Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 31.609
Filter
1.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak ; 24(1): 277, 2024 Sep 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39350254

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fibroids are non-cancerous uterine growths that can cause symptoms impacting quality of life. The breadth of treatment options allows for patient-centered preference. While conversation aids are known to facilitate shared decision making, the implementation of these aids for uterine fibroids treatments is limited. We aimed to develop two end-user-acceptable uterine fibroids conversation aids for an implementation project. Our second aim was to outline the adaptations that were made to the conversation aids as implementation occurred. METHODS: We used a multi-phase user-centered participatory approach to develop a text-based and picture-enhanced conversation aid for uterine fibroids. We conducted a focus group with project stakeholders and user-testing interviews with eligible individuals with symptomatic uterine fibroids. We analyzed the results of the user-testing interviews using Morville's Honeycomb framework. Spanish translations of the conversation aids occurred in parallel with the English iterations. We documented the continuous adaptations of the conversation aids that occurred during the project using an expanded framework for reporting adaptations and modifications to evidence-based interventions (FRAME). RESULTS: The first iteration of the conversation aids was developed in December 2018. Focus group participants (n = 6) appreciated the brevity of the tools and suggested changes to the bar graphs and illustrations used in the picture-enhanced version. User-testing with interview participants (n = 9) found that both conversation aids were satisfactory, with minor changes suggested. However, during implementation, significant changes were suggested by patients, other stakeholders, and participating clinicians when they reviewed the content. The most significant changes required the addition or deletion of information about treatment options as newer research was published or as novel interventions were introduced into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-year project revealed the necessity of continuously adapting the uterine fibroids conversation aids so they remain acceptable in an implementation and sustainability context. Therefore, it is important to seek regular user feedback and plan for the need to undertake updates and revisions to conversation aids if they are going to be acceptable for clinical use.


Subject(s)
Leiomyoma , Humans , Leiomyoma/therapy , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Focus Groups , Uterine Neoplasms/therapy , Decision Making, Shared
2.
Front Psychol ; 15: 1455005, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39351108

ABSTRACT

Environmental serious games aim to heighten players' awareness and comprehension of environmental issues, thus fostering pro-environmental decision-making. Research to date has affirmed these games' effectiveness in enhancing environmental knowledge and abilities, elevating consciousness regarding environmental matters, and promoting pro-environmental behavioral intentions and actions. Nonetheless, a detailed exploration into the precise mechanisms facilitating these impacts remains scarce. Leveraging theories of motivation, cognition, affect, and behavior, this paper outlines four hypothesized mechanisms of influence and introduces an Embodied-Enactive Cognition Model as a novel perspective. It suggests that future research should expand its inquiry into the multifaceted factors that influence pro-environmental decision-making, deepen the comprehension of the intrinsic mechanisms at play, pioneer novel research methodologies, and diversify the array of categories and contextual applications of environmental serious games.

3.
J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng ; 11: 20556683241276804, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39351287

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Practice of ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) provision for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy is underreported and the literature is not consistent on choice of AFO-design. This study describes clinical practice of AFO provision for children with cerebral palsy and evaluates how clinical practice aligns with existing recommendations. Methods: An online, cross-sectional survey was conducted, inviting all Norwegian orthotists working with children with cerebral palsy. Orthotic practice was investigated using a self-reported survey design. Results: From all eligible orthotists, 54% responded, revealing that AFO provision involves patients, physicians, and physiotherapists at different stages. Patient preference directly influenced the ultimate AFO-design. Shank vertical angle was evaluated by 79%. For children with crouch gait and those with short gastrocnemius, a majority preferred a combination of rigid and articulated/flexible AFO-designs. Instrumented gait analysis was conducted by 51% at AFO delivery stage. Conclusions: The findings show that AFO provision in Norway is collaborative, involving clinical team members and consideration of patient preferences. A discrepancy between clinical practice and existing recommendations for children with crouch gait and those with short gastrocnemius is observed.

