Risk communication in a patient decision aid for radiotherapy in breast cancer: How to deal with uncertainty?

Background and aimPatient decision aids for oncological treatment options, provide information on the effect on recurrence rates and/or survival benefit, and on side-effects and/or burden of different treatment options. However, often uncertainty exists around the probability estimates for recurrence/survival and side-effects which is too relevant to be ignored. Evidence is lacking on the best way to communicate these uncertainties. The aim of this study is to develop a method to incorporate uncertainties in a patient decision aid for breast cancer patients to support their decision on radiotherapy.MethodsFirstly, qualitative interviews were held with patients and health care professionals. Secondly, in the development phase, thinking aloud sessions were organized with four patients and 12 health care professionals, individual and group-wise.ResultsConsensus was reached on a pictograph illustrating the whole range of uncertainty for local recurrence risks, in combination with textual explanation that a more exact personalized risk would be given by their own physician. The pictograph consisted of 100 female icons in a 10 x 10 array. Icons with a stepwise gradient color indicated the uncertainty margin. The prevalence and severity of possible side-effects were explained using verbal labels.ConclusionsWe developed a novel way of visualizing uncertainties in recurrence rates in a patient decision aid. The effect of this way of communicating risk uncertainty is currently being tested in the BRASA study (NCT03375801).     

Sleep time and sleep-related symptoms across two generations – results of the community-based RHINE and RHINESSA studies

Study objectivesTo analyze the association between sleep-related symptoms and sleep length in parents and their children in relation to other risk factors in both generations.MethodThe participants were parents (n = 5,855, age 54.3 ± 6.5 years, 45.2% men) who participated in the community-based Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study and one random member of their adult offspring (n = 5,855, age 30.2 ± 7.7 years, 41.5% men) who participated in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe, Spain and Australia (RHINESSA) study. Both generations responded to identical questionnaires on sleep symptoms, including difficulty initiating sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakening (EMA), snoring, nocturnal sweating, nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER), sleep time and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Insomnia was defined as either, or both, DIS and DMS in combination with EDS.ResultsAll sleep variables except nocturnal sweating were more common in offspring whose parents had reported the same symptom. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, smoking, physical activity, education, center and parents' total number of children, there were independent associations between sleep symptoms in parents and offspring for DIS (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.52, 1.20–1.93), DMS (1.34, 1.15–1.56), snoring (1.45, 1.15,1.83), nGER (1.65, 1.15–2.37), insomnia (1.39, 1.13–1.73), short sleep time (<6 h/night) (2.51, 1.72–3.68) and EDS (1.48, 1.26,1.72). There were no independent relationships between symptoms in parents and offspring for EMA, nocturnal sweating or long sleep time (>9 h/night).ConclusionThe familiar aggregation of many sleep disturbances was not explained by investigated lifestyle and environmental factors. This supports a heritable factor in sleep problems.     

社区老年患者拔牙的临床特点分析

目的：通过对近两年社区卫生服务中心327例老年病人拔牙临床观察，探讨基层社区老年病人的特点。方法：通过心理、精神和技术方面的配合，安全顺利地完成拔牙术。结果：除5例病人术后感头晕外，其余均顺利完成且病人满意。结论：社区卫生服务中心除具备熟练的技术外，医患之间心理沟通是必不可少的。     

The nature of care in light of Emmanuel Levinas

Abstract  The discipline of nursing is still struggling with the differences that need to be clearly defined between the notions of care and nursing care. To be able to clarify this distinction, agreement must first be reached on the meaning of care itself. The present article proposes a conception of care in light of the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas (1906–1995). This philosopher's thought throws considerable light on the ontology of care, thanks especially to his focus on the deeper implications of human encounter. A profound sense of responsibility towards the other enables Levinas to bring out such dimensions of the concept of care as the relation involved, the feeling of affection, and the interventions. We examine here what these entail regarding nursing care.     

