Methodological problems in comparing audits from the Nordic countries. A critical review of results from audit on Nordic general practitioners' management of patients with psychiatric problems

In 1998, an audit on psychiatric problems in general practice was conducted in four Nordic countries. Five-hundred-and-sixty general practitioners participated and made registration according to the Audit Project Odense method. This paper describes the methodological problems related to international differences in the organisation of health care, recruitment of general practitioners and the registration of contacts. Nordic differences in this audit gave rise to inspiring discussions at national meetings, but methodological problems remain to be resolved if the results are to prove useful in scientific reporting.     

A matter of heart: the general practitioner consultation in an evidence-based world

This article is based on a keynote presentation at the 12th Nordic Congress in General Practice in Trondheim, Norway in September 2002. The aim was to demonstrate the strengths and limitations of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in a primary healthcare setting. The presentation comprised two separate lectures discussing an authentic case history from everyday practice that had been presented to the authors by the congress organisers. Initially, Peter Nilsson overviews the correct approach to the situation as described according to EBM. Subsequently, Linn Getz questions whether we can be sure that application of EBM is necessarily in this particular patient's best interests. The title of the presentation, 'A matter of heart', has a double meaning. On the one hand it indicates an update on preventive cardiology, on the other it addresses the importance of academic courage (coeur=heart) among members of the medical community. The general practitioner is in a unique position to observe the interaction between the scientific paradigm of biomedicine and individuals, whether suffering from ill health or considering themselves healthy. It is our privilege and professional duty to reflect upon clinical experience and be open to critical debate.     

普外科糖尿病患者术后医院感染危险因素分析及护理

目的：分析合并糖尿病的普外科患者术后医院感染的危险因素并探讨其护理对策。方法：收集2001年1月～2008年12月我院收治的合并糖尿病的普外科患者术后医院感染临床资料,分析其危险因素。结果：合并糖尿病的普外科患者术后医院感染的发生率较高,感染部位以切口为主,感染以革兰氏阴性菌为主。感染因素与患者年龄、糖尿病病程、空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白、有无急慢性并发症、住院天数、有无侵入性操作、抗菌药物应用时间、原发疾病是否为恶性肿瘤等因素相关。结论：合并糖尿病的普外科疾病患者术后易发生感染,且医院感染具有其特点,必须控制易患因素,有效地预防医院感染。     

Risk profile,antithrombotic treatment and clinical outcomes of patients in Nordic countries with atrial fibrillation – results from the GARFIELD-AF registry

AimsThe objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management and two-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation at risk for stroke in Nordic countries.MethodsWe examined the baseline characteristics, antithrombotic treatment, and two-year clinical outcomes of patients from four Nordic countries.ResultsA total of 52,080 patients were enrolled in the GARFIELD-AF. Out of 29,908 European patients, 2,396 were recruited from Nordic countries. The use of oral anticoagulants, alone or in combination with antiplatelet (AP), was higher in Nordic patients in all CHA₂DS₂-VASc categories: 0–1 (72.8% vs 60.3%), 2–3 (78.7% vs 72.9%) and ≥4 (79.2% vs 74.1%). In Nordic patients, NOAC ± AP was more frequently prescribed (32.0% vs 27.7%) and AP monotherapy was less often prescribed (10.4% vs 18.2%) when compared with Non-Nordic European patients. The rates (per 100 patient years) of all-cause mortality and non-haemorrhagic stroke/systemic embolism (SE) were similar in Nordic and Non-Nordic European patients [3.63 (3.11–4.23) vs 4.08 (3.91–4.26), p value = .147] and [0.98 (0.73–1.32) vs 1.02 (0.93–1.11), p value = .819], while major bleeding was significantly higher [1.66 (1.32–2.09) vs 1.01 (0.93–1.10), p value < .001].ConclusionNordic patients had significantly higher major bleeding than Non-Nordic-European patients. In contrast, rates of all-cause mortality and non-haemorrhagic stroke/SE were comparable. Clinical Trial RegistrationUnique identifier: NCT01090362. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Key MessageNordic countries had significantly higher major bleeding than Non-Nordic-European countries. Rates of mortality and non-haemorrhagic stroke/SE were similar .     

