Patient Consultation Research Articles

Reduction of Rehospitalization with Addition of Geriatrics/Transitions of Care Consult Service

Older adults are at high risk of rehospitalization after an acute event and at even higher risk of permanently losing an activity of daily living with each hospitalization. This is especially true in those with encephalopathy, delirium, dementia, falls, and failure to thrive. Although it is widely known that rehospitalization rates are higher in patients who discharge to skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, geriatrics consultations have not been shown to consistently decrease this risk. In this study, we added a novel component specific to transitions of care alongside a traditional geriatrics consultation for patients discharging to a skilled nursing or long-term care facility. Results show evidence of significant rehospitalization reduction for patients with markers of cognitive impairment and frailty.

Clinical Clerkship With or Without Scheduled Patient Consultations: Does It Make a Difference to Medical Students’ Experiences of Learning?

Abstract Background Becoming a medical expert involves leadership and professionalism, which are critical skills to learn in medical education. However, a gap exists in understanding how didactic variations in the organisation of clinical clerkships impact medical students’ opportunities to develop these skills. This study explored how clinical clerkships with or without scheduled patient consultations affect medical students’ experiences of learning leadership and professional behaviour. Materials and Methods We conducted a qualitative, quasi-experimental study. Data were gathered through 11 end-of-clerkship focus group interviews with 87 fifth-year medical students who participated in one of two 8-week clerkships at a surgical department: a clerkship with a mentor physician or a clerkship with scheduled patient consultations in combination with a mentor physician. Using a constructivist lens, we analysed the focus group interview transcripts and applied grounded theory principles to the iterative coding process. Results The analyses resulted in a descriptive framework displaying nine themes. Each theme was described as a spectrum of meanings that offers a nuanced understanding of how didactic variations in the organisation of clerkship impact how students ascribed meaning to the learning experiences in undergraduate medical education, focusing on learning leadership and professional behaviour. Discussion This study investigates differences in student learning experiences when participating in a clerkship with or without scheduled patient consultation and, therefore, adds new insight into the need for a balanced, thoughtful, and didactic approach to medical education that considers both clinical exposure and co-regulated learning.

Evaluation of utilization and consequences of CRP point-of-care-testing in primary care practices: qualitative interviews with general practitioners from Germany.

The use and advantages of point-of-care tests (POCTs) for C-reactive protein (CRP) in general practice, especially for upper respiratory tract infections (uRTIs), have been studied extensively. However, there is limited knowledge about test indications, prerequisites, and integration of these tests into everyday practice. This study aims to investigate the attitudes and experiences of general practitioners (GPs) in Germany regarding the use of semi-quantitative CRP-POCTs. The study places special emphasis on implementation in routine care, including testing procedures, feasibility, opportunities and barriers for specific consultation scenarios, as well as test indications and their impact on GP-patient communication. Qualitative interview study with 10 GPs (May/2023 to Aug/2023) METHOD: Ten German GPs who participated in an observational study on CRP-POCT use in general practices were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and content analysis was performed. Interviewed GPs stated that CRP-POCTs offer several advantages for various treatment cases. They improve diagnostic confidence and certainty of GPs' therapeutic decisions, and offer a broad spectrum of indications and application scenarios. Additionally, they have a positive impact on GP-patient communication, and their ease of use enables rapid implementation into existing workflows. On the other hand, CRP-POCT increase the time required for test performance and patient consultation. Due to the numerous benefits of semi-quantitative CRP-POCTs, interviewed GPs have a favourable attitude towards their regular integration into everyday practice. Implementation barriers include increased time and personnel expenses for testing and inadequate reimbursement by German statutory health insurance.

