The impact of public performance reporting on health plan selection and switching: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The dissemination of public performance reporting (PPR) cards aims to increase utilisation of information on quality of care by consumers when making health plan choices. However, evaluations of PPR cards show that they have little impact on consumer choices. The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of PPR cards in promoting health plan selection and switching between health plans by consumers. We searched five online databases and eight previous reviews for studies reporting findings on PPR and health plans. We extracted data and conducted quality assessment, systematic critical synthesis and meta-analyses on the included studies. We identified eight relevant health plan articles related to selection (n?=?2), switching (n?=?4), selection/switching (n?=?2). Meta-analyses showed that PPR was associated with an improvement in health plan selection and a very small deterioration in switching health plans though these changes were not statistically significant. Differences were observed between employer-sponsored health insurance and Medicare/Medicaid insurance. Given the small number of studies included in the review, further research examining the impact of PPR on health plan selection and switching in a range of insurance markets is required.     

Why are they reluctant to report? A study of the barriers to reporting to child welfare services among public dental healthcare personnel

This study is a national cross‐sectional survey, conducted in November 2014, of 366 dental hygienists and dentists who had suspected maltreatment but did not report it to Norwegian Child Welfare Services (CWS). The aims of the present paper are to identify the reasons why public dental healthcare professionals are reluctant to report suspected child maltreatment to CWS and to determine whether there are differences in the identified barriers according to socio‐demographic variables. The questionnaire was based on earlier studies and was adapted to fit the Norwegian context. The most frequently chosen reason for not reporting was “unsure of own assessment” (90.4%). Thirteen items pertaining to not reporting were factorised into three factors of barriers. These factors were “insufficient knowledge of child maltreatment and reporting”, “fear of the consequences for oneself and the dental clinic”, and “fear of the consequences for the patient and their family”. A t test revealed that public dental healthcare personnel who had not received training on maltreatment and reporting to CWS during their professional education scored significantly higher on the barrier “insufficient knowledge of child maltreatment and reporting” than did dental personnel who had received such training. Furthermore, dental personnel with more years of experience (11+) scored higher on this barrier than did dental personnel with less experience. No other significant differences in barriers were observed. Public dental healthcare personnel have a mandatory obligation to report to CWS if they suspect child maltreatment. Despite this obligation, the present study reveals that several barriers to reporting exist. This study underscores the importance of strengthening knowledge among dental hygienists and dentists about when and how to report, both during education and in clinical practice.     

超微血管成像结合TI-RADS鉴别诊断甲状腺良恶性结节

目的探讨超微血管成像(SMI)技术结合2017年美国放射学会甲状腺影像报告和数据系统(TI-RADS)鉴别诊断甲状腺良恶性结节的价值。方法首先以常规超声根据TI-RADS将179例患者的甲状腺187个结节分为TR 1~5类,之后结合SMI技术调整TI-RADS分类;通过ROC曲线确定最佳截断值,比较两种方法的鉴别诊断效能。结果校正前TR 1~5类别实际恶性率分别为0、0、5.00%、37.74%和64.29%。经SMI校正后分别为0、0、5.56%、23.26%和66.36%。校正前敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确率分别为75.00%、66.02%、64.29%、76.40%和70.05%,经SMI校正后分别为86.91%、64.08%、66.36%、85.71%和74.33%。校正后的AUC(Z=-2.616,P=0.009)和敏感度(Z=-1.988,P=0.047)均高于校正前。结论SMI技术能显示甲状腺结节内穿支血流,与TI-RADS结合可提高诊断甲状腺结节的效能。     

Update on the epidemiology,risk factors and disease outcomes of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common inflammatory joint condition of childhood and represents seven JIA subtypes characterised by distinct clinical and laboratory variables. Genetic and environmental factors are known to influence JIA, although many unanswered questions remain. Measurement of health outcomes in JIA is imperative for both clinical practice and research. Patient-reported outcomes present particular challenges in paediatric rheumatology in view of the importance of collecting reports from both the child/young person and the parent. Another challenge is the need for continuity of outcome measurement across the paediatric–adult interface during the process of transition in terms of both measurement tools and the mechanisms in the system to facilitate tracking of the young person into adult care. Finally, the need for adults with JIA to be seen as a distinct group in adult rheumatology practice is important for both service provision and outcome research.     

Radiographer reporting of neurological magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the head and cervical spine: Findings of an accredited postgraduate programme

IntroductionTo analyse the objective structured examination (OSE) results of the first cohorts of radiographers (n = 13) who successfully completed an accredited postgraduate programme in clinical reporting of neurological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the head and cervical spine.MethodsForty MRI examinations were used in the OSE which included a range of abnormal cases (prevalence of abnormal examinations approximated 50%) and included: haemorrhage, infarction, demyelination disease, abscess, mass lesions (metastatic deposits, meningioma, glioma, astrocytoma); and disc disease, cord compression, stenosis, ligament rupture, syringomyelia appearances on patients referred from a range of referral sources. Normal variants and incidental findings were also included. True/false positive and negative fractions were used to mark the responses which were also scored for agreement with the previously agreed expected answers based on agreement between three consultant radiologists' reports.ResultsThe mean sensitivity, specificity and agreement rates for all head and cervical spine investigations (n = 520) combined were 98.86%, 98.08% and 88.37%, respectively. The highest scoring cases were cases which included astrocytoma, disc protrusion with cord compression and glioma. The most common errors were related to syringomyelia, ligament rupture and vertebral fracture.ConclusionsThese OSE results suggest that in an academic setting, and following an accredited postgraduate education programme, this group of radiographers has the ability to correctly identify normal MRI examinations of the head/cervical spine and are able to provide a report on the abnormal appearances to a high standard. Further work is required to confirm the clinical application of these findings.     

ACR Neck Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (NI-RADS): A White Paper of the ACR NI-RADS Committee

Imaging surveillance after treatment for head and neck cancer is challenging because of complicated resection and reconstruction surgery, in addition to posttreatment changes from radiation and chemotherapy. The posttreatment neck is often a source of anxiety for diagnostic radiologists, leading to suboptimal reporting and no standardized guidance for next management steps. Nevertheless, imaging is critical for detecting submucosal recurrences in a timely manner, so that patients remain candidates for salvage surgery. In 2016, the ACR convened the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (NI-RADS) Committee with the goals to (1) provide recommendations for surveillance imaging; (2) produce a lexicon to distinguish between benign posttreatment change and residual or recurrent tumor in the posttreatment neck; and (3) propose a NI-RADS template for reporting on the basis of this lexicon with defined levels of suspicion and management recommendations. In this article, the authors present the ACR NI-RADS Committee’s recommendations, which provide guidance regarding the management of patients after treatment for head and neck cancer.