4.
Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot ; : 1-18, 2024 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39351627

ABSTRACT

Traditional approaches to monitoring road safety have primarily focused on measuring outcomes such as the number of fatalities and injuries. While effective in capturing overall trends, this macroscopic approach often overlooks the underlying causes of unsafe conditions. Recognizing these limitations, many countries now embrace a safe system-based approach, which emphasizes a holistic view of road safety, considering various elements and their interactions. In response to this shift, this study introduces a five-step framework designed to provide comprehensive coverage and tailored assistance in selecting and utilizing appropriate Road Safety Indicators (RSIs) for more effective performance monitoring. The framework integrates a novel RSIs taxonomy aligned with critical elements of the safe system. It also incorporates an MCDA-based approach to account for decision-makers' preferences when selecting suitable RSIs. A case study demonstrates the practical application of the proposed steps, including the identification, classification, selection, and development of descriptive sheets for each selected RSI, as well as the continuous updating of the RSIs set. The findings offered valuable insights into the commonly used indicators in international road safety reports, while also revealing the limitations of currents metrics and data in fully capturing critical elements and hierarchical level within the road safety management system.

5.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39351812

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Many choices are made in the context of one's social network, but age differences in consulting others during decision-making remain underexplored. This pre-registered study examined age differences in the composition of decision-related social networks and associated social preferences and motivations. Based on prior findings regarding age differences in information-seeking and socioemotional preferences, we predicted that with advanced age people would consult fewer and more emotionally close social partners, consult them less frequently, rate consultations as more helpful, and prioritize social goals during decision-making. METHODS: An adult lifespan sample (N = 485; Mage = 51.08; SDage = 19.63, rangeage = 18-96 years) considered hypothetical choices and reported how many and what types of people they would consult and how often they would consult them. They also identified their most important decision consultants and evaluated interactions with those individuals. RESULTS: As predicted, age was associated with consulting fewer people less frequently and this was not explained by having a smaller range of potential consultants in one's network. Contrary to predictions, the proportion of close social partners in decision networks and the perceived helpfulness of consultants did not vary significantly by age. Moreover, older adults were less likely than younger adults to prioritize relationship quality over decision quality. Controlling for potential covariates did not diminish the observed age effects. DISCUSSION: These findings align with the prior literature on age-related decrements in pre-decisional information seeking but suggest that age-related preferences for close social partners and socioemotional goals do not extend to decision-related consultations.

6.
J Emerg Nurs ; 2024 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39352352

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Although the ED triage function is a critical means of ensuring patient safety, core competencies for ED triage are not well defined in the literature. The purpose of the study was to identify and validate emergency triage nursing competencies and to develop a competency verification process. METHODS: A sample of 1181 emergency nurses evenly divided between roles with oversight of triage training and competency assessment (manager-level and staff nurses performing triage) completed an online survey evaluating competency elements that comprised the following in terms of frequency and importance, training modalities, and evaluation methods: expert assessment, clinical judgment, management of medical resources, communication, and timely decisions. RESULTS: Both manager-level and triage nurses agreed on the importance of the identified competencies. Gaps in training and evaluation were reported by both staff nurses and manager-level nurses. Triage nurses reported less training offered and less competency evaluation compared with manager-level nurses. Triage nurses reported performing all competencies more frequently and at higher level of competency than manager-level nurses reporting on triage nurse performance. DISCUSSION: This study provides both a standard set of triage competencies and a method by which to evaluate them. Managers and educators might consider this standard to establish initial triage role competency and periodic competency assessment per institutional guidelines. The gap in perceived education and evaluation suggests that standard education and evaluation processes be adopted across emergency departments.

7.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39350675

ABSTRACT

This commentary reflects on the recent study by Villena et al., which addresses the need for enhanced shared decision-making (SDM) for individuals with anxiety disorders. As a psychiatrist with expertise in anxiety management, I commend the study's emphasis on patient involvement and its alignment with real-world clinical challenges. The findings, particularly regarding patients' preferences for psychological interventions and the current trend towards pharmacological treatments, highlight the need to better align treatment approaches with evidence-based guidelines. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of psychoeducation and active coping strategies like exposure techniques. These insights offer valuable contributions towards improving patient-centred care and SDM in anxiety disorder treatment.

