Admission Criteria Research Articles

Graduate program collaborations to identify and cultivate graduate enrollment best practices

AbstractDetermining best practices for graduate enrollment requires continuous dedication by graduate enrollment personnel to identify innovative and relevant recruitment strategies to attract potential graduate applicants. The dynamic landscape of higher education creates further complexity as these best practices must also align with institutional expectations and the expectations of those overseeing graduate academic programs. To establish a robust enrollment strategy, it is crucial for graduate program officers and graduate enrollment personnel to establish a collaborative relationship that supports timely and ongoing dialogues to attract and retain quality admissions candidates. This manuscript explores how graduate enrollment personnel at a mid‐size regional institution collaborate with graduate program officers to achieve the enrollment goals of the institution and to support continued program growth.Practical Takeaways Establishing collaborative relationships between graduate program officers and graduate enrollment personnel are essential to support program growth and the continuous evaluation of admissions criteria to promote holistic admissions. Recognizing the diverse expectations of applicants and establishing a graduate enrollment framework that allows for individual program needs creates a supportive environment that encourages program growth. The elimination of extraneous admissions requirements can support program growth without negatively impacting the quality of applicants. Supporting graduate program officers throughout the graduate enrollment process is imperative to foster positive experiences for applicants throughout and following the admissions cycle.

A case vignette study to refine the target group of an intermediate care model: the Acute Geriatric Community Hospital

Key summary pointsAimRefining the admission criteria of the Acute Geriatric Community Hospital (AGCH) by defining its target group boundaries with (geriatric) hospital care and other bed-based intermediate care models.FindingsThe integration of medical specialist care (MSC) and medical generalist care (MGC) is unique for the AGCH compared to other intermediate care models and (geriatric) hospital care in the Netherlands. Based on these findings, 13 refined admission criteria were developed. Also, 10 additional consideration themes were identified.MessageBecause care is shifting from hospitals to the community, target group boundaries between (intermediate) care models should be continuously (re)defined; based on our experiences, we recommend using case vignettes as this yields rich and practical input.

Creation of a holistic admissions review process: A promising change designed to promote diversity and inclusion in nursing education

Objective: The holistic admissions process employs a review strategy designed to assess an applicant's unique life experiences together with traditional measures of academic achievement. This process considers a broad range of factors that reflect an applicant's potential for professional success in the nursing field. The purpose of this initiative was to introduce a holistic admissions process at a nursing program that has historically utilized an academic metrics-based approach.Methods: The nursing program identified goals and targets for holistic admissions as a means to evaluate the process and to make informed decisions that support the aim of increased student diversity.Results: A team-based approach was used to develop criteria for holistic admissions. Shared values for characteristics of ideal nursing applicants were discussed first, and a literature review was conducted, focusing on predictors of success in nursing school and on the nursing licensure examination. Criteria were developed aimed at capturing the shared values, predictors of success, while also allowing applicants to ‘tell their stories’ during the application process. A student-facing application and applicant faculty review process were created. Benchmarks for monitoring diversity of the student population were identified.Conclusions: Our faculty task force developed and implemented a holistic admissions review process and generated plans designed to monitor the improved diversity of the student population. Faculty reflections highlight the value of pursuing this change and moving forward with holistic admissions in our nursing program.

Effectiveness of decentralizing outpatient acute malnutrition treatment with community health workers and a simplified combined protocol: a cluster randomized controlled trial in emergency settings of Mali.

