Training and teaching of vagus nerve stimulation surgery: Worldwide survey and future perspectives

ObjectiveVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy has been used for more than two decades to treat drug resistant epilepsy and depression and most recently received FDA approval for stroke rehabilitation. Expanding indications will renew the interest in the technique and increase the number of surgeons to be trained. The aim of this study was to survey surgeons with substantial expertise on optimal teaching and training approaches.MethodsAnonymous forms comprising 16 questions were sent by e-mail to surgeons with substantial expertise. Statistical analyses were used to compare the answers of the most experienced surgeons (>5 years) with the less experienced ones (<5 years).ResultsFully-completed forms were collected from 57 experts from 20 countries. The placement of the helical coils was deemed to be the most difficult step by 36 (63.2%) experts, and the use of optical magnification during this step was deemed necessary by 39 (68.4%) experts. Vocal cord palsy should be largely avoidable with proper surgical technique according to 44 (77.2%) experts. The teaching tool considered the most useful was mentoring (38, 66.7%). The future of VNS surgery teaching was deemed to be in anatomical workshops (29, 50.9%) and surgical simulation (26, 45.6%). Overall, answers did not vary significantly according to experience.ConclusionsVNS surgery should be mastered by actively participating in dedicated practical training courses and by individual mentoring during actual surgery, which is still the best way to learn. This study highlights the need for a formal training course and possible specific accreditation.     

Out of the boxes,out of the silos: The need of interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce poor-quality medical products in the supply chain

In this paper, we argue that understanding and addressing the problem of poor-quality medical products requires a more interdisciplinary approach than has been evident to date. While prospective studies based on rigorous standardized methodologies are the gold standard for measuring the prevalence of poor-quality medical products and understanding their distribution nationally and internationally, they should be complemented by social science research to unpack the complex set of social, economic, and governance factors that underlie these patterns. In the following sections, we discuss specific examples of prospective quality surveys and of social science studies, highlighting the value of cross-sector partnerships in driving high-quality, policy-relevant research in this area.     

Economic impact of pharmaceutical services on polymedicated patients: A systematic review

BackgroundPolypharmacy is commonly related to poor drug adherence, decreased quality of life and inappropriate prescribing in eldery. Furthermore, this condition also leads to a higher utilization of health services resources, due to the increased risk of adverse drug events, length of stays in hospitals and readmissions rates after discharge.ObjectiveThis Systematic Review aimed to synthesize the current evidence that evaluates pharmaceutical services on polymedicated patients, from an economic perspective.MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies that were published until January 2021. Experimental and observational studies were included in this review, using strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the following tools: RoB and ROBINS-I. Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted the data.Results3,662 articles were retrieved from the databases. After the screening, 18 studies were included: 9 experimental and 9 observational studies. The studies reported that the integration of the pharmacist as a member of the healthcare team provides an optimized use of pharmacotherapy to polymedicated patients and contributes to health promotion, providing reduction of spending on medication, reduction of expenses related to emergency care and hospitalizations and other medical expenses. The ECRs made cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis, and most of the Non Randomized studies had statistically significant cost savings even considering the expenses of pharmaceutical assistance. Experimental studies reported a cost reduction varying between US$ 193 to US$ 4,966 per patient per year. Furthermore, observational studies estimated a cost reduction of varying from US$ 3 to US$ 2,505 per patient per year. The cost savings are related to decrease in emergency visits and hospitalizations, through pharmacist intervention (medication review and pharmacotherapy follow-up).ConclusionsConsidering the set of studies included, pharmaceutical care services directed to polymedicated patients may cooperate to save financial resources. Most of the interventions showed positive economic trends and also contributed to improving clinical parameters and quality of life. However, due to the majority of the studies having exploratory or qualitative methodology, it is essential to carry out more robust studies, based on full economic evaluation.     

The relationship between feedback and evaluative judgement in undergraduate nursing and midwifery education: An integrative review

AimThis integrative review aims to explore the relationship between feedback and evaluative judgement in undergraduate nursing and midwifery education.BackgroundResearch in higher education has shown that feedback practices can lead to students’ developing evaluative judgement; thought critical for performance improvement and life-long learning. While literature in nursing and midwifery education has not yet employed the term ‘evaluative judgement’ explicitly, there might be similar concepts and practices that seek to develop students’ judgement of performance that sustain learning beyond the immediate task.DesignAn integrative review of the nursing and midwifery feedback literature.MethodsIn February 2020, six online databases (CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, ERIC, PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE) were systematically searched for literature published between January 1989-February 2020. Synonyms for feedback and evaluative judgement were used to inform our search. This review included a rigorous team-based, five-stage approach: (1) identifying the problem; (2) conducting the search; (3) evaluating the data; (4) analysing the data; and (5) presenting the integrative review.ResultsA total of 1408 studies were initially retrieved with 543 duplicates. 865 abstracts were screened using eligibility criteria, resulting in the exclusion of 835 studies. Thirty full-text studies were appraised for quality. Eighteen studies with diverse methodologies achieved a medium-high quality score for inclusion in data analysis. Conceptions of feedback and evaluative judgement were identified in all studies; despite none using the term 'evaluative judgement' explicitly. Thematic analysis of the studies resulted in seven themes: conceptions of feedback, purposes of feedback, sources of feedback, modes of feedback, conceptions of evaluative judgement, purposes of evaluative judgement and relationships between feedback and evaluative judgement.ConclusionsWhile our findings supported contemporary higher education research, the feedback-evaluative judgement relationship is novel in nursing education. We encourage educators to design feedback activities privileging students’ active engagement through dialogic feedback, reflection and self-assessment, to develop their evaluative judgement of practice.     

