scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Functional Urology Practice: A nation-wide survey from Turkey

Author(s):  
Ahmet Tahra ◽  
Murat Dinçer ◽  
Rahmi Onur

Objective The Coronavirus pandemic has affected urological practice worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate functional urology practice including outpatient clinic visits, routine examinations, diagnostic procedures and surgical interventions with an online survey. Method We conducted an online survey to evaluate Turkish urologists’ functional urology practices before and during the pandemic. In this survey, we asked questions about the respondents’ place of work, being part of a dedicated pandemic center, involvement with the pandemic and an interest in functional urology. We also examined outpatient clinics, routine examinations, diagnostic methods, and surgical practice before and during the pandemic. Results A total of 152 urologists completed the survey. The majority of the participants, (79.6%) were in tertiary centers. Nearly one-third of respondents (32.2%) stated that more than 50% of their routine practice is related to functional urology. In brief, 80.9% of the participants declared a decrease in the number of outpatient visits for functional urology. 68.4% of the participants declared a decrease in uroflowmetry practice, and 81.3% of had a decrease in urodynamic studies performed. According to respondents, 92.1% stated a decrease in botulinum injections for the bladder, and 93.4% of the participants declared a decrease in anti-incontinence surgery. Eighty-five percent of the participants declared a decrease in prolapse surgery. One-hundred and twenty-eight participants (84.2%) declared a decrease in surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Only 28.9% of the participants responded that they diagnosed their neuro-urology patients as they did prior to the pandemic. Conclusions The daily practice of urology changed, and functional urology was one of the most affected field. The large backlog of functional urology patients is challenging and although conditions, diagnostic tools and surgeries were classed as “benign”, we will have to face the effects of patients’ Quality of life in the near future.

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 283-300
Author(s):  
Anna Książkiewicz ◽  
Edyta Kwilosz ◽  
Rafał Fornal ◽  
Ewa Dworzańska

Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and adults under 40 years of age. Characteristic symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness of the chest and a cough varying in time and intensity. The disease usually begins in childhood and lasts a lifetime, with periods of exacerbation and remission. Asthma can occur at any age, but in approximately 80% of cases the first asthma attack occurs before the age of 5. Over the past several years, progress in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with asthma has been made. In addition to the long-established objective assessment methods, such as functional tests, rapid asthma control questionnaires recommended for use in daily practice and noninvasive methods for assessing inflammation have been introduced. The availability of these methods and their degree of use in routine practice are variable. Taking careful history with the child and parents is very important. A detailed history is the first and primary step of asthma recognition. While in the case of adults, the observation period and available methods usually allow us to make reliable diagnosis of the disease, in younger children the diagnosis is associated with difficulties resulting from the inability to use some diagnostic tools. The paper discusses the currently available diagnostic methods and those used for monitoring the disease, especially the most current ones used in the youngest children. Medications used in asthma treatment have been characterized, including new therapeutic options, especially biological treatment. Particular attention was paid to the education of the patient and caregivers, which, apart from well-established treatment, determines good asthma control.


One of the higher-priority directions concerning improvement of the institution of general secondary education is the adaptation of teachers’ educational, scientific methodological and organizational activities to the modern challenges. The orientation of the new Ukrainian school to the world educational standards calls for new approaches to the organization of the educational process in institutions of general secondary education, the formation of up-to-date effective innovative competence of teacher-practitioners. In order to diagnose the level of formation of teachers’ innovative competence a summative experiment was conducted as a method to obtain and fix theoretical and empirical data. In the course of the research the criteria for innovative competence evaluation were developed, diagnostic tools were selected, diagnostic procedures and the analysis of the obtained results were conducted. A methodological workshop was held for teachers aimed at defining such basic concepts as «innovative pedagogical activity», «competence», «innovative competence» The level of the formation of teachers’ innovative competence was diagnosed taking into account its components, namely: operational (the formation of intellectual abilities, the quickness of mental operations, ability to solve problem situations), professionalvalue (motivation to obtain innovative competences, professional orientation, ability to self-control and urge for constant professional self- improvement, formation of individual style of pedagogical activity, professionally important personal qualities). Having generalized the results of applying various diagnostic methods (the technique «Six Thinking Hats» by Edward de Bono, the technique of studying the value scales by M. Rokeach, the diagnostic test «Readiness for self-development», «Strategies to form a higher level of basic need for cognition» by Palchevsky, «The methodology of limit meanings» by D. Leontiev) the level of formation of innovative competence of the teacher of the institution of general secondary education was determined.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e35-e35
Author(s):  
Marian Coret ◽  
Meridith Yohemas ◽  
Roxanne Goldade ◽  
Ben Gibbard

