正确理解“精准医学”在临床实践中的意义

2015年初在美国正式提出一个在研究基因序列的基础上,探索疾病的根源,预防和治疗的规划并被定名为Precision medicine,译称"精确医学"或"精准医学"。该定义在临床医生中引起了不同的意见和疑虑,因为这涉及到临床医学研究和实践中的导向问题。精准医学应该是对医学服务的一种要求,要求医学服务从行为和方法上达到精准,以基因序列和表达调控为基础的分子医学是狭义的精准医学,与临床医学所要求的精准相互关联又有所不同。临床工作者直接面对大多数病人,须要运用符合现代医学认可的各种各样的方法(包括基因系列的成果)解决病人的问题,而不管这种方法是否基于基因分析的结果。这种以循证医学为基础的临床医学属广义的精准医学。     

Retrospective analysis of 616 air-rescue trauma cases related to the practice of extreme sports

IntroductionExtreme sports (ESs) are increasingly popular, and accidents due to ESs sometimes require helicopter emergency medical services (HEMSs). Little is known about their epidemiology, severity, specific injuries and required rescue operations.AimOur aims were to perform an epidemiological analysis, to identify specific injuries and to describe the characteristic of prehospital procedures in ES accidents requiring HEMSs.MethodsThis is a retrospective study, reviewing all rescue missions dedicated to ESs provided by HEMS REGA Lausanne, from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2008. ES were classified into three categories of practice, according to the type of risk at the time of the fall.ResultsAmong the 616 cases meeting inclusion criteria, 219 (36%) were clearly high-risk ES accidents; 69 (11%) and 328 (53%) were related to potential ES, but with respectively low or indeterminate risk at the time of the fall. In the high-risk ES group, the median age was 32 years and 80% were male. Mortality at 48 h was 11%, almost ten times higher than in the other two groups. The proportion of potentially life-threatening injuries (the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score ≥ 4) was 39% in the high-risk ES group and 13% in the other two groups. Thirty per cent of the cases in the high-risk ES group presented an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15, compared with 7% in the other groups. Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures were the most common injuries with 32% of all cases having at least one, involving the T12–L2 junction in 56% of cases. The other most frequent injuries were traumatic brain injuries (16%), rib fractures (9%), pneumothorax (8%) and femoral (7%), cervical (7%), ankle (5%) and pelvic (5%) fractures. Median time on site for rescue teams was higher in the confirmed high-risk ES group, with 50% of prehospital missions including at least one environmental difficulty.ConclusionsHigh-risk ESs led to high-energy accidents, characterized by a large proportion of severe injuries and axial traumas (spine, thorax, pelvis and proximal femur). We identified a considerable percentage of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures, mainly in the T12–L2 junction. HEMSs dedicated to high-risk ESs implied longer and more complex interventions.     

Determinants of utilization of dental services among 20- to 34-year-old Danes

Our aim was to identify determinants of utilization of dental services among 20- to 34-year-old Danes as outlined in a conceptual framework. Our sample consisted of a sample of 464 individuals who had been interviewed by 10 experienced interviewers from The Danish National Institute of Social Research. Our questionnaire comprised a battery of questions based on our conceptual model. The analysis was done in a hierarchical manner using a framework with three steps: Predisposing factors → Enabling factors → Need factors → Utilization. Associations were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios. The following factors were significantly associated with irregular use of dental services: age, sex, exercise habits, cost of dental treatment, dental anxiety, and perceived condition of teeth. Our findings suggest that a strategy aiming to increase young people's dental attendance should focus on the transition period—that is, when the youngsters leave the public dental health care system and have to make use of the private system. The strategy should also take into account that young men are more likely to become non-users. A concerted effort could be dedicated to the non-negligible group of individuals with dental anxiety and dental phobia.     

Participation of patients and family members in healthcare services at the service and national levels: A lesson learned in Dublin,Ireland

ObjectiveIdentify the current amount and intensity of patient and family participation at the patient, service and national levels from a diabetes and a psychiatric service perspective. Establish the current level of support for greater participation and related characteristics.MethodResearcher-administered questionnaires were conducted with 738 patients and family members in an outpatient type 2 diabetes service and an outpatient psychiatric service, both in Dublin, Ireland.ResultsPatient and family participation at the service and national levels are restricted to the provision of information. Typically no involvement in discussions or the decision -making process is reported. The majority of participants favour greater patient participation at the service level (537/669; 80.3%) and the national level (561/651; 86.2%). Greater support for patient and family member participation is significantly associated with participant’s age, service satisfaction and level of education.ConclusionPatient and family participation is greatest at the patient level. The majority of patients and family members support greater participation at the service and national levels.Practice implicationsThe best way to implement participation needs to be identified. There needs to be a greater focus on participation at the service level. The role of family members also needs to be investigated further.     

The role of accountable care organizations in delivering value

The goal of Accountable Care Organizations is to improve patient outcomes while maximizing the value of the services provided. This will be achieved through the use of performance and quality measures that facilitate efficient, cost-effective, evidence-based care. By creating a network connecting primary care physicians, specialists, rehabilitation facilities and hospitals, patient care should be maximized while at the same time delivering appropriate value for those services provided. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will financially reward ACOs that meet performance standards while at the same time lowering costs. The orthopaedic surgeon can only benefit by understanding how to participate in and negotiate the complexities of these organizations.     

Drive-thru pharmacy services: A way forward to combat COVID-19 pandemic

Countries around the globe have responded to pandemic preparedness and developed strategies to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. In this context, the role of healthcare professionals is of paramount importance. Pharmacists are playing a vital role in dealing, preparedness, prevention, protection, promoting access to medicines and to improve health outcomes during this crisis. In this context, “Drive-thru” pharmacy services improve access to medicines while ensuring the preventive measures suggested by the World Health Organization. This commentary provides an overview of opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of “drive-thru pharmacy services” and their role in improving public health during this crisis.