Hospital Level Research Articles

Assessment of Clinical Pharmacy Service Standards Implementation at Bhayangkara Hospital Level III in Kendari

One crucial component influencing the successful implementation of healthcare efforts in hospitals is the pharmaceutical system. Pharmaceutical services play a pivotal role in supporting quality healthcare, as outlined in Permenkes Number 72 of 2016, which delineates Pharmaceutical Service Standards in Hospitals. However, preliminary survey results conducted by the author indicate suboptimal implementation of these standards in 2021. Consequently, the researchers embarked on a study aimed at analyzing the implementation of pharmaceutical service standards at the Pharmacy Installation of Bhayangkara TK III Kendari Hospital. This research is scheduled to be conducted in January - February 2024. This study employed an exploratory qualitative method involving 9 informants at the pharmaceutical installation of Bhayangkara Hospital TK III Kendari. Data collection was conducted using interview guidelines, followed by transcription, introduction to interviews, coding, analysis, interpretation, and data mapping into a matrix. The implementation of health minister regulation Number 72 of 2016 regarding clinical pharmaceutical service standards at the Pharmacy Installation of Bhayangkara TK III Kendari Hospital can be summarized as follows: assessment and prescription services were carried out effectively, tracing the history of drug use was partially implemented well, drug reconciliation was partially implemented, drug information services (PIO) were partially implemented well, but some items such as counseling, visitation, monitoring drug therapy (PTO), monitoring drug side effects (MESO), evaluating drug use (EPO), dispensing sterile preparations, and monitoring drug levels in the blood (PKOD) were not implemented optimally. Overall, the implementation of pharmaceutical service standards according to health minister regulation Number 72 of 2016 at the pharmaceutical installation of Bhayangkara Hospital TK III Kendari has not been optimal. Keywords: Pharmaceutical service standards, Health minister regulation, Pharmacist, Hospital

Examination of Risk Factors and Postpartum Cardiomyopathy in Hospital Outcomes in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh

Examination of Risk Factors and Postpartum Cardiomyopathy in Hospital Outcomes in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh

Analysis of factors influencing hospitalization cost of patients with distal radius fractures: an empirical study based on public traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in two cities, China

BackgroundDistal radius fractures (DRFs) have become a public health problem for all countries, bringing a heavier economic burden of disease globally, with China’s disease economic burden being even more acute due to the trend of an aging population. This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of hospitalization cost of patients with DRFs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCMa) hospitals to provide a scientific basis for controlling hospitalization cost.MethodsWith 1306 cases of DRFs patients hospitalized in 15 public TCMa hospitals in two cities of Gansu Province in China from January 2017 to 2022 as the study object, the influencing factors of hospitalization cost were studied in depth gradually through univariate analysis, multiple linear regression, and path model.ResultsHospitalization cost of patients with DRFs is mainly affected by the length of stay, surgery and operation, hospital levels, payment methods of medical insurance, use of TCMa preparations, complications and comorbidities, and clinical pathways. The length of stay is the most critical factor influencing the hospitalization cost, and the longer the length of stay, the higher the hospitalization cost.ConclusionsTCMa hospitals should actively take advantage of TCMb diagnostic modalities and therapeutic methods to ensure the efficacy of treatment and effectively reduce the length of stay at the same time, to lower hospitalization cost. It is also necessary to further deepen the reform of the medical insurance payment methods and strengthen the construction of the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system, to make the patients receive reasonable reimbursement for medical expenses, thus effectively alleviating the economic burden of the disease in the patients with DRFs.

Composition and influencing factors of professionals' capacity in public health emergency rescues: a qualitative study.

