Intervention Rooms Research Articles

Comparison of synthetic dataset generation methods for medical intervention rooms using medical clothing detection as an example

PurposeThe availability of real data from areas with high privacy requirements, such as the medical intervention space is low and the acquisition complex in terms of data protection. To enable research for assistance systems in the medical intervention room, new methods for data generation for these areas must be researched. Therefore, this work presents a way to create a synthetic dataset for the medical context, using medical clothing object detection as an example. The goal is to close the reality gap between the synthetic and real data.MethodsMethods of 3D-scanned clothing and designed clothing are compared in a Domain-Randomization and Structured-Domain-Randomization scenario using two different rendering engines. Additionally, a Mixed-Reality dataset in front of a greenscreen and a target domain dataset were used while the latter is used to evaluate the different datasets. The experiments conducted are to show whether scanned clothing or designed clothing produce better results in Domain Randomization and Structured Domain Randomization. Likewise, a baseline will be generated using the mixed reality data. In a further experiment it is investigated whether the combination of real, synthetic and mixed reality image data improves the accuracy compared to real data only.ResultsOur experiments show, that Structured-Domain-Randomization of designed clothing together with Mixed-Reality data provide a baseline achieving 72.0% mAP on the test dataset of the clinical target domain. When additionally using 15% (99 images) of available target domain train data, the gap towards 100% (660 images) target domain train data could be nearly closed 80.05% mAP (81.95% mAP). Finally, we show that when additionally using 100% target domain train data the accuracy could be increased to 83.35% mAP.ConclusionIn conclusion, it can be stated that the presented modeling of health professionals is a promising methodology to address the challenge of missing datasets from medical intervention rooms. We will further investigate it on various tasks, like assistance systems, in the medical domain.

The impact of bedside wipes in multi-patient rooms: a prospective, crossover trial evaluating infections and survival

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are prevalent on high-touch surfaces in multi-patient rooms. To quantify the impact of hanging single-use cleaning/disinfecting wipes next to each bed. Pre-specified outcomes were: (1) hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), (2) cleaning frequency, (3) MDRO room contamination, (4) new MDRO acquisitions, and (5) mortality. Clustered randomized crossover trial at Shamir Medical Center, Israel (October 2016 to January 2018). Clusters were randomly assigned to use for cleaning either single-use quaternary ammonium wipes (Clinell) or standard practices (reusable cloths and buckets with bleach). Six-month intervention periods were implemented in alternating sequence, separated by a washout period. Five high-touch surfaces were monitored by fluorescent markers. Study outcomes were compared between periods using generalized estimating equations, Poisson regression, and Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, 7725 patients were included (47,670 person-days), 3793 patients in rooms with intervention cleaning and 3932 patients in rooms with standard practices. During the intervention, there was no significant difference in HAI rates (incidence rate ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7-3.5; P= 0.3). However, in intervention rooms, the frequency of environmental cleaning was higher (odds ratio: 3.73; 95% CI: 2.0-7.1; P < 0.0001), MDRO environmental contamination rate was insignificantly lower (odds ratio: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-1.0; P= 0.06), new MDRO acquisition rate was lower (hazard ratio: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-1.0; P= 0.04), and in-hospital mortality rate was lower (incidence rate ratio: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.7-1.0; P= 0.03). Hanging single-use cleaning/disinfecting wipes next to each bed did not affect the HAI rates but did improve the frequency of cleaning, reduce MDRO environmental contamination, and was associated with reduced incidence of new MDRO acquisitions and reduced mortality. This is a feasible, recommended practice to improve patient outcomes in multi-patient rooms.

Working on Cognitive Functions in a Fully Digitalized Multisensory Interactive Room: A New Approach for Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The feasibility of working on cognitive functions with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) inside Multisensory Interactive Rooms (MIRs) has been poorly investigated, even if sensory atypicalities are common in ASD and usual intervention rooms could represent a challenging sensory setting for patients with ASD. We hypothesized that the possibility to calibrate the sensory stimulation offered by this type of environment, able to promote a positive emotional state in patients with ASD, can consequently favor the interaction with the therapist and the motivation towards activities targeting cognitive functions. High- and low-functioning children and low-functioning adolescents/adults underwent five sessions in a fully digitalized MIR, working on sustained attention, selective attention, association, single inhibition, receptive communication, verbalization, and turn. We developed specific protocols calibrated for sensory stimulation and difficulty level based on the characteristics of the participants. We found statistically significant improvements in all functions, except association, in the children’s group. Therefore, a fully digitalized MIR seems suitable for intervention on cognitive functions in ASDs, but further investigations are needed to better address possible differences related to age and functioning level.

