Structured, Timely, and Individualized Patient Feedback to Residents and its Effect on HCAHPS Scores.

Physician communication is integral for improving patients' experience and clinical outcomes. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores are used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to assess the quality of care provided to the patients. We conducted a prospective pre-post-intervention study from March 2018 to March 2020 and included patients and residents of the community-based university-affiliated Internal Medicine Residency Program. Residents' communication was evaluated through resident surveys and results were shared with them and attending physicians within 48 h. To correlate with the effect over a 4-year period, 839 HCAHPS surveys were obtained for attending physicians as an outcome measure. The mean overall HCAHPS score and doctor's communication scores increased by 8.52 and 6.06 points post-intervention. The doctor's performance score for respect increased by 6.18 points, listening increased by 3.12 points, and explanation increased by 8.23 points. This study demonstrates that timely, structured, and individualized resident feedback in an academic medicine service can result in a sustainable increase in the attendings' overall HCAHPS and doctor's communication scores.

Impact of patient and family engagement in improving continuous positive airway pressure adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of the Improving CPAP Adherence Program was to assess the impact of a multidimensional treatment framework based on shared decision-making, patient activation, and caregiver engagement on improving long-term positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence in patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: In this pilot study, patients aged ≥ 18 years with a new obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis who qualified for PAP treatment and lived with a caregiver were randomly assigned to receive either the multidimensional treatment (intervention, n = 28) or unrelated education (control group, n = 32). All patients and their caregiver participated in a group visit. The intervention group attended 4 structured sessions: interactive education, peer coaching, hands-on experience, and a semistructured motivational interview. The control group was educated on physical activity and lifestyle only. Objective PAP adherence data were obtained at baseline (day that they received PAP machine to group visit), group visit to 3 months, and 3-6 months. RESULTS: In an age-adjusted model, the mean daily use of PAP increased significantly over the 3 time periods (P = .03). Intervention-arm participants gained a mean 1.23 hours (95% confidence interval, 0.33-2.13) in PAP mean daily use between 3 and 6 months vs those in the control arm (P = .008). We saw no difference in the percentage of PAP adherence across time between the 2 arms. CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted patient-centered intervention with caregiver engagement improved PAP adherence vs control levels, a beneficial effect sustained for the 6 months. Our findings suggest that caregivers, with the appropriate training, can improve patients' PAP adherence by providing a socially supportive environment. CITATION: Khan NNS, Todem D, Bottu S, Badr MS, Olomu A. Impact of patient and family engagement in improving continuous positive airway pressure adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(1):181-191.

Semistructured Motivational Interviews of Patients and Caregivers to Improve CPAP Adherence: A Qualitative Analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this qualitative analysis was to identify obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients' preferences, partner experiences, barriers and facilitators to positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence, and to assess understanding of the educational content delivered and satisfaction with the multidimensionally structured intervention. METHODS: A qualitative analysis was conducted on 28 interventional arm patients with a new diagnosis of OSA. They received a one-on-two semistructured motivational interview as the last part of a 60- to 90-minute in-person educational group intervention. The 10- to 15-minute interview with the patient and caregiver was patient-centered and focused on obtaining the personal and emotional history and providing support. We also assessed understanding of the OSA training plan, their commitment to it, and their goals for it. RESULTS: We identified four themes: OSA symptom and diagnosis, using the PAP machine, perceptions about the group visit, and factors that determine adherence to PAP. Patients experienced positive, negative, or mixed emotions during the journey from symptoms of OSA to PAP adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that patients' and caregivers' positive experiences of PAP could be enhanced by a patient-centered interaction and that it was important to explicitly address their fears and concerns to further enhance use of PAP. Not only could caregiver support play a role in improving PAP adherence but also the peer coaching session has the potential of providing a socially supportive environment in motivating adherence to PAP treatment.

