Transcranial Doppler Use in Non-traumatic Critically Ill Children: A Multicentre Descriptive Study

Background: The use and perceived value of transcranial Doppler (TCD) scope in paediatric critical care medicine has not been extensively documented.Objective: To describe the use of TCD to assess non-traumatic brain injury in patients admitted to four paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in France.Methods: We prospectively included all children (aged under 18) assessed with inpatient TCD between November 2014 and October 2015 at one of the four PICUs. The physicians completed a questionnaire within 4 h of performing TCD.Results: 152 children were included. The primary diagnosis was neurological disease in 106 patients (70%), including post ischemic-anoxic brain insult (n = 42, 28%), status epilepticus (n = 19, 13%), and central nervous system infection/inflammation (n = 15, 10%). TCD was the first-line neuromonitoring assessment in 110 patients (72%) and was performed within 24 h of admission in 112 patients (74%). The most common indications for TCD were the routine monitoring of neurological disorders (n = 85, 56%) and the detection of asymptomatic neurological disorders (n = 37, 24). Concordance between the operator's interpretation of TCD and the published normative values was observed for 21 of the 75 (28%) TCD abnormal findings according to the published normative values. The physicians considered that TCD was of value for the ongoing clinical management of 131 (86%) of the 152 patients.Conclusion: TCD is commonly used in French PICUs and tends to be performed early after admission on patients with a broad range of diseases. The physicians reported that the TCD findings often helped their clinical decision making. In view of the subjectivity of bedside interpretation, true TCD contribution to clinical care remains to be determined. Objective studies of the impact of TCD on patient management and clinical outcomes are therefore warranted.

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Clinical value of measurable residual disease testing for assessing depth, duration, and direction of response in multiple myeloma

Blood Advances ◽

10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (14) ◽

pp. 3295-3301

Author(s):

Joaquin Martinez-Lopez ◽

Sandy W. Wong ◽

Nina Shah ◽

Natasha Bahri ◽

Kaili Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Routine Practice ◽

Clinical Value ◽

The Impact ◽

Measurable Residual Disease

Abstract Few clinical studies have reported results of measurable residual disease (MRD) assessments performed as part of routine practice. Herein we present our single-institution experience assessing MRD in 234 multiple myeloma (MM) patients (newly diagnosed [NDMM = 159] and relapsed [RRMM = 75]). We describe the impact of depth, duration, and direction of response on prognosis. MRD assessments were performed by next-generation sequencing of immunoglobulin genes with a sensitivity of 10−6. Those achieving MRD negativity at 10−6, as well as 10−5, had superior median progression-free survival (PFS). In the NDMM cohort, 40% of the patients achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 59% at 10−5. Median PFS in the NDMM cohort was superior in those achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 87 months vs 32 months; P < .001). In the RRMM cohort, 36% achieved MRD negativity at 10−6 and 47% at 10−5. Median PFS was superior for the RRMM achieving MRD at 10−5 vs <10−5 (PFS: 42 months vs 17 months; P < .01). Serial MRD monitoring identified 3 categories of NDMM patients: (A) patients with ≥3 MRD 10−6 negative samples, (B) patients with detectable but continuously declining clonal numbers, and (C) patients with stable or increasing clonal number (≥1 log). PFS was superior in groups A and B vs C (median PFS not reached [NR], NR, 55 respectively; P < .001). This retrospective evaluation of MRD used as part of clinical care validates MRD as an important prognostic marker in NDMM and RRMM and supports its use as an endpoint in future clinical trials as well as for clinical decision making.