To explore the composition and influencing factors of professionals' capacity in public health emergency rescues. A descriptive qualitative design was used in this study. Medical workers, managers, and members of an emergency rescue team in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, were recruited for participation through a purposive sampling method. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a conventional content analysis method. A total of 2 themes and 13 sub-themes emerged from the analysis: ability composition (knowledge reserve, early warning assessment, information reporting, emergency response, self-protection, personal ability, coordination and cooperation, health education) and influencing factors (educational background, region, experience, hospital level, human resources, and financial investment). These findings offer a basis for the construction of a related indicator system and provide a reference for relevant departments to further optimize their emergency education and training, strengthen their emergency drills, and improve their emergency rescue abilities. The findings indicate that it is necessary to pay attention to the construction of an emergency rescue team, adjust the ratio of personnel, improve their remuneration, and promote work enthusiasm to improve the emergency rescue ability of an organization.

Identifying Population-Level and Within-Hospital Disparities in Surgical Care.

The lack of consensus on equity measurement and its incorporation into quality-assessment programs at the hospital and system levels may be a barrier to addressing disparities in surgical care. This study aimed to identify population-level and within-hospital differences in the quality of surgical care provision. The analysis included 657 NSQIP participating hospitals with more than 4 million patients (2014 to 2018). Multilevel random slope, random intercept modeling was used to examine for population-level and in-hospital disparities. Disparities in surgical care by Area Deprivation Index (ADI), race, and ethnicity were analyzed for 5 measures: all-case inpatient mortality, all-case urgent readmission, all-case postoperative surgical site infection, colectomy mortality, and spine surgery complications. Population-level disparities were identified across all measures by ADI, 2 measures for Black race (all-case readmissions and spine surgery complications), and none for Hispanic ethnicity. Disparities remained significant in the adjusted models. Before risk adjustment, in all measures examined, within-hospital disparities were detected in: 25.8% to 99.8% of hospitals for ADI, 0% to 6.1% of hospitals for Black race, and 0% to 0.8% of hospitals for Hispanic ethnicity. After risk adjustment, in all measures examined, less than 1.1% of hospitals demonstrated disparities by ADI, race, or ethnicity. After risk adjustment, very few hospitals demonstrated significant disparities in care. Disparities were more frequently detected by ADI than by race and ethnicity. The lack of substantial in-hospital disparities may be due to the use of postoperative metrics, small sample sizes, the risk adjustment methodology, and healthcare segregation. Further work should examine surgical access and healthcare segregation.

Lower comorbidity scores and severity levels in Veterans Health Administration hospitals: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrevious studies found that documentation of comorbidities differed when Veterans received care within versus outside Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Changes to medical center funding, increased attention to performance reporting, and expansion of Clinical Documentation Improvement programs, however, may have caused coding in VHA to change.MethodsUsing repeated cross-sectional data, we compared Elixhauser-van Walraven scores and Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) severity levels for Veterans’ admissions across settings and payers over time, utilizing a linkage of VHA and all-payer discharge data for 2012–2017 in seven US states. To minimize selection bias, we analyzed records for Veterans admitted to both VHA and non-VHA hospitals in the same year. Using generalized linear models, we adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics.ResultsFollowing adjustment, VHA admissions consistently had the lowest predicted mean comorbidity scores (4.44 (95% CI 4.34–4.55)) and lowest probability of using the most severe DRG (22.1% (95% CI 21.4%-22.8%)). In contrast, Medicare-covered admissions had the highest predicted mean comorbidity score (5.71 (95% CI 5.56–5.85)) and highest probability of using the top DRG (35.3% (95% CI 34.2%-36.4%)).ConclusionsMore effective strategies may be needed to improve VHA documentation, and current risk-adjusted comparisons should account for differences in coding intensity.

