Packages of Care for Alcohol Use Disorders in Low- And Middle-Income Countries

In the fourth in a series of six articles on packages of care for mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries, Vivek Benegal and colleagues discuss the treatment of alcohol use disorders

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

Critical analysis of the international classification of headache disorders diagnostic criteria (ICHD I-1988) and (ICHD II-2004), for migraine in children and adolescents

The present study analyzed the (ICHD I-1988) and ( ICHD II-2004) diagnostic criteria in children and adolescents. Our population consisted of 496 patients of the Headache Outpatient Ward for Children and Adolescents retrospectively studied from 1992 to 2002. Individuals were classified according to three diagnostic groups: Intuitive Clinical Diagnosis ( Gold Standard), ICHD I-1988 and ICHD II-2004. They were statistically compared using the variables: Sensitivity ( S), Specificity (Sp), Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV). When ICHD I-1988 was used, the sensitivity of migraine without and with aura was 21% and 27%, respectively, whereas in ICHD II-2004 it changed to 53% and 71% without affecting specificity. As a conclusion, the current classification criteria ( ICHD II-2004) showed greater sensitivity and high specificity for migraine than ICHD I-1988, although it improved migraine diagnosis in children and adolescents, the sensitivity remains poor

Pacientes com alteração da imagem facial: circunstâncias de cuidado Pacientes con alteración de la imagen facial: circunstancias de cuidado Patients with facial image alteration: care circunstances

Estudo qualitativo exploratório que objetivou compreender a percepção dos pacientes com imagem facial alterada em relação ao cuidado e as circunstâncias que podem influenciar no seu significado para esse paciente. Na coleta de dados, realizada entre agosto e outubro de 2008, foi utilizada a entrevista semi-estruturada junto aos pacientes da clínica de cabeça/pescoço internados na unidade cirúrgica do Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. As informações foram interpretadas mediante a análise de conteúdo e evidenciou as categorias: a convivência com as mudanças e circunstâncias de cuidado. Constatou-se o quanto é difícil e sofrido para os pacientes conviverem, com a alteração da imagem dos seus rostos. Percebeu-se que estes necessitam de cuidados que vão além do cuidado profissional, ou seja, aquele cuidado técnico, apoiado no princípio científico, mas também um cuidado pautado nos valores humanos, os quais devem ser sempre discutidos, estudados, respeitados e objeto de compromisso e responsabilidade da enfermagem.<br>Estudio cualitativo exploratorio, que tuvo como objetivo comprender la percepción de los pacientes con imagen facial alterada en relación a la acción del cuidado y circunstancias que pueden influir en su significado para ese paciente. En la colección de datos ocurrió entre agosto y octubre del 2008 con pacientes de la clínica de cabeza/ cuello internados en la unidad quirúrgica del Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Fue utilizado una entrevista semi-estructurada. Las informaciones fueron interpretadas mediante análisis de contenido y mostró las categorías: convivencia con los cambios y las circunstancias del cuidado. Así constatamos cómo es difícil y sufrido para los pacientes que convivan con los cambios generados por la alteración de la imagen de sus rostros. Constatamos que necesitan de cuidados que van más allá del cuidado profesional, ou sea, lo cuidado técnico, sustentado en el principio científico, más también, un cuidado con valores humanos, bien dirigidos, que siempre deber ser discutido, estudiado, y el objeto de respetar el compromiso y la responsabilidad de la enfermería.<br>The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study is to understand how patients with altered facial image perceive care action and the circumstances that may influence their perception. The collection of data was carried out from August to October, 2008, among patients from the head/neck clinic hospitalized in the surgical unit of the University Hospital of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The instrument used was the semi structured interview. The information was analyzed by content analysis and highlighted the following categories: (1) living with the changes and (2) care circumstances. Thus, we observed how difficult and suffering it is for patients to live with their changed facial images. As a result, it was concluded that patients need not only the professional, technical and scientific-based care, but also a care based on carefully guided human values, which should always be discussed, studied, respected and treated as an object of commitment and responsibility by nursing practitioners