8.
Hu Li Za Zhi ; 71(5): 36-45, 2024 Oct.
Article in Chinese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39350708

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: After enactment of the Patient Right to Autonomy Act in Taiwan, most of the individuals participating in advance care planning (ACP) and signing advance decisions (AD) have been healthy adults. This demographic is inadequately covered in the literature, in which related studies focus primarily on individuals with major illnesses. PURPOSE: This study was implemented to understand the experiences of healthy adults participating in ACP. METHODS: A qualitative approach was taken and participants were recruited from ACP outpatient clinics in three hospitals in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. All of the participants were healthy adults who had completed the ACP process, did not have a major illness, had no psychiatric diagnoses, and could express themselves clearly. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 15 participants were interviewed, generating three major themes: "Establishing the foundations of ACP", "Preserving dignity in end-of-life care", and "Key elements for successful ACP". Their motivation to engage in ACP and sign the AD form was influenced by past experiences and a desire to maintain dignity and physical autonomy through the aging process. Their decision-making processes were influenced by family opinions, sociocultural factors, and systemic dynamics. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: During the ACP and AD signing process, the consulting team not only helps healthy adults successfully provide informed consent but also, by fostering a supportive communication environment, ensures medical preferences and expectations are accurately reflected, thus promoting mutual care, support, and understanding among all parties.


Subject(s)
Advance Care Planning , Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged
9.
Cureus ; 16(8): e68262, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39350852

ABSTRACT

Vertebral fractures commonly occur in postmenopausal women due to decreased bone density, a condition known as osteoporosis. They can occur after minimal trauma or even during routine activities. Vertebral fractures occur predominantly in individuals with a high fall risk. This case report explores the clinical complexities surrounding a 65-year-old female patient with a history of multilevel vertebrae fractures compounded by a history of chronic smoking, osteoporosis, multiple falls, and evident signs of osteopenia on X-ray. These risk factors complicate the decision to perform surgery and highlight the importance of constantly weighing the benefits and possible risks. This paper aims to emphasize the gender-specific challenges healthcare providers encounter when assessing surgical risks in the context of postmenopausal females with significant comorbidities. It underlines the need for tailored and comprehensive care strategies to manage orthopedic conditions in high-risk female individuals, further aligning with one of the World Health Organization's concerns on addressing gender-specific health considerations.

10.
Patient Educ Couns ; 130: 108446, 2024 Sep 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39303506

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore (1) documentation of shared decision-making (SDM) in diagnostic testing for dementia in electronic patient records (EPR) in general practice and (2) study whether documentation of SDM is related to specific patient characteristics. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, EPRs of 228 patients in three Dutch general practices were explored for the documentation of SDM elements using Elwyn's model (team talk, option talk, decision talk). Patient characteristics (gender, age, comorbidities, chronic polypharmacy, the number of consultations on memory complaints) and decision outcome (wait-and-see, GP diagnostics, referral) were also extracted. RESULTS: In EPRs of most patients (62.6 %), at least one SDM element was documented. Most often this concerned team talk (61.6 %). Considerably less often option talk (4.3 %) and decision talk (12.8 %) were documented. SDM elements were more frequently documented in patients with lower comorbidity scores and patients with a relatively high number of consultations. Decision talk was more frequently documented in referred patients. CONCLUSION: Patients' and significant others' needs, goals, and wishes on diagnostic testing for dementia are often documented in EPRs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Limited documentation of option and decision talk stresses the need for future SDM interventions to facilitate timely dementia diagnosis.

11.
J Vet Intern Med ; 2024 Sep 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39304497

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Minimizing harm from antimicrobials requires use of the narrowest spectrum drug, at an effective dose for the minimum effective duration. Many prescribers are not currently following these guidelines. To address suboptimal antimicrobial use, the underlying reasons must be understood. OBJECTIVES: To identify factors influencing choices of antimicrobial drug, dose, and duration for companion animals. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two veterinarians treating companion animals in Australia. Diversity of participants was deliberately sought. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted online. Two case studies were discussed, and then a range of broader questions was posed. Transcripts were analyzed thematically, using an inductive approach. RESULTS: Few participants chose guideline-concordant management for the case studies. Prescribing choices were influenced by a complex array of factors associated with the clinical case, pet owner, drug, veterinarian, veterinary colleagues, and external factors. Key factors driving broad-spectrum antimicrobial use included a sense of safety, habit, ease of administering the drug (especially in cats), pharmaceutical marketing, and the self-perpetuating dispensary cycle. Many participants were concerned about antimicrobial resistance, but insufficiently informed about how to minimize this risk. Several participants believed that longer duration of treatment and ensuring patients finish a predetermined course would decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance and improve clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Veterinarians are engaged with the concept of antimicrobial stewardship, but face numerous practical barriers and require more information. In particular, improved education is needed on enhancing patient safety by minimizing both spectrum of activity and duration of treatment, and dispelling myths about "finishing the course."

