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Goal Achievement (goal + achievement)
Selected AbstractsEmerging Insights in the First-Step Use of Antihypertensive Combination TherapyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 2007Keith Norris MD The blood pressure (BP) goals set by hypertension management guidelines (<140/90 mm Hg in uncomplicated hypertension; <130/80 mm Hg in type 2 diabetes or kidney disease) are not being achieved in a high proportion of patients, partly because monotherapy is insufficient in many patients. In particular, patients with uncontrolled moderate or severe hypertension and/or associated cardiovascular risk factors remain at high risk for cardiovascular events and hypertensive emergency. In recognition of the urgency of treating moderate and severe hypertension, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) advocates the initial use of 2-drug therapies in patients with systolic BP levels >20 mm Hg above goal or diastolic BP level >10 mm Hg above goal. Regimens should usually include a thiazide diuretic and, for patients with diabetes or kidney disease, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker. Recently, clinical trial data have shown that first-step antihypertensive treatment of moderate and severe hypertension with carefully chosen fixed-dose combinations provides a high rate of BP goal achievement, a simplified dosing regimen, and superior tolerability compared with monotherapy. [source] Achieving Goal Blood Pressure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Conventional Versus Fixed-Dose Combination ApproachesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 3 2003George L. Bakris MD Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) demonstrate that only 11% of people with diabetes who are treated for high blood pressure achieve the blood pressure goal of <130/85 mm Hg recommended in the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI). The current study tests the hypothesis that initial therapy with a fixed-dose combination will achieve the recommended blood pressure goal in patients with type 2 diabetes faster than conventional monotherapy. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study had as a primary end point achievement of blood pressure <130/85 mm Hg. Participants (N=214) with hypertension and type 2 diabetes received either amlodipine/benazepril 5/10 mg (combination) or enalapril 10 mg (conventional) once daily for 4 weeks, titrated to 5/20 mg/day or 20 mg/day, respectively at this time, if target blood pressure was not achieved. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg/day was added for the final 4 weeks, if target blood pressure was still not reached. Time from baseline to achieve blood pressure <130/85 mm Hg was shorter in the combination group (5.3±3.1 weeks combination vs. 6.4±3.8 weeks conventional; p=0.001). At 3 months, more participants in the combination group achieved treatment goal (63% combination vs. 37% conventional; p=0.002). Data analysis at 3 months comparing blood pressure control rates between the fixed-dose combination group (with out HCTZ) to the conventional group (receiving HCTZ) showed an even greater disparity in blood pressure goal achievement (87% combination without HCTZ vs. 37% conventional group with HCTZ; p=0.0001). We conclude that initial therapy with a fixed-dose combination may be more efficacious than conventional monotherapy approaches for achieving blood pressure goals in the diabetic patient. A fixed-dose combination approach appears as safe as the current conventional approaches. [source] Goal attainment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors in community-based clinical practice (a Canadian experience)JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009Pendar Farahani MD MSc Abstract Background, The primary goal in the clinical management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease is to reduce major CV risk factors. A single risk factor approach has been traditionally used for demonstrating effectiveness of therapeutic interventions designed to reduce CV risk in clinical trials, but a global CV risk reduction approach should be adopted when assessing effectiveness in the clinical practice setting. Objectives, To explore combined goal achievement for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose and systolic-diastolic blood pressure, in patients with dyslipidemia on pharmacotherapy in community-based clinical practices across Canada. Methods, In a cross-sectional study, patients filling a prescription for any antihyperlipidemia therapy in selected pharmacies in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia were recruited. Family physicians of the participating patients were requested to provide information from the patient's medical record. Ten-year CV risk was identified for each patient according to the Framingham criteria. Results, High-risk patients comprised 52% of the patient population; 34% were moderate-risk and 14% were low-risk. Patients had a mean of 2.8 CV risk factors; high-risk 3.7, moderate-risk 2.3 and low-risk 1.2. LDL-C goal attainment was observed in 62%, 79% and 96% of patients in high-risk, moderate-risk and low-risk strata respectively. BP goal was achieved in high-risk patients 58%, moderate-risk 83% and low-risk 95%. Glucose levels were below the threshold in 91% of patients. Complete global CV risk reduction was achieved in only 21%, 66% and 92% of high-risk, moderate-risk and low-risk strata respectively. Conclusion, This study illustrates that many patients with dyslipidemia in the Canadian population, and in particular the high-risk patients, did not meet the therapeutic targets for specific CV risk factors according to the Canadian guidelines. Overall, 54% of patients failed to achieve a state of complete global CV risk reduction. [source] Innovation is not enough: climates for initiative and psychological safety, process innovations, and firm performanceJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 1 2003Markus Baer This paper contributes to the discussion on contingencies of process innovations by focusing on and introducing organizational-level constructs of climate for initiative and psychological safety. We argue that process innovations, defined as deliberate and new organizational attempts to change production and service processes, need to be accompanied by climates that complement the adoption and implementation of such innovations. Our study of 47 mid-sized German companies examines the relation between process innovations, climates for initiative and psychological safety, and firm performance. Results show that climates for initiative and psychological safety were positively related to two measures of firm performance,longitudinal change in return on assets (holding prior return on assets constant) and firm goal achievement,and moderated the relation between process innovations and firm performance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Contested hybridization of regulation: Failure of the Dutch regulatory system to protect minors from harmful mediaREGULATION & GOVERNANCE, Issue 2 2010Bärbel R. Dorbeck-Jung Abstract The hybridization of regulatory modes and instruments is currently a popular way to improve public regulation. However, it is still unclear whether combinations of hard law and soft law, co-regulation, and legally enforced self-regulation really make regulation more effective. Using the analytical framework of the "really responsive regulation" approach, in this article we explore effectiveness problems in a hybrid regulatory system that tries to protect minors from harmful media. In our analysis of low compliance rates in the context of system failures, we argue that effectiveness problems seem to arise from poorly informed staff members, lack of internal and external controls, low rule enforcement, insufficient overlap between public and private interests, poor social responsibility in the Dutch media sector, deficiencies in the institutional framework, an inconsistent regulatory strategy, and inadequate responses from responsible regulators. Furthermore, based on our case study we argue that institutional dynamics of standard-setting activities can be detrimental to regulatory goal achievement if there is no compensation at the systemic level. Ongoing "regulatory care" through control, corrective responses, and rule enforcement seems to be crucial for a hybrid regulatory system to perform well. [source] Avoidance Brings Japanese Employees What They Care About in Conflict Management: Its Functionality and "Good Member" ImageNEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010Ken-ichi Ohbuchi Abstract Avoidance is preferred by Asian people in organizational conflicts. Even when self-assertion offers immediate rewards, it is viewed by collectivists as risky from the long-term perspective because it impairs group membership and future rewards associated with it. Instead, collectivists are concerned with being accepted by peers as "a good member (agreeable person)." We assume that avoidance in organizational conflicts is an identity strategy, by which collectivists seek to form an interdependent identity and secure future rewards. We asked 341 Japanese business employees to rate their conflicts with supervisors in terms of coping strategies and goal achievements. Consistent with our predictions, the results indicated that avoidance contributed to group harmony and interdependent identity while it hampered personal interests and fairness. The theory of the functionality of avoidance was validated, at least with collectivists, although this long-range strategy seems to depend on an individual's belief that the organization is properly managed. [source] | |||||||||||||