紫杉类药物每周与三周方案比较治疗非小细胞肺癌的系统评价

目的 系统评价紫杉类药物每周与三周方案治疗非小细胞肺癌的疗效和安全性。 方法 检索1966 ～ 2008 年5 月Cochrane 图书馆、PubMed、EMbase 及CBM 数据库,搜集紫杉类药物每周与三周方案组对比治疗非小细胞肺癌的随机对照试验（RCT）。按Cochrane 手册4.2.6 RCT 的质量评价标准对纳入研究的方法学质量进行评价,并使用RevMan 5.0 软件进行Meta 分析。 结果 共纳入9 个RCT,包括1 438 例患者。每周和三周方案组在1 年生存率［紫杉醇：RR=1.24,95%CI（0.83,1.86）;多西紫杉醇：RR=0.80,95%CI（0.51,1.23）］及总反应率［紫杉醇：RR=1.03,95%CI（0.72,1.49）;多西紫杉醇：RR=0.98 95%CI（0.64,1.49）］方面差异无统计学意义;每周方案组中性粒细胞减少［紫杉醇：RR=0.74,95%CI（0.56,0.97）;多西紫杉醇：RR=0.22,95%CI（0.16,0.30）］较三周组发生率低,但在贫血等其它毒性方面差异无统计学意义。 结论 紫杉类药物每周及三周方案治疗非小细胞肺癌疗效相似,每周方案粒细胞减少症较三周方案发生率低,其它毒性发生率相似。     

培美曲塞与多西紫杉醇比较治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的Meta分析

目的系统评价培美曲塞与多西紫杉醇治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)的疗效与安全性。方法计算机检索Cochrane Library、PubMed、EMbase、SCI、CBM、CNKI和VIP,同时辅助其他检索方式,纳入培美曲塞与多西紫杉醇比较治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床随机对照试验,检索时间截至2010年11月。由两位研究者独立进行文献筛选、资料提取和方法学质量评价后,采用RevMan5.0软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入5个研究,合计847例患者。Meta分析结果显示:在疗效方面,培美曲塞与多西紫杉醇相比,两者在有效率[OR=1.09,95%CI(0.7,1.70)]、疾病控制率[OR=0.99,95%CI(0.75,1.31)]、1年生存率[OR=1.11,95%CI(0.56,2.18)]等方面差异无统计学意义;在安全性方面,与多西紫杉醇相比,培美曲塞可降低中性粒细胞减少[OR=0.09,95%CI(0.05,0.15)]和粒细胞性发热[OR=0.13,95%CI(0.06,0.29)]、减少脱发[OR=0.20,95%CI(0.12,0.33)],而在血红蛋白[OR=1.45,95%CI(0.23,9.06)]、血小板减少[OR=1.46,95%CI(0.59,3.59)]、恶心呕吐[OR=1.23,95%CI(0.53,2.83)]、疲劳乏力[OR=0.73,95%CI(0.40,1.30)]等方面两者差异无统计学意义。结论当前证据显示,培美曲塞与多西紫杉醇治疗晚期NSCLC的疗效相当,但可减少中性粒细胞减少、粒细胞性发热和脱发等不良反应。     

