Priorities for content for a short-course on postoperative care relevant for low- and middle-income countries: an e-Delphi process with training facilitators

Most surgical and anaesthetic mortality and morbidity occurs postoperatively, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Various short courses have been developed to improve patient outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, but none specifically to address postoperative care and complications. We aimed to identify key features of a proposed short-course addressing this topic using a Delphi process with low- and middle-income country anaesthesia providers trained as short-course facilitators. An initial questionnaire was co-developed from literature review and exploratory workshops to include 108 potential course features. Features included content; teaching method; appropriate participants; and appropriate faculty. Over three Delphi rounds (panellists numbered 86, 64 and 35 in successive cycles), panellists indicated which features they considered most important. Responses were analysed by geographical regions: Africa, the Americas, south-east Asia and Western Pacific. Ultimately, panellists identified 60, 40 and 54 core features for the proposed course in each region, respectively. There were high levels of consensus within regions on what constituted core course content, but not between regions. All panellists preferred the small group workshop teaching method irrespective of region. All regions considered anaesthetists to be key facilitators, while all agreed that both anaesthetists and operating theatre nurses were key participants. The African and Americas regional panels recommended more multidisciplinary healthcare professionals for participant roles. Faculty from high-income countries were not considered high priority. Our study highlights variability between geographical regions as to which course features were perceived as most locally relevant, supporting regional adaptation of short-course design rather than a one-size-fits-all model.     

我国家庭医生签约服务政策执行的制约因素与优化路径：基于史密斯政策执行过程模型

深化家庭医生签约服务是深化医药卫生体制改革、强化基层医疗卫生服务、实现"健康中国"战略目标的重要选择，也是当前更好维护人民群众健康的重要途径。为有效推进签约服务工作，国家陆续推出各项政策，全国各地也在积极进行实践探索，成效明显。但是，签约服务仍面临诸多问题，其中"执行难"是签约服务深度推进的一大困境。通过史密斯政策执行过程模型，结合签约服务政策执行过程，发现签约服务仍存在法治性不足、政策执行人员水平不高、激励不足、政策环境影响等诸多制约因素。因此，需要从法律和制度方面进行顶层设计、提升执行人员素质和职业认同、建立医患互信、优化政策执行环境等角度进行政策创新，探索家庭医生签约服务可持续发展的路径。     

Process of forgiveness in the recovery of Chinese women survivors of intimate partner violence: Empowerment,transformation, and integration

Forgiveness has been found one substantial element in the recovery for women survivors from intimate partner violence following the termination of the abusive relationship. To further investigate the details of forgiveness in this specific context, the present study explored the process of forgiveness using grounded theory. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 Chinese women survivors of IPV. The findings suggest that forgiveness is a strength-based process including empowerment, transformation, and integration phases. In the empowerment phase, survivors obtain strength at the intrapersonal, behavioural, and interpersonal levels. In the transformation phase, survivors complete cognitive transformation for their IPV experiences and emotional transformation towards former partners. In the integration phase, survivors—now freed from the past—reflect upon and apply the changes they have undergone. Two trajectories in the process were found. One trajectory is going through stages sequentially and the other trajectory is experiencing back and forth between empowerment and transformation stages before moving into the integration stage. The study's findings broaden our knowledge of the strength-based forgiveness process that women survivors of IPV undergo during recovery. Practitioners and policymakers could develop programmes and policies that support forgiveness by holistically facilitating their recovery and empowerment like assistance in dealing with life difficulties and promoting their reconnection with social networks. To improve the transferability and validity of the findings, the forgiveness of survivors of IPV could be explored in a diverse sample (e.g., survivors with low educational background or live in the rural area).     

中药生产过程质量控制关键技术研究进展

中医药发展已上升到国家战略层面,在医药行业贯彻实施"中国制造2025"战略的新形势下,中药生产过程质量控制是中药工业需要加快突破的关键领域之一。对中药生产过程质量控制领域在工艺设计、分析检测、过程建模、制造装备等方面的关键共性问题进行解析,综述了中药生产过程质量控制体系中工艺过程理解、生产过程实时分析方法开发、过程控制策略建立3个方面的研究进展;并结合企业研究实践,介绍了质量源于设计(quality by design,Qb D)、过程分析技术(process analytical technology,PAT)、实验设计(design of experiment,DOE)、多变量统计分析等关键技术在上述3个研究方向中的应用进展,分析了实际工业应用的难点问题并对其应用前景进行展望,旨在为中药企业应用和提升生产过程质量控制技术提供参考。     

Opioid maintenance treatment: trajectories in and out of treatment

Problem: Although efficacy studies of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) have shown evidence of treatment benefits, there is still need for studies on its effectiveness in natural clinical processes. This study investigates the development in health, substance use and social conditions of those who applied for OMT, including those denied access or discharged.

Method: First, persons assessed for admittance in 2005–2011 (n?=?127) were categorized into four trajectory groups based on whether they were admitted or denied (n?=?19), discharged (n?=?31), readmitted (n?=?21) or had been undergoing OMT without interruption (n?=?56). Second, 99 of these, the analytical sample, were interviewed at follow-up using (a) the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for seven problem-areas and housing, and (b) self-rated change in 11 problem areas. The ASI was compared to baseline interviews after 55 months (mean). Third, outcomes within groups was studied in relation to alternative interventions.

Results: Within the analytical sample, those denied OMT showed no improvements at group level, those discharged had some improvements, more if readmitted than if not and those with uninterrupted OMT showed the most comprehensive improvements. Those outside OMT, denied and discharged, had considerable mortality risks related to ongoing drug use, especially in lack of well-planned alternative interventions.

