Experiences on Introducing a Team-Based Knowledge Summary to Student Veterinary Nurses/Veterinary Technicians

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200093
Author(s):  
Sarah Batt-Williams ◽  
Rachel Lumbis

It is a responsibility of veterinarians and veterinary nurse/veterinary technician practitioners to ground their decisions on sound, objective, and current evidence. Fundamental to this process is the ability to critically analyze available evidence and apply this alongside existing clinical expertise to inform clinical decision making and practice. This teaching tip describes the design and implementation of a knowledge summary and peer feedback as elements of a summative assessment of third-year veterinary nursing degree students at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. Underlying educational theories and practical details on how to carry out the proposed innovation are discussed. Students’ feedback of this assessment method was largely positive, with acknowledgment of its value in facilitating the answering of clinically relevant questions in a practical, structured, and evidence-based format that is directly transferrable to veterinary practice. For those continuing to the fourth year of the Bachelor of Science (BSc) program, it was considered good preparation for the research and literature review conducted as part of the final-year project. Feedback from faculty suggests that the assessment fulfilled its aim of ensuring improved constructive alignment and facilitating the development of higher-order cognitive skills. Others are encouraged to adopt this method of assessment to develop students’ interpersonal skills, encourage their critical appraisal of evidence, and challenge traditional theories and practice.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (05) ◽  
pp. 662-671
Author(s):  
Pedro Póvoa ◽  
Luis Coelho

AbstractThe diagnosis of infection in patients with suspected sepsis is frequently difficult to achieve with a reasonable degree of certainty. Currently, the diagnosis of infection still relies on a combination of systemic manifestations, manifestations of organ dysfunction, and microbiological documentation. In addition, the microbiologic confirmation of infection is obtained only after 2 to 3 days of empiric antibiotic therapy. These criteria are far from perfect being at least in part responsible for the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, in the community and in hospital, and probably the main drive for antibiotic resistance. Biomarkers have been studied and used in several clinical settings as surrogate markers of infection to improve their diagnostic accuracy as well as in the assessment of response to antibiotics and in antibiotic stewardship programs. The aim of this review is to provide a clear overview of the current evidence of usefulness of biomarkers in several clinical scenarios, namely, to diagnose infection to prescribe antibiotics, to exclude infection to withhold antibiotics, and to identify the causative pathogen to target antimicrobial treatment. In recent years, new evidence with “old” biomarkers, like C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, as well as new biomarkers and molecular tests, as breathomics or bacterial DNA identification by polymerase chain reaction, increased markedly in different areas adding useful information for clinical decision making at the bedside when adequately used. The recent evidence shows that the information given by biomarkers can support the suspicion of infection and pathogen identification but also, and not less important, can exclude its diagnosis. Although the ideal biomarker has not yet been found, there are various promising biomarkers that represent true evolutions in the diagnosis of infection in patients with suspected sepsis.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3481
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Shuford ◽  
Ashley L. Cairns ◽  
Omeed Moaven

The genetic and molecular underpinnings of metastatic colorectal cancer have been studied for decades, and the applicability of these findings in clinical decision making continues to evolve. Advancements in translating molecular studies have provided a basis for tailoring chemotherapeutic regimens in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment, which have informed multiple practice guidelines. Various genetic and molecular pathways have been identified as clinically significant in the pathogenesis of metastatic colorectal cancer. These include rat sarcoma (RAS), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF, microsatellite instability, mismatch repair, and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog b1 (BRAF) with established clinical implications. RAS mutations and deficiencies in the mismatch repair pathway guide decisions regarding the administration of anti-EGFR-based therapies and immunotherapy, respectively. Furthermore, there are several emerging pathways and therapeutic modalities that have not entered mainstream use in mCRC treatment and are ripe for further investigation. The well-established data in the arena of targeted therapies provide evidence-based support for the use or avoidance of various therapeutic regimens in mCRC treatment, while the emerging pathways and platforms offer a glimpse into the future of transforming a precision approach into a personalized treatment.


RMD Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. e000790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Sulli ◽  
Rosaria Talarico ◽  
Carlo Alberto Scirè ◽  
Tadej Avcin ◽  
Marco Castori ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo report the effort of the European Reference Network for Rare and Complex CONnective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases NETwork working group on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related disorders to assess current available clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) specifically addressed to EDS, in order to identify potential clinician and patient unmet needs.MethodsSystematic literature search in PUBMED and EMBASE based on controlled terms (MeSH and Emtree) and keywords of the disease and publication type (CPGs). All the published articles were revised in order to identify existing CPGs on diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of EDS.ResultsLiterature revision detected the absence of papers reporting good quality CPGs to optimise EDS patient care. The current evidence-based literature regarding clinical guidelines for the EDS was limited in size and quality, and there is insufficient research exploring the clinical features and interventions, and clinical decision-making are currently based on theoretical and limited research evidences.ConclusionsMany clinician and patient unmet needs have been identified.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Mark Tonelli

In their call to develop a consistent, coherent and comprehensive notion of person-centered medicine, Miles and Mezzich have elucidated several specific challenges that need to be urgently addressed. One of these foundational tasks is the development of a more complete understanding of person-centered clinical decision-making. Miles and Mezzich note that while the emphasis on clinical research in evidence-based medicine has served to de-emphasize the importance of the individual patient, the alternative of patient-centered medicine has the potential to de-emphasize the judgment of the clinician by making unfettered patient choice paramount. A practice of medicine that reduces professional healers to an informational role only, one where they lay out potential interventions devoid of context and allow patients to choose from amongst them, undervalues clinical expertise and will clearly not lead to better outcomes. Person-centered medicine (PCM), then, must be able to develop and defend a model of clinical judgment and practice that strikes the correct balance between the science of medicine and the personal experience of the individual in search of care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1S) ◽  
pp. 560-573
Author(s):  
Mackenzie E. Fama ◽  
Peter E. Turkeltaub

