A Common Goal: Primary Care and Psychiatry Improve Depression Detection and Outcomes

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects over 15 million (6.7%) adult Americans. While one in four primary care patients suffer from depressive symptoms, MDD is accurately diagnosed as little as 25% of the time. Purpose: Implementation of an evidence-based protocol outlining the process for screening, behavioral health referral, and the role of a collaborative care team would improve detection and treatment of adult MDD patients in the ambulatory setting. Process: A systematic Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) based screening protocol was implemented. Every new and existing patient completed the PHQ-9 during scheduled primary care appointments. If a patient scored 15 or higher, indicating moderate to severe risk, they were referred to behavioral health. The behavioral health case manager then triaged the patient for their specific needs and scheduled appointments to psychiatry and psychology as appropriate. If a patient was not progressing during treatment the case was discussed during bi-weekly collaborative care team meetings and the plan was adjusted. Outcomes: The baseline PHQ-9 screening rate for all patients was 40% for Quarter 2 of 2017. After implementation of the protocol screening rates of new and existing patients increased to 49% in one month’s time. After two months screening and referral rates reached 100%. This rate was maintained for the five-month project duration. Conclusion: Depression must be addressed in the primary care setting. Depression screening is a safe and efficacious intervention to improve detection and guide treatment. Addressing MDD in a collaborative care model is also a cost-effective and successful approach to address one of the most detrimental diseases worldwide

Applying refinement to the use of mice and rats in rheumatoid arthritis research

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful, chronic disorder and there is currently an unmet need for effective therapies that will benefit a wide range of patients. The research and development process for therapies and treatments currently involves in vivo studies, which have the potential to cause discomfort, pain or distress. This Working Group report focuses on identifying causes of suffering within commonly used mouse and rat ‘models’ of RA, describing practical refinements to help reduce suffering and improve welfare without compromising the scientific objectives. The report also discusses other, relevant topics including identifying and minimising sources of variation within in vivo RA studies, the potential to provide pain relief including analgesia, welfare assessment, humane endpoints, reporting standards and the potential to replace animals in RA research

Protocol for a feasibility registry-based randomised controlled trial investigating a tailored follow-up service for stroke (A-LISTS)

Background: Stroke affects long-term physical and cognitive function; many survivors report unmet health needs, such as pain or depression. A hospital-led follow-up service designed to address ongoing health problems may avoid unplanned readmissions and improve quality of life. Methods: This paper outlines the protocol for a registry-based, randomised controlled trial with allocation concealment of participants and outcome assessors. Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, we will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, potential effectiveness and cost implications of a new tailored, codesigned, hospital-led follow-up service for people within 6–12 months of stroke. Participants (n = 100) from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry who report extreme health problems on the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L survey between 90 and 180 days after stroke will be randomly assigned (1:1) to intervention (follow-up service) or control (usual care) groups. All participants will be independently assessed at baseline and 12–14-week post-randomisation. Primary outcomes for feasibility are the proportion of participants completing the trial and for intervention participants the proportion that received follow-up services. Acceptability is satisfaction of clinicians and participants involved in the intervention. Secondary outcomes include effectiveness: change in extreme health problems (EQ-5D-3L), unmet needs (Longer-term Unmet Needs questionnaire), unplanned presentations and hospital readmission, functional independence (modified Rankin Scale) and cost implications estimated from self-reported health service utilisation and productivity (e.g. workforce participation). To inform future research or implementation, the design contains a process evaluation including clinical protocol fidelity and an economic evaluation. Discussion: The results of this study will provide improved knowledge of service design and implementation barriers and facilitators and associated costs and resource implications to inform a future fully powered effectiveness trial of the intervention

Predictive Factors for First-Pass Intubation Failure in Trauma Patients

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to elucidate risk factors for multiple intubation attempts (MIA) in trauma patients requiring emergent tracheal intubation (ETI). Risk factors for mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and prolonged ventilation were assessed as secondary outcomes. The association between multiple intubation attempts and adverse outcomes has been well described in the literature. Though previous studies have identified anatomical risk factors for difficult airways, no study to date has investigated predictors for MIA in a trauma setting. METHODS: The retrospective study involved 174 adult patients who required ETI and who presented to a Level 1 Trauma Center\u27s emergency department between January 2019 and December 2022. Comorbidities, demographic information, triage vitals, intubation characteristics, and patient outcomes were identified to ascertain predictive risk factors for MIA. Variables were assessed for statistical significance on unadjusted analysis. Significant variables were entered into multivariate logistic regression models to test for adjusted associations, with p≤.0.05 as statistically significant, and presented as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Twenty-six (14.9%) of the 174 patients required multiple intubation attempts. There were no significant associations between MIA and patient gender, age, BMI, race, injury mechanism, or specific body region injuries. On univariate analysis, the MIA group had a statistically significant elevation in mean systolic blood pressure (151.71 ± 45.96 vs 133.55 ± 32.11, p = 0.019) and heart rate (106.30 ± 34.92 vs 93.35 ± 24.82, p \u3c 0.032) compared to subjects with first-pass success. Elevation in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (151.71 ± 45.96 vs 133.55 ± 32.11, aOR 1.03 (1.01-1.06), p \u3c 0.015) was an independent predictor of multiple intubation attempts. CONCLUSION: Elevation in SBP was a significant predictor of multiple intubation attempts. Critical appraisal of patients requiring ETI with elevated SBP may mitigate risk in trauma settings