Abstract B141 Self-reported distress in multiple myeloma patients at first consultation at a transplant referral center

Abstract The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends screening all cancer patients for distress to facilitate psychosocial support and referrals. This distress is associated with treatment delays and other obstacles that may affect patient outcomes. The prevalence of distress in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and its variation among underrepresented minorities and vulnerable groups is unknown. We hypothesized that patients with advanced disease, racial minorities, and vulnerable individuals would report higher distress levels. New patients with MM seen between 1/1/2015-12/31/2022 at a tertiary medical center were identified. All patients receive the NCCN Distress Thermometer (DT) survey for completion at initial consultation as standard of care. Baseline characteristics of patients who completed the survey were compared with those of patients who did not. Among those with survey data, DT score was categorized as <4 (low), 4–6 (moderate), and >6 (high). DT score was analyzed by sociodemographic and disease-related factors. The 2020 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the county level was calculated using Zip codes and categorized as less vulnerable (score <50) or more vulnerable (>=50). Of 1,011 new MM patient consultations, 683 patients had an available DT survey at initial consultation. In patients without the survey (N=328), a higher proportion was older than 75 years (21% vs 16% P=0.04), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) [22% vs. 9%, P<0.01], and with more advanced disease (ISS III 20% vs 14%, P<0.01). There was lower autologous stem cell transplant utilization in the group with missing survey data (71% vs 79%, P<0.01). Among those with DT survey, younger age, female sex, advanced stage, and shorter time from diagnosis to consult was associated with higher distress. In patients with DT survey data and SVI (N=683), the mean SVI was 0.37 (std dev 0.31) and 166 (28%) had more vulnerability. Younger age and NHB race were associated with more vulnerability. The more vulnerable group also had a shorter time from diagnosis to consult (1.2 vs 1.8 months, P<0.01). In the more vulnerable group, high DT score was seen with younger age and NHB race. There was no difference in transplant utilization by SVI group. No significant differences were found in the proportion of patients reporting concerns for physical, practical, emotional, social concerns by vulnerability. In this tertiary referral center study, we observed the greatest disparity by the completion of the NCCN DT survey highlighting a missed opportunity to identify individuals who may benefit from additional services. Among those who completed the survey, patient-reported distress was influenced by age, sex, and MM stage. Younger age was associated with more vulnerability. This may be due to minority status as a theme in the SVI calculator and the known association of younger age at MM onset in NHB individuals. Next steps including an adjusted analysis will be shown in the final presentation. Citation Format: Noel Estrada-Merly, James F Wu, Anita D'Souza. Self-reported distress in multiple myeloma patients at first consultation at a transplant referral center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B141.

Associations of Age, Preinjury Morbidity, Injury Severity, and Cognitive Impairment With Mortality and Length of Stay in Trauma Consultation Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background To the best of our knowledge, we have found no trauma consultation study investigating Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16, Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), age, preexisting medical conditions (PEMC), and smoking as risk conditions for mortality. Objective We aimed to assess ISS ≥16 and other postinjury and preinjury conditions for associations with death and adverse outcomes (AO). Methodology Consecutive consultations of patients admitted to a trauma center over 18 months were investigated. Data were obtained from the trauma registry and the electronic medical record. AO were death, intensive care unit stay of two days or more, or hospital stay exceeding five days. Results Among 1,031 trauma consultations, 28 patients (2.7%) died and 258 (25.0%) had AO. The proportion of ISS ≥16 was greater with death (53.6% (15/28)) than with survival (20.2% (203/1,003); p<0.0001). Of 218 patients with ISS ≥16, 93.1% (n = 203) survived, whereas 46.4% (13/28) died with an ISS <16. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ISS ≥16 and the death relationship was 0.7 (p<0.001). The proportion of GCS <15 was greater with death (42.9% (12/28)) than with survival (13.1% (131/1,003); p<0.0001). The incidence of ICH was greater with death (57.1% (16/28)) than with survival (32.5% (326/1,003); p=0.0063). The incidence of age ≥70 was greater with death (89.3% (25/28)) than with survival (48.2% (483/1,003); p<0.0001). The proportion of PEMC was greater with death (85.7% (24/28)) than with survival (50.8% (509/1,003); p=0.0002). The proportion of smoking history was similar with death (50.0% (14/28)) and survival (52.5% (527/1,003); p=0.7905). Death had independent associations with age (p=0.0019), GCS (p<0.0001), ISS ≥16 (p=0.0074), and PEMC (p=0.0137). AO had univariate associations with ISS ≥16 (p<0.0001), GCS <15 (p<0.0001), ICH (p=0.0004), and PEMC (p=0.0002). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ISS ≥16 and the AO relationship was 0.6 (p<0.001). AO had independent associations with GCS (p<0.0001), ISS ≥16 (p<0.0001), and PEMC (p=0.0005). Conclusions ISS ≥16 alone is marginally accurate for classifying trauma consultation patients who died or had AO. Other postinjury and preinjury conditions, such as GCS, ICH, age, and PEMC, should also be considered when assessing one's risk of death and AO.

