Intervention System Research Articles

Let's Try Social Prescribing in Sweden (SPiS) - an Interventional Project Targeting Loneliness among Older Adults Using a Model for Integrated Care: A Research Protocol.

Introduction:Loneliness and social isolation among older adults (≥65) are an emerging issue of public concern, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Today there is no systematic intervention developed, implemented or evaluated in Sweden addressing loneliness. The overall aim for this project is to develop, test and refine a person-centred Swedish model for social prescribing (SPiS), and to assess whether and how it reduces loneliness, promotes health and improves well-being among older adults.Description:The focus will be to develop, culturally adapt, evaluate and refine the SPiS model. Following the sequential structure of realist evaluation in three consecutive phases qualitative and quantitative data along with subsequent analysis methods will be collected and utilized. The project will provide knowledge of what works with the social prescribing model, for whom, in what conditions and why, in relation to loneliness, health and well-being among older adults.Discussion:SPiS has the unique position of providing initial knowledge regarding how to reduce loneliness in the Swedish context. However, evaluation is complex as this research goes beyond the unidimensional question “Is it working?”.Conclusion:Developing, implementing and evaluating such a complex program needs systematic and close evaluation.

Effect of Systematic Nursing Intervention on Psychological Condition, Blood Pressure Change, Self-management and Quality of Life of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome

Objective: To explore the influence of systematic nursing intervention on patients with bstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: From March 2017 to July 2018, 102 patients with OSAHS in our hospital were collected. Among them, 50 cases in Group A (GA) received routine nursing intervention. Fifty-two patients in Group B (GB) received systematic nursing intervention on the basis of GA. Before and after nursing, the psychological changes, blood pressure changes and self-management were observed and compared between the two groups. After nursing, the sleep quality, quality of life and nursing satisfaction were observed in the two groups. Results: After nursing, the anxiety of patients in GB was better than that in GA (P<0.05); The depression of patients in GB was better than that in GA (P<0.05); The blood pressure of patients in GB was better than that in GA (P<0.05); The self-management of patients in GB was better than that in GA (P<0.05); The quality of life and sleep quality of patients in GB were better than those in GA (P<0.05); The nursing satisfaction of patients in GB was higher than that in GA (P<0.05). Conclusion: Systematic nursing intervention can improve the psychological condition, blood pressure changes and quality of life of patients with OSAHS.

Development of an Electronic Algorithm to Identify in Real Time Adults Hospitalized With Suspected Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

BackgroundCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major driver of hospital antibiotic use. Efficient methods to identify patients treated for CAP in real time using the electronic health record (EHR) are needed. Automated identification of these patients could facilitate systematic tracking, intervention, and feedback on CAP-specific metrics such as appropriate antibiotic choice and duration.MethodsUsing retrospective data, we identified suspected CAP cases by searching for patients who received CAP antibiotics AND had an admitting International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code for pneumonia OR chest imaging within 24 hours OR bacterial urinary antigen testing within 48 hours of admission (denominator query). We subsequently explored different structured and natural language processing (NLP)–derived data from the EHR to identify CAP cases. We evaluated combinations of these electronic variables through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess which best identified CAP cases compared to cases identified by manual chart review. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, absolute neutrophil count <500 cells/mm3, and admission to an oncology unit.ResultsCompared to the gold standard of chart review, the area under the ROC curve to detect CAP was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], .55–.72; P < .01) using structured data (ie, laboratory and vital signs) and 0.83 (95% CI, .77–.90; P < .01) when NLP-derived data from radiographic reports were included. The sensitivity and specificity of the latter model were 80% and 81%, respectively.ConclusionsCreating an electronic tool that effectively identifies CAP cases in real time is possible, but its accuracy is dependent on NLP-derived radiographic data.

