scholarly journals Safer prescription of drugs: impact of the PREFASEG system to aid clinical decision-making in primary care in Catalonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Àngels Pons-Mesquida ◽  
Míriam Oms-Arias ◽  
Eduard Diogène-Fadini ◽  
Albert Figueras
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pharmacological Interactions ◽  
Clinical Workstation ◽  
The Individual ◽  
New Treatments

Abstract Background In 2008, the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS, Catalan Health Institute) implemented a prescription decision support system in its electronic clinical workstation (ECW), which automatically generates online alerts for general practitioners when a possible medication-related problem (MRP) is detected. This tool is known as PREFASEG, and at the time of beginning a new treatment, it automatically assesses the suitability of the treatment for the individual patient. This analysis is based on ongoing treatments, demographic characteristics, existing pathologies, and patient biochemical variables. As a result of the assessment, therapeutic recommendations are provided. The objective of this study is to present the PREFASEG tool, analyse the main alerts that it generates, and determine the degree of alert acceptance. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to analyse the generation of MRP-related alerts detected by PREFASEG during 2016, 2017, and 2018 in primary care (PC) in Catalonia. The number of MRP alerts generated, the drugs involved, and the acceptance/rejection of the alerts were analysed. An alert was considered "accepted" when the medication that generated the alert was not prescribed, thereby following the recommendation given by the tool. The MRP alerts studied were therapeutic duplications, safety alerts issued by the Spanish Medicines Agency, and drugs not recommended for use in geriatrics. The prescriptions issued by 6411 ICS PC physicians who use the ECW and provide their services to 5.8 million Catalans through 288 PC teams were analysed. Results During the 3 years examined, 67.2 million new prescriptions were analysed, for which PREFASEG generated 4,379,866 alerts (1 for every 15 new treatments). A total of 1,222,159 alerts (28%) were accepted. Pharmacological interactions and therapeutic duplications were the most detected alerts, representing 40 and 30% of the total alerts, respectively. The main pharmacological groups involved in the safety alerts were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors. Conclusions During the period analysed, 28% of the prescriptions wherein a toxicity-related PREFASEG alert was generated led to treatment modification, thereby helping to prevent the generation of potential safety MRPs. However, the tool should be further improved to increase alert acceptance and thereby improve patient safety.

scholarly journals Determination of Haematological Reference Ranges in Healthy Adults in Three Regions in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otchere Addai-Mensah ◽  
Daniel Gyamfi ◽  
Richard Vikpebah Duneeh ◽  
Kwabena O. Danquah ◽  
Max E. Annani-Akollor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Values ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Reference Ranges ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Individual

Laboratory results interpretation for diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making in this period of evidence-based medicine requires cut-off values or reference ranges that are reflective of the geographical area where the individual resides. Several studies have shown significant differences between and within populations, emphasizing the need for population-specific reference ranges. This cross-sectional experimental study sought to establish the haematological reference values in apparently healthy individuals in three regions in Ghana. Study sites included Nkenkaasu, Winneba, and Nadowli in the Ashanti, Central, and Upper West regions of Ghana, respectively. A total of 488 healthy participants were recruited using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (United States National Consensus Committee on Laboratory Standards, NCCLS) Guidance Document C28A2. Medians for haematological parameters were calculated and reference values determined at2.5thand97.5thpercentiles and compared with Caucasian values adopted by our laboratory as reference ranges and values from other African and Western countries. RBC count, haemoglobin, and haematocrit (HCT) were significantly higher in males compared to females. There were significant intraregional and interregional as well as international variations of haematological reference ranges in the populations studied. We conclude that, for each geographical area, there is a need to establish geography-specific reference ranges if accurate diagnosis and concise clinical decisions are to be made.

scholarly journals Elderly Patients in Primary Care are Still at Risks of Receiving Potentially Inappropriate Medications

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110350
Author(s):  
Pasitpon Vatcharavongvan ◽  
Viwat Puttawanchai
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medications ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Inappropriate Medications