How Much Does Dysphagia Cost? Understanding the Additional Costs of Dysphagia for New Zealand in Patients Hospitalised with Stroke

Introduction: Dysphagia (i.e., disordered swallowing) is a consequence of stroke. Existing literature on the marginal cost of dysphagia after stroke is limited and ignores long-term impacts. Our aim was to determine the marginal 12-month cost attributable to dysphagia, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impacts, among patients hospitalised with stroke in New Zealand. Methods: Secondary analysis of observational data from the REGIONS Care study, a national study from New Zealand of consecutively hospitalised patients with acute stroke between May 1, 2018, and October 30, 2018, including an outcome survey at 12 months among those who provided consent. Patients were identified as dysphagic if they received a swallow screen in hospital resulting in a speech language therapist review. Patients that required a nasogastric feeding tube in hospital were classified as “severe.” Optimal linear propensity score matching was utilised to provide a group of patients to compare with stroke and dysphagia. All costs were converted to 2021NZD. Results: Overall, of the 2,379 patients in the REGIONS cohort (51% male, median age: 78), 40% (944/2,379) were dysphagic (52% male, median age: 78), and 5% (111/2,379) were classified as severely dysphagic. Within 12 months of hospital discharge, dysphagia reduced HRQoL overall by 0.06 index points (95% CI: 0.028–0.100), and severe dysphagia by 0.12 index points (95% CI: 0.03–0.20). The estimated marginal 12-month cost attributable to stroke-related dysphagia was NZD 24,200 on average per patient. This estimate includes the additional hospitalisation costs (NZD 16,100), community rehabilitation services (NZD 570), hospital level aged residential care (NZD 4,030), and reduced HRQoL (NZD 3,470) over a 12-month period post-hospital discharge. The overall total marginal cost for those with severe dysphagia was NZD 34,000 per patient. Conclusion: We report cost estimates to 12 months from a national perspective on the additional costs and HRQoL outcomes of dysphagia for people hospitalised with stroke in New Zealand. Findings provide a novel contribution internationally since few prior studies have extended beyond the acute hospital phase of care. By quantifying the economic burden, we provide information to decision makers to improve dysphagia management strategies and ultimately enhance the overall HRQoL for people with stroke and dysphagia.

Adherence to Antipsychotics among Patients with Schizophrenia at Selected Tertiary Level Hospitals

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder where nonadherence is present in patients so that relapse, rehospitalization and treatment resistant can occur. Objectives: To identify the level of adherence to antipsychotics among patients with schizophrenia and to find its association with socio-demographic variables. Materials and method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used for the study. 422 samples were collected using the purposive sampling technique Data was collected by the face-to-face interview technique during March, April, and May 2023. Questionnaire related to Socio-demographic information, standard valid tool Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) was used as instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 41.02, ±12.77. More than half52 (12.3%) of respondents were taking antipsychotics for more than 15 years. Majority of respondents 342 (81.0%) were taking atypical types of antipsychotics. Only 220 (52.1%) of respondents has moderate level of adherence towards antipsychotic medicine. Significant association was found between duration of illness and adherence level where p=0.006. There is mean difference found p=<0.001 from nonadherent group to moderate adherent and adherent group and from moderate adherent-to-adherent group. Conclusion: Nonadherence was found important factor low Quality of life among schizophrenia patient. Implementation of community mental health program is necessary to reduce treatment gap and decrease nonadherence. It is essential to improve adherence on antipsychotic for better quality of life among schizophrenia patient.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Patients Attending Tertiary Level Hospitals in Bangladesh: Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Vitamin D (Vit D) is essential for calcium and phosphate homeostasis, critical for bone growth and remodeling. Its deficiency leads to conditions like osteomalacia and rickets, with adverse effects on osteoporosis, growth, and skeletal health. This study aimed to assess Vitamin D Deficiency prevalence among patients in Bangladeshi tertiary-level hospitals. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2019 at Cumilla Medical College Hospital and Central Medical College Hospital. We enrolled 1250 patients meeting inclusion criteria and collected data via a pre-designed questionnaire. Results: Most participants (31.8%) were aged 31-40, with a mean age of 37.31±13.37. Male patients constituted 53.3%, and 46.7% were female. Rural residents accounted for 52.6%, while 25.8% lived in urban areas, and the rest abroad, mainly the Middle East. The majority (88.5%) belonged to middle-class families, and only 1.5% reported sufficient sun exposure. Strikingly, 54.2% were Vitamin D deficient, 40% had insufficient levels, and only 6.4% had adequate Vit D. Conclusion: This study highlights a significant prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among patients in Bangladeshi tertiary hospitals. The data underscore the urgent need for healthcare authorities to address this public health concern. Policymakers and healthcare providers should be aware of the potential long-term health consequences of Vitamin D deficiency, emphasizing the importance of strategies to promote adequate Vit D levels in the population. Medicine Today 2023 Vol.36 (1): 17-22

