Protocol for the development of consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline extension: CARE for acupuncture

BackgroundHealth research reporting guidelines for case reports (CARE - CAse REport) published in 2013 and 2017 have become a generally accepted standard for publishing case reports. The CARE guidelines represent an architectural framework for writing an evidence-based case report that can be customized as need for a specialty (or disease) if needed. We aim to develop a CARE guideline extension for acupuncture following the EQUATOR Network (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) and the 2010″Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We have established a group of international experts including; clinicians, researchers and methodologists. We performed a needs assessment based on a review of acupuncture case reports published in the indexed medical literature. The needs assessment will be followed by (1) a series of expert interviews to establish a draft, (2) a modified Delphi process, and (3) a consensus meeting. Following the consensus meeting we will pilot test the CARE draft before publishing the CARE extension for acupuncture.MethodsWe will develop the CARE extensions for acupuncture following recommendations of the EQUATOR Network and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting". We will establish an international multidisciplinary group including clinical practitioners, acupuncturists, researchers of reporting guidelines on acupuncture, clinical epidemiologists and statisticians.We performed a needs assessment, reviewing published case reports using acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention from indexed medical journals (PubMed-PMC and Medline, Scopus, Embase, the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Wan Fang database, Chinese BioMedicine database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and VIP). In consultations with advisors we will develop a draft of potential items to be included in the CARE extension for acupuncture. Then we will conduct a modified Delphi process of at least three rounds, hold a face-to-face consensus meeting, pilot test and submit the CARE extension for acupuncture for publication.ConclusionThe development of a widely accepted CARE extension for acupuncture for case reports published in indexed medical journals. These guidelines will follow the EQUATOR Network recommendations and the 2010 "Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting".     

Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Background: Motor neurone disease (MND) remains universally fatal despite the introduction of disease-modifying therapy in the form of the glutamate inhibitor, riluzole. Caring for people with MND presents enormous challenges, many of which are particular to the disease complex. An understanding of the carer burden is required in order to inform the delivery of palliative care to MND patients and their carers.

Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of carers and former carers of people with MND with emphasis on the later stages of the disease.

Participants and Methods: Focus groups were conducted with two groups of former carers and one group of current carers recruited through the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW. Recruitment continued until no new themes emerged. The discussions were taped, transcribed verbatim and content analysed.

Results: There was a clear thematic trajectory from diagnosis through to death and bereavement with ramifications evident for the delivery of palliative care. Unmet emotional needs and the unremitting and all-encompassing nature of care were emphasised, as was the importance of love in sustaining the carer.

Conclusions: The experience of caring for a person with MND has a lasting psychological impact which may outweigh the physical and financial costs of care. This relatively unexplored area of enquiry lacks adequate models on which to base quantitative investigation. This qualitative study provides a starting point for future research.     

Preliminary investigation of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among children in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,Nigeria

Treatment of HIV with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in declining morbidity and mortality rates from HIV-associated diseases, but concerns regarding access and adherence are growing. To determine the adherence level and the reasons for non-adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among children attending the clinic for infectious diseases at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Nigeria, a cross-sectional study using the selfreport tool was carried out among 40 children with HIV infection who had been on ART for at least six months. Thirty-two patients (80%) were 95% or more adherent to their medications. The most common reasons for nonadherence were running out of medicines and the inability to purchase more due to financial constraints; other barriers were non-availability and inaccessibility to medications. Eighty-five percent of the paediatric patients took their medications at the same time everyday, and scheduled appointments were kept by 87.5%. The social class of the patients did not significantly affect adherence level. The level of adherence to ART was comparable to levels reported from other developing and developed countries. The cost of ART, and availability and accessibility to medications were the most significant barriers to adherence. Expanded access to subsidised antiretroviral drugs should improve adherence — and consequently treatment outcomes — for patients receiving this treatment in resource-poor settings.     