Background Most older adults with comorbidities in primary care clinics use multiple medications and are at risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescription. Objective This study examined the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMs using Thai criteria for PIMs. Methods This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were collected from electronic medical records in a primary care clinic in 2018. Samples were patients aged ≥65 years old with at least 1 prescription. Variables included age, gender, comorbidities, and medications. The list of risk drugs for Thai elderly version 2 was the criteria for PIMs. The prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMs were calculated, and multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine associations between variables and PIMs. Results Of 2806 patients, 27.5% and 43.7% used ≥5 medications and PIMs, respectively. Of 10 290 prescriptions, 47% had at least 1 PIM. The top 3 PIMs were anticholinergics, proton-pump inhibitors, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Polypharmacy and dyspepsia were associated with PIM prescriptions (adjusted odds ratio 2.48 [95% confident interval or 95% CI 2.07-2.96] and 3.88 [95% CI 2.65-5.68], respectively). Conclusion Prescriptions with PIMs were high in the primary care clinic. Describing unnecessary medications is crucial to prevent negative health outcomes from PIMs. Computer-based clinical decision support, pharmacy-led interventions, and patient-specific drug recommendations are promising interventions to reduce PIMs in a primary care setting.

scholarly journals Diagnostic accuracy of symptoms as a diagnostic tool for SARS-CoV 2 infection: a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 2,173 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alfonso Romero-Gameros ◽  
Tania Colin-Martínez ◽  
Salomón Waizel-Haiat ◽  
Guadalupe Vargas-Ortega ◽  
Eduardo Ferat-Osorio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to be a priority health problem; According to the World Health Organization data from October 13, 2020, 37,704,153 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported, including 1,079,029 deaths, since the outbreak. The identification of potential symptoms has been reported to be a useful tool for clinical decision-making in emergency departments to avoid overload and improve the quality of care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of symptoms as a diagnostic tool for SARS -CoV-2 infection. Methods An observational, cross-sectional, prospective and analytical study was carried out, during the period of time from April 14 to July 21, 2020. Data (demographic variables, medical history, respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms) were collected by emergency physicians. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was made using SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. The diagnostic accuracy of these characteristics for COVID-19 was evaluated by calculating the positive and negative likelihood ratios. A Mantel-Haenszel and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of symptoms with COVID-19. Results A prevalence of 53.72% of SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed. The symptom with the highest sensitivity was cough 71%, and a specificity of 52.68%. The symptomatological scale, constructed from 6 symptoms, obtained a sensitivity of 83.45% and a specificity of 32.86%, taking ≥2 symptoms as a cut-off point. The symptoms with the greatest association with SARS-CoV-2 were: anosmia odds ratio (OR) 3.2 (95% CI; 2.52–4.17), fever OR 2.98 (95% CI; 2.47–3.58), dyspnea OR 2.9 (95% CI; 2.39–3.51]) and cough OR 2.73 (95% CI: 2.27–3.28). Conclusion The combination of ≥2 symptoms / signs (fever, cough, anosmia, dyspnea and oxygen saturation < 93%, and headache) results in a highly sensitivity model for a quick and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19, and should be used in the absence of ancillary diagnostic studies. Symptomatology, alone and in combination, may be an appropriate strategy to use in the emergency department to guide the behaviors to respond to the disease. Trial registration Institutional registration R-2020-3601-145, Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks 17 CI-09-015-034, National Bioethics Commission: 09 CEI-023-2017082.

PATH-39. INTEGRATED MOLECULAR-MORPHOLOGICAL MENINGIOMA CLASSIFICATION: A MULTICENTER RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS, RETRO- AND PROSPECTIVELY VALIDATED

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi123-vi124
Author(s):  
Sybren Maas ◽  
Damian Stichel ◽  
Thomas Hielscher ◽  
Philipp Sievers ◽  
Anna Berghoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Copy Number Variations ◽  
Who Grade ◽  
Risk Of Progression ◽  
The Individual