Phew! time to focus on physical health and wellbeing: improving the assessment and management of physical health in an early intervention in psychosis service

AimsNICE guidelines recommend that patients under Early Intervention (EI) in Psychosis Services have systematic monitoring and intervention of cardiometabolic risk factors. We undertook a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) in the Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES) EI Team to improve rates of compliance with national guidelines. We aimed to increase the percentage of service users with a physical health assessment documented in the past 12 months. Other aims included improving monitoring of physical health parameters in those taking antipsychotic medication and increasing the delivery of interventions for abnormal results.BackgroundThe most common cause of premature mortality in people who experience psychosis and schizophrenia is cardiovascular disease. The 'Standards for Early Intervention in Psychosis Service' states that patients should be offered personalised healthy lifestyle interventions, including advice on diet, physical activity, and access to smoking cessation services. Physical health should be monitored at least annually, with more frequent assessments if antipsychotic medication is prescribed.MethodWe identified seven key factors for improving physical health: Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Pressure, Glucose Regulation, Blood Lipids, Smoking, Alcohol and Illicit drug use. Baseline compliance and intervention rates were measured in March 2019. Six ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ Cycles were completed over the following ten months. Examples of the changes made included: a new online diary and whiteboard, abbreviation of the assessment form, teaching for the EI team, and a new weekly ‘Physical Health and Wellbeing’ (PHeW) Clinic. This clinic involved phlebotomy, discussions around lifestyle choices, review of medication side effects, and neurological examination.We measured the compliance with guidelines each month and the total number of interventions delivered at three-monthly intervals. We collected qualitative feedback on these changes in team meetings and with written questionnaires (including feedback from patients).ResultDocumentation of all key factors doubled from 30.2% at baseline to 63.3% in January 2020. The total number of interventions for raised BMI and lipid levels also increased. Feedback from staff and patients was positive. The clinic helped start conversations with patients about lifestyle choices, prompting improvements in weight, physical activity, lipid levels, and alcohol intake. Patient awareness and ownership over their physical health also improved.ConclusionThis project utilised multiple strategies to reduce health complications for BaNES EI service users. A structural change in the assessment and management of physical health proved to be an effective and sustainable solution to optimise the health and wellbeing of this patient group.

Biotechnological interventions and genetic diversity assessment in Swertia sp.: a myriad source of valuable secondary metabolites.

The genus Swertia (Family: Gentianaceae) has cosmopolitan distribution which is present in almost all the continents except South America and Australia. Swertia genus has been renowned as one of the potent herbal drugs in the British, American, and Chinese Pharmacopeias as well as well-documented in the Indian traditional medicinal systems, viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. Many species of this genus have therapeutic properties and have been used traditionally in the treatment of a number of health ailments viz. hepatitis, diabetes, inflammation, bacillary dysentery, cancer, malaria, fever etc. This genus is industrially important medicinal plant that has been used as a principal component in numerous marketed herbal/ polyherbal formulations. Medicinal usage of Swertia is endorsed to the miscellaneous compounds viz. xanthones, irridoids, seco-irridoids, and triterpenoids. A chain of systematic isolation of bio-active compounds and their diverse range of pharmacological effects during last 15-20 years proved this genus as industrially important plant. Due to the various practices of the Swertia species, annual demand is more than 100 tons per year for this important herb which is continuously increasing 10% annually. The market value rises 10% by the year as there is increased demand in national and international market resulted in adulteration of many Swertia spp. due to paucity of agricultural practices, exomorphological, phytochemical, and molecular characterization. Thus, efficient biotechnology methods are prerequisite for the mass production of authentic species, sustainable production of bio-active compounds and ex situ conservation. A chain of systematic biotechnological interventions in Swertia herb during last 20 years cover the assessment of genetic diversity, in vitro sustainable production of bio-active compounds and mass propagation of elite genotypes via direct and indirect organogenesis. This review attempts to present the comprehensive assessment on biotechnological process made in Swertia over the past few years. KEY POINTS: • Critical and updated assessment on biotechnological aspects of Swertia spp. • In vitro propagation and genetic diversity assessment in Swertia spp. • Biosynthesis and sustainable production of secondary metabolites in Swertia spp.

Combination of sintilimab, anlotinib and pegaspargase "sandwich" with radiotherapy in localized natural killer/T cell lymphoma: A multicenter, phase 2 study.

