On Privacy Protection of Electronic Health Records / 中国医学伦理学

With the continuous advancement of health informatization and the wide application of medical big data, electronic health records came into being and spread rapidly. However, because electronic health records contain a large amount of private information, privacy protection is the primary consideration for the sustainable development of electronic health records. By analyzing the shortcomings of privacy protection of electronic health records in law, technology, management and protection consciousness, this paper put forward some countermeasures, such as perfecting the relevant laws and regulations of privacy protection of electronic health records, improving the technical level, improving the management defects of electronic health records, and cultivating the privacy protection consciousness of professionals and the public, so as to improve the overall privacy protection level of China’s health records information management system and provide effective protection for the privacy information of Chinese residents’ electronic health records.

Pregnant women awareness and attitude on use of patient information leaflets (PILs) in Ado Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Patient information leaflets are valuable documents that inform and guide users, particularly pregnant women, about medication. Thispaper examined pregnant women's awareness and attitude toward the use of patient information leaflets. Thestudy employed a cross-sectional survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting three public comprehensive health centres in the Ado Local Government Area in Ekiti state, Nigeria,for two weekswhileconvenience sampling technique was used in selecting the patients. Participants included 120 pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics during the antenatal meeting days. Data were collected atthe antenatal clinicsusing a questionnaire. Ninety copies of the questionnaire were returned and found useful for the study. The results showed that most of the pregnant women were aware of the patient information leaflets enclosed in medicine packs and the extent of use was encouraging. The pregnant women had a positive attitude to the patient information leaflet. Also, the respondents had a high level of patient information leaflet use. Reading difficulty (=2.91) was one of the biggest challenges for pregnant women when going through the patient information leaflets. The study also found that pregnant women's awareness and attitudes influenced their use of patient information leaflets. Among other things, it was recommended that health information professionals collaborate with healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies to ensure the accuracy, readability and cultural appropriateness of patient information leaflets for pregnant women.

Predictors of weight reduction in a Nigerian family practice setting

Objectives: This study identified the predictors of weight reduction among adult obese patients in a Family Practice Setting and developed a statistical model to predict weight reduction. Design: A prospective cohort design. Setting: The Family Practice Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Participants and study tools: Obese adults were recruited into a three-month weight reduction program. Patient Information Leaflets were used for counselling, while questionnaires were administered to obtain socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Potential predictors were assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Zung Depression Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, Garner's Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), 24-hour dietary recall and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure and Fasting Lipid Profile were assessed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis with a significance set at α0.05. Results: Most 99(76.2%) of the 130 participants achieved weight reduction and had a median weight change of -2.3kg (IQR-4, -0.5), with 66 (66.7%) out of 99 attaining the weight reduction target of 10%. The regression model showed predictors of weight reduction to be Total Cholesterol [TC] (p=0.01) and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol [LDLC] (p=0.03). The statistical model derived for Weight reduction = 0.0028 (LDL-C) -0.029 (TC)-0.053 (EAT-26) +0.041(High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol). The proportion of variance of the model tested was R 2 = 0.3928 (adjusted R2 = 0.2106). Conclusion: Predictors of weight reduction among patients were eating attitude score, Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipid and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol levels. A statistical model was developed for managing obesity among patients

Investigation of the Description of Important Identified Risks and Important Potential Risks in Risk Management Plan in Patient Information Materials / 医薬品情報学

Objective: The Risk Minimization Plan is developed in the Risk Management Plan (RMP), patient information materials are sometimes prepared as Additional Risk Minimization Activities (ARMA). On the other hand, there are many patient information materials that are not prepared as RMP materials, but are prepared independently by pharmaceutical companies and are actually used to provide information to patients. However, there is no detailed report on the differences between them. Therefore, in this report, we investigated for description of Important Identified Risks (IIRs) and Important Potential Risks (IPRs) in patient information materials.Methods: The previously published RMP of 588 drugs were obtained on October 1,2020, and used in analysis. We surveyed the description of IIRs and IPRs in patient information materials, and compared patient information materials based on ARMA in the RMP (patient information materials as RMP materials) and patient information materials developed independently by pharmaceutical companies that are not based on ARMA in the RMP (patient information materials as not RMP materials).Results: Of the 588 drugs, 454 drugs had patient information materials. In addition, 241 drugs had patient information materials as RMP materials. One thousand fifteen of the 1,577 IIRs were listed in the patient information materials as RMP materials (64.4%listing rate). One hundred sixty-six of the 724 IPRs were listed in the patient information materials as RMP materials (22.9%). On the other hand, 700 of the 1,131 IIRs were listed in the patient information materials as not RMP materials (61.9% listing rate). Ninty one of the 447 IPRs were listed in the patient information materials as not RMP materials (20.4%).Conclusion: It was found that there was no difference in the description of IIRs and IPRs between patient information materials as RMP materials and patient information materials as not RMP materials.

