The role of carbon dioxide and atmospheric air in double-contrast barium enema

Background Patient discomfort 0–24 h after double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) was investigated in two ways.Methods In part 1, 139 patients, not previously informed, were contacted by telephone to assess symptom rates without bias. In part 2, designed as a prospective randomized double-blind trial, the effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as an insufflating gas was compared with conventional atmospheric air (AA).Results Part 1: 10% experienced severe abdominal pain, and 18% severe abdominal distention. Part 2: Low discomfort rates were found for both severe pain (7% for AA vs. 2% for CO₂) and severe distention (13% for AA vs. 8% for CO₂); the differences were not significant. In both parts of the study, female patients with a history of abdominal discomfort of colon irritabile type were significantly overrepresented in the severely symptomatic groups. Equal numbers of patients experiencing severe abdominal distention for the first time were found in both the AA and CO₂ groups, ruling out AA as the sole cause of these symptoms.Conclusion Abdominal post-DCBE discomfort seems to be less frequent than previously reported and is not effectively eliminated by CO₂. We still find the use of AA in DCBEs justified.     

病人图书馆是医院图书服务的新领域

建立病人图书馆,以“图书治疗”、“图书护理”为患者提供服务,是现代医学模式转变的需要。国外病人图书馆的发展对病人治疗康复已起到了积极的作用。我国应根据国情建立不同模式的病人图书馆,为患者提供多种多样的服务。     

Impact of Generalist Care Managers on Patients with Diabetes

Objective. To determine how the addition of generalist care managers and collaborative information technology to an ambulatory team affects the care of patients with diabetes.
Study Setting. Multiple ambulatory clinics within Intermountain Health Care (IHC), a large integrated delivery network.
Study Design. A retrospective cohort study comparing diabetic patients treated by generalist care managers with matched controls was completed. Exposure patients had one or more contacts with a care manager; controls were matched on utilization, demographics, testing, and baseline glucose control. Using role-specific information technology to support their efforts, care managers assessed patients' readiness for change, followed guidelines, and educated and motivated patients.
Data Collection. Patient data collected as part of an electronic patient record were combined with care manager-created databases to assess timely testing of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and changes in LDL and HbA1c levels.
Principal Findings. In a multivariable model, the odds of being overdue for testing for HbA1c decreased by 21 percent in the exposure group ( n =1,185) versus the control group ( n =4,740). The odds of being tested when overdue for HbA1c or LDL increased by 49 and 26 percent, respectively, and the odds of HbA1c <7.0 percent also increased by 19 percent in the exposure group. The average HbA1c levels decreased more in the exposure group than in the controls. The effect on LDL was not significant.
Conclusions. Generalist care managers using computer-supported diabetes management helped increase adherence to guidelines for testing and control of HbA1c levels, leading to improved health status of patients with diabetes.     

Inadequate pre-operative evaluation and preparation: a review of 197 reports from the Australian incident monitoring study

The Australian Incident Monitoring Study database was examined for incidents involving inadequate pre-operative patient preparation and/or evaluation. Of 6271 reports, 727 had appropriate keywords, of which 197 (3.1%) were used for subsequent analysis. All surgical categories were represented. In 10% of reports the patient was not reviewed pre-operatively by an anaesthetist, whilst in 23% the anaesthetist involved in the operating theatre had not performed the pre-operative assessment. Death followed in seven cases, major morbidity in 23 cases, admission to a high-dependency unit or intensive care unit in 17 cases, and surgery was cancelled in nine cases. Poor airway assessment, communication problems and inadequate evaluation were the most common contributing factors. Respondents indicated that the incident was preventable in 57% of cases. Proposed corrective strategies include improved communication, quality assurance activities, development of protocols and additional training. A structured assessment of the airway, along with improvements in information exchange, patient assessment, and use of clearly defined patient management plans and pathways would prevent most of the incidents reported.     

Validation of the cancer needs questionnaire (CNQ) short-form version in an ambulatory cancer setting

The short-form Cancer Needs Questionnaire (CNQ) is a self-administered cancer-specific questionnaire designed to assess patients' needs across several domains. The purpose of this study is to further evaluate its internal consistency and construct validity, in a group of ambulatory patients with cancer. Four hundred and fifty patients with a variety of cancer types participated. Factor analysis reproduced five domains: psychological; health information; physical and daily living; patient care and support; and interpersonal communication needs. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.94 to 0.77, indicating substantial consistency across items grouped in the five domains. A priori predictions regarding convergent and contrasting groups construct validity were explored using bivariate relationships between domains of the short-form CNQ, the EORTC QLQC-30 and Beck Depression Inventory (short-form), with support provided for most of the predictions. The current study provides supportive evidence that the short-form CNQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the needs of patients with cancer in an ambulatory care setting.     