Flash双源CT智能最佳管电压技术在小儿中耳胆脂瘤面神经管裸露中的应用

目的 评价高分辨率CT(HRCT)智能最佳管电压技术(CARE kV技术)在中耳炎患儿颞骨检查中对降低辐射剂量和显示面神经管裸露的应用价值。方法 收集中耳炎患儿(2~4岁)176例;按就诊先后顺序分为A组88例,采用CARE kV技术行颞骨HRCT扫描,B组88例,常规颞骨HRCT扫描。比较两组中耳胆脂瘤、面神经管裸露、HRCT图像质量及辐射剂量情况,并进行统计学分析。结果 A、B两组中耳胆脂瘤发生率[59.09%(52/88)vs 64.77%(57/88)]差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.020,P=0.887)。术前HRCT诊断中耳胆脂瘤的准确率两组间差异无统计学意义[96.15%(50/52) vs 96.49%(55/57),χ²=0.199,P=0.639]。A、B两组术前HRCT诊断面神经管裸露发生率分别为29.54%(26/88)和31.82%(28/88),术中观察面神经管裸露发生率分别为27.27%(24/88)和28.41%(25/88),两组间术前HRCT诊断及术中观察面神经管裸露发生率差异均无统计学意义(χ²=0.978、χ²=0.440,P均>0.05)。鼓室段面神经管裸露发生率最高(25/49,51.02%),迷路段最低(5/49,10.20%)。两组中,前膝段面神经管裸露长度术前HRCT与术中测量值差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05),其余各段差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。两组间CT平均值、噪声(SD)、SNR、CNR差异无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。两组间剂量长度乘积(DLP)、有效剂量(ED)差异均有统计学意义(P=0.039、0.028)。结论 小儿颞骨HRCT智能最佳管电压技术能准确诊断面神经裸露,同时保证图像质量并有效降低辐射剂量。     

Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology meeting 2005: CARE-HF extension study, ESSENTIAL, CIBIS-III, S-ICD, ISSUE-2, STRIDE-2, SOFA, IMAGINE, PREAMI, SIRIUS-II and ACTIVE

This article provides information and a commentary on trials presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting held in September 2005, relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure. All reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. In the CARE-HF extension study, the benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) observed in the original study were maintained over an increased follow-up period. A study of oral enoximone (25-50 mg t.i.d.) in advanced heart failure (ESSENTIAL) showed limited benefit compared to placebo. The CIBIS-III study showed that heart failure therapy could be safely initiated with bisoprolol followed by the addition of enalapril. A subcutaneous ICD system (S-ICD) showed potential as an alternative to a transvenous ICD. In the ISSUE-2 study, an implantable loop recorder was used to guide therapy in patients with recurrent syncope. The selective endothelin antagonist sitaxsentan improved 6-MWT and functional class in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension in the STRIDE-2 study. In SOFA, fish oil had no beneficial effect on the incidence of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with an ICD. In IMAGINE, quinapril showed no benefit when administered to patients following CABG. Perindopril reduced cardiac remodelling in post-MI patients with normal LV function in PREAMI. SIRIUS-II showed encouraging results for the use of intravenous ularitide in symptomatic decompensated chronic heart failure. The ACTIVE W study of warfarin versus aspirin plus clopidogrel in atrial fibrillation has been stopped due to superiority of warfarin.     

Care of the Obesity Surgery Patient Requiring Immediate-Level Care or Intensive Care

Most bariatric surgery patients are triaged directly to the medical surgical floor postoperatively. However, patients at high risk due to comorbid factors, who have failed postoperative extubation or have suffered intraoperative complication, may require intensive care unit (ICU) or intermediate-level care (IMC). The special needs of the morbidly obese IMC/ICU patient include: triage, mobility, visiting, fluid resuscitation, management of sleep apnea, airway management, transporting for out of ICU procedures, and preventing pressure ulcers. Traditional approaches to nursing care require new thought when dealing with the massively obese. Our experiences with the special needs of these critically ill morbidly obese bariatric surgery patients are described.