电视胸腔镜下与传统开胸下行肺叶切除术治疗非小细胞肺癌临床疗效对比的Meta分析

目的对电视胸腔镜(VATS)与传统开胸(OPEN)两种术式对非小细胞肺癌(综合分期Ⅰ、Ⅱ期)行肺叶切除术的综合临床效益进行系统评价。方法按照Cochrane系统评价制作方法,计算机检索PubMed、EMBASE、Medline、同方数据库相关文献,结合手工检索收集相关文献,采用Cochrane协作网提供的RevMan5.0软件对相关研究数据进行Meta分析,以获得非小细胞肺癌(综合分期Ⅰ、Ⅱ期)在VATS下行肺叶切除术的临床疗效与OPEN下相比有无优势的相关证据。结果经过全面检索及筛查后,共纳入17篇回顾性临床对照研究,共计1586例患者,Meta分析表明:针对非小细胞肺癌(综合分期Ⅰ、Ⅱ期),与OPEN术相比,VATS能减低术后全身[P=0.03,优势比(OR)=0.57,95%可信区间(CI)0.34～0.96]和肺部(P=0.001,OR=0.34,95%CI0.17～0.66)并发症的发生率、减少五年死亡率(P=0.0005,OR=0.43,95%CI0.27～0.69)、至研究终点总死亡率(P=0.0004,OR=0.46,95%CI0.30～0.70)和肿瘤复发率(P=0.02,OR=0.63,95%CI0.42～0.94)。结论针对非小细胞肺癌(综合分期Ⅰ、Ⅱ期),与OPEN术相比,VATS能明显减少术后全身尤其是肺部并发症的发生率、减少五年死亡率、总死亡率和肿瘤复发率。     

放疗联合热疗治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌疗效与安全性的系统评价

目的系统评价放疗(RT)联合热疗(HT)与单纯放疗比较治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)的临床疗效和安全性。方法计算机检索PubMed、e Cochrane Library、EMbase、VIP、CNKI和CBM等数据库,查找应用放疗联合热疗与单纯放疗比较治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌的随机对照试验,检索时限从建库至2011年12月。由2位研究者按照纳入与排除标准独立进行文献筛选、资料提取和质量评价后,采用RevMan 5.0.2软件进行Meta分析。结果纳入9个RCT,共527例患者。Meta分析结果显示,与单纯放疗相比,放疗联合热疗可以提高局部晚期NSCLC患者的总有效率[OR=2.08,95%CI(1.44,3.02),P=0.000 1]和无进展生存率[OR=4.85,95%CI(1.88,12.48),P=0.001],但在总生存率[OR=1.13,95%CI(0.64,1.98),P=0.68]、症状改善率[OR=3.37,95%CI(1.68,6.78),P=0.000 6]方面,两组差异无统计学意义;在急性毒副反应方面,两组差异也无统计学意义。结论本系统评价结果显示,放疗联合局部热疗可以明显提高局部晚期NSCLC患者的总有效率,改善无进展生存率,且不增加毒副反应。因此,放疗联合局部热疗是目前治疗局部晚期NSCLC的一种较为合理而有效的综合治疗手段。     

凡德他尼联合多烯紫杉醇对比多烯紫杉醇治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的Meta分析

目的系统评价凡德他尼联合多烯紫杉醇治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的疗效和安全性。方法计算机检索EMbase、Cochrane Library、PubMed、万方、VIP、CNKI、CBM等数据库,检索时间从建库至2010年10月26日,查找有关凡德他尼联合多烯紫杉醇与单用多烯紫杉醇比较治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌的随机对照试验(RCT),按纳入排除标准选择文献、提取资料和评价质量后,采用RevMan5.0软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入3个RCT,共1626例患者。Meta分析结果显示:与对照组相比,凡德他尼能提高患者客观缓解率[OR=1.81,95%CI(1.37,2.38),P<0.0001],在疾病控制率、1年生存率方面也有积极意义,且所有纳入研究均显示,凡德他尼能明显延长患者无进展生存期(PFS)。结论与单用多烯紫杉醇相比,凡德他尼联合多烯紫杉醇治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌疗效更好,且无明显毒副作用,在临床上具有一定的应用价值。     

