13 research outputs found

    Translation and psychometric testing of the Norwegian version of the “Patients’ Perspectives of Surgical Safety Questionnaire”

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    Purpose To translate the Patients’ Perspectives of Surgical Safety (PPSS) questionnaire into Norwegian and to test it for structural validity and internal consistency. Design This is a methodological study. Methods The original 20-item PPSS questionnaire was translated into Norwegian using a model of translation-back translation. We assessed content validity via a pretest with 20 surgical patients. A sample of 218 surgical patients in a university hospital in Norway completed the PPSS questionnaire. Psychometric analysis included item characteristics, and structural validity was evaluated by an exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. Findings We successfully translated and adapted the Norwegian PPSS questionnaire. Completion rate was 74%. Missing values were less than 5% and all 20 items had a high skewness (≥15 %) ranging from 52.8% to 95.9%. The exploratory factor analysis yielded two significant factors that explained 45.15% of variance. The Cronbach's alpha for Factor 1 “Team interaction safety” was 0.88 and for Factor 2 “Patient's ID safety”, 0.82. Overall, most patients reported a high sense of surgical safety. Conclusions The first Norwegian version of the PPSS measuring surgical patients’ perception shows promising psychometric properties regarding structural validity and internal consistency. However, future research on PPSS should provide an examination of construct validity, validation and testing in other populations of surgical patients. To improve safety of the surgical trajectory, it is necessary to pay more attention to patients’ perceptions of surgical safety.publishedVersio

    Ventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, and mortality in unselected patients with lung, colon, or pancreatic cancer: a prospective study

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    Aims: Many cancer patients die due to cardiovascular disease and sudden death, but data on ventricular arrhythmia prevalence and prognostic importance are not known. Methods and results: Between 2005 and 2010, we prospectively enrolled 120 unselected patients with lung, colon, or pancreatic cancer due to one of three diagnoses: colorectal (n = 33), pancreatic (n = 54), or non-small cell lung cancer (n = 33). All were free of manifest cardiovascular disease. They were compared to 43 healthy controls similar in age and sex distribution. Each participant underwent 24 h electrocardiogram recording and cancer patients were followed for up to 12.5 years for survival (median 21 months). Ninety-six cancer patients (80%) died during follow-up [5-year survival: 27% (95% confidence interval 19–35%)]. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) was more frequent in cancer patients vs. controls (8% vs. 0%, P = 0.021). The number of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) over 24 h was not increased in cancer patients vs. controls (median 4 vs. 9, P = 0.2). In multivariable analysis, NSVT [hazard ratio (HR) 2.44, P = 0.047] and PVCs (per 100, HR 1.021, P = 0.047) were both significant predictors of mortality, independent of other univariable mortality predictors including tumour stage, cancer type, potassium concentration, prior surgery, prior cardiotoxic chemotherapy, and haemoglobin. In patients with colorectal and pancreatic cancer, ≥50 PVCs/24 h predicted mortality (HR 2.30, P = 0.0024), and was identified in 18% and 26% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia is more frequent in unselected patients with colorectal, pancreatic, and non-small cell lung cancer and together with PVCs predict long-term mortality. This raises the prospect of cardiovascular mortality being a target for future treatment interventions in selected cancers

    Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction according to the HFA-PEFF score in COVID-19 patients: clinical correlates and echocardiographic findings

