Patients offered orthognathic surgery: Why do many refrain from treatment?

AimTo examine factors associated with patients' decision to decline surgery.Material/methodsOf 470 consecutive patients referred to the University of Oslo from 2007 to 2009, a sample of 160 subjects who had not undergone surgery was identified and contacted. 236 operated patients from the same period served as a comparison group. Morphology was assessed from cephalograms and photographs, and the individuals' opinions were recorded using questionnaires.ResultsDentofacial morphology represented normative treatment need and was generally similar except for a higher rate of severe negative overjet in the operated group (p < 0.001). The most prevalent reasons for declining surgery were risks of side effects, the burden of care, and a general reluctance to undergo surgery. Many un-operated subjects were dissatisfied with their masticatory function and dentofacial appearance.ConclusionInformed consent to orthognathic surgery represents a challenge both to the patient and the professional. The findings imply that patients' motives and fears should be explored during consultation and that the information provided should be adapted to the potential risks and benefits related to the actual treatment.     

Improving triage accuracy through a modified nurse-administered emergency department assessment of chest pain score on patients with chest pain at triage (EDACT): A prospective observational study

BackgroundChest pain triage in our emergency department (ED) prioritize patients for consultation based on unstructured nursing gestalt. The Emergency Department Assessment of Chest Pain Score (EDACS) identifies patients at low-risk for major adverse cardiac events and may provide standardization for chest pain triage in ED.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study, including adult patients with chief complaint of chest pain who were self-conveyed. We aimed to evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of a modified EDACS in triaging these patients.ResultsData was collected over 6 weeks, with 284 patients included in the final analysis. Nursing gestalt had higher sensitivity (97.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 87.4% to 99.9% versus EDACS 45.2%, 95% CI 29.8% to 61.3%), while modified EDACS provided higher specificity (76.4%, 95% CI 70.6% to 81.6%, versus nursing gestalt 29.8%, 95% CI 24.1% to 35.9%). EDACS with electrocardiogram had significantly better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve statistic (0.712; 95% CI 0.631 to 0.793) than EDACS alone (0.608; 95% CI 0.528 to 0.689) and nursing gestalt (0.637; 95% CI 0.600 to 0.674) (p = 0.0324).ConclusionsFurther studies should explore if modified EDACS, together with nursing gestalt, can improve triage accuracy for ED patients with chest pain.     

End‐of‐life decisions: an important theme in the care for people with intellectual disabilities

Background While end‐of‐life decisions in the general population have received attention in several countries, not much is known about this in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Therefore, the prevalence and nature of end‐of‐life decisions were investigated in a Dutch centre providing residential care for 335 people with IDs. Method A retrospective study of medical files of people who died between January 2002 and July 2007. Results One or more end‐of‐life decisions were taken in 27 out of 47 cases. A non‐treatment decision was taken for seven residents, possibly shortening life expectancy in some cases. The family was involved in decision making in half of the 27 cases. No information was found about the process of end‐of‐life decision making. There was no evidence in the notes that any of the people with IDs was asked for his or her own opinion in taking an end‐of‐life decision. Conclusion This study demonstrates that medical end‐of‐life decisions played a part in significant numbers of people with IDs who have died within this centre, but further studies are needed to establish decision‐making processes.     

Emergency nurses’ knowledge and experience with the triage process in Hunan Province,China

IntroductionTriage is implemented to facilitate timely and appropriate treatment of patients, and is typically conducted by senior nurses. Triage accuracy and consistency across emergency departments remain a problem in mainland China. This study aimed to investigate the current status of triage practice and knowledge among emergency nurses in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.MethodA sample of 300 emergency nurses was selected from 13 tertiary hospitals in Changsha and a total of 193 completed surveys were returned (response rate = 64.3%). Surveys were circulated to head nurses, who then distributed them to nurses who met the selection criteria. Nurses were asked to complete the surveys and return them via dedicated survey return boxes that were placed in discreet locations to ensure anonymity.ResultsJust over half (50.8%) of participants reported receiving dedicated triage training, which was provided by their employer (38.6%), an education organisation (30.7%) or at a conference (26.1%). Approximately half (53.2%) reported using formal triage scales, which were predominantly 4-tier (43%) or 5-tier (34%).ConclusionsThe findings highlight variability in triage practices and training of emergency nurses in Changsha. This has implications for the comparability of triage data and transferability of triage skills across hospitals.     

Pandemia COVID-19: impacto y reacción rápida de la Urología

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused tens of thousands of deaths in Spain and has managed to breakdown the healthcare system hospitals in the Community of Madrid, largely due to its tendency to cause severe pneumonia, requiring ventilatory support. This fact has caused our center to collapse, with 130% of its beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, thus causing the absolute cessation of activity of the urology service, the practical disappearance of resident training programs, and the incorporation of a good part of the urology staff into the group of medical personnel attending these patients. In order to recover from this extraordinary level of suspended activity, we will be obliged to prioritize pathologies based on purely clinical criteria, for which tables including the relevance of each pathology within each area of urology are being proposed. Technology tools such as online training courses or surgical simulators may be convenient for the necessary reestablishment of resident education.     

景德镇市三级医院儿科护理人员执业环境调查研究

目的 调查景德镇市全市三级医院儿科护理人员执业环境,为护理人员执业环境改善提供参考。方法 纳入2019 年4 月～2020 年4 月景德镇市全市三级医院儿科护理人员80 例,采用儿科临床护理人员一般情况调查表、儿科临床护士执业环境测评量表调查儿科护理人员执业环境情况,比较儿科护士执业环境各维度评分与磁性医院均分、儿科护士执业环境评分前5 位及后5 位条目。结果 与磁性医院均分相比,景德镇市全市三级医院儿科护理人员在护士参与医院事务、人力和物力配备、医护合作及薪酬待遇和社会地位几个维度评分明显较低,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;护士执业环境评分前5 位条目分别为医院积极实施护士岗位培训和继续教育计划、护士长领导能力及管理能力强、护理团队能够针对患者护理问题进行日常讨论、科室的医护人员协同工作、医院实施护理质量持续改进;评分后5 位条目分别为有机会参与进修、成为医院护理委员会成员、参与医院管理决策、科室有充足护理人员完成护理工作、参与医院内部管理。结论 景德镇市全市三级医院儿科护理人员执业环境整体评分有待提升,应针对执业环境现状,积极促进护理人员参与医院管理决策,为其提供进修机会,改善执业环境。