ABSTRACT
Objective@#This study reported the demographic profile, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of retinoblastoma (RB) patients seen at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRRMMC) from January 2011 to December 2020.@*Methods@#This was a single-center, retrospective study. Medical records of patients diagnosed with RB at JRRMMC from January 2011 to December 2020 were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the participants.@*Results@#A total of 31 confirmed RB cases were seen, with almost half residing outside Metro Manila (52%). The median age at diagnosis was 2 years, with a slight male predominance (55%). Majority (81%) of patients had unilateral presentation, with leukocoria as the most common sign (19%) prompting consult. Nearly half (43%) of 37 eyes were diagnosed as Group E using the International Classification of Retinoblastoma (ICRB) system. Majority were in the advanced stage; 57% of eyes underwent enucleation and 29, 3 and 3% of patients required additional treatments such as chemotherapy, laser, and radiotherapy, respectively. RB was confirmed in 20 eyes (54%) through histopathology. Survival outcomes showed that 4 patients (13%) were alive, with either completed or ongoing treatment, and 19 (61%) did not complete prescribed management or were lost to follow-up. There were 8 (26%) known deaths.@*Conclusion@#Majority of cases were unilateral and at an advanced stage needing enucleation which may indicate low levels of awareness and screening efforts. Survival rates are difficult to ascertain due to patients abandoning treatment that may be attributed to limited social service support. The study reflects the 10-year data prior to the establishment of a collaborative, multispecialty RB team in the institution and exposes various areas that need to be addressed to improve clinical outcomes.
Subject(s)
Retinoblastoma , Drug Therapy , EpidemiologyABSTRACT
Background: These Diseases are chronic and often have complex pathologies which lead to polypharmacy and causes unwanted adverse drug reaction (ADRs). We conducted this study at Respiratory Medicine Department of Gandhi Medical College and associated Hamidia Hospitals, Bhopal. Aim and Objective: The objectives of the study were (i) to monitor and assess ADRs in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, Bronchiectasis; and (ii) to assess causality of the ADR using WHO-UMC causality assessment system and Naranjo’s ADR probability scale. Materials and Methods: The present study indicates the pattern and spectrum of ADRs due to drugs used in the treatment of COPD, Asthma, Bronchiectasis. 159 patients from Respiratory Medicine, Gandhi Medical College receiving chemotherapy were enrolled in study after written informed consent of patients. Approval was obtained from institutional ethics committee. It was cross-sectional, observational study. Prescriptions were analyzed for number of drugs prescribed using a predesigned format. Any ADR observed by patient or treating physician was noted and causality was assessed by Naranjo’s algorithm and WHO-UMC scale. Results: In our study, most important causative drug was Budesonide (12.3%). Causality assessment of ADR by Naranjo’s algorithm showed 22% probable and 78% possible reactions. According to WHO-UMC scale, 81% reactions are possible, 17% are probable, and 2% are unlikely. Conclusion: To minimize this high incidence of ADRs dose individualization and therapeutic monitoring of medicine is important. In clinical practice, special precautions while prescribing these drugs with well-known potential for causing ADRs, early detection and appropriate intervention are required. This may greatly contribute to reduce the incidence, frequency, severity, morbidity, and possible mortality.
ABSTRACT
@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives:</strong> The purpose of the study is to determine the level of rationing of nursing care and its relationship to nurses' perception of their practice environment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional study design. The Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care (BERNCA) was administered to assess the level of care rationing while the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) was used to describe nurses' practice environment. A total of 147 nurses participated in the study. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of various respondent characteristics and nurse practice environment on care rationing.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> Only practice environment total score was significantly associated with rationing of care total scores (B = -0.20, p < 0.05). Results of the regression show that for every unit increase in nurse practice environment total score, indicating a better work environment, there is a 0.20 unit decrease in rationing of nursing care total score, which indicated less rationing of care. Respondent characteristics are not significantly related.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Nurses most frequently rationed tasks in the areas of caring/support and monitoring. The less frequently rationed tasks involved medical, technical, and therapeutic aspects of care. The identification of rationing predictors can aid in determining starting points for hospital policy reforms. Prevalence levels can indicate when care rationing exceeds identified thresholds, if any. Nursing administrators can use implicit rationing of nursing care as a crucial indicator of the impact of strategies and changes in the nurse practice environment (e.g., changes in staffing levels, skill mix, and other resources).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key Words:</strong> Health Care Rationing, Health Facility Environment, Nursing Care</p>