Disclosure,Apology, and Offer Programs: Stakeholders’ Views of Barriers to and Strategies for Broad Implementation

Context: The Disclosure, Apology, and Offer (DA&O) model, a response to patient injuries caused by medical care, is an innovative approach receiving national attention for its early success as an alternative to the existing inherently adversarial, inefficient, and inequitable medical liability system. Examples of DA&O programs, however, are few. Methods: Through key informant interviews, we investigated the potential for more widespread implementation of this model by provider organizations and liability insurers, defining barriers to implementation and strategies for overcoming them. Our study focused on Massachusetts, but we also explored themes that are broadly generalizable to other states. Findings: We found strong support for the DA&O model among key stakeholders, who cited its benefits for both the liability system and patient safety. The respondents did not perceive any insurmountable barriers to broad implementation, and they identified strategies that could be pursued relatively quickly. Such solutions would permit a range of organizations to implement the model without legislative hurdles. Conclusions: Although more data are needed about the outcomes of DA&O programs, the model holds considerable promise for transforming the current approach to medical liability and patient safety.     

Neighborhood-level risk and resilience factors: an emerging issue in childhood asthma epidemiology

Evaluation of: Gupta RS, Zhang X, Sharp LK, Shannon JJ, Weiss KB. The protective effect of community factors on childhood asthma. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 123(6), 1297–1304.e2 (2009).

The recent increase in the prevalence of asthma in children is now recognized as the result of a complex interplay of genetic, sociodemographic and environmental factors. Multilevel models simultaneously account for neighborhood characteristics that may be related to childhood asthma, independently of individual-level attributes. Most research that focuses on the physical and social characteristics of neighborhoods to explain disparities in childhood asthma assess such factors as persistent poverty, residential racial segregation and environmental degradation. Researchers have only begun to test models that specifically focus on risk and protective factors at the community/neighborhood level in relation to asthma. Social capital, which measures norms of reciprocity, social ties between neighborhood residents and civic engagement has the potential to buffer the effects of neighborhood risk factors on childhood asthma. Further research, specifically longitudinal studies, needs to be carried out to determine whether findings on neighborhood-level risk and protective factors can guide the development of preventive interventions for childhood asthma.     

准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术后并发角膜瓣移位的原因分析及护理对策

原位角膜磨镶术(laser in situ kemtomileus,LASIK)是当今国际眼科界最常见的屈光角膜手术.随着LASIK手术越来越多地应用于临床,角膜瓣的并发症随之而来.文献报道[1],LASIK术后并发症发生率为3.4％～11.8％,而术中有关角膜瓣的发生率为0.5％～2％.角膜瓣一旦发生移位,会影响手术效果和视力恢复,须立即处理,否则后果严重[2].我们回顾性分析1 720例LASIK术后15例发生角膜瓣移位的患者资料,并对其护理策略进行探讨.     

Physicians’ comprehension of the German Patients’ Rights Act: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe German Patients' Rights Act (PRA), promulgated on February 25, 2013, was created to enhance transparency of patients' rights. This prospective study aimed to objectively measure physicians' comprehension of the PRA.MethodsWe generated a controlled study design, developing a questionnaire consisting of six case scenarios with 4–7 dichotomous items each. The survey concluded with seven 5-point-Likert scale questions, dealing with the PRA’s effects. Physicians teaching at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität (WWU) Münster served as the intervention group, and medical students from WWU Münster at the beginning of their clinical education formed the control group. Physicians were surveyed in November 2015; students were surveyed in February 2016.ResultsA total 56 completed surveys of physicians and 134 of students were analyzed. Of a total 33 points, on average physicians answered 21.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 20.43–21.64) items correctly, a significantly higher result than students' 19.74 (95% CI 19.31–20.17) points (p < 0.001; Hedges' g = 0.53). Estimations of the PRA’s effects were ambiguous. Students agreed with the PRA’s supporting effect more often than physicians (p < 0.001) whereas physicians felt increased uncertainty arising from the PRA.ConclusionComprehension of the PRA increases significantly over the course of medical work experience; however, this comprehension is limited among medical experts. The PRA leads to ambiguity and uncertainty in the medical decision-making process.     

偏头痛伴发脑微出血的相关危险因素分析

目的分析偏头痛患者伴发脑微出血(CMBs)的临床特点及影响因素。方法连续收集178例临床确诊的偏头痛患者,根据头颅MRI有无CMBs表现分为两组,收集患者一般资料,头痛特点并进行比较。结果 (1)178例偏头痛患者中CMBs患者56例,偏头痛合并CMBs发生率为31.5%,其中单发病灶17例(30.4%),多发病灶39例(69.6%),单纯脑叶病灶31例(55.4%);(2)与无CMBs的偏头痛患者比较,合并CMBs的偏头痛患者更容易合并高血压(P=0.028),头痛病程长(P=0.002)、头痛发作频率高(P=0.001)且容易伴发先兆(P=0.036);(3)多因素Logistic回归分析显示,在校正年龄、性别及其他危险因素后,头痛病程(OR=1.166,95%CI:1.044~1.303,P=0.007)、头痛发作频率(OR=1.353,95%CI:1.116~1.640,P=0.002)和先兆偏头痛(OR=10.080,95%CI:1.630~62.329,P=0.013)与偏头痛发生CMBs相关。结论偏头痛病程长、发作频率高及伴有先兆是偏头痛发生CMBs的危险因素。