To What Extent Do Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Reflect Patients' Preferences for Care at the End of Life?

ObjectiveTo assess whether medical orders within Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms reflect patients' preferences for care at the end of life.DesignThis cross-sectional study assessed the agreement between medical orders in POLST forms and the free-form text documentation of an advance care planning conversation performed by an independent researcher during a single episode of hospitalization.Setting and ParticipantsInpatients at a single public university hospital, aged 21 years or older, and for whom one of their attending physicians provided a negative answer to the following question: “Would I be surprised if this patient died in the next year?” Data collection occurred between October 2016 and September 2017.MeasuresAgreement between medical orders in POLST forms and the free-form text documentation of an advance care planning conversation was measured by kappa statistics.ResultsSixty-two patients were interviewed. Patients' median (interquartile range) age was 62 (56-70) years, and 21 patients (34%) were women. Overall, in 7 (11%) cases, disagreement in at least 1 medical order for life-sustaining treatment was found between POLST forms and the content of the independent advance care planning conversation. The kappa statistic for cardiopulmonary resuscitation was 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-1.00]; for level of medical intervention, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99); and for artificially administered nutrition, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.75-0.98).Conclusions and ImplicationsThe high level of agreement between medical orders in POLST forms and the documentation in an independent advance care planning conversation offers further support for the POLST paradigm. In addition, the finding that the agreement was not 100% underscores the need to confirm frequently that POLST medical orders accurately reflect patients' current values and preferences of care.     

Evaluating the role of clinical pharmacists in pre-procedural anticoagulation management

Objectives: While physicians are typically responsible for managing perioperative warfarin, clinic pharmacists may improve pre-procedural decision-making. We assessed the impact of pharmacist-driven care for chronic warfarin-treated patients undergoing outpatient right heart catheterization (RHC).

Methods: 200 warfarin patients who underwent RHC between January 2012 and September 2015 were analyzed. Pharmacist-care (n = 79) was compared to the usual care model (n = 121). The primary outcome was a composite of (1) documentation of anticoagulation plan, (2) holding warfarin at least 5 days prior to procedure, (3) guideline-congruent low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) bridging, and (4) correct LMWH dosing if bridging deemed necessary. Chi-squared test performed to assess the role of pharmacist. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to the composite endpoint, adjusted for the month of procedure.

Results: Compared to the usual care model, pharmacist-driven care (OR 4.69, 95% CI 1.73–12.71, p = 0.002) and date of the procedure (OR 1.06/month, 95% CI 1.01–1.10, p = 0.011) were independently associated with the primary composite outcome. Of the individual outcome components, pharmacist-driven care was only associated with documentation (96.2% vs. 67.8%, OR 9.19, 95% CI 2.19–38.62, p = 0.002). Remaining components including hold warfarin for at least 5 days, appropriate bridging and correct LMWH dosing were not significantly associated with pharmacist-care.

Conclusions: Pharmacist-care is associated with better guideline-based anticoagulation management, but this was primarily driven by improved documentation. The impact of pharmacist managed peri-procedural anticoagulation on clinical outcomes remains unknown.     

Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations Among Older Adults: 2010-2014

PURPOSEWe undertook a study to examine national trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations—those for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions that could have been avoided if patients had timely access to primary care—across 3,200 counties and various subpopulations of older adults in the United States.METHODSWe used 2010-2014 Medicare claims data to examine trends in potentially preventable hospitalizations among beneficiaries aged 65 years and older and developed heat maps to examine county-level variation. We used a generalized estimating equation and adjusted the model for demographics, comorbidities, dual eligibility (Medicare and Medicaid), ZIP code–level income, and county-level number of primary care physicians and hospitals.RESULTSAcross the 3,200 study counties, potentially preventable hospitalizations decreased in 327 counties, increased in 123 counties, and did not change in the rest. At the population level, the adjusted rate of potentially preventable hospitalizations declined by 3.45 percentage points from 19.42% (95% CI, 18.4%-20.5%) in 2010 to 15.97% (95% CI, 15.3%-16.6%) in 2014; it declined by 2.93, 2.87, and 3.33 percentage points among White, Black, and Hispanic patients to 14.96% (95% CI, 14.67%-15.24%), 17.92% (95% CI, 17.27%-18.58%), and 17.10% (95% CI, 16.25%-18.0%), respectively. Similarly, the rate for dually eligible patients fell by 3.71 percentage points from 21.62% (95% CI, 20.5%-22.8%) in 2010 to 17.91% (95% CI, 17.2%-18.7%) in 2014. (P <.001 for all).CONCLUSIONSDuring 2010-2014, rates of potentially preventable hospitalization did not change in the majority of counties. At the population level, although the rate declined among all subpopulations, dually eligible patients and Black and Hispanic patients continued to have substantially higher rates compared with non–dually eligible and White patients, respectively.Key words: Medicare, potentially preventable hospitalization, prevention quality indicators, trends, health care use, vulnerable populations, healthcare disparities, access to health care, health services     

