scholarly journals Education to Improve Dementia Care:

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Lee ◽  
W. Wayne Weston ◽  
Loretta M. Hillier

Background and Objectives: Dementia often goes undiagnosed. A workshop was developed to provide primary care clinicians with a structured clinical reasoning approach to dementia diagnosis and brain map tool to differentiate type of dementia. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of this approach on self-perceived changes in knowledge, confidence, and ability to assess and manage memory problems and on self-reported application of learning to clinical practice. Methods: Participants of 20 workshops (N=392) were invited to complete a reaction survey and of these, participants of 12 consecutive workshops (N=242) were invited to complete a 3-month follow-up survey to assess application of new learning to clinical practice and challenges experienced in doing so. Results: In total, 355 reaction and 108 follow-up surveys were completed. Mean ratings of usefulness reflected that participants considered the clinical reasoning approach and brain map very useful to learning and knowledge transfer. At follow-up, the majority of respondents reported they were more confident (79%) and better able to assess (79%) persons with cognitive impairment and more confident (88%) and better able to manage (86%) persons with cognitive impairment. A number of practice changes and challenges were identified. Conclusions: These results add to a growing literature on strategies to improve dementia care with effective continuing medical education. A structured clinical reasoning approach to cognitive impairment is effective in improving confidence and ability to assess and manage patients with cognitive impairment, although participants continue to experience challenges in managing this complex condition.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erico Castro-Costa ◽  
Jerson Laks ◽  
Cecilia Godoi Campos ◽  
Josélia OA Firmo ◽  
Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000840
Author(s):  
Lianne Parkin ◽  
Sheila Williams ◽  
David Barson ◽  
Katrina Sharples ◽  
Simon Horsburgh ◽  
...  

BackgroundCardiovascular comorbidity is common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and there is concern that long-acting bronchodilators (long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long-acting beta2 agonists (LABAs)) may further increase the risk of acute coronary events. Information about the impact of treatment intensification on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk in real-world settings is limited. We undertook a nationwide nested case–control study to estimate the risk of ACS in users of both a LAMA and a LABA relative to users of a LAMA.MethodsWe used routinely collected national health and pharmaceutical dispensing data to establish a cohort of patients aged >45 years who initiated long-acting bronchodilator therapy for COPD between 1 February 2006 and 30 December 2013. Fatal and non-fatal ACS events during follow-up were identified using hospital discharge and mortality records. For each case we used risk set sampling to randomly select up to 10 controls, matched by date of birth, sex, date of cohort entry (first LAMA and/or LABA dispensing), and COPD severity.ResultsFrom the cohort (n=83 417), we identified 5399 ACS cases during 281 292 person-years of follow-up. Compared with current use of LAMA therapy, current use of LAMA and LABA dual therapy was associated with a higher risk of ACS (OR 1.28 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.44)). The OR in an analysis restricted to fatal cases was 1.46 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.91).ConclusionIn real-world clinical practice, use of two versus one long-acting bronchodilator by people with COPD is associated with a higher risk of ACS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 733.2-734
Author(s):  
I. Flouri ◽  
N. Kougkas ◽  
N. Avgustidis ◽  
A. Repa ◽  
A. Eskitzis ◽  
...  