Outpatient treatment of acute malnutrition is usually centralized in health centers and separated into different programs according to case severity. This complicates case detection, care delivery, and supply chain management, making it difficult for families to access treatment. This study assessed the impact of treating severe and moderate cases in the same program using a simplified protocol and decentralizing treatment outside health centers through community health workers (CHWs). A three-armed cluster randomized controlled trial under a non-inferiority hypothesis was conducted in the Gao region of Mali involving 2,038 children between 6 and 59 months of age with non-complicated acute malnutrition. The control arm consisted of 549 children receiving standard treatment in health centers from nursing staff. The first intervention arm consisted of 800 children treated using the standard protocol with CHWs added as treatment providers. The second intervention arm consisted of 689 children treated by nurses and CHWs under the ComPAS simplified protocol, considering mid-upper arm circumference as the sole anthropometric criterion for admission and discharge and providing a fixed dose of therapeutic food for severe and moderate cases. Coverage was assessed through cross-sectional surveys using the sampling evaluation of access and coverage (SLEAC) methodology for a wide area involving several service delivery units. The recovery rates were 76.3% in the control group, 81.8% in the group that included CHWs with the standard protocol, and 92.9% in the group that applied the simplified protocol, confirming non-inferiority and revealing a significant risk difference among the groups. No significant differences were found in the time to recovery (6 weeks) or in anthropometric gain, whereas the therapeutic food expenditure was significantly lower with the simplified combined program in severe cases (43 sachets fewer than the control). In moderate cases, an average of 35 sachets of therapeutic food were used. With the simplified protocol, the CHWs had 6% discharge errors compared with 19% with the standard protocol. The treatment coverage increased significantly with the simplified combined program (SAM +42.5%, MAM +13.8%). Implementing a simplified combined treatment program and adding CHWs as treatment providers can improve coverage while maintaining non-inferior effectiveness, reducing the expenditure on nutritional intrants, and ensuring the continuum of care for the most vulnerable children.

Analysis of admissions to intensive care units that could be supported on an intermediate care unit.

Only one third of European countries use intermediate care units (IMCs). An IMC makes it possible to manage patients who do not require intensive care but who need a higher level of nursing care that cannot be provided on the general ward. In Belgium, there are no national criteria for ICU admission or discharge, and no policies regarding IMC care or for differentiating ICU intensity levels. The aim of our study was to analyse the profile of ICU patients in Belgium on the basis of registered nursing activity in order to quantify the number of ICU days potentially transferable to an IMC. The study was conducted on 310 ICU beds. Patients admitted to the study were recruited during two different one-month periods in 2018 and were included into a prospective database that evaluated nursing workload carried out in 15 hospitals in the French-speaking part of Belgium. The number of ICU days that could be supported on an IMC was defined according to the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) items. A total of 3279 ICU patients for a total of 13 942 ICU days were included. 4987 days (35.8%) were considered as "transferable" to an IMC. The proportion of ICU days transferable to an IMC was highly variable among hospitals, ranging from 20.4% to 59.5% of all ICU days. On the day of ICU admission, 665/2142 (31.0%) of the patients were already identified as transferable to an IMC; this percentage significantly increased on day 2 (972/2066, 47.1%) and day 3 (650/1390, 46.7%). In Belgian ICUs, 35.8% of ICU hospital days, as per recorded NAS, do not necessitate intensive monitoring. These 35.8% of days of ICU hospitalization could be supported on an IMC. In this study, a significant number of days spent in the ICU could be supported on an IMC, this could alleviate the workload of nurses and reduce the occupancy rate of intensive care units.

The Characteristics and Reflections of Engineering Doctorate Training System in China

The doctoral education in engineering has emerged to cultivate adept leaders in applied engineering technology, contributing to the establishment of an innovative nation. The engineering doctoral education in China has evolved over a decade. This study analyzes doctoral degrees in engineering at four Chinese universities, examining the current state of engineering doctoral education across various dimensions, including training objectives, admission criteria, curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, and graduation requirements. Overall, China's engineering doctoral training system exhibits a gradual improvement, concomitant with a progressive expansion in scale. Looking forward, it is imperative to broaden the spectrum of enrollment, enhance the theoretical foundation of engineering doctoral students, fortify quality control measures, and implement an elimination mechanism. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the developmental trajectory of engineering doctoral education in China.

Simplified treatment protocols improve recovery of children with severe acute malnutrition in South Sudan: results from a mixed methods study

