scholarly journals Effects of case management in community aged care on client and carer outcomes: a systematic review of randomized trials and comparative observational studies

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Chuanmei You ◽  
David Dunt ◽  
Colleen Doyle ◽  
Arthur Hsueh
2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. E14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Kolb ◽  
Hassan Fadel ◽  
Gary Rajah ◽  
Hamidreza Saber ◽  
Ali Luqman ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVESteno-occlusive diseases of the cerebral vasculature have been associated with cognitive decline. The authors performed a systematic review of the existing literature on intracranial steno-occlusive disease, including intracranial atherosclerosis and moyamoya disease (MMD), to determine the extent and quality of evidence for the effect of revascularization on cognitive performance.METHODSA systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Core Collection, and the KCI Korean Journal Database was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the English-language literature and observational studies that compared cognitive outcomes before and after revascularization in patients with steno-occlusive disease of the intracranial vasculature, from which data were extracted and analyzed.RESULTSNine papers were included, consisting of 2 RCTs and 7 observational cohort studies. Results from 2 randomized trials including 142 patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic steno-occlusion found no additional benefit to revascularization when added to maximal medical therapy. The certainty in the results of these trials was limited by concerns for bias and indirectness. Results from 7 observational trials including 282 patients found some cognitive benefit for revascularization for symptomatic atherosclerotic steno-occlusion and for steno-occlusion related to MMD in children. The certainty of these conclusions was low to very low, due to both inherent limitations in observational studies for inferring causality and concerns for added risk of bias and indirectness in some studies.CONCLUSIONSThe effects of revascularization on cognitive performance in intracranial steno-occlusive disease remain uncertain due to limitations in existing studies. More well-designed randomized trials and observational studies are needed to determine if revascularization can arrest or reverse cognitive decline in these patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma B. Bulamu ◽  
Billingsley Kaambwa ◽  
Julie Ratcliffe

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Chuanmei You ◽  
David Dunt ◽  
Colleen Doyle

Aim: To investigate important case management goals and key influences on the achievement of the goals in community aged care practice from the perspectives of case managers in Australia.Methods: We surveyed 154 case managers, representing 17.1% of the target population in the State of Victoria, Australia. The key information collected was case managers’ characteristics and their selections of important case management goals. We also conducted 33 interviews with 47 case managers to explore their perceptions of important case-managed community aged care goals and the key influences on the achievement of these goals. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and qualitative thematic analysis were performed.Results: The survey findings showed that important case management goals included improving client outcomes, improving care quality, enhancing care coordination and accessibility, and reducing nursing home admissions. The interview findings indicated that important case management goals were divided into client-centered goals (e.g., maintaining clients safely at home), case managers’ personal goals (e.g., gaining professional development), and organizational goals/expectations/values (e.g., expecting case managers to manage budgets wisely). Finally, the mixed research methods determined constraints of organizational resources and policies, clients’ risky decisions, and case managers’ work experience and employment status as key influences or significant factors associated with the achievement of case management goals.Conclusion: Client-centered goals are of particular importance among those important case management goals. Case managers helping clients establish reasonable expectations and organizations developing favorable professional development policies and establishing reasonable job requirements and expectations will facilitate the achievement of case management goals.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3;14 (2;3) ◽  
pp. E85-E102
Author(s):  
James Colson

Background: The prevalence of cancer-related pain and residual pain in cancer survivors is high. Opioids serve as the gold standard for treating moderate to severe cancer pain. The evaluation of the effectiveness of opioids in chronic non-cancer pain has shown a lack of effectiveness, or rather weak evidence for some of the drugs. In contrast, in cancer pain, opioids are expected to be very effective. Due to the nature of the disease, there is evidence of a paucity of randomized trials investigating opioid effectiveness in cancer pain on a long-term basis. Consequently, the effectiveness of opioids in managing cancer-related pain warrants further evidence-based review beyond randomized trials, including observational studies and case reports. Methods: The comprehensive literature search was conducted for the period 1996 through June 2010. Databases for the search included PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Reviews, and clinicaltrails.gov, along with reviews and cross references. Methodologic quality assessment of the observational studies managing chronic cancer pain with opioids was conducted utilizing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) criteria for observational studies. Analysis of evidence included 5 levels of evidence developed by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) ranging from Level I to III with 3 subcategories in Level II. Grading recommendations were based on Guyatt et al’s recommendations with 6 levels: 3 in the strong category and 3 in the weak category. Results: This evaluation is of 18 manuscripts considered for inclusion; 7 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria based on AHRQ quality assessment. Level of evidence for opioid therapy in cancer pain was Level II-3, and recommendations were 1C/strong recommendation based on observational studies, which could change based on future evidence. Conclusion: This systematic review of observational studies indicates Level II3 evidence for effectiveness of opioids in cancer pain therapy, with 1C/strong recommendation based on observational studies, which could change based on future evidence. Key words: Chronic pain, cancer pain, non-cancer pain, randomized trials, observational studies, case reports, opioids, effectiveness


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Eva N. Hamulyák ◽  
Joost G. Daams ◽  
Frank W. G. Leebeek ◽  
Bart J. Biemond ◽  
Peter A. W. te Boekhorst ◽  
...  

Abstract Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis, have an increased risk of thrombosis. Risk of recurrent thrombosis can be reduced with antithrombotic therapy and/or cytoreduction, but the optimal long-term management in patients with MPN with a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown, and clinical practice is heterogeneous. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and observational studies evaluating anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy, with or without cytoreduction, in MPN patients with a history of VTE. A total of 5675 unique citations were screened for eligibility. No randomized trials were identified. Ten observational studies involving 1295 patients with MPN were included in the analysis. Overall, 23% had an arterial or recurrent venous thrombotic event on follow-up. The recurrence risk was lowest for patients on oral anticoagulation plus cytoreduction (16%); 55 of 313 (18%) with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and 5 of 63 (8%) with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). In 746 analyzed patients, the risk of recurrent VTE ranged up to 33% (median 13%) and was low in 63 DOAC plus cytoreduction-treated patients (3.2%). All types of antithrombotic treatments were associated with a lower risk of recurrent VTE when combined with cytoreduction. Most studies had a high risk of bias, whereas clinical and statistical heterogeneity led to inconsistent and imprecise findings. In summary, evidence on the optimal antithrombotic treatment of VTE in patients with MPN is based on observational studies only with low certainty for all strategies. Our data suggest that a combination of anticoagulation and cytoreduction may provide the lowest recurrence risk.


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