厄洛替尼治疗老年非小细胞肺癌的系统评价

目的 系统评价厄洛替尼治疗非小细胞肺癌老年患者的疗效及安全性.方法 电子检索Cochrane图书馆、PubMed、EMbase、CBM、VIP、CNKI和WanFang Data.由2位研究者按照纳入与排除标准独立进行文献筛选、资料提取和方法学质量评价后,采用RevMan 5.0软件进行Meta分析.结果 共纳入5个RCT,493例患者.Meta分析结果显示:厄洛替尼组的反应率和疾病控制率与对照组相似,其差异无统计学意义[RR=0.99,95％CI (0.34,2.93),P=0.99; RR=1.17,95％CI (0.95,1.43),P=0.14].厄洛替尼组Ⅲ～Ⅳ度中性粒细胞和血小板降低的发生率低于对照组[OR=0.12,95％CI (0.03,0.52),P=0.005;OR=0.19,95％CI (0.04,0.91),P=0.04];两组Ⅲ～Ⅳ度恶心呕吐和肝功能损伤的发生率相似[OR=0.93,95％CI (0.12,7.08),P=0.95;OR=0.80,95％CI (0.24,2.68),P=0.71];厄洛替尼组腹泻和皮疹的发生率高于对照组[OR=5.96,95％CI(1.28,27.88),P=0.02; OR=6.77,95％CI (1.52,30.10),P=0.01].结论 当前证据显示,厄洛替尼治疗老年非小细胞肺癌患者疗效确切,严重不良反应的发生率低,患者耐受较好.受限于纳人研究数量和质量,上述结论有待更多高质量大样本长期随访的研究予以验证.     

他克莫司治疗口腔扁平苔癣的系统评价

目的系统评价他克莫司与糖皮质激素比较治疗口腔扁平苔癣(OLP)的疗效和安全性。方法采用Cochrane系统评价方法,计算机检索Cochrane Library、MEDLINE、EMbase、CBM、CNKI中从建库至2010年11月收录的关于比较他克莫司和糖皮质激素治疗OLP疗效的随机对照试验(RCT)。按照纳入与排除标准选择文献、提取资料和评价纳入研究的方法学质量后,采用RevMan 5.0.25软件进行Meta分析。结果最终纳入4个RCT,共164例患者。2个研究结果显示,他克莫司能有效减少OLP患者的病损面积和疼痛。Meta分析发现:他克莫司治疗OLP的总有效率并不优于糖皮质激素[OR=4.38,95%CI(0.67,28.73)],其治疗期间的不良反应发生率亦与糖皮质激素无统计学差异[OR=3.49,95%CI(0.49,24.84)]。两组药物治疗OLP停药后的复发率差异无统计学意义[OR=0.82,95%CI(0.27,2.46)]。结论局部外用他克莫司在改善OLP患者体征(病损面积)和症状(疼痛)方面效果显著,与未纳入本系统评价的其他非RCT研究报告的结论一致。目前证据表明,他克莫司治疗OLP的总有效率、治疗期间局部不良反应发生率及停药后复发率均与糖皮质激素相当。由于本系统评价纳入试验对某些疗效评价指标的评估方法不尽相同,今后需要更多高质量、多中心、疗效评价指标及其相应评估方法均统一的RCT,以获得更可靠的证据。     

放化疗联合热疗治疗宫颈癌疗效和安全性的Meta分析

目的系统评价放化疗联合热疗治疗中晚期宫颈癌的疗效和安全性。方法计算机检索h e Cochrane Library(2013年7期)、PubMed、EMbase、CBM、VIP、CNKI和WanFang Data数据库,检索时限均为从建库至2013年7月,纳入有关放化疗联合热疗治疗中晚期宫颈癌的文献。由2名评价员按照纳入与排除标准独立筛选文献、提取资料和评价质量后,采用RevMan 5.2软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入9个RCT,693例患者。Meta分析结果显示:与放化疗组相比,放化疗联合热疗组的1年生存率[OR=3.05,95%CI(1.70,6.68),P=0.005]、2年生存率[OR=2.29,95%CI(1.19,4.38),P=0.01]、总有效率[OR=3.66,95%CI(2.31,5.81),P<0.000 01]均明显上升,且差异有统计学意义,但两组不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义。结论放化疗联合热疗能明显提高中晚期宫颈癌患者的远期和近期疗效。但受纳入研究数量和质量的限制,上述结论仍有待更多高质量的研究予以验证。     

