Non-response for health-related quality of life outcomes in ICU patients: A systematic review of the reporting in randomised trials

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is frequently assessed in randomised clinical trials (RCTs) in the intensive care unit (ICU), but data are limited regarding the proportions of patients without responses or not surviving to HRQoL follow-up and the handling of this. We aimed to describe the extent and pattern of missing HRQoL data in intensive care trials and describe how these data and deaths were handled statistically.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following a published protocol. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library for RCTs involving adult ICU patients reporting HRQoL as an outcome and excluded RCTs unobtainable in full text. We performed risk of bias assessment independently and in duplicate.

Results

We included 196 outcomes from 88 RCTs published in the years 2002–2022; the numbers of patients alive and eligible to respond HRQoL were reported in 76% of trials. At follow-up, median 27% (interquartile range 14%–39%) of patients had died, and median 20% (9%–38%) of survivors did not respond across outcomes. Analyses of 80% of outcomes were restricted to complete cases only. The handling of non-survivors in analyses were reported for 46% of outcomes, with 26% of all outcomes reported as including non-survivors (using the value zero or the worst possible score).

Conclusion

For HRQoL outcomes in ICU trials, we found that mortality at time of follow-up was high and non-response among survivors frequent. The reporting and statistical handling of these issues were insufficient, which may have biased results.     

The importance of how research participants think they are perceived: results from an electronic monitoring study of antiretroviral therapy in Uganda

Novel monitoring technologies in HIV research, such as electronic adherence monitors (EAMs), have changed the nature of researcher-participant interactions. Yet little is known about how EAMs and the resulting interaction between researchers and participants affect research participation and the data gathered. We interviewed participants and research assistants (RAs) in an observational cohort study involving EAMs for HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda. We qualitatively explored interviewees’ views about ethical issues surrounding EAMs and assessed data with conventional and directed content analysis. Participants valued their relationships with RAs and were preoccupied with RAs’ perceptions of them. Participants were pleased when the EAM revealed regular adherence, and annoyed when it revealed non-adherence that contradicted self-reported pill-taking behavior. For many, the desire to maintain a good impression incentivized adherence. But some sought to creatively conceal non-adherence, or refused to use the EAM to avoid revealing non-adherence to RAs. These findings show that participants’ perceptions of the study staff's perceptions of them affected the experience of being monitored, study participation, and ultimately the data gathered in the study. Investigators in monitoring-based research should be aware that social interactions between participants and study staff could affect both the practical and ethical conduct of that research.     

Brave Spaces in Discourse About Pregnant Persons’, Women’s,and Children’s Health

Discourse around implicit bias, intersectionality, and inequity in health care requires having conversations that may be uncomfortable. Within this space of discomfort, new understandings can occur. Reflecting on our own biases and assumptions is a moral obligation and a necessity to generate change. Health care settings may be a fitting forum to create and use brave spaces to have these conversations.     

The importance of evaluating findings given activity level propositions in order to avoid misleading evidence

ABSTRACT

The advancement of DNA technology comes with the increased sensitivity of amplification systems, where DNA traces are routinely detected without a known biological source. These systems also have increased discriminating capacity, providing larger likelihood ratios (LRs) when a corresponding DNA profile is observed. Questions in court are shifting from identity to transfer mechanism, where the presence of an individual’s DNA is conceded by both parties, but the activities that led to its deposition is in dispute. One way of handling propositions developed at the activity level is with the use of graphical structures known as Bayesian Networks (BNs). The following is an evaluation of a case, given activity level propositions, through the application of BNs. Alternative case findings will be explored for the given scenario to show the potential value of the DNA evidence for different outcomes within the broader case context.     

Nuclear medicine image interpretation by radiographers: Findings of an accredited postgraduate module

Introduction

The study aimed to analyse the results of radiographer's image interpretation of nuclear medicine (NM) examinations following a nine-month postgraduate module.