1例射频消融术后并发肺栓塞的抢救配合及护理

总结1例射频消融术后并发肺栓塞的抢救配合及护理体会，认为肺栓塞患者一旦发生晕厥，应立即行心肺复苏，以确保有效的循环和呼吸，尽早溶栓，改善临床症状。积极的抢救、熟练的配合、良好的护理是此患者康复的关键，同时术后早期生命体征的监测、并发症的预防、合理饮食、适当活动及休息对预防肺栓塞的发生也是很重要的。     

Women's access to modern methods of fertility regulation.

Preventing unintended pregnancies through access to modern family planning could avert 20-35% of maternal deaths, saving the lives of more than 100,000 women each year. Obstacles to wider access still exist, but they may be overcome by overt policy commitment to reproductive health services, partnership between stakeholders, community involvement and quality programs.     

Introducing dental students to clinical patient care: The complete denture prosthodontics transition clinic

Using complete denture treatment as an introduction to clinical patient care for dental students, the purposes of the Complete Denture Prosthodontics Transition Clinic at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry are to reduce the time lapse between the preclinical complete denture prosthodontics course and the first denture patient experience, and to encourage development of student self-confidence and skills. In the 2002 spring semester, faculty at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry initiated the Complete Denture Prosthodontics Transition Clinic for DS-II (second-year) dental students, as an introduction to clinical patient care. Each patient was assigned to a team of two dental students. Three Division of Prosthodontics faculty members staffed each clinic session, providing a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 6.6:1 and a patient-to-faculty ratio of approximately 3.3:1. All DS-II students in the Class of 2004 delivered their first complete dentures no later than 8 months (average, 184 days) after the last day of the preclinical complete denture prosthodontics course. The time from the diagnostic appointment through the denture placement appointment averaged 39 days for patients treated in this program, compared with an average of 98 days or more for previous classes. The program was successful in achieving the goal of reducing the time lapse between the preclinical complete denture prosthodontics course and the first denture patient experience.     

Making clinical decisions for dental care: concepts to consider

Clinical decisions are often made with incomplete information, yet patient care decisions are made every day. Patients vary clinically, uncertainty exists in diagnostic and prognostic information, and many preventive and treatment alternatives have not been formally assessed for their effectiveness. Because scientific information will never answer all clinical questions, clinical decisions are partially based on probabilistic information.
This paper describes how to apply clinical decision making to diagnosing and managing dental caries and periodontal diseases. By using explicit information to quantify probabilities and outcomes, clinical decision making analyzes decisions made under uncertain conditions and the uncertain impact of clinical information.
Clinical decision making incorporates concepts for preventing, diagnosing and treating dental caries and periodontal diseases: risk assessment, evidence-based dentistry, and multiple oral health outcomes. This information can serve as a tool for clinicians to augment clinical judgment and expertise.     

医学生抑郁情绪与家庭及生活事件的相关性研究

目的 探讨医学专业大学生抑郁情绪与家庭及生活事件的相关性，为早期干预提供科学理论依据。方法 采用自拟量表对482名医学专业在校大学生调查，并做影响因素分析。结果 大学生无抑郁或极轻微192人占39．8％；轻度209人占43．4％；中度58人占12％；重度23人占4．8％。生源地、父亲文化程度、专业满意度、人际关系的敏感、学习压力的大小、丧失因子、受惩罚因子和健康适应因子对大学生抑郁情绪的产生有显著影响，而性别、家庭类型和经济情况对医学专业大学生抑郁情绪产生关系不大（P〉0．05）。结论 要重视学生中存在的抑郁情绪问题，采取积极有效措施帮助学生消除抑郁情绪。     

大学生龋病发病情况调查结果分析

目的了解高校大学生龋病的发病情况,为进一步搞好龋病的预防保健工作提供依据。方法通过整群随机抽样的方法选择在校大学生850名作为调查对象,进行现况调查,主要通过问诊、视诊、探诊等方法做检查,并做统计学分析。结果受检者850人中,患龋者430人,患龋率50.59%,其中女生患龋率63.64%,男生患龋率42.31%,男女生比较差异有统计学意义(p<0.01)。结论高校大学生患龋率较高,女生患龋率明显高于男生。应及时采取预防保健措施,以预防和减少龋病的发生。