Pattern of Pesticide and Herbicide Poisoning Among People Admitted to Medicine Wards of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Acute poisoning has become a major public health problem accounting for significant morbidity and mortality around the globe2. According to WHO data, an estimated 193,460 people died worldwide in 2012 from unintentional acute poisoning. 84% of these deaths occurred in resource-lacking low- and middle income countries3. The toxicity of accessible poisons and the scarcity of adequate medical facilities for poisoning management is responsible for a such a high mortality rate in this region4. Acute pesticide poisoning usually occurs during agricultural use either by accidental exposure or by suicidal attempt, rarely as homicidal2,5&8. This study is designed to assess the patterns of pesticide & herbicide poisoning among rural & urban peoples admitted to medicine ward of a tertiary level hospital and to find out the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. So that the supply of these agents be properly regulated to prevent easy accessibility and misuse. Materials and Methods: It was a hospital based cross-sectional observational study conducted at indoor Department of Medicine, Chittagong Medical College Hospital for six months period from 01/01/2019 to 31/06/2019. Ethical clearance was taken from ethical review committee of Chittagong Medical College and informed consent was obtained from each participants. Hundred patients above 12 years of age with a relevant history and clinical signs and symptoms of any type of pesticides and herbicides poisoning who fulfilled the selection criteria were selected consecutively for the study. Data was collected using a pretested, multi-structured questionnaire which comprised of questions to identify demographic data, type and circumstances of poisoning. Results: Regarding motive of poisoning in our study 81% patient took pesticide & herbicide poisoning for suicide and 19% admitted with accidental case. This result is consistent with the study where most common reason of pesticide & herbicide poisoning was suicide (93.3%) 20. A study performed at Rajshahi Medical College from January 1991 to December 1994 showed that out of those 405 cases of OPC poisoning 310 were suicidal (76.54%) and 95 were homicidal (23.45%) poisoning28. The present study revealed that factors responsible for the suicidal attempt were familial disharmony in 46% of cases, marital problems in 19%, financial problem in 16%, mental disorder in 3% and 11% due to other reasons. Shadequl-Islam et al. reported the motive of pesticide poisoning in their study that 45% of cases were due to familial disharmony, 15% unknown, 13.3% depression, 8.3% marital problems, 5% financial problems and 13.3% due to other reasons26. In most cases, the patient could access to the poison by self-purchasing from poison retailers. Conclusion: This study has indicated that young adults, males and socially underprivileged people are at a higher risk of pesticides and herbicides poisoning. This study showed pesticides & herbicides poisoning is the most common modes of suicidal deaths. Pesticides are mostly misused purposefully as an easy means for committing suicide. Early diagnosis and treatment is mandatory in order to minimize mortality from these potentially lethal compounds. It is recommended that the supply of pesticides be properly regulated to prevent easy accessibility and misuse. Medicine Today 2023 Vol.36 (1): 36-40

The impact of scheduling ketamine as an internationally controlled substance on anaesthesia care in Sub-Saharan Africa: a case study and key informant interviews

