Verbal and non-verbal behaviour and patient perception of communication in primary care: an observational study

Background

Few studies have assessed the importance of a broad range of verbal and non-verbal consultation behaviours.

Aim

To explore the relationship of observer ratings of behaviours of videotaped consultations with patients’ perceptions.

Design and setting

Observational study in general practices close to Southampton, Southern England.

Method

Verbal and non-verbal behaviour was rated by independent observers blind to outcome. Patients competed the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS; primary outcome) and questionnaires addressing other communication domains.

Results

In total, 275/360 consultations from 25 GPs had useable videotapes. Higher MISS scores were associated with slight forward lean (an 0.02 increase for each degree of lean, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.002 to 0.03), the number of gestures (0.08, 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.15), ‘back-channelling’ (for example, saying ‘mmm’) (0.11, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.2), and social talk (0.29, 95% CI = 0.4 to 0.54). Starting the consultation with professional coolness (‘aloof’) was helpful and optimism unhelpful. Finishing with non-verbal ‘cut-offs’ (for example, looking away), being professionally cool (‘aloof’), or patronising, (‘infantilising’) resulted in poorer ratings. Physical contact was also important, but not traditional verbal communication.

Conclusion

These exploratory results require confirmation, but suggest that patients may be responding to several non-verbal behaviours and non-specific verbal behaviours, such as social talk and back-channelling, more than traditional verbal behaviours. A changing consultation dynamic may also help, from professional ‘coolness’ at the beginning of the consultation to becoming warmer and avoiding non-verbal cut-offs at the end.     

A retrospective study of 22 patients with necrotising fasciitis treated at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (2005–2010)

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a destructive invasive infection of skin, subcutaneous tissue and deep fascia. The aim of the study is to determine the causative agents of NF, its localisation, predisposing factors and comorbid conditions, duration of treatment and distribution of NF in different age groups and over the years. We conducted a retrospective study including 22 patients with NF from 2005 to 2010 in the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The data were collected and analysed from the archives and protocols of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. The average age of patients was 56·9 years. In eight cases or 36·4% of total patients studied, NF was caused by monobacterial agents with a predominance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (five cases or 22·7% of total infections). Polybacterial agents were responsible for NF infection in other 14 cases (63·6%). Majority of the patients had other comorbidities like diabetes, trauma and prior history of surgical interventions. Diabetes was present in 17 patients or 77·3%. The remaining five patients (22·7%) had previous trauma and recent surgical intervention. Average length of treatment was 43 days. The hospital mortality rate in our case series was 22·6%. Early identification and diagnosis of NF significantly improves outcome and reduces mortality.     

A genetic animal model of differential sensitivity to methamphetamine reinforcement

Sensitivity to reinforcement from methamphetamine (MA) likely influences risk for MA addiction, and genetic differences are one source of individual variation. Generation of two sets of selectively bred mouse lines for high and low MA drinking has shown that genetic factors influence MA intake, and pronounced differences in sensitivity to rewarding and aversive effects of MA play a significant role. Further validation of these lines as a unique genetic model relevant to MA addiction was obtained using operant methods to study MA reinforcement. High and low MA drinking line mice were used to test the hypotheses that: 1) oral and intracerebroventricular (ICV) MA serve as behavioral reinforcers, and 2) MA exhibits greater reinforcing efficacy in high than low MA drinking mice. Operant responses resulted in access to an MA or non-MA drinking tube or intracranial delivery of MA. Behavioral activation consequent to orally consumed MA was determined. MA available for consumption maintained higher levels of reinforced instrumental responding in high than low MA drinking line mice, and MA intake in the oral operant procedure was greater in high than low MA drinking line mice. Behavioral activation was associated with amount of MA consumed during operant sessions. High line mice delivered more MA via ICV infusion than did low line mice across a range of doses. Thus, genetic risk factors play a critical role in the reinforcing efficacy of MA and the oral self-administration procedure is suitable for delineating genetic contributions to MA reinforcement.     