Причины обращения за психологической помощью в стационаре скорой помощи

&lt;p&gt;Psychological assistance to patients in an emergency multidisciplinary hospital is increasingly relevant due to the influence of mental disorders and emotional maladjustment on treatment, the patient&amp;rsquo;s internal perception of their illness, and adherence to treatment. Since hospitalization is inherently a stressful factor that can contribute to the development of anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychological support for patients and often their loved ones is an integral part of the treatment process. However, studies on the emotional state of patients at the time of hospitalization are limited and primarily focus on assessing the level of current stress. Patients admitted to the hospital often experience symptoms of emotional maladjustment long before hospitalization, which can significantly impact their adaptation to the hospital environment and the treatment process as a whole. This article analyzes the reasons for seeking psychological help during hospitalization in an emergency hospital and examines the relationship between these reasons and the level of emotional maladjustment. The analysis of primary issues was conducted by coding each case according to the most prominent problem presented. A total of 379 consultations were analyzed, identifying problems associated with psychological distress. The sample consisted of 122 men and 257 women, with an average age of 50 years. Also, some patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), including 30 men and 50 women. The results of the study showed that one of the most common reasons for seeking psychological help was related to situational reactions to stress. However, the majority of patients in this group did not have elevated scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. In addition, a significant percentage (37% of all consultations) of patients were referred for psychological consultation due to emotional problems that had been present before hospitalization. Notably, patients in this group were most often among those with clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression. The data obtained may indicate that the main reason for the deterioration of the emotional state at the time of hospitalization is not hospitalization itself, but problems that the patient has encountered outside the hospital walls.&lt;/p&gt;

Enhancing Patient Comprehension in Skull-Base Meningioma Surgery through 3D Volumetric Reconstructions: A Cost-Effective Approach.

Understanding complex neurosurgical procedures and diseases, such as skull-base meningiomas, is challenging for patients due to the intricate anatomy and the involvement of critical neurovascular structures. Enhanced patient comprehension is crucial for satisfaction and improved clinical outcomes. Patient-specific 3D models have demonstrated benefits in patient education, though they are costly and time-intensive to produce. This study investigates whether the use of 3D volumetric reconstructions with anatomical segmentation, widely available via neuronavigation software, can improve patients' understanding of skull-base meningiomas, surgical procedures, and potential complications. This study included twenty patients with skull-base meningiomas. Three-dimensional volume reconstructions and anatomical segmentations were created using preoperative MRI sequences with neuronavigation software. These reconstructions were used during patient consultations where a surgeon explained key aspects of the disease, the surgical intervention, and potential complications. A questionnaire assessed the patients' perceptions of the utility of these 3D reconstructions. The majority of patients (75%) found the 3D volumetric reconstructions and anatomical segmentations to be more beneficial than MRI images for understanding their disease. Similarly, 75% reported improved comprehension of the surgical approach, and 85% felt that the reconstructions enhanced their understanding of potential surgical complications. Overall, 65% of patients considered the 3D reconstructions valuable in medical consultations. Our study indicates that using accessible, cost-effective, and non-time-consuming 3D volumetric reconstructions with anatomical segmentation enhances patient understanding of skull-base meningiomas. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings, compare these reconstructions with physical 3D models and virtual reality models, and evaluate their impact on patient anxiety regarding the surgical procedure.