Purpose Typical language users can engage in a lively internal monologue for introspection and task performance, but what is the nature of inner speech among individuals with aphasia? Studying the phenomenon of inner speech in this population has the potential to further our understanding of inner speech more generally, help clarify the subjective experience of those with aphasia, and inform clinical practice. In this scoping review, we describe and synthesize the existing literature on inner speech in aphasia. Method Studies examining inner speech in aphasia were located through electronic databases and citation searches. Across the various studies, methods include both subjective approaches (i.e., asking individuals with aphasia about the integrity of their inner speech) and objective approaches (i.e., administering objective language tests as proxy measures for inner speech ability). The findings of relevant studies are summarized. Results Although definitions of inner speech vary across research groups, studies using both subjective and objective methods have established findings showing that inner speech can be preserved relative to spoken language in individuals with aphasia, particularly among those with relatively intact word retrieval and difficulty primarily at the level of speech output processing. Approaches that combine self-report with objective measures have demonstrated that individuals with aphasia are, on the whole, reliably able to report the integrity of their inner speech. Conclusions The examination of inner speech in individuals with aphasia has potential implications for clinical practice, in that differences in the preservation of inner speech across individuals may help guide clinical decision making around aphasia treatment. Although there are many questions that remain open to further investigation, studying inner speech in this specific population has also contributed to a broader understanding of the mechanisms of inner speech more generally.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon P. Borg-Bartolo ◽  
Ray Kiran Boyapati ◽  
Jack Satsangi ◽  
Rahul Kalla

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are increasingly prevalent, relapsing and remitting inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) with variable disease courses and complications. Their aetiology remains unclear but current evidence shows an increasingly complex pathophysiology broadly centring on the genome, exposome, microbiome and immunome. Our increased understanding of disease pathogenesis is providing an ever-expanding arsenal of therapeutic options, but these can be expensive and patients can lose response or never respond to certain therapies. Therefore, there is now a growing need to personalise therapies on the basis of the underlying disease biology and a desire to shift our approach from “reactive” management driven by disease complications to “proactive” care with an aim to prevent disease sequelae. Precision medicine is the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual patient, encompassing a multitude of data-driven (and multi-omic) approaches to foster accurate clinical decision-making. In IBD, precision medicine would have significant benefits, enabling timely therapy that is both effective and appropriate for the individual. In this review, we summarise some of the key areas of progress towards precision medicine, including predicting disease susceptibility and its course, personalising therapies in IBD and monitoring response to therapy. We also highlight some of the challenges to be overcome in order to deliver this approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 122-131
Author(s):  
Kyle N. Kunze ◽  
Matthew R. Cohn ◽  
Brady T. Williams ◽  
Grant Garrigues ◽  
Jorge Chahla

Author(s):  
Rebecca Julier ◽  
Jacqueline K. Benfield

Purpose Oral trials, otherwise known as swallow trials or tasters, are widely used in dysphagia management. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effectiveness of oral trials or outlined how the approach is utilized in everyday practice. This article aims to start a dialogue regarding this much-used but little-evidenced dysphagia intervention by exploring three main aspects to (a) identify the patient demographics and environments in which oral trials are used in hospital, (b) explore clinical decision making around the approach, and (c) consider clinical implications around current findings and future areas for research. Method A cross-sectional examination of 118 patients on the dysphagia caseload of a United Kingdom–based inpatient speech and language therapy team was conducted. Statistical analysis explored demographic differences between oral trials groups and the rest of the dysphagia caseload. Results Twenty-three of 118 (19.5%) individuals on the caseload were or had been on oral trials during admission. Individuals in the oral trials group were significantly more likely to have a neurological diagnosis than the full oral intake group (78.3% vs. 30.5%, p < .001). There was a lack of uniformity in oral trials recommendations, and the rationale behind quantity and types of diet or fluids offered was unclear. Conclusions This study begins to evidence the use of a dysphagia therapy not previously explored within existing literature. It highlights the wide use of oral trials within the hospital trust observed. Based on current evidence, it would be difficult for clinicians to know how to implement oral trials as an intervention. Further research is required both to explore the effectiveness of this approach and also to develop a consensus within practice around how, why, and when oral trials are offered. This would ensure an equitable and effective service is offered and would ensure a high standard of evidence-based practice within dysphagia management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Yuan ◽  
Scott Eric Kasner

The patent foramen ovale (PFO), given its high prevalence in the general population and especially in patients with cryptogenic stroke, has long generated investigation and debate on its propensity for stroke by paradoxical embolism and its management for stroke prevention. The pendulum has swung for percutaneous PFO closure for secondary stroke prevention in cryptogenic stroke. Based on a review of current evidence, the benefit from PFO closure relies on careful patient selection: those under the age of 60 years with few to no vascular risk factors and embolic-appearing stroke deemed cryptogenic after thorough evaluation. As these data look towards influencing guideline statements and device approvals in the future, patient selection remains the crucial ingredient for clinical decision making and future trials.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneel Kumar Garg ◽  
Omender Singh ◽  
Deven Juneja ◽  
Niraj Tyagi ◽  
Amandeep Singh Khurana ◽  
...  

Polymyxin B has resurged in recent years as a last resort therapy for Gram-negative multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extremely drug resistant (XDR) infections. Understanding newer evidence on polymyxin B is necessary to guide clinical decision making. Here, we present a literature review of polymyxin B in Gram-negative infections with update on its pharmacology.


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