西洛他唑三联疗法治疗PCI后再狭窄效果的Meta分析

目的系统评价西洛他唑三联疗法（西洛他唑＋阿司匹林＋氯吡格雷）治疗PCI后再狭窄的有效性和安全性。方法计算机检索Cochrane Library（2009年第3期）、PubMed（1966～2009）、EMbase（1974～2009）、CNKI（1994～2009）、CMB（1978～2009.2）、VIP（1989～2009.2）和中华医学会数字化期刊库（1998～2009）。由2名评价者按纳入与排除标准独立选择试验、评价质量并交叉核对,而后对同质研究采用RevMan 5.0软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入5个RCT,包括2？348例患者。Meta分析结果显示：与二联疗法（阿司匹林＋氯比格雷）比较,西洛他唑三联疗法可以增加术后最小腔内直径[MD=0.31,95%CI（0.11,0.51）],降低再狭窄率[OR=0.49,95%CI（0.37,0.65）]和病死率[OR=0.52,95%CI（0.31,0.88）];但在靶血管血运重建、中风和心悸发生率及主要不良心脑血管事件和心血管事件发生率方面,西洛他唑三联疗法和二联疗法之间并无明显差异。结论目前的研究证据显示,基于西洛他唑的三联疗法可以降低再狭窄的发生率,增加术后最小腔内直径,且能降低病死率,值得临床推广应用。     

国产替罗非班对中国人群非ST段抬高急性冠脉综合征有效性与安全性的Meta分析

目的系统评价国产替罗非班在治疗非ST段抬高急性冠脉综合征(NSTE-ACS)患者非介入治疗中应用的有效性与安全性。方法计算机检索The Cochrane Library(2013年第11期)、Pub Med、EMbase、CBM、CNKI、VIP及Wan Fang Data,查找国产替罗非班治疗NSTE-ACS患者非介入治疗的随机对照试验(RCT),检索时限均为从1994年至2014年。由2位评价者按照纳入与排除标准独立筛选文献、提取资料和评价纳入研究的方法学质量后,采用Rev Man 5.2软件进行Meta分析。结果共纳入23个RCT,包括2 425例患者。Meta分析结果显示:1试验组治疗NSTE-ACS的疗效优于对照组[OR=3.62,95%CI(2.33,5.63),P<0.000 01];2试验组的ST段压低改善情况优于对照组[WMD=0.39,95%CI(0.30,0.49),P<0.000 01];3试验组的血小板聚集率改善情况优于对照组[WMD=27.89,95%CI(25.45,30.34),P<0.000 01];4试验组的复合终点心血管事件发生率低于对照组[住院期间36 h内:OR=0.20,95%CI(0.12,0.31),P<0.000 01;30天后:OR=0.31,95%CI(0.23,0.42),P<0.000 01];5试验组的出血发生率高于对照组[OR=1.53,95%CI(1.09,2.15),P=0.02]。结论与单用常规药物相比,替罗非班加用常规药物对中国人群NSTE-ACS非冠脉介入治疗疗效更好,但其出血发生率相对较高。     

Risk scoring systems to predict need for clinical intervention for patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding

Background

Several risk score systems are designed for triage patients with acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Blatchford score, which relies on only clinical and laboratory data, is used to identify patients with acute UGIB who need clinical intervention (before endoscopy). Clinical Rockall score, which relies on only clinical variables, is used to identify patients with acute UGIB who have adverse outcome, such as death or recurrent bleeding. Complete Rockall score, which relies on clinical and endoscopic variables, is also used to identify patients with acute UGIB who died or have recurrent bleeding. In our study, we define patients who need clinical intervention (ie, blood transfusion, endoscopic or surgical management for bleeding control) as high-risk patients. Our study aims to compare Blatchford score with clinical Rockall score and complete Rockall score in their utilities in identifying high-risk cases in patients with acute nonvariceal UGIB.