7537 Background: NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is a rare and distinct subtype NHL. Most newly diagnosed NKTL cases were localized-stage. For localized NKTL, RT alone is inadequate due to high systemic failure rate. Chemoradiation has been increasingly applied. However, current chemotherapy (CT) regimens have severe toxicity and infection, which reduce the completion of RT and patients’ medical compliance. Therefore, novel regimens with mild toxicity are needed. Sintilimab, a fully human anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, has showed encouraging antitumor efficacy in pts with r/r NKTL. Anlotinib, a multiple-targeted TKI that mainly blocks VEGF/VEGFR pathway, has been approved for several solid tumor types in china. Anti-angiogenesis therapy could improve efficacy of ICI in multiple tumor types. This multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sandwich chemoradiotion of sintilimab combined with anlotinib and pegaspargase (PEG-ASP) in newly diagnosed localized NKTL pts. Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed previously untreated stage NKTL were enrolled. All enrolled patients received 3 cycles of sintilimab (200mg D1 ivdrip) combined with anlotinib (12mg po D1-14) and PEG-ASP (2500U/m2 D1) every 3 weeks followed by RT, then received additional 3 cycles of combination therapy as described above. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) by LUGANO 2014 criteria. Results: A total of 39 pts were enrolled, and 24 pts eligible for response evaluation (70.8% men; median age, 46 y [range 20-64]; 58.3% stage). According to PINK-E system, 8 pts (33.3%) were identified as intermediate risk group and 16 patients were low risk group. 23 of 24 patients completed protocol-specified therapeutic schemes, one patient discontinued the study after the second cycle due to disease progression. ORR was 95.8% (23/24, 95%CI: 76.9%-84.1%). Surprisingly, all the responded patients achieved CR, while 66.7% (16/24, 95%CI: 44.7%-83.6%) patients achieved CR after the second cycle. Median PFS and OS have not been reached. 1-year OS and PFS was 100% and 95.8%, respectively. All grade TRAEs occurred in 84.6% of all enrolled patients and 92.1% were grade 1-2. The most common TRAE was lymphocytopenia (9.9%). Of note, grade 3-4 hematological toxicity was reported in only one patient (4.2%). All AEs were resolved after symptomatic treatment, without systematic corticosteroid intervention. Conclusions: Sintilimab combined with anlotinib and PEG-ASP upfront and after radiotherapy was effective and could be well tolerated in localized NKTL, achieving promising CRR and rapid and long-term remission with mild toxicity. Further investigation of survival outcome is warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT03936452.

A post-COVID survey of current and future parents among faculty, trainees, and research staff at an NCI-designated cancer center.

11002 Background: Challenges for women in science and academic medicine have been well documented, which include gender disparities related to parental and domestic responsibilities that interfere with work or career opportunities. We aimed to evaluate the experiences and working environment at an NCI-designated Cancer Center for current and future parents in the post-COVID era. We hypothesized there would be differences in the experiences of parents between men and women, and between trainees, faculty, and staff. Methods: A 61-question online survey for current and future parents was developed by the Women’s Task Force of the Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Questions focused on perceived attitudes towards parents, the supportive nature of the working environment for parents, experiences with breastfeeding as a working parent, and childcare responsibilities pre- and post-COVID. The survey was sent to 562 scientific faculty, physicians, trainees, and research staff at HCC. Comparisons between groups of interest were performed using a chi-square test. Results: There were 214 respondents (38% response rate) with even representation: 38% were faculty, 27% were trainees, and 35% were research staff; 59% were female. 6% of respondents reported being “discouraged or excluded from participating in specific activities due to having or planning children”, and 24% felt “moderately supported” as a parent at work. Regarding breastfeeding, 58% reported that the decision to breastfeed was moderately impacted by returning to work, and of the women who were currently or recently breastfeeding, 42% reported that there were not enough lactation rooms in their building. Other questions in the survey aimed to evaluate what further support would be helpful for parents. 40% reported that on-site childcare would help better support them as a parent, especially because 47% documented that finding childcare was difficult and 53% documented that they looked at ≥4 daycares or nannies. Further, 49% reported that they did not know where to look for resources in finding childcare. Pre-COVID, 32% reported spending 2-3 hours a day on childcare and/or home responsibilities; post-COVID, 55% reported spending ≥4 hours a day. These effects were more pronounced in women compared to men (p &lt; 0.05). Pre-COVID, 40% reported that they were unable to participate in work events due to childcare responsibilities, which increased to 54% post-COVID, and was most pronounced in faculty and trainees compared to staff (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Our survey describes some of the universal challenges of working parents in Oncology, which have been exacerbated by COVID. The impact of COVID was more pronounced in women. Further studies are needed for systematic interventions or policies that improve support for working parents, including unified resources and working groups for current and expecting parents.

