scholarly journals Adherence to NICE Guidelines on Colorectal Cancer Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyancaa Jeyabaladevan ◽  
◽  
Abhinaya Varatharajah
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Clinical Excellence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nice Guidelines ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Resection ◽  
Local Improvement ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Pro Forma

Purpose: Our aims were to determine adherence to National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance and to evaluate local practice patterns determine how it can be further improved. Patients and methods: Patients with colorectal cancer resection between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 were identified, and their records retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 18 patients were eligible. Surveillance patterns, including blood tests and colonoscopies, were inconsistent with NICE recommendations in a significant proportion of patients. Follow up appointments and CT imaging occurred more frequently in line with the guidelines. For recurrences detected by surveillance, 66.6% were resectable whereas 0% of those detected by symptoms were resectable. Conclusions: The results prove that a moderately intensive follow-up strategy can positively identify resectable recurrence thus increasing overall survival. Our data highlights the need for local improvement to adherence to NICE guidelines regarding CRC follow-up. We have created a pro forma which is attached to the patient’s clinical notes. It will aid clinicians in reminding them when appropriates tests should be completed. A re-audit will be completed in December 2020 which will include looking at the effectiveness of the new pro forma.

Adherence to NICE Guidelines on Colorectal Cancer Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyancaa Jeyabaladevan ◽  
Abhinaya Varatharajah324
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Clinical Excellence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nice Guidelines ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Resection ◽  
Local Improvement ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Pro Forma

Purpose: Our aims were to determine adherence to National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on colorectal cancer (CRC) surveillance and to evaluate local practice patterns determine how it can be further improved. Patients and methods: Patients with colorectal cancer resection between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 were identified, and their records retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 18 patients were eligible. Surveillance patterns, including blood tests and colonoscopies, were inconsistent with NICE recommendations in a significant proportion of patients. Follow up appointments and CT imaging occurred more frequently in line with the guidelines. For recurrences detected by surveillance, 66.6% were resectable whereas 0% of those detected by symptoms were resectable. Conclusions: The results prove that a moderately intensive follow-up strategy can positively identify resectable recurrence thus increasing overall survival. Our data highlights the need for local improvement to adherence to NICE guidelines regarding CRC follow-up. We have created a pro forma which is attached to the patient’s clinical notes. It will aid clinicians in reminding them when appropriates tests should be completed. A re-audit will be completed in December 2020 which will include looking at the effectiveness of the new pro forma.

Cross-sectional analysis of hospital tasks handed over to general practitioners: workload delegation or dumping?

2021 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2020-139641
Author(s):  
Zahir Mughal ◽  
Rajib Maharjan
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Referral Practices ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Purpose of the studyNew requirements for hospital clinicians to follow up and act on hospital-initiated investigations were introduced in 2016 in the National Health Service standard contract. We aimed to evaluate the tasks handed over from hospital clinicians to general practitioners (GPs).Study designA retrospective observation of all tasks in a random sample of electronic discharge summaries at a university teaching hospital over a 1 month period was conducted. A single-best-answer questionnaire was circulated among hospital clinicians over 3 months to gain an understanding of their follow-up and referral practices.ResultsThe total number of tasks found on discharge summaries (n=178) were 227, of which 39% were directed at GPs and 61% at the hospital team. Of 89 tasks delegated to GPs, 33% were inappropriate. Some tasks on discharge summaries were delegated more frequently to GPs such as blood tests (73%) and endoscopy requests (67%). While others were undertaken more often by hospitals clinicians including imaging requests (88%), follow-up appointments (87%) and onward referrals (71%). Surveyed doctors (n=72) admitted to asking GPs to follow up blood tests (52%), imaging and endoscopy (16%) and make onward referrals for related conditions (14%) and unrelated conditions (70%).ConclusionThe majority of outstanding tasks in the hospital setting were followed up by hospital clinicians. A considerable volume of tasks were delegated to GPs, of which a significant proportion were inappropriate. An increase in awareness and understanding among hospital clinicians of their responsibility to follow up hospital-initiated investigations is needed.

