Association between cancer fatalism and optimistic attitudes in colorectal cancer patients and the moderating effects / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the association between cancer fatalism and optimistic attitudes among colorectal cancer patients, and how the above linkage is moderated by the involvement of patients′ opinions, the family members′ opinions and the physicians′ opinions in treatment decision-making.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 64 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and awaiting radical colorectal cancer surgery in the Department of General Surgery of Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, from January 2021 to December 2021. There were 38 males and 26 females, aged (61.2±13.0) years from 30 to 84 years. Cancer fatalism, optimism attitudes, and the involvement of patients′ opinions, the family members′ opinions and the physicians′ opinions in treatment decision-making were assessed. The patients′ cancer fatalism beliefs were measured by the " Chance" subscale of the Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC-C), optimism attitudes were assessed by the Chinese version of the revised Life Orientation Test (CLOT-R), and the influence of patients′, family members′, and physicians′ opinions in the medical decision-making process was measured by a self-designed single factor scale. Measurement data of normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s). Measurement data of skewed distribution were expressed as M( Q1, Q3). Spearman correlation analysis and Chi-square test was used to examine the association between the main outcome variable (patients′ optimistic attitudes) and demographic and clinical characteristics. Interaction was examined by hierarchical linear regression analysis combined with simple slope tests. Results:Cancer fatalism was negatively associated with patients′ optimistic attitudes ( r=-0.35, P<0.01). Optimistic attitude of patients was significantly and negatively correlated with the influence of family members′ opinions on medical decision-making ( r=-0.25, P<0.05). There were significant positive correlations between the influence of patients′ and family members′ opinions ( r=0.50, P<0.01), family members′ and physicians′ opinions ( r=0.67, P<0.01), and physicians′ and patients′ opinions ( r=0.38, P<0.01) in medical decision making. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed a negative association between cancer fatalism and optimism ( β=-0.32, P=0.01). This association was further moderated by the involvement of family members′ opinions ( β=-0.56, P<0.01) and the involvement of physicians′ opinions ( β=-0.36, P=0.04) in medical decision-making. Simple slope tests revealed that the negative impact of fatalistic attitudes on patients′ optimism attitudes may be potentiated when family members′ opinions have high influence on medical decision-making, while the negative impact may be buffered to some extent when physicians′ opinions have high influence on medical decision-making. Conclusions:Cancer fatalism had a negative effect on patients′ optimism. The high influence of physicians in treatment decision-making buffered the negative effect of cancer fatalism on optimism; the high influence of family members in treatment decision-making potentiated the negative effect of cancer fatalism on optimism. In the process of doctor-patient communication and shared decision-making, for patients with strong fatalistic attitudes, consideration should be given to appropriately increasing direct informational communication between physicians and patients and reducing excessive family intervention in medical decision-making, so as to enhance patients′ autonomy for treatment, promote optimism, and reduce the negative effects of cancer fatalism.

Comparison of Open-Source Electronic Health Record Systems Based on Functional and User Performance Criteria / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Open-source Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems have gained importance. The main aim of our research is to guide organizational choice by comparing the features, functionality, and user-facing system performance of the five most popular open-source EHR systems. METHODS: We performed qualitative content analysis with a directed approach on recently published literature (2012–2017) to develop an integrated set of criteria to compare the EHR systems. The functional criteria are an integration of the literature, meaningful use criteria, and the Institute of Medicine's functional requirements of EHR, whereas the user-facing system performance is based on the time required to perform basic tasks within the EHR system. RESULTS: Based on the Alexa web ranking and Google Trends, the five most popular EHR systems at the time of our study were OSHERA VistA, GNU Health, the Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS), Open Electronic Medical Record (OpenEMR), and OpenEHR. We also found the trends in popularity of the EHR systems and the locations where they were more popular than others. OpenEMR met all the 32 functional criteria, OSHERA VistA met 28, OpenMRS met 12 fully and 11 partially, OpenEHR-based EHR met 10 fully and 3 partially, and GNU Health met the least with only 10 criteria fully and 2 partially. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our functional criteria, OpenEMR is the most promising EHR system, closely followed by VistA. With regards to user-facing system performance, OpenMRS has superior performance in comparison to OpenEMR.