Background:Long-term observational studies of patients under biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapies in routine clinical practice can provide us with important data regarding patients with comorbidities, who are usually excluded from randomized controlled studies.Objectives:To study the impact of comorbidities in the outcome (response and persistence to therapy) of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) receiving bDMARDs in real-world clinical practice.Methods:Prospective study of all patients who start a bDMARD in a tertiary centre University Hospital after their consent. All patient comorbidities [among a list of approximately 100 pre-specified major comorbidities] are registered by treating physicians at baseline and during follow-up.Comorbidities were studied as total Comorbidities Count (CC) and rheumatic disease comorbidity index (RDCI). Statistical analyses were performed using logistic and Cox regression models, adjusting for the potential confounding of age, sex, disease duration, diagnosis (axial vs. peripheral SpA), number of previous conventional synthetic and biologic DMARDs, year of therapy start, and co-administered methotrexate and corticosteroids (yes/no). Analyses of response to therapy also included baseline BASDAI or ASDAS indices as confounding variables.Results:A total of 603 biologic treatments (1st: 298, 2nd: 157, ≥3rd: 148) were analyzed. Half (51%) of the patients were female, 413 patients had axial SpA (AxSpA) and 190 peripheral SpA (perSpA). At baseline, median (IQR) age: 48 (38-57) years, disease duration: 11 (4-19) years, CC: 2 (1-4) and RDCI: 1 (0-2). Both comorbidity indices were significantly higher in perSpA compared to AxSpA (p<0.001).At 6 months of therapy, 31% of patients with AxSpA achieved BASDAI50 and 39% had ASDAS-ESR < 2.1. Higher CC was an independent predictor of insufficient response according to BASDAI50 [OR (95%) = 0.70 (0.52-0.94), p=0.019] and higher RDCI was predicting failure to achieve ASDAS-ESR < 2.1 [OR (95%) = 0.59 (0.37-0.94), p=0.027]. Other independent predictors of non-response were age, longer disease duration and (for ASDAS-ESR<2.1) higher baseline disease activity.During 1405 patient-years of follow-up, 349 (58%) treatments were discontinued. The adjusted hazard ratio for bDMARD discontinuation within the first 2 years of treatment due to insufficient response was doubled in patients with CC ≥2 versus those with CC ≤1 [HR = 2.27 (1.14-4.53), p=0.020] or with RDCI ≥1 (vs. RDCI = 0) [HR = 2.23 (1.22-4.07), p=0.009]. Comorbidities’ indices were not significant predictors of treatment discontinuations due to adverse events.Conclusion:The presence of comorbidities in patients with SpA is an independent predictor for insufficient 6-month response to bDMARDs and resultant treatment discontinuation due to failure.Acknowledgements:This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning» in the context of the project “Reinforcement of Postdoctoral Researchers - 2nd Cycle” (MIS-5033021), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (ΙΚΥ).Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 190-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owain Michael Leng ◽  
Charlotte Rothwell ◽  
Annamarie Buckton ◽  
Catherine Elmer ◽  
Jan Illing ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe patient safety agenda has propelled the rise of simulation education, but relatively few evaluations of simulation-based educational interventions have focused on patient outcomes.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of an in situ, high-fidelity simulation teaching intervention on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in the ambulatory care unit of a district general hospital.MethodsThis study used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the impact of a programme of 10 in situ high-fidelity simulation education sessions delivered to a total of 10 junior doctors, nine nurses and seven healthcare assistants. Participants were tasked with managing a manikin simulating a patient with pneumonia in real time in a working clinical area. Subsequent structured debrief emphasised key themes from the national guidelines on pneumonia management. The intervention was evaluated through an immediate feedback form, follow-up semistructured interviews by independent qualitative researchers that underwent content analysis and triangulation with audit data on compliance with national pneumonia guidelines before and after the simulation intervention.ResultsThe in situ simulation intervention was valued by participants both in immediate written feedback and in follow-up semistructured interviews. In these interviews, 17 of 18 participants were able to identify a self-reported change in practice following the simulation intervention. Furthermore, most participants reported observing a change in the clinical practice of their colleagues following the training. Collected audit data did not show a statistically significant change in compliance with the guidelines for the management of pneumonia.ConclusionThis study found evidence of a change in both self-reported and observed clinical practice following a simulation intervention, supporting expert opinion that simulation education can impact clinician behaviours and patient outcomes in complex clinical scenarios. Furthermore, this feasibility study provides a transferrable method to evaluate the real-world impact of simulation education that merits further investigation through an appropriately powered study.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15609-e15609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Rodriguez Sanchez ◽  
Rocio García Domínguez ◽  
Guillermo De Velasco ◽  
Alvaro Pinto ◽  
Javier Puente ◽  
...  