"De mão-em-mão tramando redes e normas: a vida social das pílulas anticoncepcionais, a partir de suas bulas" / "From hand to hand plotting networks and norms: The social life of contraceptive pills through their patient information leaflet "

Resumo Com o objetivo de descortinar aspectos da vida social das pílulas anticoncepcionais, o artigo analisou o conteúdo de suas bulas publicados no guia de medicamentos Dicionário de Especialidades Farmacêuticas (DEF), entre 1971 e 1990. Procuramos explorar os discursos veiculados nesses dispositivos - a quem se dirigiam, o que propunham e que efeitos pretendiam - e compreender como contribuíram e o que nos revelaram sobre o seu percurso biográfico. As bulas se comportaram como importantes veículos de intercomunicação entre os atores que participaram da trajetória desses medicamentos, desde sua produção pela da indústria farmacêutica, até chegarem às suas consumidoras finais, as mulheres, passando também por médicos, enfermeiros, farmacêuticos, donos e balconistas de farmácias e transitando entre consultórios, serviços de saúde, entidades de planejamento familiar, estabelecimentos comerciais, lares e bolsas femininas. Nessa enorme cadeia de associações produzidas pelas pílulas, as bulas contribuíram para a geração de um mínimo denominador comum que permitiu a normalização e naturalização das práticas de controle da fecundidade hormonal e para a formação do mercado - não só no sentido econômico, mas em sentido sociológico, como redes de interações e trocas, onde circularam bens que agregaram a um só tempo valores econômicos, simbólicos e normativos.

Abstract In order to uncover aspects of social life of pharmaceutical pills and based on the theoretical-methodological perspective of the drugs biography, this paper analyzes the instructions of their leaflets, published in the Dictionary of Pharmaceutical Specialties (DEF), between 1971 and 1990. It seeks to explore the speeches conveyed in papers that accompanied the packaging of the "medicine pill" - to whom they were headed, what they proposed and what social effects they intended - and to understand their participation in the set of associations that allowed the stabilization of oral contraceptives in Brazil. Leaving the pharmaceutical laboratories, the patient information leaflet transited among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, owners and shopkeepers of pharmacies and women, passing from hand to hand, in offices, health services family planning entities, pharmacy counters, medical departments of companies, households and women's bag. They were the important intercommunication vehicles between these actors and in the big chain of associations produced by contraceptive pills, the patient information leaflets contributed to a minimum common denominator that allowed to return a normal and natural control practices of hormone-mediated fecundity and the formation of the fertility control pill market, where goods were giving movement to add economic, symbolic and normative values at the same time.

What does the Internet teach the obstetric patient about labor analgesia? / O que a internet ensina à paciente obstétrica sobre a analgesia de parto?