Assessing the usability and reliability of a web-based teledentistry tool for remote diagnosis of oral lesions: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOral mucosa lesions are the third most prevalent oral pathology, following caries and periodontal diseases. Teledentistry offers an effective way to manage patients with these lesions. The accuracy of remote diagnoses and consultations relies heavily on the quality of the information and photos sent to remote specialists. This study aims to evaluate the usability and reliability of a teledentistry tool for the remote diagnosis of oral lesions.MethodsThe cross-sectional study included both usability evaluation and reliability assessment. The teledentistry platform, "OralMedTeledent", facilitated synchronous and asynchronous interactions, allowing for patient consultations, remote follow-ups, and doctor-to-doctor consultations. Usability was evaluated by 5 experts using the Nielsen heuristic checklist. Reliability was assessed from August 2022 to September 2023 with 109 patients, using Cohen's kappa coefficient to measure agreement between examiners and the gold standard in diagnosing oral lesions.ResultsThe findings revealed 66 usability issues, most of which were related to helping users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors, as well as issues with help and documentation. Among these, 11 issues were of minor severity. The reliability test, conducted with 109 participants (57.8% female, 42.2% male) showed that the web-based teleconsultation system performed significantly well. The system demonstrated significant substantial performance (0.81 ≤ κ < 1; P > 0.05).ConclusionOverall, the web-based teleconsultation system has proven to be reliable for the remote diagnosis of oral lesions, making it a valuable alternative during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several usability issues have been identified and need to be addressed.

Analysis of artificial intelligence medical treatment for closed muscle skin nerve injury caused by aerobics training

In aerobics training, closed myocutaneous nerve damage needs to be paid attention to, especially high-intensity training may cause minor damage to muscles and nerves. With the help of AI medical technology and the understanding of molecular and cellular biomechanics, we can more accurately explore the mechanism of injury, such as the effects of nerve tensile stress and microenvironment changes on nerve regeneration. This helps to develop scientific rehabilitation methods, such as AI-assisted personalized training, neural regeneration technology, and real-time monitoring of training intensity to speed up athletes’ rehabilitation and reduce the risk of future injuries. Purpose: Aerobics training is very strict and requires high physical fitness of dancers. During long-term training, dancers can easily cause closed musculocutaneous nerve injury. Traditional medicine is difficult to guarantee the treatment effect of patients with musculocutaneous nerve injury. The use of artificial intelligence medicine for closed musculocutaneous nerve injury treatment can improve the treatment effect of aerobics training induced closed musculocutaneous nerve injury. Method: This article utilized artificial intelligence medicine for the treatment of musculocutaneous nerve injury, and used artificial intelligence technology to analyze patient imaging and other data to assist doctors in accurate diagnosis. Utilize intelligent algorithms to predict medication plans, reduce medication errors, and intelligently adjust the course of treatment based on the patient’s condition. In artificial intelligence healthcare, high-quality online medical services can be created through intelligent technology, providing convenient medical consultation for patients. Result: This article selected 200 patients with musculocutaneous nerve injury caused by aerobics training for grouping experiments. The average diagnostic accuracy of traditional medicine and artificial intelligence medicine were 84.2% and 95.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Artificial intelligence medicine can achieve medical informatization and intelligently analyze patients’ medical information, which helps to improve the accuracy of medical diagnosis for aerobics training injuries.

A PhD completed. Oral manifestations in inflammatory bowel diseases

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to bowel symptoms, patients may also have oral manifestations. This thesis investigated potential associations between disease activity in the gut, oral health, salivary gland function, and saliva composition. Patients with Crohn's disease had a significantly higher DMFT index, but showed no difference in periodontal diseases compared to a healthy control group. The saliva composition in patients with active bowel disease differed from that in patients with inactive bowel disease, suggesting that saliva analysis could potentially be used in the future to determine the degree and severity of bowel disease. The knowledge of gastroenterologists and dentists regarding oral manifestations of bowel diseases was found to be limited. Gastroenterologists and dentists valued interdisciplinary patient consultation as very useful, but the frequency of consultation was considered insufficient.