Are neighborhood restaurants related to frequency of restaurant meals and dietary quality?: Prevalence and changes over time in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Amy H. Auchincloss ◽  
Jingjing Li ◽  
Kari A. B. Moore ◽  
Manuel Franco ◽  
Mahasin S. Mujahid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Longitudinal Analyses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
Eating Out ◽  
Restaurant Meals ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Objective: To examine whether the density of neighbourhood restaurants affected the frequency of eating restaurant meals and subsequently affected diet quality. Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Structural equation models assessed the indirect relationship between restaurant density (≤3 miles (4.8 km) of participant addresses) and dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI)) via the frequency of eating restaurant meals, after adjustment for sociodemographics, select health conditions, region, residence duration and area-level income. Setting: Urbanised areas in multiple regions of the USA, years 2000–2002 and 2010–2012. Participants: Participants aged 45–84 years were followed for 10 years (n 3567). Results: Median HEI (out of 100) was 59 at baseline and 62 at follow-up. Cross-sectional analysis found residing in areas with a high density of restaurants (highest ranked quartile) was associated with 52% higher odds of frequently eating restaurant meals (≥3 times/week, odds ratio [OR]:1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.98) and 3% higher odds of having lower dietary quality (HEI lowest quartile<54, OR:1.03,CI:1.01-1.06); associations were not sustained in longitudinal analyses. Cross-sectional analysis found 34% higher odds of having lower dietary quality for those who frequently ate at restaurants (OR:1.34,CI:1.12-1.61); and more restaurant meals (over time increase ≥1 times/week) was associated with higher odds of having worse dietary quality at follow-up (OR:1.21,CI:1.00-1.46). Conclusions: Restaurant density was associated with frequently eating out in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses but was associated with the lower dietary quality only in cross-sectional analyses. Frequent restaurant meals were negatively related to dietary quality. Interventions that encourage less frequent eating out may improve population dietary quality.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional analysis of follow-up chest MRI and chest CT scans in patients previously affected by COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Pecoraro ◽  
Stefano Cipollari ◽  
Livia Marchitelli ◽  
Emanuele Messina ◽  
Maurizio Del Monte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chest Ct ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Imaging Biomarker ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mri Scans ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Ct And Mri ◽  
Interlobular Septal Thickening

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the agreement between chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) and to assess the diagnostic performance of chest MRI relative to that of CT during the follow-up of patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019. Materials and methods Fifty-two patients underwent both follow-up chest CT and MRI scans, evaluated for ground-glass opacities (GGOs), consolidation, interlobular septal thickening, fibrosis, pleural indentation, vessel enlargement, bronchiolar ectasia, and changes compared to prior CT scans. DWI/ADC was evaluated for signal abnormalities suspicious for inflammation. Agreement between CT and MRI was assessed with Cohen’s k and weighted k. Measures of diagnostic accuracy of MRI were calculated. Results The agreement between CT and MRI was almost perfect for consolidation (k = 1.00) and change from prior CT (k = 0.857); substantial for predominant pattern (k = 0.764) and interlobular septal thickening (k = 0.734); and poor for GGOs (k = 0.339), fibrosis (k = 0.224), pleural indentation (k = 0.231), and vessel enlargement (k = 0.339). Meanwhile, the sensitivity of MRI was high for GGOs (1.00), interlobular septal thickening (1.00), and consolidation (1.00) but poor for fibrotic changes (0.18), pleural indentation (0.23), and vessel enlargement (0.50) and the specificity was overall high. DWI was positive in 46.0% of cases. Conclusions The agreement between MRI and CT was overall good. MRI was very sensitive for GGOs, consolidation and interlobular septal thickening and overall specific for most findings. DWI could be a reputable imaging biomarker of inflammatory activity.

A retrospective analysis of congenital anomalies in congenital hypothyroidism

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1147-1153
Author(s):  
Fatima Ali Mazahir ◽  
Manal Mustafa Khadora
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Congenital Hypothyroidism ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Lingual Thyroid ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractObjectivesWe evaluated the spectrum of diseases accompanying congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in the United Arab Emirates and compared them with internationally studied patterns.MethodsThe presented retrospective cross-sectional study took place in two government tertiary care centres. In total, 204 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CH and a minimum period of follow-up of 1 year were included. Patients with Down syndrome, infants born at <35 weeks of gestation, and babies with TORCH (Toxoplasma gondii, Other viruses [HIV, measles, etc.], Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex) infections were subsequently excluded from the study.ResultsOf the subjects with CH, 39% had associated extrathyroidal anomalies (ETAs); among these, 25% had a single anomaly. A significant proportion of Arab males were affected by CH as compared to other ethnic groups. Dyshormonogenesis was the commonest aetiological cause (55%) of CH. Males with an ectopic lingual thyroid gland had significant ETAs as compared to females of the same cohort. The most common ETAs were congenital heart disease (16%), followed by urogenital tract anomalies (14%).ConclusionsDetection of a high rate and variability of ETAs associated with CH necessitates the formulation of a structured screening programme including appropriate clinical, laboratory, and imaging tools to detect ETAs at an earlier stage.

