Chronic wounds in a multiethnic Asian population: a cost of illness study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the 'cost of illness' arising from chronic wounds in Singapore. DESIGN: Incidence-based cost of illness study using evidence from a range of sources. SETTING: Singapore health services. PARTICIPANTS: We consider 3.49 million Singapore citizens and permanent residents. There are 16 752 new individuals with a chronic wound in 2017, with 598 venous ulcers, 2206 arterial insufficiency ulcers, 6680 diabetic ulcers and 7268 pressure injuries.Primary outcome measures expressed in monetary terms are the value of all hospital bed days lost for the population; monetary value of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost in the population; costs of all outpatient visits; and costs of all poly clinic, use of Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) and emergency departments (EDs) visits. Intermediate outcomes that inform the primary outcomes are also estimated. RESULTS: Total annual cost of illness was $350 million (range $72-$1779 million). With 168 503 acute bed days taken up annually (range 141 966-196 032) that incurred costs of $139 million (range 117-161 million). Total costs to health services were $184 million (range $120-$1179 million). Total annual costs of lost health outcomes were 2077 QALYs (range -2657 to 29 029) valued at $166 million (range -212 to 2399 million). CONCLUSIONS: The costs of chronic wounds are large to Singapore. Costs can be reduced by making positive investments for comprehensive wound prevention and treatment programmes.

Patient education interventions for haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheter care: An integrative review.

Background: Inadequate training on how to care for haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheters can lead to mechanical issues with the catheters and infectious complications (such as peritonitis) that could endanger patient safety, reduce the effectiveness of the dialysis treatment, and have a negative impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Such incidents can be prevented as they are mostly dependant on controllable factors - proper dialysis catheter care, which can be addressed through effective patient education. Effective patient education is crucial in ensuring that patients are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for both peritoneal and haemodialysis catheter care. Aims: To synthesise evidence on the: (1) patient educational interventions on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheter care; and (2) reported learning and clinical outcomes of the educational interventions provided for patients with haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheter. Design: Integrative review. Methods: This review followed the framework by Whittemore and Knafl. The literature search was performed using four electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool was used to appraise the articles that fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies published in the English language were retrieved. Results: A total of 14 studies were included. All the studies focused on educating patients who were on either tunnelled (permanent) haemodialysis catheters or peritoneal dialysis catheters. The findings identified: (1) teaching strategies used for educating patients on haemodialysis catheter care (2) teaching strategies for educating peritoneal dialysis patients on peritoneal dialysis catheter care and (3) outcomes of patient education on both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheters. Written materials and educational videos were used to instruct patients on haemodialysis catheters care. Different educational strategies for educating patients on peritoneal dialysis catheter care were also reported. They varied in terms of the composition and experience of the implementation care team members, educational approach, training duration, training location, timing relative to catheter placement, assessment method and follow-up support. The various teaching strategies were assessed and compared based on the patients' knowledge levels, catheter-related mechanical issues, and catheter-related infectious consequences (such as peritonitis). Conclusion: This review highlighted various education materials and compared different educational practices on tunnelled (permanent) haemodialysis catheter and peritoneal dialysis catheter care that healthcare providers used to increase knowledge and reduce catheter-related blood stream infections and peritonitis rates.

Healthcare worker stress, anxiety and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore: A 6-month multi-centre prospective study.

AIM: The long-term stress, anxiety and job burnout experienced by healthcare workers (HCWs) are important to consider as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic stresses healthcare systems globally. The primary objective was to examine the changes in the proportion of HCWs reporting stress, anxiety, and job burnout over six months during the peak of the pandemic in Singapore. The secondary objective was to examine the extent that objective job characteristics, HCW-perceived job factors, and HCW personal resources were associated with stress, anxiety, and job burnout. METHOD: A sample of HCWs (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and operations staff; N = 2744) was recruited via invitation to participate in an online survey from four tertiary hospitals. Data were gathered between March-August 2020, which included a 2-month lockdown period. HCWs completed monthly web-based self-reported assessments of stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and job burnout (Physician Work Life Scale). RESULTS: The majority of the sample consisted of female HCWs (81%) and nurses (60%). Using random-intercept logistic regression models, elevated perceived stress, anxiety and job burnout were reported by 33%, 13%, and 24% of the overall sample at baseline respectively. The proportion of HCWs reporting stress and job burnout increased by approximately 1·0% and 1·2% respectively per month. Anxiety did not significantly increase. Working long hours was associated with higher odds, while teamwork and feeling appreciated at work were associated with lower odds, of stress, anxiety, and job burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived stress and job burnout showed a mild increase over six months, even after exiting the lockdown. Teamwork and feeling appreciated at work were protective and are targets for developing organizational interventions to mitigate expected poor outcomes among frontline HCWs.

An integrative review on screening for frailty in acute care: Accuracy, barriers to implementation and adoption strategies.

Frailty is a multifactorial clinical syndrome associated with increased vulnerability to negative health-related outcomes including disease and disability. Many frailty screening tools are established for use in community settings with few for acute care. An integrative review methodology by Whittemore and Knafl, was adopted to summarise the reliability and validity of different frailty screening tools, barriers to implementation and adoption strategies in acute care settings. Thirteen relevant papers met the inclusion criteria. Validity and reliability of 14 screening tools were reported in 10 studies, whereas barriers identified in implementing frailty screening and potential adoption strategies were reported in 5 studies. Accuracy of screening tools require further improvement before use in hospitalized elderly. Strategies including the improvement of hospital guidelines and practices, promoting early involvement of stakeholders, and choosing a reliable and quick to administer screening tool can be implemented to help improve and facilitate early frailty screening in acute care.