Methods

International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for admission diagnosis were used to recognize a cohort of patients (N = 354) with acute UGIB admitted to a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital. Medical record data were abstracted by 1 research assistant blinded to the study purpose. Blatchford and Rockall scores were calculated for each enrolled patient. High risk was defined as a Blatchford score of greater than 0, a clinical Rockall score of greater than 0, and a complete Rockall score of greater than 2. Patients were defined as needing clinical intervention if they had a blood transfusion or any operative or endoscopic intervention to control their bleeding. Such patients were defined as high-risk patients.

Results

The Blatchford score identified 326 (92.1%) of the 354 patients as those with high risk for clinical intervention (ie, blood transfusion, endoscopic or surgical management for bleeding control). The clinical Rockall score identified 289 (81.6%) of the 354 patients as high-risk, and the complete Rockall score identified 248 (70.1%) of the 354 patients as high-risk. The yield of identifying high-risk cases with the Blatchford score was significantly greater than with the clinical Rockall score (P < .0001) or with the complete Rockall score (P < .0001).In our total 354 patients, 246 (69.5%) patients were categorized as those with high risk for clinical intervention (ie, blood transfusion, endoscopic or surgical management for bleeding control, as aforementioned) in our study. The Blatchford score identified 245 (99.6%) of 246 patients as high-risk. Only 1 patient who met the study definition of needing clinical intervention was not identified via Blatchford score. This patient did not have recurrent bleeding nor die and did not receive blood transfusion. The clinical Rockall score identified 222 (90.2%) of 246 patients as high-risk. Twenty-four patients who met the study definition of needing clinical intervention were not recognized via clinical Rockall score. Of these patients, 0 died, 7 developed recurrent bleeding, and 6 needed blood transfusion. The complete Rockall score identified 224 (91.1%) of 246 patients as high-risk. Twenty-two patients who met the study definition of needing clinical intervention were not recognized via complete Rockall score. Of these patients, 2 died, 3 developed recurrent bleeding, and 20 needed blood transfusion.

Conclusions

The Blatchford score, which is based on clinical and laboratory variables, may be a useful risk stratification tool in detecting which patients need clinical intervention in patients with acute nonvariceal UGIB. It does not need urgent endoscopy for scoring and has higher sensitivity than the clinical Rockall score and the complete Rockall score in identifying high-risk patients.     

Diagnosing painful sacroiliac joints: A validity study of a McKenzie evaluation and sacroiliac provocation tests

Research suggests that clinical examination of the lumbar spine and pelvis is unable to predict the results of diagnostic injections used as reference standards. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a clinical examination in identifying symptomatic and asymptomatic sacroiliac joints using double diagnostic injections as the reference standard. In a blinded concurrent criterion-related validity design study, 48 patients with chronic lumbopelvic pain referred for diagnostic spinal injection procedures were examined using a specific clinical examination and received diagnostic intraarticular sacroiliac joint injections. The centralisation and peripheralisation phenomena were used to identify possible discogenic pain and the results from provocation sacroiliac joint tests were used as part of the clinical reasoning process. Eleven patients had sacroiliac joint pain confirmed by double diagnostic injection. Ten of the 11 sacroiliac joint patients met clinical examination criteria for having sacroiliac joint pain. In the primary subset analysis of 34 patients, sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio (95% confidence intervals) of the clinical evaluation were 91% (62 to 98), 83% (68 to 96) and 6.97(2.70 to 20.27) respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the clinical examination and clinical reasoning process was superior to the sacroiliac joint pain provocation tests alone. A specific clinical examination and reasoning process can differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic sacroiliac joints     

Accuracy of clinical definitions of ventilator-associated pneumonia: Comparison with autopsy findings

Methods

We studied patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours who died in the intensive care unit and whose bodies were autopsied. We evaluated 3 clinical definitions of ventilator-associated pneumonia: loose definition, defined as chest radiograph infiltrates and 2 of 3 clinical criteria (leukocytosis, fever, purulent respiratory secretions); rigorous definition, defined as chest radiograph infiltrates and all of the clinical criteria; and a clinical pulmonary infection score higher than 6 points. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated by using pathology pattern as criterion standard.

