Validation of the quality of ultrasound imaging and competence (QUICk) score as an objective assessment tool for the FAST examination

INTRODUCTION Accurate and legible medical records are essential to good quality patient care. Guidelines from The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSE) state the content required to form a complete medical record, but do not address legibility. An audit of otolaryngology emergency clinic record keeping was performed using a new scoring system. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Adjusted Note Keeping and Legibility (ANKLe) score was developed as an objective and quantitative method to assess both the content and legibility of case notes, incorporating the RCSE guidelines. Twenty consecutive otolaryngology emergency clinic case notes from each of 7 senior house officers were audited against standards for legibility and content using the ANKLe score. A proforma was introduced to improve documentation and handwriting advice was given. A further set of 140 notes (20 notes for each of the 7 doctors) was audited in the same way to provide feedback. RESULTS The introduction of a proforma and advice on handwriting significantly increased the quality of case note entries in terms of content, legibility and overall ANKLe score. CONCLUSIONS Accurate note keeping can be improved by the use of a proforma. The legibility of handwriting can be improved using simple advice. The ANKLe score is an objective assessment tool of the overall quality of medical note documentation which can be adapted for use in other specialties.

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Using the Mouse to Model Human Diseases: Cognitive Impairment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.200410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (7) ◽

pp. 1145-1149

Author(s):

Lara El Khoury ◽

Aida Zarfeshani ◽

Betty Diamond

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Renin Angiotensin System ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Angiotensin System

In this 2020 Dunlop-Dottridge Lecture, the authors discuss cognitive impairment (CI), one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients often report CI as the most bothersome disease-related manifestation, with a great effect on their quality of life. Nevertheless, studies focusing on CI remain scarce and no effective targeted therapy has been identified. We herein present murine models of CI in SLE with insights into the pathogenesis of this condition as well as the role of the renin angiotensin system in microglial activation. We will discuss the role of neuroimaging as a useful objective assessment tool, describing our experience in previous and ongoing clinical trials of CI in patients with SLE.

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The objective assessment of the quality of hospital care: dream or reality?

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/oh.2007.28107 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 148 (43) ◽

pp. 2033-2041

Author(s):

Éva Belicza ◽

Erika Takács

Keyword(s):

Hospital Care ◽

Objective Assessment

A nemzetközi szakirodalom egyre gyakrabban foglalkozik azzal a kérdéssel, hogy a minőségi indikátorokra támaszkodó nyilvános minőségértékelésnek mi a hatása az ellátás minőségére és az érintettek döntésére vonatkozóan, illetve melyek azok a kritériumok, amelyek mentén nyilvános minőségértékelési rendszereket célszerű kialakítani. A nemzetközi szakirodalom alapján a dolgozat hat témakört mutat be: (1) az indikátorok képessége a szolgáltatók megkülönböztetésére; (2) az eredményindikátorok alkalmassága a szolgáltatók megítélésére; (3) a bajnoki tabellák képessége a szolgáltatók rangsorolására; (4) a lakosság viselkedése a szolgáltatók választása során; (5) az indikátorokra támaszkodó nyilvános minősítések hatásai; (6) ajánlások minősítési rendszerek kidolgozására. A szakirodalmi kutatások szerint elsősorban a kockázatkiegyenlítési problémák miatt az indikátorok képessége a szolgáltatók megkülönböztetésére a nyújtott ellátás minősége szempontjából kérdéses; az elért ellátási eredmények nem feltétlenül utalnak vissza az ellátási folyamatok minőségére; a több indikátorból komponált intézményi sorrendek (bajnoki tabellák) nem megbízhatóak; a lakosság a szolgáltatók kiválasztásakor elsősorban a környezet véleményét és a távolságot veszi figyelembe; és a nyilvános közlések hatására igazoltan romlik az ellátás átfogó minősége. A szolgáltatók értékelésében alkalmazott mérési eredmények közzétételét eszköznek kell tekinteni. A lakosság intézményválasztásának elősegítésére az ő preferenciáik mentén végzett betegelégedettségi vizsgálatok nyilvánossá tétele hozhatja meg a kívánt eredményt. A minőségfejlesztési célokat igazoltan segítik a szolgáltatói körben végzett közvetlen visszajelzések az indikátorok mért értékeiről, illetve pontosabb kép kapható az ellátási és szervezési folyamatok, standardok egységes felülvizsgálatára alapozott eljárások külső értékelési rendszerekbe történő beemelésével.