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Hospital Libraries Have a Positive Impact on Clinical Decision Making and Patient Care

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/b8501p ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 104 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Martha I. Preddie

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Patient Care ◽

Sample Size ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

The Impact

A review of: Marshall, Joanne Gard. “The Impact of the Hospital Library on Clinical Decision Making: the Rochester Study.” Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 80.2 (1992): 169-78. Objective – To determine the impact of hospital library services on clinical decision making. Design – A descriptive survey. Setting – Fifteen hospitals in the Rochester area of New York, United States of America. Seven hospitals were in the city of Rochester, and eight were in surrounding rural communities. Subjects – Active physicians and residents affiliated with the Rochester hospitals. Methods – This study built upon the methodology used in an earlier study by D. N. King of the contribution of hospital libraries to clinical care in Chicago. Lists were compiled of all the active physicians and residents who were affiliated with the Rochester hospitals. In order to ensure that there was a reasonable number of participants from each hospital, and that librarians in hospitals with larger numbers of staff were not overburdened with requests, predetermined percentages were set for the sample: 10% of active physicians from hospitals with more than 25 medical staff members, 30% from hospitals with less staff, and 30% of residents and rural physicians. This resulted in a desirable sample size of 448. A systematic sample with a random start was then drawn from each hospital’s list, and physicians and residents were recruited until the sample size was achieved. Participants were asked to request information related to a clinical case from their hospital library, and to evaluate its impact on patient care, by responding to a two-page questionnaire. Main results – Based on usable questionnaires, there was an overall response rate of 46.4% (208 of 448). Eighty percent of the respondents stated that they probably (48%) or definitely (32.4%) handled a clinical situation differently due to the information received from the library. In terms of the specific aspects of care for which changes were made, 71.6% reported a change in advice given to the patient, 59.6% cited a change in treatment, 50.5% a change in diagnostic tests, 45.2% a change in drugs, and 38.5% a change in post-hospital care or treatment. Physicians credited the information provided by the library as contributing to their ability to avoid additional tests and procedures (49%), additional outpatient visits (26.4%), surgery (21.2%), patient mortality (19.2%), hospital admission (11.5%), and hospital-acquired infections (8.2%). In response to a question about the importance of several sources of information, the library received the highest rating amidst other sources including lab tests, diagnostic imaging, and discussions with colleagues. Conclusion – This study validates earlier research findings that physicians view the information provided by hospital libraries as having a significant impact on clinical decision making. Library supplied information influences changes to specific aspects of care as well as the avoidance of adverse events for patients. The significance of this influence is underscored by the finding that relative to other sources, information obtained from the hospital library was rated more highly.

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PDA Use by Clinicians has a Positive Impact on Clinical Decision Making

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/b8j013 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 40

Author(s):

Suzanne Pamela Lewis

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

The United States ◽

Teaching Hospitals ◽

Chi Square ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Attending Physicians ◽

The Impact

A review of: Dee, Cheryl R., Marilyn Teolis, and Andrew D. Todd. “Physicians’ use of the personal digital assistant (PDA) in clinical decision making.” Journal of the Medical Library Association 93.4 (October 2005): 480-6. Objective – To examine how frequently attending physicians and physicians in training (medical students, interns and residents) used PDAs for patient care and to explore physicians’ perceptions of the impact of PDA use on several aspects of clinical care. Design – User study via a questionnaire. Setting – Teaching hospitals in Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania in the United States. Subjects – A convenience sample of fifty-nine attending physicians and forty-nine physicians in training (108 total), spread unevenly across the five states. Methods – Subjects were recruited by librarians at teaching hospitals to answer a questionnaire which was distributed and collected at medical meetings, as well as by email, mail, and fax. The subjects were required to have and use a PDA, but prior training on PDA use was not a requirement, nor was it offered to the subjects before the study. Most of the questions required the respondent to choose from five Likert scale answers regarding frequency of PDA use: almost always, often, a few times, rarely, or never. In the reporting of results, the options ‘almost always’ and ‘often’ were combined and reported as ‘frequent’, and the options ‘a few times’ and ‘rarely’, were combined and reported as ‘occasional’. Subjects could also record comments for each question, but only for affirmative responses. Subjects were asked about their frequency of PDA use before, during, or after a patient encounter. They were also asked if PDA use had influenced one or more of five aspects of clinical care – decision making, diagnosis, treatment, test ordering, and in-patient hospital length of stay. Data analysis included chi square tests to assess differences between attending physicians and physicians in training regarding frequency of PDA use and the influence of PDA use on the five aspects of clinical care. The subject population was also divided into frequent and occasional users of PDAs, and chi square testing was used to assess differences between these two groups regarding the influence of PDA use on clinical care. A significance value of P

