Involvement of Patients and Medical Professionals in the Assessment of Relative Effectiveness: A Need for Closer Cooperation

ObjectivesInvolvement of patients and medical professionals in assessment of relative effectiveness (relative effectiveness assessment) contributes to an efficient and effective health technology assessment (HTA) process and supports acceptance and implementation of the outcome. This study aimed to analyze stakeholder involvement in assessing relative effectiveness and how the parties involved value this collaboration.MethodsThis is a document analysis of all drug assessments completed in 2019 (20) by the public HTA agency of The Netherlands, enriched with semistructured interviews with employees of the HTA agency (18) and representatives of patient (5) and medical (11) associations involved in these assessments. Data were analyzed, coded, and categorized.ResultsIn almost half of the assessments, there was no coordination with the medical associations at the start of the relative effectiveness assessment and no patient associations involved in this phase. During the assessment procedure, patient and medical associations were always asked to comment on the draft report. Nevertheless, the strict 5-day deadline that the HTA agency uses as a response period often hampered a proper response and involvement. According to interviewees of the HTA agency, this leads to a great diversity in the substantive quality of their input. Patient and medical associations indicated that the HTA agency relies too much on “paper knowledge,” which leads to a (perceived) lack of alignment with clinical practice.ConclusionsThe limited involvement results in a lack of coordination and mutual trust. Optimizing involvement of patients and medical professionals in HTA practice requires effort from all parties involved. Procedural adjustments and better coordination, especially at the start of the assessment, would probably improve cooperation.     

泄浊消癥法治疗晚期糖尿病肾脏病的临床研究

背景 糖尿病肾脏病（DKD）的发病率逐年升高，已成为全世界终末期肾病的主要病因。然而DKD起病隐匿，进入临床蛋白尿期后进展迅速，当肾功能明显受损后，常规治疗难以延缓疾病进展。因此，探究能够延缓晚期DKD疾病进展的切实有效的治疗方法是亟待解决的临床问题。王耀献教授针对DKD晚期浊毒与癥瘕为主的病机特点，提出泄浊消癥法治疗晚期DKD，在临床实践中取得了良好疗效。 目的 以"伏热"理论和"肾络癥瘕"理论为基础，探讨泄浊消癥法治疗晚期DKD的临床疗效。 方法 采用基于真实世界的前瞻性队列研究设计，2016—2020年，于北京中医药大学东直门医院、中国中医科学院广安门医院、首都医科大学附属北京中医医院、中国中医科学院望京医院、中国中医科学院西苑医院、北京市中西医结合医院、北京市房山区中医医院就诊并符合本课题纳入标准的DKD患者为研究对象，以泄浊消癥法作为暴露因素，分为对照组和试验组。对照组予西医基础治疗，试验组在西医基础治疗的基础上联合泄浊消癥法治疗。观察周期为24周，分别于0、4、12、24周时检测两组血肌酐（Scr）、尿素氮（BUN）、24小时尿蛋白定量（24 hUTP）、总胆固醇（TC），计算估算肾小球滤过率（eGFR），记录中医症状积分；于0、12、24周时检测两组糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）。记录试验期间记录不良事件，评价安全性。 结果 本研究共59例患者完成试验，其中试验组36例、对照组23例。时间对两组受试者eGFR、Scr、BUN水平主效应显著（P<0.05）。组间与时间对两组受试者中医症状积分变化存在交互作用（P<0.05）。组内比较发现，相较于0周，对照组在24周时Scr水平、中医症状积分升高，在12周和24周时BUN水平升高（P<0.05）；相较于0周，试验组在4周时eGFR水平升高（P<0.05）。组间比较发现，24周时试验组eGFR水平高于对照组，Scr、BUN水平和中医症状积分低于对照组（P<0.05）。对照组不良事件发生率为21.74%（5/23），试验组不良事件发生率为8.33%（3/36），两组间不良事件发生率比较，差异无统计学意义（χ2=2.15，P=0.14）。 结论 在晚期DKD治疗中，泄浊消癥法联合西医常规治疗相较于单纯西医常规治疗在延缓eGFR降低，减缓Scr、BUN水平升高，保护肾脏功能，降低热证积分，改善中医症状方面具有优势，能够提高临床疗效。     

Comparing the efficacy of integrative body-mind-spirit intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy in patient-caregiver parallel groups for lung cancer patients using a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purposes/objectives: This paper reports the comparative efficacies of integrative body-mind-spirit intervention (I-BMS) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patient-caregiver parallel groups for Chinese patients with lung cancer.

