Understanding Hispanic Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth During COVID-19

BackgroundRecent studies have described the use of telehealth for pediatric surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate equity in telehealth use by comparing rates of utilization and satisfaction with pediatric surgical telemedicine among Hispanic patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients seen by a surgical subspecialty provider in the outpatient setting at a quaternary pediatric hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2020. Patients evaluated in the same three-month period in 2019 were analyzed as a historic control. Differences in Family Experience Survey (FES) responses based on race and ethnicity and preferred language of care were assessed using univariable and multivariable generalized linear modeling.ResultsThe pandemic cohort included fewer patients of Hispanic ethnicity and fewer Spanish-speakers. After controlling for visit type, comparison of Spanish-speaking and English-speaking patients revealed that Spanish-speaking families had significantly lower scores for FES items that evaluated healthcare provider explaining (IRR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.90), listening (IRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63–0.92), and time spent with the family (IRR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.60–0.89). There were no differences in FES responses based on insurance status or degree of medical complexity.ConclusionsTelehealth services were less commonly used among Hispanic and Spanish-speaking patients. Language may differentially affect family satisfaction with healthcare and telehealth solutions. Strategies to mitigate these inequities are needed and may include strengthening interpreter services and providing language-concordant care.Level of evidenceLevel IV.     

Improving capacity to care for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities: The value of an experiential learning model for family medicine residents

BackgroundPatients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to experience poor health outcomes and family physicians receive inadequate training to provide appropriate care to this patient group. Little prior research has studied how to effectively train family physicians to care for patients with IDD.ObjectiveThe aim of this pilot study was to assess the value of adding an experiential component to didactic education strategies to improve family medicine resident perceived comfort, skills and knowledge related to caring for patients with IDD.MethodsStructured education programs for residents were implemented at three primary care practices in Ontario, Canada. Two practices received didactic information only (didactic-only group); one received didactic information and an experiential training model including clinical interactions and a written reflection on that experience (didactic plus experiential group). In this separate-sample pre-post design, residents were invited to complete a brief anonymous survey prior to and following the training assessing their perceived comfort, skills and knowledge related to patients with IDD.ResultsAt baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups of residents. At follow up, the experiential group reported significantly higher levels of comfort, skills, and knowledge compared to baseline for most items assessed, while in the didactic-only group most items showed little or no improvement.ConclusionThis pilot study suggests that providing residents the opportunity to participate in clinical encounters with patients with IDD, as well as a structured process to reflect on such encounters, results in greater benefit than didactic training alone.     

New evidence supporting lung cancer screening with low dose CT & surgical implications

IntroductionLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-death worldwide. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPTSF) approved screening for current or former smokers aged 55–80 based on the results of the National Lung Screening trial (NLST). Following the NLST, new evidence has emerged from clinical trials and updates to previous trials prior to the anticipated update to the USPSTF guideline. We review the new evidence on lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) and the surgical implications.MethodsA review of new literature was performed pertaining to lung cancer screening since implementation of UPSTF guidelines. Articles for inclusion were identified by both authors’, then search of the Pubmed and Cochrane database was performed from January 1st, 2013 through February 4th, 2020 using the MeSH search terms: “lung cancer”; “screening”; “low dose CT”. The results of these studies are summarized.ResultsWe identified multiple prospective randomized control trials and meta-analysis since the NLST supporting lung cancer-specific mortality with screening. We identified new nodule classification systems and the development of risk-models which may reduce false positive rates and identify high risk patients not currently eligible for screening. Finally, we discussed the surgical implications of screening.ConclusionNew data supports NLST findings and show ongoing benefit to LDCT for lung cancer screening. Standardized LDCT screening classification has been shown to reduce harm and lower false positive rates. Further study is needed regarding use of risk-modeling. Screening will require an increase in the thoracic workforce to accommodate the amount of surgically operable cancers.     

Careful assistance? Personal assistance within the family as hybridization of modern welfare policy and traditional family care

The aim of this article is to examine how different ideological perspectives on Swedish disability policy, are reflected in the experiences of disabled people and their families personal assistants. Personal assistance provided within the family can be seen as a hybridization between publicly regulated and paid work performed in the private family sphere, and thus conflicting norms and practices may coexist. In Sweden, family members of the assistant user can be employed as paid personal assistants. Many users combine personal assistance from family members with non-family assistance. Approximately 20–25% of the employed personal assistants are relatives of the assistance users. The empirical data consists of qualitative interviews with seventeen adult users and twenty-three family members employed as PAs with different types of family ties; parent-child relationships, sibling relationships and partner relationships. The findings show that family assistance could entail advantages such as personalised services, to combine instrumental and emotional assistance as well as achieving a power-balance between the parties. But there were also disadvantages, such as unwanted or enforced dependency, with a risk for both parties to be ‘locked up’ in the family. In an overall analysis, we distinguished three broad approaches towards family assistance, family as a substitute, family as a supplement and family first.     

