Computerisation of endoscopy reports using standard reports and text blocks

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis and treatment requires effective, standardised report systems. This need is further increased by the limited storage of images, and by the need for structured databases for surveillance and epidemiology. We therefore aimed for a report system which would be quick, easy to learn, and suitable for use in busy daily practice. METHODS: Endobase III is an endoscopy information system offering three different ways of report writing, i.e. standard reports, text blocks and Minimal Standard Terminology (MST). A working group of two university and four general hospitals worked as a reference group for the development of standard reports and text blocks. Guidelines from various gastrointestinal endoscopy societies were followed to compose the reports. RESULTS: Standard reports were based on a list of distinct diagnoses; text blocks were based on anatomic landmarks and individual procedures. As such, 316 standard reports were developed for upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In this way selecting one diagnosis produces a complete report. A total of 1571 different text blocks were additionally developed for each part of the gastrointestinal tract and for procedures during endoscopy. This module allowed generation of a full report on the combination of text blocks. Reports could be composed and printed within two minutes for 90% of cases. CONCLUSION: Standard reports and text blocks are a quick, user-friendly way of report writing accepted and used by a number of gastroenterologists in the Netherlands

Impact of employee motivation on passenger satisfaction levels – A case study in the state of Karnataka (India)

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC): Evidence of genetic heterogeneity and delimitation of the BRIC locus to a 7-cM interval between D18S69 and D18S64

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) is an autosomal recessive liver disease characterized by multiple episodes of cholestasis without progression to chronic liver disease. The gene was previously assigned to chromosome 18q21, using a shared segment analysis in three families from the Netherlands. In the present study we report the linkage analysis of an expanded sample of 14 BRIC families, using 15 microsatellite markers from the 18q21 region. Obligate recombinants in two families place the gene in a 7-cM interval, between markers D18S69 and D18S64. All intervening markers had significant LOD scores in two-point linkage analysis. More over, we identified one family in which the BRIC gene seems to be unlinked to the 18q21 region, or that represents incomplete penetrance of the BRIC genotype

Disease characteristics as determinants of the labour market position of adolescents and young adults with chronic digestive disorders.

BACKGROUND: Job prospects can be problematic for young patients with chronic digestive disorders. OBJECTIVES: To compare the employment status and disease burden in young adult patients with several chronic digestive disorders with healthy controls, and to determine whether labour participation depends on disease characteristics, such as type of diagnosis and burden of disease. PARTICIPANTS: In total 622 patients categorized into five diagnostic groups--inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n=274), chronic liver diseases (n=78), congenital digestive disorders (n=104), food allergy (n=77), celiac disease (n=89)--and a population-based control group (n=248), age 15-24 years. METHODS: Labour participation and burden of disease (i.e. consequences of the disease in daily life) were assessed by a postal questionnaire. Multivariate statistics were computed to investigate the relationship between disease characteristics and labour participation. RESULTS: Patients with IBD or chronic liver diseases were found to have limited job prospects. Patients with chronic liver diseases, IBD and food allergy reported more disease burden regarding several indicators compared with controls. Logistic regression analyses including background characteristics revealed socio-economic status (educational level of parents) and nocturnal toilet use as important determinants of employment. In addition, gender and medication intake were found to be most determinative for a full-time position. CONCLUSIONS: The possible impact of IBD and chronic liver diseases on the labour participation of young adults should be recognized and deserves extra attention from gastroenterologists so that young patients can be supported to increase their job opportunities. (aut. ref.

Prospective evaluation of psychosocial adaptation to stoma surgery: the role of self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy, one's expectations regarding the ability to perform some specific task, was studied prospectively in the adaptation process of stoma patients. One week after surgery, stoma-related self-efficacy was assessed in 59 patients (26 cancer patients and 33 patients with benign diseases) who had undergone intestinal stoma surgery. Twenty-nine items concerning self-efficacy were formulated. Factor analysis with oblique rotation resulted in two factors: a social functioning-related self-efficacy factor and a stoma care-related self-efficacy factor. Psychosocial adjustment was assessed by means of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) at 4 and 12 months after surgery. The PAIS-SR renders one global adjustment score and (in this study) five subscores for adjustment to specific life domains: vocational environment, domestic environment, sexual relationship, social environment, and psychological distress. In a multiple regression analysis, the relevance of self-efficacy for later adjustment was determined after partialing out the effects of relevant sociodemographic and medical factors. Strong evidence was found for the important role of self-efficacy in the process of adapting to a stoma; stronger feelings of self-efficacy shortly after the operation predicted fewer psychosocial problems in the course of the first postoperative year. Stoma care-related self-efficacy appears especially important in the first phase after surgery. Social functioning-related self-efficacy explains significant proportions of the variances in PAIS-SR total score and PAIS-SR subscores, in both the short (4 months after surgery) and long runs (12 months after surgery). If patients expect to be able to take care of their stoma, their postoperative adjustment is relatively good. By strengthening patients' self-efficacy, this adaptation process may be accelerated, and the psychological and social burden can be lightened. (aut.ref.

Coping in adolescents and young adults with chronic digestive disorders: impact on school and leisure activities.

Coping strategies were compared across adolescents and young adults with several chronic digestive disorders and healthy peers, and across age groups. Subsequently, the impact of coping on performance in school and leisure activities was investigated. Participants were adolescents and young adults (age 12 to 25 years) suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), chronic liver diseases, congenital diseases, coeliac disease or food allergy (total n = 521) and healthy controls (n = 274). For comparison reasons, a generic coping measuring instrument was employed: the shortened version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21). The CISS-21 assesses three meta coping strategies: task-oriented, emotion-oriented and avoidance coping. Comparisons between several groups only revealed less use of coping strategies in the youngest adolescents. No differences were found among diagnostic groups, nor between diagnostic groups and control group. Coping was found to be related to school and leisure activities of adolescents and young adults with chronic digestive disorders. (aut. ref.

School and leisure activities in adolescents and young adults with chronic digestive disorders: impact of burden of disease.

First, we compared the nature of burden of disease (i.e., manifestations of the disease in daily life) in adolescents and young adults with various chronic digestive disorders with controls. After that, we investigated whether burden of disease is associated with difficulties in school and leisure activities of adolescents and young adults with various digestive disorders. For this purpose, we performed a multicenter study in 5 diagnostic groups (total N = 758; ages 12 to 25 years) including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), chronic liver diseases, congenital disorders, celiac disease, and food allergy and a population based control group (N = 306) using a self-report questionnaire. Especially adolescents and young adults with a chronic liver disease, IBD, and food allergy were found to experience daily manifestations of their disease. Several disease burden characteristics, of which especially depression, could be identified as important contributors to difficulties in school performance and leisure activities. (aut.ref.