An Approach to Accelerate Healing and Shorten the Hospital Stay of Patients With Anastomotic Leakage After Esophagectomy: An Explorative Study of Systematic Endoscopic Intervention.

ObjectiveTo explore the comprehensive role of systemic endoscopic intervention in healing esophageal anastomotic leak.MethodsIn total, 3919 consecutive patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy and immediate esophageal reconstruction were screened. In total, 203 patients (5.10%) diagnosed with anastomotic leakage were included. The participants were divided into three groups according to differences in diagnosis and treatment procedures. Ninety-four patients received conventional management, 87 patients received endoscopic diagnosis only, and the remaining 22 patients received systematic endoscopic intervention. The primary endpoint was overall healing of the leak after oncologic esophageal surgery. The secondary endpoints were the time from surgery to recovery and the occurrence of adverse events.Results173 (85.2%; 95% CI, 80.3-90.1%) of the 203 patients were successfully healed, with a mean healing time of 66.04 ± 3.59 days (median: 51 days; range: 13-368 days), and the overall healing rates differed significantly among the three groups according to the stratified log-rank test (P<0.001). The median healing time of leakage was 37 days (95% CI: 33.32-40.68 days) in the endoscopic intervention group, 51 days (95% CI: 44.86-57.14 days) in the endoscopic diagnostic group, and 67 days (95% CI: 56.27-77.73 days) in the conventional group. The overall survival rate was 78.7% (95% CI: 70.3 to 87.2%) in the conventional management group, 89.7% (95% CI: 83.1 to 96.2%) in the endoscopic diagnostic group and 95.5% (95% CI: 86.0 to 100%) in the systematic endoscopic intervention group. Landmark analysis indicated that the speed of wound healing in the endoscopic intervention group was 2-4 times faster at any period than that in the conservative group. There were 20 (21.28%) deaths among the 94 patients in the conventional group, 9 (10.34%) deaths among the 87 patients in the endoscopic diagnostic group and 1 (4.55%) death among the 22 patients in the endoscopic intervention group; this difference was statistically significant (Fisher exact test, P < 0.05).ConclusionTailored endoscopic treatment for postoperative esophageal anastomotic leakage based on endoscopic diagnosis is feasible and effective. Systematic endoscopic intervention shortened the treatment period and reduced mortality and should therefore be considered in the management of this disease.

Measures and narratives of the nature, causes and consequences of violent assaults and risk perception of psychiatric hospitals in Ghana: Mental Health workers' perspectives.

Literature shows that mental healthcare workers in Ghana face incessant fear of patient violence that compromise safe care delivery. However, the nature, scale, perceived causes, and consequences of these assaults and how they shape risk perceptions have received limited empirical attention, hence the need for this study. The study employed sequential explanatory mixed methods where questionnaire administration preceded and informed the design of an interview guide used for in-depth interviews with health workers in referral psychiatric hospitals. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Findings showed that physical and non-physical violent assaults and risk perceptions of the hospitals were statistically and significantly associated with females (P<0.01), nurses (P<0.01), other clinical cadre (P<0.01), and those with low job tenure (P<0.05). About 57% and 71% of the sample reported experiencing physical and non-physical assaults, respectively. Major and minor injuries and psychosocial problems were frequent sequelae following physical violent assaults. As a result, 80% of the participants perceived the hospitals environment to be unsafe to provide care. Violent assaults compromises safety and care delivery efforts suggesting the need for systematic interventions to minimize mental healthcare workers exposure to patient violence.

Using a Frontline Staff Intervention to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening in a Large Academic Internal Medicine Clinic.