Um sistema eletrônico de alerta ajuda a reduzir o tempo para diagnóstico de sepse / An electronic warning system helps reduce the time to diagnosis of sepsis

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever os efeitos de melhorias sucessivas nos sistemas de alerta precoce para identificação de pacientes com sepse, no que se refere ao tempo até o diagnóstico, à administração de antibióticos e à mortalidade. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional de coorte, que descreve as sucessivas melhorias implantadas em um período de 10 anos no sistema de alerta precoce para detecção de sepse, incluindo vigilância ativa manual sistemática, alertas eletrônicos via telefonista, e alertas enviados diretamente a dispositivos móveis da enfermagem. Para todos os períodos, após o desencadeamento do alerta, o tratamento foi realizado segundo as diretrizes institucionais para sepse. Resultados: Durante estes anos, detectaram-se 637 pacientes com sepse. O tempo mediano entre a triagem e o diagnóstico foi reduzido de 19:20 (9:10 - 38:15) horas para 12:40 (2:50 - 23:45) horas quando se utilizou o método manual de vigilância (p = 0,14), para 2:10 (1:25 - 2:20) horas quando o alerta foi enviado automaticamente ao serviço telefônico do hospital (p = 0,014) e para 1:00 (0:30 - 1:10) horas quando o alerta foi enviado diretamente ao telefone celular da enfermagem (p = 0,02), com manutenção de valores similares nos anos que se seguiram. Não houve diferença no tempo até o tratamento em relação aos pacientes sobreviventes e não sobreviventes. Conclusão: Sistemas eletrônicos auxiliam na redução do tempo entre a triagem e o diagnóstico e entre o diagnóstico e o início da antibioticoterapia em pacientes com sepse.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the improvements of an early warning system for the identification of septic patients on the time to diagnosis, antibiotic delivery, and mortality. Methods: This was an observational cohort study that describes the successive improvements made over a period of 10 years using an early warning system to detect sepsis, including systematic active manual surveillance, electronic alerts via a telephonist, and alerts sent directly to the mobile devices of nurses. For all periods, after an alert was triggered, early treatment was instituted according to the institutional sepsis guidelines. Results: In total, 637 patients with sepsis were detected over the study period. The median triage-to-diagnosis time was reduced from 19:20 (9:10 - 38:15) hours to 12:40 (2:50 - 23:45) hours when the manual surveillance method was used (p = 0.14), to 2:10 (1:25 - 2:20) hours when the alert was sent automatically to the hospital telephone service (p = 0.014), and to 1:00 (0:30 - 1:10) hour when the alert was sent directly to the nurse's mobile phone (p = 0.016). The diagnosis-to-antibiotic time was reduced to 1:00 (0:55 - 1:30) hours when the alert was sent to the telephonist and to 0:45 (0:30 - 1:00) minutes when the alert was sent directly to the nurse's mobile phone (p = 0.02), with the maintenance of similar values over the following years. There was no difference in the time of treatment between survivors and non-survivors. Conclusion: Electronic systems help reduce the triage-to-diagnosis time and diagnosis-to-antibiotic time in patients with sepsis.