Biomechanical and Macroscopic Evaluations of the Effects of 5-Fluorouracil on Partially Divided Flexor Tendon Injuries in Rabbits

Background:

The main goals of flexor tendon surgery are to restore digital motion by providing tendon healing and to preserve tendon gliding. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tendon adhesions in partially divided profundus flexor tendons (flexor digitorum profundus [FDPs]) following surgical repair and in partially divided FDPs without surgical repair, and to compare the results of the repair versus the nonrepair of zone two injuries via macroscopic and biomechanical evaluations of tendon adhesions.

Methods:

We used 32 adult male European rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) weighing from 2.5 to 3.5 kg. The study was performed on the deep flexor tendons of the second and third digits of the right hind paws of the rabbits; thus, a total of 64 tendons were examined in this study.

Results:

Based on the results achieved in our experimental study, the load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared with subgroup 2a in which tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU.

Conclusions:

The load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared to subgroup 2a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU. Therefore, these results revealed a decrease in adhesion formation in the subgroup that was treated with 5-FU due to increased resistance to tendon adhesions during their excursion through the tendon sheath, which in this case required greater traction force.     

Occurrence of Salmonella spp. in backyard poultry in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background:Infected poultry is one of the most important reservoirs of Salmonella. Aims:The investigation presented here was conducted to examine the occurrence of Salmonella in fecal samples among selected flocks of backyard poultry in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Methods:Isolation and identification of Salmonella was performed in accordance with BAS EN ISO 6579/AMD 1:2007. When genus Salmonella was confirmed, the determination of the antigenic formula of Salmonella isolates was performed in accordance with BAS CEN ISO/TR 6579-3:2015. After that, Salmonella serotypes were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using EUVSEC sensititre microtiter plates impregnated with different concentrations of antibiotics. At the end, real-time PCR was used to detect extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapeneamase encoding genes (bla_TEM, bla_SHV, bla_CTX-M, bla_CMY, bla_KPC, bla_NDM, bla_OXA-48, bla_VIM and bla_GES). Results:Salmonella spp. was detected in pooled feces from four backyards, housed by chickens only. Three isolates were confirmed by slide agglutination as serotype Enteritidis and one as serotype Typhimurium. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by microdilution did not reveal phenotypical resistance among these four isolates. Real-time PCR used to detect ESBL and carbapeneamase encoding genes revealed the bla_TEM gene in one S. Enteritidis isolate. Conclusion:Data presented in this study provide further evidence on the circulation of different Salmonella serotypes in backyard poultry in B&H. These findings emphasize the potential role of backyard poultry in the epidemiology of salmonellosis and the risks it poses for keepers, consumers, and general public health.Key Words: Antimicrobial resistance, Backyard poultry, Salmonella     

Perceptions of Basic,Advanced, and Pediatric Life Support Training In a United States Medical School

Background

Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are integral parts of emergency resuscitative care. Although this training is usually reserved for residents, introducing the training in the medical student curriculum may enhance acquisition and retention of these skills.

Objectives

We developed a survey to characterize the perceptions and needs of graduating medical students regarding BLS, ACLS, and PALS training.

Methods

This was a study of graduating 4^th-year medical students at a U.S. medical school. The students were surveyed prior to participating in an ACLS course in March of their final year.

Results

Of 152 students, 109 (71.7%) completed the survey; 48.6% of students entered medical school without any prior training and 47.7% started clinics without training; 83.4% of students reported witnessing an average of 3.0 in-hospital cardiac arrests during training (range of 0–20). Overall, students rated their preparedness 2.0 (SD 1.0) for adult resuscitations and 1.7 (SD 0.9) for pediatric resuscitations on a 1–5 Likert scale, with 1 being unprepared. A total of 36.8% of students avoided participating in resuscitations due to lack of training; 98.2%, 91.7%, and 64.2% of students believe that BLS, ACLS, and PALS, respectively, should be included in the medical student curriculum.

Conclusions

As per previous studies that have examined this topic, students feel unprepared to respond to cardiac arrests and resuscitations. They feel that training is needed in their curriculum and would possibly enhance perceived comfort levels and willingness to participate in resuscitations.     

