Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Evaluation of musculoskeletal complaints, treatment approaches, and patient perceptions in family medicine clinics in a tertiary center in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, such as back pain and joint disorders, are common globally and significantly burden healthcare systems. Family medicine clinics serve as the first point of care, requiring providers to manage diverse MSK issues and address gender-specific differences, especially in regions with limited resources, like the Middle East. This study evaluates MSK management, gender differences, and patient perceptions in Jordanian family medicine clinics, aiming to improve care strategies and outcomes in similar settings. Methods This cross-sectional study included 500 adults with musculoskeletal complaints at a Jordanian teaching hospital (January–June 2024). Data were collected via interviews and records, focusing on patient perceptions and health profiles. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Analysis was conducted in SPSS with p < 0.05 as the significance threshold. Results In our study of 500 patients (mean age 46.1 years, 61.5% female), key gender differences emerged. Females had a higher prevalence of low back pain (61.9% vs. 38.1%, p = 0.024) and hip pain (100%, p = 0.008), as well as greater anxiety about disease progression (62.2% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.045) and fear of disability (64.2% vs. 35.8%, p = 0.048). Females also reported lower mental health (p = 0.036), sleep quality (p = 0.044), and overall quality of life (p = 0.019). In contrast, males showed higher workload (54.4% vs. 45.6%, p = 0.020), more work-related injuries (82.8%, p < 0.001), and greater disability (p = 0.024) with lower functional status (p = 0.041). These findings underscore significant gender-specific needs in MSK care. Conclusion Our study reveals notable gender-based differences in musculoskeletal complaints and treatment experiences in a Jordanian tertiary setting. Females reported higher rates of low back and hip pain, more frequent referrals, and lower quality of life, while males experienced greater occupational strain, work-related injuries, and disability

Impact of structured checklist-based preoperative counseling versus standard counseling on postoperative patient-reported outcomes after elective surgery

Abstract Introduction Surgery, even on an elective-basis, often induces significant stress in patients, characterized by preoperative anxiety and heightened stress levels due to anticipation of the unknown. However, the primary objective of preoperative counseling is to mitigate these concerns, particularly when delivered in a structured and comprehensive manner. While previous research has highlighted the beneficial impact of preoperative counseling on patient-reported outcomes, none have specifically explored the implementation of a structured checklist-based approach during counseling sessions. To bridge this gap in the literature, our study aims to investigate the effects of implementing a checklist-based structured counseling approach on patient-reported outcomes following elective surgery. Methods In this prospective cohort study conducted over one year from January to December 2023, a total of 600 patients undergoing elective surgery across three specialties—orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and urology—were examined. The patients were divided into two groups: an intervention group consisting of 300 patients and a control group with an equal number of patients. The study evaluated three key outcomes—postoperative pain, anxiety, and satisfaction—at three specific time points following surgery: 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Results Patients receiving structured checklist counseling showed significantly lower pain scores (24 h: 6.6 vs. 7.03, p = 0.041; 48 h: 5.62 vs. 6.55, p = 0.029; 72 h: 2.54 vs. 2.90, p = 0.035) and anxiety scores (24 h: 8.58 vs. 9.25, p = 0.039; 48 h: 7.50 vs. 8.45, p = 0.030; 72 h: 4.53 vs. 5.98, p = 0.031), as well as higher satisfaction scores (24 h: 5.99 vs. 5.06, p = 0.043; 48 h: 6.99 vs. 6.02, p = 0.033; 72 h: 9.10 vs. 8.20, p = 0.039) compared to controls. These improvements were consistently significant across all three surgical specialties studied (p < 0.05). Conclusion The structured checklist-based counseling method proves to be effective and essential. This method is associated with reduced postoperative pain and anxiety levels, along with increased patient satisfaction, when compared to the standard approach. Level of evidence Prospective non-randomized study, Level II

The Impact of Maternal Age and Educational Level on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Diagnosis and Screening: A Descriptive Comparative Study

Background. Early and proper screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is very critical to prevent catastrophic complication on the developing hip joint. Many factors (either maternal or child-related) that hinder timely DDH screening have been previously investigated. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted. 175 babies presented for DDH screening coming with their mothers were investigated. Maternal age, age group, and educational level were recorded. In addition, multiple child-related variables such as age of screening, gender, positive family history, preterm delivery, and mode of delivery were recorded as well. Analysis for association between delayed vs. early screening was made against the maternal and the child-related variables. Results. A total number of 175 children with their mothers were investigated. The mean maternal age was 27.9 years, about one third of the mothers had a graduate level of education (36.3%), while 41.1% had high school education, and 22.3% had middle school education. On the other hand, 40.0% of the investigated babies were first born and two thirds of our sample babies were females (66.9%). Of the included babies, 100 (57.1%) were screened at the appropriate 4-month age, while 75 (42.9%) missed the 4-month screening. Chi-square analysis showed that delayed DDH screening was associated with a lower maternal educational level (P ≤ 0.001), younger maternal age (P ≤ 0.001), and first born baby (P ≤ 0.001). Positive family history was protective against delayed DDH screening (P = 0.032). Conclusion. The lower maternal educational level, younger maternal age group, and first born babies are risk factors for delayed DDH screening

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit