Additional Visits Research Articles

ED Visits for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic at 5 Campus Health Systems.

Although substantial research has reported grave population-level psychiatric sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence pertaining to temporal changes in schizophrenia spectrum disorders in the US following the pandemic remains limited. To examine the monthly patterns of emergency department (ED) visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This observational cohort study used time-series analyses to examine whether monthly counts of ED visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders across 5 University of California (UC) campus health systems increased beyond expected levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data included ED visits reported by the 5 UC campuses from 2016 to 2021. Participants included persons who accessed UC Health System EDs had a diagnosis of a psychiatric condition. Data analysis was performed from March to June 2023. The exposures were binary indicators of initial (March to May 2020) and extended (March to December 2020) phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was monthly counts of ED visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes, categorized within Clinical Classification Software groups, were used to identify ED visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and all other psychiatric ED visits, from the University of California Health Data Warehouse database, from January 2016 to December 2021. Time-series analyses controlled for autocorrelation, seasonality, and concurrent trends in ED visits for all other psychiatric conditions. The study data comprised a total of 377 872 psychiatric ED visits, with 37 815 visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The prepandemic monthly mean (SD) number of ED visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders was 519.9 (38.1), which increased to 558.4 (47.6) following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from time series analyses, controlling for monthly counts of ED visits for all other psychiatric conditions, indicated 70.5 additional ED visits (95% CI, 11.7-129.3 additional visits; P = .02) for schizophrenia spectrum disorders at 1 month and 74.9 additional visits (95% CI, 24.0-126.0 visits; P = .005) at 3 months following the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in California. This study found a 15% increase in ED visits for schizophrenia spectrum disorders within 3 months after the initial phase of the pandemic in California across 5 UC campus health systems, underscoring the importance of social policies related to future emergency preparedness and the need to strengthen mental health care systems.

Robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic repair of type II, III and IV hiatal hernias: A retrospective study comparing adverse outcomes

ObjectiveRobotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is continuing to expand in use in surgical specialties, including foregut surgery. The available data on its use in large hiatal hernia (HH) repair are limited and conflicting. This study sought to determine whether there are significant differences in adverse outcomes following HH repair performed with a robotic approach vs. a laparoscopic approach. This study was limited to outcomes in patients with type II, III, and IV HHs, as these hernias are typically more challenging to repair. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed from data obtained from TriNetX, a large deidentified clinical database, over a 10-year period. Adult patients who underwent type II, III, or IV HH repair were included in the study. HH with robotic repair was compared to laparoscopic repair. Cohorts were propensity score matched for demographic information and comorbidities. Risk ratios, risk differences (RDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and t test for each examined adverse outcome were used to estimate the effects of robotic repair vs. laparoscopic repair. ResultsIn total, 20,016 patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified; 1,515 patients utilized RAS, and 18,501 used laparoscopy. Prior to matching, there were significant differences in age, sex, comorbidity, and BMI between the two cohorts. After 1:1 propensity score matching, analyses of 1,514 well-matched patient pairs revealed no significant differences in demographics or comorbidities. Patients who underwent robotic repair were more likely to experience major complications, including venous thromboembolism (RD: 0.007, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.011; p = 0.002), critical care (RD: 0.023, 95% CI: 0.007, 0.039; p = 0.004), urinary/renal complications (RD: 0.027, 95% CI: 0.014, 0.041; p < 0.001), and respiratory complications (RD: 0.046, 95% CI: 0.028, 0.064; p < 0.001). RAS was associated with a significantly shorter length of stay (32.4 ± 27.5 h vs. 35.7 ± 50.1 h, p = 0.031), although this finding indicated a reduction in the length of stay of less than 4 hours. No statistically significant differences in risk of esophageal perforation, infection, postprocedural shock, bleeding, mortality, additional emergency room visits, cardiac complications, or wound disruption were found. ConclusionsPatients who undergo robotic-assisted large HH repair are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism, need critical care, urinary or renal complications and respiratory complications. Due to variations in RAS technique, experience, and surgical volumes, further study of this surgical approach and complication rates is warranted.

Comparing Telemedicine and In-Person Clinical Evaluations for Pediatric Urology Concerns

IntroductionTelemedicine may promote equitable health care delivery, particularly in rural and underserved regions. While patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine appear to be high, it remains unclear if telemedicine accomplishes the same clinical goals as in-person clinic visits. We undertook this study to compare the differences in history-taking, physical examination, and recommended follow-up in new pediatric urology patients seen via telemedicine and in-person. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed by retrospectively reviewing the charts of all new patients visiting the general pediatric urology clinic at a single freestanding children's hospital in January and April of three consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021). Data were abstracted on patient demographics, comprehensiveness of history of present illness, completeness of physical examination, and recommended follow-up. Patients seen by telemedicine and in-person were compared. ResultsOf 1354 patients, 1244 (91.9%) had in-person and 110 (8.1%) telemedicine visits. Telemedicine patients had a median of 4 history of present illness components recorded; in-person patients had 3 (P < 0.0001). Patients seen in-person had a more comprehensive physical examination recorded compared with telemedicine patients (median 12 vs 2 systems, P < 0.0001). Significantly fewer telemedicine patients were discharged from clinic after the initial visit (2.7% vs 16.5%), and significantly more were asked to return for additional evaluation (39.1% vs 23.2, P < 0.0001). ConclusionsInitial pediatric urology telemedicine consultations gathered more historical and fewer physical examination components and were more likely to require an additional clinic visit for evaluation. Goals of care should be considered when selecting a visit modality.