BackgroundAs part of COVID-19 mitigation strategies, emergency nutrition program adaptations were implemented, but evidence of the effects is limited. Compared to the standard protocol, the full adapted protocol included adapted admissions criteria, simplified dosing, and reduced visit frequency; partially adapted protocols consisting of only some of these modifications were also implemented. To enable evidence-based nutrition program modifications as the context evolved, this study was conducted to characterize how protocol adaptations in South Sudan affected Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Program outcomes.MethodsA mixed methods approach consisting of secondary analysis of individual-level nutrition program data and key informant interviews was used. Analyses focused on program implementation and severe acute malnutrition treatment outcomes under the standard, full COVID-19 adapted, and partially adapted treatment protocols from 2019 through 2021. Analyses compared characteristics and outcomes by different admission types under the standard protocol and across four different treatment protocols. Regression models evaluated the odds of recovery and mean length of stay (LoS) under the four protocols.ResultsVery few (1.6%; n = 156) children admitted based on low weight-for-height alone under the standard protocol would not have been eligible for admission under the adapted protocol. Compared to the full standard protocol, the partially adapted (admission only) and partially adapted (admission and dosing) protocols had lower LoS of 28.4 days (CI − 30.2, − 26.5) and 5.1 days (CI − 6.2, − 4.0); the full adapted protocol had a decrease of 3.0 (CI − 5.1, − 1.0) days. All adapted protocols had significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for recovery compared to the full standard protocol: partially adapted (admission only) AOR = 2.56 (CI 2.18–3.01); partially adapted (admission + dosing) AOR = 1.78 (CI 1.45–2.19); and fully adapted protocol AOR = 2.41 (CI 1.69–3.45).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that few children were excluded when weight-for-height criteria were suspended. LoS was shortest when only MUAC was used for entry/exit but dosing and visit frequency were unchanged. Significantly shorter LoS with simplified dosing and visit frequency vs. under the standard protocol indicate that protocol adaptations may lead to shorter recovery and program enrollment times. Findings also suggest that good recovery is achievable with reduced visit frequency and simplified dosing.

Efficacy of a Standardized Process in Optimizing Appropriate Use of Progressive Care Unit Beds in a Tertiary Care Facility.

Poor patient progression from the progressive care unit (PCU) beds has been recognized as a bottleneck, limiting the hospital's ability to optimize capacity for the sickest patients. Improving nurse management on PCU admission and discharge criteria could avoid PCU bottlenecks. Our institution lacked a standard process to identify clinically appropriate patients ready for transfer out of the PCU, causing delays in vacating PCU beds. The aim of this study was to determine if creating a standard process to empower bedside nurses and unit nursing leaders to push readiness information to the provider team improves the appropriateness of PCU stay and transfers patients out of the PCU earlier. The most common causes of delayed transfer out of the PCU were discussed among stakeholders. A process was designed to empower the bedside nurses to partner with a physician leader to send information to the provider team requesting evaluation of the patient's readiness to leave the unit. The improvement of meeting the criteria for PCU was evaluated by comparing 60 patients prior to the intervention phase with 139 patients during the intervention. The primary outcome, percentage of patients meeting PCU criteria, was 53% during the audit phase and 68% during the intervention phase (P = .05). The PCU transfer time was pushed 1 hour earlier in the day. The standard process of empowering bedside nurses to partner with physician leaders to push readiness for transferring patients out of the PCU resulted in a significant improvement in the percentage of patients meeting PCU criteria and earlier discharge of appropriate patients.

ANALYSIS OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE DOMESTIC WASTE BUSINESS IN SIDENRENG RAPPANG DISTRICT DUCK BONE FLOUR (DUCK BONE FLOUR)

Duck bone waste which is a domestic waste in Sidenreng Rappang Regency has not been utilized and there is no handler which is feared will pollute the environment. So it is necessary to use it by making it economically valuable by making duck bone flour. The purpose of this study was to analyze the feasibility of investing in duck bone waste (Duck Bone Flour). The method used is a saturated sample where all of the population is a sample because the number of samples is limited. Methods of data analysis using financial analysis. The analytical tool used for the financial aspect uses analysis of the Payback Period (PP), Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Profitability Index (PI), to determine whether a business is feasible or not. The results showed that the Duckbone Flour Business, from a financial point of view, with a project duration of 10 years and a discount rate of 10%, it proved feasible. An analysis of admission criteria found a payback period (PP) of 6 months and 1 week. Net Present Value (NPV) is IDR 1,730,085,150, Profitability Index (PI) is 1.63% and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 32%. This research is important to be carried out as a source of information for the community and the government about the economic value of duck bone waste.