Abstract Background and objectives: It has been observed a general public increased search on the Internet for health information, including Anesthesiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the information available to the lay person in Portuguese on the Internet about labor analgesia for the Brazilian population. Method: Using the term "labor anesthesia", the first 20 sites found on Google in November 2014 were evaluated by two resident physicians and classified as medical and non-medical. Legibility and Design - accessibility, reliability and navigability-were compared using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRESH) and Minervation validation tool for healthcare websites (LIDA) tools. The websites' content was confronted with that of the medical literature. Results: Medical and non-medical websites were considered difficult to read according to FRESH. Regarding the design, there was no difference between groups regarding navigability, however, accessibility was considered superior in non-medical websites (p = 0.042); while reliability was higher in medical websites (p = 0.019). Conclusions: With the increased search for health information on the Internet and concern about improving the quality of childbirth care, it is fundamental that the content available to the layperson about labor analgesia is of quality and well understood. This study demonstrated that both medical and non-medical websites are difficult to read and that non-medical websites are more accessible while the medical ones are more accurate.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: Observa-se um crescimento da busca de informação no público geral sobre temas médicos na internet, inclusive em anestesiologia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a informação existente ao leigo na internet em língua portuguesa sobre analgesia de parto para a população brasileira. Método: Com o uso do termo "anestesia de parto", os 20 primeiros sites encontrados no Google em novembro de 2014 foram avaliados por dois médicos residentes e classificados como médicos e não médicos. Legibilidade e desenho - acessibilidade, confiabilidade e navegabilidade - foram comparados por meio das ferramentas Fresh (Flesch Reading Ease Score) e Lida (Minervation Validation Tool for Healthcare Websites). O conteúdo dos sites foi confrontado em relação à literatura médica. Resultados: Sites médicos e não médicos foram considerados de difícil leitura de acordo com o Fresh. Em relação ao desenho, não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à navegabilidade. Entretanto, a acessibilidade foi considerada superior em sites não médicos (p= 0,042); enquanto que a confiabilidade foi maior em sites médicos (p= 0,019). Conclusões: Com aumento da busca de informações em saúde na internet e aumento da preocupação de melhorar a qualidade de assistência ao parto, é fundamental que o conteúdo disponível ao leigo sobre analgesia de parto seja de qualidade e compreendido. Este estudo demonstrou que tanto sites médicos como não médicos são de difícil leitura; e que os sites não médicos são mais acessíveis, enquanto os médicos são mais precisos.

Knowledge and Practice of Dental Practitioners Regarding Patient's Personal Information / 치위생과학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge awareness, and performance of dentist and dental staff regarding protection of patient's personal information. In addition, this research was conducted to highlight the importance of protection of patient's personal information and provide a guideline for establishing measures in this regard. A survey was conducted on 506 dentists or dental staff working in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces. The data was analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, χ2, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Scheffe test, using the PASW Statistics ver. 18.0 program. We found that the participants' knowledge and perception of the protection of patient's personal information were relatively low compared to those of other professionals. Such knowledge and perception were especially and significantly low in dental hygienists. In addition, a high level of knowledge and awareness showed a positive correlation with the extent of performance. Therefore, it is important that dentists and dental staff are aware of issues regarding the protection of patients' personal information. For this purpose, educational and training programs on such issues appear essential.

Developing and Evaluating a Drug Information Leaflet of Antidiabetics for Senior Citizens; Employing Performance-based User-testing

OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to develop a drug information leaflet for the elderly and to evaluate it with performance-based user-testing. METHODS: We performed a stratified randomized controlled trial. We recruited 62 elderly patients with age of 65 or above who were taking antidiabetic medications at the point of participating and excluded those who suffered illiteracy. We randomly allocated them into the intervention group with a leaflet for the elderly and the control group with a leaflet for the general public. Main outcome measures were to ‘be able to find information’ and to ‘be able to understand information.’ We measured outcome variables by employing performance-based user-testing and analyzed data to find any differences between two groups with t-tests, chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact tests accordingly. RESULTS: More participants in the intervention group understood how to store their medications than those in the control group (intervention group 93% vs. control group 70%; p=0.02). There were no significant differences in other information items between two groups. Mostly ‘being able to understand information’ was lower than ‘being able to find information.’ The gaps between two outcome variables were about 10% in the intervention group and about 18% in the control group. The lowest understanding was observed in information relating to drug names and their potential adverse events. CONCLUSION: Without providing personalized drug information, it might be hard for the elderly to improve their drug knowledge even with leaflets that were developed specifically for the elderly.

