Doctors Are Inconsistent in Estimating Survival after CPR and Are Not Using Such Predictions Consistently in Determining DNACPR Decisions

Background: It is unclear whether doctors base their resuscitation decisions solely on their perceived outcome. Through the use of theoretical scenarios, we aimed to examine the ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) decision-making. Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to consultants and specialty trainees across two Norfolk (UK) hospitals during December 2013. The survey included demographic questions and six clinical scenarios with varying prognosis. Participants were asked if they would resuscitate the patient or not. Identical scenarios were then shown in a different order and doctors were asked to quantify patients’ estimated chance of survival. Results: A total of 137 individuals (mean age 41 years (SD 7.9%)) responded. The response rate was 69%. Approximately 60% were consultants. We found considerable variation in clinician estimates of median chance of survival. In three out of six of our scenarios, the survival estimated varied from <1% to 95%. There was a statistically significant difference identified in the estimated median survival between those clinicians who would or would not resuscitate in four of the six scenarios presented. Conclusion: This study has highlighted the wide variation between clinicians in their estimates of likely survival and little concordance between clinicians over their resuscitation decisions. The diversity in clinician decision-making should be explored further.

Download Full-text

Alleviation of Pain and Symptoms With a Life-Shortening Intention

Nursing Ethics ◽

10.1177/0969733008092876 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 682-695 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Grada (Ada) G van Bruchem-van de Scheur ◽

Arie JG van der Arend ◽

Huda Huijer Abu-Saad ◽

Frans CB van Wijmen ◽

Cor Spreeuwenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Home Care ◽

Questionnaire Survey ◽

Response Rate ◽

Moral Values ◽

End Of Life Decisions ◽

Legal Rules ◽

Ethical Norms ◽

Professional Guidelines

This article reports the findings of a study into the role of Dutch nurses in the alleviation of pain and symptoms with a life-shortening intention, conducted as part of a study into the role of nurses in medical end-of-life decisions. A questionnaire survey was carried out using a population of 1509 nurses who were employed in hospitals, home care organizations and nursing homes. The response rate was 82.0%; 78.1% (1179) were suitable for analysis. The results show that in about half of the cases (55.8%) nurses were involved in the decision making by the physician and that nurses were frequently (81.5%) involved in administering the medication. The authors' conclusion is that alleviation of pain and symptoms with a life-shortening intention represents a `grey' area, in which physicians and nurses act on the basis of personal ethical norms rather than legal rules, professional guidelines or shared moral values.

Download Full-text

Randomized trial of hepatic arterial floxuridine, mitomycin, and carmustine versus floxuridine alone in previously treated patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.1993.11.2.330 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 330-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

N Kemeny ◽

A Cohen ◽

K Seiter ◽

J A Conti ◽

E R Sigurdson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Adjuvant Therapy ◽

Median Survival ◽

Systemic Chemotherapy ◽

Response Rate ◽

Hepatic Metastases ◽

Prior Therapy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Previously Treated Patients ◽

Previously Treated

PURPOSE This study was designed to determine if hepatic arterial therapy with floxuridine (F), mitomycin, and carmustine (BCNU) (FMB) is superior to hepatic arterial therapy with F alone in previously treated patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety-five patients were randomized to intrahepatic FMB versus intrahepatic F. All patients had tumor progression after systemic chemotherapy (either therapeutic or adjuvant). RESULTS There was no significant difference in response rate (47% FMB v 33% F; P = .17). Median survival was similar in the two groups, 19.1 months for the FMB group compared with 14.0 months for the F group (P = .23). The overall median survival was 16.8 months. In patients who received prior adjuvant therapy, there was no difference between the two groups, but response rate was high in both (50% FMB v 62% F). The response rate for all patients who had received only prior adjuvant therapy versus all those who had received prior therapy for metastatic disease was 57% and 35%, respectively (P = .066). In the subset of patients whose disease had progressed with prior systemic chemotherapy, the response rate to FMB was greater than that to F (47% v 23%; P = .035). CONCLUSION The overall partial response rate of 39% and the overall survival of 16.8 months from initiation of intrahepatitis therapy show that hepatic arterial therapy is a reasonable treatment option for patients whose tumor does not respond to systemic therapy or whose disease progresses after adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer.