Contraceptive care in the VA health care system

BackgroundLittle is known about contraceptive care within the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of documented contraception by race/ethnicity within the VA and to examine the association between receiving primary care in women's health clinics (WHCs) and having a documented contraceptive method.Study DesignWe examined national VA administrative and pharmacy data for 103,950 female veterans aged 18–45 years who made at least one primary care clinic visit in 2008. Multivariable regression models were used to examine the associations between race/ethnicity and receipt of care in a WHC with having a method of contraception while controlling for confounders.ResultsOnly 22% of women veterans had a documented method of contraception during 2008. After adjusting for potential confounders, Hispanic and African–American women were significantly less likely to have a method compared to whites [odds ratio (OR): 0.82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76–0.88 and OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.81–0.89, respectively]. Women who went to WHCs were significantly more likely to have a method of contraception compared to women who went to traditional primary care clinics (OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.97–2.14).ConclusionsOverall contraceptive prevalence in the VA is low, but receiving care in a WHC is associated with a significantly higher likelihood of having a contraceptive method.     

Availability of Services Related to Achieving Pregnancy in U.S. Publicly Funded Family Planning Clinics

BackgroundRecognizing that quality family planning services should include services to help clients who want to become pregnant, the objective of our analysis was to examine the distribution of services related to achieving pregnancy at publicly funded family planning clinics in the United States.MethodsA nationally representative sample of publicly funded clinics was surveyed in 2013–2014 (n = 1615). Clinic administrators were asked about several clinical services and screenings related to achieving pregnancy: basic infertility services, reproductive life plan assessment, screening for body mass index, screening for sexually transmitted diseases, provision of natural family planning services, infertility treatment, and primary care services. The percentage of clinics offering each of these services was compared by Title X funding status; prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated after adjusting for clinic characteristics.ResultsCompared to non-Title X clinics, Title X clinics were more likely to offer reproductive life plan assessment (adjusted PR [aPR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.42–1.84), body mass index screening for men (aPR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.21), screening for sexually transmitted diseases (aPRs ranged from 1.21 to 1.37), and preconception health care for men (aPR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.20). Title X clinics were less likely to offer infertility treatment (aPR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40–0.74) and primary care services (aPR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68–0.80) and were just as likely to offer basic infertility services, preconception health care services for women, natural family planning, and body mass index screening in women.ConclusionsThe availability of selected services related to achieving pregnancy differed by Title X status. A follow-up assessment after publication of national family planning recommendations is underway.     

Patient and clinician factors associated with uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent patients of a primary care network

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates for adolescents remain relatively low. The purpose of this study is to examine patient and clinician factors associated with HPV vaccination among patients, ages 11–17, of a large community-based primary care network.MethodsElectronic health records and administrative data from a large primary care network from January 2017 – June 2018 for patients ages 11–17 (n = 10,682) and the 198 primary care clinicians that saw them were analyzed. Mixed effects logistic regression models examined the association of patient and clinician factors with HPV vaccine uptake.ResultsMost patients (63.0%) had at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and 37.7% were up to date. In adjusted analyses, patients who received the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 2.1–3.9) compared to those who did not receive the vaccine and patients with five or more medical visits (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2) had the greatest odds of being up to date with the HPV vaccine series. Compared to White patients, African American/Black (OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6 – 1.0) and Alaskan Native/American Indian (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3–0.9) patients were less likely to be up to date. Boys were also less likely to be up to date with the HPV vaccine series compared to girls (OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.7–0.8). Additionally, patients with family/general practice primary care clinicians were less likely to have their patients up to date than those with pediatricians (OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6 – 1.0).ConclusionHPV vaccine uptake varied by patient characteristics, heath care utilization and primary care clinician specialty. These findings may inform future evidence-based interventions aimed at increasing HPV vaccine uptake among adolescents by targeting patient sub-groups and reducing missed opportunities for vaccination.     