BackgroundAccess to anaesthesia and surgical care is a major problem for people living in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, ketamine is critical for the provision of anaesthesia care. However, efforts to control ketamine internationally as a controlled substance may significantly impact its accessibility. This research therefore aims to estimate the importance of ketamine for anaesthesia and surgical care in Sub-Saharan Africa and assess the potential impact on access to ketamine if it were to be scheduled.MethodsThis research is a mixed-methods study, comprising of a cross-sectional survey at the hospital level in Rwanda, and key informant interviews with experts on anaesthesia care in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data on availability of four anaesthetic agents were collected from hospitals (n = 54) in Rwanda. Semi-structured interviews with 10 key informants were conducted, collecting information on the importance of ketamine, the potential impact of scheduling ketamine internationally, and opinions on misuse of ketamine. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic analysis approach.ResultsThe survey conducted in Rwanda found that availability of ketamine and propofol was comparable at around 80%, while thiopental and inhalational agents were available at only about half of the hospitals. Significant barriers impeding access to anaesthesia care were identified, including a general lack of attention given to the specialty by governments, a shortage of anaesthesiologists and migration of trained anaesthesiologists, and a scarcity of medicines and equipment. Ketamine was described as critical for the provision of anaesthesia care as a consequence of these barriers. Misuse of ketamine was not believed to be an issue by the informants.ConclusionKetamine is critical for the provision of anaesthesia care in Sub-Saharan Africa, and its scheduling would have a significantly negative impact on its availability for anaesthesia care.

Clinical diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodyspepsia syndrome using intelligent medicine.

Against the backdrop of rapid social economy and scientific and technological development, intelligent medical technology expanded based on the Internet plays a crucial role in the innovation and development of the modern medical industry. Intelligent medical technology has completely changed the fixed medical methods of the past, and it can solve the isolated defects between various unit systems, greatly improving the overall informatization level of hospitals. This article analyzed the clinical diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodyspepsia syndrome (NDS) in intelligent medicine. Dyspepsia can cause palpitations, vomiting, abdominal distension, dizziness, and other symptoms so that it can cause discomfort and pain in the middle or around the epigastric region. Therefore, it is necessary to make a correct diagnosis of neurodyspepsia in order to reduce the discomfort of patients. Intelligent medical technology is of great significance in improving patients' symptoms. This study sets up a control group and an experimental group for the experiment. The control group used conventional medication technology, while the experimental group used intelligent medical technology to analyze the patient samples taken. By comparing the factors that affect patients with NDS, it was found that the physical function score of the experimental group was 6.3% lower than that of the control group. Intelligent medical technology has high diagnostic efficiency and can achieve rapid diagnosis of NDS, meeting the clinical diagnosis and prevention requirements of NDS.

Results of bariatric surgery in a third level hospital in the last 5 years

Results of bariatric surgery in a third level hospital in the last 5 years

A feasibility study on preoperative carbohydrate loading in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery

BackgroundPreoperative carbohydrate loading in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery is an independent predictor of postoperative outcomes. By reducing the impact of surgical stress response, fasting-induced insulin resistance is modulated. As a clear fluid, consuming carbohydrate drink is safe up to 2 h preoperatively. Widely practiced in abdominal surgeries, its implementation in hip fracture surgeries is yet to be recognized. This study aimed to identify the feasibility of preoperative carbohydrate loading in hip fracture surgery and assess its clinical effects.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled, open labelled trial. Patients ≥ 65 years old without diabetes mellitus, has hip fracture were recruited in a tertiary hospital between November 2020 and May 2021. The intervention was carbohydrate loading versus standard preoperative fasting.ResultsThirty-four ASA I-III patients (carbohydrate loading and control, n = 17 each), mean age 78 years (SEM ± 1.5), mean body mass index 23.7 (SEM ± 0.6 kg/m2) were recruited. Analysis for feasibility of carbohydrate loading (n = 17) demonstrated attrition rate of 29% (n = 5). Otherwise, all recruited patients were compliant (100% compliance) with no adverse events reported. There was no significant difference among groups in the postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain score, fatigue level, muscle strength, postoperative infection and length of hospital stay assessed at 24–48 h postoperatively.ConclusionThe implementation of preoperative carbohydrate loading was found to be feasible preoperatively in hip fracture surgeries but requires careful coordination among multidisciplinary teams. An adequately powered randomized controlled study is needed to examine the full benefits of preoperative carbohydrate loading in this group of patients.Trial registrationThis study was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04614181, date of registration: 03/11/2020).