Cervical cancer is the third most common malignancy affecting women. Screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) tests effectively identifies precancerous lesions and early-stage cervical cancer. While the nationwide rate of cervical cancer screening (CCS) is 84%, our urban general internal medicine (GIM) clinic population had a CCS rate of 70% in 2016. To improve our clinic's CCS rate to match or exceed the national average within 18 months by identifying barriers and testing solutions. A quality improvement project led by a multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers. Our GIM clinic includes 16 attending physicians, 116 resident physicians, and 20 medical assistants (MAs) with an insured and underserved patient population. Phase 1 lasted 9 months and implemented CCS patient outreach, patient financial incentives, and clinic staff education. Phase 2 lasted 9 months and involved a workflow change in which MAs identified candidates for CCS during patient check-in. Feedback spanned the entire study period. Our primary outcome was the number of Pap tests completed per month during the 2 study phases. Our secondary outcome was the clinic population's CCS rate for all eligible clinic patients. After interventions, the average number of monthly Pap tests increased from 35 to 56 in phase 1 and to 75 in phase 2. Of 385 patients contacted in phase 1, 283 scheduled a Pap test and 115 (41%) completed it. Compared to baseline, both interventions improved cervical cancer screening (phase 1 relative risk, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.64-2.10; P < 0.001; phase 2 relative risk, 2.70; 95% CI, 2.40-3.02; P < 0.001). Our clinic's CCS rate improved from 70% to 75% after the 18-month intervention. The rate of CCS increased by 5% after a systematic 2-phase organizational intervention that empowered MAs to remind, identify, and prepare candidates during check-in for CCS.

The Time Is Now: A FASTER Approach to Generate Research Evidence for Technology-Based Interventions in the Field of Disability and Rehabilitation

Current approaches for generating high-quality research evidence for technology-based interventions in the field of disability and rehabilitation are inappropriate. Prevailing approaches often focus on randomized controlled trials as standard and apply clinical trial practices designed for pharmaceuticals; such approaches are unsuitable for technology-based interventions and are counterproductive to the goals of supporting people with disabilities and creating benefits for society. This communication is designed to: (1) advocate for the use of alternative approaches to generating evidence in the development and evaluation of technology-based interventions; (2) propose an alternative framework and guiding principles; and (3) stimulate action by multiple disciplines and sectors to discuss, adopt, and promote alternative approaches. Our Framework for Accelerated and Systematic Technology-based intervention development and Evaluation Research (FASTER) is informed by established innovation design processes, complex intervention development, evaluation, and implementation concepts as well as our collective experiences in technology-based interventions research and clinical rehabilitation practice. FASTER is intended to be meaningful, timely, and practical for researchers, technology developers, clinicians, and others who develop these interventions and seek evidence. We incorporate research methods and designs that better align with creating technology-based interventions and evidence for integration into practice. We propose future activities to improve the generation of research evidence, enable the selection of research methods and designs, and create standards for evidence evaluation to support rigor and applicability for technology-based interventions. With this communication we aim to improve and advance technology-based intervention integration from conception to use, thus responsibly accelerating innovation to have greater positive benefit for people and society.

Developing friendlier biodiesel production process via systematic inherent safety interventions

The efficacy of inherent safety interventions for shaping Friendlier Chemical Processes (FCP) has been demonstrated in simultaneously augmenting safety (S), health (H), and environmental (E) performance while operating economically. However, there is limited attention to linking inherent safety concept with HE and cost issues when modifying process design, and a hierarchical metric used for measuring the inherent friendliness is yet to be presented. To this end, this study developed a Reconciled Friendly Process Metric (RFPM) for generating FCP via Systematic Inherent Safety (SIS) modifications. Firstly, the prestigious inherent SHE and cost metrics were selected and adapted to measure friendliness features. Then, the metrics were reconciled by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE), and finally, the RFPM was validated through biodiesel production process. The results show that the base design is estimated as under Moderate (M) condition, while the modified design is estimated as under Relatively Friendly (RF) condition, which implies that the modified design is inherently friendlier than the base design. This newly developed RFPM can be used as a tool for hierarchically indicating the friendliness of processing scenarios and making trade-offs among safety, health, environmental, and cost concerns during design stage.