Sex Differences in Statin Prescribing in Diabetic and Heart Disease Patients in FQHCs: A Comparison of the ATPIII and 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in the rate of statin prescribing based on the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III and 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines across sex in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and to determine the proportion of patients on recommended statin dosage based on the 2013 cholesterol guideline. METHODS: The Office Guidelines Applied to Practice (Office-GAP) study is a quasi-experimental, 2 FQHCs center study that enrolled patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus (DM). We computed 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risks scores based on ACC guidelines and determined the rate of statin prescribing across sex in FQHCs using both guidelines. Main outcomes measures were (1) rate of statin prescribing based on ATPIII and 2013 cholesterol guidelines across sex and (2) proportion of patients on recommended statin dosage based on the 2013 cholesterol guideline. RESULTS: The 2013 cholesterol guideline did not increase the rate of eligibility of statin for men and women compared to ATPIII guideline. No significant difference between men and women in statin prescribing under ATPIII (67% vs 57%, P = .13) and 2013 cholesterol guidelines (66% vs 63%, P = .69) and in the recommended dosage of statin per the 2013 cholesterol guidelines between men and women in FQHCs (12% vs 22%, P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: We found statin underprescribing for both men and women with ASCVD and DM in FQHCs. Utilizing both the ATPIII and the 2013 cholesterol guidelines, men with ASCVD and DM were prescribed statin more than women. However, fewer men were found to be on the recommended dosage of statin based on the 2013 cholesterol guideline. Our findings suggest that Office-GAP may have improved the prescription/use of statin in both men and women.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a rare subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare form of NHL and usually presents in the late stage due to the atypical laboratory findings. Immunohistochemistry of the lymph node in AITL is characterized by positive CD2, CD3, CD4, CD10, CXCL-13, PD1 often BCL-6 and CD20 positive. Meshworks of follicular dendritic cells are seen outside follicles with CD21 and CD23 stains. EBV can be often positive as well. Autologous transplantation should be offered in the first remission as poor outcome is reported with anthracycline-containing regimens.

Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients in Federally Qualified Health Centers: Impact of Shared Decision Making in the Office-GAP Program.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) in people with diabetes doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease. Prior patient activation studies largely show improved communication but little impact on behavior or health outcomes. We sought to 1) assess the impact of Office-Based Guidelines Applied to Practice (Office-GAP) Program on blood pressure (BP) control; 2) determine the rate and predictors of BP control in patients with HTN and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) in federally qualified health centers. Methods: Sample: Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or DM with history of HTN; analyzed patients with DM and HTN compared to HTN without DM. INTERVENTION: Office-GAP included physician training, patient activation, and an Office-GAP decision checklist. Two-site intervention/control design; data collection at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months. Logistic regression with propensity scoring assessed impact on BP control over time. Results: Of 243 patients, HTN was present in 75% at baseline; 32% had BP controlled. Consistent trend showed Office-GAP slightly improved the rate of BP control across time, while the control arm showed a nonsignificant decrease in the rate of BP control across time, compared to baseline. BP improved at 6 months at the intervention site compared to control site (odds ratio = 2.92; 95% confidence interval = 1.11-7.69). Conclusion: BP control was better at the intervention site compared to the control site at 6 months. Office-GAP shows promise to implement guidelines-based patient-centered care that improves BP.

Chloride Depletion Alkalosis as a Predictor of Inhospital Mortality in Patients with Decompensated Heart Failure.

OBJECTIVES: Chloride depletion alkalosis (CDA) is often seen as a consequence of diuresis in heart failure (HF) but its prognostic significance remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of CDA in decompensated HF (DHF). METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 674 patients who were admitted with DHF. Patients were assigned to 2 groups based on the change in serum bicarbonate (median = 3 mmol/l) after diuresis, which was calculated by computing the difference in the admission and discharge serum bicarbonate: the CDA group (a change in serum bicarbonate ≥3 mmol/l) and the non-CDA group (change in serum bicarbonate <3 mmol/l). The primary end points were inhospital mortality and the composite end point of all-cause 30-day mortality and hospital readmission for HF. RESULTS: In a multivariable logistic regression model, the CDA group, i.e. 374 patients, had a lower inhospital mortality than the non-CDA group, i.e. 300 patients (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03-0.38; p = 0.0005) after adjusting for other covariates. There was no statistically significant difference in the combined end point of all-cause 30-day mortality and readmission between the 2 groups (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.74-2.12; p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: The presence of CDA during hospitalization for DHF was independently associated with a better inhospital survival rate.