Results

One hundred forty-two (56%) of the 253 patients included had histological criteria of pneumonia. Patients who met the clinical criteria of ventilator-associated pneumonia were 163 (64%) for the loose definition, 32 (13%) for the rigorous definition, and 109 (43%) for the clinical pulmonary infection score. The operative indexes (sensitivity and specificity) of each definition were as follows: loose definition, 64.8% and 36%; rigorous definition, 91% and 15.5%; and clinical pulmonary infection score higher than 6, 45.8% and 60.4%. The addition of microbiological data to the clinical definitions increased the specificity and decreased the sensitivity but not significantly.

Conclusions

Accuracy of 3 commonly used clinical definitions of ventilator-associated pneumonia was poor taking the autopsy findings as reference standard.     

Who benefits from clinical supervision and how? The association between clinical supervision and the work-related well-being of female hospital nurses

Aim and objectives. The aims of this study were (1) to identify which nurses benefitted most from clinical supervision and (2) to explore whether they were healthier and more satisfied with their work than their peers who did not attend clinical supervision. Background. To maintain quality nursing, there is currently a social call to improve the well-being of nurses at work. Restoring nurses' well-being is one of the main purposes of clinical supervision. However, research evidence on the effects of clinical supervision is scarce. Design. Survey. Methods. Questionnaires were distributed to female hospital nurses (n?=?304), about a half of whom (48·7%) had attended clinical supervision. Perceptions of work and health among the nurses who gave the best evaluations of clinical supervision (n?=?74) were compared with those of their peers who gave the worst evaluations (n?=?74) or who had not attended clinical supervision (n?=?156). Results. The nurses who received efficient clinical supervision reported more job and personal resources and were more motivated and committed to the organisation than their peers. However, professional inefficacy was the only burnout dimension on which they scored lower than other nurses. Conclusions. Clinical supervision can be conceptualised as an additional job resource associated with other job and personal resources, which mutually reinforce each other, promoting well-being at work. Efficient clinical supervision is probably both an antecedent as well as a consequence of well-being at work. Relevance to clinical practice. The results of this study advocate management planning to provide formal support for health care providers. Medical-surgical nurses are interested in clinical supervision. Reflecting on practice in clinical supervision generates new ideas about how to improve the quality of care and the psychosocial work environment. However, clinical supervision may be viewed as a preventive method rather than a treatment for burnout.     

SUNCT Syndrome. Atypical Temporal Patterns

New clinical features of the SUNCT syndrome are described in a series of 3 men (mean age of 65 years, range 56 to 80). The mean age at the onset of symptoms was 55 years (range 39 to 77). Although in all patients the great majority of attacks were typical, on a few occasions unusual features of the painful attacks were either reported or witnessed by the investigators. We have classified these clinical phenomena as (1) low-grade background pain or discomfort, and (2) relatively Long-lasting attacks.
Neither neurological examination nor neuroimaging studies revealed structural lesions as responsible for the atypical features. The fact that these atypical attacks occurred in the usual symptomatic area and were accompanied by the usual ipsilateral autonomic signs, suggests that they are an integral part of the clinical picture of SUNCT. The possibility that another, concurrent headache was responsible for the unusual attacks is considered unlikely. These clinical phenomena should, accordingly, provisionally be considered as additional but rare clinical features of the SUNCT syndrome.     

