Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Measurement of Production Technology and Efficiency-The Production Performance Evaluation of Medical Centers in Taiwan

PURPOSE: Art therapy (AT) improves quality of life and symptoms in patients with cancer. However, previous studies that have demonstrated these effects focused on time-limited interventions. The benefits of longer-term AT interventions for patients with cancer remain unexplored. We aimed to delineate the benefits of one such intervention for patients with cancer. METHODS: The Art for Recovery open art studio (OAS) is a weekly experience that provides patients the opportunity to express themselves through art and discussion. In April 2019, we sent a cross-sectional survey with closed- and open-ended components to all patients attending the OAS. We analyzed the closed-ended results using descriptive statistics and the open-ended results using directed content analysis through the theoretical framework of community-based development (CBD). RESULTS: The response rate was 82% (18 of 22 patients). The median duration of OAS attendance was 2 years, and the median frequency of attendance was three times per month. All respondents found the OAS very helpful, and 17 (94%) of 18 believed that the friendships they had made were very valuable. Directed content analysis revealed three themes: togetherness, active engagement, and familiar surroundings. These themes and our closed-ended results aligned well with the CBD framework. CONCLUSION: Longer-term AT experiences may provide benefits, such as community development, that briefer interventions lack. Medical centers should consider providing longer-term AT experiences for patients with cancer to give them access to these benefits.

Download Full-text

Differences in the Epidemiological Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza, Compared with Seasonal Influenza

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/653204 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 676-682 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Kevin T. Shiley ◽

Gregory Nadolski ◽

Timothy Mickus ◽

Neil O. Fishman ◽

Ebbing Lautenbach

Keyword(s):

Pandemic Influenza ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Pandemic H1n1 ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical Centers ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Clinical Presentations ◽

Pandemic H1n1 2009 ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics

Background.There are limited data comparing the clinical presentations, comorbidities, and outcomes of patients with infections due to seasonal influenza with patients with infections due to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.Objective.To compare the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza with those of seasonal influenza.Methods.A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who received diagnoses during emergency department and inpatient encounters at 2 affiliated academic medical centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cases of seasonal influenza during the period November 1, 2005, through June 1, 2008, and cases of pandemic influenza during the period from May 1, 2009, through August 7, 2009, were identified retrospectively.Results.Forty-nine cases of pandemic influenza and 503 cases of seasonal influenza were identified. Patients with pandemic H1N1 were younger (median age, 29 years) than patients with seasonal influenza (median age, 59 years) (P<.001). More patients with pandemic H1N1 (35 [71%] of 49) were African American, compared with patients with seasonal influenza (267 [53%] of 503;P= .02). Several symptoms were more common among patients with pandemic influenza infections than among patients with seasonal influenza infections: cough (98% vs 83%;P= .007), myalgias (71% vs 46%;P= .001), and pleuritic chest pain (45% vs 15%;P< .001). Pregnancy was the only comorbidity that occurred significantly more often in the pandemic influenza group than in the seasonal influenza group (16% vs 1%;P< .001). There were no significant differences in frequencies of deaths of hospitalized patients, intensive care unit admission, or length of hospitalization between groups.Conclusion.Other than pregnancy, there were few clinically important differences between infections due to seasonal influenza and those due to pandemic influenza. The greater rate of lower respiratory tract symptoms in pandemic cases might serve to differentiate pandemic influenza from seasonal influenza.

Download Full-text

Breast cancer in male veterans: The Veterans Affairs (VA) informatics and computing infrastructure (VINCI) big data analysis.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.1559 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 1559-1559

Author(s):

Anita Aggarwal ◽

David Maron ◽

Steven H. Krasnow

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Breast Cancer Mortality ◽

Female Breast Cancer ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical Centers ◽

Male Veterans ◽

Comparison Series

1559 Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) management from diagnosis to treatment is generalized from female breast cancer (FBC) because of its rarity and paucity in literature. VINCI is a unique database for cross sectional and longitudinal analysis. The objective of this retrospective analysis was to compare characteristics and outcome of MBC with FBC in veterans. Methods: Detailed demographics, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1998 and 2016 at 152 VA medical centers were obtained and analyzed with Chi-square and t-test univariate statistics. Results: In total 9765 patients' records were reviewed, 1613 MBC were compared with 8152 FBC. The mean age at diagnosis is 68.5 and 57.3 years for MBC and FBC, respectively (Table1). After a median follow up of 3.5 years, 48% MBC and 22% FBC died. Breast cancer mortality is 18% and 9% in MBC and FBC, respectively. A cox regression survival analysis indicates that males were 33% (Hazard Ratio 1.33, P=<0.0001) more likely to die from breast cancer than females. Conclusions: This is the largest comparison series of MBC with FBC to date in the Veteran population to author’s knowledge. Males have higher breast cancer specific mortality than females most likely because of older age and higher stage at the time of diagnosis. Differences in the biology and pathology may be contributing factors which needs further prospective studies. [Table: see text]

Download Full-text