Busy Clinical Settings Research Articles

Time to Navigate: A Practical Objective Clinical Measure for Freezing of Gait Severity in People With Parkinson Disease

ObjectivesTo provide an easy-to-use measure, as existing objective assessments for freezing of gait (FOG) severity may be unwieldy for routine clinical practice, this study explored time taken to complete the recently validated FOG severity tool and its components. DesignA cross-sectional study. SettingOutpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital. ParticipantsPeople with Parkinson disease who could independently ambulate 8-meters, understand instructions, and without co-morbidities affecting gait were consecutively recruited. Thirty-five participants were included (82.9% [n=29] male; median [IQR]: age of 73.0 [11.0] years and disease duration of 4.0 [4.5] years). InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants were assessed with the FOG severity tool in a test-retest design, with time taken for each component recorded using a stopwatch during video-analysis. Validity of total FOG severity tool time, time taken to complete its turning and narrow-space components (i.e., time to navigate [TTN]), and an adjusted TTN were examined through correlations with validated FOG severity outcomes. To facilitate clinical interpretation, the TTN cut-off was determined using scatterplot smoothing regression, whereas minimal important change was calculated using predictive modeling. ResultsThe FOG severity tool time, TTN, and adjusted TTN similarly demonstrated moderate correlations with the FOG questionnaire and percentage-FOG, and very high correlations with FOG severity tool–revised. The TTN was nonlinearly related to FOG severity, with a positive relationship observed in the first 300 seconds and plateauing after. minimal important change for TTN was 15.4 seconds reduction in timing (95% CI, 3.2-28.7). ConclusionsThe TTN is a feasible, interpretable, and valid test of FOG severity. In busy clinical settings, TTN can provide a viable alternative when use of existing objective FOG measures is (often) unfeasible.

The influence of patient, provider, and system level characteristics on anxiety diagnostic specificity in the Veterans Health Administration

This retrospective study sought to identify patient-, provider-, and system-level characteristics associated with anxiety diagnostic specificity in mental health clinics in the Veterans Health Administration. It used administrative data extracted from Veteran Health Administration outpatient records to identify patients with a new anxiety or trauma-related diagnosis in fiscal year 2019 (N = 383,418). Logistic regression was used to model the probability of receiving an unspecified anxiety diagnosis as a function of patient-, provider-, and system-level characteristics. Unspecified anxiety disorder was diagnosed in 27% of the sample, with higher rates in primary care mental health integration clinics (42.6%) than in general mental health clinics (22.4%). Patient demographic and clinical characteristics including gender and comorbid diagnoses; provider type; provider use of an anxiety screening instrument; and facility size, complexity, and location were significant predictors of unspecified anxiety diagnosis. Anxiety diagnosis is a complex process influenced by multiple patient-, provider-, and system-level characteristics. Additional assessment tools and guidance for differential diagnosis are needed to support mental health providers in busy clinical settings to facilitate accurate and timely diagnosis of anxiety disorders.

DEI-05. ASSESSING HOUSEHOLD MATERIAL HARDSHIP IN CHILDREN WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) TUMORS

Abstract BACKGROUND Household material hardship (HMH) is defined as unmet basic needs including food, heat, housing, or transportation. Researchers have documented higher rates of poor nutrition, injury, infectious disease, and hospitalization in healthy children living in families with household material hardship. Furthermore, targeted interventions exist to modify these health outcomes. However, little is known regarding the relationship between social determinants of health and their impact on overall and quality of survival for children with brain or spinal cord tumors. The current available information is based upon retrospective and secondary data sources, often limited to basic socioeconomic factors such as race and ethnicity. The objective was to describe the change in household material hardship through patient reported outcome measures from baseline to six-months and explore the association between social determinants of health, including prospective household material hardship data, and clinical outcomes among children with brain and spinal cord tumors. METHODS We aimed to enroll 150 patients with a brain or spinal cord tumors who were followed by the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. These participants were approached during their routinely scheduled clinic visits by a member of the study team. Written or verbal consent/assent was obtained, and their data was transcribed into a REDCap™ database. RESULTS To date, we have enrolled 118 children onto this study, with 35/76 participants completing their six-month follow-up survey. In line with Kira Bona’s previous work, we have found that around 30% acknowledged one positive domain of household material hardship. Additionally, we have found that almost 40% of our cohort fall below the 200% Federal Poverty Level, which is often considered a cutpoint for lower socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that collecting prospective patient reported sociodemographic information is feasible in a busy clinical setting.