The implementation of nursing process during patient care in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundNursing process (NP) is a standard method of ensuring individualized holistic care through systematic assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation of patients. Its standard implementation is mandatory to meet the health target of “ensuring universal quality health-care services” in the sustainable development goals (SDG) launched by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015. Being a member state of WHO, Ethiopia endorsed the SDG agenda. Therefore, determining the recent pooled estimate and associated factors of NP implementation during patient care would be of greatest importance to improve the quality of nursing care in the country. MethodsPrimary studies were systematically searched from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PsycINFO and CINAHL data bases using different search operators. Each selected primary study was critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal tool for prevalence studies. I2 and Q statistics were used to investigate heterogeneity. Given the substantial heterogeneity between the studies, random effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled magnitude of NP implementation. Subgroup analyses were performed for evidence of heterogeneity. Egger's test was considered to declare publication bias objectively. The PRISMA guideline was followed to report the results. ResultsA total of 17 primary studies with a sample of 2,819 nurses were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of NP implementation in Ethiopia was 50.22% (95% CI: 43.39%, 57.06%) with severe statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 93.0%, P < 0.001) between the studies. From regional subgroup analysis, NP was least implemented in Tigray region 35.92% (95% CI: 30.86%–40.99%, I2 < 0.001%). Egger's test showed no statistical significance for the presence of publication bias (P = 0.23). Nurses' good knowledge of NP [(Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 13.16: 9.17–17.15], nurses' Bachelor of Science (BSC) and above level of education (AOR = 4.16; 2.32–5.99), working in a stressful environment (AOR = 0.10; -0.02–0.22), training access (AOR = 3.30; 1.79–4.82) and accessibility of facility required for NP (AOR = 6.05; 3.56–8.53) were significantly associated with NP implementation at 95 % CI. ConclusionsIt was found that only half of the nurses in Ethiopia implemented NP during patient care. Fortunately, its associated factors were modifiable. Therefore, the existing national efforts of increasing nurses’ knowledge of NP and their level of education, availing facilities required for NP implementation, training access and ensuring non stressful working environment should be reinforced to meet the quality nursing care demand in Ethiopia. Prospero IDCRD42019138159.

Note

The following articles for this Issue were published on the first Issue. They can be found in their respective issues or online:Recruiting ethnic minorities of African descent as blood donors through a systematic intervention development. VOXS, 16: 92‐101. https://doi.org/10.1111/voxs.12615Prediction of donation return rate in young donors using machine‐learning models. VOXS, 16: 119‐126. https://doi.org/10.1111/voxs.12618

Interventions to change purchasing behaviour in supermarkets: a systematic review and intervention content analysis

ABSTRACT This systematic review and intervention content analysis used behavioural science frameworks to characterise content and function of interventions targeting supermarket shoppers’ purchasing behaviour, and explore if coherence between content and function was linked to intervention effectiveness. Study eligibility: in-store interventions (physical supermarkets) with control conditions, targeting objectively measured food and/or non-alcoholic drink purchases, published in English (no date restrictions). Eleven electronic databases were searched; reference lists of systematic reviews were hand-searched. Methodological quality was assessed using the GATE checklist. A content analysis was performed to characterise intervention content and function, and theoretical coherence between these, using the Behaviour Change Wheel, Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy, and Typology of Interventions in Proximal Physical Micro-Environments (TIPPME). Forty-six articles (49 interventions) met inclusion criteria; 26 articles (32 interventions) were included in the content analysis. Twenty behaviour change techniques (BCTs), and four TIPPME intervention types were identified; three BCTs (‘Prompts/cues’, ‘Material incentive’, and ‘Material reward’) were more common in effective interventions. Nineteen interventions solely employed theoretically appropriate BCTs. Theoretical coherence between BCTs and intervention functions was more common in effective interventions. Effective interventions included price promotions and/or in-store merchandising. Future research should explore the effect of specific BCTs using factorial study designs. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42017071065.

Acceptance and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study from Jordan.

