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University-affiliated Hospitals (university-affiliated + hospital)
Selected AbstractsKarnofsky performance score in acute renal failure as a predictor of short-term survivalNEPHROLOGY, Issue 6 2007JOSE RAMON PEREZ VALDIVIESO SUMMARY: Background: Karnofsky Performance Scale Index (KPS) is a measure of functional status that allows patients to be classified according to their functional impairment. We aim to assess if the prior KPS may predict the risk of death among patients with acute renal failure (ARF). Methods: A cohort of 668 consecutive patients who had been admitted in an university-affiliated hospital between June 2000 and June 2006, and had been diagnosed with ARF, were studied. Three hundred and eighty-six patients with ARF who matched at least one of the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and End stage) criteria on increased serum creatinine were included for subsequent analysis. The group was divided into four categories, according to different Karnofsky scores measured by a nephrologist (,80, 70, 60 and ,50). We used an adjusted logistic regression model to assess the relationship between the Karnofky score and mortality. Results: A significant risk of in-hospital mortality within 90 days was observed when the other groups were compared with the ,80 Karnofsky group. Adjusted odds ratios were 8.87 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.03,25.99), 6.78 (95% CI 2.61,17.58) and 2.83 (95% CI 1.04,7.68), for Karnofsky groups of ,50, 60 and 70, respectively. An adjusted odds ratio of 1.75 (95% CI 1.37,2.23) was observed for every 10 point decrease in KPS score. Conclusion: Functional status as indicated by the KPS is an independent predictor of death in this cohort of patients with ARF. Patients who presented lower scores had increased mortality rates. [source] Impact of Point-of-care Testing in the Emergency Department Evaluation and Treatment of Patients with Suspected Acute Coronary SyndromesACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Bertrand Renaud MD Abstract Objectives:, To assess the impact of point-of-care testing (POCT) for troponin I (cTnI) measurement on the time to anti-ischemic therapy (TAIT) for patients with suspected non,ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods:, This was an open-label, randomized, single-center trial conducted in a university-affiliated hospital. cTnI measurement of patients with suspicion of NSTE-ACS coming to the ED was randomly allocated to POCT or central hospital laboratory testing (CHLT). The authors compared patients' baseline characteristics, time to anti-ischemic therapy, and medical outcomes between the randomized groups, in all study participants and in high-risk NSTE-ACS (cTnI level , 0.10 ,g/mL), and in those with low suspicion ACS (no chest pain and no ST deviation). Results:, Of the 860 patients enrolled, 113 were high-risk NSTE-ACS patients, including 53 (46.9%) allocated to POCT and 60 (53.1%) to CHLT. POCT was associated with decreased time to anti-ischemic therapy of about three-quarters of an hour, which was due to a shorter time to physician notification of cTnI level, in both all and subgroup participants. In contrast, neither ED length of stay nor medical outcomes differed between study groups. Conclusions:, Point-of-care testing for cTnI measurement might be clinically relevant for ED patients with a suspicion of NSTE-ACS, particularly for high-risk patients with a low suspicion of ACS. [source] Professional competence: factors described by nurses as influencing their developmentINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2006R. Tabari Khomeiran bs mscn phd Aim:, To discuss the results of a study that explored factors that may influence competence development. Background:, Competence, a controversial issue in health care settings, affects many aspects of the nursing profession, including education, practice and management. Although a number of research and discussion papers have explored the issue, in particular the meaning and assessment of nursing competence, to date little research has explored factors identified by nurses themselves as influencing their development of professional competence. Methods:, A purposive sample of 27 registered nurses was recruited from two university-affiliated hospitals. Data collection was by tape-recorded semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the qualitative methodology of content analysis. Findings:, Six descriptive categories were identified from the data: experience, opportunities, environment, personal characteristics, motivation and theoretical knowledge. Conclusions:, The findings suggest that the factors influencing the process of developing professional competence in nursing extend across personal and extra-personal domains. An understanding of these factors may enhance the ability of nursing managers and educators to enable student and qualified nurses to pursue effective competency development pathways to prepare them to provide a high standard of care. These findings, which may have important implications for nursing practice, management and education, are being further tested in a larger study. [source] The Identification of Seniors At Risk Screening Tool: Further Evidence of Concurrent and Predictive ValidityJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 2 2004Nandini Dendukuri PhD Objectives: To evaluate the validity of the Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR) screening tool for detecting severe functional impairment and depression and predicting increased depressive symptoms and increased utilization of health services. Setting: Four university-affiliated hospitals in Montreal. Design: Data from two previous studies were available: Study 1, in which the ISAR scale was developed (n=1,122), and Study 2, in which it was used to identify patients for a randomized trial of a nursing intervention (n=1,889 with administrative data, of which 520 also had clinical data). Participants: Patients aged 65 and older who were to be released from an emergency department (ED). Measurements: Baseline validation criteria included premorbid functional status in both studies and depression in Study 2 only. Increase in depressive symptoms at 4-month follow-up was assessed in Study 2. Information on health services utilization during the 5 months after the ED visit (repeat ED visits and hospitalization in both studies, visits to community health centers in Study 2) was available by linkage with administrative databases. Results: Estimates of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for concurrent validity of the ISAR scale for severe functional impairment and depression ranged from 0.65 to 0.86. Estimates of the AUC for predictive validity for increased depressive symptoms and high utilization of health services ranged from 0.61 to 0.71. Conclusion: The ISAR scale has acceptable to excellent concurrent and predictive validity for a variety of outcomes, including clinical measures and utilization of health services. [source] Rapid Emergency Department Intervention for Older People Reduces Risk of Functional Decline: Results of a Multicenter Randomized TrialJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 10 2001DrPH, Jane McCusker MD OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of a two-stage (screening and nursing assessment) intervention for older patients in the emergency department (ED) who are at increased risk of functional decline and other adverse outcomes. DESIGN: Controlled trial, randomized by day of ED visit, with follow-up at 1 and 4 months. SETTING: Four university-affiliated hospitals in Montreal. PARTICIPANTS: Patients age 65 and older expected to be released from the ED to the community with a score of 2 or more on the Identification of Seniors At Risk (ISAR) screening tool and their primary family caregivers. One hundred seventy-eight were randomized to the intervention, 210 to usual care. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of disclosure of results of the ISAR screen, a brief standardized nursing assessment in the ED, notification of the primary care physician and home care providers, and other referrals as needed. The control group received usual care, without disclosure of the screening result. MEASUREMENTS: Patient outcomes assessed at 4 months after enrollment included functional decline (increased dependence on the Older American Resources and Services activities of daily living scale or death) and depressive symptoms (as assessed by the short Geriatric Depression Scale). Caregiver outcomes, also assessed at baseline and 4 months, included the physical and mental summary scales of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Patient and caregiver satisfaction with care were assessed 1 month after enrollment. RESULTS: The intervention increased the rate of referral to the primary care physician and to home care services. The intervention was associated with a significantly reduced rate of functional decline at 4 months, in both unadjusted (odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.36,0.99) and adjusted (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.31,0.91) analyses. There was no intervention effect on patient depressive symptoms, caregiver outcomes, or satisfaction with care. CONCLUSION: A two-stage ED intervention, consisting of screening with the ISAR tool followed by a brief, standardized nursing assessment and referral to primary and home care services, significantly reduced the rate of subsequent functional decline. J Am Geriatr Soc 49:1272,1281, 2001. [source] | ||||||||||