The application effect of using utility model patient information sign in pediatric surgical ward / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore the practical new type of patient information sign on the application effect of pediatric surgical ward. Methods Divided 200 cases of patients in our department into the control group and the observation group according to random number table, there were 100 cases in each group. The control group and the observation group in A and B ward respectively, A ward (control group) used the traditional end of the bed, B ward (observation group) used the new information sign. The incidence rate of adverse events, patients′ families health mission efficiently, satisfaction of patients or medical staff were compared between the groups. Results The incidence rate of adverse events in the observation group was significantly lower than that of in the control group [1%(1/100) vs 8%(8/100),χ2=5.701, P < 0.05]. The effectiveness of health education, satisfaction of patients or medical staff and patients′families to health mission satisfaction in the observation group were significantly higher than that of in the control group [91% (91/100) vs 79% (79/100), 97% (97/100)vs 84% (84/100), 98% (98/100)vs 86% (86/100),the value of χ2 was 5.647,9.828 and 9.783 respectively, P < 0.05)]. Conclusions This new utility model patient information sign by the clinical application effect is satisfied, the head of a bed, cue CARDS unification and standardization of management, and reduced the occurrence of nursing adverse events, which can effectively improve the continuity of care services, the effectiveness of health education and medical, nursing, and satisfaction. Should be used widely in clinical.

Readability of Patient Information Leaflets in Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND: Elements of informed consent including capacity, disclosure, understanding, voluntariness, and permission of the participant, are all crucial for clinical trials to be legally and ethically valid. During the informed consent process, the patient information leaflet is an important information source which prospective research subjects can utilize in their decision-making. In the adequate provision of information, KGCP guideline necessitate 20 specific items, as well as the use language that individuals can understand. This study measures the vocabulary level of patient information leaflets in an effort to provide an objective evaluation on the readability of such material. METHODS: The word difficulty of 13 leaflets was quantitatively evaluated using Kim kwang Hae's vocabulary grading framework, which was compared to the difficulty level of words found in the 6th grade Korean textbook. The quantitative outcomes were statistically analyzed using chi-squared tests and linear by linear association for ordinal data. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the vocabulary level and frequency of words in leaflets and the 6th Korean textbook. The leaflets were on average 260 sentences and about roughly 15 pages long, including lay language (easier or equal to language used in primary school) of around 12% less; technical language of around 4.5% more. As the vocabulary grades increase, there was a distinct difference in vocabulary level between Korean textbook and each information leaflet (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patient information leaflets may fail to provide appropriate information for self-determination by clinical trial subject through the difficulty level of its wording. Improvements in the degree of patients' understanding and appropriate use of information leaflets are collaboratively equipped to strengthen patient's autonomy and therefore guaranteeing participant's rights.

Developing a Drug Information Leaflet of Antihypertensives for Senior Citizens; Employing Performance-based User-testing

OBJECTIVE: Written information could be helpful for senior population to adhere to complex medication therapies, but must be well prepared and empirically assessed to achieve such end. We purposed to develop a drug information leaflet for senior citizens by applying 'performance-based user-testing.' METHODS: We employed a user-testing, a mixed method to figure difficulties out with patients' leaflets from the user perspective. The cycle made of test and revision can be repeated as necessary. We recruited senior citizens with age of 65 or above who were taking antihypertensive medications at the point of participating and excluded the elderly who suffered illiteracy. We firstly rectified a drug information leaflet of antihypertensive medications for the general public distributed by the Korean authority based on focus group interviews (9 participants). The revised leaflets were tested four times with 8~12 participants in each round (40 seniors in total). We targeted to develop a leaflet which more than 80% of participants understood 10 key information. Main outcomes measures were to be able to find information and be able to understand information. This study was approved by the Yeungnam University Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Focus group interviews identified difficulties with small font of words, professional language, long information, and a poor structure. The leaflet was revised and in the first round questionnaire found problems with 4/10 information points; interviews disclosed all but one (normal blood pressure range) were ill-understood. The second round questionnaire and interview found fewer problems but the comprehensiveness of participants was still poor in several points. For the third and fourth rounds we revised the leaflets in the individual-targeted manner. Finally, the fourth round showed all key information found and understood by at least 80% of participants except one question about drug name. CONCLUSION: The drug leaflets need to be developed in a personalized mode for the seniors. There was a limit for Korean seniors to understand nonproprietary name of their drugs because they used to producers' trade names which the Korean health system predominantly works with.

Reliability of “Google” for obtaining medical information.