Patient Satisfaction, Treatment Experience, and Disability Outcomes in a Population-Based Cohort of Injured Workers in Washington State: Implications for Quality Improvement

Objective. To determine what aspects of patient satisfaction are most important in explaining the variance in patients' overall treatment experience and to evaluate the relationship between treatment experience and subsequent outcomes.
Data Sources and Setting. Data from a population-based survey of 804 randomly selected injured workers in Washington State filing a workers' compensation claim between November 1999 and February 2000 were combined with insurance claims data indicating whether survey respondents were receiving disability compensation payments for being out of work at 6 or 12 months after claim filing.
Study Design. We conducted a two-step analysis. In the first step, we tested a multiple linear regression model to assess the relationship of satisfaction measures to patients' overall treatment experience. In the second step, we used logistic regression to assess the relationship of treatment experience to subsequent outcomes.
Principal Findings. Among injured workers who had ongoing follow-up care after their initial treatment ( n =681), satisfaction with interpersonal and technical aspects of care and with care coordination was strongly and positively associated with overall treatment experience ( p <0.001). As a group, the satisfaction measures explained 38 percent of the variance in treatment experience after controlling for demographics, satisfaction with medical care prior to injury, job satisfaction, type of injury, and provider type. Injured workers who reported less-favorable treatment experience were 3.54 times as likely (95 percent confidence interval, 1.20–10.95, p= .021) to be receiving time-loss compensation for inability to work due to injury 6 or 12 months after filing a claim, compared to patients whose treatment experience was more positive.     

Quality of life in tuberculosis: Patient and provider perspectives

Tuberculosis (TB) is a persistent problem in the United States; however, little is known about its impact on functioning and quality of life (QOL) among people with TB. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of TB on patients' QOL by using focus groups to assess the domains of QOL that are affected. Participants included patients (n = 10) who received treatment for active TB and physicians (n = 4) and nurses (n = 9) caring for patients with TB at a public health clinic in Baltimore, Maryland. TB affected all predicted domains of QOL, including general health perceptions, somatic sensation, psychological health, spiritual well-being, and physical, social and role functioning. Social stigmatization, isolation, pill burden, long duration of therapy, sexual dysfunction, loss of income, and fear were additional specific problems related to TB. Surprisingly, 11% (33) of the comments described benefits of TB illness, including increased spirituality and improved life perspectives. In addition, four additional QOL domains and three elements of treatment specific to TB which substantially impact QOL were identified. While patients and clinicians both identified issues in many areas of QOL, only patients mentioned the impact on sexual function, spirituality and improved life perspectives. Despite available curative therapy, TB and its treatment still have significant short and long-term consequences on patients' QOL.     

胸科手术后病人自控镇痛的应用

目的　评价胸科手术后病人自控镇痛与传统的肌内注射哌替啶镇痛的临床效果。方法　 110 8例在全麻下行贲门癌或食管癌根治术的病人 ,随机分为肌注哌替啶组 (A组 )和病人自控镇痛PCA组 (B组 )。A组病人术后感觉疼痛时肌注哌替啶镇痛 ;B组携带镇痛泵 ,由病人或家属自控镇痛。术后 1、8、2 4、72h进行随访并记录镇痛评分 (VAS)等 ,术后 1周随访肺部并发症情况。结果　术后B组疼痛评分明显低于A组 (P<0 0 5或P <0 0 1)。术后 1周肺部并发症A组为 14例 ,而B组仅 2例 (P <0 0 1)。结论　PCA镇痛效果明显 ,肺部并发症发生率低 ,优于传统的哌替啶肌注。     

病人选择就诊医院影响因素的logistic回归分析

目的了解病人选择就诊医院的影响因素，为医院领导决策提供科学的依据。方法采用随机抽样的方法，对病人进行问卷调查，数据的分析用logistic回归验证。结果医疗效果、医疗费用、医务人员的服务态度、就医过程中的方便性四个因素成为病人选择就诊医院着重考虑的问题，医务人员是否尊重病人的隐私和收受“红包”现象两个因素对病人的选择也有影响。结论掌握病人的医疗意向和医疗消费心理能够提高医院竞争力，保证医院的可持续发展。     

老年患者人工股骨头置换术前牵引及手术入路

目的:探讨老年患者人工股骨头置换手术治疗时术前牵引及手术入路的选择对疗效的影响。方法:回顾性分析152例老年患者人工股骨头置换手术治疗的临床资料。结果:86例经髋关节前外侧入路手术,其中60例术前采用下肢皮牵引带牵引,26例术前采用骨牵引;66例经髋关节外侧入路手术,其中51例术前采用下肢皮牵引带牵引,15例术前采用骨牵引;术中复位均较容易;术后优良者占95.1%,很好者占3.7%,好者占1.2%,十年内无后脱位和修正者。结论:老年患者人工股骨头置换手术选择前外侧入路和外侧入路对疗效影响无差异,外侧入路比前外侧入路操作简单、创伤小;股骨头及股骨颈无明显短缩或头颈骨折后2周内手术的老年患者,人工股骨头置换术前采用下肢皮牵引比骨牵引更合适。