12.
Women Birth ; 37(6): 101824, 2024 Sep 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39305806

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Shared decision-making supports women's autonomy in antenatal care, but several barriers to shared decision-making have been identified in practice. Women with high body mass index experience a higher rate of interventions, which could provide more opportunities for shared decision-making in antenatal care. However, weight stigma may exist as a barrier to shared decision-making, limiting access to collaborative care. AIM: To explore how shared decision-making is implemented and whether body mass index influences maternity clinicians' use of shared decision-making when providing antenatal care for women. METHODS: Maternity clinicians were recruited via purposive sampling from two sites in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Twelve maternity clinicians consented to participate. Three themes and ten sub-themes were identified. The themes were: 1) Whose choice is it anyway? 2) Pregnancy as risky 3) Excess weight as a diseased state. DISCUSSION: Maternity clinicians in this study view pregnancy through a risk management lens that complicates women's involvement in decision-making, demonstrating inherent beliefs that may further limit options for women with high body mass index. CONCLUSION: Shared decision-making is difficult to implement in the current antenatal clinic setting and requires significant structural consideration to become a reality for women. Clinicians may inadvertently limit meaningful opportunities to engage in shared decision-making with women with high body mass index due to preconceived perceptions of risk and stigmatising beliefs about women with high body mass index.

13.
Age Ageing ; 53(9)2024 Sep 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39305305

ABSTRACT

DESIGN: An observational cohort study conducted at a tertiary referral center for aortic surgery to describe the medical and surgical characteristics of patients assessed for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and examine associations with 12-month outcome. METHODS: Patients with aortic aneurysms referred for discussion at the aortic multidisciplinary meeting (MDM). Data were collected via a prospectively maintained clinical database and included aneurysm characteristics, patient demographics, co-morbidities, geriatric syndromes, including frailty, management decision and 12-month mortality, both aneurysm-related and all-cause including cause of death. The operative and non-operative groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: 621 patients referred to aortic MDM; 292 patients listed for operative management, 141 patients continued on surveillance, 138 patients for non-operative management. There was a higher 12-month mortality rate in the non-operative group compared to the operative group (41% vs 7%, P = <0.001). In the non-operative group, 16 patients (29%) died of aneurysm rupture within 12 months, with 39 patients (71%) dying from other medical causes. Non-operatively managed patients were older, more likely to have cardiac and respiratory disease and more likely to be living with frailty, cognitive impairment and functional limitation, compared to the operative group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that preoperative geriatric syndromes and increased comorbidity lead to shared decision to non-operatively manage asymptomatic aortic aneurysms. Twelve-month mortality is higher in the non-operative group with the majority of deaths occurring due to cause other than aneurysm rupture. These findings support the need for preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment followed by multispecialty discussion and shared decision making.


Subject(s)
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal , Humans , Aged , Female , Male , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/surgery , Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/mortality , Aged, 80 and over , Treatment Outcome , Risk Factors , Asymptomatic Diseases , Time Factors , Frailty/diagnosis , Frailty/mortality , Frailty/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Vascular Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Vascular Surgical Procedures/mortality , Middle Aged , Age Factors , Cause of Death , Watchful Waiting/statistics & numerical data
14.
J Hand Surg Am ; 2024 Sep 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39306772