Pattern of Breast Cancer in Women at Child-bearing Age, its Risk Factors and Clinicopathological Evaluation in Tertiary Level Hospital

Background: Carcinoma breast is the leading cancer in female in Bangladesh, increasing significantly due to urbanization and adoption of western life style. Objective: This study aimed to systematically understand the pattern of breast cancer, its risk factors and clinicopathological evaluation in women at their childbearing age. Methods: A cross sectional observational study, data was collected from 50 patients of histopathologically confirmed breast cancer in the department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from 2022 to 2023. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-45(42%) years age with mean presentation was 43.55 (SD-/+9.63) years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype 86%, followed by ductal carcinoma in situ (8%). Of the cases 2% were nullipara and 46% had two children. Median age of at 1st birth was 21 years. A significant proportion (16%) had family history of breast cancer. 98% patients gave history of breast feeding. Conclusions: Breast cancer is increasingly occurring in younger age groups in Bangladesh, results suggested a mixture of different factors in women like age of menarche, age of first child birth, parity, history of breast feeding and family history poses higher risk for breast cancer. J Rang Med Col. March 2024; Vol. 9, No. 1:16-21

Enhancing stroke care in Ghana: A systematic review of stroke rehabilitation services

ObjectiveIn Ghana, the shifting demographics of stroke incidence towards young adults have prompted the expansion of stroke care and rehabilitation efforts. Nevertheless, the precise impact of stroke rehabilitation remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review to explore the landscape and effects of stroke rehabilitation in Ghana. MethodWe identified articles on stroke rehabilitation services in Ghana through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science from inception until February 2024. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Checklist was employed to assess the risk of bias in the included studies, supplemented by qualitative synthesis. ResultsAmong the 213 articles screened, 8 were deemed suitable for review. These studies primarily focused on two groups: stroke survivors (n = 335) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) (n = 257). Many stroke survivors reported significant benefits from telerehabilitation, with increased participation in rehabilitation activities correlating with improved physical and cognitive outcomes. The findings also underscored a lack of knowledge about stroke rehabilitation among HCPs, alongside variations in the availability of protocols and guidelines for stroke management across different hospital levels. ConclusionsThe review reveals several challenges in stroke rehabilitation in Ghana, including disparities in HCPs' perceptions and utilization of rehabilitation services. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive, patient-centered approaches, standardized training for HCPs, improved resource allocation, and the integration of telehealth to overcome barriers and enhance stroke rehabilitation in Ghana. These insights hold significance not only for Ghana but also for guiding strategies in similar contexts worldwide, aiming to improve stroke rehabilitation outcomes.

Healthcare performance analytics based on the novel PDA methodology for assessment of efficiency and perceived quality outcomes: A machine learning approach

Efficient resource allocation in healthcare organizations remains a complex challenge, exacerbated by the intricate data structure and myriad variables involved. While traditional methods like Data Envelopment Analysis have been employed, these often lack the requisite discriminatory power for accurate evaluation. This study introduces the PDA methodology, a fusion of Principal Component Analysis, Data Envelopment Analysis, and Analysis of Variance algorithms, developed in a machine learning environment. To further optimize discriminative power, the Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm was included. By applying the PDA methodology to hospitals in the Apulia region of Italy, we found that facilities with better perceived quality tend to be more efficient. Furthermore, we identified significant variations in efficiency based on network affiliation and hospital level. Machine learning algorithms, including linear regressions and neural networks, confirmed that our methodology outperforms traditional Data Envelopment Analysis models in precisely distinguishing between varying levels of hospital efficiency. In conclusion, this work provides a fresh perspective for future research and policy decisions in the healthcare domain, demonstrating how the use of advanced and machine learning algorithms can result in more accurate evaluations and targeted interventions.