Vaccines are effective interventions that can reduce the high burden of diseases globally. However, public vaccine hesitancy is a pressing problem for public health authorities. With the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, little information is available on the public acceptability and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines in Jordan. This study aimed to investigate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines and its predictors in addition to the attitudes towards these vaccines among public in Jordan. An online, cross-sectional, and self-administered questionnaire was instrumentalized to survey adult participants from Jordan on the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the predictors of COVID-19 vaccines’ acceptability. A total of 3,100 participants completed the survey. The public acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines was fairly low (37.4%) in Jordan. Males (OR = 2.488, 95CI% = 1.834–3.375, p < .001) and those who took the seasonal influenza vaccine (OR = 2.036, 95CI% = 1.306–3.174, p = .002) were more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccines. Similarly, participants who believed that vaccines are generally safe (OR = 9.258, 95CI% = 6.020–14.237, p < .001) and those who were willing to pay for vaccines (OR = 19.223, 95CI% = 13.665–27.042, p < .001), once available, were more likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccines. However, those above 35 years old (OR = 0.376, 95CI% = 0.233–0.607, p < .001) and employed participants (OR = 0.542, 95CI% = 0.405–0.725, p < .001) were less likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccines. Moreover, participants who believed that there was a conspiracy behind COVID-19 (OR = 0.502, 95CI% = 0.356–0.709, p < .001) and those who do not trust any source of information on COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 0.271, 95CI% = 0.183–0.400, p < .001), were less likely to have acceptance towards them. The most trusted sources of information on COVID-19 vaccines were healthcare providers. Systematic interventions are required by public health authorities to reduce the levels of vaccines’ hesitancy and improve their acceptance. We believe these results and specifically the low rate of acceptability is alarming to Jordanian health authorities and should stir further studies on the root causes and the need of awareness campaigns. These interventions should take the form of reviving the trust in national health authorities and structured awareness campaigns that offer transparent information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and the technology that was utilized in their production.

Variation and appropriateness of antipsychotic use in long-term care facilities across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Objective:The use of antipsychotics to treat seniors in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) has raised concern because of health consequences (i.e., increased risk of falls, stroke, death) in this vulnerable population. This study measured geographic patterns of antipsychotic utilization among seniors living in LTCFs in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and assessed potential inappropriateness.Method:We analyzed prescription records among adults 66 years and older with provincial prescription drug coverage admitted to LTCFs in NL between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2014. Patterns of use were analyzed across the 4 regional health authorities (RHAs) in NL and LTCFs. Logistic, Poisson and linear regression models were used to test variations in prevalence, rate and volume of antipsychotic utilization. To assess potential inappropriateness of antipsychotic use, we analyzed data from Resident Assessment Instrument–Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS) 2.0 forms from NL LTCFs between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. Pearson chi-squared analysis was performed at the RHA and LTCF levels to determine changes in percentage of total prescriptions or antipsychotic prescriptions without psychosis.Results:Between 2011 and 2014, 2843 seniors were admitted to LTCFs across NL; of these, 1323 residents were prescribed 1 or more antipsychotics. Within the 3-year period, the percentage of antipsychotic use across facilities ranged from 35% to 78%. Using data from 27,260 RAI-MDS 2.0 assessments between 2016 and 2018, 71% (6995/9851) of antipsychotic prescriptions were potentially inappropriate.Discussion:There is substantial variation across NL regions concerning the utilization of antipsychotics for senior in LTCFs. Facility size and management styles may be reasons for this.Conclusion:With nearly three-quarters of antipsychotic prescriptions shown to be potentially inappropriate, systematic interventions to assess indications for antipsychotic use are warranted. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2021;154:xx-xx.

O papel do enfermeiro do ambulatório de prevenção e tratamento da síndrome mão-pé induzida pelo uso de Capecitabina