Design: Randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven patient-caregiver dyads with no marked functional impairment were randomized into one of the two interventions with eight weekly patient-caregiver parallel groups. Assessments were conducted at baseline, within one, eight- and sixteen-weeks post-intervention. Effects of treatment group across time were analyzed by multilevel modeling.

Findings: CBT led to greater reduction in emotional vulnerability than I-BMS. I-BMS resulted in greater increase in overall QoL and spiritual self-care, and more reduction in depression than CBT. Patients in both interventions experienced improvement in physical, emotional and spiritual, except social, domains of QoL.

Conclusion: I-BMS was more efficacious for diverse domains of QoL, and CBT was more effective for emotional well-being, despite the relatively small between-group effect sizes.

Implications for psychosocial providers/policy: (1) With the expanding repertoire of psychosocial interventions for families facing lung cancer, it has become imperative to investigate the comparative efficacies of empirically supported and culturally adapted interventions. (2) Our findings show that I-BMS was more effective for diverse domains of QoL, while CBT was more efficacious with emotional well-being, although both interventions led to significant improvements in physical, emotional and spiritual domains of patient QoL. (3) Patient-caregiver parallel groups have been shown to be effective for enhancing QoL of Chinese lung cancer patients. (4) Care professionals are encouraged to dispense interventions based on the idiosyncratic needs and preferences of the patients to maximize the treatment effects.     

Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: a meta-synthesis of patient perspectives

While previous randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses offer only limited evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation, qualitative studies examining patient perspectives report more positive outcomes. This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies examined patient perspectives of cognitive rehabilitation for memory, attention, and executive function problems in people with multiple sclerosis. Using set eligibility criteria, we screened electronic databases, reference lists, and academic networks for relevant papers. Seven papers (195 participants) were selected. Two independent researchers conducted quality appraisals of papers. Data analysis, guided by the thematic synthesis approach, yielded six main themes. These suggested that patients benefitted from the group environment in rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation facilitated the participants’ reflection and awareness of their cognitive deficits, and was associated with increased knowledge and understanding of their illness. Increased strategy use was reported and associated with improvements in cognitive functioning and greater confidence and perseverance. Participants reported emotional and social improvements, and felt more optimistic. Overall, these changes had a positive impact on participants’ quality of life. This synthesis of qualitative studies indicates that people with multiple sclerosis who experience cognitive deficits benefit from cognitive rehabilitation programmes. This finding must, however, be viewed in light of the limitations of this meta-synthesis. The meta-synthesis was registered in the PROSPERO database under CRD42017040148.     

Real-world effectiveness of HPV vaccination against cervical neoplasia among birth cohorts ineligible for routine vaccination

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine effectiveness may differ between settings. Here we present the first real-world effectiveness study of HPV vaccination on high-grade cervical lesions from Norway, among women who received HPV vaccine outside the routine program. We performed an observational study of all Norwegian women born 1975 to 1996 and retrieved individual data from nationwide registries on HPV vaccination status and incidence of histologically verified high-grade cervical neoplasia during 2006 to 2016. We estimated the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for vaccination vs no vaccination by Poisson regression stratified by age at vaccination <20 years and ≥20 years. The cohort consisted of 832 732 women, of which 46 381 (5.6%) received at least one dose of HPV vaccine by the end of 2016. The incidence rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) increased with age regardless of vaccination status and was highest at age 25 to 29, at 637/100 000 among unvaccinated women, 487/100 000 among women vaccinated before age 20 and 831/100 000 among women vaccinated at age 20 or older. The adjusted IRR of CIN2+ between vaccinated and unvaccinated women was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.46-0.84) for women vaccinated below age 20, and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.03-1.43) for women vaccinated at age 20 or older. These findings indicate that HPV vaccination among women too old to be eligible for routine HPV vaccination is effective among women who are vaccinated below age 20 but may not have the desired impact among women who are vaccinated at age 20 or older.     