Download Full-text

First-line paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2007.25.18_suppl.15157 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽

pp. 15157-15157

Author(s):

X. Zhang ◽

L. Shen ◽

J. Li ◽

Y. Li ◽

J. Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Median Survival ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Median Overall Survival ◽

Overall Response Rate ◽

Response Rate ◽

Carcinoma Of The Esophagus ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Promising Treatment

15157 Objectives: To evaluate response rate, survival and toxicities of paclitaxel/cisplatin combination in patients with advanced or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with definite measurable indices and no prior chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients were treated with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 by 2-hour infusion day 1 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 infusion day 1. Treatment was repeated every 21 days. Results: Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. 35 patients were eligible to be evaluated for response. The overall response rate was 48.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31∼0.65) with complete and partial response rates of 2.8% and 45.7%, respectively. The median time to progression(TTP) was 7 months, and median survival time of all patients was 13 months. There was a significant difference in median overall survival between the patients who had received responding versus those who had not (p = 0.006). Median survival was 17 (95% CI, 11.9–22.0) and 10 months (95% CI, 7.6–12.35) for responding patients and non-responding patients, respectively. The 1-yr survival probability was 39%. Relief of dysphagia and pain were observed in 86.2% of the all patients. The most common toxicities were neutropenia and alopecia. There were no grade 4 clinical toxicities and treatment-related deaths were recorded in all patients. Conclusions: Paclitaxel and cisplatin is a promising treatment for patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The toxicity of this regimen is within acceptable range. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Download Full-text

Impact of quaternary prevention as a brief intervention in medical students’ clinical decisions: experience from Vietnam

Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade ◽

10.5712/rbmfc10(35)1119 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (35) ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thi Hoa Vi Tran ◽

Thanh Liem Vo

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Medical Students ◽

Brief Intervention ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Second Phase ◽

Clinical Decisions ◽

Clinical Scenarios ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Quaternary Prevention

Objective: to evaluate undergraduate medical students’ clinical decision-making process after a brief intervention lecture on quaternary prevention (P4). Methods: quantitative self-controlled intervention study carried out with fifth-year medical students of Pham Ngoc Thach University, Hochiminhcity, Vietnam. The medical students were asked to list their eventual interventions based on three different simulated clinical scenarios. The survey was conducted before and after the intervention. Student’s propositions were classified into one of the four groups of prevention, according to Jamoulle’s model. Results: 115 students participated, resulting in 211 answered sheets. The interventions proposed by the students were mostly centered on prevention groups 1, 2 and 3; the three clinical scenarios partially explained student’s intentions of counseling, screening and palliative care. Comparing the data of second phase survey, the intervention was associated with changes in students’ aptitude on clinical decision-making, which was especially more important for prevention group 1 (OR = 7.5) and prevention group 4 (OR = 30.05). There was no statistically significant difference in changing students’ decision for prevention group 2 (OR = 0.95 p = 0.466) and prevention group 3 (OR = 2.29 p = 0.932). Conclusion: introducing quaternary prevention to the undergraduate medical course can help to steer clinical decisions toward primary prevention and to avoid inappropriate medical interventions.

Download Full-text

Use of an Atrial Fibrillation Medication Decision Aid Improves Knowledge and Process for Decision Making (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12404 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Molly Beinfeld ◽

Suzanne Brodney ◽

Michael Barry ◽

Erika Poole ◽

Adam Kunin

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Decision Making ◽

Shared Decision Making ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Decision Aid ◽

Response Rate ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Shared Decision ◽

