Identifying elder abuse & neglect among family caregiving dyads: A cross sectional study of psychometric properties of the QualCare scale

Background/objectivesUniversal screening for elder abuse and neglect is a current controversy in geriatrics, fueled by the lack of evidence on valid and reliable instruments. Since each U.S. State and many other countries have their own legal definitions of what constitutes elder abuse and neglect, this further complicates instrument development and clinical assessment. The purpose of this paper is to present data on the sensitivity and specificity of the QualCare Scale, an instrument with utility in detecting clinically significant elder abuse and neglect among older adults receiving care at home.DesignData used in this analysis were collected during a training program in which trainees completed assessments (N = 80) of standardized case scenarios of caregiving dyads. Trainees completed the QualCare Scale during each assessment.SettingThis training program, including the assessments of the standardized case scenarios, was completed using a custom designed virtual-reality platform. Trainees were able to interact with the environment, older adult and caregiver within the case scenario.ParticipantsThirty-six nurses and social workers from two Michigan Medicaid Waiver Sites participated in the training program. Each participant assessed between one and five scenarios, yielding the sample of 80 assessments used in this analysis.MeasurementsThe research team designed each standardized case scenario to reflect whether or not the QualCare Scale subscale score should indicate reportable elder abuse and neglect per the State statute. Accordingly, the research team’s QualCare Scale scores for each scenario were used as the gold standard criterion of clinical significance for comparison against the participant’s assessment scores.ResultsSensitivity and specificity for each of the six QualCare subscales was determined. Overall, the subscales had high sensitivity (≥0.811) but a wide range for specificity (0.167–1.000).ConclusionThe QualCare Scale can be an effective tool in detecting clinically significant elder abuse and neglect among older adults receiving care at home. This tool is suitable and feasible for use by practitioners working in home care. The QualCare Scale score indicating clinically significant or reportable elder abuse and neglect can be raised or lowered to be consistent with State or Country statutes, or simply used to create appropriate care plans to support caregiving. Findings from the QualCare Scale can support the multidisciplinary team in planning for and evaluating preventative interventions.     

围产期B族链球菌感染筛查及防治在基层医院中的推广应用

目的 探讨基层医院实施围产期B族链球菌感染筛查及防治的价值。方法 回顾性分析我院2019年7月至2020年7月纳入的4220例围产期孕妇作为研究对象,收集并整理其齐全资料,并在我院接受阴道与直肠的B族链球菌感染筛查,经B族链球菌感染筛查结果,将其中507例阳性者作为阳性组,另3713例阴性者作为阴性组,分析围产期B族链球菌感染筛查及防治运用于基层医院中的价值。结果 本院所有研究对象均接受B族链球菌感染筛查,结果发现阳性者507例,阳性率为12.01%;阴性者3713例,阴性率为87.99%。两组在剖宫产、产后出血、产褥感染、新生儿窒息、胎儿窘迫上比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);但阳性组的绒毛膜羊膜炎、羊水污染、胎膜早破、新生儿感染发生率均高于阴性组(P0.05)。结论 基层医院中实施围产期B族链球菌感染筛查具有重要意义,应受到医疗界重点关注,经过筛查后尽早给予有效干预,从而避免不良妊娠结局产生,保障母婴安全。     

广州市2015-2016年50~74岁社区人群大肠癌筛查结果分析

目的 分析广州市开展现行大肠癌筛查策略的效果。方法 收集、整理2015－2016年广州市大肠癌筛查数据，评价问卷调查、便隐血检查和全结肠镜检查的筛查效果。结果 2015－2016年广州市50～74岁重点人群完成初筛220 834人，初筛阳性37 040例（16.77%）。全结肠镜检7 821人，肠镜检查顺应率为21.12%（7 821/37 040）。发现各类肠道病变4 126例（52.76%），其中进展性腺瘤614例（7.85%）、伴中/重度异型增生的其他病变73例（0.93%），大肠癌230例（2.94%）；各类病变中男性检出率均高于女性（P<0.01）。病变早诊率为87.24%；筛查发现早期癌99例，占总大肠癌的46.26%。大肠癌筛查发现率为104.15/10万，明显高于相应年龄段（50～74岁）大肠癌监测发病率81.18/10万（P<0.001），表现为≤69岁年龄段大肠癌发现率明显高于相应发病率，≥70岁年龄段则相反。结论 广州市大肠癌筛查策略可以发现大肠癌高危人群，提高全结肠镜病变检出率、癌前病变早诊率和早期大肠癌的诊断比例，≤69岁人群受益高于70～74岁人群，是大肠癌筛查重点关注人群，应需进一步促进高危人群肠镜检查顺应性。     