Assessment of severity of community acquired pneumonia by paediatric infectious diseases society and clinical and radiological profile in 0-5 year age group

Background: The WHO estimates that ARI, mostly in the form of CAP, is the leading cause of death in children under five, killing over 2 million children annually. The present study's PEWS score and PIDS severity criteria were undertaken to know the clinical and radiological profile of patients with Pneumonia and to categorize these patients with PEWS score and PIDS criteria to redefine their severity and assess the management and outcomes. Methods: Patients aged between 0 to 5 years who presented with cough complaints and respiration difficulty were assessed. The criteria for ICU admission is the presence of more than 2 minor criteria or one of the major criteria. PIDS criteria for CAP recommends ICU admission or continuous monitoring for children in ED. Results: A prospective observational study of 104 children with CAP was included, and their pneumonia was evaluated using PIDS criteria. The patients were categorized for pneumonia according to PIDS criteria. 32.69% of children were classified as severe CAP (p value=0.02). This difference between non-severe and severe Pneumonia is considered to be statistically significant in which patients classified as severe CAP. Conclusions: The patients were categorized for Pneumonia according to PIDS criteria. 32.69% of children were classified as severe CAP (p value=0.02). This difference between non-severe and severe Pneumonia is considered to be statistically significant in which patients classified as severe CAP needed vigorous management in emergency department followed by ICU management.

Expression level and clinical significance of NBAT-1 in human cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThere is an aberrant expression of NBAT-1 in various human cancers, which was proven to limit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumour cells via multiple approaches. Most existing research focuses on sample size and discrete outcomes. Thus, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed to elucidate the prognostic value of lncRNA NBAT-1 expression in cancer patients.Materials and methodsUsing Web of Science and PubMed, two researchers independently identified relevant studies to explore the association between the pathological features of human cancers and NBAT-1 expression levels. Then two scholars conducted literature screening according to exclusion criteria and admission criteria, and finally conducted statistical analysis through data extraction with StataSE 12.0.ResultsA total of 12 eligible studies with 1600 patients were included in the meta-analysis eventually. It is indicated that the low expression level of lncRNA NBAT-1 was closely related to distant metastasis [RR = 0.50, 95% CI (0.33, 0.76), and P = 0.00], deep tumour invasion [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.49,0.80), and P = 0.00], poor histological grade [RR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.57, 0.81), and P = 0.00], advanced TNM stage [RR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.55, 0.79), and P = 0.00], large tumour volume[RR = 0.72, 95% CI (0.55, 0.93), and P = 0.01], and lymph node metastasis [RR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.46, 0.84), and P = 0.00], suggesting that it may serve as biomarkers for patients with poor prognosis.ConclusionReduced expression of NBAT-1 can predict poor prognosis in several cancers, as found in the meta-analysis, demonstrating that NBAT-1 can serve as a promising prognostic factor of human cancers.

Nutritional treatment of children 6–59 months with severely low weight-for-age z-score: a study protocol for a 3-arm randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAdmission criteria that treat children with low mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC), and low weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) are not aligned with the evidence on which children are at risk of mortality. An analysis of community-based cohort data from Senegal found that a combination of weight-for-age (WAZ) and MUAC criteria identified all children at risk of near-term death associated with severe anthropometric deficits. This study will address whether children with WAZ <−3 but MUAC ≥125 mm benefit from therapeutic feeding with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and whether a simplified protocol is non-inferior to the weight-based standard protocol.MethodsThis is a prospective individually randomized controlled 3-arm trial conducted in the Nara health district in Mali. Children aged 6–59 months presenting with MUAC ≥125 mm and WAZ <−3 will be randomized to (1) control group receiving no treatment, (2) simplified treatment receiving 1 sachet of RUTF daily until WAZ ≥−3 for 2 visits, (3) standard treatment receiving RUTF according to WHZ category: (a) WHZ <−3 receive 200 kcal/kg/day until WHZ ≥−2 for 2 visits, (b) WHZ ≥−3 but <−2 receive 1 sachet daily until WHZ ≥−2 for 2 visits or (c) WHZ ≥−2 receive no treatment. All children will be followed up first fortnightly for 12 weeks and then monthly until 6 months post-enrolment. The primary endpoint will be measured at 2 months with the primary outcome being WAZ as a continuous measure. Other outcomes include other anthropometric measurements and a secondary endpoint will be observed at 6 months. A total of 1397 children will be recruited including 209 in the control and 594 in both the simplified and standard arms. The sample size should enable us to conclude on the superiority of the simplified treatment compared to no treatment and on the non-inferiority of the simplified treatment versus standard treatment with a margin of non-inferiority of 0.2 WAZ.DiscussionThis trial aims to generate new evidence on the benefit of treating children with WAZ <−3 but MUAC ≥125 mm in order to guide the choice of admission criteria to malnutrition treatment and build evidence on the most efficient treatment protocol.Trial registrationThis trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05248516 on February 21, 2022.

