Enhancing Patients' Wayfinding and Visitation Experience Improves Quality of Care

PurposeTo understand the impact of wayfinding challenges on patient hospital visitation experience, organizational costs, and emerging technology trends that may alleviate wayfinding challenges.DesignA review of literature on the relationship of wayfinding to patient's hospital visitation experience.MethodsA literature search identifying issues associated with wayfinding challenges in complex health care facilities was conducted. Case examples are provided to illustrate that the removal of barriers can improve the wayfinding experience. This review also informs technology trends that may effectively facilitate wayfinding in complex health care facilities.FindingsLarge hospital complexes exhibit many characteristics comparable to the physical features of a city environment. These complexities present challenges to patients to navigate to their destinations. An effective wayfinding system is a collection of tools that combines permanent signage, printed information, landmarks, architectural features and design elements, and human interactions. Navigational technology modeling holds the promise to aid patients and individuals with visual and cognitive challenges to find their way to their desired destinations effectively and efficiently, and improves their quality of life.ConclusionsImproved patient travel time correlates to reduce idled nursing time, with cost savings accrued to organization. Research shows that wayfinding mobile applications hold the promise of improving patients' hospital visitation experience.     

Development of a trail running injury screening instrument: A multiple methods approach

ObjectiveTo develop a trail running injury screening instrument (TRISI) for utilisation as clinical decision aid in determining if a trail runner is at an increased risk for injury.DesignMultiple methods approach.MethodsThe study utilised five phases 1) identification of injury risk factors 2) determining the relevance of each identified risk factor in a trail running context, 3) creating the content of the Likert scale points from 0 to 4, 4) rescaling the Likert scale points to determine numerical values for the content of each Likert scale point, and 5) determining a weighted score for each injury risk factor that contributes to the overall combined composite score.ResultsOf the 77 identified injury risk factors, 26 were deemed relevant in trail running. The weighted score for each injury risk factor ranged from 2.21 to 5.53 with the highest calculated score being 5.53. The final TRISI includes risk categories of training, running equipment, demographics, previous injury, behavioural, psychological, nutrition, chronic disease, physiological, and biomechanical factors.ConclusionThe developed TRISI aims to assist the clinician during pre-race injury screening or during a training season to identify meaningful areas to target in designing injury risk management strategies and/or continuous health education.     

Risk communication in a patient decision aid for radiotherapy in breast cancer: How to deal with uncertainty?

Background and aimPatient decision aids for oncological treatment options, provide information on the effect on recurrence rates and/or survival benefit, and on side-effects and/or burden of different treatment options. However, often uncertainty exists around the probability estimates for recurrence/survival and side-effects which is too relevant to be ignored. Evidence is lacking on the best way to communicate these uncertainties. The aim of this study is to develop a method to incorporate uncertainties in a patient decision aid for breast cancer patients to support their decision on radiotherapy.MethodsFirstly, qualitative interviews were held with patients and health care professionals. Secondly, in the development phase, thinking aloud sessions were organized with four patients and 12 health care professionals, individual and group-wise.ResultsConsensus was reached on a pictograph illustrating the whole range of uncertainty for local recurrence risks, in combination with textual explanation that a more exact personalized risk would be given by their own physician. The pictograph consisted of 100 female icons in a 10 x 10 array. Icons with a stepwise gradient color indicated the uncertainty margin. The prevalence and severity of possible side-effects were explained using verbal labels.ConclusionsWe developed a novel way of visualizing uncertainties in recurrence rates in a patient decision aid. The effect of this way of communicating risk uncertainty is currently being tested in the BRASA study (NCT03375801).     

44例老年重症哮喘的院前急救体会

目的探讨老年重症哮喘急性发作的院前急救措施。方法在常规平喘治疗基础上,治疗组用甲基泼尼松龙80mg加入5%葡萄糖溶液(0.9%氯化钠溶液)40ml中静脉注射,对照组用地塞米松10mg加入5%葡萄糖溶液(0.9%氯化钠溶液)20ml中静脉注射,观察治疗前、后两组患者临床疗效评分变化。结果治疗组比对照组起效快,疗效好,两组疗效间差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论甲基泼尼松龙是老年重症哮喘院前急救的首选方法,尽早使用,有利于提高抢救成功率。     

创伤性休克病人的早期急救护理体会

目的:讨论在院前和急诊科对创伤性休克病人施行早期急救护理,对挽救病人的生命及伤情预后有重要的意义.方法:对我科1997年2月至2001年4月27例创伤性休克病人进行早期,快速,积极的补液,输血增加有效循环量,监测生命体征等综合性抢救治疗与护理措施.结果:经早期积极急救护理,26例病人收缩压维持在60mmHg以上,意识清醒,脉搏有力,转入手术室或专科治疗,1例病人伤势严重抢救无效死亡.结论:创伤性休克病人,伤势复杂,死亡率高,伤后早期院前与急诊科的有效救护,是提高抢救成功率的关键.     

便携式负压吸引装置的设计及材料学特点

对负压吸引装置便携方式的研究一直是急救医学追求的目标之一，因为它能够极大地促进急救成功率。文章基于这种需要，研制了一套便携式负压吸引装置，并根据实际应用效果，选择优化的制造材料。研制的便携式负压吸引装置主要由特殊设计的储液罐及罐盖、负压产生装置、过渡接头等部分组成，关键部件采用特殊材料制作，体积小，质量轻，操作简单，易于携带，完全能满足临床抢救及治疗的需要。作为一种急救中必不可少的器械，便携式负压吸引装置在急救伤病员运输、转运，家庭急救，及无动力源环境等情况下，对于抢救患者及提高救治效果，具有极大的竞争优势和应用前景。     

急性中毒病例流行病学特征及救治对策

目的研究安徽省肥西县急性中毒病例的临床特点和发病规律,为更有效地提高该地区急性中毒患者的抢救成功率和做好中毒防范工作提供科学依据。方法采取分层随机整群抽样方法随机抽取肥西县县级综合医院、乡镇中心卫生院、乡镇普通卫生院各一所,研究这3所医院2006年1月1日~2008年12月31日就诊的所有初诊中毒患者。结果共报告有效病例798例,其中男性481名,女性317名,性别比1.52∶1,平均年龄为（37.96±15.78）岁,中毒发生时间多集中在13~14点（19.30%）和20~21点（22.81%）,中毒就诊时间平均为1.85 h,中毒死亡率为3.38%。结论急性中毒发生率、死亡率高,急救医务人员应采取针对性和预防性措施,提高救治成功率。     

腹部多脏器损伤的救治

报告了腹部多脏器损伤１５８例的救治情况。致伤因素中交通事故和高空坠落伤占６７．０％，抢救存活１３２例，存活率８３．５％；死亡２６例，病死率１６．５％。作者分析了病死率与致伤暴力强、现场急救延误、就诊时间及受伤的脏器数的密切关系。作者认为院前救护、院内正确诊断、及时治疗、果断手术是抢救成功的重要环节；术中应仔细探查、止血，术后应注意防治多脏器衰竭的发生。