Internet is used by many patients to obtain relevant medical information. We assessed the impact of “Google” search on the knowledge of the parents whose ward suffered from squint. In 21 consecutive patients, the “Google” search improved the mean score of the correct answers from 47% to 62%. We found that “Google” search was useful and reliable source of information for the patients with regards to the disease etiopathogenesis and the problems caused by the disease. The internet‑based information, however, was incomplete and not reliable with regards to the disease treatment.

Preference of patient information leaflets over standard drug monographs by patients prescribed hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine and enalapril / Preferencia por los prospectos de información al paciente en lugar de las monografías estándar sobre medicamentos, por parte de los pacientes a quienes se les ha prescrito hidroclorotiazida, nifedipina y analapril

Standard drug monographs (SDMs) have been described as deficient in providing information in a manner simplified enough for patient reading. The aim of this study was to design patient information leaflets for hydrochlorothiazide, nifedipine and enalapril with content indicated by patients as relevant and to evaluate them against the SDM. Patient information leaflet (PIL) for each drug was designed to contain information on name, use of drug, how it works, how it is to be taken, common side effects, storage, missed dose action, things to avoid and when to contact the physician. Appropriateness was assessed by 10 practising pharmacists. For each drug, 40 patients were recruited, of which 20 were given SDM and 20 PIL. The knowledge of each participant was examined before and after exposure to SDM or PIL, as well as opinion on ease of reading and attractiveness using Pearson's Chi-square analysis. The results showed that both SDM and PIL improved knowledge of common side effects when compared with responses before exposure (χ² = 24.26for SDM and 27.64 for PIL, p < 0.001) with no difference between the groups. Respondents receiving PILs were better able to recall "things to avoid" after exposure to PIL (χ² =10.85, p < 0.001). After exposure to SDM or PIL, the respondents who received PIL were more aware of when to contact the physician, compared to the SDM group (χ² = 8.41, p < 0.01). When compared with SDM, respondents receiving PIL were more likely to indicate that PIL was easy to read (χ² = 20.00, p < 0.001), attractive (χ² = 12.45, p < 0.001) and they were more likely to recommend distribution of their reading material to other patients (χ² = 22.11, p < 0.001). We conclude that there is benefit in designing information leaflets that simplify language and medication information contained in SDMs, including better understanding of precautions to take while on medication and when to consult physicians.

Las monografías de medicamentos estandarizadas se han considerado deficientes a la hora de proporcionar información de manera suficientemente simple para que el paciente pueda entenderlas. El objetivo de este estudio fue disenar prospectos con información sobre la hidroclorotiazida, la nifedipina y el analapril con contenidos indicados como relevantes por los pacientes, y evaluarlos en comparación con las monografías estandarizadas de medicamentos (MEM). El prospecto de información para el paciente (PIP) fue disenado de modo que apareciera información sobre el nombre del medicamento, su uso, modo de operar, manera de tomarse, efectos secundarios comunes, almacenamiento, qué hacer en caso de perder una dosis, cosas que deben evitarse, y cuando debe contactarse el médico. Se evaluó la adecuación por parte de 10 farmacéuticos practicantes. Para cada medicamento, se reclutaron 40 pacientes, a 20 de los cuales se les dio monografías (MEM), en tanto que a 20 se les ofreció prospectos (PIP). El conocimiento de cada participante se examinó antes y después de la exposición a MEM o PIP, así como la opinión en cuanto a facilidad de lectura y grado de atracción, usando el análisis del Chi-cuadrado de Pearson. Los resultados mostraron que tanto MEM como PIP mejoraron el conocimiento sobre los efectos secundarios comunes, cuando se hacía una comparación con las respuestas antes de la exposición (χ² = 24.26para MEMy 27.64para PIP, p < 0.001) sin diferencia entre los grupos. Los encuestados que recibieron prospectos pudieron recordar mejor las "cosas a evitar" luego de la exposición a PIP (χ² =10.85, p < 0.001). Después de la exposición a MEM o PIP, los encuestados con PIP tenían mayor conciencia en cuanto a cuando contactar a un médico, en comparación con el grupo MEM (χ² = 8.41, p < 0.01). Cuando se les comparó con el grupo MEM, los encuestados que recibieron PIP mostraron por una parte mayor probabilidad de indicar que PIP era más fácil de leer (χ² = 20.00, p < 0.001) y atractivo (χ² = 12.45, p < 0.001), y por otra, una mayor tendencia a recomendar la distribución de su material de lectura a otros pacientes (χ² = 22.11, p < 0.001). Se llegó a la conclusión de que es beneficioso disenar prospectos que simplifiquen el lenguajey la información médica contenida en las monografias estándar del medicamento, incluyendo una mejor comprensión de las precauciones a tomar mientras se está bajo medicación, y sobre cuándo consultar al médico.