e15609 Background: In clinical trials pazopanib (P) was superior to placebo, noninferior to sunitinib, and very well tolerated as 1st-line for mRC, but there is limited information in daily clinical practice. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 159 patients (p) who received P in in 31 centers in Spain during the first 18 month after P approval, to evaluate the timing of use and its efficacy. Results: Mean age was 66 y, 64.8% were males, 81.1% clear-cell, 12% non-clear cell, and 6.9% unspecified. At diagnosis of mRC 73.6% had nephrectomy, 78.6% and 71.7% of p were of good-intermediate risk (MSKCC and Heng criteria respectively). Metastatic sites were lung (59.7%), lymph nodes (26.4%), bone (22.6%), skin/soft-tissues (17.6%), liver (11.9%), CNS (2.5%), and 31.4% others (adrenal, pancreas, etc.). Median follow-up since diagnosis of mRC was 16 months (m). P was given as 1st systemic treatment in 81 p, (50.9%), as 2nd line in 32 p (20.1%, most after sunitinib, 17 due to intolerance), or as ≥3r line (46 p, 29%). Median follow-up after P was 7 m in 1st line, and 10 m in 2nd or ≥ 3rd line. Toxicity was as expected. No toxic deaths were registered. At the time of analysis, 85 p have discontinued P (progression: 73 p, toxicity: 10 p, other causes: 2 p), and 35 p have died. The table shows time to treatment failure due to progression or toxicity (TTF), and overall survival (OS) since the 1st dose of P. There were statistically significant differences in 1st line TTF and OS between MSKCC subgroups. Conclusions: In p with mRC and good-intermediate prognosis, P appears to be as effective in daily clinical practice as it was in 1st line trials. P also showed efficacy in p with poor risk, in 2nd-line (particularly progression or intolerance to sunitinib), and after 2 or more TKIs. Updated analysis will be available in June 2013. [Table: see text]


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 39-39
Author(s):  
Seungree Nam ◽  
Julie Gilbert ◽  
Jonathan Sussman ◽  
Leta Forbes ◽  
Victoria Zwicker ◽  
...  

39 Background: The transitioning of well breast cancer patients, post-treatment, to family physicians is accepted as a safe and effective model of care. Numerous studies have focused on patients’ experience and health outcomes, but research has not examined the experience of oncologists who are practicing in this model of care. The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of a transition model of care on oncologists’ practice. Methods: Purposive sampling was employed to recruit and interview oncologists who have been transitioning patients to family physicians for two or more years. A total of 15 medical and radiation oncologists practicing in Ontario, Canada were interviewed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Most oncologists interviewed were confident that the transitioning of patients to family physicians is safe for many patients post-treatment. Despite some concerns about the feasibility of the model, namely acceptance of the model among patients and family physicians, oncologists perceived that the model enhances efficiency and sustainability of the cancer system. As the volume of patients in follow-up decreased, oncologists saw a variety of impacts including: a reduction in overbooking in their clinics; more new patients able to be seen in consultation each week; more flexibility in their schedules to accept urgent appointments; and an increased ability to spend more time with patients who are dealing with complex issues. For some oncologists, well patient appointments are a rewarding part of their work. Meanwhile, many experience challenges with increased intensity of workload. Oncologists recognize that some patients and family physicians may be reluctant but they believe that early communication with patients about eventual transition, and improved communication with family physicians can enhance the acceptability of this model of care. Conclusions: Oncologists interviewed in this study reported that the time they used to spend with well follow-up patients can now be spent on other activities that contribute to the enhancement of quality of care for cancer survivors and efficiency in the broader cancer system.