Pilot Testing a Bedside Patient Safety Display to Increase Provider Awareness of the ‘Hidden Hazards’ of Catheters and Wounds

Background: Urinary catheters, vascular catheters, and wounds, such as pressure injuries are often hidden from view under gowns and sheets (ie, out of sight, out of mind), contributing to prolonged catheter use, infections, delayed interventions, and diagnostic errors for symptoms (eg, fever or delirium) related to catheters and wounds. We developed and pilot tested a digital bedside Patient Safety Display of catheter and wound information to improve awareness by rounding providers (ie, physicians and advanced practice providers, APPs). Methods: The display development was informed by clinical observations of provider rounds and nurse handoffs, interviews, and iterative prototype testing with clinicians in simulated cases using catheterized mannequins with wounds. The display reports the presence and duration of urinary and vascular catheter use, urinary catheter indication, and wound presence and severity, from real-time mandatory nurse documentation in the electronic medical record (Fig. 1). We conducted a pilot study in a tertiary-care medical-surgical step-down unit with 20 private rooms, including a preintervention period and a postintervention period including 10 rooms without the display (control rooms) and 10 rooms with the display (intervention rooms). We surveyed individual providers directly after rounds to assess their awareness of their patients’ catheters and wounds compared to medical record documentation. We also assessed display utility and usability from postintervention clinician interviews and we identified major themes using an adapted grounded theory approach. Results: In total, 787 surveys were completed: 681 medicine service with 89% response rate, 106 surgery service with 47% response rate; 363 preintervention surveys, and 424 postintervention surveys. The surveys involved 176 unique patients and 47 unique providers. Among all 787 patient encounters, 156 (19.8%) had a transurethral indwelling urinary catheter (Foley), 314 (39.9%) had a central venous catheter (including PICCs), and 247 (31.4%) had at least 1 pressure injury. Figure 2 summarizes provider awareness of catheters and pressure injuries when present as assessed for patients in the preintervention and postintervention periods. Moreover, 13 clinician postintervention interviews yielded preliminary themes regarding the display’s benefits and limitations (Fig. 3). Conclusions: In this pilot study of a novel Patient Safety Display, although provider awareness of Foley catheters, CVCs, and pressure injuries appeared higher for patients in the intervention rooms compared to awareness as measured in the preintervention rooms and/or postintervention control rooms, most of these comparisons did not meet statistical significance. Clinicians varied widely in their personal assessments of the display as a useful tool for improving awareness and prompting discussion about catheters and wounds.Funding: This work was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) grant P30HS024385. Dr. Meddings’ effort was initially partially funded by concurrent support from AHRQ (K08 HS19767).Disclosures: Dr. Meddings has reported receiving honoraria for lectures and teaching related to prevention and value-based purchasing policies involving catheter-associated urinary tract infection. The remaining authors report no conflicts of interest.

The Flooring for Injury Prevention (FLIP) Study of compliant flooring for the prevention of fall-related injuries in long-term care: A randomized trial.