Precision Diabetes Education and Support Considering Patients' Behavioral and Psychological Phenotype: A Q-Methodology Study.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is growing, and diabetes burden is increasing. Precision health in diabetes education and support employs different intervention strategies, depending on an individual's viewpoint on diabetes and self-management behaviors, to improve patients' treatment adherence, clinical outcomes, and quality of life. To classify the behavioral and psychological phenotypes of self-management behaviors in adults taking oral glucose-lowering medications to develop a theory-driven, person-centered group intervention applicable to busy clinical settings. Q-methodology was used. From January to August 2020, 73 participants (48 male, 25 female) were invited to do Q-sorting with 33 statements. The principal component technique, followed by varimax rotation, was used for factor analysis. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activity questionnaire and HbA1c in the past 6 months were included to obtain comprehensive understanding. Fifty-one sorts (35 male, 16 female) loaded on 1 of 4 factors: factor A (n = 18): Needing emotional support with enhancing problem-solving skills group; factor B (n = 15): Self-help group; factor C (n = 6): Needing personalized coaching group; and factor D (n = 12): Needing basic diabetes education group. Each factor demonstrated a different need for diabetes education and support. Younger participants (factor D) had the poorest diabetes self-management behaviors and required basic diabetes education. Further research is warranted to develop a screening tool to classify the typologies and adopt the findings in a busy clinical setting.

Delirium care in hospitals in Ireland on World Delirium Awareness Day 2023

BackgroundAcute, transient, but sometimes persistent, delirium is characterized by a sharp disruption in attention, consciousness, and cognitive function, and can be caused by many medications and disorders. Delirium occurrence and negative consequences, such as falls and functional decline, can be decreased with multifactorial prevention and timely detection.AimsTo describe current clinical practice in relation to the prevention, assessment, and management of delirium in Irish hospitals; awareness-raising and educational activities; and barriers to good practice.MethodsOn World Delirium Awareness Day (15th March 2023), a global survey was conducted of delirium prevalence and care. A senior clinical staff member on each participating ward reported on delirium prevalence at 8AM and 8PM, and on usual ward practice; this data was entered into an online survey by a data collector (typically a clinician from the site, visiting several wards to record data). This study reports data from Irish hospitals.ResultsIn total, 132 wards from 15 hospitals across Ireland participated. Almost 60% of wards used ‘personal judgment’ for delirium assessment. Having at least one delirium training session in the preceding year was associated with greater use of a formal assessment tool (60.3% versus 18.8%; p < 0.001). Wards reported staff training/education as the main priority to improve care, but 72.7% of wards identified insufficient time to train staff as a key barrier.ConclusionsClinical practice related to delirium care requires improvement. Awareness raising and staff training require more focus and time in busy clinical settings.

Could self-reported physical performance help predict individuals at the highest risk of mortality and hospital admission events in clinical practice? Findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.

To consider how self-reported physical function measures relate to adverse clinical outcomes measured over 20 years of follow-up in a community-dwelling cohort (aged 59-73 at baseline) as compared with hand grip strength, a well-validated predictor of adverse events. Recent evidence has emphasized the significant association of physical activity, physical performance, and muscle strength with hospital admissions in older people. However, physical performance tests require staff availability, training, specialized equipment, and space to perform them, often not feasible or realistic in the context of a busy clinical setting. In total, 2997 men and women were analyzed. Baseline predictors were measured grip strength (Jamar dynamometer) and the following self-reported measures: physical activity (Dallosso questionnaire); physical function score (SF-36 Health Survey); and walking speed. Participants were followed up from baseline (1998-2004) until December 2018 using UK Hospital Episode Statistics and mortality data, which report clinical outcomes using ICD-10 coding. Predictors in relation to the risk of mortality and hospital admission events were examined using Cox regression with and without adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. The mean age at baseline was 65.7 and 66.6 years among men and women, respectively. Over follow-up, 36% of men and 26% of women died, while 93% of men and 92% of women were admitted to hospital at least once. Physical activity, grip strength, SF-36 physical function, and walking speed were all strongly associated with adverse health outcomes in both sex- and fully adjusted analyses; poorer values for each of the predictors were related to greater risk of mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular-related) and any, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, any fracture, and falls admissions. SF-36 physical function and grip strength were similarly associated with the adverse health outcomes considered.

Comparison of standard goal attainment scaling (GAS) and the GAS-light method for evaluation of goal attainment during neurorehabilitation of the upper limb

Background: Goal attainment scaling (GAS) is now widely used as a person-centered measure of outcome from rehabilitation and has demonstrated validity in diverse populations with sensitivity to change. However, as originally described, it is time-consuming for use in busy clinical settings. The “GAS-light” is a simplified version designed for application in routine clinical practice. Although increasingly taken up by clinicians, published evidence of the validity of GAS-light method is currently lacking. Objective: To evaluate the validity and sensitivity of the GAS-light rating method as a measure of goal attainment in clinical neurorehabilitation practice. To examine its agreement with the standard GAS rating (as originally described by the developers) as the gold standard and to assess its clinical utility and acceptability. Methods design: A direct, head-to-head comparison of the 2 GAS rating methods in a cohort of adults undergoing upper limb motor rehabilitation programs across a range of rehabilitation settings, including hospital, community outpatient, and spasticity clinic services. Study population: 60 patients (n=54 poststroke) set a total of 136 goals (range 1–4 per patient). In this comparative study, patients acted as their own controls. Measures: The 2 rating methods were applied independently and in parallel from a single goal-setting discussion. Goal attainment was measured on the original 5-point GAS using a predetermined follow-up guide and the GAS-light with its 6-point verbal rating scale. The evaluation included concurrent validity (intraclass correlation coefficients and agreement between the 2 ratings) and sensitivity to change using the standardized response mean (SRM). Thirteen clinicians and 52 participants completed surveys of clinical utility and patient acceptance, respectively. Results: Individual absolute agreement of 2-way mixed-effects intraclass correlation between the tools indicated good agreement (ICC(A,1)=0.88, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.93), and small systematic bias (–1.72 (95% CI: −3.04, −0.41). Both tools measured similar levels of change over time (GAS SRM=1.79; GAS-light SRM=1.62). Clinicians perceived GAS-light had stronger clinical utility, being quicker and easier to administer, score, and understand. Patients perceived GAS-light as acceptable, comfortable, worthwhile, and helpful. Conclusions: GAS-light is reliable and sensitive to change, with better clinical utility than the standard GAS. Either tool may be used to assess goal attainment in clinical upper limb neurorehabilitation.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Glottal Function Index

ObjectivesA comprehensive evaluation is necessary for voice-related complaints, as it can benefit both the patient and physician in busy clinical settings. This study aimed to examine the Turkish adaptation of the Glottal Function Index (GFI-T), which can be quickly administered. Study DesignsPhase 1 methodological, phase 2 prospective cohort. MethodsThis study was conducted in two phases. Firstly, the GFI was translated into Turkish, and its content validity were examined. The GFI-T was administered to 40 participants with voice disorders (M=41.3, SD=10) in the study group and 40 participants without voice disorders (M=37.5, SD=11.3) in the control group. Then GFI-T was re-administered two weeks later. The collected data were used for structural and convergent validity [correlation with Turkish version of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10)], internal consistency, and test-retest reliability analyses. Secondly, 24 participants with vocal nodules were recruited separately from the first phase and were randomly divided into three groups. The first group underwent lax-vox therapy+vocal hygiene, the second group underwent resonance therapy+vocal hygiene, and the third group was provided only with vocal hygiene recommendations. The discriminative ability and construct validity of the GFI-T were examined by comparing pre-and post-assessments. ResultsThe results indicated that the content validity indexes were 0.98 in the experts and 0.99 in the participants. Confirmatory factor analysis of the scale confirmed that a single-factor structure and goodness-of-fit indices were suitable. The GFI-T correlated 0.92 with the Turkish version of the VHI-10. The internal consistency was 0.96, and the test-retest value was 0.99. Significant differences (p<0.001) and correlations with the Turkish version of VHI-10 were found in intragroup comparisons. ConclusionsThe GFI-T is a reliable and valid tool for the self-assessment of voice disorders. The adaptation of this study to the pediatric population is recommended.

Continual Monitoring of Respiratory Disorders to Enhance Therapy via Real-Time Lung Sound Imaging in Telemedicine

This work presents a configurable Internet of Things architecture for acoustical sensing and analysis for frequent remote respiratory assessments. The proposed system creates a foundation for enabling real-time therapy and patient feedback adjustment in a telemedicine setting. By allowing continuous remote respiratory monitoring, the system has the potential to give clinicians access to assessments from which they could make decisions about modifying therapy in real-time and communicate changes directly to patients. The system comprises a wearable wireless microphone array interfaced with a programmable microcontroller with embedded signal conditioning. Experiments on the phantom model were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of reconstructing acoustic lung images for detecting obstructions in the airway and provided controlled validation of noise resilience and imaging capabilities. An optimized denoising technique and design innovations provided 7 dB more SNR and 7% more imaging accuracy for the proposed system, benchmarked against digital stethoscopes. While further clinical studies are warranted, initial results suggest potential benefits over single-point digital stethoscopes for internet-enabled remote lung monitoring needing noise immunity and regional specificity. The flexible architecture aims to bridge critical technical gaps in frequent and connected respiratory function at home or in busy clinical settings challenged by ambient noise interference.

Universal slit-lamp mounted indentation gonioscopy tool for angle evaluation: An innovative device.

In the field of ophthalmology, slit-lamp gonioscopy has long been a cornerstone for examining anterior chamber angles and diagnosing conditions such as angle closure, secondary causes of raised intraocular pressure, neovascularization of angle, angle recession, angle tumors, and foreign bodies. However, the conventional approach for goniophotography is a demanding procedure requiring juggling a gonioscopy lens in one hand and a smartphone in the other. Balancing a gonioscopy lens with one hand makes it difficult to adjust and focus the image in busy clinical settings. This article introduces a groundbreaking solution to this problem - a universal slit-lamp-mounted gonioscope ingeniously repurposed from discarded materials, that is, indirect goniophotography (IndiGo). This novel system simplifies the process of both gonioscopy and goniophotography, allowing ophthalmologists to easily assess anterior chamber angles and capture high-quality images. These images can be swiftly shared with glaucoma specialists worldwide for digital analysis. Not only does this approach enhance examination efficiency, but also it fosters sustainability in ophthalmic diagnostics.

Postpartum haemorrhage: latest developments in prediction, drug treatment and monitoring

With increasing global rates of postpartum haemorrhage, recent developments aim to ensure that birthing women are safe. This focused review will discuss developments in prediction of postpartum haemorrhage, blood loss measurement, uterotonic use and the thromboelastogram, aiming to improve prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. The unpredictable nature of postpartum haemorrhage is a significant hurdle, as all women must be considered at risk, imposing a heavy burden on healthcare services. Evidence-based tools have shown promise in improving prediction and management strategies. However, the lack of consensus and agreement on risk factors presents obstacles to developing accurate models. Ongoing research is exploring the development of an individual postpartum haemorrhage risk index, providing personalised care to pregnant women. Accurate blood loss quantification is essential for prompt postpartum haemorrhage diagnosis and appropriate interventions, but challenging in busy clinical settings. Recent advancements in prophylaxis and treatment using medication (uterotonics and tranexamic acid), as well as in monitoring using thromboelastograms, emphasise the need for effective prediction and management strategies. This critical review underscores the need for further research to enhance prediction tools, refine management protocols and address existing challenges to improve maternal outcomes.

Psychometric properties of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-AGE Scale in Singapore

WHOQOL-AGE is a promising quality of life (QOL) tool that has not been fully validated in Asia. The present study aimed to verify its factor structure and psychometric properties among community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. This study was cross-sectional and used data (N = 593) from the Community Health and Intergenerational study that interviewed older adults between 2018 and 2021. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the WHOQOL-AGE, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were employed to examine internal consistency. Spearman’s rho correlations coefficients between WHOQOL-AGE and other related scales (Satisfaction with Life and the Friendship) examined convergent validity. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient between WHOQOL-AGE and compassion scale examined discriminant validity. An independent t test was used to demonstrate known-groups validity, examining differences in QOL scores between individuals with and without chronic medical conditions. Findings supported a bifactor model with more satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices than the original two-factor model and the two-correlated factor model. WHOQOL-AGE showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients > .70). Good convergent validity was demonstrated by moderate-to-large correlations between WHOQOL-AGE and satisfaction with life (rs = .54) as well as social connectedness (rs = .33). Discriminant validity was shown by low correlations between WHOQOL-AGE and compassion (r = .19). Findings also indicated good known-groups validity (p < 0.01). The WHOQOL-AGE showed promising psychometric properties using an Asian convenience sample and can be useful in large-scale studies or busy clinical settings.

Validity and Reliability of a Smartphone Application for Home Measurement of Four-Meter Gait Speed in Older Adults.

The four-meter gait speed (4MGS) is a recommended physical performance test in older adults but is challenging to implement clinically. We developed a smartphone application (App) with a four-meter ribbon for remote 4MGS testing at home. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of this smartphone App-based assessment of the home 4MGS. We assessed the validity of the smartphone App by comparing it against a gold standard video assessment of the 4MGS conducted by study staff visiting community-dwelling older adults and against the stopwatch-based measurement. Moreover, we assessed the test-retest reliability in two supervised sessions and three additional sessions performed by the participants independently, without staff supervision. The 4MGS measured by the smartphone App was highly correlated with video-based 4MGS (r = 0.94), with minimal differences (mean = 0.07 m/s, ± 1.96 SD = 0.12) across a range of gait speeds. The test-retest reliability for the smartphone App 4MGS was high (ICC values: 0.75 to 0.93). The home 4MGS in older adults can be measured accurately and reliably using a smartphone in the pants pocket and a four-meter strip of ribbon. Leveraging existing technology carried by a significant portion of the older adult population could overcome barriers in busy clinical settings for this well-established objective mobility test.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the Frail Non-disabled tool (FiND)