scholarly journals A prospective cohort study of older colorectal cancer surgical patients: an association of post-operative clinical outcome with sarcopenia, frailty, and nutritional status [Protocol] (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nia Humphry
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Operative Risk ◽  
Surgical Patients ◽  
Clinical Frailty Scale ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Surgery ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Resection

UNSTRUCTURED Older patients account for a significant proportion of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, and are vulnerable to a number of pre-operative risk factors that are not often present in younger patients. Three pre-operative risk factors more prevalent in the elderly are frailty, sarcopenia, and malnutrition. Whilst each of these has been studied in isolation, there is little information on the interplay between them in older surgical patients. One particular area of increasing interest is the use of urine metabolomics for objective evaluation of dietary profiles and malnutrition. Herein we describe the design, cohort, and standard operating procedures of a planned prospective study of older surgical patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection across multiple institutions in the United Kingdom. These procedures include serial frailty evaluations (Clinical Frailty Scale and Groningen Frailty Indicator), functional assessments (with hand grip strength and 4-metre walk test), muscle mass evaluations using computerized tomography morphometric analysis and evaluation of nutritional status using analysis of urinary dietary biomarkers. As these are all areas of common derangement in the elderly surgical population, prospectively studying them in concert will allow for analysis of their interplay as well as the development of predictive models for those at risk for commonly tracked surgical complications and outcomes.

scholarly journals Australian general practice trainees’ exposure to ophthalmic problems and implications for training: a cross-sectional analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Morgan ◽  
Amanda Tapley ◽  
Kim M Henderson ◽  
Neil A Spike ◽  
Lawrie A McArthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Analysis ◽  
Australian General Practice ◽  
Simple Logistic ◽  
Sectional Analysis

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Eye conditions are common presentations in Australian general practice, with the potential for serious sequelae. Pre-vocational ophthalmology training for General Practitioner (GP) trainees is limited. AIM To describe the rate, nature and associations of ophthalmic problems managed by Australian GP trainees, and derive implications for education and training. METHODS Cross-sectional analysis from an ongoing cohort study of GP trainees’ clinical consultations. Trainees recorded demographic, clinical and educational details of consecutive patient consultations. Descriptive analyses report trainee, patient and practice demographics. Proportions of all problems managed in these consultations that were ophthalmology-related were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Associations were tested using simple logistic regression within the generalised estimating equations (GEE) framework. RESULTS In total, 884 trainees returned data on 184,476 individual problems or diagnoses from 118,541 encounters. There were 2649 ophthalmology-related problems, equating to 1.4% (95% CI: 1.38–1.49) of all problems managed. The most common eye presentations were conjunctivitis (32.5% of total problems), eyelid problems (14.9%), foreign body (5.3%) and dry eye (4.7%). Statistically significant associations were male trainee; male patient and patient aged 14 years or under; the problem being new and the patient being new to both trainee and practice; urban and of higher socioeconomic status practice location; the practice nurse not being involved; planned follow up not arranged; referral made; in-consultation information sought; and learning goals generated. DISCUSSION Trainees have comparable ophthalmology exposure to established GPs. However, associations with referral and information-seeking suggest GP trainees find ophthalmic problems challenging, reinforcing the critical importance of appropriate training.

scholarly journals Effect of changes in green spaces on mental health in older adults: a fixed effects analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Mark Noordzij ◽  
Marielle A Beenackers ◽  
Joost Oude Groeniger ◽  
Frank J Van Lenthe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Residential Environment ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Sectional Analysis

BackgroundUrban green spaces have been linked to different health benefits, but longitudinal studies on the effect of green spaces on mental health are sparse and evidence often inconclusive. Our objective was to study the effect of changes in green spaces in the residential environment on changes in mental health using data with 10 years of follow-up (2004–2014).MethodsData from 3175 Dutch adults were linked to accessibility and availability measures of green spaces at three time points (2004/2011/2014). Mental health was measured with the Mental Health Inventory-5. Fixed effects analyses were performed to assess the effect of changes in green spaces on mental health.ResultsCross-sectional analysis of baseline data showed significant associations between Euclidean distances to the nearest green space and mental health, with an increase of 100 m correlating with a lower mental health score of approximately 0.5 (95% CI −0.87 to −0.12) on a 0–100 scale. Fixed effects models showed no evidence for associations between changes in green spaces and changes in mental health both for the entire sample as well as for those that did not relocate during follow-up.ConclusionsDespite observed cross-sectional correlations between the accessibility of green space in the residential environment and mental health, no evidence was found for an association between changes in green spaces and changes in mental health. If mental health and green spaces are indeed causally linked, then changes in green spaces in the Eindhoven area between 2004 and 2014 are not enough to produce a significant effect.

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