BackgroundFall-related injuries exert an enormous health burden on older adults in long-term care (LTC). Softer landing surfaces, such as those provided by low-stiffness “compliant” flooring, may prevent fall-related injuries by decreasing the forces applied to the body during fall impact. Our primary objective was to assess the clinical effectiveness of compliant flooring at preventing serious fall-related injuries among LTC residents.Methods and findingsThe Flooring for Injury Prevention (FLIP) Study was a 4-year, randomized superiority trial in 150 single-occupancy resident rooms at a single Canadian LTC site. In April 2013, resident rooms were block randomized (1:1) to installation of intervention compliant flooring (2.54 cm SmartCells) or rigid control flooring (2.54 cm plywood) covered with identical hospital-grade vinyl. The primary outcome was serious fall-related injury over 4 years that required an emergency department visit or hospital admission and a treatment procedure or diagnostic evaluation in hospital. Secondary outcomes included minor fall-related injury, any fall-related injury, falls, and fracture. Outcomes were ascertained by blinded assessors between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2017 and analyzed by intention to treat. Adverse outcomes were not assessed. During follow-up, 184 residents occupied 74 intervention rooms, and 173 residents occupied 76 control rooms. Residents were 64.3% female with mean (SD) baseline age 81.7 (9.5) years (range 51.1 to 104.6 years), body mass index 25.9 (7.7) kg/m2, and follow-up 1.64 (1.39) years. 1,907 falls were reported; 23 intervention residents experienced 38 serious injuries (from 29 falls in 22 rooms), while 23 control residents experienced 47 serious injuries (from 34 falls in 23 rooms). Compliant flooring did not affect odds of ≥1 serious fall-related injury (12.5% intervention versus 13.3% control, odds ratio [OR]: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.52 to 1.84, p = 0.950) or ≥2 serious fall-related injuries (5.4% versus 7.5%, OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.75, p = 0.500). Compliant flooring did not affect rate of serious fall-related injuries (0.362 versus 0.422 per 1,000 bed nights, rate ratio [RR]: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.45 to 2.39, p = 0.925; 0.038 versus 0.053 per fall, RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.38 to 1.71, p = 0.560), rate of falls with ≥1 serious fall-related injury (0.276 versus 0.303 per 1,000 bed nights, RR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.52 to 1.79, p = 0.920), or time to first serious fall-related injury (0.237 versus 0.257, hazard ratio [HR]: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.52 to 1.62, p = 0.760). Compliant flooring did not affect any secondary outcome in this study. Study limitations included the following: findings were specific to 2.54 cm SmartCells compliant flooring installed in LTC resident rooms, standard fall and injury prevention interventions were in use throughout the study and may have influenced the observed effect of compliant flooring, and challenges with concussion detection in LTC residents may have prevented estimation of the effect of compliant flooring on fall-related concussions.ConclusionsIn contrast to results from previous retrospective and nonrandomized studies, this study found that compliant flooring underneath hospital-grade vinyl was not effective at preventing serious fall-related injuries in LTC. Future studies are needed to identify effective methods for preventing fall-related injuries in LTC.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01618786

Using mathematics games in preschool settings to support the development of children’s numeracy skills

ABSTRACTIn Australia, early childhood education takes a play-based approach to supporting children’s engagement with mathematical ideas and numeracy development. To assist preschool teachers’ implementation of the outcomes in the national Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, the Northern Territory (NT, Australia) has introduced the NT Preschool Curriculum. The NT Preschool Maths Games, a suite of play-based games underpinned by mathematical concepts, was developed to support the enactment of this curriculum. Here, we explore the impact of attending a preschool classroom in which the NT Preschool Maths Games is being implemented, on child learning outcomes in a pre–post intervention design. Children were assessed in regard to their number naming, counting, and Applied Problems skills. After the baseline assessments, the teachers in the intervention rooms were equipped with the NT Preschool Maths Games and attended a one-day workshop on how to use them. Compared with children in the delayed intervention group, children in the intervention group showed statistically greater gains in their mathematical competencies in a post intervention assessment. This suggests that the NT Preschool Maths Games may support the enhancement of child learning outcomes.

Implementation of a Suicide Risk Screening Instrument in a Remand Prison Service in Berlin.

In the present study, we examined the effects of implementing the suicide risk screening instrument SIRAS in a pre-trial detention facility for men in Berlin. Within a period of 3 months, all newly arriving prisoners were screened (n = 611) by social workers or prison officers. Cases of elevated suicide risk were immediately referred to a psychologist or medical staff the same day. Follow-up over a 6-month period showed that 14% of all incoming prisoners were classified as high-risk individuals. These individuals received significantly more psychological and psychiatric treatment and were significantly more likely to be accommodated in crisis intervention rooms and emergency community accommodation (shared prison cells). In addition, it was found that despite the increased amount of treatment in the high-risk group, the number of specific measures did not increase significantly compared to the pre-implementation phase (N = 1,510).