Three-Dimensional Heart Modeling of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy for In Situ Patient-Specific Simulation to Optimize Septal Myectomy.

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) develops in at least 1 out of 715 young adults. Patients who are refractory to medical therapy qualify for septal myectomy. Due to anatomy, serious complications such as ventricular septal defect and heart block may occur. Establishing cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-based 3-dimensional (3D) models as part of preoperative planning and training has the potential to decrease procedure-related complications and improve results. CMR images were used to segment cardiac structures. Left ventricular wall thickness was calculated and projected on top of the in silico model. A 3D model was printed with a red layer indicating a wall thickness exceeding 15 mm and used for preoperative resection planning and patient counseling. To provide preoperative patient-specific in situ simulation, the planned resection volume was replaced with silicone in a second model. For perioperative quality control, resected silicone was compared with resected myocardial tissue. The impact of the models was evaluated descriptively through consultation of both the cardiothoracic surgeon and patients and through patient outcomes. Three-dimensional in silico and 3D-printed heart models of 5 patients were established preoperatively. Since the introduction of the models in October 2020, the surgeon feels better prepared, more confident, and less difficulty with making decisions. In addition, patients feel better informed preoperatively. Using 3D heart models optimized preoperative planning and training, intraoperative quality control, and patient consultation. Reduction of procedure-related complications and clinical outcome should be studied in larger cohorts.

Quantitative Assessment of Full-Time Equivalent Effort for Kilovoltage-Cone Beam Computed Tomography Guided Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Medical Physicists

Introduction: With recent clinical adoption of online adaptive radiotherapy and the increased workload associated with adaptive radiotherapy, proper staffing for medical physicists is paramount to safe clinical operation. However, there is currently no consensus on the full-time equivalent (FTE) requirements for safe administration of CBCT-guided online adaptive radiotherapy. This study aims to quantitatively assess medical physics workload and staffing needs of a CBCT-guided online adaptive radiotherapy program. Methods: We conducted a detailed analysis of the CBCT-guided adaptive planning and treatment workflows, encompassing tasks such as patient consultation, treatment planning, plan review, training, quality assurance, and treatment delivery. Utilizing data from machine logs, clinical database queries, and staff surveys, we present a framework for estimating FTE values for different staffing scenarios, considering medical physicists’ roles as planners, adaptors, or both. Results: FTE calculations, based on an example workload of 100 adaptive and 200 nonadaptive patients per year, for three staffing scenarios were provided: medical physicists as planners and adaptors (2.9 FTE), medical physicists as planners but not adaptors (2.6 FTE), and medical physicists as adaptors but not planners (1.4 FTE). These findings offer calculation guidance and benchmarks for staffing requirements in CBCT-guided online adaptive radiotherapy programs, emphasizing the need for specific staffing models to accommodate the complexities of adaptive radiotherapy. Conclusion: This study outlines a framework for calculating FTE requirements for medical physicists in a CBCT-guided online adaptive radiotherapy program. By analyzing the processes for three common adaptive radiotherapy workflows, this work can provide effective workforce planning and resource allocation estimates. This analysis can be used either prior to the implementation of an online adaptive radiotherapy program, for program development, or as a review of current practices to ensure operational efficiency and proper staffing levels are maintained.

Impact of the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Quality of Care for Colorectal and Anal Cancers at Comprehensive Cancer Centers on Two Continents.