Abstract PURPOSE Meningiomas are the most frequent primary intracranial tumors. Patient outcome varies widely from cases with benign to highly aggressive, ultimately fatal courses. Reliable identification of risk of progression for the individual patient is of pivotal importance in clinical management. However, only biomarkers for highly aggressive tumors are established at present (CDKN2A/B and TERT), while no molecularly-based stratification exists for the broad spectrum of low- and intermediate-risk meningioma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS DNA methylation data and copy-number information were generated for 3,031 meningiomas of 2,868 individual patients, with mutation data for 858 samples. DNA methylation subgroups, copy-number variations (CNV), mutations and WHO grading were comparatively analyzed. Prediction power for outcome of these parameters was assessed in an initial retrospective cohort of 514 patients, and validated on a retrospective cohort of 184, and on a prospective cohort of 287 multi-center cases, respectively. RESULTS Both CNV and methylation family- (MF)-based subgrouping independently resulted in an increase in prediction accuracy of risk of recurrence compared to the WHO classification (c-indexes WHO 2016, CNV, and MF 0.699, 0.706 and 0.721, respectively). Merging all independently powerful risk stratification approaches into an integrated molecular-morphological score resulted in a further, substantial increase in accuracy (c-index 0.744). This integrated score consistently provided superior accuracy in all three cohorts, significantly outperforming WHO grading (c-index difference p=0.005). Besides the overall stratification advantage, the integrated score separates more precisely for risk of progression at the diagnostically challenging interface of WHO grade 1 and grade 2 tumors (HR 4.56 [2.97;7.00], 4.34 [2.48;7.57] and 3.34 [1.28; 8.72] for discovery, retrospective, and prospective validation cohort, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Merging these layers of histological and molecular data into an integrated, three-tiered score significantly improves the precision in meningioma stratification. Implementation into diagnostic routine informs clinical decision-making for meningioma patients on the basis of robust outcome prediction.

Standardized Synoptic Cancer Pathology Reports — So What and Who Cares?: A Population-Based Satisfaction Survey of 970 Pathologists, Surgeons, and Oncologists

2013 ◽  
Vol 137 (11) ◽  
pp. 1599-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Lankshear ◽  
John Srigley ◽  
Thomas McGowan ◽  
Marta Yurcan ◽  
Carol Sawka
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Physician Satisfaction ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cancer Pathology ◽  
Report Turnaround Time ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pathology Reporting ◽  
The Impact

Context.—Cancer Care Ontario implemented synoptic pathology reporting across Ontario, impacting the practice of pathologists, surgeons, and medical and radiation oncologists. The benefits of standardized synoptic pathology reporting include enhanced completeness and improved consistency in comparison with narrative reports, with reported challenges including increased workload and report turnaround time. Objective.—To determine the impact of synoptic pathology reporting on physician satisfaction specific to practice and process. Design.—A descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized involving 970 clinicians across 27 hospitals. An 11-item survey was developed to obtain information regarding timeliness, completeness, clarity, and usability. Open-ended questions were also employed to obtain qualitative comments. Results.—A 51% response rate was obtained, with descriptive statistics reporting that physicians perceive synoptic reports as significantly better than narrative reports. Correlation analysis revealed a moderately strong, positive relationship between respondents' perceptions of overall satisfaction with the level of information provided and perceptions of completeness for clinical decision making (r = 0.750, P &lt; .001) and ease of finding information for clinical decision making (r = 0.663, P &lt; .001). Dependent t tests showed a statistically significant difference in the satisfaction scores of pathologists and oncologists (t169 = 3.044, P = .003). Qualitative comments revealed technology-related issues as the most frequently cited factor impacting timeliness of report completion. Conclusion.—This study provides evidence of strong physician satisfaction with synoptic cancer pathology reporting as a clinical decision support tool in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer patients.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Physicians' Clinical Decision-making at Upazila Health Complexes in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-133
Author(s):  
M. Aminul Islam ◽  
M. Abdul Awal
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Right ◽  
Consultation Session

ABSTRACT Introduction Selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient is the key activity in patient-physician encounters and providing healthcare services. Achieving desirable clinical goals mostly depends on making the right decision at the right time in any healthcare setting. But little is known about physicians' clinical decision-making in the primary care setting in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study explored the factors that influence decisions about prescribing medications, ordering pathologic tests, counseling patients, average length of patient visits in a consultation session, and referral of patients to other physicians or hospitals by physicians at Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) in the country. It also explored the structure of physicians' social networks and their association with the decision-making process. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that used primary data collected from 85 physicians. The respondents, who work at UHCs in the Rajshahi Division, were selected purposively. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression to understand relationships among the variables. Results The results of the study reveal that multiple factors influence physicians' decisions about prescribing medications, ordering pathologic tests, length of visits, counseling patients, and referring patients to other physicians or hospitals at the UHCs. Most physicians prescribe drugs to their patients, keeping in mind their purchasing capacity. Risk of violence by patients' relatives and better management are the two key factors that influence physicians' referral decisions. The physicians' professional and personal social networks also play an influential role in the decision-making process. It was found that physicians dedicate on average 16.17 minutes to a patient in a consultation session. The length of visits is influenced by various factors including the distance between the physicians' residence and their workplace, their level of education, and the number of colleagues with whom they have regular contact and from whom they can seek help. Conclusion The results of the study have yielded some novel insights about the complexity of physicians' everyday tasks at the UHCs in Bangladesh. The results would be of interest to public health researchers and policy makers.