Improving patient satisfaction with the doctor-patient information exchange platform / 中华医院管理杂志

The paper described the necessity of the doctor-patient information exchange platform,and defects found in existing platforms. Such a platform is conducive to higher hospital informationization, better patient satisfaction, and better social and economic benefits of the hospital.The hospital may improve its quality of care and patient satisfaction by means of the platform

Quality and patient safety in anesthesia service: Thai survey.

Background: The Royal College of Anesthesiologists of Thailand (RCAT) performed large-scale epidemiologic study of anesthesia-related complications and national incidents study in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Objectives: Evaluate the anesthesia service in Thailand with regard to status of quality and patient safety. Material and methods: A pre-planned structured questionnaire regarding demographic, administrative, preanesthetic, intraoperative postanesthetic variables and complications were requested to be filled in by nurse anesthetists attending the refresher course lecture of RCAT in February 2008. Descriptive statistics was used. Results: Three hundred fifty questionnaires were given and 341 respondents (97%) returned the questionnaires. Most of the respondents (90%) worked in government section. Thirty percent of respondents practiced in hospital without medical doctor anesthesiologist and 58% of nurse anesthetists worked in hospitals that have been accredited. Forty-six percent of respondents reported unavailability of a 24-hour recovery room. The questionnaires revealed of inadequacy of anesthesia personnel (64%), inadequate supervision during emergency condition (53%), inadequacy of patient information regarding anesthesia (57-69%), and low opportunity for patient to choose choice of anesthesia (19%). The commonly used monitoring were pulse oximeter (92% of respondents) and electrocardiography (63%). One-third (32%) of respondents had to provide of anesthesia for patients with insufficient NPO (non per oral) time. Common problems that the respondents experienced were miscommunication (49%), intraoperative cardiac arrest during the past year (35%), error related to infusion pump (24%) and medication error (8%). Fifty-five percent of respondents had to monitor at least one patient per month receiving spinal anesthesia. Conclusion: Suggested strategies for quality and patient safety improvement in anesthesia service are increasing personnel, increasing 24-hour recovery room, improvement of supervision, improvement of communication, compliance to guidelines and improvement of nurse anesthetist’s training regarding monitoring patient receiving spinal anesthesia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Evaluation of information provided to patients' relatives in an ambulatory pediatrics unit of a tertiary-care hospital

Background: There is a high degree of misinformation given to the relatives of patients treated in the Ambulatory Pediatrics Unit at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. The factors that contribute to this problem are diverse. Therefore, the practice implications as inadequacies in physician/patient communication lead to poor knowledge about a patient's illness and treatment. Attempts to improve the delivery of information may improve patient satisfaction and treatment compliance. The aim of this study was to quantify the percentage of patients' relatives who know the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the patient's principal illness. Methods: Using a face-validated questionnaire designed by the investigators, we inquired into the extent of information about the illness and treatment given to the relatives of patients attending the Ambulatory Pediatrics Unit at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Results: Only 81, 75, and 68% of the participants were able to name the patient's illness, the affected organ, and the prognosis, respectively. The therapeutic drugs were correctly named by 85% of the participants. Only 72% of the relatives of patients who previously underwent surgery knew the name of the surgical procedure and 66% were able to briefly describe the procedure. Conclusions: This study shows that communication between parents and pediatricians is limited. The implementation of new measures adapted to the individual case of each institution can contribute to improve the situation.