Assisting demented patients with feeding: problems in a ward environment. A review of the literature

A critical review of the literature on assisting demented patients with feeding difficulties identifies that care at mealtimes is often task-centred, causing stress in both patients and staff and inadequate patient care. Nurses may even be inducing dependency in this vulnerable patient group. The staff to whom this care is most often delegated do not receive sufficient education or training to enable them to achieve a sufficient degree of empathy with the patient although there is evidence in the literature to suggest that this is a necessary requirement. It is also apparent that nurses use inadequate assessment criteria, perhaps due to the fact that there is an element of commonality in the feeding behaviour of demented patients which nurses feel they have seen many times and are able to deal with. The introduction of primary nursing, increased education of nursing assistants and improved assessment procedures to combat these problems are recommended. The process of change is briefly outlined and in conclusion some areas for future research are stated.     

术后急性疼痛患者自控镇痛管理相关指南的系统评价

目的对术后急性疼痛患者自控镇痛(patient controlled analgesia,PCA)管理相关指南进行质量评价和内容分析,为制订术后急性疼痛PCA管理规范提供依据。方法计算机检索国内外指南网、相关专业学会网站及数据库,检索术后疼痛PCA管理相关循证指南,检索时限为建库至2021年4月。应用临床指南研究与评价工具Ⅱ(appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation instrumentⅡ,AGREEⅡ)对指南进行质量评价,汇总术后疼痛PCA管理的推荐意见。结果初检到783篇文献,最终纳入9部指南,3部指南的总体质量评价为A级,6部为B级,整体质量较高。从9部指南中提取23条术后疼痛PCA管理相关推荐意见,涉及组织管理、教育与培训、镇痛模式的选择、患者教育、术前评估、术后监测与评估6个方面。结论纳入的指南质量整体较高,为术后急性疼痛PCA规范管理提供了依据,但在独立性、应用性领域有待提高;关于术后疼痛PCA管理的推荐意见散在分布,缺乏具体针对性的管理策略。     

A clinical audit of the management of patients with a tracheostomy in an Australian tertiary hospital intensive care unit: Focus on speech-language pathology

Speech-language pathologists manage communication and swallowing disorders, both of which can occur in patients after tracheostomy insertion. An audit on the incidence and timing of speech-language pathology intervention for adults with tracheostomies has not previously been published. Data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of all patients who were tracheostomized at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW, Australia, from October 2007 for 1 year. Extracted data included diagnosis, date and type of tracheostomy, time to speech-language pathologist involvement, time to phonation, and time to oral intake. Among the 140 patients (mean age 58 years, range 16–85), diagnoses were neurological (32%), head and neck (25%), cardiothoracic (24%), respiratory (6%), and other (13%). Speech-language pathology was involved with 78% of patients, with initial assessment on average 14 days after tracheostomy insertion (14 days to 166 days). Median time from tracheostomy insertion to phonation was 12 days (range 1–103). Median time from tracheostomy insertion to oral intake was 15 days (range 1–142). Only 20% of patients returned to verbal communication within 1 week after tracheostomy insertion. Further research into access to and timing of speech-language pathology intervention in the critical care setting is warranted.     

Long-term management of patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease -- a Norwegian randomised prospective study comparing the effects of esomeprazole and ranitidine treatment strategies on health-related quality of life in a general practitioners setting

This article reports quality of life (QoL) aspects of a study that investigated the efficacy of three treatment regimens in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients. Following a 4-week symptom-control phase (esomeprazole 40 mg once daily), patients were randomised to 6 months' esomeprazole 20 mg once daily continuously (n = 658), on-demand (n = 634) or ranitidine 150 mg twice daily continuously (n = 610). Esomeprazole 40 mg once daily improved QoL during the symptom-control phase. At 6 months, both esomeprazole regimens were more effective than ranitidine in all dimensions of the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire (p < 0.0001). Esomeprazole continuous and on-demand led to a significant improvement in symptoms (Overall Treatment Evaluation questionnaire) compared with ranitidine (continuous: 80.2%, on-demand: 77.8%, vs. ranitidine 47.0%; p < 0.001). Esomeprazole once daily continuously maintained QoL better than esomeprazole on-demand and was associated with greater patient satisfaction. In conclusion, esomeprazole 20 mg once daily continuously and on-demand were more effective than ranitidine continuously for maintaining QoL.