Quality of life in caregivers of a family member with serious mental illness: Evidence from China

Purpose

To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and social support among family caregivers of a family member with a mental illness and to identify factors associated with the QoL.

2015—2018年西安市百日咳流行特征分析

目的 分析西安市2015—2018年百日咳流行病学特征，为预防和控制百日咳传播提供参考。方法 采用描述流行病学方法，对中国疾病预防控制信息系统中2015—2018年期间西安市百日咳报告病例和此期间西安市百日咳哨点监测病例的数据进行统计学分析。结果 西安市2015—2018年共报告百日咳确诊病例1 635例，发病率分别为3.97/10万、4.11/10万、4.85/10万和5.28/10万，发病有逐年上升趋势（χ2趋势 = 21.719，P＜0.001）；高发季为3—8月（2015—2018年分别占该年度总发病数的75.73%、66.76%、78.97%和80.27%）；以3～6月龄发病比例最高（2015—2018年分别占该年度总发病数的50.58%、48.60%、48.36%和41.22%）；未全程接种疫苗患儿所占比例最大（2015—2018年分别为36.26%、23.74%、42.76%和33.73%），未到接种年龄就发病所占比例有逐年升高趋势（χ2趋势 = 10.302，P = 0.001），无免疫史患儿比例呈逐年降低趋势（χ2趋势 = 36.088，P＜0.001）；3种实验室检测方法中荧光PCR的检出率最高（40.12%）；传播模式除了散发病例，出现了家庭聚集现象，且所有流行病学相关病例均被漏诊或误诊。结论 西安市近年来百日咳发病率有明显上升趋势，＜6月龄婴儿为主要发病人群，百日咳的日常监测仍有待加强，且其家庭聚集式传播现象值得关注。     

首发精神障碍家庭照顾者经历的系统评价

目的：系统评价首发精神障碍家庭照顾者的经历，为患者早期康复及照顾者心理健康问题的干预提供循证依据。方法：计算机检索The Cochrane Library、Ovid 、PubMed、Embase、Web of Science、CBM、CNKI、VIP和WANFANG DATE 数据库，检索时限均从建库至2021年7月31日，使用“JBI循证卫生保健中心质性研究质量评价标准”评价符合纳入标准的文献，并采用汇集性整合法对研究结果进行整合。结果：纳入12篇文献，提炼出60个研究结果，整理成8个类别，得出3个整合结果。分别是多维度的挑战、成长或缺如的角色结局、急需的社会支持。结论：亟需提高全民心理健康素质及去精神障碍疾病污名化，营造患者及家属无障碍化就医环境；关注家庭照顾者早期心理健康的干预，满足其社会支持的需要，提高该类人群应激应对能力，促进照顾者心理康复。     

Assessment of family physicians' knowledge about fibromyalgia in Egypt

Aim of the workTo assess knowledge of Egyptian family physicians about the diagnostic criteria and treatment modalities of fibromyalgia.Subjects and methodsA questionnaire and an informed consent were sent by email to family physicians working in primary health care centers in Egypt. The questionnaire assessed 3 areas: sociodemographic and professional data; knowledge about diagnosis; and knowledge about treatment modalities. Scoring system was used to categorize levels of knowledge into very low, low, moderate, high and very high.ResultsA total of 108 family physicians responded, with a response rate of 60%.The respondents were 27 consultants, 54 specialists and 27 residents, with a median age of 33 years and a median experience of 12 years. Very low, low and moderate levels of familiarity with fibromyalgia were perceived by 28.7%, 30.6% and 28% respectively. Close to half of participants (46.2%) gained their knowledge about fibromyalgia through self-study. According to the scoring system, 39.8% had low level of knowledge about clinical presentation and 37% had the same level of knowledge about treatment modalities. About three quarters (76%) of participants agreed that patients with fibromyalgia should be referred to rheumatologists. The most common selected clinical presentations were widespread pain (94.4%) and excessive fatigue (91.7%), while the most selected treatment modalities were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (89.8%) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (47.2%).ConclusionKnowledge about clinical presentation and treatment modalities of fibromyalgia among Egyptian family physicians is low. Continuing medical education about fibromyalgia is needed to improve quality of health care.