Impact of the sustained control of cardiovascular risk factors on first episode heart failure: The relevant role of primary care

Background: The role of cardiovascular risk factor control in the development of heart failure (HF) has not yet been clearly established.

Objective: To determine the effect of cardiovascular risk factor control on the occurrence of a first episode of hospital admission for HF.

Methods: A case-control study using propensity score-matching was carried out to analyse the occurrence of first hospital admission for HF taking into account the degree of cardiovascular risk factor control over the previous 24 months. All patients admitted to the cardiology unit of the Hospital del Mar between 2008 and 2011 because of a first episode of HF were considered cases. Controls were selected from the population in the hospital catchment area who were using primary care services. Cardiovascular risk factor measurements in the primary healthcare electronic medical records prior to the first HF episode were analysed.

Results: After the matching process, 645 participants were analysed (129 HF cases and 516 controls). Patients suffering a first HF episode had modest increments in body mass index and blood pressure levels during the previous two years. Adjusted odds ratio for experiencing a first HF hospital admission episode according to systolic blood pressure levels and body mass index was (OR: 1.031, 95% CI: 1.001–1.04), and (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03–1.15), respectively.

Conclusion: Increased levels of body mass index and systolic blood pressure during the previous 24 months may determine a higher risk of having a first HF hospital admission episode.     

Methadone-maintained patients in primary care have higher rates of chronic disease and multimorbidity,and use health services more intensively than matched controls

Background: Methadone maintenance treatment in primary care is cost-effective and improves outcomes for opiate-dependent patients. A more developed understanding of the evolving needs of this important cohort will facilitate further improvements in their integrated care within the community.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the burden of chronic disease, multi-morbidity and intensity of health-service use between methadone-maintained patients (MMPs) and matched controls in primary care.

Methods: This is a retrospective matched case-control design. Data on chronic disease and health service use was collected in 13 computerized GP surgeries on 414 patients (207 MMPs and 207 controls). Twelve months of records were examined. MMPs were compared with controls matched by gender, age, socio-economic status (SES) and GP surgery.

Results: MMPs suffered more chronic disease (OR = 9.1, 95% CI: 5.4–15.1, P < 0.001) and multi-morbidity (OR = 6.6, 95% CI: 4.3–10.2, P < 0.001). They had higher rates of respiratory, psychiatric and infectious disease. MMPs of lower SES had more chronic disease than their peers (OR = 7.2, 95% CI: 2.4–22.0, P < 0.001). MMPs attended the doctor more often with medical problems (OR = 15.4, 95% CI: 8.2–28.7, P < 0.001), with a frequent requirement to have medical issues addressed during methadone-management visits. Their care generated more telephone calls (OR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.8–6.8, P < 0.001), investigations (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.7, P = 0.003), referrals (2.6, 95% CI: 1.7–4.0, P < 0.001), emergency department visits (2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.6, P = 0.004), outpatient attendances (2.3, 95% CI: 1.51–1.43, P < 0.001) and hospital admissions (3.6, 95% CI: 1.6–8.1, P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Correcting for routine methadone care and drug-related illnesses, MMPs had a higher burden of chronic disease and used both primary and secondary health services more intensively than matched controls.     

The impact of electronic health record systems on clinical documentation times: A systematic review

BackgroundEffective management of hospital staff time is crucial to quality patient care. Recent years have seen widespread implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems but the effect of this on documentation time is unknown. This review compares time spent on documentation tasks by hospital staff (physicians, nurses and interns) before and after EHR implementation.MethodsA systematic search identified 8153 potentially relevant citations. Studies examining proportion of total workload spent on documentation with ≥40 h of staff observation time were included. Meta-analysis was performed for physicians, nurses and interns comparing pre- and post-EHR results. Studies were weighted by person-hours observation time.ResultsTwenty-eight studies met selection criteria. Seventeen were pre-EHR, nine post-EHR and two examined both periods. With implementation of EHR, physicians’ documentation time increased from 16% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11–22%) to 28% (95% CI 19–37%), nurses from 9% (95% CI 6–12%) to 23% (95% CI 15–32%) and interns from 20% (95% CI 7–32%) to 26% (95% CI 10–42%).ConclusionsThere is a lack of long-term follow-up on the effects of EHR implementation. Initial adjustment to EHR appears to increase documentation time but there is some evidence that as staff become more familiar with the system, it may ultimately improve work flow.     