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine whether patients presenting with Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety scores at >95th percentile of the US population undergo elective hand surgery at rates different from patients with less anxiety. Secondarily, we aimed to assess surgeon notation of these patients' emotional states and incidences of postoperative complications. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed data from new adult patients presenting for hand care between January 2019 and December 2020. Patients with initial PROMIS anxiety scores ≥70 were identified as the high anxiety burden (HAB) group. For each patient with HAB presenting with carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and distal radius fractures (n = 45), three controls were matched (n = 135). After matching, bivariate statistical analysis compared outcome variables of interest between patient groups. Sentiment analysis was used to explore if patient anxiety was realized and considered in surgical decision making. RESULTS: After matching, patients with HAB averaged baseline PROMIS scores in every assessed domain that were ≥1 SD worse than unaffected patients. Patients with HAB and control patients were offered surgery at a comparable rate (58% vs 47%). Among those offered surgery, patients with HAB were less likely to undergo surgery (73% vs 92%). Postoperative complications occurred more frequently in the patients with HAB (32% vs 8%). Sentiment analysis of office notes revealed that the patients with HAB had their emotional state explicitly noted more often (40% vs 24%), but the majority of patients with HAB did not have this addressed in records. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HAB both underwent surgery offered less frequently and when undergoing surgery, experienced more complications. Surgeons are likely to miss opportunities to positively influence extreme patient anxiety as most patients with HAB were treated without mention of their emotional state. Future investigations should explore whether preoperative anxiety alleviation could diminish these disparities. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Symptom prevalence III.

15.
Patient Educ Couns ; 130: 108449, 2024 Sep 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39306878

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: As life expectancy for individuals living with cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased, many now reach adulthood and face important reproductive decisions with their partners. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the psychosocial and ethical considerations that influence the reproductive decision-making process of individuals living with CF and their partners. METHODS: Four databases (Web of science, Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane) were searched. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed using a thematic synthesis approach. RESULTS: Seven psychosocial and ethical themes related to reproductive decision-making were identified: 1) desire for a sense of 'normalcy', 2) (dis)approval of healthcare professionals, 3) possible impact on the 'future' child, 4) idea of good parenting, 5) possibility of transmitting the condition, 6) impact on health and personal well-being, and 7) role of non-CF partner and family/friends. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to have a child often originates from a typical desire to become a parent and is further guided by a sense of moral responsibility and the need for a solid partnership/collaborative network. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Routine dialogue about reproductive health between individuals living with CF and their care teams is important, as these individuals depend on reliable, evidence-based information for informed reproductive decision-making. Our findings can guide healthcare professionals to effectively initiate these conversations.

16.
Ann Palliat Med ; 2024 Sep 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39308165

ABSTRACT

Planning for future medical treatment, and care, referred to as advance care planning (ACP), has evolved to a focus on conversations that explore values and preferences in a broad sense. Given diverse practices internationally, we examined how international experts would define ACP themselves and whether this differs by medical profession. In an explorative study embedded in a Delphi study on ACP in dementia, experts in ACP in persons with dementia and other diseases reported at baseline how they would define ACP "in one sentence, off the top of your head". We analyzed the text of the reported definitions with content analysis, created codes to identify small definition elements, then merged them into categories. We assessed phrasing from a patient, healthcare professional, or neutral perspective. Almost half (45%) of 87 experts from 30 countries phrased ACP from a patient perspective (29% neutral, 26% professional). Codes (n=131) were merged into 19 categories. Five categories appeared in more than half of the definitions: 'Choosing between options', 'Care and treatment', 'Planning for the future', 'Individual person' and 'Having conversations'. Other categories, including 'End of life' and 'Documentation' were mentioned by a minority of experts. The categories and perspectives did not appreciably differ between physicians and other professionals. In conclusion, international experts from 30 countries typically defined ACP as person-centered conversations to choose future care and treatment, without focusing on end of life or documentation. Future research should evaluate the extent to which such conceptualization of ACP is present within clinical programs and practice recommendations and our work may serve as a starting point to monitor changes over time. Registration: World Health Organization Clinical Trial Registry Platform (NL9720).

