The influence of clinical problems, age and social support on outcomes for elderly persons referred to regional aged care assessment teams

Abstract Background: Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs) have been established throughout Australia during the past seven years. Early studies of their effect have concentrated on their impact on the rate of institutionalisation of disabled elderly, the clinical characteristics of referred cases and the relationship between disability and recommended care plan. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between age, clinical features and social characteristics of AC AT subjects with outcomes at 12 months after assessment. Methods: The examination of an arbitrary sample of persons referred to ACATs over a year by one generalist geriatrician with follow-up of all cases by the three ACATs associated with the study was carried out. All analyses were performed on raw data presented as categorical variables in the form of contingency tables. Results: The sample included 324 subjects who suffered from 2030 clinical problems with a mean of 6.5 per person aged 75 or over and 5.5 for those under 75. Cardiovascular and neurological disease were the commonest source of problems. Study of accommodation outcome at 12 months, for those subjects who survived this period revealed that, in the older group, over 60% of subjects with neurological disease were resident in nursing homes while the majority of all other groups remained in the community, as did two-thirds of those aged under 75. Admission to a nursing home was independent of social support for older subjects with neurological disease, but it played a significant role in those with cardiopulmonary or musculoskeletal disease. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that for one-year survivors there is an increased likelihood of admission to a nursing home of people aged 75 or over with neurological disease, while those under 75 were more likely to remain at home. The association was independent of whether spouse, family or friends were living with the subject. (Aust NZ J Med 1994; 24: 378–385.)     

淄博市实施世界银行贷款结核病控制项目效果评价

目的 对淄博市实施世界银行贷款结核病控制项目10年情况进行终期评价。方法 收集淄博市9个结核病项目区县的季报表、卫统14表和项目督导、调查资料。结果 10年累计接诊可疑肺结核症状80433人，发现、确诊登记活动性肺结核病人8795例，其中涂阳5554例。肺结核病例登记率1998年达到峰期，活动性、涂阳和新发涂阳分别为32／10万、20．9／10万和15．1／10万，涂阳病例所占比例平均为63．1％。新发涂阳平均治愈率达96．4％；复治涂阳平均治愈率达91．2％。结论 项目实施后，涂阳病人发现水平和治愈率明显提高，保护了健康人群，收到了巨大的社会和经济效益。     

Training and assessment of laparoscopic skills.

Laparoscopic surgery is gaining popularity among the surgical community. While its prevalence expands, the need for reliable training and assessment tools is becoming increasingly important. Laparoscopic skills are not an innate behavior, nor can they be easily mimicked, and can only be acquired through hands-on training. A consensus exists among physicians that establishment and evaluation of technical skill in surgical training programs are inadequate and in need of improvement. A validated, reliable bench model that could train and assess could be standardized and provide numerous benefits including determination of which medical students should consider a career in surgery, valuable feedback to residents, a tracking mechanism of resident performance, a possible certification and recertification tool, and to allow for interinstitutional comparison. To this end, several potentially successful bench models testing dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and depth perception have been developed. A few models have been proven to be both valid and reliable indicators of technical skill. Although the future remains uncertain, enough groundwork has been laid to begin incorporating technical skill training and assessment into surgical training programs.     

How to Effectively Implement an Indicator System to Improve Performance from a Management Perspective: The Case of Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) System

This study uses the Taiwan Healthcare Indicator Series (THIS) system as an example to examine which determinants would improve performance by sharing indicators from a management perspective. This study population included all 227 hospitals participating in the THIS system in 2006. A structured questionnaire was sent to the director who was responsible for the THIS system via electronic mail. A total of 111 responses were returned by February 10, 2006. Questions included current implementation and impacts of the system. Hierarchical regression models were performed to identify which variables were significantly associated with performance improvement, adjusted for hospital characteristics. Four variables significantly associated with implementing the THIS system to improve performance were ‘senior management support,’ ‘benchmarking,’ ‘making departments improve the underperforming indicators and report the improvement results in performance management meetings,’ and ‘integration with the National Health Insurance payment regulations’. This study contributes substantially to the evidence base about what works to improve performance by information sharing. Although information sharing is the basis of efforts to improve performance, senior management support and how to effectively apply the information are the most important determinants of performance enhancement.     