Synthesis of ℋ∞ Control for Descriptor Hybrid Systems with Actuator Saturation

This paper addresses a mode-dependent state-feedback H∞ control for stochastic descriptor hybrid systems, considering both the absence and presence of actuator saturation. Firstly, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the stochastic admissibility criterion with H∞ performance γ of the closed-loop system are proposed. Given the proposed non-convex condition, the author reformulates it into linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Then, to extend the result to the systems with actuator saturation, the actuator-saturated control input is expressed as a linear combination of a given state-feedback control input and a virtual control input that always remains under the saturation level. To verify this expression, the set invariant condition is also suggested by using the singular mode-dependent Lyapunov function candidate. Therefore, the conditions for the existence of both the mode-dependent state-feedback H∞ control and the ellipsoidal shape invariant sets are successfully derived in terms of LMIs. Two numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by solving optimization problems subject to the proposed LMIs that minimize H∞ performance γ and maximize the invariant set, respectively.

Removing Barriers to Entry in Medicine: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract In 1992, Pakistan equalized admissions criteria for women and men applying to medical schools, causing a rapid increase in the female share of medical graduates. Using birth cohort variation, I find that equalizing admissions criteria increased employment among female doctors by 21 percentage points and among doctors overall by 9 percentage points, even though female doctors are less likely to be employed than male doctors. Earnings for male medical graduates increased as lower ability males were crowded out. The 1992 reform led to increased gender diversification in a wide range of medical specialties, but it also concentrated doctors in urban districts where women prefer to practice.

Adherence to Dutch Guideline in Hospitalized Anorexia Nervosa Adolescents.

Background. The Dutch guideline Eating Disorders defines admission criteria for children with anorexia nervosa (AN) in need for medical stabilization and advices close monitoring to detect refeeding syndrome (RFS) in an early stage. Methods. Admission criteria, recommendations at admission, and during first week of hospitalization were evaluated in accordance to the guideline. RFS was defined as decreased electrolyte concentrations and/or clinical features. Results. 22 patients were included with a total of 50 admissions. We observed that 62% of the admitted patients met one of the admission criteria, 190/300 (63%) recommended admission examinations were performed. During admission adherence decreased, in particular daily weighing and physical examination (12% and 6%, respectively). The guideline was not fully followed in any of the patients. None of the hospitalized patients met the RFS criteria. Conclusion. Guideline adherence was moderate and can be improved by a few adaptations, which may limit unnecessary laboratory testing.

Data-Based Optimal Switching and Control With Admissibility Guaranteed Q -Learning.

This article addresses the data-based optimal switching and control codesign for discrete-time nonlinear switched systems via a two-stage approximate dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm. Through offline policy improvement and policy evaluation, the proposed algorithm iteratively determines the optimal hybrid control policy using system input/output data. Moreover, a strict proof of the convergence is given for the two-stage ADP algorithm. Admissibility, an essential property of the hybrid control policy must be ensured for practical application. To this end, the properties of the hybrid control policies are analyzed and an admissibility criterion is obtained. To realize the proposed Q -learning algorithm, an actor-critic neural network (NN) structure that employs multiple NNs to approximate the Q -functions and control policies for different subsystems is adopted. By applying the proposed admissibility criterion, the obtained hybrid control policy is guaranteed to be admissible. Finally, two numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

STEM PROGRAM LEADERS&amp;apos; STRATEGIES TO DIVERSIFY THE DOCTORAL STUDENT POPULATION: INCONGRUENCE WITH STUDENT PRIORITIES

The purpose of this study was to uncover strategies commonly utilized by STEM doctoral program leaders to recruit students from historically marginalized backgrounds and to contrast these findings with the factors that program leaders and students say should and do drive decisions. To do so, we interviewed program leaders (n &amp;#61; 90), surveyed staff members (n &amp;#61; 63), and interviewed (n &amp;#61; 23) and surveyed (n &amp;#61; 431) doctoral students. We critically examined the doctoral enrollment strategies as well as program leadersэ stated values and priorities related to diversity through the theoretical underpinning of theories of action. In the competitive environment of doctoral STEM recruitment, program leaders were influenced by other institutions and relied predominantly on financial recruitment strategies (i.e., the theory-in-use). Program leaders felt finances were readily available to recruit minoritized students, especially racially minoritized students; however, since peer institutions seemed to rely on similar, but narrow, admissions criteria, program leaders felt they were competing with their peers for the same small pool of students. Although we also found evidence that program leaders employed other student-facing and system-facing recruitment strategies, they often failed to consider the myriad of factors considered by students from historically marginalized backgrounds in making their doctoral program choices (i.e., the espoused theories). This incongruence between theory-in-use and espoused theories may lead to the reproduction of inequities in STEM doctoral attainment.