Abstract PO2-16-08: Adjuvant Treatment Selection for County-Level Patients with HR+/HER2- Early Breast Cancer in a Real-Life Setting in China

Abstract Background: CHASE001 (NCT05544123), a prospective, non-interventional multicenter study exploring real-world treatment and referral behavior of Chinese county patients (pts) with HER2+ or HR+/HER2– breast cancer is ongoing since September 2022. A prespecified interim analysis (IA) on 750 HER2+ and HR+/HER2- early breast cancer (eBC) was reported at the ESMO Congress 2023. In the 2nd IA from CHASE001, adjuvant treatment selection for patients with HR+/HER2- eBC will be evaluated. Methods: The study was designed to enroll 2500 pts, including four cohorts (HER2+ eBC, HR+/HER2-eBC, HER2+ advanced BC, and HR+/HER2- aBC). In this IA, HR+/HER2- eBC pts after surgery were included. Descriptive statistics reported patient demographics, clinical and disease characteristics and treatment patterns. To investigate the factors associated with chemotherapy-free regimen, non-anthracycline chemotherapy regimen and ovarian function suppression (OFS), univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: At data cutoff (May 17, 2023), 697 HR+/HER2- eBC pts (median age 52 years, 45.77% pT2, 50.93% pN0, 56.10% G2) were included from 26 institutions in China county areas, 338 (48.49%) were premenopausal. 584 (83.79%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, with a few (47/584, 8.05%) initially developing their treatment plan at a higher level hospital (national or provincial tertiary hospital). AC-T (309/584, 52.91%) was the most commonly used regimen. 181 (30.99%) pts received non-anthracycline chemotherapy regimen (mainly TC), and pts with N0, age≥65 years and ki67 < 20% had the strongest association to this regimen (multivariate OR=0.082, 95%CI [0.037,0.179], OR=0.463, 95%CI [0.250,0.859], and OR=0.642, 95%CI [0.418,0.985], respectively). Interestingly, on univariate analysis pts initially diagnosed in a higher level hospital were significantly associated with non-anthracycline regimen (P=0.0109), however on multivariate analysis it was no longer significant. 483 pts received endocrine therapy, including 234 (48.45%) premenopausal pts. The most commonly used endocrine regimen for premenopausal pts was OFS/OFS+ (122/234, 52.14%) ,of which half (61, 50%) were prescribed OFS+TAM/TOR; followed by TAM/TOR monotherapy (69/234, 29.49%). The proportions of patients classified as low, intermediate, and high clinical risk for recurrence (investigator assessed)were 33.62%, 42.67% and 23.71%. The OFS rate were 39.74% in low, 61.62% in intermediate and 70.91% in high risk pts, respectively. Multivariable analyses found that high clinical risk, age < 45 years and ki67 < 20% were strongly associated with the use of OFS (OR=0.210, 95%CI [0.066,0.674], OR=0.327, 95%CI [0.165,0.649], and OR=0.405, 95%CI [0.194,0.845], respectively). For postmenopausal pts, AI monotherapy (84.74%) was the most commonly used endocrine regimen. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first real-world study evaluating the treatment patterns and referral behavior of BC pts in China counties. The 2nd IA results presented showed the current systemic adjuvant treatment preferences and influence factors from a large sample of HR+/HER2- eBC pts in China counties, which were generally consistent with China BC treatment guidelines. Table 1. Utilization of adjuvant systemic therapy regimens in 697 HR+/HER2− eBC pts, China counties AC-T: (dd)doxorubicin/epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, followed by (dd)paclitaxel/docetaxel; TC: paclitaxel/docetaxel, cyclophosphamide; AC: doxorubicin/epirubicin, cyclophosphamide; TAC: docetaxel, doxorubicin/epirubicin, cyclophosphamide; TAM: tamoxifen; OFS: ovarian function suppression; AI: aromatase inhibitors; TOR: toremifene; CDK4/6i: cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors; “Other” category includes various therapies used in <1% of patients each Citation Format: Yinghua Ji, Honglan Qu, Feidu Zhou, Juan Wang, Qianfu Wu, Guohua Dai, Mengyou Liu, Wenbo He, Wei Liang, Qiuli Meng, Yun Ren, Guoxiang Luo, Hongjian Wang, Hui Liu, Zien Qin, Yingguo Tian, Huali Tang, Hongmei Liu, Jun Luo, Zengfeng Yu, Guinv Hu, Jianzhi Gao, Xiang Tan, Yi Liu, Yuanjiang Zhang, Ming Wang, Min Zhang, Ping Lu. Adjuvant Treatment Selection for County-Level Patients with HR+/HER2- Early Breast Cancer in a Real-Life Setting in China [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-16-08.

