scholarly journals A day in the life: a qualitative study of clinical decision-making and uptake of neurorehabilitation technology

Author(s):  
Courtney Celian ◽  
Veronica Swanson ◽  
Maahi Shah ◽  
Caitlin Newman ◽  
Bridget Fowler-King ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neurorehabilitation engineering faces numerous challenges to translating new technologies, but it is unclear which of these challenges are most limiting. Our aim is to improve understanding of rehabilitation therapists’ real-time decision-making processes on the use of rehabilitation technology (RT) in clinical treatment. Methods We used a phenomenological qualitative approach, in which three OTs and two PTs employed at a major, technology-encouraging rehabilitation hospital wrote vignettes from a written prompt describing their RT use decisions during treatment sessions with nine patients (4 with stroke, 2 traumatic brain injury, 1 spinal cord injury, 1 with multiple sclerosis). We then coded the vignettes using deductive qualitative analysis from 17 constructs derived from the RT literature and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data were synthesized using summative content analysis. Results Of the constructs recorded, the five most prominent are from CFIR determinants of: (i) relative advantage, (ii) personal attributes of the patients, (iii) clinician knowledge and beliefs of the device/intervention, (iv) complexity of the devices including time and setup, and (v) organizational readiness to implement. Therapists characterized candidate RT as having a relative disadvantage compared to conventional treatment due to lack of relevance to functional training. RT design also often failed to consider the multi-faceted personal attributes of the patients, including diagnoses, goals, and physical and cognitive limitations. Clinicians’ comfort with RT was increased by their previous training but was decreased by the perceived complexity of RT. Finally, therapists have limited time to gather, setup, and use RT. Conclusions Despite decades of design work aimed at creating clinically useful RT, many lack compatibility with clinical translation needs in inpatient neurologic rehabilitation. New RT continue to impede the immediacy, versatility, and functionality of hands-on therapy mediated treatment with simple everyday objects.

Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 350 (6266) ◽  
pp. 1397-1397
Author(s):  
R. Rosenquist Brandell ◽  
O. Kallioniemi ◽  
A. Wedell

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 792-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. France ◽  
Michael Karsy ◽  
James S. Harrop ◽  
Andrew T. Dailey

Study Design Survey. Objective Sports-related spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a growing proportion of total SCIs but lacks evidence or guidelines to guide clinical decision-making on return to play (RTP). Our objective is to offer the treating physician a consensus analysis of expert opinion regarding RTP that can be incorporated with the unique factors of a case for clinical decision-making. Methods Ten common clinical scenarios involving neurapraxia and stenosis, atlantoaxial injury, subaxial injury, and general cervical spine injury were presented to 25 spine surgeons from level 1 trauma centers for whom spine trauma is a significant component of their practice. We evaluated responses to questions about patient RTP, level of contact, imaging required for a clinical decision, and time to return for each scenario. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results Evaluation of the surgeons’ responses to these cases showed significant consensus regarding return to high-contact sports in cases of cervical cord neurapraxia without symptoms or stenosis, surgically repaired herniated disks, and nonoperatively healed C1 ring or C2 hangman's fractures. Greater variability was found in recommendations for patients showing persistent clinical symptomatology. Conclusion This survey suggests a consensus among surgeons for allowing patients with relatively normal imaging and resolution of symptoms to return to high-contact activities; however, patients with cervical stenosis or clinical symptoms continue to be a challenge for management. This survey may serve as a basis for future clinical trials and consensus guidelines.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (20) ◽  
pp. 2841-2842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Fehlings ◽  
Vanessa K. Noonan ◽  
Derek Atkins ◽  
Anthony S. Burns ◽  
Christiana L. Cheng ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Frost ◽  
Donna M. Graham ◽  
Louise Carter ◽  
Paul O’Regan ◽  
Donal Landers ◽  
...  

AbstractMolecular Tumour Boards (MTBs) were created with the purpose of supporting clinical decision making within precision medicine. Though these meetings are in use globally reporting often focuses on the small percentages of patients that receive treatment via this process and are less likely to report on, and assess, patients who do not receive treatment. A literature review was performed to understand patient attrition within MTBs and barriers to patients receiving treatment. A total of 56 papers were reviewed spanning a 6 year period from 11 different countries. 20% of patients received treatment through the MTB process. Of those that did not receive treatment the main reasons were no mutations identified (26%), no actionable mutations (22%) and clinical deterioration (15%). However, the data was often incomplete due to inconsistent reporting of MTBs with only 54% reporting on patients having no mutations, 48% reporting on presence of actionable mutations and 57% reporting on clinical deterioration. Patient attrition in MTBs is an issue which is very rarely alluded to in reporting, more transparent reporting is needed to understand barriers to treatment and integration of new technologies is required to process increasing omic and treatment data.


Spinal Cord ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 873-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Druschel ◽  
Ramin R. Ossami Saidy ◽  
Ulrike Grittner ◽  
Claus P. Nowak ◽  
Andreas Meisel ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D.R. Higgins

Background: Distinguishing fibrosis from inflammation in an intestinal stricture in Crohn's disease is quite difficult. The absence of signs of inflammation on CT or MRI does not prove the absence of inflammation, as most strictures have a mix of fibrosis and inflammation. Identifying refractory fibrosis and distinguishing the patients who will respond to anti-inflammatory therapy from those who will require surgery are important clinical requirements, and several new technologies in imaging and serum biomarkers are being applied to this problem. Key Messages: Delayed gadolinium enhancement of a Crohn's disease stricture on MRI can reliably identify severe fibrosis, and may be helpful in deciding which patients will require surgery. However, this approach does not appear to be able to identify patients with mild or moderate fibrosis. New imaging technologies, including T2/magnetization transfer MRI, shear wave velocity ultrasound, and photoacoustic imaging, offer promising animal data that could prove to accurately assist clinical decision making. Glyoproteomics has identified hepatic growth factor alpha and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein as possible serum biomarkers to detect and measure intestinal fibrosis. The presence of upstream small bowel dilation >3.5 cm or a platelet/albumin ratio >150 helps in identifying Crohn's disease patients at high risk of stricture resection in the next 2 years. Conclusions: Imaging and biomarker technologies to measure intestinal fibrosis are rapidly evolving, and could soon provide valuable information for clinical decision making for patients with intestinal strictures from Crohn's disease


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15) ◽  
pp. 1885-1892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raajit Rampal ◽  
Ross L. Levine

The use of candidate gene and genome-wide discovery studies in the last several years has led to an expansion of our knowledge of the spectrum of recurrent, somatic disease alleles, which contribute to the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies. Notably, these studies have also begun to fundamentally change our ability to develop informative prognostic schema that inform outcome and therapeutic response, yielding substantive insights into mechanisms of hematopoietic transformation in different tissue compartments. Although these studies have already had important biologic and translational impact, significant challenges remain in systematically applying these findings to clinical decision making and in implementing new technologies for genetic analysis into clinical practice to inform real-time decision making. Here, we review recent major genetic advances in myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, the impact of these findings on prognostic models, our understanding of disease initiation and evolution, and the implication of genomic discoveries on clinical decision making. Finally, we discuss general concepts in genetic modeling and the current state-of-the-art technology used in genetic investigation.


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