Evaluation of a sound environment intervention in an ICU: A feasibility study

BackgroundCurrently, it is well known that the sound environment in intensive care units (ICU) is substandard. Therefore, there is a need of interventions investigating possible improvements. Unfortunately, there are many challenges to consider in the design and performance of clinical intervention studies including sound measurements and clinical outcomes. Objectives(1) explore whether it is possible to implement a full-scale intervention study in the ICU concerning sound levels and their impact on the development of ICU delirium; (2) discuss methodological challenges and solutions for the forthcoming study; (3) conduct an analysis of the presence of ICU delirium in the study group; and (4) describe the sound pattern in the intervention rooms. MethodsA quasi-randomized clinical trial design was chosen. The intervention consisted of a refurbished two-bed ICU patient room (experimental) with a new suspended wall-to-wall ceiling and a low frequency absorber. An identical two-bed room (control) remained unchanged. Inclusion criteria: Patients >18 years old with ICU lengths of stay (LoS) >48h. The final study group consisted of 31 patients: six from the rebuilt experimental room and 25 from the control room. Methodological problems and possible solutions were continuously identified and documented. ResultsUndertaking a full-scale intervention study with continuous measurements of acoustic data in an ICU is possible. However, this feasibility study demonstrated some aspects to consider before start. The randomization process and the sound measurement procedure must be developed. Furthermore, proper education and training are needed for determining ICU delirium. ConclusionThis study raises a number of points that may be helpful for future complex interventions in an ICU. For a full-scale study to be completed a continuously updated cost calculation is necessary. Furthermore, representatives from the clinic need to be involved in all stages during the project.

Patient room lighting influences on sleep, appraisal and mood in hospitalized people.

Irregular 24h light/dark cycles with night-time light exposure and a low amplitude are disruptive for sleep, mood and circadian rhythms. Nevertheless such lighting conditions are quite common in medical care facilities. A controlled clinical trial among 196 cardiology ward patients (mean age 66.5±13.1years SD) investigated how a patient room lighting intervention affects sleep, appraisal and mood across hospitalization. Patients were either assigned to a standardly-lit room or to a room with an interventional lighting system offering a dynamic 24h light/dark cycle with low nocturnal light exposure and 2h of bright light (1750lux) during daytime. Measures included wrist actigraphy and questionnaires assessing alertness, sleep quality, anxiety, depression and lighting appraisal. The median length of hospitalization was 5days in both study arms. Subjective scores on sleep, alertness, anxiety and depression did not differ between arms. Lighting appraisal in intervention rooms was better as compared to standardly-lit rooms, both in patients (P<0.001) and staff (P<0.005). Actigraphic sleep duration of patients improved by 5.9min (95% CI: 0.6-11.2; P=0.03 intervention×time effect) per hospitalization day with interventional lighting instead of standard lighting. After 5days of hospitalization, sleep duration in the lighting intervention rooms increased by 29min, or a relative 7.3%, as compared to standardly-lit rooms. A 24h lighting system with enhanced daytime brightness and restricted nocturnal light exposure can improve some aspects of appraisal and objective sleep in hospital patients. More clinical research is needed to establish the best lighting strategy to promote healing and wellbeing within healthcare settings.

Impact of Imaging Room Environment: Staff Job Stress and Satisfaction, Patient Satisfaction, and Willingness to Recommend

The built environment significantly affects the healthcare experiences of patients and staff. Healthcare administrators and building designers face the opportunity and challenge of improving healthcare experience and satisfaction through better environmental design. The purpose of the study was to evaluate how a novel environmental intervention for imaging rooms, which integrated multiple elements of healing environments including positive distractions and personal control over environment, affects the perceptions and satisfactions of its primary users-patients and staff. Anonymous questionnaire surveys were conducted to compare patient and staff perceptions of the physical environment, satisfaction, and stress in two types of imaging rooms: imaging rooms with the intervention installed (intervention rooms) and traditionally designed rooms without the intervention (comparison rooms). Imaging technologists and patients perceived the intervention rooms to be significantly more pleasant-looking. Patients in the intervention rooms reported significantly higher levels of environmental control and were significantly more willing to recommend the intervention rooms to others. The environmental intervention was effective in improving certain aspects of the imaging environment: pleasantness and environmental control. Further improvement of the imaging environment is needed to address problematic areas such as noise.