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A Systematic Review of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Towards Working with Autistic People

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s40489-021-00263-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kirsten Corden ◽

Rebecca Brewer ◽

Eilidh Cage

Keyword(s):

Health Professionals ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Vital Role ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Quality Assessment Tool ◽

Professional Background ◽

Autistic People

AbstractHealthcare professionals play a vital role in identifying and supporting autistic people. This study systematically reviewed empirical research examining healthcare professionals’ knowledge, self-efficacy and attitudes towards working with autistic people. Thirty-five studies were included. The included studies sampled a range of countries and professional backgrounds. A modified quality assessment tool found the quality of the included studies was moderately good. Narrative synthesis indicated that healthcare professionals report only moderate levels of autism knowledge and self-efficacy, and often lack training. Variation within and between countries and professional background was not explained by demographic factors. The reviewed evidence suggests health professionals’ limited knowledge and self-efficacy in working with autistic people is a challenge to the provision of healthcare for autistic individuals.

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The effect of opioid-free anesthesia on the quality of recovery after gynecological laparoscopy: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-021-05166-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jae Yen Song ◽

Hoon Choi ◽

Minsuk Chae ◽

Jemin Ko ◽

Young Eun Moon

Keyword(s):

General Anesthesia ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Perioperative Period ◽

Postoperative Outcomes ◽

Control Group ◽

Quality Of Recovery ◽

Gynecological Laparoscopy ◽

Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Because of the indiscriminate use of opioids during the perioperative period, opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) has been increasingly required. Nevertheless, the studies on the detailed techniques and effects of OFA are not sufficient. The Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire is a validated assessment tool for measuring recovery from general anesthesia. However, no study has used the QoR-40 to determine if OFA leads to better recovery than standard general anesthesia. Therefore, we aim to perform this study to determine the effects of OFA using dexmedetomidine and lidocaine on the quality of recovery as well as the various postoperative outcomes. Methods The participants (n = 78) will be allocated to one of the two groups; the study group will receive bolus and infusion of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, and the control group will receive remifentanil infusion during general anesthesia for gynecological laparoscopy. The other processes including anesthetic and postoperative care will be performed similarly in the two groups. Intraoperative hemodynamic, anesthetic, and nociceptive variables will be recorded. Postoperative outcomes such as QoR-40, pain severity, and opioid-related side effects will be assessed. Additionally, an ancillary cytokine study (inflammatory cytokine, stress hormone, and reactive oxygen species) will be performed during the study period. Discussion This will be the first study to determine the effect of OFA, using the combination of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, on the quality of recovery after gynecological laparoscopy compared with standard general anesthesia using remifentanil. The findings from this study will provide scientific and clinical evidence on the efficacy of OFA. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04409964. Registered on 28 May 2020

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Implementing the Mindfulness-Based Interventions; Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC) in Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training

Global Advances in Health and Medicine ◽

10.1177/2164956121998340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 216495612199834

Author(s):

GM Griffith ◽

RS Crane ◽

R Baer ◽

E Fernandez ◽

F Giommi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Teacher Training ◽

Teaching Practice ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Assessment Criteria ◽

Optimal Conditions ◽

Intervention Delivery ◽

Effective Feedback ◽

Teaching Assessment ◽

Teaching Competence

The Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC) was originally developed as a tool to assess the teaching competence of mindfulness-based program (MBP) teachers. The tool was made freely available and has since been used by mindfulness-based teacher training organisations internationally. During this time the MBI:TAC has evolved in its usage, from an assessment tool to one which informally supports how MBP teachers are trained. In this article, we first examine the rationale for implementing the MBI:TAC in MBP teacher training; second, we offer practical guidance on ways of integrating the tool into teacher training pathways with awareness of its potential and possible pitfalls; and third, we offer guidance on using the tool as a framework for giving effective feedback to trainees on their teaching practice. Implementing the MBI:TAC in teacher training may support the quality and integrity of MBP teacher training, and thus ensure high quality MBP teachers graduating. In turn this may help avoid the ‘implementation cliff’ – that is, the quality of an intervention delivery is delivered in optimal conditions when it is being researched, and drops in quality when delivered in sub-optimal, ‘real world’ conditions.

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Attitudes Toward Sexual Behaviors in Long-Term Care: Development of an Assessment Tool

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 602-603

Author(s):

Rachael Spalding ◽

Emma Katz ◽

Barry Edelstein

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Family Members ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Development

Abstract Most older adults living in long-term care settings (LTCs) indicate that expressing their sexuality is important to them (Doll, 2013). Little is known about the general public’s attitudes towards sexual behaviors in LTCs. Attitudes of LTC residents’ family members are particularly important, as family members are most likely to visit residents and to care about their quality of life. Family members’ attitudes could in turn inform facility policies and management. We will present preliminary data from a series of qualitative interviews with community-dwelling adults regarding their attitudes. We will discuss how these data are being used to inform current work on a measure of attitudes toward sexual behavior in LTCs.

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