Clinical Manifestations.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) patients are geographically dispersed and often have behavioral and/or motor deficits that limit access to in-person clinical trials and research. To address these participation barriers, we investigated the feasibility of installing in-home sensor technologies to remotely assess everyday functioning in FTD. We aimed to recruit 20 FTD participants with a variety of clinical syndromes, including behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We also aimed to enroll a study partner for each participant that lived in the same home to serve as a control. The Collaborative Aging Research Using Technology (CART) platform was installed in participants' homes to collect continuous data for up to two years, using motion sensors, physiological monitoring devices (e.g., scales, sleep sensors), electronic pillboxes, and wearable actigraphs. Computer use and driving patterns were also tracked. Technology was installed either via a study coordinator visit or remotely through video and written instructions, based on schedule and logistics. Participants were asked to complete a weekly Qualtrics survey about time away from home, visitors, and health changes. Of the 159 UCSF participants available for recruitment through ALLFTD and other FTD projects, 28% (N = 45) met inclusion criteria. Of those 45, ten were ineligible due to advanced disease severity or relocation to an assisted living facility. A third (36%, N = 17) declined due to overwhelmed study partners (N = 3), declined any subproject participation (N = 7), sensitivity to participant's diagnosis (N = 2), or lack of response (N = 5). Two additional participants were recruited through UCLA's ALLFTD cohort. The platform has been installed in 19 homes (bvFTD: n = 10; PPA: n = 5; CBS/PSP: n = 4). Two homes discontinued due to death or relocation to assisted living facility. Mean data collection is 360 days (max = 527). Of 103 reported technological issues, 92% were resolved without additional home visits, either by phone or email. Participants completed 65% of weekly health questionnaires. Although there were some recruitment and retention challenges, these findings generally provide preliminary support for the feasibility and sustainability of conducting comprehensive in-home passive data research in FTD.

Assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel symptom management care delivery intervention for caregivers receiving home hospice care: The I-HoME protocol.

BackgroundTerminally ill patients experience high symptom burden at the end of life (EoL), even when receiving hospice care. In the U.S., family caregivers play a critical role in managing symptoms experienced by patients receiving home hospice services. Yet, most caregivers don't receive sufficient support or formal training in symptom management. Therefore, providing additional visits and education to caregivers could potentially improve outcomes for both patient and caregiver. In response, we developed the Improving Home hospice Management of End-of-life issues through technology (I-HoME) intervention, a program designed for family caregivers of home hospice patients. This paper describes the intervention, study design, and protocol used to evaluate the intervention. MethodsThe I-HoME study is a pilot randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing patient symptom burden through weekly tele-visits and education videos to benefit the patient's family caregiver. One hundred caregivers will be randomized to hospice care with (n = 50) or without (n = 50) the I-HoME intervention. Primary outcomes include intervention feasibility (e.g., accrual, attrition, use of the intervention) and acceptability (e.g., caregivers' comfort accessing the tele-visits and satisfaction). We will also examine preliminary efficacy using validated patient symptom burden and caregiver outcome measures (i.e., burden, depression, anxiety, satisfaction). ConclusionThe trial is evaluating a novel symptom management intervention that supports caregivers of patients receiving home hospice services. The intervention employs a multi-pronged approach that provides needed services at a time when close contact and support is crucial. This research could lead to advances in how care gets delivered in the home hospice setting.

Use of Perioperative Advanced Practice Providers to Reduce Cost and Readmission in the Postoperative Hepatopancreatobiliary Population: Results of a Simulation Study.

Postoperative healthcare use and readmissions are common among the hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) population. We evaluated the surgical volume required to sustain advanced practice providers (APPs) in the perioperative setting for cost reduction. Using decision analysis modeling, we evaluated costs of employing dedicated perioperative APP navigators compared with no APPs navigators. Simulated subjects could: (1) present to an emergency department, with or without readmission, (2) present for direct readmission, (3) require additional office visits, or (4) require no additional care. We informed our model using the most current available published data and performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate thresholds under which dedicated perioperative APP navigators are beneficial. Subjects within the APP navigator cohort accumulated $1,270 and a readmission rate of 6.9%, compared with $2,170 and 13.5% with no APP navigators, yielding a cost savings of $905 and 48% relative reduction in readmission. Based on these estimated cost savings and national salary ranges, a perioperative APPs become financially self-sustaining with 113 to 139 annual HPB cases, equating to 2 to 3 HPB cases weekly. Sensitivity analyses revealed that perioperative APP navigators were no longer cost saving when direct readmission rates exceeded 8.9% (base case 3.7%). We show that readmissions are reduced by nearly 50% with an associated cost savings of $900 when employing dedicated perioperative APPs. This position becomes financially self-sufficient with an annual HPB case load of 113 to 139 cases. High-volume HPB centers could benefit from postdischarge APP navigators to optimize outcomes, minimize high-value resource use, and ultimately save costs.