Community Based ◽

Baseline Group

BACKGROUND A rural community-based Cardiology practice implemented shared decision making supported by an evidence-based decision aid booklet to improve the quality of anticoagulant therapy decisions in patients with atrial fibrillation. OBJECTIVE To develop a practical workflow for implementation of an anticoagulant therapy decision aid and to assess the impact on patients’ knowledge and process for anticoagulant medication decision making. METHODS The organization surveyed all patients with atrial fibrillation being seen at Copley Hospital to establish a baseline level of knowledge, certainty about the decision and process for decision making. The intervention surveys included the same knowledge, certainty, process and demographic questions as the baseline surveys, but also included questions asking for feedback on the decision aid booklet. Stroke risk scores (CHA2DS2-VASc score) were calculated by Copley staff for both groups using EMR data. RESULTS We received 46 completed surveys in the baseline group (64% response rate) and 50 surveys in the intervention group (72% response rate). The intervention group had higher knowledge score than the baseline group (3.6 out of 4 correct answers vs 3.1, p=0.036) and Decision Process Score (2.89 out of 4 vs 2.09, p=0.0023) but similar scores on the SURE scale (3.12 out of 4 vs 3.17, p=0.79). Knowledge and Process score differences were sustained even after adjusting for co-variates in stepwise linear regression analyses. Patients with high school or lower education appeared to benefit the most from shared decision making, as demonstrated by their knowledge scores. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible and practical to implement shared decision making supported by decision aids in a community-based Cardiology practice. Shared decision making can improve knowledge and process for decision making for patients with atrial fibrillation. CLINICALTRIAL None

Download Full-text

Impact of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate condition: a randomised crossover simulation research study of the interaction between two algorithms

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030430 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e030430

Author(s):

Thomas Ott ◽

Jascha Stracke ◽

Susanna Sellin ◽

Marc Kriege ◽

Gerrit Toenges ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Cardiac Arrest ◽

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Research Study ◽

University Hospital ◽

Simulated Patients ◽

Stressful Situation ◽

Simulation Research ◽

Simulation Centre

ObjectivesDuring a ‘cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate’ situation, asphyxia can lead to cardiac arrest. In this stressful situation, two complex algorithms facilitate decision-making to save a patient’s life: difficult airway management and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the extent to which competition between the two algorithms causes conflicts in the execution of pivotal treatment remains unknown. Due to the rare incidence of this situation and the very low feasibility of such an evaluation in clinical reality, we decided to perform a randomised crossover simulation research study. We propose that even experienced healthcare providers delay cricothyrotomy, a lifesaving approach, due to concurrent cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a ‘cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate’ situation.DesignDue to the rare incidence and dynamics of such a situation, we conducted a randomised crossover simulation research study.SettingWe collected data in our institutional simulation centre between November 2016 and November 2017.ParticipantsWe included 40 experienced staff anaesthesiologists at our tertiary university hospital centre.InterventionThe participants treated two simulated patients, both requiring cricothyrotomy: one patient required cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to asphyxia, and one patient did not require cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was the intervention. Participants were evaluated by video records.Primary outcome measuresThe difference in ‘time to ventilation through cricothyrotomy’ between the two situations was the primary outcome measure.ResultsThe results of 40 participants were analysed. No carry-over effects were detected in the crossover design. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the median time to ventilation was 22 s (IQR 3–40.5) longer than that without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p=0.028), including the decision-making time.ConclusionCricothyrotomy, which is the most crucial treatment for cardiac arrest in a ‘cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate’ situation, was delayed by concurrent cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If cardiopulmonary resuscitation delays cricothyrotomy, it should be interrupted to first focus on cricothyrotomy.

Download Full-text

Cardiac transthyretin wild-type amyloidosis (ATTRwt): a prospective study of 400 patients followed at the Italian referral center

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2144 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

P Milani ◽

L Obici ◽

R Mussinelli ◽

M Basset ◽

G Manfrinato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Median Survival ◽

