted at the Midwife Supriyati Clinic found that pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum, with a comparison of 10 pregnant women who examined their contents there were about 4 pregnant women who complained of excessive nausea and vomiting. Objective: to determine the hyperemesis Gravidarum of pregnant mother in clinic. Methods: This study used Qualitative research methods by using a case study approach (Case Study.) Result: The description of excessive nausea of vomiting in women with Hipermemsis Gravidarum is continuous nausea and vomiting more than 10 times in one day, no appetite or vomiting when fed, the body feels weak, blood pressure decreases until the body weight decreases and interferes with daily activities days The factors that influence the occurrence of Hyperemesis Gravidarum are Hormonal, Diet, Unwanted Pregnancy, and psychology, primigravida does not affect the occurrence of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Conclusion: Mothers who experience Hyperemesis Gravidarum feel nausea vomiting continuously more than 10 times in one day, no appetite or vomiting when fed, the body feels weak, blood pressure decreases until the weight decreases and interferes with daily activities, it is because there are several factors, namely, hormonal actors, diet, unwanted pregnancy, and psychology.


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