Factors associated with a successful expansion of influenza vaccination among pregnant women in Nicaragua

BackgroundPregnant women are at risk of severe influenza disease and are a priority group for influenza vaccination programs. Nicaragua expanded recommendations to include influenza vaccination to all pregnant women in the municipality of Managua in 2013.MethodsWe carried out a survey among 1,807 pregnant women who delivered at public hospitals in the municipality of Managua to evaluate the uptake of influenza vaccination and factors associated with vaccination.ResultsWe observed a high (71%) uptake of influenza vaccination among this population, with no differences observed by age, education or parity of the women. Having four antenatal visits and five or more visits were associated with receipt of influenza vaccination (AORs: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.15, 5.81, and 2.37; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.0, respectively). Also, receipt of influenza vaccination recommendation from a health care provider was positively associated with receipt of influenza vaccination (AOR: 14.22; 95% CI: 10.45, 19.33).ConclusionsThe successful expansion of influenza vaccination among pregnant women in the municipality of Managua may be due to ready access to free medical care and health care providers’ recommendation for vaccination at health care clinics that received influenza vaccine.     

Weight-Related Communications Between Oncology Clinicians and Women With Obesity at Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Findings From a Review of Electronic Health Records

Abstract

Background: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Position Statement on Obesity and Cancer notes that the oncology care team is in a unique position to initiate weight management conversations that may help patients manage their weight in survivorship.

Methods: Qualitative and quantitative content analysis of electronic health records at a university-affiliated cancer hospital was conducted to gather documentation of weight-related communications between oncology clinicians and their patients with obesity (Body Mass Index 30 or higher) at early breast cancer diagnosis.

Results: The sample includes 237 women, mean age 56.5 (range 25–86), 37% black, and mean BMI 36 (range 30–59). Ninety-three patients (39%) had weight-related communications with at least one oncology clinician, for a total of 120 communications. Seventy-three percent of these communications were with a medical oncologist, 17% with a radiation oncologist, and 10% with a surgical oncologist. Examples of communications include referrals to weight management programs (22%), printed patient instructions about diet or diet and exercise (12%), and clinician notes describing weight-related interactions with their patients (67%).

Conclusions: This study provides preliminary but encouraging evidence of weight-related communications during a busy clinic visit with patients who were obese at breast cancer diagnosis.     

Effectiveness of clinical decision support to enhance delivery of family planning services in primary care settings

PurposeThere is a need to improve delivery of family planning services, including preconception and contraception services, in primary care. We assessed whether a clinician-facing clinical decision support implemented in a family medicine staffed primary care network improved provision of family planning services for reproductive-aged female patients, and differed in effect for certain patients or clinical settings.MethodsWe conducted a pragmatic study with difference-in-differences design to estimate, at the visit-level, the clinical decision support’s effect on documenting the provision of family planning services 52 weeks prior to and after implementation. We also used logistic regression with a sample subset to evaluate intervention effect on the patient-level.Results27,817 eligible patients made 91,185 visits during the study period. Overall, unadjusted documentation of family planning services increased by 2.7 percentage points (55.7% pre-intervention to 58.4% intervention). In the adjusted analysis, documentation increased by 3.4 percentage points (95% CI: 2.24, 4.63). The intervention effect varied across sites at the visit-level, ranging from a −1.2 to +6.5 percentage point change. Modification of effect by race, insurance, and site were substantial, but not by age group nor ethnicity. Additionally, patient-level subset analysis showed that those exposed to the intervention had 1.26 times the odds of having family planning services documented after implementation compared to controls (95% CI: 1.17, 1.36).ConclusionsThis clinical decision support modestly improved documentation of family planning services in our primary care network; effect varied across sites.ImplicationsIntegrating a family planning services clinical decision support into the electronic medical record at primary care sites may increase the provision of preconception and/or contraception services for women of reproductive age. Further study should explore intervention effect at sites with lower initial provision of family planning services.     

