Location of Cardiac Arrests in the Public Access Defibrillation Trial

Background. The Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Trial found an overall doubling in the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) survivors when a lay responder team was equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED), compared with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alone. Objectives. To describe the types of facilities that participated in the trial andto report the incidence of CA andsurvival in these different types of facilities. Methods. In this post-hoc analysis of PAD Trial data, the physical characteristics of the participating facilities andthe numbers of presumed CAs, treatable CAs, andsurvivors are reported for each category of facilities. Results. There were 625 presumed CAs at 1,260 participating facilities. Just under half (n = 291) of the presumed CAs were classified as treatable CAs. Treatable CAs occurred at a rate of 2.9 per 1,000 person-years of exposure; rates were highest in fitness centers (5.1) andgolf courses (4.8) andlowest in office complexes (0.7) andhotels (0.7). Survival from treatable CA was highest in recreational complexes (0.5), public transportation sites (0.4), andfitness centers (0.4) andlowest in office complexes (0.1) andresidential facilities (0.0). Conclusions. During the PAD Trial, the exposure-adjusted rate of treatable CA was highest in fitness centers andgolf courses, but the incidence per facility was low to moderate. Survival from treatable cardiac arrest was highest in recreational complexes, public transportation facilities, andfitness centers.     

Neonatal education in the North East: A collaborative venture

This article describes a change in the teaching and learning strategy for newly qualified neonatal nurses who wish to become qualified in the speciality (QIS) of neonatal nursing. Two modules have undergone revision in the light of feedback from the Regional Neonatal Network and evaluations from stakeholders. This paper provides the rationale for change and discusses developments in teaching and learning strategies, and the planning and implementing process involved in the change. Factors to take into consideration when evaluating the change and implications for future developments are also briefly discussed.     

Healthcare and discourse: exploration of interprofessional learning within a Brazilian context

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a qualitative study on the contribution of a Program of Education through Work (PET) in Healthcare, based at a Brazilian State University, to interprofessional education. Data were collected from ten undergraduate students of Nursing, Medicine, and Phonoaudiology (speech therapy), who were part of PET at the University. Data were analyzed using the Discourse of the Collective Subject technique. Central ideas were gathered into three categories: (1) teamwork and interprofessionality; (2) PET influences on SUS (Brazilian Unified Health System); (3) teaching-service-community integration. The study found evidence that PET enabled the students with opportunities to be involved in an education that supported the SUS principles and guidelines and to engage with interprofessional learning where there were exchanges of different professional experiences. The PET also supported the development of critical thinking for professional performance, as well as an integrated teaching experience that could support community development.     

Shared learning in practice placements for health and social work students in East London: a feasibility study

A voluntary organisation providing family support and mental health services carried out an enquiry into the feasibility of setting up placements in primary care for students from professional qualifying courses in community nursing, social work and occupational therapy to experience shared practice learning in their placement. Consultation with a range of courses from two universities in London and with GP practices and other primary care agencies in East London established that there was wide support for the idea from practitioners, managers and academic teachers. It was recommended that a small number of pilot placements be set up. It was acknowledged that the diversity of placement requirements across the spectrum of professional education is a limiting factor in bringing students together for practice learning. The authors suggest that in the longer term, the development of an interprofessional approach to practice learning will require structural changes to professional courses so as to bring their placement requirements more into line with each other.     

Three Different Ways Mental Health Nurses Develop Quality Therapeutic Relationships

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were different ways in which mental health nurses develop quality therapeutic relationships with patients. A taxonomy of 140 attributes were identified as important to the formation of a quality therapeutic relationship in mental health nursing. These attributes provided the basis for the development of a Q-sort instrument, which was piloted. Results led to the identification of three clusters of mental health nurses who share similar beliefs regarding the attributes required to develop a quality therapeutic relationship with patients. These groupings of attributes were called “Equal Partner,” “Senior Partner,” and “Protective Partner.” Recommendations are provided and include that nurses consider their nursing style in their choice of employment environment and that managers consider their nurses' individual styles in determination of an optimal case mix.     

The effect of first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis on the first ray and the medial longitudinal arch: a radiographic study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis on the sagittal plane orientation of the first ray and the medial longitudinal arch. Lateral weightbearing radiographs of 48 patients (54 feet) having undergone the procedure were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were separated into three groups based on their preoperative diagnosis: hallux rigidus, hallux valgus, or rheumatoid forefoot deformity. First metatarsal declination, talometatarsal, talar declination, calcaneal inclination, and talocalcaneal angles were measured on pre- and postoperative radiographs. Multivariate analysis of variance determined that there was a significant postoperative change (p < .001) in angular measurements, particularly in the first metatarsal declination, talometatarsal, and talocalcaneal angles. There was also a significant difference (p < .01) in the angular measurements between the hallux rigidus group and the other two groups. However, the amount of change from pre- to postoperatively did not vary significantly between the groups. A calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients found no significant correlation between the hallux dorsiflexion angle and changes in angular measurements. The radiographic changes found in this study support Hicks' windlass model: fixed dorsiflexion of the hallux causes plantarflexion of the first ray and an increase in the medial longitudinal arch.     

Efficacy and safety of linezolid versus vancomycin for the treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections proven to be caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Background

This open-label study compared oral or intravenous linezolid with intravenous vancomycin for treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTIs) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Methods

Patients with proven MRSA cSSTI were randomized to receive linezolid or vancomycin. Clinical and microbiologic outcomes, duration of antimicrobial therapy, length of hospital stay, and safety were assessed.

Results

In the per-protocol population, the rate of clinical success was similar in linezolid- and vancomycin-treated patients (P = .249). The rate of success was significantly higher in linezolid-treated patients in the modified intent-to-treat population (P = .048). The microbiologic success rate was higher for linezolid at the end of treatment (P < .001) and was similar at the end of the study (P = .127). Patients receiving linezolid had a significantly shorter length of stay and duration of intravenous therapy than patients receiving vancomycin. Both agents were well tolerated. Adverse events were similar to each drug's established safety profile.

Conclusions

Linezolid is an effective alternative to vancomycin for the treatment of cSSTI caused by MRSA.     

A meta-analysis of optimum plane placement and related morbidity in primary breast augmentation

Despite extensive clinical experience of breast implants, there is continued controversy regarding the optimum placement of the prosthesis. More importantly, there is insufficient data to accurately determine whether subglandular (SG) or submuscular (SM) placement of the prosthesis diminishes postoperative complications. A search of published trials (n = 34) examined complication rates following SG and SM implant placement was conducted. Pubmed (MEDLINE) database was used and the available data was then cross-referenced. Eligible trials (n = 6) were then reviewed and selected data extracted. Primary outcomes measured were postoperative haematoma, infection, capsular contracture and implant migration. 3603 patients were identified from relevant trials examining postoperative complication rates for both subglandular and submuscular implant planes. The submuscular implant plane was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative haematoma (OR 2.87, 95% CI, 1.44-6.11). The incidence of capsular contracture (OR 4.77) is more common when a subglandular plane is used. No significant difference was noted in the rate of postoperative infection (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.57-2.58) or implant migration (OR 1.56, 95%CI 0.12-87.4) between the two groups. This meta-analysis confirms that subglandular augmentation results in lower short-term morbidity; however, submuscular placement appears to provide the best long-term outcome in terms of morbidity. In the absence of randomized controlled trials comparing these two techniques, this meta-analysis provides evidence to guide surgeons to achieve the best outcomes for their patients.