Conclusion: Improvements strongly relate to access to OMT. This study underscores that access to OMT improves the situation in all areas investigated and decreases the risk for drug-related death. It underscores the importance of two major risk situations, i.e. being denied OMT and being discharged.     

The role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG) in strengthening health system governance: Lessons from three middle-income countries—Argentina,Jordan, and South Africa (2017–2018)

IntroductionToward the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2020 goal, almost 90% of countries have established a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). However, little is known about NITAG's contributions to governance.MethodsIn 2017–2018, a two-step, qualitative retrospective study was conducted. Jordan (JO), Argentina (AR), and South Africa (SA) were selected owing to government-financed NITAGs from middle-income countries (MICs), geographic diversity, and a vaccine introduction with NITAG support. Country case studies were developed, collecting data through desk review and face-to-face key informant interviews (KIIs) from Ministry of Health (MoH) and NITAG. Case studies were analyzed together, to assess governance applying the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies framework focusing on transparency, accountability, participation, integrity, and policy capacity (TAPIC).ResultsDocument review and 53 KII (22 AR, 20 SA, 11 JO) showed NITAGs played a pivotal role as advisors promoting a culture of evidence-informed policies. NITAGs strengthened governance, although practices varied among countries. Meetings were conducted behind-closed-doors, participation restricted to members, only in one country agendas, and recommendations were public (AR). To increase participation, policy capacity, and transparency, countries considered adding experts in communications, advocacy, and economics. AR and SA contemplated including community members. NITAGs functioned autonomously from the government, with no established internal or external monitoring or supervision. NITAG meeting minutes allowed the review of integrity, adherence to terms of reference, standard operating procedures, and conflict of interest (CoI). For the most part, NITAGs abided by their mandates. Significant issues were related to the level of MoH support and oversight of CoI declaration and documentation.ConclusionsSystematically implementing governance approaches could improve processes, better tailor policies, and implementation. The long-term survival and resilience of NITAGs in these countries showed they play a significant role in strengthening governance. Lessons learned could be useful to those promoting country-driven evidence-informed decision-making.     

半夏白术天麻汤治疗眩晕高血压病举隅

高血压病是我国发病率较高的疾病之一,西医治疗以长期服用降压药物为主要治疗方式,但常因依从性差的原因导致血压控制不佳,而用中医辨证治疗对于首次发现高血压的患者,可明显有效地降低高血压的发病率。高血压病在中医学中属"眩晕",在临床中常常会用半夏白术天麻汤来治疗眩晕,本文通过跟师医案及临床收集介绍半夏白术天麻汤治疗高血压眩晕临证方药的运用。     

运用六经辨证治疗子嗽探析

妊娠期间,咳嗽不已,称"妊娠咳嗽",亦称"子嗽",孕妇咳嗽日久未见好转,咳嗽胸痛甚则咳而呕吐,或咳嗽剧烈或久咳不愈,可损伤胎气,导致堕胎、小产。笔者运用六经辨证治疗外感型中表寒里热证子嗽,认为此类患者病在太阳阳明,属于寒热错杂之表寒里热,采用《伤寒论》中方证麻杏甘石汤合止嗽散,使热从外泄,宣发卫气,散寒不助热、解表不伤正,故辨证论治取得了显著的疗效。同时子嗽治疗还需注意健脾固肾安胎,应将顾护胎元贯穿治疗妊娠咳嗽的始终。     

桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊的临床疗效研究

目的:探究桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊的临床疗效。方法:收集2016年12月-2018年12月我院收治的老年出血性玻璃体混浊患者67例,共67眼,根据随机对照表分为对照组和试验组,其中试验组34例,对照组33例,对照组予以银杏酮酯滴丸;试验组在对照组的基础上联用桃红四物汤。两组均服用30 d。治疗结束后对比分析两组患者临床疗效、出血吸收时间、血液流变学及视网膜中央动脉血流动力学。结果:治疗后两组患者高切全血粘度、低切全血粘度、纤维蛋白原、阻力指数(Resistance Index,RI)低于治疗前,收缩期峰值速度(Peak Systolic Velocity,PSV)、舒张末期血流速度(End Diastolic Velocity,EDV)高于治疗前,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后试验组临床总有效率、PSV、EDV高于对照组,出血吸收时间、高切全血粘度、低切全血粘度、纤维蛋白原、RI低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:桃红四物汤联合银杏酮酯滴丸治疗老年出血性玻璃体混浊临床疗效显著,适宜临床应用推广。     

A process evaluation of implementing a vocational enablement protocol for employees with hearing difficulties in clinical practice

Objective: A multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation programme, the Vocational Enablement Protocol (VEP) was developed to address the specific needs of employees with hearing difficulties. In the current study we evaluated the process of implementing the VEP in audiologic care among employees with hearing impairment. Design: In conjunction with a randomized controlled trial, we collected and analysed data on seven process parameters: recruitment, reach, fidelity, dose delivered, dose received and implemented, satisfaction, and perceived benefit. Study sample: Sixty-six employees with hearing impairment participated in the VEP. The multidisciplinary team providing the VEP comprised six professionals. Results: The professionals performed the VEP according to the protocol. Of the recommendations delivered by the professionals, 31% were perceived as implemented by the employees. Compliance rate was highest for hearing-aid uptake (51%). Both employees and professionals were highly satisfied with the VEP. Participants rated good perceived benefit from it. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the VEP could be a useful treatment for employees with hearing difficulties from a process evaluation perspective. Implementation research in the audiological setting should be encouraged in order to further provide insight into parameters facilitating or hindering successful implementation of an intervention and to improve its quality and efficacy.