Medical tests: women's reported and preferred decision-making roles and preferences for information on benefits, side-effects and false results

Objective To determine women's preferences for and reported experience with medical test decision‐making. Design Computer‐assisted telephone survey. Setting and participants Six hundred and fifty‐two women resident in households randomly selected from the New South Wales electronic white pages. Main outcome measures Reported and preferred test and treatment (for comparison) decision‐making, satisfaction with and anxiety about information on false results and side‐effects; and effect of anxiety on desire for such information. Results Overall most women preferred to share test (94.6%) and treatment (91.2%) decision‐making equally with their doctor, or to take a more active role, with only 5.4–8.9% reporting they wanted the doctor to make these decisions on their behalf. This pattern was consistent across all age groups. In general, women reported experiencing a decision‐making role that was consistent with their preference. Women who had a usual doctor were more likely to report experiencing an active role in decision‐making. More women reported receiving as much information as they wanted about the benefits of tests and treatment than about the side‐effects of tests and treatment. Most women wanted information about the possibility of false test results (91.5%) and test side‐effects (95.6%), but many reported the doctor never provided this information (false results = 40.0% and side‐effects = 31.3%). A substantial proportion said this information would make them anxious (false results = 56.6% and side‐effects = 43.1%), but reported they wanted the information anyway (false results = 77.6% and side‐effects = 88.1%). Conclusions Women prefer an active role in test and treatment decision‐making. Many women reported receiving inadequate information. If so, this may jeopardize informed decision‐making.     

Cardiovascular effects of a chlorpheniramine/paracetamol combination in hypertensive patients who were sensitive to the pressor effect of pseudoephedrine

Twelve hypertensive patients who were classified as pseudoephedrine-sensitive in a preliminary trial were selected for further investigation with single doses of pseudoephedrine 60 mg, a combination of chlorpheniramine 4 mg with paracetamol 650 mg and placebo. A double-blind, randomised, crossover study design was followed. Treatment with pseudoephedrine produced significant effects on all the four variables measured (systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate). Effects of the chlorpheniramine/paracetamol combination were found to be not significantly different from placebo. It was concluded that the combination may be useful as a medication for 'colds' in hypertensive patients, since it does not induce cardiovascular effects such as those observed with pseudoephedrine.     

CO2超脉冲激光用于牙体窝洞制备的实验研究

目的　探讨CO2 超脉冲激光在牙体窝洞制备中的应用。方法　采用CO2 超脉冲激光制备窝洞 ,结合光镜及扫描电镜观察牙髓反应及洞形结构。结果　经CO2 超脉冲激光制备窝洞后 ,牙髓仅有轻度的充血及炎性反应 ,且短期内可恢复 ,洞形为上宽下窄、底部平坦的盆状 ,窝洞表面呈均质多孔样结构 ,无裂隙及炭化形成 ,这种形态结构适合复合树脂粘接固位。结论　CO2 超脉冲激光在窝洞制备方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

The Changing Prevalence of Cervical Human Papilloma Virus Infection

In order to determine the change in frequency of human papillomavirus infection (HPV) over a 10-year period, cervical smears from 1978 were retrieved, cytologically reviewed and compared with cervical smears taken in 1988. In this way, the slides were reviewed using the same diagnostic criteria. The prevalence of HPV infection in the population assessed at Flinders Medical Centre, rose from 0.58% to 5.6% over this period.     

Incidence and management of airway problems in the CHARGE Association

The airway problems associated with anaesthesia in patients with the CHARGE Association have been underreported. We undertook a retrospective review of 50 cases, of which anaesthetic records were available for 37 patients. Apart from choanal atresia and cleft lip and palate, 56% of patients has some other upper airway abnormality. There appeared to be greater difficulty in tracheal intubation with increase in age in four patients. The incidence and management of airway abnormalities are discussed.     

Airway clearance in neuromuscular weakness

Impaired airway clearance leads to recurrent chest infections and respiratory deterioration in neuromuscular weakness. It is frequently the cause of death. Cough is the major mechanism of airway clearance. Cough has several components, and assessment tools are available to measure the different components of cough. These include measuring peak cough flow, respiratory muscle strength, and inspiratory capacity. Each is useful in assessing the ability to generate an effective cough, and can be used to guide when techniques of assisting airway clearance may be effective for the individual and which are most effective. Techniques to assist airway clearance include augmenting inspiration by air stacking, augmenting expiration by assisting the cough, and augmenting both inspiration and expiration with the mechanical insufflator-exsufflator or by direct suctioning via a tracheostomy. Physiotherapists are invaluable in assisting airway clearance, and in teaching patients and their families how to use these techniques. Use of the mechanical insufflator-exsufflator has gained popularity in recent times, but several simpler, more economical methods are available to assist airway clearance that can be used effectively alone or in combination. This review examines the literature available on the assessment and management of impaired airway clearance in neuromuscular weakness.     

Hepatitis B virus reactivation and role of antiviral prophylaxis in lymphoma patients with past hepatitis B virus infection who are receiving chemoimmunotherapy

BACKGROUND:

Individuals who had past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection appeared to clear their serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) while producing antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAb), which is detectable in their serum. Currently, it is uncertain whether patients with past HBV infection require routine antiviral prophylaxis during chemotherapy, although some cancer agencies recommend its routine use. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of past HBV infection in patients with lymphoma and its relevance in terms of HBV‐related complications.

METHODS:

The authors reviewed 430 patients with lymphoma from May 2006 to May 2008.

RESULTS:

Among the 430 patients, 233 had both the HBsAg and HBcAb tests performed, whereas 197 had only the HBsAg test performed. Among those with both tests performed, 34.3% (80 of 233) were HBcAb positive only. Of these 80 patients, 58 had a concomitant HBV DNA level test, which was positive in 3 (5.2%). Of the 67 patients with past and 26 with chronic HBV infection who received chemotherapy, HBV reactivation occurred in 1.5% and 42.3% of patients, respectively (P<.0001). Prophylactic lamivudine was administered in 7 (10.4%) patients with past HBV infection and in 18 (69.2%) with chronic HBV infection.

CONCLUSIONS:

The low rate of HBV reactivation reported in our study coupled with the high prevalence of past HBV infection in an endemic area suggests that routine usage of antiviral prophylaxis may not be required for all patients with past HBV infection. Close surveillance remains a reasonable and viable option for the majority of patients. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.