17.
J Eval Clin Pract ; 2024 Sep 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39308191

ABSTRACT

Peter Drucker pointed out an important distinction between 'doing things right' and 'doing the right thing', which recognised that all problems are embedded in a context and thus can only be understood within their unique contextual setting. Contemporary research practices in clinical medicine often regards contextual factors as potential confounders that will bias effect estimates and thus must be avoided. However rigorous, research devoid of context ultimately deprives users of understanding of the support factors that make research transferable to policy decisions or managing care of individual patients-it stands in the way of 'doing the right thing' in 'real life' settings. Appreciating that all problems are embedded in a greater context means that one should not ignore their interconnected and interdependent systemic nature, that is, every variable is simultaneously dependent and independent. This is the reason for the cascading effects and feedback loops witnessed in disease progression and policy efforts. We discuss the need for researchers to a-priori consider the context of their research question as well as the structural relationships of the variables under investigation, which in turn provides the basis for choosing the most appropriate research design. We have a moral imperative to first 'do the right thing'-ask questions that address the contextual needs of our patients, and then to 'do it right'-choose the best research method to answer this contextually framed need. Only then will our research efforts have meaningful and lasting impacts on patient care.

18.
Sociol Health Illn ; 2024 Sep 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39311476

ABSTRACT

Emerging technologies of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) promise to advance many industries. Healthcare is a key locus for new developments, where operational improvements are magnified by the bigger-picture promise of improved care and outcomes for patients. Forming the zeitgeist of contemporary sociotechnical innovation in healthcare, media portrayals of these technologies can shape how they are implemented, experienced and understood across healthcare systems. This article identifies current applications of AI and ADM within Australian healthcare contexts and analyses how these technologies are being portrayed within news and industry media. It offers a categorisation of leading applications of AI and ADM: monitoring and tracking, data management and analysis, cloud computing, and robotics. Discussing how AI and ADM are depicted in relation to health and care practices, it examines the sense of promise that is enlivened in these representations. The article concludes by considering the implications of promissory discourses for how technologies are understood and integrated into practices and sites of healthcare.

19.
Inn Med (Heidelb) ; 2024 Sep 23.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39311946

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ethical decision-making is a cornerstone of intensive care and emergency medicine. In acute scenarios, clinicians often face rapid, high-stakes decisions concerning life and death, made more challenging by time constraints and incomplete information. These decisions are further complicated by economic constraints, limited resources, and evolving technological capabilities. QUESTION: What decision-making aids and factors can be employed in ethical borderline cases within intensive care medicine? RESULTS: Fundamental ethical principles such as patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice form the basis for medical treatment decisions. Evaluating the patient's will through advanced directives or proxy consensus is crucial, although advanced directives can be ambiguous. Assessing quality of life is increasingly important, with instruments such as the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) being utilized. For older patients, a holistic approach is recommended, focusing on overall health rather than chronological age. In patients with advanced underlying diseases, a multidisciplinary dialogue is essential. DISCUSSION: Decision-making in intensive care medicine requires careful consideration of medical, ethical, and individual factors. Despite advances in artificial intelligence and prognostic models, human judgment remains crucial. During periods of resource scarcity, ethically sound triage protocols are required. The challenge lies in applying these principles and factors in clinical practice while respecting the individuality of each patient.

20.
Abdom Radiol (NY) ; 2024 Sep 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39311948

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Some clinicopathological risk stratification systems (CRSSs) such as the leibovich score have been used to predict the postoperative prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), but there are no reliable noninvasive preoperative indicators for predicting postoperative prognosis in clinical practice. PURPOSE: To assess the value of a deep learning (DL) model based on CT images in predicting the postoperative prognosis of patients with ccRCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 382 patients with ccRCC were retrospectively enrolled andallocated to training (n = 229) or testing (n = 153) cohorts at a 6:4 ratio. The features were extracted from precontrast-phase (PCP), corticomedullary-phase (CMP) and nephrographic-phase (NP) CT images with ResNet50, and then extreme learning machines (ELMs) were used to construct classification models. The DL model and Leibovich score were compared and combined. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to evaluate model performance. RESULTS: Compared with other single-phase DL models, the three-phase CT-based DL model achieved the best performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.839. Combining the three-phase DL model and the Leibovich score (AUC = 0.823) into a nomogram (AUC = 0.888) statistically improved performance (IDINomogram vs. Three-phase = 0.1358, IDINomogram vs. Leibovich = 0.1393, [Formula: see text]< 0.001). CONCLUSION: The CT-based DL model could be valuable for preoperatively predicting the prognosis of patients with ccRCC, and combining it with the Leibovich score can further improve its predictive performance.

SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL