Action research methodology in clinical pharmacy: how to involve and change

Introduction The focus in clinical pharmacy practice is and has for the last 30–35 years been on changing the role of pharmacy staff into service orientation and patient counselling. One way of doing this is by involving staff in change process and as a researcher to take part in the change process by establishing partnerships with staff. On the background of the authors’ widespread action research (AR)-based experiences, recommendations and comments for how to conduct an AR-study is described, and one of their AR-based studies illustrate the methodology and the research methods used. Methodology AR is defined as an approach to research which is based on a problem-solving relationship between researchers and clients, which aims at both solving a problem and at collaboratively generating new knowledge. Research questions relevant in AR-studies are: what was the working process in this change oriented study? What learning and/or changes took place? What challenges/pitfalls had to be overcome? What were the influence/consequences for the involved parts? When to use If you want to implement new services and want to involve staff and others in the process, an AR methodology is very suitable. The basic advantages of doing AR-based studies are grounded in their participatory and democratic basis and their starting point in problems experienced in practice. Limitations Some of the limitations in AR-studies are that neither of the participants in a project steering group are the only ones to decide. Furthermore, the collective process makes the decision-making procedures relatively complex.

     

颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症

目的:探讨颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症的临床疗效和安全性。方法:2017年3月至2019年3月收治25例颈椎管狭窄症患者。男15例,女10例。年龄33~68岁,中位数45岁。C3~C5狭窄16例,C3~C6狭窄9例。发育型狭窄18例,退行性狭窄7例。病程1~7年,中位数4年。均采用颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗。测定患者的颈椎曲度和活动度,采用视觉模拟量表(visual analogue scale,VAS)和Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)量表评价颈肩部疼痛情况,采用日本骨科学会(Japanese Orthopedic Association,JOA)脊髓型颈椎病评分量表(17分法)评价颈髓功能,采用Odom评级标准评价整体疗效,记录并发症发生情况。结果:所有患者均随访至术后12个月。与术前相比,术后3个月时患者的颈椎曲度和活动度均增大(5.25°±3.05°,8.02°±3.13°,t=3.169,P=0.003;38.48°±13.60°,56.12°±12.90°,t=4.705,P=0.000),颈肩部疼痛VAS评分和ODI均减小[(7.69±0.53)分,(3.14±0.21)分,t=39.906,P=0.000;(21.75±5.48)分,(10.13±2.12)分,t=9.888,P=0.000]。患者术前及术后3个月、6个月、12个月的JOA评分比较,总体差异有统计学意义[(8.22±1.51)分,(14.75±3.32)分,(16.53±3.52)分,(16.78±3.66)分,F=41.001,P=0.000];术后3个月、6个月、12个月的JOA评分均高于术前(P=0.000;P=0.000;P=0.000)。术后12个月时,按照Odom评级标准评定,优12例、良10例、一般2例、差1例;疗效评定为差的1例患者,经非手术治疗后病情控制。1例患者术后出现背部疼痛,服用非甾体抗炎止痛药后疼痛缓解;均未出现吞咽困难、脊髓损伤、内固定松动等并发症。结论:采用颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症,能有效改善患者的颈椎曲度和活动度、减轻颈肩部疼痛症状、改善颈髓功能,总体疗效较好,而且具有较高的安全性。     

Arterial stiffness in women previously with preeclampsia from a semi-rural region of South Africa

Women with pre-eclampsia have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. The aim of the study was to establish the presence and pattern of arterial stiffness in women previously with pre-eclampsia from a semi-rural region of South Africa. This was a prospective longitudinal study which involved 36 previously pre-eclamptic women and 86 non-pregnant controls (NPC) who had a past history of non-complicated pregnancy. Maternal wave reflection (augmentation index) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were assessed noninvasively, using applanation tonometry with the SphygmoCor device. Endothelial function was assessed by EndoPAT 2000 device; pneumatic probes were fitted to the index fingers; induced flow-mediated reactive hyperemia; the ratio of the readings before and after occlusion was then used to calculate the score, the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) as a measure of endothelial function.

Pulse wave velocity remained significantly higher in previously pre-eclamptic women than non-pregnant controls up to three months after delivery (p < 0.05), then it reduced to nonsignificant values. All blood pressure indices (central and brachial pressures), were higher in previously pre-eclamptic women as compared to nonpregnant controls up to one year postpartum.

Regional (aortic) arterial stiffness, though it persists for some time after delivery, is transitory in previously pre-eclamptic women from the rural Africa setting. However, their increase blood pressure is an indication of compromised arterial compliance in women previously with pre-eclampsia.