临床男护士灾害护理核心能力及影响因素的分析

目的了解临床男护士灾害护理核心能力现状及影响因素,为开展男护士灾害护理继续教育与培训提供参考。方法对武汉市2所三级甲等医院的176名临床男护士灾害护理核心能力及其相关因素进行研究分析。结果临床男护士灾害护理核心能力得分为(2.69±0.64)分,得分最高维度为灾害过程护理(2.86±0.72)分,最低维度为灾害护理专业发展(2.28±0.80)分;有无灾害护理经历、是否参加过灾害护理培训是影响临床男护士灾害护理核心能力的主要因素。结论临床男护士灾害护理核心能力较低,突出表现为灾害护理专业发展方面能力较低。建议对临床男护士进行系统的灾害护理教育与培训,结合临床男护士有无灾害护理经历及灾害护理培训经历,有针对性地进行灾害护理救援培训,以促进其灾害护理核心能力的提升。     

Pelvic girdle pain: Potential risk factors in pregnancy in relation to disability and pain intensity three months postpartum

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to examine how results of clinical tests on women with pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in late pregnancy were associated with disability and pain intensity 12 weeks postpartum controlling for socio-demographical and psychological factors.Out of the 283 women clinically examined in gestation week 30, 179 were considered afflicted from PGP and constituted the study sample.Potential risk factors were assessed by questionnaires (at inclusion and in gestation week 30) and clinical examination in gestation week 30. The clinical examination included pain provocation tests for the pelvis as well as the active straight leg raise test. We used pain intensity and disability (disability rating index, DRI) as response variables, derived from questionnaires 12 weeks postpartum.Using multivariable linear regression analyses, sum of pain provocation tests and pre-pregnancy low back pain (LBP) were significantly associated with DRI 12 weeks postpartum. Furthermore, sum of pain provocation tests and number of pain sites were significantly associated with pain intensity.In conclusion, we found that when including results of clinical tests as risk factors together with socio-demographical and psychological factors in multivariable regression models, the clinical risk factors are the ones that remain significant. These results are of clinical importance because they seem to have the potential to identify women with a poor prognosis.     

Evaluation of the clinical hour requirement and attainment of core clinical competencies by nurse practitioner students

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the national practice of fulfilling 500 clinical hours as a requirement for graduation from nurse practitioner (NP) programs at the master's level and to compare this standard to a comprehensive approach of evaluating attainment of clinical competencies. Data sources: The National Organization of NP Faculties (NONPF) and specialty accreditation bodies publications were used for references to clinical hour and core competency requirements for graduation from NP programs. Data from one university from student documentation on a commercial electronic tracking system were also analyzed. Conclusions: Data analysis revealed that the 500 clinical hours correlated to populations, skills performed, required levels of decision making, and expected diagnoses. However, assurance that these clinical hour requirements translated to exposure to all core competencies for entry into practice could not be established. Implications for practice: A more comprehensive approach to the evaluation of student core competencies by implementing one or more performance-based assessments, such as case-based evaluations, simulations, or objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), as a strategic part of NP evaluation prior to graduation is proposed. This change is viewed as critical to the continued success of NP programs as master's level education transitions to direct BS to DNP educational preparation for advanced nursing practice.     

A tentative model for developing strategic and clinical nursing quality indicators: postoperative pain management

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of a tentative model, based on important aspects of surgical nursing care, for designing strategic and clinical quality indicators. Objective postoperative pain management was chosen for the model because it is a priority area in surgical nursing care. Items within a questionnaire were designed by using the tentative model as a base and by means of a literature review. The questionnaire, directed to clinical nurses (n = 233), was compiled to establish the validity and the usefulness of the indicators. Fourteen items were assessed as essential for achieving high quality outcomes in postoperative pain management (11 as realistic to carry out, and 13 as possible for nurses to influence) with mean scores > or = 4 (on a 5-point scale). The conclusion reached was that the tentative model combined with a literature search was found to be effective for designing items that might be useful as strategic and clinical indicators of quality in postoperative pain management.