The Impact of a Healthy Weight Intervention Embedded in a Home-Visiting Program on Children's Weight and Mothers’ Feeding Practices

Objective

To examine whether a healthy weight intervention embedded in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting program, which was previously found to improve mothers’ body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related behaviors, changed the BMI of preschool children or maternal feeding practices.

Perception and use of the results of patient satisfaction surveys by care providers in a French teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: . The aim of this study was to assess clinical staff's opinions on the results of in-patient satisfaction surveys and their use within the quality improvement process. SETTING: The institution is a 2200-bed teaching hospital of tertiary health care employing 8000 professionals. Patient satisfaction surveys are carried out each year using a validated questionnaire mailed to a random sample of patients. The specific results of each department are sent to the medical and paramedical managers. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey on 500 care providers randomly selected in every medical and surgical department. RESULTS: A total of 261 questionnaires were returned and analysed. Overall, 94% of responders had a favourable opinion of the patient satisfaction surveys. They considered that the patient was able to judge hospital service quality, especially in its relational, organizational, and environmental dimensions. The specific results for the department were less well known than the overall hospital results (60 versus 76%). These results were formally discussed in the department according to 40% of responders; 40% declared that these data resulted in improvement actions and considered that they led to modifications in their behaviour with patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a declared interest in satisfaction surveys, the results remain underused by hospital staff and insufficiently discussed within teams.     

The expression of emotion through nonverbal behavior in medical visits

Relationship-centered care reflects both knowing and feeling: the knowledge that physician and patient bring from their respective domains of expertise, and the physician’s and patient’s experience, expression, and perception of emotions during the medical encounter. These processes are conveyed and reciprocated in the care process through verbal and nonverbal communication. We suggest that the emotional context of care is especially related to nonverbal communication and that emotion-related communication skills, including sending and receiving nonverbal messages and emotional self-awareness, are critical elements of high-quality care. Although nonverbal behavior has received far less study than other care processes, the current review argues that it holds significance for the therapeutic relationship and influences important outcomes including satisfaction, adherence, and clinical outcomes of care.     

Bleeding complications precipitated by unrecognized Gingko biloba use after liver transplantation

Because of its neurocognitive enhancing effects, Gingko biloba has emerged as amongst the most commonly used herbal products. We report a liver transplant recipient with potentially life-threatening toxicity resulting from Gingko biloba use. Seven days after a second liver transplantation for recurrent hepatitisB virus infection, subphrenic hematoma was documented in a 59-year-old Korean patient. Failure to control bleeding with CT-guided drainage necessitated exploratory laparotomy for the evacuation of a large subphrenic hematoma. Three weeks later, an episode of vitreous hemorrhage was documented. Unbeknownst to his care providers, the patient had been consuming Gingko biloba throughout the postoperative period. No further bleeding episodes occurred after the cessation of Gingko biloba use. Unrecognized use of herbal products may be associated with serious side effects and adverse clinical sequelae in transplant recipients. Given their increasing popularity, the use of herbal products should be routinely sought as part of the history in transplant recipients.     

Hypertension management in patients with vascular disease.

Hypertension (HTN), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, all too often, HTN is not well controlled in patients with vascular disease. Studies have demonstrated that patients whose blood pressure is controlled achieve at least a 50% reduction in cardiovascular events compared with similar patients whose blood pressure is not controlled. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recently prepared and distributed new guidelines for the management of HTN. This article will highlight the new recommendations for HTN management and how they can be applied to the patient with vascular disease.