To screen or not to screen: How to find and identify very early arthritis

There is accumulating evidence demonstrating that early treatment leads to better outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. In order to be treated early, patients thus need to be identified at the earliest possible stage. This means identifying patients with rheumatoid arthritis at their earliest clinical signs but it could also mean screening for healthy individuals at high risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The different tools available to screen for these individuals are reviewed here and their relevance is discussed.     

Rising Proportion of Young Individuals With Rectal and Colon Cancer

Background

Recent trends have identified increasing number of young individuals with rectal and colon cancers. These individuals, who are younger than 50 years old, in most instances would not meet screening guidelines. We aimed to report the characteristics and trend of the rising proportion of young individuals being diagnosed with rectal and colon cancers at our institutions.

Prostate-specific Antigen–Based Prostate Cancer Screening: Reduction of Prostate Cancer Mortality After Correction for Nonattendance and Contamination in the Rotterdam Section of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer

BackgroundLarge randomized screening trials provide an estimation of the effect of screening at a population-based level. The effect of screening for individuals, however, is diluted by nonattendance and contamination in the trial arms.ObjectiveTo determine the prostate cancer (PCa) mortality reduction from screening after adjustment for nonattendance and contamination.Design, setting, and participantsA total of 34 833 men in the core age group, 55–69 yr, were randomized to a screening or control arm in the Rotterdam section of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing was offered to all men in the screening arm at 4-yr intervals. A prostate biopsy was offered to men with an elevated PSA. The primary end point was PCa-specific mortality.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisNonattendance was defined as nonparticipation in the screening arm. Contamination in the control arm was defined as receiving asymptomatic PSA testing or a prostate biopsy in the absence of symptoms. Relative risks (RRs) were calculated with an intention to screen (ITS) analysis and after correction for nonattendance and contamination using a method that preserves the benefits obtained by randomization.Results and limitationsThe ITS analysis resulted in an RR of 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–0.89) in favor of screening at a median follow-up of 13 yr. Correction for both nonattendance and contamination resulted in an RR of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.27–0.87) in favor of screening.ConclusionsPCa screening as conducted in the Rotterdam section of the ERSPC can reduce the risk of dying from PCa up to 51% for an individual man choosing to be screened repeatedly compared with a man who was not screened. This benefit of screening should be balanced against the harms of overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment.Trial registrationISRCTN49127736.     

Cribado de cáncer de cabeza y cuello en pacientes candidatos a trasplante hepático

IntroductionLiver transplantation is the only alternative treatment in patients in end-stage liver function. In many cases the need for liver transplantation is a consequence of the toxic effects of alcohol.The aim of our study was to determine if patients who are candidates for a liver transplant require a systematic exploration of the head and neck to rule out malignant lesions in this area.Patients and methodsAll the candidates for a liver transplant, between 2011 and 2017, were included in our study. All of them underwent a systematic exploration of the head and neck by an otolaryngologist to rule out malignancy of the head and neck.ResultsA total of 141 patients were included in our study. In 2 of them (1.3%) a carcinoma of the head and neck was detected (one of the oropharynx and the other of the larynx). Both patients were asymptomatic from an ENT point of view. They were treated with chemoradiotherapy. One of them died during follow-up due to the appearance of a metachronous lung tumour. The other is free of disease 2 years after diagnosis but without having been transplanted. Both patients had a history of smoking and high alcohol intake.ConclusionsIn patients who are candidates for a liver transplant who have a history of smoking and / or high alcohol intake, a pretransplant head and neck study including pharyngo-laryngeal fibroscopy is indicated.