Architecture Design of Healthcare Software-as-a-Service Platform for Cloud-Based Clinical Decision Support Service / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: To design a cloud computing-based Healthcare Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Platform (HSP) for delivering healthcare information services with low cost, high clinical value, and high usability. METHODS: We analyzed the architecture requirements of an HSP, including the interface, business services, cloud SaaS, quality attributes, privacy and security, and multi-lingual capacity. For cloud-based SaaS services, we focused on Clinical Decision Service (CDS) content services, basic functional services, and mobile services. Microsoft's Azure cloud computing for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) was used. RESULTS: The functional and software views of an HSP were designed in a layered architecture. External systems can be interfaced with the HSP using SOAP and REST/JSON. The multi-tenancy model of the HSP was designed as a shared database, with a separate schema for each tenant through a single application, although healthcare data can be physically located on a cloud or in a hospital, depending on regulations. The CDS services were categorized into rule-based services for medications, alert registration services, and knowledge services. CONCLUSIONS: We expect that cloud-based HSPs will allow small and mid-sized hospitals, in addition to large-sized hospitals, to adopt information infrastructures and health information technology with low system operation and maintenance costs.

Independent risk factors associated with infant deaths / Fatores de risco independentes associados a óbitos infantis

OBJECTIVE: Identifying the independent risk factors associated with infant deaths registered in Brazilian public information systems. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using secondary data recorded in public information systems for eleven years. The association of mortality rates was observed according to death periods using univariate and multivariate regression tests. RESULTS: The infant mortality rate decreased by 20.7 % in the study period. The list of independent factors associated with infant deaths shows the necessity for measures to increase public actions aimed at the early onset of prenatal care, continuing until the postpartum, puerperal period and in the growth and development of the newborn. CONCLUSION: The independent risk factors for infant death were low birth weight, gestation duration of less than 37 weeks, multiple pregnancy, maternal educational level lower than eight years, Apgar score and less than seven antenatal pregnancy. .

OBJETIVO: Identificar os fatores de risco independentes associados aos óbitos infantis registrados nos sistemas informatizados públicos brasileiros. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com dados secundários registrados no período de onze anos nos sistemas informatizados públicos. A associação das taxas de mortalidade foi verificada segundo períodos de óbito utilizando-se testes de regressão univariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade infantil apresentou redução de 20,7% no período estudado. A lista de fatores independentes associados aos óbitos infantis indica a necessidade de medidas para intensificar as ações públicas visando o início precoce da assistência pré-natal, no pós-parto, acompanhamento no puerpério, e o crescimento e desenvolvimento do recém-nascido. CONCLUSÃO: Os fatores de risco independentes para o óbito infantil foram: baixo peso ao nascer, duração da gestação inferior a 37 semanas, gravidez múltipla, escolaridade materna inferior a oito anos, boletim de Apgar e menos de sete consultas pré-natais. .

Design and Realization of Integrated Management System for Data Interoperability between Point-of-Care Testing Equipment and Hospital Information System / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to design an integrated data management system based on the POCT1-A2, LIS2-A, LIS2-A2, and HL7 standard to ensure data interoperability between mobile equipment, such as point-of-care testing equipment and the existing hospital data system, its efficiency was also evaluated. METHODS: The method of this study was intended to design and realize a data management system which would provide a solution for the problems that occur when point-of-care testing equipment is introduced to existing hospital data, after classifying such problems into connectivity, integration, and interoperability. This study also checked if the data management system plays a sufficient role as a bridge between the point-of-care testing equipment and the hospital information system through connection persistence and reliability testing, as well as data integration and interoperability testing. RESULTS: In comparison with the existing system, the data management system facilitated integration by improving the result receiving time, improving the collection rate, and by enabling the integration of disparate types of data into a single system. And it was found out that we can solve the problems related to connectivity, integration and interoperability through generating the message in standardized types. CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that the proposed data management system, which is designed to improve the integration point-of-care testing equipment with existing systems, will establish a solid foundation on which better medical service may be provided by hospitals by improving the quality of patient service.