Why some children hospitalized for pneumonia do not consult with a general practitioner before the day of hospitalization

Abstract

Background: Early consultation in primary care may provide an opportunity for early intervention in children developing pneumonia, but little is known about why some children do not consult a general practitioner (GP) before hospitalization.

Objectives: To identify differences between children who consulted a GP and children who did not consult a GP before the day of hospital presentation with pneumonia or empyema.

Methods: Carers of children aged six months to 16 years presenting to hospital with pneumonia or empyema completed a questionnaire, with a subset participating in an interview to identify physical, organizational and psychological barriers to consultation. Responses from those who had consulted a GP before the day of hospital presentation were compared with those who had not on a range of medical, social and environmental variables.

Results: Fifty seven (38%) of 151 participants had not consulted a GP before the day of hospital presentation. On multivariate analysis, illness duration ≥ 3 days (odds ratio [OR] 4.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67–11.39), prior antibiotic use (OR: 10.35, 95% CI: 2.16–49.55) and home ownership (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.07–9.37) were significantly associated with early GP consultation (P < 0.05). Interviews with 28 carers whose children had not seen a GP before the day of presentation revealed that most had not considered it and/or did not think their child's initial symptoms were serious or unusual; 11 (39.3%) had considered consulting a GP but reported barriers to access.

Conclusion: Lack of early GP consultation was strongly associated with rapid evolution of pneumonia.     

The relationship between primary health care organization and quality of diabetes care

Abstract

Background: Despite many quality improvement trials, diabetes care often remains suboptimal. Few studies in a primary care setting have investigated the ‘real life’ association between organizational differences and quality of diabetes care. Methods: Observational study among ten health care centres with a total of 45 general practitioners (GP). We investigated health care organization and related this to quality of care in a total of 1849 electronic patient records. Results: There were large differences among health care centres in the percentage of patients receiving optimal care (range: 8–67%). The odds to receive good quality of care was higher if the health care centre had a diabetes education program (OR: 4.3; CI: 3.4–5.4), when yearly medical check-ups were done by both the GP and nurse practitioner (NP) (OR: 5.5; CI: 4.2–7.3), planned that after the patient visited the NP the patient is discussed with the GP (OR: 1.8; CI: 1.6–2.0), and had structured follow-up measures for compliance to check-ups (OR: 0.7; CI: 0.5–0.9 and OR: 0.59; CI: 0.5–0.7 for respectively one and two active measures compared to three active measures).

Conclusion: Also in real life, quality of care for type 2 diabetic patients is related to health care organization.     

Development of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Risk of Hospitalization With Pressure Injury After Entering Residential Aged Care

ObjectivesAlthough largely preventable, pressure injury is a major concern in individuals in permanent residential aged care (PRAC). Our study aimed to identify predictors and develop a prognostic model for risk of hospitalization with pressure injury (PI) using integrated Australian aged and health care data.DesignNational retrospective cohort study.Setting and ParticipantsIndividuals ≥65 years old (N = 206,540) who entered 1797 PRAC facilities between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2016.MethodsPI, ascertained from hospitalization records, within 365 days of PRAC entry was the outcome of interest. Individual, medication, facility, system, and health care–related factors were examined as predictors. Prognostic models were developed using elastic nets penalized regression and Fine and Gray models. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) assessed model discrimination out-of-sample.ResultsWithin 365 days of PRAC entry, 4.3% (n = 8802) of individuals had a hospitalization with PI. The strongest predictors for PI risk include history of PIs [sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR) 2.41; 95% CI 1.77–3.29]; numbers of prior hospitalizations (having ≥5 hospitalizations, sHR 1.95; 95% CI 1.74–2.19); history of traumatic amputation of toe, ankle, foot and leg (sHR 1.72; 95% CI 1.44–2.05); and history of skin disease (sHR 1.54; 95% CI 1.45–1.65). Lower care needs at PRAC entry with respect to mobility, complex health care, and medication assistance were associated with lower risk of PI. The risk prediction model had an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI 0.72–0.75).Conclusions and ImplicationsOur prognostic model for risk of hospitalization with PI performed moderately well and can be used by health and aged care providers to implement risk-based prevention plans at PRAC entry.     

