scholarly journals Is weight just a number? The accuracy of UK ambulance paediatric weight guidance ‐ findings from a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Karl Charlton ◽  
Matt Capsey ◽  
Chris Moat

<sec id="s1">Background: The weight of children provides the cornerstone of their clinical management, as many drug dosages, equipment sizes, fluid boluses, as well as DC shock energy, are administered on a per kilogram basis. Children who attend hospital are weighed using scales prior to receiving these interventions. This is not possible in the pre-hospital environment. A paucity of evidence exists to support the page for age weight guidance indicated by JRCALC, and it remains unknown if this approach meets the reference standard of 70% of estimations within 10% of actual weight and 95% within 20% of actual weight. </sec> <sec id="s2">Methods: We used a cross-sectional study design and collected data from a convenience sample of children who attended the outpatients department of a major hospital in England between July and September 2019. All children aged between 1 and 11 years who were weighed were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes were to determine if the page for age approach meets the reference standard and to determine any implications for care. </sec> <sec id="s3">Results: 341 children were included in this study. Each age group consisted of varying numbers of children. 50.5% (172/341) of the sample were female. Observed weights ranged from 8.28 to 82.70 kg (median 20.60 kg). The mean weight of girls versus boys was 24.69 kg and 23.39 kg respectively (95% CI -4.12‐1.32, p = 0.3123). Observed weights were greater than the page for age guidance weight in all age groups, and the accuracy of page for age weight guidance diminished with age. Adrenaline 1:10,000 doses and defibrillation energy levels guided by page for age differ from those guided by weight, but are not deleterious to care. </sec> <sec id="s4">Conclusion: Page for age weight guidance does not meet the reference standard. Most paediatric pre-hospital care is administered by age and not weight. In the absence of an accurate weight, ambulance clinicians should continue to use the page for age system, although the gold standard remains to use an accurate weight measurement. While there are no facilities to weigh children in ambulances, if an accurate weight is available then consideration should be given to using this rather than age. </sec>

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. e9.1-e9
Author(s):  
Karl Charlton ◽  
Matt Capsey ◽  
Chris Moat

BackgroundThe weight of children is the cornerstone of their clinical management. It determines fluid quantities, drug dosages and defibrillation power, which are administered on a per kilogram basis. Gold standard care for all paediatric patients who attend hospital involves being weighed using scales. This is not possible in the out of hospital setting, where weight derives from a guidance table based upon age. No evidence exists to indicate if the page by age approach indicated in current ambulance guidelines meets the reference standard of 70% of estimations within 10% of actual weight and 95% within 20% of actual weight.MethodsWe used a cross sectional study design and collected data from a convenience sample of children who attended the outpatient’s department of a major hospital in England between July and September 2019. All children aged between one and eleven years who were weighed were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes were to determine if the page by age approach meets the reference standard and to determine any implications for care.ResultsThree hundred and forty-one children were included in this study. Each age group consisted of varying numbers of children. 50.5% (172/341) of the sample were female. Observed weights ranged from 8.28 to 82.70 kg (median 20.60 kg). The mean weight of girls versus boys was 24.69 kg and 23.39 kg respectively (95% CI -4.12–1.32, p=0.3123). Observed weights were greater than the page for age guidance in all age groups and the accuracy of this approach diminishes with age.ConclusionPage by age weight guidance does not meet the reference standard. Most paediatric prehospital care is administered by age and not weight. In the absence of an accurate weight, ambulance clinicians should continue to use the page for age system, although the gold standard remains to use an accurate weight measurement.


Author(s):  
D. Arunachalam ◽  
G. Subash Chandrabose

Background: Organ transplantation is taken into account one among the best advances of contemporary science that has given several patients a revived lease of life. The target of study resolve the barrier and supporter of organ donation among general public, and to spot the factors that influence organ donation assent and rejection in state of Puducherry, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study had below soft on a sample of a hundred and fifty subjects handily. The eligible subjects were administered a structured inquiries to assume barriers and facilitators of organ donation. The collected information’s were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the one hundred fifty subjects, the age groups were 58% 20-30 years, 26% 31-40 years, 12% 41 to 50 years and 4% 51-60 years. Male constituted 33.3% and females were 66.7% of the subjects. The mean data score of the themes were 4.74±1.45 (1-8). 80.6% according the intention to gift organ and 19.3% weren't willing to gift organ. The foremost necessary barriers were opposition from family (82.8%) and concern (72.4%). The foremost necessary facilitators were organ donation would save someone’s life (95.9%) and it improve the sense of human (95%). Education, occupation, married and financial gain square measure related to intention to gift organ. Conclusions: From the offered scientific proof it's conducted that information of organ donation stay still poor and therefore the indentified barriers and facilitators ought to be taken within the account whereas motivates the overall peoples to present organ to future. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Osemene Kanayo Patrick ◽  
Afolabi Margaret Olubunmi