Prevalence and risk factors of hyponatremia in hospitalized critically ill children: an observational study.

Critically ill children frequently encounter the most common and potentially life-threatening electrolyte disturbances, i.e., hyponatremia. It is an independent risk factor for prolonged hospitalization in the intensive care unit and increased in-hospital mortality. Hyponatremia occurs in up to 20%-30% of admissions in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This observational study was conducted in the PICU of a tertiary care hospital in a developing country from September 2018 to September 2019. Admission criteria in our PICU are the need for mechanical ventilation, fulminant hepatic failure, vasopressor support, respiratory failure and poorly controlled seizure. We studied 256 children, aged 1 month to 18 years, with normal serum sodium at admission. In our study, 72 (28.1%) children developed hyponatremia, and about two third (n=48, 66.7%) of them developed within 72 hours of admission in PICU. The majority of children (n = 46, 63.9%) in the hyponatremic group were below 5 years. Wasted children (n = 68, 26.6%) in the hyponatremic and isonatremic groups were 20 (27.8%) and 48 (26%), respectively. The most common etiology of hyponatremia was cerebral salt wasting syndrome (n = 20, 27.8%) followed by drug-induced cases (n = 19, 26.4%). The drugs responsible were diuretics and anti-epileptics. In our study, multiorgan failure (OR = 5.05, 95%CI = 1.90-13.43; p = 0.0001), shock (OR = 7.38, 95%CI = 3.56-12.28; p = 0.0001), vasopressor use (OR = 6.74, 95%CI = 3.45-13.17; p = 0.0001) and coagulopathy (OR = 6.74, 95%CI = 3.45-13.17; p = 0.0001) were the risk factors for the development of hyponatremia. Mortality among the hyponatremic group (44.4%) was significantly higher than in the isonatremic group (21.7%). Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance found in critically ill patients and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality.

Assessment of College Admission Test Results: Basis for Enhancement of Asscat Admission and Retention Policy

This study aimed to assess the College Admission Test Results as basis for the enhancement of ASSCAT Admission and Retention Policy. A descriptive quantitative design was used in the study. There were Six Hundred Forty-Six research subjects in this study from the College of Teacher Education. Secondary data from the result of the College Admission Test for the first semester of the Academic Year 2022-2023 was utilized in this study. Frequency count and percentage were used to analyze the data gathered. The result of the study shows that the majority of the research subjects were BSEd-Science. It also shows that the results of the college admission test were below the admission criteria. This result may be utilized as a basis for enhancing the institution’s Admission and Retention Policy to establish procedures to consider the performance of all takers. Thus, be able to ­­­­accommodate more student-applicants in the province of Agusan del Sur and neighboring provinces.

Cancer patients admitted in the intensive care unit: Characteristics and outcomes

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the profile of cancer patients admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) and compares the outcomes with non-cancer patients hospitalized in the same period. DesignThis is a cross-sectional study. SettingData were collected from medical records at Hospital Universitário Santa Terezinha, Joaçaba-SC, Brazil. PatientsAdmitted at ICU from April to November 2018. InterventionsNA. Main variables of interestICU outcomes. ResultsOf the 183 patients, 92 were cancer patients and 91 were non-cancer patients. There was a predominance of females for cancer and males for non-caner group, mostly elderly. Most hospitalizations of cancer patients were postoperative (49.4%). The cause of hospitalization of non-cancer patients was pneumonia, followed by traumatic brain injury, postoperative period, polytrauma, and septicemia. On the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scale, cancer patients scored an average of 7.8 (±4.2) and on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System (APACHE II) 13.3 points (±8.6), whereas non-cancer scored 7.6 (±3.55) and 20.9 points (±7.2), respectively. Non-cancer patients used more invasive mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs. ConclusionCancer patients received less sedation and used less mechanical ventilation than non-cancer patients. In addition, cancer patients had a lower APACHE II score, denoting a less severe condition. Most surgical cancer patients demonstrate to benefit from intensive care, but it is still necessary to create more specific criteria for ICU admission.