Effect of Queue Management System on Patient Satisfaction in Emergency Department; a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Patients’ experience in hospitals affects their satisfaction. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of applying a queue management system on patient satisfaction in emergency department waiting rooms.Methods: The present prospective randomized single-blinded interventional study was performed from July to August 2020 and involved 236 patients that were divided into one intervention group and one control group, each consisting of 118 patients. The mentioned patients’ perception of the waiting time and satisfaction before being visited by an emergency medicine doctor was evaluated with and without applying the queue management system.Results: The mean actual waiting time (15.5 ± 7.5 minutes) as well as the mean perceived waiting time (11.9 ± 7.4 minutes) for the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group with the values of 27.03 ± 8.5 and 32.8 ± 8.7 minutes, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean perceived waiting time was significantly less than the mean actual waiting time (11.9 min vs 15.5 minutes) for the intervention group (p < 0.001). The level of satisfaction in the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: It can be proposed that the application of a queue management system in the emergency department waiting rooms can reduce the actual and perceived waiting times and increase the patient satisfaction

The impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on clinical outcomes in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Inflammation has been suggested to play a role in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis. However, the role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as a novel biomarker, to assess HF prognosis needs to be investigated. We sought to evaluate the impact of PLR on HF clinical outcomes. Methods: English-published records in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web-of-science databases were screened until December 2023. Relevant articles evaluated PLR with clinical outcomes (including mortality, rehospitalization, HF worsening, and HF detection) were recruited, with PLR difference analysis based on death/survival status in total and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. Results: In total, 21 articles ( n  = 13,924) were selected. The total mean age was 70.36 ± 12.88 years (males: 61.72%). Mean PLR was 165.54 [95% confidence interval (CI): 154.69–176.38]. In total, 18 articles ( n  = 10,084) reported mortality [either follow-up (PLR: 162.55, 95% CI: 149.35–175.75) or in-hospital (PLR: 192.83, 95% CI: 150.06–235.61) death rate] and the mean PLR was 166.68 (95% CI: 154.87–178.50). Further analysis revealed PLR was significantly lower in survived HF patients rather than deceased group (152.34, 95% CI: 134.01–170.68 versus 194.73, 95% CI: 175.60–213.85, standard mean difference: −0.592, 95% CI: −0.857 to −0.326, p  < 0.001). A similar trend was observed for HFrEF patients. PLR failed to show any association with mortality risk (hazard ratio: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.99–1.05, p  = 0.289). Analysis of other aforementioned outcomes was not possible due to the presence of few studies of interest. Conclusion: PLR should be used with caution for prognosis assessment in HF sufferers and other studies are necessary to explore the exact association

sj-doc-2-tak-10.1177_17539447241227287 – Supplemental material for The impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on clinical outcomes in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Supplemental material, sj-doc-2-tak-10.1177_17539447241227287 for The impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on clinical outcomes in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Mehrbod Vakhshoori, Niloofar Bondariyan, Sadeq Sabouhi, Keivan Kiani, Nazanin Alaei Faradonbeh, Sayed Ali Emami, Mehrnaz Shakarami, Farbod Khanizadeh, Shahin Sanaei, Niloofaralsadat Motamedi and Davood Shafie in Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease</p

sj-docx-1-tak-10.1177_17539447241227287 – Supplemental material for The impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on clinical outcomes in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-tak-10.1177_17539447241227287 for The impact of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on clinical outcomes in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Mehrbod Vakhshoori, Niloofar Bondariyan, Sadeq Sabouhi, Keivan Kiani, Nazanin Alaei Faradonbeh, Sayed Ali Emami, Mehrnaz Shakarami, Farbod Khanizadeh, Shahin Sanaei, Niloofaralsadat Motamedi and Davood Shafie in Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease</p