BackgroundFrailty, a common geriatric syndrome of vulnerability, is associated with a decline in health and function. The most problematic expression of population ageing is associated with weakness, slowing, decreased energy, lower activity and when severe, unintended weight loss. Frailty is not consciously identified in clinical practice and is not widely studied in Sri Lanka. A validated tool for screening frailty in a busy clinical setting is therefore much needed. This study was done as a part of validating the Sinhala version of the Frail Non-Disabled (S-FiND) tool.MethodsThe FiND tool was translated from English to Sinhala by two translators, blinded to each other. They were combined and translated back to the original language by two separate translators. After verifying the content validity, unambiguity and clarity of items in a focused group discussion, the pre-final version was piloted among 30 volunteers. After assessing the psychometric properties of the pre-final version, the final version was tested among 100 adults older than 65 years from the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The tool was compared with Fried’s frailty phenotype taken as the gold standard.ResultsData were analysed for the agreement with the reference standard, the Fried Phenotype. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 73.9 (7.8) years. The overall time taken to fill out the questionnaire was 2 min. The agreement (Kappa) between the S-FiND questionnaire and the Fried phenotype was 0.7 (P < 001). The sensitivity and specificity of FiND in detecting frailty were 92% and 74%, respectively. The agreements (Kappa) between the individual items of S-Find: involuntary loss of weight/ more than 4.5 kg over one year, the feeling of effort/ not getting going and level of physical activity, with the Fried phenotype, were 0.28 (p = 0.001), 0.06 (p = 0.045) and 0.339 (p < 0.001). respectively. When subjects were categorized frail and robust based on FiND, frail subjects reported a higher incidence of falls (50%) during the previous 12 months, compared to those robust (13%) (p < 0.001 for Chi stat).ConclusionThe S-FiND is a reliable, valid and well-received tool that can be used in detecting the frailty of non-disabled Sinhala-speaking older adults.

Objective image quality assurance in cone-beam CT: Test methods, analysis, and workflow in longitudinal studies.

Standards for image quality evaluation in multi-detector CT (MDCT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) are evolving to keep pace with technological advances. A clear need is emerging for methods that facilitate rigorous quality assurance (QA) with up-to-date metrology and streamlined workflow suitable to a range of MDCT and CBCT systems. To evaluate the feasibility and workflow associated with image quality (IQ) assessment in longitudinal studies for MDCT and CBCT with a single test phantom and semiautomated analysis of objective, quantitative IQ metrology. A test phantom (CorgiTM Phantom, The Phantom Lab, Greenwich, New York, USA) was used in monthly IQ testing over the course of 1 year for three MDCT scanners (one of which presented helical and volumetric scan modes) and four CBCT scanners. Semiautomated software analyzed image uniformity, linearity, contrast, noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), 3D noise-power spectrum (NPS), modulation transfer function (MTF) in axial and oblique directions, and cone-beam artifact magnitude. The workflow was evaluated using methods adapted from systems/industrial engineering, including value stream process modeling (VSPM), standard work layout (SWL), and standard work control charts (SWCT) to quantify and optimize test methodology in routine practice. The completeness and consistency of DICOM data from each system was also evaluated. Quantitative IQ metrology provided valuable insight in longitudinal quality assurance (QA), with metrics such as NPS and MTF providing insight on root cause for various forms of system failure-for example, detector calibration and geometric calibration. Monthly constancy testing showed variations in IQ test metrics owing to system performance as well as phantom setup and provided initial estimates of upper and lower control limits appropriate to QA action levels. Rigorous evaluation of QA workflow identified methods to reduce total cycle time to ∼10min for each system-viz., use of a single phantom configuration appropriate to all scanners and Head or Body scan protocols. Numerous gaps in the completeness and consistency of DICOM data were observed for CBCT systems. An IQ phantom and test methodology was found to be suitable to QA of MDCT and CBCT systems with streamlined workflow appropriate to busy clinical settings.

Develop and Validate a Prognostic Index With Laboratory Tests to Predict Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Adults Using Machine Learning Models: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Prognostic indices can enhance personalized predictions of health burdens. However, a simple, practical, and reproducible tool is lacking for clinical use. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based prognostic index for predicting all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older individuals. We utilized the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) cohort, encompassing data from 5663 participants. Over the 5-year follow-up, 447 deaths were confirmed. A machine learning-based routine blood examination prognostic index (MARBE-PI) was developed using common laboratory tests based on machine learning techniques. Participants were grouped into multiple risk categories by stratum-specific likelihood ratio analysis based on their MARBE-PI scores. The MARBE-PI was subsequently externally validated with an independent population-based cohort from Japan. Beyond age, sex, education level, and BMI, 6 laboratory tests (low-density lipoprotein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, lymphocyte count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatinine) emerged as pivotal predictors via stepwise logistic regression (LR) for 5-year mortality. The area under curves of MARBE-PI constructed by LR were 0.799 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.778-0.819) and 0.756 (95% CI: 0.694-0.814) for the internal and external validation data sets, and were 0.801 (95% CI: 0.790-0.811) and 0.809 (95% CI: 0.774-0.845) for the extended 10-year mortality in both data sets, respectively. Risk categories stratified by MARBE-PI showed a consistent dose-response association with mortality. The MARBE-PI also performed comparably with indices constructed with clinical health deficits and/or laboratory results. The MARBE-PI is considered the most applicable measure for risk stratification in busy clinical settings. It holds potential to pinpoint older individuals at elevated mortality risk, thereby aiding clinical decision-making.