Likelihood Ratio, Skull Roentgenograms, and Clinical Decision-Making

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-674
Author(s):  
JOHN C. LEONIDAS ◽  
ANNA BINKIEWICZ ◽  
R. MICHAEL SCOTT ◽  
STEPHEN G. PAUKER
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Clinical Finding ◽  
Posterior Probability ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Skull Fracture ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Negative Finding ◽  
The Individual

In Reply.— We appreciate the thoughtful comments of Leventhal and Lembo and concur with their conclusion that the clinician needs to know "the probability of skull fracture in a patient with head trauma." Unfortunately, their proposed "clinical likelihood ratio" (CR) will not further that end because it compares the predictive value (or, more precisely, the posterior probability) of a skull fracture after a positive clinical finding to the posterior probability after a negative finding. After the patient has been examined, the patient does not have both findings; thus, the CR cannot apply to the individual patient.

The value of a consultant physiotherapist within a primary care musculoskeletal interface service: part of the spinal multidisciplinary team

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Michelle L Angus ◽  
Victoria Dickens ◽  
Naveed Yasin ◽  
James Greenwood ◽  
Irfan Siddique
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Tertiary Referral Centre ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Pain Pathway ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Case Based

Background/aims The national low back pain pathway in the UK suggests practitioners managing patients with spinal pathology should be specifically trained to do so and have the ability to link with tertiary spinal services when required. The aim of this study was to ensure referrals through to a tertiary spinal surgical centre are appropriate and patients get the correct advice early in their management pathway. Methods A retrospective review of 700 cases were discussed at a spinal case-based discussion meeting in a primary care interface service, compared to services without this model. A convenience sample of cases were analysed with the consultant physiotherapist and those referred from other allied health professionals into the tertiary spinal surgical centre. Case-based team discussion took place before every referral into the tertiary spinal service, with spinal surgical discussion where required. Results Patients referred from other interface services were more likely to require further work-up such as investigations, or be discharged from clinic on their first attendance than those who had been through the case-based discussion. Conclusions A consultant physiotherapist working as part of the spinal team of a tertiary referral centre can help advanced practitioners with their clinical decision making to help prevent unnecessary referrals to spinal surgical services.

Pathogenesis of Peritoneal Sclerosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Peritoneal Membrane ◽  
Peritoneal Fibrosis ◽  
Histological Data ◽  
The Individual

Peritoneal sclerosis is an almost invariable consequence of peritoneal dialysis. In most circumstances it is “simple” sclerosis, manifesting clinically with an increasing peritoneal transport rate and loss of ultrafiltration capacity. In contrast, encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis is a life threatening and usually irreversible condition, associated with bowel obstruction, malnutrition and death. It is unknown whether common etiological factors underlie the development of these 2 clinically and pathologically distinct forms of peritoneal sclerosis. The majority of studies to date have investigated factors that contribute to “simple” sclerosis, although it remains possible that similar mechanisms are amplified in patients who develop encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis. The cellular elements that promote peritoneal sclerosis include the mesothelial cells, peritoneal fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. Factors that stimulate these cells to promote peritoneal fibrosis and neoangiogenesis, both inherent in the development of peritoneal sclerosis, include cytokines that are induced by exposure of the peritoneal membrane to high concentrations of glucose, advanced glycation of the peritoneal membrane and oxidative stress. The cumulative exposure to bioincompatible dialysate is likely to have an etiological role as the duration of dialysis correlates with the likelihood of developing peritoneal sclerosis. Indeed peritoneal dialysis using more biocompatible fluids has been shown to reduce the development of peritoneal sclerosis. The individual contribution of the factors implicated in the development of peritoneal sclerosis will only be determined by large scale peritoneal biopsy registries, which will be able to prospectively incorporate clinical and histological data and support clinical decision making.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document