Family Physician Clinical Inertia in Managing Hypoglycemia

AimsClinical inertia behaviour affects family physicians managing chronic disease such as diabetes. Literature addressing clinical inertia in the management of hypoglycemia is scarce. The objectives of this study were to create a measurement for physician clinical inertia in managing hypoglycemia (ClinInert_InHypoDM), and to determine physicians’ characteristics associated with clinical inertia.MethodsThe study was a secondary analysis of data provided by family physicians from the InHypo-DM Study, applying exploratory factor analysis. Principal axis factoring with an Oblimin rotation was employed to detect underlying factors associated with physician behaviors. Multiple linear regression was used to determine association between the ClinInert_InHypoDM scores and physician characteristics.ResultsFactor analysis identified a statistically sound 12-item one-factor scale for clinical inertia behavior. No statistically significant differences in clinical inertia score for the studied independent variables were found.ConclusionsThis study provides a scale for assessing clinical inertia in the management of hypoglycemia. Further testing this scale in other family physician populations will provide deeper understanding about the characteristics and factors that influence clinical inertia. The knowledge derived from better understanding clinical inertia in primary care has potential to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes.     

Von Willebrand disease: diagnosis and management

Von Willebrand Disease is a common cause of excessive bruising and bleeding in children. This short article gives advice on diagnosis and management for paediatricians. Given its prevalence and presenting symptoms, VWD should always be considered in the assessment of children suspected of non-accidental injury. Its diagnosis can be challenging, not only because of the various subtypes of the disorder but because of the considerable overlap between VWD and normal individuals. Laboratory diagnosis requires a range of quantitative and qualitative tests of the VWF protein, with targeted gene analysis increasingly used to confirm the diagnosis of type 2 and type 3 VWD. Bleeding Assessment Tools may be helpful in directed laboratory testing but are often less so in young children who have had limited haemostatic challenges. Treatment for VWD includes the use of antifibrinolytic drugs, vasopressin or VWF-containing clotting factor concentrates. Treatment is often on-demand for individual bleeding episodes but there are specific indications for the use of prophylactic treatment in children.     

Does Outcome/Survival of Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes Should Be Predicted by Reduced Levels of ADAMTS-13? Results From a Pilot Study

IntroductionVon Willebrand factor (vWF) cleaving protease ADAMTS-13 has a key role for maintaining normal size of vWF. A deficiency or dysfunction of vWF cleaving protease is associated with ultra large vWF multimers and thrombotic microangiopathy. Patients with cancers have reduced levels of vWF cleaving protease. In this pilot study, we have evaluated whether or not deficiencies of ADAMTS-13 were present in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Moreover, we assessed if a reduction in basal levels of ADAMTS-13 may play a role in the prognosis of MDS.Patients and MethodsWe measured and compared the levels of vWF cleaving protease ADAMTS-13 in 100 patients with MDS and 35 healthy controls. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the International Prognostic Scoring System: group I consisting of 44 patients with low-risk MDS and group II of 56 patients with high-risk MDS. Patients with high-risk and low-risk MDS presented significantly lower levels of ADAMTS-13 than controls (P < .001 and P = .0177, respectively). High-risk patients had significantly lower levels of ADAMTS-13 when compared with the low-risk group (P < .001).ResultsWe found that reduced levels of ADAMTS-13 have a relationship with overall survival (P < .001). Statistical analysis showed that ADAMTS-13 correlates with cytogenetics (P < .001) and a tendency of slight correlation with platelet count and basal levels of ADAMTS-13 (R, 0.35; P value, 0.001). Moreover, we found that levels of ADAMTS-13 have correlation with response to treatment (P < .001).ConclusionsADAMTS-13 in MDS might represent a surrogate marker of prognosis, response to therapy, or disease progression. Further studies are needed.     

儿童精神分裂症患者的预后及相关因素分析

目的探讨儿童精神分裂症的预后及其影响因素。方法收集1987—1997年首次住院的儿童(起病年龄≤14岁)精神分裂症患者(儿童组)124例和同期首次住院的成人(起病年龄25～30岁)精神分裂症患者(成人组)120例,采用社会功能缺陷量表(SDSS)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、大体评定量表(GAS)及自制调查表,以随访与量表现场测评相结合的方法获得资料,数据采用多因素回归分析。结果(1)儿童组服药依从性(90例,77.6%)好于成人组(73例,64.0%；)χ~2= 5.11,P＜0.05)；复发率(29.3%)低于成人组(42.1%；χ~2=4.10,P＜0.05)。(2)儿童组预后良好者(91例,78.4%)显著多于成人组(65例,57.0%)。(3)儿童组的社会功能[(2.11±1.02)分]和日常生活能力[(18.78±9.17)分]优于成人组[(3.48±1.86)分和(21.82±8.67)分；P＜0.01和P＜0.05]。(4)经多因素回归分析,影响儿童精神分裂症预后的主要因素有：社会家庭关爱程度,首次住院疗效,起病形式,服药时间和病期(P＜0.01)。结论儿童精神分裂症患者总体预后较好；充分的家庭关爱,首次住院疗效好,急性起病,坚持长期治疗和病期较短者的预后更好。     

应用秩和比法研究门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系

目的研究医院门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系,找出影响门诊人数增长的主要门诊医疗质量因子。方法利用秩和比法对实例进行分析。结果影响门诊人数增长的门诊质量因子,首先是高中级职称比(χ2=32.43,P<0.05),其次是副高以上职称的坐诊工时比(χ2=31.91,P<0.05),再次是新技术项目或重大改革(χ2=28.54,P>0.05)。结论研究医院门诊人数增长与门诊医疗质量因子的关系时,秩和比法有应用推广的价值。