The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic affected cancer care globally. Evaluating the impact of the pandemic on the quality of cancer care delivery is crucial for understanding how changes in care delivery may influence outcomes. Our study compared care delivered during the early phase of the pandemic with the same period in the previous year at two institutions across continents (Princess Margaret Cancer Center [PM] in Canada and A.C. Camargo Cancer Center [AC] in Brazil). Patients newly diagnosed with colorectal or anal cancer between February and December 2019 and the same period in 2020 were analyzed. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and performance of individual indicators within and between centers and between the peri-COVID-19 and control cohorts were tested using Cohen's h test to assess the standardized differences between the two groups. Among 925 patients, distinct effects of the early COVID-19 pandemic on oncology services were observed. AC experienced a 50% reduction in patient consultations (98 v 197) versus a 12.5% reduction at PM (294 v 336). Similarly, AC experienced a higher proportion of stage IV disease presentations (42.9% v 29.9%; P = .015) and an increase in treatment delay (61.9% v 9.7%; P < .001) compared with prepandemic. At PM, a 10% increase in treatment interruption (32.4% v 22.3%; P < .001) and a higher rate of discontinuation of radiotherapy (9.4% v 1.1%; P < .001) were observed during the pandemic. Postsurgical readmission rates increased in both AC (20.9% v 2.6%; P < .001) and PM (10.5% v 3.6%; P < .01). The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the quality of care delivery for colorectal and anal cancers at both centers. However, the magnitude of this impact was greater in Brazil.

A Hybrid Type III Effectiveness-Implementation Trial to Optimize Medication Safety With Oral Antitumor Therapy in Real-World: The AMBORA Competence and Consultation Center.

Implementation science endeavors to facilitate the translation of evidence-based research into clinical routine. The clinical pharmacological/pharmaceutical care program evaluated in the randomized AMBORA trial on medication safety with oral antitumor therapeutics (OAT) optimizes care delivery and provides significant benefits for patients, treatment teams, and health care systems. Thus, we aimed to investigate the implementation of this care program within the AMBORA Competence and Consultation Center (AMBORA Center). The AMBORA Center within a University Comprehensive Cancer Center offered several services (eg, patient consultations) and was evaluated according to the RE-AIM framework. This multicenter hybrid type III trial focused on implementation outcomes (eg, patient recruitment, referring units, evaluation of services) while concurrently investigating effectiveness (eg, side effects, medication errors). Quantitative and qualitative assessments were combined. The AMBORA Center conducted over 800 consultations with 420 patients in seven institutions. The primary end point of counseling 70% of patients treated with OAT was not reached. Patients were referred by 15 treatment units compared with 11 units in the AMBORA trial. On the basis of heterogeneous referral rates and characteristics across the institutions, barriers and facilitators of the implementation process were derived. Several survey results (eg, stakeholder interviews, online/paper-based questionnaires) reflected a high appreciation of services by patients and health care professionals. The severity of 60.1% (178 of 296) of detected side effects improved, and 86.3% (297 of 344) of medication errors were resolved. Despite not reaching the primary implementation outcome, the AMBORA Center included more treatment units and demonstrated patient benefit of the AMBORA care program by meeting all effectiveness outcomes. We outlined quantitative and qualitative implementation characteristics to enhance outreach and foster further dissemination of centers to optimize medication safety with OAT.

Complex primary care for multimorbid patients in the Netherlands: Interprofessional perspectives within and beyond general practice

Many consultations in general practice concern patients with multimorbidity, pressuring our healthcare systems with complex care needs. The number of people affected from multimorbidity is still increasing, as is the average number of co-occurring diseases per patient. The resulting complexity of care needs cannot be managed by health professionals from a single discipline, but requires interprofessional collaborative practice.This paper describes best practices from the Netherlands to facilitate interprofessional caretaking of patients with multimorbidity in primary care. The focus here is on collaborations within general practice and at community level.