Post-hospitalization oncology workflow implementing LACE+ score to stratify and reduce readmissions at Lyndon B. Johnson safety-net hospital.

56 Background: Patients with cancer visit the emergency room (ER) and are hospitalized frequently. Contributing factors may include uncontrolled symptoms (cancer- or treatment-related), caregiver fatigue, concerns about the cancer, and difficulty accessing healthcare elsewhere. It is estimated that nearly 50% of ER and hospital visits by advanced cancer patients may be avoidable. This may represent unmet needs in oncology outpatient care and counseling. The LACE+ index is a validated clinical tool available within EPIC electronic medical record system to predict the risk of 30-day readmission. Here we used LACE+ score, common concerns and demographics observed among cancer patients readmitted to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital (LBJ), a safety-net hospital in Texas, to determine potential contributors and implement interventions to reduce unplanned admissions. Methods: Retrospective data of ER visits and hospitalizations among cancer patients at LBJ were collected from 6/2022-12/2022. Data included comorbidities, cancer diagnosis and therapy, indication for visit, acuity on arrival, additional visits within 30 days, primary language, and LACE+ score. Descriptive statistics were used to guide intervention(s) to reduce hospital readmission. Specifically, these results led to the development of a triaging system based on LACE+ score to arrange timely post-hospital follow-up in the oncology clinic. Our findings also led to translation of AskMyNurse resources to Spanish. Results: Our group identified 61 oncology patients who had visited the ER or been hospitalized at LBJ from 6/2022-12/2022. From this cohort, 90% had been hospitalized or visited an ER within the past 30 days. LACE+ scores were consistently elevated within this group and visits were largely related to their cancer. Additionally, about 66% spoke primarily Spanish. Presently, oncology patients who are discharged from LBJ Hospital are having follow-up arranged in the clinic by means of risk stratification by their LACE+ score. Those with the highest score are seen the earliest after discharge. At this visit, in addition, AskMyNurse resources are now provided in Spanish. Collection of post-intervention data is ongoing to evaluate whether hospital readmission rates are effectively reduced. Conclusions: Cancer patients, especially those with language barriers and in the context of a safety-net hospital, are a particularly vulnerable group. The ability to triage and accurately identify patients at most risk of adverse post-hospitalization outcomes may help direct proper counseling, cancer treatment, and symptom management in the outpatient setting. Here our group proposes a feasible risk stratification tool using the LACE+ score on EPIC to allow for timely post-hospital follow-up and reduce 30-day hospital readmission.

Changes in Management at the Postoperative Visit After In-Office Wide Awake Local Anesthetic No Tourniquet Carpal Tunnel Release

Patients are commonly seen for two postoperative visits following carpal tunnel release (CTR), the first visit being at 1-2 weeks and the second at approximately 6 weeks. Our study aimed to determine if these visits led to changes in postoperative medical management. A retrospective review was conducted of 748 procedures performed in an in-office procedure room under wide awake local anesthetic no tourniquet between August 2020 and December 2022. Charts were reviewed for changes in management related to the patient's CTR. Management changes involving a separate diagnosis or solely an additional follow-up visit were classified as unrelated to postoperative CTR care. A total of 730 patients returned for follow-up. There were 100 patients (13.7 %) who had a CTR-related change in management at the first postoperative visit. Most management changes at this timepoint were due to superficial surgical site infection. There were 29 patients (4.0 %) who had a CTR-related change in management at their second postoperative visit, most commonly a referral to therapy for stiffness or hypersensitivity. While postoperative visits for CTR may have intangible benefits, changes in CTR-related care occur only in 17.7% of patients. Therapeutic IV.