A before- and after-intervention trial for reducing unexpected events during the intrahospital transport of emergency patients

BackgroundThis study was aimed to explore the effect of intervention in safe intrahospital transport on the incidence of unexpected events (UEs) occurring during the transport of emergency patients. MethodsThis study was performed in an urban tertiary teaching hospital emergency department (ED) from May 17 to October 30, 2010. Patients older than 15 years who were transported to general wards; intensive care units; and magnetic resonance imaging, intervention, or operation rooms were enrolled. Demographics and data on all UEs related to the devices, clinical situations, and tubes or lines were measured by registered nurses at pre- and postintervention period. The intervention was that acting nurses were required to use a designed transport checklists before the patients were transported. Primary outcomes were the rate of all and serious UEs during the pre- and postintervention periods. Serious UEs were defined as any worsening of a patient's clinical status. Statistical values were measured with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and compared using Student t tests or χ2 tests. ResultsIn total, there were 680 transports before interventions and 605 transports after interventions. Overall, UEs decreased significantly from a value of 36.8% (95% CI, 33.1-40.5) in the preintervention period to a value of 22.1% (95% CI, 18.9-25.7) in the postintervention period (P = .001). Serious UEs in clinical status also decreased significantly from 9.1% (95% CI, 7.1-11.5) in the preintervention period to a value of 5.2% (95% CI, 3.6-7.4) in the postintervention period (P = .005). ConclusionA significant reduction in the rate of total and serious UEs during intrahospital transport from the ED was found through using transport checklists.

An intervention for relational and physical aggression in early childhood: A preliminary study

Abstract A preventive intervention for reducing physical and relational aggression, peer victimization, and increasing prosocial behavior was developed for use in early childhood classrooms. Nine classrooms were randomly assigned to be intervention rooms ( N = 202 children) and nine classrooms were control rooms ( N = 201 children). Classroom was the unit of analysis and both observations and teacher-reports were obtained at pre and post-test. Focus groups were used to develop the initial program. The 6-week program consisted of developmentally appropriate puppet shows, active participatory sessions, passive concept activities and in vivo reinforcement periods. Preliminary findings suggest that the “Early Childhood Friendship Project” tended to reduce physical and relational aggression, as well as physical and relational victimization and tended to increase prosocial behavior more for intervention than control classrooms. Teachers and interventionists provided positive evaluations of the program and there is evidence for appropriate program implementation.

A pilot study to investigate the effects of combined dehumidification and HEPA filtration on dew point and airborne mold spore counts in day care centers

Meteorological factors such as relative humidity directly correlate with airborne fungal levels outdoors and indoors. While dehumidification alone is effective at reducing moisture necessary for mold growth, it is inadequate as a single intervention as it does not remove viable and non-viable fungal spores that are potentially allergenic. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate whether dehumidification in combination with high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filtration is effective at reducing airborne mold spore levels in day care centers. Two day care centers within a 2-mile radius of each other were selected. Day care center A was 2 years old with eight rooms while day care center B was 15 years old with six rooms. A high efficiency Santa Fe dehumidification unit equipped with a HEPA filter was installed in half the rooms (intervention) of each day care facility. Electronic HOBO data loggers continuously measured outdoor and indoor room dew point and temperature every 2 h throughout the study. Dew point and airborne fungal spore measurements from selected rooms with controlled air conditions were analyzed by comparing baseline measurements to those obtained at subsequent time periods over 1 year. Regression models accounted for correlations between measurements in the same room over time. Intervention resulted in a lowered average dew point from baseline by 8.8 degrees C compared with a decrease of 7.1 degrees C in non-intervention rooms across all time periods in both facilities (P<0.001). Fungal analyses demonstrated lower baseline (P=0.06) and follow-up means in intervention rooms (P<0.05), however the change from baseline to end of follow-up differed between intervention and non-intervention rooms in the two facilities. Log transformation was applied to approximate normality of fungal measurements. Dehumidification with HEPA filtration was effective at controlling indoor dew point in both facilities and at reducing airborne culturable fungal spore levels in one of the two facilities. These preliminary results provide a scientific rationale for using this intervention in future studies designed to investigate the impact of indoor mold exposure on health outcomes. Poor indoor air quality is a recognized cause or contributing factor to health effects. Dampness and humidity have been linked to upper and lower respiratory symptoms in children and adults. This study indicates that reducing indoor relative humidity and airborne mold spore levels using high-efficiency dehumidification units equipped with HEPA filtration is feasible even in work facilities such as day care centers where traffic in and out of the building is difficult to regulate. Clinicians should emphasize to their patients the importance of dehumidification and HEPA filtration to improve indoor air quality in the home and workplace.