Author(s):  
Shuyan Melissa Tan ◽  
Richard K. Ladyshewsky ◽  
Peter Gardner

<span>This qualitative study investigated the impact of using blogs on the clinical reasoning and meta-cognitive skills of undergraduate physiotherapy students in a fieldwork education program. A blog is a web based document that enables individuals to enter comments and read each others' comments in a dynamic and interactive manner. In this study, final year physiotherapy students were randomly allocated to group blogs to share their reflections on their own and their peers' clinical practice. Blogging was used to help students reflect and focus on professional and evidence based practice within a supportive peer assisted learning environment. The text within each of the blogs was qualitatively analysed against concepts in the literature describing specific types of clinical reasoning and metacognition. A range of clinical reasoning typologies were found to exist in the blogs. Most notable were ethical, interactive and procedural reasoning along with evidence of metacognition. Blogging was found to be a good strategy for promoting clinical reasoning and metacognition in fieldwork education.</span>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierrick Coupé ◽  
José V. Manjón ◽  
Boris Mansencal ◽  
Thomas Tourdias ◽  
Gwenaëlle Catheline ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this paper, we present an innovative MRI-based method for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) detection and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prognostic, using lifespan trajectories of brain structures. After a full screening of the most discriminant structures between AD and normal aging based on MRI volumetric analysis of 3032 subjects, we propose a novel Hippocampal-Amygdalo-Ventricular Alzheimer score (HAVAs) based on normative lifespan models and AD lifespan models. During a validation on three external datasets on 1039 subjects, our approach showed very accurate detection (AUC ≥ 94%) of patients with AD compared to control subjects and accurate discrimination (AUC=78%) between progressive MCI and stable MCI (during a 3 years follow-up). Compared to normative modelling and recent state-of-the-art deep learning methods, our method demonstrated better classification performance. Moreover, HAVAs simplicity makes it fully understandable and thus well-suited for clinical practice or future pharmaceutical trials.


PRiMER ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Hershberger ◽  
Lori S. Martensen ◽  
Timothy N. Crawford ◽  
Dean A. Bricker

Introduction: Interacting with patients in a manner that furthers self-responsibility for health is an important skill for primary care clinicians. Motivational interviewing (MI) is such an approach to patient engagement, but it remains to be more widely implemented. In a program training health professionals and health professions students in MI, we examined posttraining attitudes and intentions regarding the utilization of MI. Of particular interest was how posttraining intentions were associated with self-reported action 1 month later. Methods: We obtained immediate posttraining and 30-day follow-up data from 209 participants regarding intent to utilize the MI approach (self-reported implementation at the follow-up interval), impact on confidence with patient interaction, and perceived importance of the training. We analyzied frequencies and percentages for all categorical/ordinal variables to describe the participants and the survey question responses. Results: While 91.5% of participants intended to incorporate MI into their approach with patients (to a moderate or great extent) at posttraining, only 48.7% reported that they had actually implemented the MI approach (to a moderate or great extent) 30 days later. However, another 32.1% indicated that they had occasionally utilized MI. Attitudes toward the importance of MI training and the impact of training on confidence remained strong over the 30 days. Conclusion: Achieving more widespread implementation of the MI approach in the primary care setting is likely to be less dependent on convincing clinicians about its importance for patient engagement, but rather on the translation of intent to actual practice and implementation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqi Li ◽  
Xiaoling Liao ◽  
Yuesong Pan ◽  
Xianglong Xiang ◽  
Yumei Zhang

Abstract Background: Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) can maintain the physiological concentration of glutathione in cells, and protect them from oxidative stress-induced damage. However, its role in post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) remains unknown. Here, we explored the impact of serum biomarker-GGT on PSCI. Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter cohort study. 1, 957 participants who suffered a stroke and measured baseline GGT were enrolled from the Impairment of Cognition and Sleep (ICONS) study of the China National Stroke Registry-3 (CNSR-3). They were categorized into four groups according to the quartiles of baseline GGT levels. Cognitive function was assessed by using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) approach. The multiple logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the relationship between GGT and PSCI at 3 months follow-up.Results: Among 1,957 participants, 671 (34.29%) patients suffered PSCI at 3 months follow-up. The highest GGT level quartile group exhibited a lower risk of PSCI in the fully adjusted model [OR (95% CI): 0.69 (0.50-0.96)], relative to the lowest group. Moreover, incorporation of GGT to the conventional model resulted in a slight improvement in PSCI outcomes after 3 months (NRI: 12.00%; IDI: 0.30%).Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that serum GGT level was inversely associated with the risk of PSCI, with extremely low levels acting as a risk factor for PSCI.


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