The Brain Imaging for Global Health (BRIGHT) Project: Longitudinal cohort study protocol

There is a scarcity of prospective longitudinal research targeted at early postnatal life which maps developmental pathways of early-stage processing and brain specialisation in the context of early adversity. Follow up from infancy into the one-five year age range is key, as it constitutes a critical gap between infant and early childhood studies. Availability of portable neuroimaging (functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG)) has enabled access to rural settings increasing the diversity of our sampling and broadening developmental research to include previously underrepresented ethnic-racial and geographical groups in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). The primary objective of the Brain Imaging for Global Health (BRIGHT) project was to establish brain function - using longitudinal data from mother - for-age reference curves infant dyads living in the UK and rural Gambia and investigate the association between context-associated moderators and developmental trajectories across the first two years of life in The Gambia. In total, 265 participating families were seen during pregnancy, at 7–14 days, 1-, 5-, 8-, 12-, 18- and 24-months post-partum. An additional visit is now underway at 3–5 years to assess pre-school outcomes. The majority of our Gambian cohort live in poverty, but while resource-poor in many factors they commonly experience a rich and beneficial family and caregiving context with multigenerational care and a close-knit supportive community. Understanding the impact of different factors at play in such an environment (i.e., detrimental undernutrition versus beneficial multigenerational family support) will (i) improve the representativeness of models of general cognitive developmental pathways from birth, (ii) identify causal pathways of altered trajectories associated with early adversity at both individual and group level, and (iii) identify the context-associated moderators (i.e. social context) that protect development despite the presence of poverty-associated challenges. This will in turn contribute to the development of targeted interventions.

Perceptions and attitudes regarding delayed antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections: a qualitative study

BackgroundAntibiotics are overprescribed for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). However, the decision to prescribe is often complex. Delayed antibiotic prescription (DAP), a strategy designed to promote more rational antibiotic use, is still not widely used. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions and attitudes in primary care professionals, regarding antibiotic use and different DAP strategies for uncomplicated RTIs.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study, using an inductive thematic approach to generate themes, based on focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with professionals, recruited from 6 primary care centres (Barcelona metropolitan area, Spain).Results26 professionals (25 family physicians and one nurse) were included in four focus group discussions and three semi-structured interviews. Participants commented that RTIs were a main reason for consultation, motivated often by patient anxiety and fear of possible complications, and this was associated with the patients’ poor health-related education. Acknowledging inappropriate antibiotic use in the health system, participants attributed this, mainly to defensive medicine strategies. DAP was used when in doubt about the aetiology, and considering factors related to patient-physician interactions. The main perceived advantage of DAP was that it could reduce the need for additional visits, while the main disadvantage was uncertainty regarding proper use by the patient.ConclusionsDAP was used by participants in cases of doubt, in specific situations, and for specific patient profiles. Weak points were detected in our primary care system and its users that affect the proper use of both antibiotics and DAP, namely, time pressure on professionals, poor patient health-related education, and the lack of a patient-physician relationship in some scenarios.

Extended prenatal and postnatal home visits in a vulnerable area in Sweden—a pilot study

Objective Despite close to all-embracing access to child healthcare, health divides exist among children in Sweden. Home visits to families with new-born babies are a cost-effective way to identify and strengthen vulnerable families. An extended postnatal home visiting programme has been implemented in a disadvantaged suburb in Stockholm with positive results. Design Longitudinal, prospective study and register study from medical records. Setting A vulnerable rural area in Sweden. Intervention A parent advisor from the social services and a midwife performed an extended home visiting programme during the end of pregnancy to mothers of children born between 1 May 2018 and 31 May 2019. During these children’s first 15 months, three additional home visits were made by a parent advisor and a child healthcare nurse. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the health of the children and the mothers. Subjects All firstborn children at the study site (N = 30 study, N = 55 control group). Main outcome measures The proportion participating in visits to the child and maternal healthcare services, children being breastfed and receiving childhood vaccinations. Results There were fewer absentees in the study group during routine check-up visits (93 vs. 84%). More mothers in the study group attended the check-up with the midwives (90 vs. 80%). More children in the study group were breastfed (90 vs. 67%) and received all vaccinations (100 vs. 96%). Conclusion Supplementing the extended home visiting programme with a visit at the end of pregnancy seems to contribute to fewer absentees at routine visits for both mothers and children; furthermore, more children were breastfed and vaccinated compared with the control group.

Implementing an Additional Weekly Treatment Visit with an Advance Practice Provider to Reduce Hospitalizations and Improve Quality of Care in Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) simultaneously are at an increased risk of developing complications and requiring hospitalization. To reduce acute hospital admissions, patients were seen in an additional weekly on treatment visit, named high risk on-treatment visits (HR OTVS) with a radiation oncology advanced practice provider to identify and manage treatment induced symptoms. With early identification and management of these symptoms, our goal was to improve patient's wellbeing and reduce the rate of hospitalizations while undergoing radiation therapy, limiting treatment breaks, and improving patient outcomes. Oneyear of radiation therapy patients and their hospitalization rate during active radiation treatment was studied 2017. In 2018, the new quality implementation of HR OTVs was added at the end of the week (in addition to on-treatment visit day with the physician) for patients deemed high-risk of complications during radiation therapy. In 2019, one full year after implementation of HR OTVs, hospitalization rates were examined in patients undergoing radiation therapy and directly compared to hospitalization rates of 2017 before the new visit implementation. In 2017,40 out of 417 patients undergoing RT in our department were admitted to the hospital versus 44 out of 668 patients in 2019. As a result of implementing APP lead HR OTVs, the inpatient hospitalization rate went from 9.6% down to 6.5%. Chi-square test confirmed this to be significant with p value 0.03 (p <0.5). Of the 40 patients hospitalized in 2017, 9 of those 40 were undergoing concurrent chemotherapy and radiation and 0% had additional high-risk visits. In 2019, 12 of the 44 admissions included patients receiving concurrent chemoradiation. Of these specific 12 patients, 4 saw APP weekly and 8 did not. If a patient was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy and they saw the nurse practitioner weekly, they were less likely to be admitted to the hospital (33% versus 67%). Utilizing advanced practice practitioners with weekly high-risk visits in addition to the routine on treatment visit can help identify, monitor, and manage treatment induced side effects, and in turn reduce hospitalization rates of patients undergoing radiation therapy.