An Electronic Teen Questionnaire, the eTeenQ, for Risk Behavior Screening During Adolescent Well Visits in an Integrated Health System: Development and Pilot Implementation.

Screening for risk behaviors is a routine and essential component of adolescent preventive health visits. Early identification of risks can inform targeted counseling and care. If stored in discrete fields in the electronic health record (EHR), adolescent screening data can also be used to understand risk behaviors across a clinic or health system or to support quality improvement projects. Goals of this pilot study were to adapt and implement an existing paper adolescent risk behavior screening tool for use as an electronic data capture tool (the eTeenQ), to evaluate acceptance of the eTeenQ, and to describe the prevalence of the selected risk behaviors reported through the eTeenQ. The multidisciplinary project team applied an iterative process to develop the 29-item eTeenQ. Two unique data entry forms were created with attention to (1) user interface and user experience, (2) the need to maintain patient privacy, and (3) the potential to transmit and store data for future use in clinical care and research. Three primary care clinics within a large health system piloted the eTeenQ from August 17, 2020, to August 27, 2021. During preventive health visits for adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, the eTeenQ was completed on tablets and responses were converted to a provider display for teens and providers to review together. Responses to the eTeenQ were stored in a REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture; Vanderbilt University) database, and for patients who agreed, responses were transferred to an EHR flowsheet. Responses to selected eTeenQ questions are reported for those consenting to research. At the conclusion of the pilot, the study team conducted semistructured interviews with providers and staff regarding their experience using the eTeenQ. Among 2816 adolescents with well visits, 2098 (74.5%) completed the eTeenQ. Of these, 1811 (86.3%) agreed to store responses in the EHR. Of 1632 adolescents (77.8% of those completing the eTeenQ) who consented for research and remained eligible, 1472 (90.2%) reported having an adult they can really talk to and 1510 (92.5%) reported feeling safe in their community, yet 401 (24.6%) reported someone they lived with had a gun and 172 (10.5%) reported having had a stressful or scary event that still bothered them. In addition, 157 (9.6%) adolescents reported they were or wondered if they were gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or other, and 43 (2.6%) reported they were or wondered if they were transgender or gender diverse. Of 11 staff and 7 providers completing interviews, all felt that the eTeenQ improved confidentiality and willingness among adolescents to answer sensitive questions. All 7 providers preferred the eTeenQ over the paper screening tool. Electronic capture of adolescent risk behaviors is feasible in a busy clinic setting and well accepted among staff and clinicians. Most adolescents agreed for their responses to risk behavior screening to be stored in the EHR.

