Process evaluation of implementation strategies to reduce potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in older population: A scoping review

ObjectivesSeveral implementation strategies can reduce potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing. Although use of PIMs has declined in recent years, it remains prevalent. Various strategies exist to improve the appropriateness of medication use. However, little is known about the processes of these different implementation strategies. This scoping review aims to investigate how the process evaluation of implementation strategies for reducing PIM prescribing in the older population has been studied.MethodsWe searched for process evaluations of implementation strategies for reducing PIM prescribing in PUBMED, SCOPUS and Web of Science published between January 2000 and November 2019 in English. We applied the following inclusion criteria: patients aged ≥65 years, validated PIM criteria, and implementation process evaluated. The review focuses on decision support for health care professionals. We described the findings of the process evaluations, and compared the authors’ concepts of process evaluation of the included publications to those of Proctor et al.( 2010).ResultOf 9131 publications screened, 29 met our inclusion criteria. Different process evaluation conceptualizations were identified. Most process evaluations took place in the initial stages of the process (acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, and feasibility) and sustainability and implementation costs were seldom evaluated. None of the included publications evaluated fidelity.Multifaceted interventions were the most studied implementation strategies. Medication review was more common in acceptability evaluations, multidisciplinary interventions in adoption evaluations, and computerized systems and educational interventions in feasibility evaluations. Process evaluations were studied from the health care professionals’ viewpoint in most of the included publications, but the management viewpoint was missing.DiscussionThe conceptualization of process evaluation in the field of PIM prescribing is indeterminate. There is also a current gap in the knowledge of sustainability and implementation costs. Clarifying the conceptualization of implementation process evaluation is essential in order to effectively translate research knowledge into practice.     

林兰教授运用柴胡芍药枳实甘草汤临证探析

林兰教授对柴胡芍药枳实甘草汤有独特的理论见解。柴胡芍药枳实甘草汤证的病机，在经为邪郁少阳、气机壅滞，主气郁；在腑为经隧挛急、胆气不降。柴胡芍药枳实甘草汤和解少阳，理气开滞，舒挛止痛，为临床舒畅气血、治疗气郁之名方，临证可用于甲状腺疾病、肝胆疾病、乳腺疾病、妇科疾病及多种疑难杂症。     

2035年中国入围科技期刊“世界第一方阵”:基础、差距与推进思路

【目的】 在“中国科技期刊卓越行动计划”实施三周年之际,有必要对我国科技期刊2035年迈入“世界第一方阵”目标的具体任务进行重新审视和预判,以进一步明确发展方向,动态调整推进思路。【方法】 采用国内外科技期刊、科技论文、科技期刊评价成果的系统性发展数据对科技期刊“世界第一方阵” 国家(或地区)在高水平科技期刊数量与质量层面的入围标准进行界定,在深入总结现有基础和优势的同时,对我国科技期刊综合实力与“世界第一方阵”国家(或地区)的现实差距进行逐一梳理和剖析,并对实现目标的可行性和推进思路进行研判和设计。【结果】 必须继续加强高水平英文科技期刊创办和培育力度、持续加大优秀中文科技期刊的建设强度、快速推进国内外科技期刊论文等质同效评价制度的建设与引导,并积极探索建立科学家和科研机构办好一流科技期刊的责任制度和贡献激励机制、创新发展编辑人才队伍培养与激励管理思路、深入实践灵活多样的期刊出版市场资本运作模式、稳步推进期刊出版市场机制和管理制度改革,为我国科技期刊事业的高质量发展提速增效。【结论】 虽然当前阶段目标任务艰巨,但迈入“世界第一方阵”未来可期。     

Priorities for content for a short-course on postoperative care relevant for low- and middle-income countries: an e-Delphi process with training facilitators

Most surgical and anaesthetic mortality and morbidity occurs postoperatively, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Various short courses have been developed to improve patient outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, but none specifically to address postoperative care and complications. We aimed to identify key features of a proposed short-course addressing this topic using a Delphi process with low- and middle-income country anaesthesia providers trained as short-course facilitators. An initial questionnaire was co-developed from literature review and exploratory workshops to include 108 potential course features. Features included content; teaching method; appropriate participants; and appropriate faculty. Over three Delphi rounds (panellists numbered 86, 64 and 35 in successive cycles), panellists indicated which features they considered most important. Responses were analysed by geographical regions: Africa, the Americas, south-east Asia and Western Pacific. Ultimately, panellists identified 60, 40 and 54 core features for the proposed course in each region, respectively. There were high levels of consensus within regions on what constituted core course content, but not between regions. All panellists preferred the small group workshop teaching method irrespective of region. All regions considered anaesthetists to be key facilitators, while all agreed that both anaesthetists and operating theatre nurses were key participants. The African and Americas regional panels recommended more multidisciplinary healthcare professionals for participant roles. Faculty from high-income countries were not considered high priority. Our study highlights variability between geographical regions as to which course features were perceived as most locally relevant, supporting regional adaptation of short-course design rather than a one-size-fits-all model.     

Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

Method’s corner: Allergist’s guide to network meta-analysis

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) simultaneously estimate the effects of multiple possible treatment options for a given clinical presentation. For allergists to benefit optimally from NMAs, they must understand the process and be able to interpret the results. Through a worked example published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, we summarize how to identify credible NMAs and interpret them with a focus on recent innovations in the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). NMAs build on traditional systematic reviews and meta-analyses that consider only direct paired comparisons by including indirect evidence, thus allowing the simultaneous assessment of the relative effect of all pairs of competing alternatives. Our framework informs clinicians of how to identify credible NMAs and address the certainty of the evidence. Trustworthy NMAs fill a critical gap in providing key inferences using direct and indirect evidence to inform clinical decision making when faced with more than two competing courses of treatment options. This document will help allergists to identify trustworthy NMAs to enhance patient care.     

Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle and Changes in Frequency,Severity, and Localization of Pain in Older Adults

ObjectiveTo assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and changes in pain, and its characteristics over time in older adults.Patients and MethodsWe analyzed data from 864 and 862 community-dwelling individuals aged 65+ years from the Study on Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Frailty in Older Adults in Spain (Seniors-ENRICA) Seniors-ENRICA-1 (2008–2010 to 2012) and Seniors-ENRICA-2 (2015–2017 to 2019) cohorts, with a median follow-up of 2.8 and 2.4 years, respectively. Adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed at baseline with the 27-item Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index. Pain changes over time were calculated with a pain scale that assessed the frequency, severity, and the number of pain locations both at baseline and follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted relative risk ratios (RRRs) were obtained using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsIn the pooled cohorts, after a median follow-up of 2.6 years, pain worsened for 697 participants, improved for 734, and did not change for 295. Compared with the lowest category of MEDLIFE adherence, those in the highest category showed an RRR of improvement vs worsening of overall pain of 1.85 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.67; P-trend<.001). MEDLIFE adherence was also linked to improvement in pain frequency (RRR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.01; P-trend=.001), pain severity (RRR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.00; P-trend=.001), and a reduction in the number of pain locations (RRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.50; P-trend=.004). Limitations of this study are the use of self-reported lifestyle data.ConclusionA Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with improvement of pain characteristics in older adults. Experimental studies should assess the efficacy of an integral lifestyle approach for the management of pain in older adults.     

上海市社区药学服务需求现状

背景 随着患者就诊下沉明显，联合家庭医生团队开展社区药学服务日益重要，但如何发挥家庭医生团队作用以满足患者社区药学服务需求仍有待进一步探索。 目的 了解上海市社区药学服务需求现状，为改进社区药学人员参与家庭医生团队开展服务的方式提供参考建议。 方法 于2020年9—12月，采用多阶段抽样法抽取349例老年慢性病患者和855例家庭医生团队主要成员〔全科医生（n=481）、护士（n=234）、公共卫生医生（n=140）〕进行问卷调查。针对老年慢性病患者的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、患病情况、用药情况、社区药学服务需求情况和社区药学服务利用情况。针对家庭医生团队成员的调查问卷主要内容包括基本情况、社区药学服务认知情况和社区药学服务需求情况。 结果 349例老年慢性病患者中，125例（35.8%）同时患有≥3种慢性病，305例（87.4%）每日需多次用药。用药管理类药学服务方面，"用药重整及随访"需求人数最多，为52例（14.9%），"用药随访"利用人数最多，为49例（14.0%）。用药教育类药学服务方面，"慢性病用药特殊性的普及教育"需求人数最多，为247例（70.8%），"宣传健康生活方式"利用人数最多，为33例（9.4%）。家庭医生团队成员中，全科医生、护士、公共卫生医生对药学服务的了解程度方面，分别有440例（91.5%）、202例（86.3%）、112例（80.0%）表示了解；对药师的信任程度方面，分别有302例（62.8%）、183例（78.2%）、103例（73.6%）表示非常信任；"协同医师做好药物使用遴选"服务项目的需求人数分别有359例（74.6%）、112例（47.9%）、81例（57.8%）；"指导护士使用与管理药品"服务项目的需求人数分别有190例（39.5%）、153例（65.4%）、57例（40.7%）。 结论 一方面患者实际迫切需要用药管理类药学服务，另一方面患者的用药教育类药学服务需求远未得到满足。鉴于社区药学人员队伍薄弱及家庭医生团队对社区药学服务认知局限的现状，社区药学人员应通过培训团队成员，提升团队的社区药学服务认知水平及服务能力，借助团队力量及成员特性，更广泛高效地开展社区药学服务。     

超声引导下辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩的研究进展

冻结肩是常见的肩部疾病,传统非可视化治疗冻结肩效果欠佳。近年来,超声引导具有动态实时定位、无辐射、便携性、低成本等优点在辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩患者中得到成功应用,不仅能提供精确的诊断,也提高了患者中长期的疗效。本文就超声引导辅助诊断和治疗冻结肩的研究进展进行综述。     

肝癌术后槐耳颗粒防治肿瘤复发转移的效果研究

目的探究槐耳颗粒对肝癌根治术后复发转移的影响。方法114例行肝癌根治术患者,按治疗方法不同分为对照组(54例)和观察组(60例)。对照组行常规治疗,观察组行常规+槐耳颗粒治疗。对比两组生存及肿瘤复发转移情况、血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)、血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)、总胆红素(TB)、丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、生活质量改善情况。结果观察组存活率90.00%高于对照组的75.93%,复发转移率8.33%低于对照组的25.93%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,观察组VEGF(413.54±21.05)pg/ml、AFP(356.32±25.36)μg/L均低于对照组的(486.53±20.43)pg/ml、(415.69±21.32)μg/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,观察组TB(18.63±1.34)μmol/L、ALT(52.78±5.32)U/L低于对照组的(21.66±1.25)μmol/L、(56.23±5.63)U/L,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者生活质量改善情况优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论槐耳颗粒在防治肝癌术后肿瘤复发转移方面具有明显效果,推荐使用。