Identified mental disorders in older adults in primary care: A cross-sectional database study

Introduction: Identifying and managing mental disorders among older adults is an important challenge for primary care in Europe. Electronic medical records (EMRs) offer considerable potential in this regard, although there is a paucity of data on their use for this purpose.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence/treatment of identified mental disorders among older adults (over 55 years) by using data derived from EMRs in general practice.

Methods: We utilized data from a cross-sectional study of mental disorders in primary care, which identified patients with mental disorders based on diagnostic coding and prescribed medicines. We collected anonymized data from 35 practices nationally from June 2014 to March 2015, and secondary analysis of this dataset examined the prevalence of mental disorders in adults aged over 55 years.

Results: 74,261 patients aged over 55 years were identified, of whom 14,143 had a mental health disorder (prevalence rate of 19.1%). There was considerable variation between practices (range: 3.7–38.9%), with a median prevalence of 23.1%. Prevalence increased with age, from 14.8% at 55–59 years to 28.9% at 80–84 years. Most common disorders were depression (17.1%), panic/anxiety (11.3%), cognitive (5.6%), alcohol (3.8%) and substance use (3.8%).

Conclusions: Examining mental disorders among older adults using data derived from EMRs is feasible. Mental disorders are common among older adults attending primary care and this study demonstrates the utility of electronic medical records in epidemiological studies of large populations in primary care.     

Patient education in chronic heart failure in primary care (ETIC) and its impact on patient quality of life: design of a cluster randomised trial

Background

Fatigue is a common yet difficult to treat condition in primary care. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based fatigue self-management (FSM) intervention as compared to usual care among patients with chronic fatigue in primary care.

Methods

An economic evaluation alongside of a parallel randomized controlled study design was used. Computer-generated variable-sized block randomization plan was used to assign patients into treatment groups and data collection staff were blinded to group assignments. Patients aged between 18 and 65 years with at least six months of persistent fatigue and no medical or psychiatric exclusions were enrolled from a large primary care practice in Stony Brook, New York. The FSM group (n = 37) received two sessions of a nurse-delivered, fatigue self-management protocol and a self-help book and the usual care group (n = 36) received regular medical care. The effectiveness measure was the Fatigue Severity Scale and the cost measure was total health care expenditures derived from monthly health services use diaries during follow-up. A societal perspective was adopted and bootstrapped incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and net monetary benefit (NMB) were calculated as measures of cost-effectiveness.

Results

The ICER for FSM was -$2358, indicating that FSM dominates UC and it may generate societal cost savings as compared to usual care. Complete case analysis yielded smaller ICER (-$1199) with greater uncertainties. Net monetary benefit analysis showed that FSM has a probability of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.819, 0.847) to achieve positive NMB and the favorable results were not sensitive to assumptions about informal care or treatment costs.

Conclusion

This economic evaluation found initial evidence that a two-session brief CBT-based FSM may be cost-effective as compared to usual care over 12 months. The FSM intervention is potentially a promising intervention for chronic fatigue patients in primary care. Additional research is needed to examine the reproducibility and generalizability of these findings.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00997451, March 28, 2009).

     

Risk of Medication Errors at Hospital Discharge and Barriers to Problem Resolution

SUMMARY

Medication errors are common among older adults, particularly among those who are at heightened risk due to transfer between care settings. Determining accurate medications for hospitalized patients is a complicated process. This paper presents findings from a small pilot study conducted to identify medication documentation problems at the point of hospital discharge among older adults and the problems encountered in developing new technological systems to address these problems. A prospective study was conducted within a managed care medical center that included patient and physician surveys and chart reviews. A review of 104 medical records revealed several problems in the documentation of patient medication including legibility, use of medical abbreviations and incomplete and missing entries. While patients overall were satisfied with medications communication efforts at discharge, physicians surveyed reported that these methods were inadequate in transmitting medication lists to primary care physicians, patients and other care providers. Patients reported taking more drugs than what were listed in the medical record. These findings led to the development, testing, and implementation of an electronic medication sheet. Despite the success in developing this new system, few physicians engaged in its use, with most preferring to continue with their standard discharge practices of written communication.