Using Video-Reflexive Ethnography on an Acute Medical Unit: Methodological Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities within a Complex and Busy Clinical Setting

Video-Reflexive Ethnography (VRE) is an innovative and participatory research and improvement methodology that involves videoing in-situ work practices and collaboratively analysing this footage with participants during reflexive sessions. This involves participants ‘slowing down’, engaging reflexively with their everyday working practices, and taking time out to discuss issues collectively. VRE has increasingly been used across a range of different healthcare settings. However, one setting that has received less attention is the Acute Medical Unit (AMU). AMUs are busy short-stay hospital departments with very high patient throughput and large multidisciplinary teams where patients receive initial assessment, diagnosis and treatment before being moved to other wards or settings. The aim of this study was to examine how VRE as a research and improvement methodology can be applied, in the busy and complex setting of an AMU. In this paper we outline some of the methodological challenges encountered in this setting and discuss how these were transformed into opportunities and solutions. Then, we evaluate our work by using the four guiding principles at the heart of VRE (care, collaboration, reflexivity and exnovation) to test if, and how, the methodology can be used in such a complex and busy setting without losing its methodological rigor and impact. We show how it is possible to initiate and achieve the core principles of VRE in the complex and busy AMU setting through careful planning, constant revision of data collection methods, remaining highly flexible and adaptable to the spatial and temporal rhythms of the ward and being sensitive to hierarchical inter- and intra-professional relationships and vulnerabilities. Finally, we share recommendations for using VRE in other busy and complex settings.

A Hypothesis-Driven, Near-Peer Physical Diagnosis Module on Streptococcal Pharyngitis Within the Pediatrics Clerkship.

In busy clinical settings, there is limited time to teach physical examination (PE) and procedural skills, particularly when the traditional head-to-toe PE approach is time-consuming. Near-peer teaching of a more efficient approach, the hypothesis-driven PE (HDPE), increases students' learning opportunities. We developed a near-peer HDPE module to improve medical student confidence, knowledge, and skills for diagnosing and managing streptococcal pharyngitis. During this 1-hour module, residents taught the diagnostic approach for a patient with sore throat and facilitated small groups for practicing PE and throat swab skills. We assessed students using pre- and postmodule surveys including Likert-scale confidence scores (1 = not at all confident, 5= extremely confident), multiple-choice knowledge questions, and a skills rubric. A control group was surveyed at clerkship conclusion. Of the 71 pediatric clerkship students who participated, 69 (97%) completed premodule surveys and 65 (91%) completed skills assessments. Twenty-eight (39%) completed postmodule surveys and skill assessments. After participation, students' survey responses and rubrics indicated significant increase in confidence (Mdn pre = 2 [IQR = 1,2], Mdn post = 4 [IQR = 4,5]; p < .001), knowledge (M pre = 40%, M post = 77%; p < .001), and skills (M pre = 5.3, M post = 7.5; p < .01). Participating students also had significantly higher confidence (p < .005) and knowledge (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. This near-peer HDPE module improved students' knowledge, confidence, and skills related to streptococcal pharyngitis diagnosis and management and achieved compliance for a required clerkship skill.

Providing clarity: communicating the benefits of palliative care beyond end-of-life support.

Palliative care affords numerous benefits, including improvements in symptom management, mental health, and quality of life, financial savings, and decreased mortality. Yet palliative care is poorly understood and often erroneously viewed as end-of-life care and hospice. Barriers for better education of the public about palliative care and its benefits include shortage of healthcare providers specializing in palliative care and generalist clinicians' lack of knowledge and confidence to discuss this topic and time constraints in busy clinical settings. Explore and compare the knowledge, values, and practices of community-dwelling adults 19 years and older from Nebraska about serious illness and end-of-life healthcare options. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected in 2022 of 635 adults. We examined the fifth wave (2022) of a multiyear survey focusing on exploring Nebraskans' understanding of and preferences related to end-of-life care planning. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to compare results between groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses examine associations of variables as to knowledge of hospice and palliative care. While 50% of respondents had heard a little or a lot about palliative care, 64% either did not know or were not sure of the difference between palliative care and hospice. Those who reported being in poor health were not more likely to know the difference between palliative care and hospice compared to those reporting being in fair, good, or excellent health. This study offers insight into the knowledge and attitudes about palliative care among community-dwelling adults, 19 years and older living in Nebraska. More effort is needed to communicate what palliative care is, who can receive help from it, and why it is not only for people at end of life. Advance care planning discussions can be useful in offering clarity.