scholarly journals How to live with a meningioma: experiences, symptoms, and challenges reported by patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshad Nassiri ◽  
Suganth Suppiah ◽  
Justin Z Wang ◽  
Jetan H Badhiwala ◽  
Kyle Juraschka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Initial Diagnosis ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Insufficient Information ◽  
Disease Experience ◽  
Tumor Association ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

Abstract Background We aimed to explore gaps in the care of meningioma patients that could improve quality of care by better understanding symptoms experienced by patients at various stages of treatment, and afterwards. Methods A novel 19-item self-administered questionnaire was provided for patients with meningiomas to complete by the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) over a 3-month period. Results A total of 1852 unique respondents were included. Nearly one-third of all respondents felt they received insufficient information about meningiomas at initial diagnosis (N = 607, 32.9%) and 28.8% (N = 530) believed they received insufficient information about treatment options. In fact, 34.5% of respondents received the majority of their information from the internet and nonhealthcare professionals. The most common concerns after initial diagnosis were risks associated with surgery and/or treatment (36.5%) followed by how the tumor would impact daily life (25%) and the risk of tumor recurrence (12.4%). Respondents indicated that a list of resources available for patients with meningiomas (N = 597, 32.3%) would have been most beneficial in regards to their disease experience after their initial diagnosis. Moreover, we found that a substantial proportion of patients continued to report symptoms long after treatment, with fatigue being the most common compared to before treatment (38.2% vs. 57.7%, χ2 = 128, P < .001). Conclusions Patients with meningiomas exhibit symptoms that continue well after treatment with fatigue and cognitive impairments as the most bothersome. Moreover, patients report key communication gaps that can be addressed to improve their disease experience and care.

The Quality of Web Sites' Health Information on Minimal Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum Using the DISCERN Instrument

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wietse P. Zuidema ◽  
Maarten J. Graumans ◽  
Jan W. A. Oosterhuis ◽  
Alida F. W. van der Steeg ◽  
Ernest van Heurn
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Pectus Excavatum ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Related Information

Abstract Introduction The Internet is a frequently used tool for patients with pectus excavatum (PE) to get information about symptoms and treatment options. In addition, it is used by both health care providers as a marketing tool and support group systems. The Internet health information varies in precision, quality, and reliability. The study purpose was to determine the quality of information on the PE Web sites using the DISCERN instrument, including information about operation and potential complications after a Nuss bar procedure. Materials and Methods Four search engines, Google, Yahoo, Ask, and Bing, were used to explore seven key terms concerning PE. Search language was English. The DISCERN quality instrument was used to evaluate the Web sites. Also, information on possible complications was scored per Web site. Results A total of 560 Web sites were assessed in March 2019. Excluded were 139 Web sites. There were 333 duplicates, leaving 88 unique Web sites. Of these, 58.1% were hospital-related information Web sites, 28.4% medical information Web sites, and 3.4% patient forum sites. Interactive multimedia was used on 21.6% of the sites. Pain postoperatively was mentioned on 64.8% of the sites, while only 9.1% mentioned the mortality risk of the surgical correction of PE for Nuss bar placement. The quality of the unique Web sites showed a mean DISCERN score of 42.5 (standard deviation 12.2). Medical information Web sites, encyclopedia, and government-sponsored sites had higher DISCERN scores. Hospital-related information sites, medical companies, and lay persons' sites, had lower total scores. Conclusion The overall quality of PE Web sites is low to moderate, with serious shortcomings.

scholarly journals Quality analysis of patient information on surgical treatment of haemorrhoids on the internet

2013 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 341-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Yeung ◽  
ND D’Souza
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Treatment ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Benign Condition

