Effects of interruption on eye movements and comprehension during reading on digital devices

International audienceThe growing use of digital devices brings about interruptions during reading. The aim of the present study is to observe the consequences of an interruption on reading behavior and text comprehension when the information that is evaluated is the information that is being read at the time the interruption occurs. Eye movements (mean number of fixations, regressive fixations and mean fixation duration) were recorded while reading four long texts. Reading was interrupted by an arithmetic verification task either in the middle of a paragraph (intraparagraph condition) or between two successive paragraphs (inter-paragraph condition). The analysis of the eye movements showed more rereading behaviors when an interruption occurred. The participants who understood the text best were also those who reread the most. The comprehension performances were not affected by the interruption, irrespective of its position (inter-or intra-paragraph). This preservation of performance is discussed in relation to LTWM theory

Sedative-hypnotic initiation and renewal at discharge in hospitalized older patients: an observational study

Abstract Background Sedative-hypnotics (SHs) are widely used in France but there are no available data addressing their prescription specifically in hospitalized older patients. The objective is thus to determine the cumulative incidence of sedative-hypnotic (SH) medications initialized during a hospital stay of older patients, the proportion of SH renewal at discharge among these patients and to study associated risk factors. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study in six internal medicine units and six acute geriatric units in eight hospitals (France). We included 1194 inpatients aged 65 and older without SH medications prior to hospitalization. Data were obtained from patients’ electronic pharmaceutical records. Primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of SH initiation in the study units. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of SH renewal at discharge and risk factors for SH initiation and renewal at discharge (patient characteristics, hospital organization). A Cox regression model was used to study risk factors for SH initiation. A mixed effects logistic regression was used to study risk factors for SH renewal at discharge. Results SH initiation occurred in 21.5% of participants 20 days after admission. SH renewal at discharge occurred in 38.7% of patients who had initiated it during their stay and were discharged home and in 56.0% of patients discharged to rehabilitation facilities. Neither patients’ characteristics nor hospital organization patterns was associated with SH initiation. SH initiation after the first six days after admission was associated with a lower risk of SH renewal in patients discharged to rehabilitation facilities (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: [0.04–0.80]). Conclusions Hospitalization is a period at risk for SH initiation. The implementation of interventions promoting good use of SHs is thus of first importance in hospitals. Specific attention should be paid to patients discharged to rehabilitation facilities

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. METHODS: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for 36 statements. RESULTS: The panel agreed with the definition in terms of its cardinal symptoms (early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning), its subdivision into epigastric pain syndrome and postprandial distress syndrome, and the presence of accessory symptoms (upper abdominal bloating, nausea, belching), and overlapping conditions. Also, well accepted are the female predominance of FD, its impact on quality of life and health costs, and acute gastrointestinal infections, and anxiety as risk factors. In terms of pathophysiological mechanisms, the consensus supports a role for impaired gastric accommodation, delayed gastric emptying, hypersensitivity to gastric distention, Helicobacter pylori infection, and altered central processing of signals from the gastroduodenal region. There is consensus that endoscopy is mandatory for establishing a firm diagnosis of FD, but that in primary care, patients without alarm symptoms or risk factors can be managed without endoscopy. There is consensus that H. pylori status should be determined in every patient with dyspeptic symptoms and H. pylori positive patients should receive eradication therapy. Also, proton pump inhibitor therapy is considered an effective therapy for FD, but no other treatment approach reached a consensus. The long‐term prognosis and life expectancy are favorable. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis and management of FD

United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) consensus on functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common conditions in clinical practice. In spite of its prevalence, FD is associated with major uncertainties in terms of its definition, underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. METHODS: A Delphi consensus was initiated with 41 experts from 22 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 87 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for 36 statements. RESULTS: The panel agreed with the definition in terms of its cardinal symptoms (early satiation, postprandial fullness, epigastric pain, and epigastric burning), its subdivision into epigastric pain syndrome and postprandial distress syndrome, and the presence of accessory symptoms (upper abdominal bloating, nausea, belching), and overlapping conditions. Also, well accepted are the female predominance of FD, its impact on quality of life and health costs, and acute gastrointestinal infections, and anxiety as risk factors. In terms of pathophysiological mechanisms, the consensus supports a role for impaired gastric accommodation, delayed gastric emptying, hypersensitivity to gastric distention, Helicobacter pylori infection, and altered central processing of signals from the gastroduodenal region. There is consensus that endoscopy is mandatory for establishing a firm diagnosis of FD, but that in primary care, patients without alarm symptoms or risk factors can be managed without endoscopy. There is consensus that H. pylori status should be determined in every patient with dyspeptic symptoms and H. pylori positive patients should receive eradication therapy. Also, proton pump inhibitor therapy is considered an effective therapy for FD, but no other treatment approach reached a consensus. The long‐term prognosis and life expectancy are favorable. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis and management of FD