Readability of Patient Information on Hypertension in Korea

BACKGINFORMAROUND: Patient education is an important component of family practice. Pamphlets and the websites have been one of the most common resources for patient education. Patient information has been assessed using criteria with marks allocated for its content, design, readability. Up to present there have been studies on content, design but not readability. The WHO identifies readability as an essential tool for people to increase control over their health. Therefore, patient information should be assessed readability. The objective of our study was to assess patient information leaflets and the websites on hypertension to determine the readability of information currently available to patients. METHODS: Ten leaflets were reviewed, five form the internet and five from other sources. A total of ten subjects were assessed for readability using 'grading system of vocabulary' presented by the Academy of Korea Education in 2002. RESULTS: In five leaflets, about 41.3% vocabularies were comprised of 1st and 2nd grade. The portion of vocabularies in higher grade than 4th was 35%. In the five websites, 41.3% vocabularies in 1st and 2nd grade were used. The mean reading level (calculated with weight) was 2.057 for the five leaflets and 2.050 for the five websites. These results indicated that the leaflets were easier to read than websites. But, both of them were not comprehensible to the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: All 10 patient information materials for hypertension were at higher readability level than high school level. As recommended levels of readability were lower than 2nd grade, educational materials need to be modified to meet the information needs for the people with low reading skills.

Readability of Patient Information on Hypertension in Korea

BACKGINFORMAROUND: Patient education is an important component of family practice. Pamphlets and the websites have been one of the most common resources for patient education. Patient information has been assessed using criteria with marks allocated for its content, design, readability. Up to present there have been studies on content, design but not readability. The WHO identifies readability as an essential tool for people to increase control over their health. Therefore, patient information should be assessed readability. The objective of our study was to assess patient information leaflets and the websites on hypertension to determine the readability of information currently available to patients. METHODS: Ten leaflets were reviewed, five form the internet and five from other sources. A total of ten subjects were assessed for readability using 'grading system of vocabulary' presented by the Academy of Korea Education in 2002. RESULTS: In five leaflets, about 41.3% vocabularies were comprised of 1st and 2nd grade. The portion of vocabularies in higher grade than 4th was 35%. In the five websites, 41.3% vocabularies in 1st and 2nd grade were used. The mean reading level (calculated with weight) was 2.057 for the five leaflets and 2.050 for the five websites. These results indicated that the leaflets were easier to read than websites. But, both of them were not comprehensible to the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: All 10 patient information materials for hypertension were at higher readability level than high school level. As recommended levels of readability were lower than 2nd grade, educational materials need to be modified to meet the information needs for the people with low reading skills.

Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies Using Claims Data : Possibilities and Limitations / 薬剤疫学

As the Japanese health insurance system is reimbursed on a fee-for-service basis, the claims data are useful sources for quantitative analysis on practice and prescription patterns as well as the health care resource use. However, the claims database has limitations such as incomplete description of the patients' condition and severity, and the lack of prescription data for low-priced drugs.<BR>For use in pharmacoepidemiologic studies, patient information from medical charts, prescription forms, and/or hospital information systems may need to be included to compensate for the limitations of the claims data.

A Study on the Factors Related to the Readmission and Ambulatory Visit in an University Hospital: Using Patient Care Information DB / 대한의료정보학회지

To identify the factors related to the readmission and ambulatory visit we analyzed the data in discharge abstract DB(DADB) and outpatient database(OPDB) for 19,983 patients discharged in 1990 from an university hospital(S Hospital) in Seoul. The target patients were limited to those who didn' t have previous episode of discharge in that hospital. Readmission data for 10 years(1990-1999) and ambulatory visit data for 5 years(1995-1999) were analyzed by using x2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis. The main results of this study is as follows. 1) As the number of readmission was increased, readmission rate(RR) was also increased while the average length of stay(ALOS) was decreased. 2) RR was higher in male, transferred from other health care facilities, with consultation, biopsy, ICU care episode during hospitalization. 3) In logistic regression, RR of patients living close to S Hospital hospital was higher than the others wh?n other variables were adjusted. 4) RR of the patients with the diagnosis(Dx) of cancer or cancer related condition was the highest(47.6%), and the consistency rate (CR) of principal Dx group with that of previous admission was also the highest in cancer patients. As the number of readmission was increased the CR of Dx group was also increased. 5) 23.4%(4866) of the target patients had episode of visiting outpatient dispensary(OPD) for between 1995-1999 and the average number of visit was 13.6 times. Patients with the Dx of heart disease showed the highest proportion in ambulatory visit.