Vaccine effectiveness against onward transmission of SARS-CoV2-infection by variant of concern and time since vaccination,Belgian contact tracing, 2021

BackgroundDuring the first half of 2021, we observed high vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV2-infection. The replacement of the alpha-‘variant of concern’ (VOC) by the delta-VOC and uncertainty about the time course of immunity called for a re-assessment.MethodsWe estimated VE against transmission of infection (VET) from Belgian contact tracing data for high-risk exposure contacts between 26/01/2021 and 14/12/2021 by susceptibility (VEs) and infectiousness of breakthrough cases (VEi) for a complete schedule of Ad26.COV2.S, ChAdOx1, BNT162b2, mRNA-1273 as well as infection-acquired and hybrid immunity. We used a multilevel Bayesian model and adjusted for personal characteristics (age, sex, household), background exposure, calendar week, VOC and time since immunity conferring-event.FindingsVET-estimates were higher for mRNA-vaccines, over 90%, compared to viral vector vaccines: 66% and 80% for Ad26COV2.S and ChAdOx1 respectively (Alpha, 0–50 days after vaccination). Delta was associated with a 40% increase in odds of transmission and a decrease of VEs (72–64%) and especially of VEi (71–46% for BNT162b2). Infection-acquired and hybrid immunity were less affected by Delta. Waning further reduced VET-estimates: from 81% to 63% for BNT162b2 (Delta, 150–200 days after vaccination). We observed lower initial VEi in the age group 65–84 years (32% vs 46% in the age group 45–64 years for BNT162b2) and faster waning. Hybrid immunity waned slower than vaccine-induced immunity.InterpretationVEi and VEs-estimates, while remaining significant, were reduced by Delta and waned over time. We observed faster waning in the oldest age group. We should seek to improve vaccine-induced protection in older persons and those vaccinated with viral-vector vaccines.     

Effectiveness of typhoid conjugate vaccine against culture-confirmed typhoid in a peri-urban setting in Karachi: A case-control study

BackgroundEnteric fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi and S. Paratyphi, is a cause of high morbidity and mortality among children in South Asia. Rising antimicrobial resistance presents an additional challenge. Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCV) are recommended by the World Health Organization for use among people 6 months to 45 years old living in endemic settings. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of TCV against culture-confirmed S. Typhi in Lyari Town, Karachi, Pakistan. This peri-urban town was one of the worst affected by the outbreak of extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid that started in November 2016.MethodsA matched case-control study was conducted following a mass immunization campaign with TCV at three key hospitals in Lyari Town Karachi, Pakistan. Children aged 6 months to 15 years presenting with culture-confirmed S. Typhi were enrolled as cases. For each case, at least 1 age-matched hospital control and two age-matched community controls were enrolled. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression.ResultsOf 82 typhoid fever patients enrolled from August 2019 through December 2019, 8 (9·8%) had received vaccine for typhoid. Of the 164 community controls and 82 hospital controls enrolled, 38 (23·2%) community controls and 27 (32·9%) hospital controls were vaccinated for typhoid. The age and sex-adjusted vaccine effectiveness was found to be 72% (95% CI: 34% − 88%). The consumption of meals prepared outside home more than once per month (adjusted odds ratio: 3·72, 95% CI: 1·55- 8·94; p-value: 0·003) was associated with the development of culture-confirmed typhoid.ConclusionA single dose of TCV is effective against culture confirmed typhoid among children aged 6 months to 15 years old in an XDR typhoid outbreak setting of a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情期间脑血管病住院医师网络教学效果评价与分析

目的 本研究对疫情期间通过网络教学实施的新型冠状病毒相关内容培训进行效果评价，并对网 络教学实践过程进行总结分析，为脑血管病住院医师规范化培训网络教学的开展及教学质量提高 提供参考。 方法 组织2017-2019级脑血管病住院医师进行新型冠状病毒相关内容网络教学培训，培训内容 包括操作规范、病毒知识与防控要点、诊断与治疗、诊疗流程等。采用自身对照研究的方法，通过对 比住院医师培训前后两次考核成绩对实施的网络教学进行效果评价。 结果 共189名脑血管病住院医师参加培训及考核。根据培训前后考试成绩的差异性分析结果，培 训后辅助检查、院感、诊断与治疗、防控、诊疗流程五项内容分数及总分均高于培训前（均P＜0.001）。 根据广义方程模型分析结果，校正学历和规培年限等因素后，培训后考试总分较培训前高9.14分 （95%CI 7.22～11.06，P＜0.001）。 结论 脑血管病住院医师网络教学培训效果较好，教学管理者需要充分发挥网络教学的优势，规 避劣势，将网络教学纳入脑血管病住院医师常态化教学活动。