Incidence of Recurrent Venous Ulcer in Patients Treated at an Outpatient Clinic: Historical Cohort

The recurrence of venous ulcers is the wound reopening after a period of completed epithelisation of a previous ulcer due to exposure to causal factors and lack of prevention. Venous ulcers have a high recurrence rate that may increase through the years. Epidemiological evidence on its incidence and risk factors is scarce due to the lack of patient follow-up in outpatient clinics and adherence to treatment after healing. The objective was to analyze the incidence of venous ulcers recurrency in outpatients and the risk factors for its occurrence. It is an observational historical cohort with retrospective data collection, performed through electronic medical records. Setting: private health insurance outpatient clinic. The participants were adult patients with healed venous ulcers. Incidence of venous ulcer recurrence was calculated within individuals with healed ulcers from 2014 and 2018 with a follow-up of at least one year. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to explore risk factors considering demographic, clinical, and wound-related variables. As a result, sixty-five (65) of the 134 patients with healed venous ulcers had a recurrence, leading to an incidence of 48.5%, with a mean onset time of 230.1 (SD 267) days. Patients with recurrent venous ulcers were primarily women (39/48.1%), with a mean age of 64 (SD 15.5) years, 57 (50.8%) had some comorbidity, with systemic arterial hypertension as the most frequent (47/51%). Obesity (15/88.2%) increased the risk of venous ulcers recurrence by 8.7 (OR 95% CI 2.1-60.8; P = .009) times. In conclusion, venous ulcers recurrence incidence was 48.5%, with obesity as a risk factor. This study demonstrates that the clinical approach of people with venous ulcers should not finish when the wound is healed. For ulcer recurrence prevention interventions addressing systemic factors, besides topical management of the wound, are essential.

Surgeons’ non-transparent facemasks challenge the physician–patient relationship in the orthopedic outpatient clinic of a tertiary university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of 285 patients

Background and purpose — Facemasks play a role in preventing the respiratory spread of SARS-CoV-2, but their impact on the physician–patient relationship in the orthopedic outpatient clinic is unclear. We investigated whether the type of surgeons’ facemask impacts patients’ perception of the physician–patient relationship, influences their understanding of what the surgeon said, or affects their perceived empathy. Patients and methods — All patients with an appointment in the orthopedic outpatient clinic of a tertiary university hospital during the 2-week study period were included. During consultations, all surgeons wore a non-transparent (first study week) or transparent facemask (second study week). Results of 285 of 407 eligible patients were available for analysis. The doctor–patient relationship was evaluated using the standardized Patient Reactions Assessment (PRA) and a 10-point Likert-scale questionnaire ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree). Results — A non-transparent facemask led to more restrictions in the physician–patient communication and a worse understanding of what the surgeon said. Patients’ understanding improved with a transparent facemask with greatest improvements reported by patients aged 65 years and older (non-transparent: 6 [IQR 5–10] vs. transparent: 10 [IQR 9–10], p < 0.001) and by patients with a self-reported hearing impairment (non-transparent: 7 [IQR 3–7] vs. transparent: 9 [IQR 9–10], p < 0.001). The median PRA score was higher when surgeons wore a transparent facemask (p= 0.003). Interpretation — Surgeons’ non-transparent facemasks pose a new communication barrier that can negatively affect the physician–patient relationship. While emotional factors like affectivity and empathy seem to be less affected overall, the physician–patient communication and patients’ understanding of what the surgeon said seem to be negatively affected.

Home care for children with gastrostomy

ABSTRACT Objectives: to describe home care practices performed by family members for maintaining the life of children with gastrostomy. Methods: qualitative research using the Sensitive Creative method, with the Criatividade e Sensibilidade Corpo Saber [Corpo Saber Creativity and Sensitivity] dynamics. The participation included ten family caregivers of children with gastrostomy. The outpatient clinic of a federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro was the setting. Lexical analysis was used through the IRaMuTeQ® software. Results: Theme 1, entitled “The care for maintaining life performed by family members of children with gastrostomy at home”, was analyzed, comprising three classes: “The gastrostomy tube home care routine”; “The care with the gastrostomy/stoma”; and “Food and medication home care routine of children with gastrostomy”. Final Considerations: family caregivers used strategies to maintain the device and acquired new knowledge in this field, and in nursing competence, regarding stoma care, food administration, medication, and syringes.

Incidence of acute radiodermatitis in women with breast cancer undergoing hypofractionated radiotherapy

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the incidence and degree of acute radiodermatitis at the end and after the end of treatment in women with breast cancer undergoing hypofractionated radiotherapy. Methods: Observational, prospective, and longitudinal study, conducted between March 2019 and January 2020, in a radiotherapy outpatient clinic. Results: Thirty-two women participated in the study, among whom, in the last session of hypofractionated radiotherapy, 15 (46.9%) had radiodermatitis, erythema in 13 (40.6%), and wet peeling in 2 (6.3%). In the post-treatment evaluation, 27 (84.4%) had radiodermatitis, erythema in 17 (53.1%), dry peeling in 8 (25%), and wet peeling in 2 (6.3%). Conclusion: The general incidence of radiodermatitis after hypofractionated radiotherapy in women with breast cancer was 37.5%, erythema, 12.5%, and dry peeling, 25%. The development of care protocols for the management of radiodermatitis after treatment is of paramount importance.

Prevalence of Obesity and its primary comorbidities among patients attending the dietetics out-patient clinic in a tertiary health institution in southwestern Nigeria

Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of obesity and its co-morbidities among patients attending the dietetics outpatient clinic of the hospital. Methods: The prevalence of obesity and its co-morbidities were assessed in this retrospective study from the available in the outpatient clinic of the Dietetics Department in University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State. Age, gender, occupation, religion, height, weight, diagnosed diseases were extracted from the record of individuals who presented at the clinic over 72 months. Data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Result: A total of 3248 patients’ records were assessed. Of these, 1174 (36.15%) patients met the criteria for obesity according to their recorded BMI; 614(52.3%) had obesity class I (BMI 30–34.9), 343(29.2%) had obesity class II (BMI 35–39.9) and 217(18.5%) had obesity class III (BMI ≥40). Obesity was significantly higher amongst females than males (p<0.05). The most prevalent single co-morbidity was diabetes 22.3%, while the most prevalent double co-morbidity was hypertension/diabetes 22.9%. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity amongst patients was significant. Diabetes and hypertension were the most dominant co-morbidity. Interventions should be developed to combat the increasing prevalence of the diseases and these should involve educating the public and clinical management of the diseases upon identification.