Declining empathy trends throughout medical curriculum and association factors of low empathy among medical students and residents: a single center study

BackgroundA physician’s empathy level substantially impacts clinical competence, patient relationships, and treatment outcomes. Yet, understanding empathy trends from medical students to resident doctors within a single institution is limited. This study delves into empathy trends within a single-center academic setting and identifies factors associated with low empathy.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled the second—to sixth-year medical students of Phramongkutklao College of Medicine and the first—to second-year residents at Phramongkutklao Hospital. It utilized a standardized questionnaire covering demographics, family relationships, the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE). The relationship between variables and JSE scores was analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses examined associated factors and trends across educational levels. A quadratic term was incorporated to evaluate the presence of a nonlinear trend.ResultsA total of 520 participants, comprising 189 (36.4%) preclinical students, 153 (29.4%) clinical students, and 178 (34.2%) residents, completed the survey. The JSE showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.83. The average empathy score was 103.8 ± 15.0, with 27.1% of low empathy levels. Specialty preference and sex-adjusted average empathy scores decreased from 114.5 (95%CI: 112.0–117.0) among second-year medical students to 95.2 (95%CI: 92.2–98.2) among second-year residents (Pnon−linear<0.001). The adjusted proportion of low empathy is highest among sixth-year medical students (54.4%, 95%CI: 34.4–73.2%). Factors associated with low empathy included those preferring procedure-oriented specialties (AOR: 4.16, 95%CI: 1.54–11.18) and a higher parental income (AOR: 2.97, 95%CI: 1.09 to 8.10). Subgroup analysis revealed that residents with a GPAX above 3.5 and those in technology-oriented specialties were also associated with lower empathy (AOR: 3.46, 95%CI: 1.40–8.59 and AOR: 2.93, 95%CI: 1.05–8.12, respectively).ConclusionA declining empathy trend was observed among medical students, which then plateaued among residents. Additionally, residents in technology-oriented specialties may require empathy enhancements due to their ongoing patient consultations. Addressing these issues requires collaborative planning between students and teachers to foster empathy throughout the medical curriculum.

Unlocking the Potential of Free Text in Electronic Health Records with Large Language Models (LLM): Enhancing Patient Safety and Consultation Interactions.

Computer-mediated clinical consultation, involving clinicians, electronic health record (EHR) systems, and patients, yield rich narrative data. Despite advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP), these narratives remain underutilised. Free text recording in EHRs allows expressivity, complements structured data from clinical coding systems, and facilitates collaborative care. Large language models (LLMs) excel in understanding and generating natural language, enabling complex dialogue processing. Integrating LLM tools into consultations could harness the untapped potential of free text to identify patient safety concerns, support diagnosis and provide content to enhance clinical-patient interactions. Tailoring LLMs for specific consultation tasks through pre-training and fine-tuning is viable. This paper outlines approaches for adopting LLMs in primary care and suggests that using fine-tuned LLMs with prompt engineering could enhance computer-mediated clinical consultation cost-effectively.

Guideline-Based Telemedicine Assessment of Orthopedic Low-Risk Conditions by General Practitioners is Not Inferior to that of Face-to-Face Consultations with Specialists in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Trial.

Background: There is a lack of randomized controlled trials focusing on orthopedic telemedicine (TM). The objective of this research was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and pattern of TM consultations of low-risk orthopedic patients performed by general practitioners (GPs) with those of face-to-face evaluations by orthopedists at an emergency department (ED). Methods: This randomized, single-center study was conducted between October 2021 and November 2022 on patients at an ED. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, low back pain, extremity contusion, ankle sprain, or neck pain. Eligible patients were randomized 1:1 for TM consultations by generalist physicians with subsequent face-to-face orthopedic evaluations (TM-ED group) or face-to-face evaluations by orthopedic physicians (ED group). Primary outcomes were syndromic diagnosis, physical examination, and tests ordered. Secondary analysis included a satisfaction survey. Results: A total of 99 patients were enrolled; mean age was 41 ± 10.1 years, and 62.6% were female. The most common conditions were foot contusion (28.3%), ankle sprain (27.3%), hand contusion (19.2%), low back pain (19.2%), and neck pain (6.1%). Syndromic diagnosis showed no difference between groups (p = 0.231). In the TM-ED group (n = 51), self-examination demonstrated moderate to good agreement with face-to-face evaluations in several areas. Both groups showed similar tests practices. Patient satisfaction was higher in the TM-ED group across multiple measures. Conclusion: TM consultations for low-risk orthopedic patients by GPs are not inferior to face-to-face specialist evaluations at the ED. Virtual assessments are associated with higher patient satisfaction. Clinical Trial Identifier: NCT04981002.