Evaluation of rural stroke services: does implementation of coordinators and pathways improve care in rural hospitals?

Background and Purpose: The quality of hospital care for stroke varies, particularly in rural areas. In 2007, funding to improve stroke care became available as part of the Rural Stroke Project (RSP) in New South Wales (Australia). The RSP included the employment of clinical coordinators to establish stroke units or pathways and protocols, and more clinical staff. We aimed to describe the effectiveness of RSP in improving stroke care and patient outcomes. Methods: A historical control cohort design was used. Clinical practice and outcomes at 8 hospitals were compared using 2 medical record reviews of 100 consecutive ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage patients ≥12 months before RSP and 3 to 6 months after RSP was implemented. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses of patient outcomes are presented. Results: Sample: pre-RSP n=750; mean age 74 (SD, 13) years; women 50% and post-RSP n=730; mean age 74 (SD, 13) years; women 46%. Many improvements in stroke care were found after RSP: access to stroke units (pre 0%; post 58%, P<0.001); use of aspirin within 24 hours of ischemic stroke (pre 59%; post 71%, P<0.001); use of care plans (pre 15%; post 63%, P<0.001); and allied health assessments within 48 hours (pre 65%; post 82% P<0.001). After implementation of the RSP, patients directly admitted to an RSP hospital were 89% more likely to be discharged home (adjusted odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–2.66). Conclusion: Investment in clinical coordinators who implemented organizational change, together with increased clinician resources, effectively improved stroke care in rural hospitals, resulting in more patients being discharged home

Active Compared With Passive Voiding Trials After Midurethral Sling Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE: To compare active with passive voiding trials on the rate of passing a trial of void and discharge rates with catheter in women who have undergone midurethral sling for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through February 24, 2023. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Our population included women undergoing midurethral sling, with or without anterior or posterior repair, for treatment of SUI. Our two primary outcomes were rate of passing voiding trial and rate of discharge with a catheter. Our secondary outcome was the rate of delayed postoperative urinary retention, when a patient initially passes a trial of void but then subsequently presents in retention. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Abstracts were doubly screened; full-text articles were doubly screened; and accepted articles were doubly extracted. In single-arm studies evaluating either passive or active voiding trial, random-effects meta-analyses of pooled proportions were used to assess outcomes. Of 3,033 abstracts screened, 238 full-text articles were assessed, and 26 met inclusion criteria. Ten studies including 1,370 patients reported active trial of void. Sixteen studies including 3,643 patients reported passive trial of void. We included five randomized controlled trials, five comparative retrospective studies, five prospective single group studies, and 11 retrospective single group studies. Five of the studies included patients with a concomitant anterior or posterior colporrhaphy. On proportional meta-analysis, the active trial of void group was less likely to pass the voiding trial (81.0%, 95% CI, 0.76-0.87% vs 89.0%, 95% CI, 0.84-0.9%3, P =.029) with high heterogeneity ( I2 =93.0%). Furthermore, there were more discharges with catheter in active trial of void compared with passive trial of void (19.0%, 95% CI, 0.14-0.24% vs 7.0%, 95% CI, 0.05-0.10%, P \u3c.01). The rates of delayed postoperative urinary retention were low and not different between groups (0.6%, 95% CI, 0.00-0.02% vs 0.2%, 95% CI, 0.00-0.01%, P =.366) with low heterogeneity ( I2 =0%). Sling revisions were statistically lower in the active trial of void group (0.5%, 95% CI, 0.00-0.01% vs 1.5%, 95% CI, 0.01-0.02%, P =.035) with low heterogeneity ( I2 =10.4%). CONCLUSION: Passive trial of void had higher passing rates and lower discharge with catheter than active trial of void. Rates of most complications were low and similar between both groups, although passive trial of void had higher sling revisions. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42022341318

Scientific rigor and the art of motorcycle maintenance

The reliability of scientific research is under scrutiny. A recently convened working group proposes cultural adjustments to incentivize better research practices