Emergency bedside-echocardiography in neonatal intensive care unit / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of emergency bedside-echocardiography in neonatal intensive care unit.Methods Six hundred and sixty-eight infants with cardiac pathological murmurs,cyanosis and shortness of breath were detected by emergency bedside echocardiography (Sonosite Micromax 1 portable ultrasound or Philips iE33 ultrasonic systems) during January 2007 to July 2011.The accuracy of emergency bedside-echocardiography in the diagnosis of neonatal heart diseases was evaluated according to the results of surgical exploration.Results Among 668 enrolled neonates with the mean age of (7.2±1.3) d,there were 347 males and 321 females,and 309 term infants [mean gestational age (39.1±0.6) weeks (37.0～42.1 weeks)] and 359 premature infants [mean gestational age (33.7±0.91) weeks (28.9～36.9 weeks)].Totally,507 cases were found cardiac abnormality by emergency bedside-echocardiography,including 268 cases of patent ductus arteriosus (232 premature and 36 term infants),115 congenital heart disease,99 persistent fetal circulation and 25 arrythmia.Surgeries were performed on 54 infants and invasive therapy was performed on one infant,and none of them received CT,magnetic resonance imaging or invasive examinations before operation; among which,51 surgeries successed and 4 infants died.Other 452 infants were treated with medications,392 infants recovered and discharged,26 infants did not recover,14 cases died and 20 cases left the hospital before recovery.The accuracy rate of Micromax 1 portable ultrasound in diagnosing congenital heart diseases was 94.5％ (52/55),while 96.4 ％ (53/55) for philips iE33 ultrasonic systems.Conclusions Emergency bedside-echocardiography could provide instant and valuable information of cardiovascular system,which would be helpful in making quick clinical decisions.

Pre-Operative Prediction of Advanced Prostatic Cancer Using Clinical Decision Support Systems: Accuracy Comparison between Support Vector Machine and Artificial Neural Network

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to develop support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models for the pre-operative prediction of advanced prostate cancer by using the parameters acquired from transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies, and to compare the accuracies between the two models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent prostate biopsies and prostatectomies for prostate cancer were divided into the training and test groups (n = 300 versus n = 232). From the data in the training group, two clinical decision support systems (CDSSs-[SVM and ANN]) were constructed with input (age, prostate specific antigen level, digital rectal examination, and five biopsy parameters) and output data (the probability for advanced prostate cancer [> pT3a]). From the data of the test group, the accuracy of output data was evaluated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were calculated to summarize the overall performances, and a comparison of the ROC curves was performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The AUC of SVM and ANN is 0.805 and 0.719, respectively (p = 0.020), in the pre-operative prediction of advanced prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: The performance of SVM is superior to ANN in the pre-operative prediction of advanced prostate cancer.

Prescription Status of Potentially Teratogenic Drugs to Women of Childbearing Age in the Emergency Department of a Teaching Hospital

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to survey the prescription status of potentially teratogenic drugs to women of childbearing age in an emergency department (ED). In addition, the frequency of documentation of patient's pregnancy status was also evaluated. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted through the use of warehouse data at a tertiary care center. Women aged 20~39 years who were prescribed drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies as class D or X were evaluated. The frequency of prescription of potentially teratogenic drugs and the rate of pregnancy tests performed at the ED were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 7,742 women of childbearing age with ED visits, 1,962(25.3%) patients received at least one potentially teratogenic drug during 2006, based upon the FDA risk classification system. The most frequently prescribed drugs were non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) (50.8%), opioid drugs(26.3%), and benzodiazepines(10.3%). The number of pregnancy tests performed before prescribing potentially teratogenic drugs was 838 (39.0%). Among patients for whom a pregnancy test was not performed, only 87(7.6%) patients were advised by their doctors of drug teratogenecity. CONCLUSION: The frequency of prescription of potentially teratogenic drugs to women of childbearing age was 1 in every 4 visits at the ED. In addition, the rates of documentation of pregnancy status and explanation of teratogenecity were relatively low. Introducing a pregnancy information system and a pregnancy alerting system, as well as increasing the frequency of pregnancy tests before prescribing are necessary, not only for pregnant women and fetuses but also for emergency medical personnel at the point of care.