Introdução: A eritrodisestesia palmo-plantar, também conhecida como Síndrome Mão-Pé (SMP), é uma reação adversa causada pela terapia antineoplásica oral Capecitabina que causa impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes com esse tratamento quimioterápico. O profissional enfermeiro tem como instrumento de cuidado a consulta de enfermagem que possibilita uma intervenção educativa sistematizada, fundamental para composição de um cuidado individualizado e integral. Objetivo: Analisar as ações desenvolvidas pelo enfermeiro no ambulatório de prevenção e tratamento da Síndrome Mão-Pé induzida pelo uso de Capecitabina. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa e observação participante, realizado em um instituto de referência em oncologia, situado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no período de outubro a novembro de 2020. Foi elaborado um diário de campo a partir dos dados referentes às ações desenvolvidas pelo profissional durante a consulta de enfermagem, o fluxo percorrido pelos pacientes atendidos nesse ambulatório, as anotações do enfermeiro no livro de registro dos pacientes e impressões da pesquisadora. Resultados: Após a análise criteriosa dos dados emergiram duas categorias de análise: ações administrativas e ações técnicas e educativas. Conclusão: Identificou-se que o fluxo seguido oportuniza o acompanhamento dos pacientes em uso de antineoplásico oral Capecitabina em sua quase totalidade. As consultas de enfermagem são operacionalizadas com intuito preventivo da instauração da síndrome em um importante processo de interação/integração com o paciente, utilizando-se a educação em saúde como estratégia de cuidado para prevenção e manejo da síndrome, contribuindo para disseminação de conhecimento acerca do processo de trabalho do enfermeiro em ambulatório especializado e contemporâneo.

High Coverage of Antiretroviral Treatment With Annual Home-Based HIV Testing, Follow-up Linkage Services, and Implementation of Test and Start: Findings From the Chókwè Health Demographic Surveillance System, Mozambique, 2014-2019.

Early antiretroviral therapy (ART) is necessary for HIV epidemic control and depends on early diagnosis and successful linkage to care. Since 2014, annual household-based HIV testing and counseling and linkage services have been provided through the Chókwè Health and Demographic Surveillance System for residents testing HIV positive in this high HIV-burden district. District-wide Test and Start [T&S, ART for all people living with HIV (PLHIV)] began in August 2016, supported by systematic interventions to improve linkage to care and treatment. Annual rounds (R) of random household surveys were conducted to assess trends in population prevalence of ART use and viral load suppression (<1000 viral RNA copies/mL). Between R1 (April 2014-April 2015) and R5 (April 2018-Mar 2019), 46,090 (67.2%) of 68,620 residents aged 15-59 years were tested for HIV at home at least once, and 3711 were newly diagnosed with HIV and provided linkage services. Population prevalence of current ART use among PLHIV increased from 65.0% to 87.5% between R1 and R5. ART population prevalence was lowest among men aged 25-34 years (67.8%) and women aged 15-24 (78.0%), and highest among women aged 35-44 years (93.6%) and 45-59 years (93.7%) in R5. Viral load suppression prevalence increased among all PLHIV aged 15-59 years from 52.0% in R1 to 78.3% in R5. Between 2014 and 2019, Chókwè Health and Demographic Surveillance System residents surpassed the UNAIDS targets of ≥81% of PLHIV on ART and ≥73% virally suppressed. This achievement supports the combination of efforts from household-based HIV testing and counseling, support for linkage to care and treatment, and continued investments in T&S implementation.

A Collaborative Deprescribing Intervention in a Subacute Medical Outpatient Clinic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Medication deprescribing is essential to prevent inappropriate medication use in multimorbid patients. However, experience of deprescribing in Danish Subacute Medical Outpatient Clinics (SMOCs) is limited. The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of a collaborative deprescribing intervention by a pharmacist and a physician to multimorbid patients in a SMOC. A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted, with phone follow-up at 30 and 365+ days. A senior pharmacist performed a systematic deprescribing intervention using the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria, the Danish deprescribing list, and patient interviews. A senior physician received the proposed recommendations and decided which should be implemented. The main outcome was the number of patients having ≥1 medication where deprescribing status was sustained 30 days after inclusion. Out of 76 eligible patients, 72 (95%) were included and 67 (93%) completed the study (57% male; mean age 73 years; mean number of 10 prescribed medications). Nineteen patients (56%) in the intervention group and four (12%) in the control group had ≥1 medication where deprescribing status was sustained 30 days after inclusion (p = 0.015). In total, 37 medications were deprescribed in the intervention group and five in the control group. At 365+ days after inclusion, 97% and 100% of the deprescribed medications were sustained in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The three most frequently deprescribed medication groups were analgesics, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal medications. In conclusion, a collaborative deprescribing intervention for multimorbid patients was feasible and resulted in sustainable deprescribing of medication in a SMOC.