The multiple mini‐interview: how long is long enough?

Objectives  The multiple mini-interview (MMI) overcomes the limitations of the traditional panel interview by multiple sampling to provide improved objectivity and reliability. Reliability of the MMI is affected by number of stations; however, there are few data reporting the influence of interview duration on MMI outcome and reliability. We aimed to determine whether MMI stations can be shortened without affecting applicant rankings or compromising test reliability.
Methods  A total of 175 applicants were interviewed and assessed at 10 8-minute stations. Applicants were scored once after 8 minutes at five control stations and twice after 5 minutes and 8 minutes at five experimental stations. Scores at 5 and 8 minutes were compared using t -tests and correlation coefficients. Rankings of applicants based on 5- and 8-minute scores were compared using Spearman's rank order coefficient. The reliability of the MMI was examined for 5- and 8-minute scores using generalisability theory.
Results  Mean scores at 5 minutes were lower than mean scores at 8 minutes. Cumulative scores at 5 minutes were also lower. There were highly significant correlations between 5- and 8-minute scores at all experimental stations (0.82–0.91; P  < 0.01) and between the cumulative scores at 5 and 8 minutes (0.92; P  < 0.01). There was a strong correlation between applicant rankings based on cumulative 5- and 8-minute scores (Spearman's rank order coefficient 0.92). Reliability was not affected.
Conclusions  Reducing the duration of MMI stations from 8 to 5 minutes conserves resources with minimal effect on applicant ranking and test reliability.     

A semi-structured interview to assess visual hallucinations in older people

OBJECTIVE: Visual hallucinations are under-reported by patients and are often undiscovered by health professionals. There is no gold standard available to assess hallucinations. Our objective was to develop a reliable, valid, semi-structured interview for identifying and assessing visual hallucinations in older people with eye disease and cognitive impairment. METHODS: We piloted the North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview (NEVHI) in 80 older people with visual and/or cognitive impairment (patient group) and 34 older people without known risks of hallucinations (control group). The informants of 11 patients were interviewed separately. We established face validity, content validity, criterion validity, inter-rater agreement and the internal consistency of the NEVHI, and assessed the factor structure for questions evaluating emotions, cognitions, and behaviours associated with hallucinations. RESULTS: Recurrent visual hallucinations were common in the patient group (68.8%) and absent in controls (0%). The criterion, face and content validities were good and the internal consistency of screening questions for hallucinations was high (Cronbach alpha: 0.71). The inter-rater agreements for simple and complex hallucinations were good (Kappa 0.72 and 0.83, respectively). Four factors associated with experiencing hallucinations (perceived control, pleasantness, distress and awareness) were identified and explained a total variance of 73%. Informants gave more 'don't know answers' than patients throughout the interview (p = 0.008), especially to questions evaluating cognitions and emotions associated with hallucinations (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: NEVHI is a comprehensive assessment tool, helpful to identify the presence of visual hallucinations and to quantify cognitions, emotions and behaviours associated with hallucinations.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF MELANOCYTIC NAEVI IN MELANOMA PATIENTS AND CONTROL SUBJECTS

A study of 121 melanoma patients and 139 control subjects was conducted among whites to examine and compare the distribution of non-dysplastic and dysplastic naevi and other pigmented lesions in each group. Melanoma patients had a mean of 97 melanocytic naevi which were greater than 2 mm in diameter and controls had a mean of 36 such naevi, while the medians were 58 and 22 respectively (p less than 0.0001). 55% of melanoma patients and 17% of controls had at least one clinically determined dysplastic naevus, and 26% of melanoma patients and 6% of controls had at least 5 dysplastic naevi. Men were found to have more naevi on the trunk than women in both melanoma cases (p = 0.01), and controls (p = 0.005). Dysplastic naevi were most often found on the trunk and were present at this location in 51% of cases and 17% of controls. Melanoma patients and control subjects with dysplastic naevi, when compared to those without these lesions, had larger number of non-dysplastic naevi. Lentigines were more common among melanoma patients that among control subjects (p = 0.02). There were no differences in the number of non-dysplastic naevi among cases with light and dark hair and eyes, or among controls with these characteristics. There also was little variation in the number of naevi according to number of blistering sunburns.     

Evaluation of negative emotional care experiences in burn care

Aim and objective. To assess recollection of negative emotional experiences during burn care. Background. Patients in intensive care frequently report negative emotional experiences. Patients with severe burns who are treated in intensive care units undergo painful care procedures, but there have been no recent evaluations of their care experiences. Design. Former burn patients (n = 42) were randomly assigned to three groups: postal questionnaire, telephone interview and face‐to‐face interview. Methods. Assessments included negative care experiences (feelings of uncertainty, powerlessness, being afraid, insecure, being a nuisance, or neglected), severity of injury, patient satisfaction, personality traits and psychological symptoms. Results. Overall, the degree of recalled negative experiences was low and associated with greater severity of injury, more symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder and lower satisfaction with care. The feeling of powerlessness was the most common, as 67% of participants had such feelings to some extent. Conclusions. Overall, negative care experiences were uncommon and most prevalent among the severely injured. Such experiences were also associated with psychological symptoms and lower patient satisfaction. Relevance to clinical practice. Although relatively uncommon, negative emotional care experiences should be monitored more closely during care.     

The structured interview and interviewer training in the admissions process

Objectives

To determine the extent to which the structured interview is used in the PharmD admissions process in US colleges and schools of pharmacy, and the prevalence and content of interviewer training.

Methods

A survey instrument consisting of 7 questions regarding interviews and interviewer training was sent to 92 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States that were accredited or seeking accreditation.

