Lymphatic osteopathic manipulative treatment reduces duration of deltoid soreness after Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 is one of the three U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19. Its most common side effect, injection site pain, occurs because of locally recruited inflammatory mediators and is mitigated by the lymphatic system. Side effects may discourage individuals from receiving vaccines; therefore, reducing the duration of injection site pain can promote vaccination compliance. Osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) can directly affect the physiology underlying muscle soreness; however, there is currently no literature that supports the use of OMT in this scenario. In this case report, an otherwise healthy male presented with acute left deltoid soreness after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The pain began 5 h prior to the visit. Three hours after being treated with lymphatic OMT, the severity of the pain was significantly reduced and was alleviated 8h after onset in comparison to the median duration of 24–48 h. He received his second dose 3 weeks later. This case report can provide future studies with the groundwork for further investigating the role of OMT in treating postvaccination muscle soreness, which can improve patient satisfaction and potentially promote vaccination compliance.

Tele-Audiology: Current State and Future Directions

The importance of tele-audiology has been heightened by the current COVID-19 pandemic. The present article reviews the current state of tele-audiology practice while presenting its limitations and opportunities. Specifically, this review addresses: (1) barriers to hearing healthcare, (2) tele-audiology services, and (3) tele-audiology key issues, challenges, and future directions. Accumulating evidence suggests that tele-audiology is a viable service delivery model, as remote hearing screening, diagnostic testing, intervention, and rehabilitation can each be completed reliably and effectively. The benefits of tele-audiology include improved access to care, increased follow-up rates, and reduced travel time and costs. Still, significant logistical and technical challenges remain from ensuring a secure and robust internet connection to controlling ambient noise and meeting all state and federal licensure and reimbursement regulations. Future research and development, especially advancements in artificial intelligence, will continue to increase tele-audiology acceptance, expand remote care, and ultimately improve patient satisfaction.

Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) Cycle Nursing Model Reduces the Risk of Hemangioma in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: We aimed to explore the effect of Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) circulation nursing on the prevention of aneurysm after hemodialysis. Methods: A total of 139 hemodialysis patients from Oct 2018 to Jan 2020 in Nephrology Department of the First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang, China were enrolled. They were randomly divided into control group and PCDA group, including 58 patients in control group and 81 patients in PCDA group. Patients' satisfaction, blood flow in arteriovenous internal fistula and the incidence of post-dialysis vascular-related complications were statistically investigated in the two groups. Results: The satisfaction of patients in PDCA group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.001). In addition, when there was no statistical difference in blood flow between the two groups, the probability of complications such as internal fistula obstruction, thrombosis, infection, secondary puncture and aneurysm was lower in patients in the PDCA group, none of which occurred aneurysm. Conclusion: PDCA circulation nursing can effectively improve the quality of care and medical effect of hemodialysis patients with internal arteriovenous fistula, improve patient satisfaction and reduce the incidence of complications.

Routine Replacement versus Clinically Indicated Replacement of Peripheral Venous Catheters through Assessment of Incidences and Grades of Phlebitis in Patients with IV Cannula at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Mumbai

Background: The current study assesses the incidences and grades of phlebitis among patients with IV cannula to determine the association of grades of phlebitis. The purpose of the study was to study the feasibility of Routine replacement versus Clinically indicated replacement of peripheral venous catheters. The study observes the incidences of removing peripheral intravenous catheters when clinically indicated compared with removing and re‐siting the catheter routinely. Methods: An observational study was conducted in the tertiary care private hospital of Mumbai, India. The study was conducted over 5 weeks from May -June 2020. Purposive sampling was considered during the collection of data. The sample size of the study was 117 patients admitted having peripheral venous catheters. The standard visual infusion phlebitis (VIP) score was used as a tool for data collection. Descriptive analysis was done. Results: Out of 117 patients (VIP score 0 -56, Score 1- 49, Score -12 no cases with score 3, 4, and 5). Routine replacement of IV cannula after every 5 days is judiciously followed, 45 healthy lines were replaced at score 0; which is the major concern (Rs. 633/- the total cost of replacing 1 PVC line). Conclusion: Following the routine practice of IV cannula replacement based on VIP score to avoid phlebitis is equally good but simultaneously clinically indicated replacement of IV cannula is advisable to make it cost-effective and reduced number of a prick to the patients; this will help to improve patient satisfaction.

Implementation of Daily Pharmacy Student New Medication Education During Hospitalization to Improve Patient Satisfaction

Introduction: Studies have shown that patients would like to receive more medication education while hospitalized. Higher patient satisfaction has been correlated with lower mortality and fewer hospital readmissions. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. Four Doctor of Pharmacy students were assigned 1 medicine inpatient unit to provide education on new medications during the study period, June to September. The primary endpoint was the change in HCAHPS scores for the medication communication domain composite for the intervention unit and a similar control unit that was not receiving the intervention from the pre-intervention to the intervention periods. Results: A total of 124 patients were educated during the intervention period, with an average age of 65 and 2.2 new medications. Average HCAHPS scores for the medication communication domain for the intervention unit increased from 68% pre-intervention to 91% during the intervention ( P = .389) while the control unit remained unchanged at 78% both pre- and during the intervention ( P = .13). Conclusion: An increase in the medication communication HCAHPS score for the intervention unit was observed, while the control unit remained stable. This study has the potential to drive change by implementing pharmacy students throughout inpatient units to educate patients on new medications thereby improving patient satisfaction.

EP.TH.164Staging CXR preoperatively in invasive breast cancer, is it time it should be abandoned? A single-centre cohort review of its utility

Aim The use of preoperative chest x-rays (pCXR) for staging in invasive breast cancer has uncertain benefit. This review aimed to ascertain its utility in this cohort in a single centre. Methods Retrospective cohort review of consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer planned for surgery for 2018 was carried out. An 18-month follow-up allowed the identification of any subsequent lung pathology that may have potentially been seen on pCXR. Patients who had staging CT instead were excluded. Formal reports of pCXR and any subsequent imaging were reviewed. Results 244 patients with invasive breast cancer that was planned for surgery for 2018 were identified, 214 of whom had pCXR. 194 had no abnormalities reported. 16 had lung pathology; eight were indeterminate and were advised to have follow-up imaging. Of the six who had follow-up CTs, three had lung nodules; they were all subsequently discharged from follow-up as they were determined as benign. At 18 months, nine patients had new thoracic pathology: two had metastatic lung disease; six had lung nodules requiring follow-up. All nine patients’ pCXRs were reported as normal. Conclusions pCXR for invasive breast cancer has limited, if any, utility; it does not identify any management-altering pathology. Those that developed malignancy were not predicted by pCXR, but identified by post-operative symptoms, or on staging CT directed by post-operative nodal status. pCXR in this cohort, in the absence of respiratory symptoms, should therefore be discontinued. This would reduce cost, radiation exposure, hospital footfall, radiology reporting time, and likely improve patient satisfaction.