Effectiveness of the six-step approach guided online training program to improve knowledge of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia among pediatricians: a pretest-posttest study.

In 2023, China witnessed an earlier and more widespread outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). To address this situation, an online training program was designed to enhance the knowledge of MPP among pediatricians in Shanghai, China. An online training program on the diagnosis and treatment of MPP, guided by Kern's six-step approach, was developed by the Shanghai Pediatric Clinical Quality Control Center. A pre- and post-training survey was conducted using a 20-item self-administered questionnaire to investigate the pediatricians' knowledge of MPP. A linkage mechanism was established to match pretest/posttest questionnaires using personal identifiers. Paired t-tests and McNemar tests were performed to measure the differences, as appropriate, between pre- and post-training groups. A higher survey score indicated better knowledge. There were 289 participants performed pre- and post-tests. The average age of the respondents was 38.7 years (standard deviation: 8.9). Over 80% of the participants were primary (32.5%) and intermediate (47.8%) pediatricians. Those from specialized hospitals accounted for the highest proportion (41.5%). The post-training group achieved significantly higher total scores than the pre-training group (91.3 vs. 67.7, t=22.48, P<0.001), regardless of the professional titles or hospital levels (all P<0.001). The accuracy rates of each question increased significantly in the post-training group (all P<0.001). The online training program effectively enhanced pediatricians' understanding of diagnosing and treating MPP. It is recommended to maintain continuous education and training targeting all healthcare providers.

When Agency Fails: An Analysis of the Association Between Hospital Agency Staffing and Quality Outcomes.

Staffing is critical to hospital quality, but recent years have seen hospitals grappling with severe shortages, forcing them to rely on contract or agency staff for urgent patient care needs. This shift in staffing mix has raised questions about its impact on quality. Consequently, this study investigated whether the increased use of agency staff has affected healthcare quality in hospitals. Given the limited recent research on this topic, practitioners remain uncertain about the effectiveness of their staffing strategies and their potential impact on quality. Drawing from agency theory, data were obtained from Definitive Healthcare which consolidates information from numerous public access databases pertaining to hospitals such as the American Hospital Association Annual Survey (hospital profile) and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program (quality data). We conducted a cross-sectional study using a multivariable linear regression model (2021-2022) with appropriate organizational and market- level control variables. Quality was measured across eight variables while the independent variable of interest was agency labor cost ratio operationalized as the percentage of net patient revenue consumed by agency labor expense. Our results suggested that the employment of agency staff was significantly and negatively associated with six of eight quality measures tested, including the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) star rating, Hospital Compare rating, the hospital Total Performance Score (TPS), and three of the four sub-domains that comprise the TPS: clinical domain score, person and community engagement domain score, and the efficiency and cost reduction score. Our results indicated that the increased use of agency labor may have a significant negative influence on quality outcomes at the hospital level. Our findings support the premise that interventions that promote full-time staffing may be more supportive of the quality of care delivered as well as patients' perceptions of care.