The Outcome (Criterion Variables)

This chapter characterises the outcome of the research model in this study (transparency/prosperity) in three sections. Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, define corruption and competitiveness (prosperity) from different perspectives, including moral and theological. Transparency and prosperity are linked as part of the same outcome, prosperity equals competitiveness, and competitiveness includes transparency (Sect. 3.3.).

DIFFICULTIES OF PROOF IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LAW OF RUSSIA, BELARUS AND THE EU MEMBER STATES

Introduction: in medical malpractice cases, patients (plaintiffs) or their relatives face serious obstacles in proving the conditions of liability of the health care provider: the fact of a medical error, the harm to health, and the causal link. The inherent informational inequality between the parties (a professional subject v. an ordinary person) and the limited accessibility of medical records (potential evidence) for the patient encourage the lawmakers and factfinders to deviate from the traditional formula for allocating the burden of proof. Purpose: to identify general trends in the development of judicial practice in medical disputes in Russia, Belarus, and the EU member states; to assess the prospects for the use in Russia and Belarus of evidence- based approaches developed by foreign legal doctrine to better protect patients’ rights. Methods: the authors use the comparative legal research method when dealing with the legislation, case law, and the legal doctrine of Russia, Belarus, the EU member states and other countries. Results: we have formulated a number of proposals for Russian and Belarusian jurisprudence based on international experience: to use the outcome criterion in assessing the quality of routine medical treatments and interventions (Fr. – obligation de résultat); to interpret any defects in medical records (incomplete information, unspecified corrections, etc.) in favor of the patient; to lower the standard of proof when proving the causal link to the preponderance of probabilities.

How a personalised transportable folding device for seating impacts dysphagia

Purpose A personalised transportable folding device for seating (DATP) on a standard seat was developed by an occupational therapist at the Toulouse University Hospital Centre (patent no. WO 2011121249 A1) based on the hypothesis that the use of a seat to assist with better positioning on any chair during meals modifies the sitting posture and has an impact on cervical statics which increases the amplitude of movements of the axial skeleton (larynx and hyoid bone) and benefits swallowing. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that an improvement in sitting posture with the help of the DATP, through Hyoid bone motion, has an impact on the quality of swallowing in a dysphagic population which benefits from the device in comparison to a dysphagic population which does not benefit from the device after 1 month of care. The secondary endpoints concern the evaluation of the impact on other characteristics of swallowing, posture, the acceptability of the device and the quality of life. Methodology This is a randomised comparative clinical trial. The blind was not possible for the patients but the examiner who evaluated the outcome criterion was blinded to the group to which the patient belonged. The outcome criterion was the measurement of the hyoid bone movement during swallowing. The other criteria were collected during the videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing and by use of a questionnaire. Fifty-six (56) patients were included: 30 in the group without device (D−) and 26 in the group with the device (D+). All the patients benefited from a training course on seating. Only the D+ patients participated in this course where the use of the device was explained and the device was then kept for use at home for 1 month. Results A significant improvement was noted in the postural criteria before and after use, in favour of a better posture for the two groups (p < 0.001) and more hyoid bone motion in the D+ group. The difference was significant in the bivariate analysis for horizontal movement (p = 0.04). After adjustment of potential factors of confusion, we noted a significant mean difference for the three distances in the D+ group in comparison to the D− group, of + 0.33 (95% CI [+ 0.17; + 0.48]) for horizontal movement, + 0.22 (95% CI [+ 0.03; + 0.40]) for vertical movement and + 0.37 (95% CI = [+ 0.20; + 0.53]) for horizontal movement. However, the other parameters, and notably the other swallowing markers were not significantly modified by the use of the device. Conclusion The personalised transportable folding device for seating developed to reduce dysphagia has an action on hyoid bone motion during swallowing. However, this positive effect on an intermediate outcome criterion of the quality of swallowing was not associated with an improvement in swallowing efficiency in the study population. The diversity of diseases with which the patients in this study were afflicted is a factor to be controlled in future studies with this device.

Inflammatory leucocyte infiltrates are associated with recovery in biopsy-proven acute interstitial nephritis: a 20-year registry-based case series

Background Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a renal injury causing renal function deterioration and requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in a substantial number of cases. Therapy is based on withdrawal of suspicious causative drugs or the underlying diseases and/or steroid application if renal function is not restored after cessation of the underlying condition. Hard clinical evidence for augmenting steroid therapy is not available. Methods We reviewed the course and diagnosis for &gt;20 years among all 1126 biopsied samples of our tertiary renal centre. Results 49 (4.4%) were diagnosed with primary AIN, corresponding to an annual incidence of 1/100 000 population; 17 out of 49 biopsy-proven AIN patients required short-term or long-term (n = 5) RRT. According to a combined outcome criterion of coming off dialysis and/or reaching serum creatinine &lt;200 µmol/L, 19 patients reached recovery whereas 20 did not. Among 39 patients with a comprehensive clinical and histopathological data set, presence of cortical scars, AIN histological activity (acute leucocyte infiltrates) and proteinuria were baseline parameters discriminating significantly between groups with or without recovery. No associations with the presence of specific drugs were found. Therapeutic use of steroids was associated with a lower probability of recovery (P = 0.008), presumably due to inclusion bias. Conclusions Following our basic finding of the importance of histopathological parameters of acuity associated with recovery, we argue for the inauguration of grading measures to characterize this issue quantitatively and make it usable for future controlled investigations. Finally, we provide a suggestion for a therapeutic algorithm in the management of AIN.

Refreshing Sleep and Sleep Continuity Determine Perceived Sleep Quality

Sleep quality is a construct often measured, employed as an outcome criterion for therapeutic success, but never defined. In two studies we examined appraised good and poor sleep quality in three groups: a control group, individuals with obstructive sleep apnea, and those with insomnia disorder. In Study 1 we used qualitative methodology to examine good and poor sleep quality in 121 individuals. In Study 2 we examined sleep quality in 171 individuals who had not participated in Study 1 and evaluated correlates and predictors of sleep quality. Across all six samples and both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the daytime experience of feeling refreshed (nonrefreshed) in the morning and the nighttime experience of good (impaired) sleep continuity characterized perceived good and poor sleep. Our results clarify sleep quality as a construct and identify refreshing sleep and sleep continuity as potential clinical and research outcome measures.