Impact of Location of Residence and Distance to Cancer Centre on Medical Oncology Consultation and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative and HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Despite consensus guidelines, most patients with early-stage triple-negative (TN) and HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer do not see a medical oncologist prior to surgery and do not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). To understand barriers to care, we aimed to characterize the relationship between geography (region of residence and cancer centre proximity) and receipt of a pre-treatment medical oncology consultation and NAC for patients with TN and HER2+ breast cancer. Using linked administrative datasets in Ontario, Canada, we performed a retrospective population-based analysis of women diagnosed with stage I-III TN or HER2+ breast cancer from 2012 to 2020. The outcomes were a pre-treatment medical oncology consultation and the initiation of NAC. We created choropleth maps to assess the distribution of the outcomes and cancer centres across census divisions. To assess the relationship between distance to the nearest cancer centre and outcomes, we performed multivariable regression analyses adjusted for relevant factors, including tumour extent and nodal status. Of 14,647 patients, 29.9% received a pre-treatment medical oncology consultation and 77.7% received NAC. Mapping demonstrated high interregional variability, ranging across census divisions from 12.5% to 64.3% for medical oncology consultation and from 8.8% to 64.3% for NAC. In the full cohort, compared to a distance of ≤5 km from the nearest cancer centre, only 10-25 km was significantly associated with lower odds of NAC (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99). Greater distances were not associated with pre-treatment medical oncology consultation. The interregional variability in medical oncology consultation and NAC for patients with TN and HER2+ breast cancer suggests that regional and/or provider practice patterns underlie discrepancies in the referral for and receipt of NAC. These findings can inform interventions to improve equitable access to NAC for eligible patients.

Palliative care consultation in patients hospitalized with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Impact on invasive procedures, do-not-resuscitate orders, and healthcare costs

BackgroundThe impact of palliative care consultation on the management and outcomes of patients hospitalized with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poorly understood. This study examined associations between palliative care consultation and in-hospital outcomes of patients hospitalized with OHCA, stratified by survival status. MethodThis cross-sectional study used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2016–2021). Adult patients hospitalized with OHCA who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation were included. Multivariable analyses assessed associations between palliative care consultation and outcomes in non-terminal and terminal OHCA hospitalizations, adjusting for demographics, hospital characteristics, and comorbidities. ResultsAmong 488,700 OHCA hospitalizations, palliative care consultation was associated with lower odds of invasive procedures in non-terminal hospitalizations, including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (aOR 0.30, 95 % CI 0.25–0.36), mechanical circulatory support (aOR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.44–0.68), permanent pacemaker (aOR 0.27, 95 % CI 0.20–0.37) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion (aOR 0.22, 95 % CI 0.16–0.31), and cardioversion (aOR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.55–0.70). In terminal hospitalizations, palliative care was associated with lower odds of PCI (aOR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.70–0.87) and cardioversion (aOR 0.91, 95 % CI 0.85–0.97), but higher odds of therapeutic hypothermia (aOR 3.12, 95 % CI 2.72–3.59), gastrostomy (aOR 1.22, 95 % CI 1.05–1.41), and renal replacement therapy (aOR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12–1.26). Palliative care was associated with higher DNR utilization in both subgroups and lower hospital costs in non-terminal hospitalizations but higher costs in terminal hospitalizations. ConclusionPalliative care consultation in OHCA is associated with differences in invasive procedures, DNR utilization, and hospital costs, varying by survival status.