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A pilot study exploring the relationship between the use of mobile technologies, walking distance, and clinical decision making among rural hospital nurses

Health Informatics Journal ◽

10.1177/1460458217747110 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 1163-1169 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monique Sedgwick ◽

Olu Awosoga ◽

Lance Grigg

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Rural Hospital ◽

Walking Distance ◽

Small Scale ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Smartphone Applications ◽

The Impact

Providing evidence-based information at the point of care for time-poor nurses may lead to better clinical care and patient outcomes. Smartphone applications (apps) have the advantage of providing immediate access to information potentially increasing time spent with patients. This small-scale pre-post survey study explored the impact a smartphone app had on the distance nurses walked and their perceived clinical decision-making ability. A total of 20 nurses working in a rural hospital medical/surgical unit participated. The findings suggest that the use of the smartphone app did not decrease nurses’ walking distance. Nor did using the app enhances nurses’ perception of their clinical decision-making ability. However, there was a statistically significant increase in confidence in the app over time (F(1,16) = 5.416, p = 0.033, partial η2= 0.253), suggesting that providing training opportunities including time to learn how to use smartphone applications has the potential to enhance nurses work.

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Religion and Medicine

10.1093/oso/9780190867355.001.0001 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jeff Levin ◽

Stephen G. Post

Keyword(s):

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Well Being ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Religion And Medicine ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Faith Based ◽

Baylor University ◽

Wide Range ◽

History Of ◽

The Impact

In Religion and Medicine, Dr. Jeff Levin, distinguished Baylor University epidemiologist, outlines the longstanding history of multifaceted interconnections between the institutions of religion and medicine. He traces the history of the encounter between these two institutions from antiquity through to the present day, highlighting a myriad of contemporary alliances between the faith-based and medical sectors. Religion and Medicine tells the story of: religious healers and religiously branded hospitals and healthcare institutions; pastoral professionals involved in medical missions, healthcare chaplaincy, and psychological counseling; congregational health promotion and disease prevention programs and global health initiatives; research studies on the impact of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices on physical and mental health, well-being, and healing; programs and centers for medical research and education within major universities and academic institutions; religiously informed bioethics and clinical decision-making; and faith-based health policy initiatives and advocacy for healthcare reform. Religion and Medicine is the first book to cover the full breadth of this subject. It documents religion-medicine alliances across religious traditions, throughout the world, and over the course of history. It summarizes a wide range of material of relevance to historians, medical professionals, pastors and theologians, bioethicists, scientists, public health educators, and policymakers. The product of decades of rigorous and focused research, Dr. Levin has produced the most comprehensive history of these developments and the finest introduction to this emerging field of scholarship.

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Clinical Conundrums When Integrating the QbTest into a Standard ADHD Assessment of Children and Young People

Neuropediatrics ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1722674 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carsten Vogt

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Neuropsychological Test ◽

Real Life ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Standard Clinical Practice ◽

Novel Method ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe uptake of the QbTest in clinical practice is increasing and has recently been supported by research evidence proposing its effectiveness in relation to clinical decision-making. However, the exact underlying process leading to this clinical benefit is currently not well established and requires further clarification. For the clinician, certain challenges arise when adding the QbTest as a novel method to standard clinical practice, such as having the skills required to interpret neuropsychological test information and assess for diagnostically relevant neurocognitive domains that are related to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or how neurocognitive domains express themselves within the behavioral classifications of ADHD and how the quantitative measurement of activity in a laboratory setting compares with real-life (ecological validity) situations as well as the impact of comorbidity on test results. This article aims to address these clinical conundrums in aid of developing a consistent approach and future guidelines in clinical practice.