Increased NoGo-anteriorisation in first-episode schizophrenia patients during Continuous Performance Test

OBJECTIVE: NoGo-stimuli during a Continuous Performance Test (CPT) activate prefrontal brain structures such as the anterior cingulate gyrus and lead to an anteriorisation of the positive electrical field of the NoGo-P300 relative to the Go-P300, so-called NoGo-anteriorisation (NGA). NGA during CPT is regarded as a neurophysiological standard index for cognitive response control. While it is known that patients with chronic schizophrenia exhibit a significant reduction in NGA, it is unclear whether this also occurs in patients undergoing their first-episode. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine NGA in a group of patients with first-episode schizophrenia by utilizing a CPT paradigm. METHODS: Eighteen patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 18 matched healthy subjects were investigated electrophysiologically during a cued CPT, and the parameters of the Go- and NoGo-P300 were determined using microstate analysis. Low resolution tomography analysis (LORETA) was used for source determination. RESULTS: Due to a more posterior Go- and a more anterior NoGo-centroid, NGA was greater in patients than in healthy controls. LORETA indicated the same sources for both groups after Go-stimuli, but a more anterior source in patients after NoGo-stimuli. In patients P300-amplitude responses to both Go- and NoGo-stimuli were decreased, and P300-latency to NoGo-stimuli was increased. After the Go-stimuli false reactions and reaction times were increased in patients. CONCLUSIONS: Attention was reduced in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, as indicated by more false reactions, prolongation of reaction time, P300-latencies and by a decrease in P300-amplitude. Significantly however, the NGA and prefrontal LORETA-sources indicate intact prefrontal brain structures in first-episode schizophrenia patients. Previously described changes in this indicator of prefrontal function may be related to a progressive decay in chronic schizophrenia. SIGNIFICANCE: The results support the idea of a possible new biological marker of first episode psychosis, which may be a useful parameter for the longitudinal measurement of changing prefrontal brain function in a single schizophrenia patient.     

实施绩效考核的实践和体会

介绍绍兴市人民医院实施绩效考核的经验和体会.其经验在于:明确考核定位,把考核的首要目的定位于医院管理目标的实现和对管理过程的一种控制;运作方式是:制定考核标准、确立考核周期、明确考核部门及人员,使绩效考核真正落到了实处,收到了显著效果.     

Ethical and metaethical criteria for an emerging technology: risk assessment

This paper examines ethical criteria for the shaping of an emergingtechnology applied internationally in environmental regulation:quantitative risk assessment-risk management. The role of thephysician in its application, especially in the genetic testingthat will be employed, underlines the importance of understandingthe nature and prospects for reshaping of this technology toenable ethical practice. The Cartesian or mechanistic model(which currently dominates the technology) excludes factorsof emotion, making the connection between assessment and managementunfruitful functionally and ethically, and makes the model unresponsiveto human needs. The emotional factors, nested and mediated inthe organic hierarchy of the ecologically-defined community,constitute key psychological, social, cultural and politicalelements of the total burden of risk. Ethical criteria consistentwith an open society are suggested for reshaping the model toenable effective management.     

特发性肺含铁血黄素沉着症二例

特发性肺含铁血黄素沉着症二例王永珍，李金鑫，刘建平，步惠英内蒙古自治区医院特发性肺含铁血黄素沉着症为一种少见的、病因尚不清楚的疾病，国内于１９６０年以来有近百例报导，其特征为肺毛细血管反复出血，渗出的血液发生溶血，含铁血黄素沉着于肺组织而起反应［１］...     

Quantification of motor deficit in Parkinson's disease with a motor performance test series

Summary It was the purpose of the present study to quantify the expected motor deficit in parkinsonian patients with the computer assisted Motor Performance Test Series (MPS), version 05.87 by Schuhfried (1987) and to examine which of the motor test variables found correlate at a significance level of p<0.01 with items of motor examination recorded at neurological examination and activities of daily living of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), version 3.0.38 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) stages I–IV according to Hoehn and Yahr, aged 41 to 73 years were studied. The study design, i.e. initial rating by the physician followed immediately by testing of motor function with MPS was strictly adhered to in each patient.Physician's rating of rigor and the scores of the semiquantitative tests (finger taps, hand movements and alternating movements) as expression of hypokinesia and the activities of daily living correlated with the 3 factors of the Motor Performance Test Series at a highly significant level independent of disease stage. Tremor is only partly and never significantly reflected in the motor data measured. Stages I–II and II–IV (Hoehn and Yahr) differ significantly in the representative data of the Motor Performance Test Series.The results of the study support the assumption that MPS is a valid instrument for quantitative measurement of the motor deficit in parkinsonian patients, but that only some subtests are pathognomonic.     

The effects of short-term smokeless tobacco deprivation on performance

Several past studies have reported reliable changes in reaction time performance and self-rated withdrawal scores as a consequence of cigarette deprivation. The purpose of the present study was to determine, prospectively, the effect 24 h of smokeless tobacco deprivation in regular users has on performance and the associated withdrawal symptomology. Forty smokeless tobacco users (Copenhagen brand) were randomly divided evenly into two groups gen brand) were randomly divided evenly into two groups (N=20)24 h of deprivation and no deprivation. A third group of ten nonchewers was added as another control group. The results indicated that behavioral, subjective and physiological changes are associated with smokeless tobacco deprivation in regular users. These include increased craving scores, reaction time, self-rated withdrawal symptoms and decreased heart rate.