Importance of ovarian tissue cryopreservation in fertility preservation and anti-aging treatment

Abstract

Various oncological and non-oncological diseases, as well as their treatments, can cause premature ovarian insufficiency and reduce a woman’s reproductive potential. Fertility preservation is, therefore, becoming an emerging field of reproductive medicine allowing these patients to have their own biological children. The aim of this review is to analyze the importance of ovarian tissue cryopreservation as a fertility preservation method as well as its new role as a hormone replacement treatment. Although ovarian tissue cryopreservation is currently regarded as an experimental procedure, it is rapidly advancing and may become an established fertility preservation method in the near future. This method does not require ovarian stimulation or a subsequent delay in the initiation of cancer treatment. Furthermore, orthotopic ovarian tissue transplantation offers the unique opportunity of spontaneous conception. Due to the restoration of endocrine function following the procedure, ovarian tissue cryopreservation may also be used as tissue hormone replacement therapy in cases of premature ovarian insufficiency, to postpone menopause and prevent its troublesome symptoms and diseases. Even though the role of ovarian tissue cryopreservation as a new anti-aging treatment modality is quite promising, the safety and efficacy of this approach should be investigated in clinical settings.     

Profound reduction in sensitivity to the aversive effects of methamphetamine in mice bred for high methamphetamine intake

Reduced sensitivity to aversive effects of methamphetamine (MA) may increase risk for MA abuse. Studies in two replicate sets of mouse lines that were selectively bred for high and low levels of MA intake support this view. Current studies examined the extent of insensitivity to aversive MA effects of mice bred for high levels of MA drinking. Conditioning procedures in which drugs are delivered shortly after cue exposure have been used to detect aversive drug effects and, in some cases, are more sensitive to such effects. Aversive effects induced by MA injected immediately after exposure to cues from two different sensory modalities were examined. In addition, effects of higher MA doses than those used previously were examined. MA-associated place conditioning utilized tactile cues, whereas MA-induced taste conditioning utilized a novel tastant. Second replicate, MA high drinking (MAHDR-2) and low drinking (MALDR-2) mice were treated with doses of MA up to 4 mg/kg. MAHDR-2 mice were insensitive to aversive effects of MA, except after place conditioning with the 4 mg/kg dose; MALDR-2 mice exhibited sensitivity to aversive effects of MA at doses as low as 1 mg/kg. These studies show that the expression of aversion is dependent upon procedure and MA dose, and that MAHDR-2 mice have markedly reduced sensitivity to the aversive effects of MA. The current and previous results support a strong genetic relationship between level of MA intake and level of sensitivity to aversive effects of MA, a factor that could impact risk for MA use in humans. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.     

Cholinergic modulation of mesolimbic dopamine function and reward

The substantial health risk posed by obesity and compulsive drug use has compelled a serious research effort to identify the neurobiological substrates that underlie the development these pathological conditions. Despite substantial progress, an understanding of the neurochemical systems that mediate the motivational aspects of drug-seeking and craving remains incomplete. Important work from the laboratory of Bart Hoebel has provided key information on neurochemical systems that interact with dopamine (DA) as potentially important components in both the development of addiction and the expression of compulsive behaviors such as binge eating. One such modulatory system appears to be cholinergic pathways that interact with DA systems at all levels of the reward circuit. Cholinergic cells in the pons project to DA-rich cell body regions in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantial nigra (SN) where they modulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons and reward processing. The DA terminal region of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) contains a small but particularly important group of cholinergic interneurons, which have extensive dendritic arbors that make synapses with a vast majority of NAc neurons and afferents. Together with acetylcholine (ACh) input onto DA cell bodies, cholinergic systems could serve a vital role in gating information flow concerning the motivational value of stimuli through the mesolimbic system. In this report we highlight evidence that CNS cholinergic systems play a pivotal role in behaviors that are motivated by both natural and drug rewards. We argue that the search for underlying neurochemical substrates of compulsive behaviors, as well as attempts to identify potential pharmacotherapeutic targets to combat them, must include a consideration of central cholinergic systems.