One-year outcome after open inguinal hernia repair with self-fixated mesh: a randomized controlled trial

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze pain after surgery with the use of self-fixated meshes, which are commonly used as an alternative for sutured mesh in open inguinal hernia repair.MethodsThis prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted from November 2018 to March 2021, with a follow-up duration of 12 months. Male patients, aged 18–85, and suitable for day case surgery, were included. The patients received the self-adhesive Adhesix™ mesh or the self-gripping Progrip™ mesh in open inguinal hernia surgery. The primary outcome was the number of additional follow-up visits due to post-operative pain. Secondary outcomes included intensity of pain, quality of life measures, and complications.ResultsTwo hundred seventy patients were included in this trial, 132 with Adhesix™ (A group), and 138 with Progrip™ (P-group). All patients’ medical records were reviewed 12 months after surgery, and 207 patients (76.2%) completed 12-month follow-up. The number of patients needing additional follow-up visits 3–12 months after surgery were comparable (A group 3/3.0%, P-group 6/5.6%). The numeric rating scale was low at 12 months after surgery (at rest A 0.21, P 0.34, at exercise A 0.78, P 0.90). The incidence of chronic pain, that is moderate or severe pain during exercise, was 5 patients (5.2%) with Adhesix™ and 8 patients (7.4%) with Progrip™ (P = 0.333). Two hernia recurrences (1.0%) were established, one in each group.ConclusionAt 1 year after hernia surgery, the use of self-gripping and self-adhesive meshes lead to successful pain reduction and quality of life improvement.Trial registration.ClinicalTrials.com NCT03734224.

Family MUAC supported by a two-way SMS platform for identifying children with wasting: the Mama Aweza randomised controlled trial

Effective methods of preventing and identifying childhood wasting are required to achieve global child health goals. Family mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) programs train caregivers to screen their child for wasting with MUAC tapes. We assessed the effectiveness of a two-way short message service (SMS) platform (referred to as the Maternally Administered Malnutrition Monitoring System [MAMMS]) in western Kenya. In this individual-level randomised controlled trial in two rural countries in western Kenya, children (aged 5-12 months) were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either standard care (SOC) or MAMMS. Randomisation method was permuted-block randomisation with a block size of 10. Eligible participants were children attending maternal child health clinics in the two counties whom had a MUAC between 12.5 and 14.0cm. The MAMMS group received two MUAC tapes and weekly SMS reminders to screen their child's MUAC. The SOC group received routine community health volunteer services and additional quarterly visits from the study team. The primary analysis used a cox proportional hazards model to compare SOC and MAMMS time-to-diagnosis of wasting (MUAC <12.5cm) confirmed by a health professional during 6-months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were days from enrolment to treatment initiation among children with wasting, proportion of all children with wasting who were identified by the two approaches (treatment coverage), mean MUAC at treatment initiation, and duration of wasting treatment. This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03967015. Between August 1, 2019 and January 31, 2022, 1200 children were enrolled, among whom the incidence of confirmed wasting was 37% lower in the MAMMS group (hazard ratio: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.94, p=0.022). Among children with wasting, the median number of days-to-diagnosis was similar between study groups (MAMMS: 63 days [interquartile range (IQR): 23-92], SOC: 58 days [IQR: 22-94]). Treatment coverage in the MAMMS group was 83.3% (95% CI: 39.9-100.0) while coverage in the SOC group was 55.6% (95% CI: 22.3-88.9%, p=0.300). Treatment duration and mean MUAC at treatment initiation were similar between groups. Family MUAC supported by SMS was associated with a 37% reduction in wasting among young children. Empowering caregivers to monitor their child's nutritional status at home may prevent a substantial proportion of moderate wasting. Thrasher Research Foundation and Pamela and Evan Fowler.

Determinants of institutional delivery service utilization in Nepal.