Studies on pharmacovigilance (PV) activities in Nigeria focused on perceptions of PV among professional healthcare workers are described here. There is paucity of information on pharmacy students’ knowledge about PV activities. Hence, this study, evaluated the knowledge and perceptions of final year pharmacy students about PV activities using descriptive and inferential statistics. A cross sectional study was undertaken in three Nigerian universities with a pretested questionnaire during the period of January and February, 2016. The questionnaire included closed-ended questions on demographic variables and questions designed to achieve the objectives of the study. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 20 and presented in percentages, means, standard deviations and median at 50% percentile. The mean knowledge score of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reporting for the final year students was 4.25±0.18. There were significant differences in the mean scores of knowledge domain by age groups 21-24 years 4.8±0.70, 25-30 years 6.2 ± 0.84 and >30 years 4.6±0.72 at p=0.001; gender: male 4.1±1.20 and female 4.4±0.98 at (p=0.0001) as well as the current universities attended as follows University 1 with a scrore of 5.1±1.03, University 2 had a mean score of 6.3±0.99 at p=0.0120 and University 3 with a mean score of 4.3±1.01 at p=0.012. Furthermore, significant difference exist in the mean values of pharmacovigilance knowledge between those who had taking some courses in pharmacovigilance (7.3± 0.22) and those who did not (4.7 ± 0.13) at p=0.0001. Generally, the students had inadequate knowledge of PV activities. Therefore, emphasis on relevant PV courses in their curriculum is necessary.Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 20(1): 1-13, 2017


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man She ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Qianqian Hu ◽  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Xiaodong Zhou

Abstract Background To investigate the relationships between motor fusion and sex, age and spherical equivalent (SE). Methods This observational study enrolled 243 healthy, nonstrabismic adults, including 94 men and 149 women aged 20 to 59 years. The subjects were divided into three groups according to SE: myopic, emmetropic and hyperopic groups. The subjects were also divided into four groups according to age: 20–29, 30–39, 40–49 and 50–59 years groups. Motor fusion was measured with a synoptophore, including subjective angle (SA), divergence, convergence and fusional vergence range (FVR). Results The mean values of divergence, convergence and FVR for the whole sample group were 9.72 ± 0.26°, 19.34 ± 0.54°, and 29.06 ± 0.62°, respectively. A higher value of divergence was found in the myopic group than in the emmetropic group (p < 0.05). SE and divergence were significantly different among age groups (all p < 0.05). In addition, linear regression analysis showed that SE was correlated with divergence (p = 0.003). Age was correlated with SE, divergence and FVR (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.002, respectively). In addition, the proportion of SA being in the comfort zone (defined as the value of SA satisfying Percival’s criterion) in the age groups was significantly different (χ2 = 8.283, p = 0.041). Conclusions Motor fusion is associated with age and SE in the normal Chinese adult population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (26) ◽  
pp. 2328-2332
Author(s):  
Sravanthi Tammineedi ◽  
Sandeep Tammineedi ◽  
Lakshman Chowdary Basam ◽  
Ram Chowdary Basam ◽  
Abhishek Harish

BACKGROUND Tooth discoloration, which is often considered as a deviation from the beauty standards, is one of the significant factors that can affect an individual's mental health and well-being. Therefore, determining the relationship between tooth discoloration, its aesthetic treatment and mental health can provide answers for the improvement of treatment services. METHODS The present study is a cross sectional study. 96 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed via demographic characteristics form and a standardized Goldberg’s general health questionnaire (GHQ) - 28 before starting the treatment. Following the assessment, a standard bleaching protocol was followed. Two weeks after the completion of the treatment, the patients were re-assessed using the same questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. The analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chi square test for correlation analysis. Wilcoxon sign rank test was used to compare the scores before and after the intervention. RESULTS Higher GHQ scores were associated with younger age groups, females, unmarried persons, and lower education levels. The participants mainly showed higher mean social dysfunction scores (17.7), followed by anxiety scores (12.2) compared to somatic (7.7) and depression scores (4). The mean total GHQ scores were significantly decreased after aesthetic intervention. The mean GHQ scores were reduced from 42.5 before the bleaching treatment to 21.4 post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS Tooth discoloration showed a significant impact on mental health, mainly affecting the social functioning and the anxiety of the individuals. Tooth discoloration has a significant impact on the mental health in younger age groups, females, unmarried persons, and education status. The aesthetic intervention had significantly improved the overall mental health of the individuals. KEYWORDS GHQ, Mental Health, Tooth Discoloration


2020 ◽  
pp. 105477382096291
Author(s):  
Erman Yıldız

Studies have revealed that anxiety is associated with intolerance of uncertainty (IU); however, no study has examined the predictive effect of IU on anxiety in individuals with liver transplantation (LT). Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between anxiety and IU levels in individuals who received LT. A descriptive cross-sectional study with a convenience sample ( N = 118) was conducted at a center in eastern Turkey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical linear regression analysis. The mean scores for the dimensions of IU, state anxiety and trait anxiety were 34.42 ± 8.35, 40.38 ± 10.07, and 41.88 ± 7.53, respectively. IU and anxiety in individuals with LT were identified as related dynamics. Present findings suggest that uncertainty and IU can be considered in the conceptualization and treatment of anxiety and related pathologies. Nurses may seriously consider these results in order to increase the quality of the treatment and care provided to patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Baqar