Nurse students’ competences in interprofessional pharmaceutical care in Europe: Cross-sectional evaluation

BackgroundSafe pharmaceutical care requires competent nurses with specific knowledge, skills and attitudes. It is unclear whether nursing students are adequately prepared to perform pharmaceutical care in practice. Mapping their pharmaceutical care competences can lead to a better understanding of the extent to which curricula fit expectations of the labour market.ObjectivesTo assess pharmaceutical care competences of final-year nursing students of different educational levels.DesignA cross-sectional survey design.SettingsIn 14 European countries, nursing schools who offer curricula for level 4 to 7 students were approached.ParticipantsThrough convenience sampling 1741 final-year student nurses of level 4 to 7 were included. Sampling strategies were country-specific.MethodsA web-platform was developed with an assessment of the level in which students mastered pharmaceutical care competences. Knowledge questions, case studies (basic/advanced level), self-reported practical skills and attitudes were evaluated.ResultsMean scores for knowledge questions differed significantly (p < 0.001) between level 5 (56/100), level 6 (68/100) and level 7 students (72/100). For basic cases level 5 students reached lower scores (64/100) compared with level 6 (71/100) and level 7 (72/100) students (p = 0.002 and p = 0.005). For more advanced cases no difference between levels was observed (overall mean 61/100). Most students (63–90 %) considered themselves skilled to perform pharmaceutical care and had positive attitudes towards their participation in pharmaceutical care (65–97 %).ConclusionsRelatively low knowledge scores were calculated for final-year student nurses. In some domains, lower levels of students might be insufficiently prepared to take up responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Our assessment can be used as a tool for educators to evaluate how prepared nursing students are for pharmaceutical care. Its further implementation for students of different educational levels will allow benchmarking between the levels, both within and between countries.     

Where are the labor markets?: Examining the association between structural racism in labor markets and infant birth weight

Racist policies and practices that restrict Black, as compared to white workers, from employment may drive racial inequities in birth outcomes among workers. This study examined the association between structural racism in labor markets, measured at a commuting zone where workers live and commute to work, and low-birthweight birth. We found the deleterious effect of structural racism in labor markets among US-born Southern Black pregnant people of working age, but not among African- or Caribbean-born counterparts in any US region. Our analysis highlights the intersections of structural racism, culture, migration, and history of racial oppression that vary across regions and birth outcomes of Black workers.     

Advanced vaccinology training globally: Update and impact of the COVID-19 crisis

The rapid development of innovations and new technologies, the focus on the life-course approach to immunization and equity, and the prevalent hesitancy towards vaccines requires immunization staff to be well-trained and updated regularly in order to deliver quality immunization services to the public. The need for advanced vaccinology training is therefore paramount. In preparation for a second Global Workshop on Advanced Vaccinology Training that took place in March 2022, this paper presents the results of a survey aiming to provide a thorough update of a landscape analysis on advanced vaccinology courses conducted in 2018 and a look at the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Thirty-three course organizers responded to a survey to provide information on their respective course. Of those, 17 courses are short courses, 11 post-graduate courses and 5 are Master level courses. Most courses are organized on an annual basis. Even though some courses were not sustained overtime, the number of courses has been increasing during the last few years, and at least one vaccinology course is now being offered in each WHO region. Although the training capacity has increased tremendously, the need still exceeds the capacity and many courses have way more applicants than they can select. The most frequent challenges reported included sustainable funding and identifying faculty. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of several vaccinology courses, which have been postponed or reformatted to an online or hybrid training event. An e-portal of the global collaboration has been established to facilitate communication between the different courses and to assist future course participants to identify the most suitable course for their needs.     

Confounded association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of biliary tract cancer: Result from three cohorts

Recent epidemiological studies suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with an increased risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC), however, confounders were not adequately controlled. Our study aimed to evaluate PPI use and subsequent risk of BTC and its subtypes in three well-established cohorts. We conducted a pooled analysis of the subjects free of cancers in UK Biobank (n = 463 643), Nurses' Health Study (NHS, n = 80 235) and NHS II (n = 95 869). Propensity score weighted Cox models were used to estimate marginal HRs of PPIs use on BTC risk, accounting for potential confounders. We documented 284 BTC cases in UK Biobank (median follow-up: 7.6 years), and 91 cases in NHS and NHS II cohorts (median follow-up: 15.8 years). In UK biobank, PPI users had a 96% higher risk of BTC compared to nonusers in crude model (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.44-2.66), but the effect was attenuated to null after adjusting for potential confounders (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.60-1.49). PPI use was not associated with risk of BTC in the pooled analysis of three cohorts (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.60-1.43). We also observed no associations between PPI use with risk of intrahepatic (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49-2.04), extrahepatic bile duct (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52-2.27) and gallbladder cancers (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.26-1.66) in UK Biobank. In summary, regular use of PPIs was not associated with the risk of BTC and its subtypes.     

我国家庭医生签约服务政策执行的制约因素与优化路径：基于史密斯政策执行过程模型

深化家庭医生签约服务是深化医药卫生体制改革、强化基层医疗卫生服务、实现"健康中国"战略目标的重要选择，也是当前更好维护人民群众健康的重要途径。为有效推进签约服务工作，国家陆续推出各项政策，全国各地也在积极进行实践探索，成效明显。但是，签约服务仍面临诸多问题，其中"执行难"是签约服务深度推进的一大困境。通过史密斯政策执行过程模型，结合签约服务政策执行过程，发现签约服务仍存在法治性不足、政策执行人员水平不高、激励不足、政策环境影响等诸多制约因素。因此，需要从法律和制度方面进行顶层设计、提升执行人员素质和职业认同、建立医患互信、优化政策执行环境等角度进行政策创新，探索家庭医生签约服务可持续发展的路径。