Maternal mortality continues to be a pressing concern in global health, presenting an enduring and unmet challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Utilization of institutional delivery services has been established as a proven intervention to mitigate life-threatening risks for both mothers and newborns. Exploring the determinants of institutional delivery is crucial to improve and enhance maternal and newborn safety. This study aimed to assess the contextual and individual factors associated with institutional delivery in Nepal. This study utilized that data form Nepal Multiple Indicator Survey 2019, which included a sample of 1,932 women who had given birth within the two years prior to the survey. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant external environment, contextual and individual predictors of institutional delivery. The women from Madhesh province [Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.32, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.17-0.61], as compared to Bagmati province, women from rural areas (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39-0.78) as compared to urban areas, and women from a relatively less-advantaged ethnic groups (aOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.76) as compared to the relatively advantaged ethnic groups were less likely to deliver in health institutions. Similarly, women from the poorest (aOR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04-0.22) and second wealth groups (aOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.13-0.64) were less likely to attend institute for delivery compared to women from the richest household. Women with formal education (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.16-2.35) were more likely to deliver in an institution over uneducated women. Moreover, the uptake of institutional delivery increased by 59% (aOR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.43-1.75) for each additional ANC visit. The findings highlight the importance of stepping up efforts to achieve universal health care from the standpoint of long-term government investment, focusing particularly on illiterate women in rural areas, poorer households, and socially disadvantaged groups. Expanding the benefits of maternal benefit schemes targeting the women from the poorest households in the communities is recommended.

Real-world treatment patterns and economic burden of post-cataract macular edema

BackgroundPost-cataract macular edema (PCME) is a condition that can occur in patients following cataract surgery without risk factors and complications. Although 80% of patients experience spontaneous resolution after 3 to 12 months, in persistent cases, it can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. There are currently no standardized treatment guidelines for PCME, and there have been limited studies showing the impact of PCME on annual Medicare spending and ophthalmology-related outpatient visits per case compared to those without the complication. This study aims to evaluate real-world treatment patterns and the economic burden of patients with PCME.MethodsThis retrospective claims analysis identified patients from the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases. Patients with (n = 2430) and without (n = 7290) PCME 1 year post cataract surgery were propensity score matched 1:3 based on age, geographic region, diabetes presence, cataract surgery type, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Treatment pattern analysis for each PCME patient summarized the distribution of medications across lines of therapy. Economic burden analysis compared the mean number and costs of eye-related outpatient visits, optical coherence tomography imaging scans, and ophthalmic medications between the 2 groups using linear regression models.ResultsTreatment pattern analysis found 27 different treatment combinations across 6 treatment lines. The most common first-line treatments were topical steroid drops (372 [30%]), topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drops (321 [27%]), and intraocular or periocular injectable steroids (189 [15%]). Compared to match controls, PCME patients averaged 6 additional eye-related outpatient office visits (95% CI: 5.7–6.2) resulting in an additional $3,897 (95% CI: $3,475 - $4,319) in total costs. Patients filled 3 more ophthalmology-related outpatient prescription medications (95% CI: 2.8–3.2), adding $371 in total cost (95% CI: $332 – $410).ConclusionsPCME treatment patterns showed wide clinical variability in treatments and time, specifically regarding injectable treatments and combination therapy. Additionally, significantly higher healthcare resource use and economic burden were found for both patients and payers when comparing PCME patients to non-PMCE controls. These results highlight the need for treatment standardization and demonstrate that interventions targeted at preventing PCME may be valuable.

Оценка технологии здравоохранения и значение дистанционного диэлектрического исследования в диагностикe и контроле лечения хронической сердечной недостаточности в Российской Федерации