Abstract BACKGROUND Paediatricians play a central role in the screening and diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current diagnostic procedures rely on a history, screening and diagnostic tools, and collaboration with developmental specialists. The assessment process may vary among paediatricians due to the variety of available screening and diagnostic tools and opportunities to collaborate. As part of a quality improvement initiative through Child Development Services at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, paediatricians were surveyed about their present ASD screening and diagnostic practice. OBJECTIVES To examine ASD screening and diagnostic practices among paediatricians for 4 to 6 year-old children in southern Alberta. DESIGN/METHODS Paediatricians were recruited from southern Alberta to complete an anonymous online survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS The response rate was 40% (36/90). The majority of participants (86%) reported using an ASD screening tool, and (56%) reported experiencing one or more barriers related to screening tool use. All participants reported experiencing one or more barriers to ASD diagnosis. Despite these barriers, 69% of participants reported making an ASD diagnosis within the last 12 months, and 61% of paediatricians indicated feeling confident in their ability to diagnose ASD. Most participants (57%) indicated that they would prefer to make an ASD diagnosis themselves, rather than have this be undertaken by another clinician. CONCLUSION Paediatricians in southern Alberta report important barriers in screening and diagnostic practices related to ASD. Further discussion with community paediatricians is required related to addressing these barriers to develop care pathways for this population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Bordin ◽  
T. S. Krolevets ◽  
M. A. Livzan

Objective: To assess compliance of physicians with diagnostic and management guidelines for H. pylori-associated diseases with a question-naire-based survey.Materials and methods: We conducted an anonymous voluntary online survey of 775 physicians of the following specialties: internal medicine 459 (59.2%), gastroenterology 279 (36%), and endoscopy 34 (4.4%). The respondents expressed their level of agreement with the questionnaire items as follows: 0 – I do not know, 1 – disagree, 2 – partially agree, and 3 – fully agree.Results: 613 (79.4%) of the physicians fully agreed to diagnose and treat H. pylori in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, 602 (78.0%) in the 1 st degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, 525 (68.0%) in patients with chronic superficial gastritis, 423 (54.8%) in peptic ulcer at remission, and 336 (43.4%) in those with dyspepsia syndrome. The physicians were equally compliant with eradication therapy in the patients, for whom long term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is being planned (386 (50.0%) and 397 (51.4%), respectively). Internists were less compliant with diagnosis and management of H. pylori in patients taking both PPI (χ2 = 66.525, p = 0.004) and NSAID (χ2 = 103.354, p = 0.003). Among the primary diagnostic tools for H. pylori the physicians preferred 13/14С-urease breath test (545 physicians, or 70.6%) and gastric bioptate morphology (574, or 74.4%), and among the control diagnostic methods they chose fаeces analyses (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction). The respondents considered bismuth-enhanced standard triple therapy with clarithromycin to be the most effective regimen for the 1 st line eradication therapy (606, 78.5%). To increase the efficacy of eradication therapy, the physicians were more prone to administer esomeprazole or rabeprazole (70.6%), bismuth-based agents (79.4%), than to use rebamipid (35%), probiotics (44.9%) and/or to double PPI doses (44.2%). The respondents expressed their concerns with low patient compliance to treatment (59.4%) and limited diagnostic capabilities (49.4%).Conclusion: Physician's compliance with the guidelines on diagnosis and management of H. pylori-associated diseases is adequate and might depend on both their awareness and availability of the proposed diagnostic and therapeutic methods.