Introduction Haemorrhoids are the most common benign condition seen by colorectal surgeons. At clinic appointments, advice given about lifestyle modification or surgical interventions may not be understood fully by patients. Patients may use the internet for further research into their condition. However, the quality of such information has not been investigated before. This study assessed the quality of patient information on surgical treatment of haemorrhoids on the internet. Methods Four searches were carried out using the search terms ‘surgery for haemorrhoids’ and ‘surgery for piles’ on two search engines (Google and Yahoo). The first 50 results for each search were assessed. Sites were evaluated using the DISCERN instrument. Results In total, 200 websites were assessed, of which 144 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 63 (44%) were sponsored by herbal remedies for haemorrhoids. Eighty-nine (62%) mentioned conservative treatment options but eleven (8%) did not include surgery in their treatment options. Only 38 sites (27%) mentioned recurrence of haemorrhoids following surgery and 28 sites (20%) did not list any complications. Overall, 19 websites (14%) were judged as being of high quality, 66 (45%) as moderate quality and 58 (40%) as low quality. Conclusions The quality of information on the internet is highly variable and a significant proportion of websites assessed are poor. The majority of websites are sponsored by private companies selling alternative treatments for haemorrhoids. Clinicians should be prepared to advise their patients which websites can provide high-quality information on the surgical treatment of haemorrhoids.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Quality of the Internet Web Sites Providing Informations and Treatment Options about Lumbar Stenosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Hee-Jun Chang ◽  
Jun-Bum Kim ◽  
Sung-Joon Yoon ◽  
Woo-Jong Kim ◽  
Ki-Jin Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Lumbar Stenosis

scholarly journals Analgesic drugs: What quality of information is present on the Internet?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e25810817157
Author(s):  
Ana Amélia Rangel Ribeiro ◽  
Gustavo Leite Magalhães de Melo ◽  
Merielle de Souza Costa ◽  
Miriam Furtado de Oliveira Lima ◽  
Renan da Silva Gianoti Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Options ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
Analgesic Drugs

The internet enables the search for several subject types, including health and drug utilization. These information are spread generally without reliability and scientific basis, that can encourage self-medication and indiscriminate medicine use. This was a cross-sectional study, carried out through application of tools that evaluated the quality of global health information and the specific content about analgesic drugs on 98 Brazilian websites. Among the most cited drugs on websites, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (83.67 %), acetaminophen (47.96 %) and opioids (47.96 %) stood out. All websites described pharmacological treatment options for pain, however, most websites did not mention any adverse reactions or contraindications for painkillers use. Information on opioid addiction and tolerance risk was present only in 18.37 % of websites. Considering all the indicators evaluated, no website was considered to be of good quality, even those with a quality certification seal. These results showed important shortcomings on health and drugs information published on internet, which can lead to analgesics inappropriate use, adverse effects and even intoxications events. This reinforces the need to control this information and to adopt minimum quality criteria for the websites, aiming to minimize health risks, drug irrational use and to contribute for lay public’s safety.

Surgery for Lung Cancer and the Consequences for the Swallow

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
pp. 162-168
Author(s):  
Pippa Hales ◽  
Corinne Mossey-Gaston
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Vocal Cord Palsy ◽  
Subsequent Treatment ◽  
Physiological Reserve ◽  
Palliative Phase ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Swallow Function

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers across Northern America and Europe. Treatment options offered are dependent on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, the staging, and the overall health of the person. When surgery for lung cancer is offered, difficulty swallowing is a potential complication that can have several influencing factors. Surgical interaction with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can lead to unilateral vocal cord palsy, altering swallow function and safety. Understanding whether the RLN has been preserved, damaged, or sacrificed is integral to understanding the effect on the swallow and the subsequent treatment options available. There is also the risk of post-surgical reduction of physiological reserve, which can reduce the strength and function of the swallow in addition to any surgery specific complications. As lung cancer has a limited prognosis, the clinician must also factor in the palliative phase, as this can further increase the burden of an already compromised swallow. By understanding the surgery and the implications this may have for the swallow, there is the potential to reduce the impact of post-surgical complications and so improve quality of life (QOL) for people with lung cancer.

Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ischaemia - pharmacologic approach and alternative treatment options

VASA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Linnemann ◽  
Matthias Erbe
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ◽  
Raynaud’S Phenomenon ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Raynaud's Phenomenon ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Skin Ulcers ◽  
Digital Ischaemia

Abstract. The primary goal of therapy is to reduce the frequency and intensity of Raynaud’s attacks and to minimize the related morbidity rather than to cure the underlying condition. Treatment strategies depend on whether Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is primary or secondary. All patients should be instructed about general measures to maintain body warmth and to avoid triggers of RP attacks. Pharmacologic intervention can be useful for patients with severe and frequent RP episodes that impair the patient’s quality of life. Calcium channel blockers are currently the most prescribed and studied medications for this purpose. There has been limited evidence for the efficacy of alpha-1-adrenergic receptor antagonists, angiotensin receptor blockers, topical nitrates or fluoxetine to treat RP. The intravenously administered prostacyclin analogue iloprost can reduce the frequency and severity of RP attacks and is considered a second-line therapy in patients with markedly impaired quality of life, critical digital ischaemia and skin ulcers who are at risk for substantial tissue loss and amputation. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil) can also improve RP symptoms and ulcer healing whereas endothelin-1 receptor antagonists (e.g., bosentan) are mainly considered treatment options in secondary prevention for patients with digital skin ulcers related to systemic sclerosis. However, their use in clinical practice has been limited by their high cost. Antiplatelet therapy with low-dose aspirin is recommended for all patients who suffer from secondary RP due to ischaemia caused by structural vessel damage. Anticoagulant therapy can be considered during the acute phase of digital ischaemia in patients with suspected vascular occlusive disease attributed to the occurrence of new thromboses. In patients with critical digital ischaemia, consideration should be given to hospitalisation, optimisation of medical treatment in accordance with the underlying disease and evaluation for a secondary, possibly reversible process that is causing or aggravating the clinical symptoms.

Analysis of Reading, Reference and Information Management on the Quality of Scientific Writing

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-69
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zarlis ◽  
Sherly Astuti ◽  
Muhammad Salamuddin
Keyword(s):  
Information Management ◽  
Scientific Writing ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Management Skill ◽  
Library Search ◽  
Important Thing ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Quality Of Research

In education, for educational instruments scientific writing is a very important thing. It requires an information management skill, information management is a library search, which can be done through a computer and guided by the internet. It can also be through the quality of reading used as a reference for scientific writing. In addition, in producing a paper also must know the management of writing, not only required to pay attention to the rules of standard language, but also must be able to convey ideas and ideas well and meet scientific criteria, such as making a quote or reference list used. This paper was written with the aim of improving the quality of research through reading material, making notes and avoiding plagiarism, references using the Harvard system for journals, books, and articles. Management of citing articles either CD or internet, writing, editing, storing references electronically, writing bibliography, and quotations.

Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists in Children with Immune Thrombocytopenia: A New Therapeutic Era

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lassandro ◽  
Valentina Palladino ◽  
Giovanni Carlo Del Vecchioa ◽  
Viviana Valeria Palmieri ◽  
Paola Carmela Corallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists ◽  
Receptor Agonists ◽  
Thrombopoietin Receptor ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Background and Objective: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common bleeding disorder in childhood. The management of ITP in children is controversial, requiring personalized assessment of patients and therapeutic choices. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), eltrombopag and romiplostim, have been shown to be safety and effective for the treatment of pediatric ITP. The aim of our research is defining the role of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in the management of pediatric ITP. Method: This review focuses on the use of TPO-RAs in pediatric ITP, in randomized trials and in clinical routine, highlighting their key role in management of the disease. Results: Eltrombopag and romiplostim appear effective treatment options for children with ITP. Several clinical studies have assessed that the use of TPO-RAs increases platelet count, decreases bleeding symptoms and improves health-related quality of life. Moreover, TPO-RAs are well tolerated with minor side effects. Conclusion: Although TPO-RAs long term efficacy and safety still require further investigations, their use is gradually expanding in clinical practice of children with ITP.

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