Troponin I ◽

Stage I ◽

Stage Ii ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Wild Type ◽

Staging Systems ◽

Significant Difference ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Cardiac wild type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis, formerly known as senile systemic amyloidosis, is an increasingly recognized, progressive, and fatal cardiomyopathy. Two biomarkers staging systems were proposed based on NT-proBNP (in both cases) and troponin or estimated glomerular filtration rate, that are able to predict survival in this population. The availability of novel effective treatments requires large studies to describe the natural history of the disease in different populations. Objective To describe the natural history of the disease in a large, prospective, national series. Methods Starting in 2007, we protocolized data collection in all the patients diagnosed at our center (n=400 up to 7/2019). Results The referrals to our center increased over time: 5 cases (1%) between 2007–2009, 33 (9%) in 2010–2012, 90 (22%) in 2013–2015 and 272 (68%) in 2016–2019. Median age was 76 years [interquartile range (IQR): 71–80 years] and 372 patients (93%) were males. One hundred and seventy-three (43%) had atrial fibrillation, 63 (15%) had a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and 64 (15%) underwent pacemaker or ICD implantation. NYHA class was I in 58 subjects (16%), II in 225 (63%) and III in 74 (21%). Median NT-proBNP was 3064 ng/L (IQR: 1817–5579 ng/L), troponin I 0.096 ng/mL (IQR: 0.063–0.158 ng/mL), eGFR 62 mL/min (IQR: 50–78 mL/min). Median IVS was 17 mm (IQR: 15–19 mm), PW 16 mm (IQR: 14–18 mm) and EF 53% (IQR: 45–57%). One-hundred and forty-eight subjects (37%) had a concomitant monoclonal component in serum and/or urine and/or an abnormal free light chain ratio. In these patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy or mass spectrometry. In 252 (63%) the diagnosis was based on bone scintigraphy. DNA analysis for amyloidogenic mutations in transthyretin and apolipoprotein A-I genes was negative in all subjects. The median survival of the whole cohort was 59 months. The Mayo Clinic staging based on NT-proBNP (cutoff: 3000 ng/L) and troponin I (cutoff: 0.1 ng/mL) discriminated 3 different groups [stage I: 131 (35%), stage II: 123 (32%) and stage III: 127 (33%)] with different survival between stage I and II (median 86 vs. 81 months, P=0.04) and between stage II and III (median 81 vs. 62 months, P<0.001). The UK staging system (NT-proBNP 3000 ng/L and eGFR 45 mL/min), discriminated three groups [stage I: 170 (45%), stage II: 165 (43%) and stage III: 45 (12%)] with a significant difference in survival: between stage I and stage II (86 vs. 52 months, P<0.001) and between stage II and stage III (median survival 52 vs. 33 months, P=0.045). Conclusions This is one of the largest series of patients with cardiac ATTRwt reported so far. Referrals and diagnoses increased exponentially in recent years, One-third of patients has a concomitant monoclonal gammopathy and needed tissue typing. Both the current staging systems offered good discrimination of staging and were validated in our independent cohort. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Download Full-text

Predicting mortality in adults with suspected infection in a Rwandan hospital: an evaluation of the adapted MEWS, qSOFA and UVA scores

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040361 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e040361

Author(s):

Amanda Klinger ◽

Ariel Mueller ◽

Tori Sutherland ◽

Christophe Mpirimbanyi ◽

Elie Nziyomaze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Early Warning Score ◽

Receiver Operating Curve ◽

Predictive Capacity ◽

Suspected Infection ◽

Significant Difference

RationaleMortality prediction scores are increasingly being evaluated in low and middle income countries (LMICs) for research comparisons, quality improvement and clinical decision-making. The modified early warning score (MEWS), quick Sequential (Sepsis-Related) Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), and Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score use variables that are feasible to obtain, and have demonstrated potential to predict mortality in LMIC cohorts.ObjectiveTo determine the predictive capacity of adapted MEWS, qSOFA and UVA in a Rwandan hospital.Design, setting, participants and outcome measuresWe prospectively collected data on all adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Rwanda with suspected infection over 7 months. We calculated an adapted MEWS, qSOFA and UVA score for each participant. The predictive capacity of each score was assessed including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, OR, area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) and performance by underlying risk quartile.ResultsWe screened 19 178 patient days, and enrolled 647 unique patients. Median age was 35 years, and in-hospital mortality was 18.1%. The proportion of data missing for each variable ranged from 0% to 11.7%. The sensitivities and specificities of the scores were: adapted MEWS >4, 50.4% and 74.9%, respectively; qSOFA >2, 24.8% and 90.4%, respectively; and UVA >4, 28.2% and 91.1%, respectively. The scores as continuous variables demonstrated the following AUROCs: adapted MEWS 0.69 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.74), qSOFA 0.65 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.70), and UVA 0.71 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.76); there was no statistically significant difference between the discriminative capacities of the scores.ConclusionThree scores demonstrated a modest ability to predict mortality in a prospective study of inpatients with suspected infection at a Rwandan tertiary hospital. Careful consideration must be given to their adequacy before using them in research comparisons, quality improvement or clinical decision-making.