Introduction: To study and compare the changes in the height of dermal papillae in the skin of different age groups in a segment of Pakistani population. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Period: Five months, from July 2010 to November 2010. Setting: Anatomy Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. Materials & Method: Sixty volunteers of both sexes, after fulfilling the inclusion criteria, participated in this cross sectional study. They all gave written informed consent. They were divided into three equal groups according to their ages, Group A ranged in age from 18 – 29 years, Group B from 30 – 49 years, and Group C > 50 years. Punch biopsies were taken from the sun protected upper arm skin, from all volunteers, after giving local anaesthesia. Samples were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. They were observed under light microscope. Height of dermal papillae was measured at three random sites in each sample and mean was taken.The mean of all three groups was compared with each other and data was analyzed. Results: The mean of each sample was taken and then final mean of each group was calculated. They were then compared with each other. The mean height of dermal papillae of group A was 98.667µm, that of group B was 83.333µm and the mean height of dermal papillae in group C was 47.33µm. There was significant difference between the three groups and ‘p’-value was less than 0.5. Conclusion: At the end of this study, it was concluded that, the height of dermal papillae reduces significantly with age.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayfa Almutary ◽  
Tayyib Nahla

Abstract BackgroundPerceived disease-related self-efficacy is considered a fundamental component of the successful self-management of chronic diseases. Prior studies have found that self-efficacy is associated with improvements in health behaviors and health status among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, few studies have evaluated self-efficacy among patients undergoing dialysis.MethodsThis study was performed to evaluate CKD patients’ self-efficacy and to determine the factors that significantly affect self-efficacy among dialysis patients. This was a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of 190 patients undergoing dialysis. The patients’ self-efficacy was measured using the CKD Self-Efficacy Scale. Inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 49.24 ± 13.15 years. Almost half of them were males (48.4%), and 75.3% were married. The majority of the patients (83%) were undergoing hemodialysis. The total score for self-efficacy was 192.57 ±39.23. Only occupational status and the type of dialysis were significantly and positively correlated with patients’ perceived self-efficacy scores.ConclusionsThis study provides primary evidence of the perceived self-efficacy among CKD patients who are on dialysis. The results of this cross-sectional study showed that greater self-efficacy was associated with employment and peritoneal dialysis. Strategies to enhance self-efficacy among dialysis patients, especially those on hemodialysis, are needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-171
Author(s):  
Dil Islam Mansur ◽  
Subindra Karki ◽  
Pragya Shrestha ◽  
Sunima Maskey

Introduction: Any variations in shape or size of either one or both kidneys may indicate sign of its pathology. The study was aimed to determine normal values for renal dimensions among Nepalese children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the renal dimensions among 211 children. The length, breadth and thickness of kidneys were measured by computerised in built calliper in centimetre by using ultrasound and volume of the kidney was calculated. Results: The mean values of length, breadth, thickness and volume were 7.05 ± 1.80 cm, 2.95 ± 0.48 cm, 1.35 ± 0.15 cm and 15.09 ± 5.91 cc for right kidneys respectively; and 7.36 ± 1.89 cm, 2.98 ± 1.89 cm, 1.35 ± 0.18 cm and 15.98 ± 6.44 cc for left kidneys respectively. The mean values for length, breadth, thickness and volume of right kidney was 7.57 ± 1.99 cm, 3.11 ± 0.46 cm, 1.38 ± 0.14 cm and 17.38 ± 6.20 cc among boys respectively; and 6.50 ± 1.39 cm, 2.78 ± 0.44 cm, 1.31 ± 0.17 cm and 12.69 ± 4.43 cc among girls respectively. Similarly, these values for length, breadth, thickness and volume of left kidneys were 7.91 ± 2.04 cm, 3.13 ± 0.49 cm, 1.39 ± 0.18 cm and 18.46 ± 6.89 cc among boys respectively; and 6.78 ± 1.52 cm, 2.83 ± 0.45 cm, 1.31 ± 0.17 cm and 13.38 ± 4.73 cc among girls respectively. Conclusions: It was concluded that mean values for renal length and volume was found to be higher on left side than right side in all age groups. These values for renal breadth and thickness were observed almost same on both sides in all age groups. All measurements of renal dimensions were found significantly higher among boys than girls on both sides. This study has provided the reference values for renal sizes among Nepalese children.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senay Karadag Arli ◽  
Ayse Berivan Bakan ◽  
Ela Erisik

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between nurses’ views on spirituality and spiritual care and their level of burnout. Method: This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample that comprised 118 nurses from one state hospital in eastern Turkey. The data were collected through questionnaires that were filled by the nurses individually, using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results: A statistically significant relationship was found between subscale scores of Maslach Burnout Inventory and total score of Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale. With the increase in nurses’ spiritual care mean scores, there was an increase in the mean scores of the Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment subscales. Conclusions: Nurses’ burnout levels increased with the increase in their spirituality and spiritual care mean scores. This situation can be associated with the fact that providing spiritual care increases nurses’ workload. Therefore, similar studies are recommended to be conducted with wider groups of participants.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document