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Physician Recommendation (physician + recommendation)
Selected AbstractsEvidenced-based clinical practice guideline for management of newborn painJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 4 2010Kaye Spence Aim: To facilitate the uptake of evidence and to reduce the evidence practice gap for management of newborn pain through the development of a clinical practice guideline. Method: An audit of practice and an appraisal of clinical practice guidelines were undertaken to establish current practices and guideline availability for the management of newborn pain in 23 hospitals in Australia. Guidelines were appraised using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation instrument. A literature search was undertaken to acquire the evidence for best practice for management of newborn pain. Results: Neonatal units in 17 hospitals had clinical practice guidelines. Each was peer reviewed and assessed according to the domains of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation instrument. There was lack of consistency across the guidelines. As a result, a best practice guideline was developed based on current best evidence and the Royal Australian College of Physicians recommendations. To facilitate an ongoing compliance with the guideline, an audit tool was included together with algorithms for procedural pain and pain assessment. Conclusion: The clinical practice guideline can be used by clinicians in varying settings such as the neonatal intensive care and special care unit. The document can be used to support existing practices or challenge clinicians to close the evidence practice gap for the management of newborn pain. [source] Determinants of colorectal cancer screening behavior among Chinese AmericansPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Ellen J. Teng Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Chinese Americans and is the third leading cause of cancer death in this population. The objectives of this study were to determine the rates of CRC screening (via fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG), and colonoscopy) among Chinese Americans and predictors of utilizing these screening procedures. Participants (N=206) completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing cancer screening behaviors and beliefs about perceived risk of developing cancer and treatment efficacy. A series of logistic regressions indicated that physician recommendation to obtain CRC screening significantly predicted whether Chinese Americans undergo FOBT, FSIG, or colonoscopy screening (p<0.001). Acculturation and perceived risk of developing CRC did not predict obtaining any of the screening procedures. FOBT was the most commonly reported screening method used by respondents (65%), followed by FSIG (54%) and colonoscopy (49%). These findings highlight the need to make physicians more aware of the impact their recommendations have in determining CRC screening behavior among Chinese Americans. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Older age predicts a decline in adjuvant chemotherapy recommendations for patients with breast carcinomaCANCER, Issue 9 2003Evidence from a tertiary care cohort of chemotherapy-eligible patients Abstract BACKGROUND The appropriate use of adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly women with breast carcinoma remains controversial. Efficacy data in women age , 70 years are scarce, resulting in a lack of clear guidelines for patients in this age group. Although several studies have demonstrated decreasing use of chemotherapy with age, none specifically examined its use in an elderly cohort of patients who were deemed eligible for such therapy based on consensus guidelines, simultaneously examining the impact of comorbidity and previous history of malignant disease on these recommendations. METHODS The authors examined adjuvant chemotherapy use among chemotherapy-eligible patients age , 50 years who were evaluated in a tertiary care cancer center. Associations between patient age and 1) physician recommendation for adjuvant chemotherapy, 2) recommended treatment regimen, and 3) patient acceptance of the treatment plan recommended were examined, adjusting for the impact of aggressive tumor characteristics, medical comorbidity, previous history of malignant disease, and features of the treatment setting. RESULTS Of the 208 chemotherapy-eligible patients who were studied, 74% overall were recommended chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was recommended to 92% of women age 50,59 years compared with 77% of women age 60,69 years and 23% of women age , 70 years. Increasing age was associated strongly with a decreasing likelihood of receiving a recommendation in favor of chemotherapy. After adjusting for estrogen receptor status, previous history of malignant disease, comorbidity score, and prognostic group, the odds of receiving a recommendation in favor of chemotherapy fell by 22% per year or 91% per 10-year interval, and the rate of decline did not change significantly at age , 70 years. We found no age-related differences in either the drug regimens recommended or patient acceptance rates for adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSIONS Age was associated strongly and independently with physician recommendation for adjuvant chemotherapy among a group of older women who were eligible specifically for such therapy. Medical comorbidity and a history of previous malignant disease did not alter this correlation significantly, although the latter was a significant predictor of chemotherapy use. Further studies clearly are needed to determine the underlying reasons for this strong age effect and to explore strategies that will optimize the utilization of this potentially curative therapy in the elderly. Cancer 2003;97:2150,9. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11338 [source] Nurse or physician: whose recommendation influences the decision to take genetic tests more?JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 4 2010Sivia Barnoy barnoy s., levy o. & bar-tal y. (2010) Nurse or physician: whose recommendation influences the decision to take genetic tests more? Journal of Advanced Nursing66(4), 806,813. Abstract Title.,Nurse or physician: whose recommendation influences the decision to take genetic tests more? Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore factors influencing the decision to take genetic carrier testing. Background., Genetic testing has become a popular means of elucidating the risk of giving birth to a sick/disabled child but what influences prospective parents to take genetic tests or not is unclear. Methods., The study was based on a factorial 2 × 2 × 2 within-between subjects design. The questionnaire presented four scenarios, each illustrating a healthcare worker presenting information on a devastating genetic disease. The variables manipulated were: the health care worker's expertise (novice vs. expert), the recommender's role (nurse vs. physician) and type of recommendation (recommendation vs. no recommendation). After each scenario participants were asked their own intention to take the test and their intention to recommend a friend to take the test. Data were collected in 2007. Results., Altogether 156 questionnaires were collected. Expert nurses and expert physicians were accorded the same level of compliance. However, a novice physician's recommendation to take a genetic test was complied with as much as an expert physician's, whereas a novice nurse's recommendation was less accepted than that of an expert nurse. When no recommendation was made, more compliance with the nurse was found (i.e. less intention to take the test). Conclusion., Genetic information should be presented to the public with caution to avoid over-testing. For the public to accept a nurse's recommendation, the nurse has to be perceived as an expert; therefore, expert nurses' proficiency should be made clear. [source] Antibiotic Prophylaxis Guideline Awareness and Antibiotic Prophylaxis Use Among New York State Dermatologic SurgeonsDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 9 2002Noah Scheinfeld JD background. Use of antibiotic prophylaxis in dermatologic surgery patients remains controversial and several sets of guidelines exist. objective. We investigated dermatologic surgeon's awareness of the American Heart Association (AHA) 1997 antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines, their use of prophylactic antibiotics, and their practices as compared with the Haas and Grekin's 1995 antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines. methods. We mailed postage-paid questionnaires regarding AHA guideline awareness and antibiotic prophylaxis use to the 235 New York State members of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). We received 87 replies. results. Most participants recognize AHA guidelines and claim to follow them. We reiterate previous studies' findings. Most dermatologic surgeons use antibiotics appropriately. However, antibiotics are occasionally overused or dosed outside the guidelines. Many participants prescribe antibiotics based on a patient's other physicians' recommendations. Notably, erythromycin is sometimes used, an antibiotic the AHA no longer recommends. conclusion. Dermatologic surgeons commonly use antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent bacterial endocarditis. Based on previous studies, though, the risk of endocarditis following cutaneous surgery is low and thus the use of antibiotic prophylaxis is controversial. Although this practice is appropriate for high-risk patients when skin is contaminated, it is not recommended for noneroded, noninfected skin. We report that dermatologists may be aware of the guidelines, but only seem to partially follow them. Further studies are still needed to establish optimal guidelines. [source] ,A little bitty spot and I'm a big man': patients' perspectives on refusing diagnosis or treatment for lung cancerPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 8 2005Barbara F. Sharf Abstract Patient refusal of physicians' recommendations may partially account for variations in lung cancer treatment affecting survival. Reasons for refusal have not been well researched, and patients who refuse are often labeled derogatorily as irrational or enigmatically non-compliant. This study explored why patients refused recommendations for further diagnosis or treatment of lung cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with nine patients, identified and recruited over a 2-year period, with documented refusal of doctors' recommendations. Recruiting was hampered by deaths, logistics, and refusal to participate. Questions focused on participants' understanding of disease, medical recommendations, and perceptions of decision-making. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Participants emphasized self-efficacy, minimizing threat, fatalism or faith, and distrust of medical authority; explanations were often multi-dimensional. Comments included complaints about communication with physicians, health system discontinuities, and impact of social support. Explanations of participants' decisions reflected several ways of coping with an undesirable situation, including strategies for reducing, sustaining, and increasing uncertainty. Problematic Integration Theory helps to explain patients' difficulties in managing uncertainty when assessments of disease outcomes and treatment recommendations diverge. Implications for clinical communication include increasing trust while delivering bad news, understanding the source of resistance to recommendations, and discussing palliative care. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] |