Author(s):  
Yulia Bondar

The urgency of the problem of development and diagnostics of creative skills of junior schoolchildren is substantiated in the article. The purpose of scientific work is to determine the criteria, indicators and diagnostic tools for the levels of formation of creative skills of junior high school students. The research methods determine the theoretical analysis and generalization of literature sources, in order to reveal the theoretical and practical aspects of the outlined problem. In particular, the article highlights the essence of the concepts: “skill”, “pedagogical diagnosis”, “criterion”, “indicator”; types of creative skills are covered. The essence of the criteria for the formation of creative skills of primary school students is determined and revealed: motivational-personal, theoretical-informational, practical-activity and communicative-creative. Indicators of formation of creative skills of junior schoolchildren are developed, according to the offered criteria. Three levels of formation of creative skills of junior schoolchildren are singled out and characterized: high, sufficient and elementary. Pedagogical and general scientific methods for the ascertaining stage of the experiment are selected: pedagogical observation, questionnaires, testing, analysis of creative activity products, methods of statistical data processing. Diagnostic methods are determined according to each criterion. It is established that diagnostics should be aimed at the activity and consideration of mental operations, cognition strategies and not be limited to the analysis of the result of activity. The requirements that must be met during diagnostic procedures are highlighted. The results of the study show that the criteria and indicators are the basis for the selection of diagnostic tools for the formation of creative skills of primary school children, whose role is important during the experimental study. Keywords: creative skills; pedagogical diagnostics; criteria; indicators; levels of formation of creative skills; experiment; diagnostic methods; junior schoolchildren.


Author(s):  
Graciela Gómez ◽  
María de los Ángeles Gargiulo ◽  
Amelia Granel ◽  
Ana Marcos ◽  
Ramiro Adrián Gómez ◽  
...  

The Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM) comprise a heterogeneous group of acquired muscle diseases classified as polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), Inclusion Body Myositis(IBM), ImmunoMediated Necrotizing Myopathies, (IMNM), Overlap Myositis(OM), juvenile myositis, Antisynthethase Syndrome (ASS) and cancer related myositis(CAM). The presence of myositis specific antibodies in the serum and autoantibodies against target antigens and inflammatory infiltrates in muscle tissue suggests the autoimmune condition of the disease. The diagnosis of inflammatory myopathies is often a challenge and the disposal of diagnostic tools are not always available in daily practice. Information on the accessibility of these methods was obtained from the Argentine Register of Myopathies. The study of muscle enzymes, ANA, anti-Jo-1 antibodies and chest tomography were easy to get to most patients while muscle MRI, lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco%) and muscle biopsy were performed in less than 50% of cases. Other myositis specific antibodies, necessary for disease diagnosis and prognosis, were mostly done through a subsidy from the Argentine Rheumatology Society.


2020 ◽  

In recent years, there have been many advances in the safe management of the patient's airway, a cornerstone of anesthetic practice. An Update on Airway Management brings forth information about new approaches in airway management in many clinical settings. This volume analyzes and explains new preoperative diagnostic methods, algorithms, intubation devices, extubation procedures, novelties in postoperative management in resuscitation and intensive care units, while providing a simple, accessible and applicable reading experience that helps medical practitioners in daily practice. The comprehensive updates presented in this volume make this a useful reference for anesthesiologists, surgeons and EMTs at all levels. Key topics reviewed in this reference include: New airway devices, clinical management techniques, pharmacology updates (ASA guidelines, DAS algorithms, Vortex approach, etc.), Induced and awake approaches in different settings Updates on diagnostic accuracy of perioperative radiology and ultrasonography Airway management in different settings (nonoperating room locations and emergency rooms) Airway management in specific patient groups (for example, patients suffering from morbid obesity, obstetric patients and critical patients) Algorithms and traditional surgical techniques that include emergency cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy in ‘Cannot Intubate, Cannot Ventilate’ scenarios. Learning techniques to manage airways correctly, focusing on the combination of knowledge, technical abilities, decision making, communication skills and leadership Special topics such as difficult airway management registry, organization, documentation, dissemination of critical information, big data and databases