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    Aims: Viral-induced cardiac inflammation can induce heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)-like syndromes. COVID-19 can lead to myocardial damage and vascular injury. We hypothesised that COVID-19 patients frequently develop a HFpEF-like syndrome, and designed this study to explore this. Methods and results: Cardiac function was assessed in 64 consecutive, hospitalized, and clinically stable COVID-19 patients from April-November 2020 with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% (age 56 ± 19 years, females: 31%, severe COVID-19 disease: 69%). To investigate likelihood of HFpEF presence, we used the HFA-PEFF score. A low (0-1 points), intermediate (2-4 points), and high (5-6 points) HFA-PEFF score was observed in 42%, 33%, and 25% of patients, respectively. In comparison, 64 subjects of similar age, sex, and comorbidity status without COVID-19 showed these scores in 30%, 66%, and 4%, respectively (between groups: P = 0.0002). High HFA-PEFF scores were more frequent in COVID-19 patients than controls (25% vs. 4%, P = 0.001). In COVID-19 patients, the HFA-PEFF score significantly correlated with age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT), haemoglobin, QTc interval, LVEF, mitral E/A ratio, and H2 FPEF score (all P < 0.05). In multivariate, ordinal regression analyses, higher age and hsTnT were significant predictors of increased HFA-PEFF scores. Patients with myocardial injury (hsTnT ≥14 ng/L: 31%) vs. patients without myocardial injury, showed higher HFA-PEFF scores [median 5 (interquartile range 3-6) vs. 1 (0-3), P < 0.001] and more often showed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (75% vs. 27%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients frequently show high likelihood of presence of HFpEF that is associated with cardiac structural and functional alterations, and myocardial injury. Detailed cardiac assessments including echocardiographic determination of left ventricular diastolic function and biomarkers should become routine in the care of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

    Characteristics, Opportunities, and Challenges of Osteopathy (COCO) in the Perceptions of Osteopaths in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: Protocol for a Comprehensive Mixed Methods Study

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    Background: Currently, the importance of osteopathy within the health care system is controversial. The training structures and the acknowledgment of the occupational profile strongly differ in the German-speaking territory. Objective: This study aims to examine the characteristics of the osteopathic profession as well as the possibilities and challenges for osteopaths in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Methods: This study adopted a mixed methods design. The research topic will be examined based on qualitative and quantitative partial studies that will be conducted in parallel as well as sequentially. By applying different research methods and sample testing and by using standardized, validated measurement methods, we expect to be able to gain new insights into the work area of osteopathy. Results: In November 2018, we started the research and data collection. Currently, we are conducting the first two partial studies. The planned duration of each of the partial study is 6-9 months. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2021. Conclusions: This study will examine how osteopaths define themselves in comparison with professionals from other occupational profiles and how they describe the characteristics of their work. The identification of central issues is expected to help clarify the issues and define the profession. As such, the results might contribute to the conservation and improvement of the quality of osteopathic treatment

    Effectiveness of an osteopathic treatment on the autonomic nervous system: a systematic review of the literature

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    Objective The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of an osteopathic treatment on the autonomic nervous system (ANS). For this purpose, published primary studies were analysed and critically evaluated. Method To generate this review, 15 electronic databases were systematically searched for studies. Randomized clinical controlled trials (RCT) and clinical controlled trials (CCT) are included in the review and evaluated with appropriate assessment tools (Downs and Black Checklist and the checklist from Kienle and Kiene). Results 23 published studies (10 RCT, 1 clinic multi-centre study, 1 CCT, 5 randomized cross-over studies, 5 randomized pilot studies and 1 single case study) are included in this review. The studies were evaluated with the assessment tools according to their quality. 3 studies are graded as high quality, 11 as moderate and 8 as low-quality studies. Conclusion The included published studies represent a good level of evidence. Due to a small number of subjects and no follow-ups, the methodological quality is rated as moderate. A significant change on the ANS was shown in studies including High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Techniques (HVLAT). No statement could be drawn in studies in which they used cranial osteopathic techniques due to the lack of methodological quality. A significant change on the ANS is shown in the treatment of the suboccipital region. In studies which evaluated the effectiveness of mobilization in the cervical and thoracic region, no statement could be displayed due to a low level of evidence. None of the findings in these studies have given statements if ANS activation takes place in the sympathetic or parasympathetic system

    Characteristics, Opportunities, and Challenges of Osteopathy Based on the Perceptions of Osteopaths in Austria: Qualitative Interview Study