再谈辛味药在方剂中的作用

气味理论是中药药性理论的核心内容。五味中之辛味能兼通四气,复兼四味。历代医籍有关气味配伍的记载有很多。如辛行淡渗、辛甘化阳、辛散咸软、辛散酸收、辛开苦降等配伍方法,充分体现了辛味药物在方剂配伍应用中的广泛性特点。因此,认真研究、总结辛味药在方剂中的作用并进而探讨其配伍规律,具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。本文以辛味药为例,探讨其在方剂学中的作用,发现:辛味药的作用主要体现在"运动"二字。这与中医学对机体的认识的主旨思想"阴阳相贯,如环无端"相一致。作用机理在于:以其"动"的特性,协其他药性之偏以纠正机体阴阳之偏,即以偏纠偏。     

不同地区和年龄组人群接受结核病防治健康教育途径的分析

目的 通过调查全国各省居民接受结核病防治核心信息的健康教育途径,为结核病防治健康教育工作提供科学依据。方法 采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样的方法,在全国31个省(自治区、直辖市;不包括我国港澳台地区)按照调查点和调查对象的选取原则共抽取181个调查点和≥15岁的33357名调查对象,其中城镇和农村调查点分别为84个和97个,调查对象为18156名(54.43%)和15201名(45.57%)。为了解不同人群对于健康教育途径和宣传材料选择的偏好,将调查对象按照地区、城乡和年龄组分成12个组,分别为东部城镇15~60岁组(5311名)、东部城镇>60岁组(1618名)、东部乡村15~60岁组(3561名)、东部乡村>60岁组(1106名);中部城镇15~60岁组(6055名)、中部城镇>60岁组(1560名)、中部乡村15~60岁组(4476名)、中部乡村>60岁组(974名);西部城镇15~60岁组(2791名)、西部城镇>60岁组(732名)、西部乡村15~60岁组(3789名)、西部乡村>60岁组(1218名)。使用专家设计的结核病防治核心信息知晓率调查问卷对所有调查对象进行面对面询问式调查。本研究收集调查对象的社会人口学分类一般情况和接受健康教育的途径数据资料,有效问卷为33191份,有效率为99.50%;其中21296名(64.16%)表示接受过健康教育。结果 既往接受过健康教育的12个群组21296名调查对象选择媒介前三位者依次为电视(17.46%,11087/63510)、广播(14.54%,9237/63510)、传单/折页/宣传画(13.60%,8635/63510),其中选择电视和广播者均以中部城镇>60岁组为最高(分别为23.07%,314/1361;19.62%,267/1361),而选择传单/折页/宣传画者以中部乡村>60岁组为最高(14.97%,299/1998);选择网站/微博/微信者以东部城镇15~60岁组为最高(5.89%,577/9792)、西部乡村>60岁组为最低(0.30%,5/1639)。33191名调查对象希望了解结核病防治信息的途径前3位者分别为广播/电视/电影/网络/音像材料(26.76%,15517/57978)、医生宣传(18.21%,10559/57978)和张贴画/宣传栏/板报/展板/墙体标语(16.06%,9311/57978)。对宣传材料的选择依次为图画为主(25.76%,9549/37074)、文字为主(24.57%,9110/37074)。对网络的接受率以东部城镇>60岁组为最高(9.16%,163/1779),中部、西部乡村均较低[分别为2.60%(27/1037)和2.71%(25/923)]。最喜欢的网络咨询或查询方式依次为“使用医学专业人员在线咨询”(27.89%,9653/34608)、“到医学专业的网站查看”(21.86%,7563/34608)、“用百度或谷歌搜索”(15.74%,5448/34608)等方式。大众比较喜欢的网络传播知识的形式以文字+图片(29.14%,11268/38672)、文字+视频(26.20%,10131/38672)为主。结论 应针对不同地区、不同年龄组人群的特点,采取不同的健康教育途径和方法,将结核病防治核心信息有效地传达到特定的目标人群,特别是知晓率相对较低的老年人群和西部农村人口。