Assessing the quality of clinical and administrative data extracted from hospitals: the General Medicine Inpatient Initiative (GEMINI) experience

ObjectiveLarge clinical databases are increasingly used for research and quality improvement. We describe an approach to data quality assessment from the General Medicine Inpatient Initiative (GEMINI), which collects and standardizes administrative and clinical data from hospitals.MethodsThe GEMINI database contained 245 559 patient admissions at 7 hospitals in Ontario, Canada from 2010 to 2017. We performed 7 computational data quality checks and iteratively re-extracted data from hospitals to correct problems. Thereafter, GEMINI data were compared to data that were manually abstracted from the hospital’s electronic medical record for 23 419 selected data points on a sample of 7488 patients.ResultsComputational checks flagged 103 potential data quality issues, which were either corrected or documented to inform future analysis. For example, we identified the inclusion of canceled radiology tests, a time shift of transfusion data, and mistakenly processing the chemical symbol for sodium (“Na”) as a missing value. Manual validation identified 1 important data quality issue that was not detected by computational checks: transfusion dates and times at 1 site were unreliable. Apart from that single issue, across all data tables, GEMINI data had high overall accuracy (ranging from 98%–100%), sensitivity (95%–100%), specificity (99%–100%), positive predictive value (93%–100%), and negative predictive value (99%–100%) compared to the gold standard.Discussion and ConclusionComputational data quality checks with iterative re-extraction facilitated reliable data collection from hospitals but missed 1 critical quality issue. Combining computational and manual approaches may be optimal for assessing the quality of large multisite clinical databases.     

Evaluation of a parenting program for children with behavioural problems: Signposts in Singapore

Abstract

Background The Signposts for Building Better Behaviour program, developed by the Parenting Research Centre, Victoria, Australia, was conducted at a public hospital facility in Singapore.

Method More than 1,000 parents completed the program, and filled in questionnaires about their child's behaviours.

Results Parents rated themselves in the questionnaires as being significantly less hassled, stressed, depressed, and anxious after attending the program. They were more confident and satisfied with managing their child, and rated their children's behaviours as having improved. Effect sizes ranged from 0.12 to 0.59. The findings were maintained 3 months after completion of the program.

Conclusions The study provides evidence of the cross-cultural applicability of the principles underlying the Signposts program. As there are long-term repercussions when children's behaviour problems are not dealt with appropriately, such behaviour management programs should be made more available to parents and caregivers.     

长期献血者体内免疫功能的研究

本文报道1991年9月～1993年3月我科长期献血者体内细胞免疫功能的变化。以淋巴细胞转化率(SI)、白细胞介素-2(IL-2)及自然杀伤活性(NK)作为免疫功能指标。对75例10年以上长期献血者及35例初次献血者进行比较,两组结果均无统计学差异。说明经过长期献血后,细胞免疫功能这3项指标无明显变化,对血液质量没有影响。     

The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation in children

Purpose

To review the surgical techniques and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in children with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods

One hundred and seven children with moderate or severe MR, aged 19.6 ± 8.5 months, were enrolled in this study. The surgical techniques used for mitral valve repair varied according to the mitral valve morphology, and included annuloplasty, annuloplasty ring, cleft closure, reconstruction of the posterior leaflet, etc. The concomitant cardiac anomalies were treated simultaneously. The results of repair were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography performed during the operation and by serial transthoracic echocardiography performed during the follow-up.

Results

One hundred and six cases had no more than mild regurgitation intraoperatively, whereas only one case had moderate regurgitation. This patient underwent redo repair immediately, and the subsequent regurgitation was trivial. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.9 % (1/107). The average follow-up was 46.5 ± 8.2 months. One patient died of heart failure 10 months postoperatively. The freedom from moderate or severe regurgitation after mitral valve repair was 92.3 ± 3.3 %.

Conclusion

Pediatric patients with moderate or severe MR require early surgical treatment. The early and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in pediatric patients were satisfactory.     

小儿腭裂修复术后麻醉恢复期的观察与护理

腭裂是口腔颌面外科常见的先天畸形,手术修复是唯一有效的治疗方法,术后护理直接关系到手术的成功与否,特别是全身麻醉恢复期,患儿易出现各种意外,故应加强护理,采取有效预防措施,以确保麻醉恢复期平稳度过,保证手术成功.我科2001年3月-2006年4月收治腭裂患儿396例,全部安全度过麻醉恢复期.现将护理体会总结如下.     

VAMP加逆转剂治疗难治性急性淋巴细胞白血病的体内、外研究

目的：观察VAMP方案加维拉帕米或环孢菌素A逆转治疗难治性ALL的疗效。方法：选择原发和继发耐药的ALL患者13例，采用VAMP方案加维拉帕米或环孢菌素A逆转体内、外研究。结果：13例ALL中7例达CR,3例达PR,3例无效。体外VAMP方案加VRP或CsA可有效逆转耐药。结论：采用VAMP方案加维拉帕米或环孢菌素A逆转治疗难治性ALL,可取得较好的疗效,为争取移植治疗创造了条件。     

Management of Positive Sub‐areolar/Nipple Duct Margins in Nipple‐Sparing Mastectomies

We evaluated management of positive sub‐areolar/nipple duct margins in nipple‐sparing mastectomies (NSM) at our institution. Retrospective chart review of all NSM from January 2007 to April 2012 was performed and patient, tumor, and treatment information was collected. Sub‐areolar/nipple duct margins included ductal tissue from within the nipple. Of 438 NSM, 22 (5%) had positive sub‐areolar/nipple duct margins; 21 of 220 cancer‐bearing breasts (10%) and 1 of 218 prophylactic mastectomies (0.5%). Positive margins included four with invasive lobular carcinoma and 18 with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Management included removal of eight nipples and nine nipple areola complexes (NAC). Four of 17 nipple/NAC specimens had evidence of residual DCIS and none had residual invasive cancer. The majority of nipple/NAC specimens excised for a positive margin had no residual malignancy. Future studies are needed to determine the extent of NAC tissue removal required for positive margins.