Author(s):  
Andrea Springer ◽  
Antje Glass ◽  
Julia Probst ◽  
Christina Strube

AbstractAround the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Henrique Pereira Boog ◽  
João Vitor Ziroldo Lopes ◽  
João Vitor Mahler ◽  
Marina Solti ◽  
Lucas Tokio Kawahara ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Increasing incidences of syphilis highlight the preoccupation with the occurrence of neurosyphilis. This study aimed to understand the current diagnostic tools and their performance to detect neurosyphilis, including new technologies and the variety of existing methods. Methods We searched databases to select articles that reported neurosyphilis diagnostic methods and assessed their accuracy, presenting sensitivity and specificity values. Information was synthesized in tables. The risk of bias was examined using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy recommendations. Results Fourteen studies were included. The main finding was a remarkable diversity of tests, which had varied purposes, techniques, and evaluation methodologies. There was no uniform criterion or gold standard to define neurosyphilis. The current basis for its diagnosis is clinical suspicion and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. There are new promising tests such as PCR tests and chemokine measurement assays. Conclusions The diagnosis of neurosyphilis is still a challenge, despite the variety of existing and developing tests. We believe that the multiplicity of reference standards adopted as criteria for diagnosis reveals the imprecision of the current definitions of neurosyphilis. An important next step for the scientific community is to create a universally accepted diagnostic definition for this disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 568.2-568
Author(s):  
L. Kranenburg ◽  
M. Dankbaar ◽  
N. Basoski ◽  
W. Van den Broek ◽  
J. Hazes

Background:The training curriculum for rheumatologists in training in the Netherlands describes competences and entrusted professional activities (EPA) to monitor the progress in learning. However, this training program does not discuss training of Shared Decision Making. As the basis for shared care and patient participation is made during these years, the question arises how rheumatologist in training think about Shared Decision Making and how they use this in daily practice.Objectives:Inventory of vision, experience and self-evaluation of skills related to Shared Decision Making amongst rheumatologists in training in the Netherlands in order to identify barriers in the implementation of Shared Decision Making in daily practice.Methods:Qualitative data was collected from on online survey amongst rheumatologists in training who were registered in January 2018 by the Dutch Society of Rheumatology.Results:Forty-two rheumatologists in training from various years of training responded (60%). Respondents think that Shared Decision Making is important. A third applies Shared Decision Making on a regular basis in daily practice. Self rating of skills for Shared Decision Making varies from sufficient to good. However, respondents are uncertain about their performance due to a lack of feedback and unclearness of the concept. They indicate that Shared Decision Making is not possible for all patients and find it difficult to assess whether the patient has a clear understanding of the options. Patient’s preferences are discussed only by 33% of the doctors on a regular basis when starting new treatment.Conclusion:Rheumatologists in training agree on the importance of Shared Decision Making, but are uncertain about their performance. Unclearness of the concept is described as a known barrier in literature1,2and is frequently mentioned by respondents. Rheumatologist in training indicate that not all patients are fit for Shared Decision Making. Regarding the limited training on the subject this could also be a misjudgment of patients preferences and lack of experience how to deal with different patient types. There is a clear plea for more training and feedback on the subject. Training should be integrated in the curriculum focusing on how to assess patients preferences and how to apply Shared Decision Making also for patients who indicate to leave decisions up to their doctor.References:[1]van Veenendaal, H.et al.Accelerating implementation of shared decision-making in the Netherlands: An exploratory investigation.Patient Educ Couns101, 2097-2104 (2018).[2]Legare, F., Ratte, S., Gravel, K. & Graham, I. D. Barriers and facilitators to implementing shared decision-making in clinical practice: update of a systematic review of health professionals’ perceptions.Patient Educ Couns73, 526-535 (2008).Disclosure of Interests:Laura Kranenburg Grant/research support from: Pfizer and UCB for the development of the Reuma App, a tool to support selfmanagement for patients. This is not used for the research related to the submitted abstract., Mary Dankbaar: None declared, Natalja Basoski: None declared, Walter Van den Broek: None declared, Johanna Hazes: None declared


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