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AAC Assessment and Clinical-Decision Making: The Impact of Experience

Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.3109/07434618.2012.704521 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 148-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Aimee Dietz ◽

Wendy Quach ◽

Shelley K. Lund ◽

Miechelle McKelvey

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

The Impact

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Standardized Synoptic Cancer Pathology Reports — So What and Who Cares?: A Population-Based Satisfaction Survey of 970 Pathologists, Surgeons, and Oncologists

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.5858/arpa.2012-0656-oa ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 137 (11) ◽

pp. 1599-1602 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Sara Lankshear ◽

John Srigley ◽

Thomas McGowan ◽

Marta Yurcan ◽

Carol Sawka

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Physician Satisfaction ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cancer Pathology ◽

Report Turnaround Time ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pathology Reporting ◽

The Impact

Context.—Cancer Care Ontario implemented synoptic pathology reporting across Ontario, impacting the practice of pathologists, surgeons, and medical and radiation oncologists. The benefits of standardized synoptic pathology reporting include enhanced completeness and improved consistency in comparison with narrative reports, with reported challenges including increased workload and report turnaround time. Objective.—To determine the impact of synoptic pathology reporting on physician satisfaction specific to practice and process. Design.—A descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized involving 970 clinicians across 27 hospitals. An 11-item survey was developed to obtain information regarding timeliness, completeness, clarity, and usability. Open-ended questions were also employed to obtain qualitative comments. Results.—A 51% response rate was obtained, with descriptive statistics reporting that physicians perceive synoptic reports as significantly better than narrative reports. Correlation analysis revealed a moderately strong, positive relationship between respondents' perceptions of overall satisfaction with the level of information provided and perceptions of completeness for clinical decision making (r = 0.750, P < .001) and ease of finding information for clinical decision making (r = 0.663, P < .001). Dependent t tests showed a statistically significant difference in the satisfaction scores of pathologists and oncologists (t169 = 3.044, P = .003). Qualitative comments revealed technology-related issues as the most frequently cited factor impacting timeliness of report completion. Conclusion.—This study provides evidence of strong physician satisfaction with synoptic cancer pathology reporting as a clinical decision support tool in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer patients.

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Integrating Patient-Generated Health Data Into Clinical Care Settings or Clinical Decision-Making: Lessons Learned From Project HealthDesign

JMIR Human Factors ◽

10.2196/humanfactors.5919 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. e26 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Deborah J Cohen ◽

Sara R Keller ◽

Gillian R Hayes ◽

David A Dorr ◽

Joan S Ash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Health Data ◽

Lessons Learned

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Clinicians’ experiences of using and implementing a medical mobile phone app (QUiPP V2) designed to predict the risk of preterm birth and aid clinical decision making

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making ◽

10.1186/s12911-021-01681-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

N. Carlisle ◽

H. A. Watson ◽

J. Carter ◽

K. Kuhrt ◽

P. T. Seed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Preterm Birth ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Scale Up ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Clinical Trial Registry ◽

Support Tool ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background As the vast majority of women who present in threatened preterm labour (TPTL) will not deliver early, clinicians need to balance the risks of over-medicalising the majority of women, against the potential risk of preterm delivery for those discharged home. The QUiPP app is a free, validated app which can support clinical decision-making as it produces individualised risks of delivery within relevant timeframes. Recent evidence has highlighted that clinicians would welcome a decision-support tool that accurately predicts preterm birth. Methods Qualitative interviews were undertaken as part of the EQUIPTT study (The Evaluation of the QUiPP app for Triage and Transfer) (REC: 17/LO/1802) which aimed to evaluate the impact of the QUiPP app on management of TPTL. Individual semi-structured telephone interviews were used to explore clinicians’ (obstetricians’ and midwives’) experiences of using the QUiPP app and how it was implemented at their hospital sites. Thematic analysis was chosen to explore the meaning of the data, through a framework approach. Results Nineteen participants from 10 hospital sites in England took part. Data analysis revealed three overarching themes which were: ‘experience of using the app’, ‘how QUiPP risk changes practice’ and ‘successfully adopting QUiPP: context is everything’. With these final themes we appeared to have achieved our aim of exploring the clinicians’ experiences of using and implementing the QUiPP app. Conclusion This study explored different clinician’s experiences of implementing the app. The organizational and cultural context at different sites appeared to have a large impact on how well the QUiPP app was implemented. Future work needs to be undertaken to understand how best to embed the intervention within different settings. This will inform scale up of QUiPP app use across the UK and ensure that clinicians have access to this free, easy-to-use tool which can positively aid clinical decision making when caring for women in TPTL. Clinical trial registry and registration number ISRCTN 17846337, registered 08th January 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17846337.

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