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    BackgroundThere are no uniform regulations for the osteopathic profession in Europe. It is subject to country-specific regulations defining who shall be allowed to practice osteopathy and which qualification shall be required. In recent years, legal regulations have been established in several European countries for the profession of osteopathy; however, these are also still pending for Austria. Currently, physiotherapists and physicians with osteopathic training are practicing osteopathy in Austria. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the characteristics, challenges, and opportunities of osteopaths in Austria. MethodsGuideline-based interviews with osteopaths (N=10) were conducted. The different research questions were examined using a qualitative content analysis. ResultsThe study provided a differentiated insight into the professional situation of osteopaths in Austria. The most important result was that all interviewees unanimously supported a legal regulation of their profession. However, owing to their different professional self-image—on the one hand, individuals working on a structural basis, and, on the other hand, individuals working on a cranial or biodynamic basis—they were able to imagine a uniform professional regulation only to a limited extent. Additional topics for the interviewed osteopaths in Austria were the quality assurance of training and the urgent need for scientific research. Furthermore, the study also dealt with the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily practice and on education and training in osteopathy. ConclusionsThis study is a pioneering study with regard to systematic basic research on osteopathy in Austria. The obtained results and the newly acquired research questions not only have the potential to serve as a basis for further studies but also provide insight into the working and professional situation of osteopaths in Austria for universities, schools, professional associations, politics, and—last but not least—all interested parties. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/1539

    Team training program’s impact on medication administration, teamwork and patient safety culture in an ambulance service (TEAM-AMB): a longitudinal multimethod study protocol

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    Introduction Medication administration errors (MAEs) have the potential for significant patient harm, and the frequency of MAEs in the ambulance services is not well known. Effective teamwork is paramount for providing safe and effective patient care, especially in a time-sensitive, high-risk environment such as the ambulance services. Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) is an evidence-based team training programme that, to our knowledge, has not been studied in the ambulance services previously. TeamSTEPPS is based on the five principles: team structure, communication, leadership, situation monitoring and mutual support. This study aims to advance the knowledge of the medication administration process in the ambulance services and study the impact of a team training programme on the frequency of MAEs, and the perception of teamwork, and patient safety culture.Methods and analysis This study uses a longitudinal multimethod design to evaluate medication administration and the implementation of the team training programme TeamSTEPPS in an ambulance service. A review of electronic patient journals 6 months prior to the intervention, and 12 months after the intervention will provide data on the frequency of MAEs. Focus group interviews and questionnaires will be carried out before and after the intervention to describe the perception of teamwork and patient safety culture among ambulance professionals. Observations, individual interviews and a review of guidelines will be conducted in the first and second quarters of 2022 to study the medication administration process in ambulance services.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was reviewed by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics Central Norway and approved by the Hospital Trust data protection officer, and the head of the Prehospital Division at the Hospital Trust. The data material will be managed confidentially and stored according to regulations. The results will be disseminated through scientific papers, reports, conference presentations, popular press, and social media.Trial registration number NCT05244928

    Spontaneous Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia and Premature Ventricular Contractions and Their Prognostic Relevance in Patients with Cancer in Routine Care

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    Aims: It is largely unknown whether cancer patients seen in routine care show ventricular arrhythmias in 24 h electrocardiograms (ECGs), and whether when they are detected they carry prognostic relevance. Methods and Results: We included 261 consecutive cancer patients that were referred to the department of cardiology for 24 h ECG examination and 35 healthy controls of similar age and sex in the analysis. To reduce selection bias, cancer patients with known left ventricular ejection fraction = 3 and >= 4 beats duration were more frequent in cancer patients than controls (17% vs. 0%, p = 0.0008; 10% vs. 0%, p = 0.016). Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)/24 h were not more frequent in cancer patients compared to controls (median (IQR), 26 (2-360) vs. 9 (1-43), p = 0.06; >= 20 PVCs 53% vs. 37%, p = 0.07). During follow-up, (up to 7.2 years, median 15 months) of the cancer patients, 158 (61%) died (1-/3-/5-year mortality rates: 45% [95%CI 39-51%], 66% [95%CI 59-73%], 73% [95%CI 64-82%]). Both non-sustained ventricular tachycardia of >= 4 beats and >= 20 PVCs/24 h independently predicted mortality in univariate and multivariate survival analyses, adjusted for all other univariate predictors of mortality as well as relevant clinical factors, including cancer stage and type, performance status (ECOG), prior potentially cardiotoxic anti-cancer drug therapy, coronary artery disease, potassium concentration, and haemoglobin (multivariate adjusted hazard ratios: NSVT >= 4 beats [HR 1.76, p = 0.022], >= 20 PVCs/24 h [HR 1.63, p < 0.0064]). Conclusions: NSVT >= 4 beats and >= 20 PVCs/day seen in routine 24 h ECGs of patients with cancer carry prognostic relevance
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