As with any socially significant disease, in chronic heart failure (CHF), the control of diagnostic and treatment, including monitoring the condition of patients in order to maintain optimal therapy, is of decisive importance. The specificity of CHF is the high frequency of repeated hospitalizations for acute decompensation of heart failure (ADHF). One of the key aspects of monitoring the patient’s condition is the assessment of congestion - the identification and determination of the degree of it for the timely optimization of the treatment in order to prevent re-hospitalization. In this regard, of great interest is a new technology for non-invasive measurement of fluid in the lungs - Remote Dielectric Sensing (ReDS), implemented in a medical device under the ReDS Pro brand (manufacturer - Sensible Medical Innovations, Israel). ReDS technology is a quantitative non-invasive method for measuring the total volume of fluid in the lungs in patients with signs of volume overload, including those with CHF. The technology is based on the following principle: low-power electromagnetic radiation passes through the lung tissue from the emitter to the receiver, the assessment of changes in radio wave parameters provides an accurate measurement of the total volume of fluid in the tissue. The result of the examination is a quantitative indicator that reflects the percentage of total fluid in the total volume of the lung. The emergence of a new technology makes its assessment relevant for monitoring treatment and diagnostic measures for CHF in the Russian Federation at the inpatient and outpatient stages of medical care. The described study of health technology assessment was based on the developed model, which, taking into account the clinical advantages of ReDS technology, made it possible to analyze its “budget impact” both at the federal and regional levels from the standpoint of the inpatient or outpatient stages of medical care. The assessment of the economic and clinical feasibility of introducing ReDS tech- nology was carried out separately for the inpatient and outpatient stages (for the outpatient stage, the calculation was carried out both for a model that takes into account the costs of additional visits to patients for scheduled examinations, and without them) in conditions of achieving the technology availability indicator for at least 95% of the population. The results of the assessment showed that at a given level of implementation of ReDS technology at the inpatient level, the number of re-hospitalizations of patients with CHF in the Russian Federation will decrease from 375,703 to 252,208 per year (by 32.9%). The introduction of technologies at the outpatient level will reduce the number of readmissions from 375,703 to 82,782 per year (by 78.0%). This corresponds to a decrease in the annual cost of hospitalizations for CHF (both primary and recurrent) with the introduction of ReDS in hospitals from 24.93 billion rubles to 20.96 billion rubles (decrease by 15.9%); when implementing the method at the outpatient level from 24.93 billion rubles to 15.52 billion rubles (decrease by 37.8%), and taking into account the cost of additional visits to patients at the outpatient level from 24.93 billion rubles to 19.70 billion rubles (decrease by 21.0%). At the same time, one-time costs for the purchase of a ReDS medical device in outpatient and inpatient clinics amount to 12.06 billion rubles and 11.04 billion rubles respectively. The results of the “budget impact” analysis (taking into account the discount factor of 3.5%) of the introduction of ReDS technology at the outpatient level demonstrate that over 7 years it provides savings in the amount of 20,335,833,423 rubles (including costs for additional visits) up to 45,926,532,070 rubles (excluding the cost of additional visits), and at the inpatient level - 13,613,327,627 rubles. Evaluation of the introduction of ReDS technology into the Russian healthcare system at the federal level, both at the outpatient and inpatient stages of medical care, with a total need for a ReDS medical device in the range of 1129-1234 units, providing coverage of more than 95% of the population with this technology, showed its clinical and economic benefit, which is expressed in a decrease in the number of readmissions and net savings in the health care system already during the third year of using the ReDS technology.

No Effect of Breakfast Consumption Observed for Afternoon Resistance Training Performance in Habitual Breakfast Consumers and Nonconsumers: A Randomized Crossover Trial

BackgroundPre-exercise meal frequency is commonly believed to impact exercise performance, but little is known about its impact on resistance training. ObjectiveThis study investigated the impact of breakfast consumption on afternoon resistance training performance in habitual breakfast consumers and nonconsumers. DesignA randomized, crossover study was conducted in Lubbock, TX between November 2021 and May 2022. ParticipantsThirty-nine resistance-trained male (n = 20) and female (n = 19) adults (mean ± SD age 23.0 ± 4.7 years) who habitually consumed (≥5 d/wk; n = 19) or did not consume (≥5 d/wk; n = 20) breakfast completed the study. InterventionAfter the establishment of 1-repetition maximums at the first visit, participants completed 2 additional visits, each of which included 4 sets of barbell back squat, bench press, and deadlift, using 80% of their 1-repetition maximum after either consuming breakfast and lunch or the same food at lunch only. Main outcome measuresRepetitions, along with average and peak average concentric velocity and power, were measured for all repetitions throughout each exercise session. Visual analog scales were used to assess feelings of fatigue, energy, focus, hunger, desire to eat, and fullness throughout each exercise session. Statistical analyses performedData were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. ResultsNo interactions or main effects involving condition or habitual breakfast consumption were observed for resistance training outcomes, although sex differences were noted. Male participants performed significantly fewer repetitions on sets 2, 3, and 4 (P < .014) for total repetitions, on sets 2 and 4 for barbell back squat (P < .023), and set 4 for deadlift (P = .006), with no observed differences between sexes for bench press repetitions. Male participants displayed reductions in average power across all sets and exercises except deadlift. ConclusionsThese data suggest that alterations in pre-exercise meal frequency may not influence afternoon resistance training performance provided similar total nutritional intake is consumed.

Assessing Health Care Utilization and Feasibility of Transurethral Catheter Self-Discontinuation