Results

Sixty survey instruments (65% response rate) were returned. The majority of the schools that responded (80%) used interviews as part of the PharmD admissions process. Of the schools that used an interview as part of the admissions process, 86% provided some type of interviewer training and 13% used a set of predefined questions in admissions interviews.

Conclusions

Most colleges and schools of pharmacy use some components of the structured interview in the PharmD admissions process; however, training for interviewers varies widely among colleges and schools of pharmacy.     

淋巴瘤幸存者支持性照护需求的混合研究

目的 了解淋巴瘤幸存者的支持性照护需求现状和影响因素,为针对性干预提供参考。方法 采用聚敛式混合研究,采用癌症患者支持性照护需求量表对260例患者进行面对面或电话问卷调查;采用质性研究对15例患者进行半结构化访谈。结果 淋巴瘤幸存者的支持性照护需求总分72.63±16.14。多元回归分析显示,婚姻、距离治疗结束时间、家庭月均收入、文化程度是患者支持性照护需求的主要影响因素(P<0.05)。提炼出信息需求、心理需求、生理需求、照顾与支持需求、社会实际需求5个主题。结论 淋巴瘤幸存者支持性照护需求呈中低水平,支持性照护需求多样。医护人员应针对主要影响因素和患者个性化需求提供持续性护理支持。     

北京市某社区15例恢复期精神疾病患者生存压力调查

目的了解生活在社区的恢复期精神疾病患者在疾病康复过程中的生存压力。方法 2017年8月至2018年1月,选取北京市某社区15例恢复期精神疾病患者,通过半结构式访谈的方式收集资料,以Colaizzi 7步分析法分析资料。结果得出4个主题:精神疾病症状和药物不良反应等引起的生理性压力;因疾病转归和日常生活角色冲突产生的精神心理性压力;社会歧视、缺乏工作机会和难以获取社会福利资源等带来的社会环境压力;贬低歧视和家庭亲属关系恶化导致的人际交往压力。结论恢复期精神疾病患者重返家庭和社会后存在明显的生存压力,压力源包括疾病症状、社会歧视、人际关系等多个方面,因此,应注重消除精神疾病患者的自我歧视,完善社会支持与社会福利体系,增加个性化的社区精神康复活动,以减轻患者生存压力,促进其康复。     

When the safety net of treatment has been removed: Patients’ unmet needs at the completion of treatment for haematological malignancies

Objective

To determine patients’ information, emotional and support needs at the completion of treatment for a haematological malignancy.

Methods

A self-report questionnaire was mailed to 113 adult patients.

Results

Sixty-six questionnaires were returned. The most frequently endorsed patient needs related to care co-ordination and help to manage the fear of recurrence. The most frequently endorsed unmet needs included managing the fear of recurrence, the need for a case-manager and the need for communication between treating doctors. Predictors of unmet needs included younger patients (p = 0.01), marital status (p = 0.03) and employment (p = 0.03). Almost two-thirds of patients (59%) reported they would have found it helpful to talk with a health care professional about their experience of diagnosis and treatment at the completion of treatment and endorsed significantly more need in the arenas of Quality of Life (p = 0.03) and Emotional and Relationships (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

This study provides valuable data on haematological cancer patients’ needs in the first 12 months of finishing treatment. It appears that many needs emerge or remain unresolved at this time.

Practice implications

An opportunity for patients to talk with a health professional about making the transition from active treatment to extended survivorship may be helpful.     

磁疗联合动机性访谈治疗酒依赖伴焦虑抑郁的临床研究

目的 探讨磁疗联合动机性访谈治疗酒依赖伴焦虑抑郁患者的效果.方法 选择2014年1月～2015年1月广西壮族自治区脑科医院诊治的酒依赖伴焦虑抑郁患者60例,随机分为研究组(30例)和对照组(30例),研究组采用磁疗联合动机性访谈治疗,对照组单用动机性访谈治疗.采用酒依赖戒断综合征评定表(AWS)、Zung焦虑自评量表(SAS)、Zung抑郁自评量表(SDS),对治疗前及治疗后2、4、6周相关得分进行评定,分析两组的治疗效果.结果 与治疗前比较,对照组4、6周后AWS、SAS、SDS评分显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜ 0.05或P＜0.01);研究组治疗2、4、6周后AWS、SAS、SDS评分显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜ 0.05或P＜ 0.01).治疗2、4、6周后,研究组AWS、SAS、SDS评分均明显低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义[治疗2周后:(4.4士1.2)、(63.5±14.0)、(70.4±10.3)比(5.4±1.2)、(71.38±12.1)、(73.5±9.5)分,t=7.250、9.004、8.964,P＜0.05;治疗4周后:(2.2±0.3)、(54.1±8.3)、(60.3±8.4)比(3.8±0.8)、(65.4±9.2)、(67.9±10.8)分,t=11.596、11.207、12.448,P＜ 0.01;治疗6周后:(0.7±0.1)、(42.3±10.0)、(51.1±11.3)比(1.3±0.2)、(46.9±9.2)、(61.4±10.9)分,t=14.003、13.557、14.115,P＜ 0.01],尤以4、6周更为明显.两组AWS、SAS、SDS评分减分率比较,研究组[(90.0±0.9)％、(45.1±1.2)％、(36.4±0.1)％]均明显高于对照组[(80.3±1.1)％、(38.7±1.2)％、(24.0±1.5)％],差异均有统计学意义(t=8.015、9.332、8.775,P＜0.05).结论 磁疗联合动机性访谈治疗酒依赖伴焦虑抑郁患者效果优于单用动机性访谈,可为临床医生对酒依赖伴焦虑抑郁的治疗提供有效的参考.