Download Full-text

Decision making under ambiguity and risk in adolescent-onset schizophrenia

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03230-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dandan Li ◽

Fengyan Zhang ◽

Lu Wang ◽

Yifan Zhang ◽

Tingting Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Executive Function ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Abnormal Pattern ◽

Negative Syndrome ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objective Numerous studies have identified impaired decision making (DM) under both ambiguity and risk in adult patients with schizophrenia. However, the assessment of DM in patients with adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS) has been challenging as a result of the instability and heterogeneity of manifestations. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and Game of Dice Task (GDT), which are frequently used to evaluate DM respectively under ambiguity and risk, are sensitive to adolescents and neuropsychiatric patients. Our research intended to examine the performance of DM in a relatively large sample of patients with AOS using the above-mentioned two tasks. We also aimed to take a closer look at the relationship between DM and symptom severity of schizophrenia. Methods We compared the performance of DM in 71 patients with AOS and 53 well-matched healthy controls using IGT for DM under ambiguity and GDT for DM under risk through net scores, total scores and feedback ration. Neuropsychological tests were conducted in all participants. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in 71 patients with AOS. Pearson’s correlation revealed the relationship among total score of DM and clinical and neuropsychological data. Results Compared to healthy controls, patients with AOS failed to show learning effect and had a significant difference on the 5th block in IGT and conducted more disadvantageous choices as well as exhibited worse negative feedback rate in GDT. Apart from DM impairment under risk, diminished DM abilities under ambiguity were found related to poor executive function in AOS in the present study. Conclusions Our findings unveiled the abnormal pattern of DM in AOS, mainly reflected under the risky condition, extending the knowledge on the performance of DM under ambiguity and risk in AOS. Inefficient DM under risk may account for the lagging impulse control and the combined effects of developmental disease. In addition, our study demonstrated that the performance on IGT was related to executive function in AOS.

Download Full-text

Mortality after cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a medical ICU

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift ◽

10.1007/s00508-021-01831-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Richard Rezar ◽

Bernhard Wernly ◽

Michael Haslinger ◽

Clemens Seelmaier ◽

Philipp Schwaiger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽

Neurological Outcome ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Cerebral Performance Category ◽

Hospital Length ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Study Endpoint ◽

Primary Study ◽

Postresuscitation Care ◽

Significant Difference

Summary Background Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and postresuscitation care in the intensive care unit (ICU) are standardized procedures; however, there is evidence suggesting sex-dependent differences in clinical management and outcome variables after cardiac arrest (CA). Methods A prospective analysis of patients who were hospitalized at a medical ICU after CPR between December 2018 and March 2020 was conducted. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, hospital length of stay < 24 h and traumatic CA. The primary study endpoint was mortality after 6 months and the secondary endpoint neurological outcome assessed by cerebral performance category (CPC). Differences between groups were calculated by using U‑tests and χ2-tests, for survival analysis both univariate and multivariable Cox regression were fitted. Results A total of 106 patients were included and the majority were male (71.7%). No statistically significant difference regarding 6‑month mortality between sexes could be shown (hazard risk, HR 0.68, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.35–1.34; p = 0.27). Neurological outcome was also similar between both groups (CPC 1 88% in both sexes after 6 months; p = 1.000). There were no statistically significant differences regarding general characteristics, pre-existing diseases, as well as the majority of clinical and laboratory parameters or measures performed on the ICU. Conclusion In a single center CPR database no statistically significant sex-specific differences regarding post-resuscitation care, survival and neurological outcome after 6 months were observed.

Download Full-text