ABSTRACT Common issues after pelvic reconstructive surgery are incomplete bladder emptying and urinary retention, often resulting in placement of an indwelling transurethral Foley catheter, which then remains until a patient returns to the office. Catheterization is significantly distressing for women undergoing these procedures and burdensome due to travel to the office during the postoperative period. In addition, in-office voiding trials add to the workload of health care professionals and staff. A potential alternative is at-home self-discontinuation of the Foley catheter. This study's primary aim was the comparison of the rates of health care utilization (calls, messages, office visits, and emergency department [ED] visits) and postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery among patients with voiding trials on the day of surgery, versus those with Foley placement and void trials on postoperative day 1. Secondary objectives included identifying risk factors for unsuccessful voiding trials and exploring any complications associated with catheter self-discontinuation. This study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study at 1 academic institution and included outpatient women undergoing outpatient urogynecologic or minimally invasive gynecological surgery for benign indications between August 2021 and January 2022. Qualifying patients included cisgendered English-speaking women of at least 18 years of age who exhibited postoperative urinary retention on the day of surgery. Excluded were patients with any preoperative degree of urinary retention (defined as any observation of a postvoid residual more than 200 mL), known upper motor neuron disease, and patients undergoing surgeries with concomitant extra pelvic procedures or minor procedures not requiring a postoperative voiding trial. Based on the exploratory nature of this study, primarily for determining safety and feasibility, the convenience sample size of 50 was set, and patients were recruited at the time of their unsuccessful voiding trials on the day of surgery. On the day of surgery, medical staff performed voiding trials in the postoperative anesthesia care unit, backfilling the bladder with 200 mL of sterile fluid. The void trial was successful if this was followed by a patient void of at least 150–200 mL, otherwise the voiding trial was marked as unsuccessful. Unsuccessful trials resulted in the insertion of an indwelling Foley catheter, followed by verbal and written instruction for performing a home-based, patient-led catheter self-discontinuation at 6:00 am on postoperative day 1. Instructions for catheter removal included pictures and written information. After removal, if the patient failed to void 150 mL within 6 hours, they were instructed to return to the office for additional care. Perioperative data collected from charts included age, parity, body mass index, self-reported race, surgical location, smoking status, periprocedural antibiotics, operative indication, procedures performed, operative time, surgeon type, anesthesia type, estimated blood loss, and intraoperative complications. Results of the study demonstrated 140 patients eligible for day 0 postoperative voiding trials. Of these, most patients were postmenopausal, White, and one third were obese. A majority (82.8%) had a urogynecologist perform their surgery, and the overall rate of voiding trial failure on the day of surgery was 35.7%. The majority of patients (48/50) proceeded with at-home voiding trials according to protocol. Of these, 39 had no further voiding difficulty. Of the 9/50 (18.8%) requiring additional assessment, 6 had a repeat void trial in the office of which 4 were successful, 1 voided spontaneously in the office, 1 required prolonged clean intermittent self-catheterization, and 1 was successful with repeat Foley self-discontinuation on day 3 postoperatively. Only 2 of the 39 patients with successful self-discontinuation on postoperative day 1 had retention later, with 1 presenting to an ED and 1 presenting to the office. Patients with unsuccessful postoperative day 0 void trials had an average of 1 additional call or message to the office, and patients with unsuccessful postoperative day 1 void trials had an average of 1 additional office visit. Although both of these comparisons to those with successful day of surgery void trials were statistically significant, they did not indicate excessive care requirements. Risk factors for failure of day of surgery void trial included older age (also a risk factor for failure on the following day), smoking history, and vaginal hysterectomy. Strengths of the study include its diverse population of women undergoing a wide array of minimally invasive gynecological and urogynecologic surgeries, as well as its prospective nature. Limitations of the study include a lack of control groups, the singular institution in which the study was performed, and the small sample size that limited the potential identification of rare complications. These factors also limit the generalizability of the findings to other settings. Ultimately, catheter self-discontinuation was largely straightforward and efficient for patients and office staff, with low subsequent retention rates. Although further research is required, data currently point to catheter self-discontinuation as a safe and feasible option for women undergoing advanced gynecological surgery, providing a valuable management option for acute postoperative voiding dysfunction.

Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: Using telemedicine for pre-operative surgical evaluation in breast disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic motivated telemedicine care to decrease potential exposures for both patients and staff. We hypothesized that select breast surgical patients can be successfully evaluated pre-operatively with telemedicine. With institutional review board approval, patients with telemedicine surgical consults between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 were identified retrospectively from our prospective breast surgical registry. The frequency of successful pre-operative evaluation using telemedicine alone was assessed, defined as cases in which surgery was completed on the planned day without changes to the surgical plan after physical examination in the pre-operative area. Differences in disease presentation, patient characteristics, and complications were evaluated by whether the first in-person visit occurred on the day of surgery versus the prior. A total of 374 patients underwent breast surgery between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2020, of which 96 (25.7%) had a telemedicine consultation. After the telemedicine visit, 38 patients (39.6%) had additional in-person visits with the breast surgeon prior to their operative date, and 58 patients (60.4%) did not. Forty-five patients underwent breast-conserving therapies, 41 mastectomies (25 with reconstruction), two axillary dissections, and eight excisional biopsies. All surgeries were completed on the planned operative day, with no changes in surgical plans. Patients with telemedicine only prior to surgery were more likely to speak English (100% vs. 92.1%, p = 0.02) and have lower body mass index (median 24.9 vs. 29.2, p = 0.01). The frequency of in-person pre-operative visits varied significantly by surgeon (p < 0.001). Age, American Society of Anaesthesiologists score, distance from facility, clinical T/N category, surgery type, and complications did not differ between groups. Telemedicine can be utilized successfully for select breast surgical patients, with the ability to proceed to surgery in the majority of patients without additional in-person visits.