Patient-reported factors associated with avoidance of in-person care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: There has been a substantial decline in in-person care in inpatient and outpatient settings during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Avoidance of needed in-person care may contribute to an avoidable decline in patient health and an increase in mortality. While several systems and behavioral theories have been put forward to explain the decline, there is a lack of studies informed by patients' own experiences. The current study applied a socio-ecological model encompassing patient, environmental, and institutional-related variables to examine patient-reported factors associated with avoidance of in-person care. METHODS: Between October and December 2020, a total of 3840 persons responded to a nationwide online questionnaire that was administered using ResearchMatch and Facebook. Self-reported avoidance of in-person care among those who needed it was the main outcome. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with avoidance of needed care. FINDINGS: Out of a total of 3372 respondents who reported that they needed in-person care during the early phase of the pandemic, 257 (7.6%) avoided it. Patient-related variables associated with avoiding needed care included younger age (odds ratio (OR), 1.46, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.94, p<0.01; <45 y/o vs 45+), inability to afford care (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.34, p<0.01), and greater COVID-related stress (OR = 1.36, CI 1.01 to 1.83, p<0.05). More frequent discussions about COVID with family and friends was the only significant environment-related avoidance of care variable (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.01-1.91, p < .05). Institution-related care avoidance variables included a negative patient healthcare experience rating (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.42, p<0.001), poor awareness of the institution's safety protocol (OR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.51, p<0.01), and low ratings of the institution's effectiveness in communicating their safety protocol (OR = 3.45, 95% CI 1.94 to 6.12, p<0.001). The final model predicted 11.9% of the variance in care avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that care avoidance of in-person care during the initial phase of the pandemic was influenced by a patient's demographics as well as environmental and healthcare institutional factors. Patients' previous experiences and their awareness of healthcare systems' safety protocols are important factors in care avoidance.

Accuracy and Implications of Hemorrhagic Stroke Recognition by Emergency Medical Services.

Background Hemorrhagic stroke is a medical emergency that requires rapid identification and treatment. Despite playing a critical role in the emergency response to hemorrhagic stroke patients, a minimal amount is known about the quality of emergency medical services (EMS) care for this condition. The objectives of this study were to quantify EMS hemorrhagic stroke recognition, identify predictors of accurate EMS recognition, and examine associations between EMS recognition, quality of prehospital care, and patient outcomes. Methods: Consecutive EMS-transported hemorrhagic strokes were identified from medical records at 4 primary stroke centers. Data regarding prehospital care were abstracted from EMS records and linked to in-hospital data. Clinical predictors of accurate EMS recognition were examined using logistic regression. EMS performance measure compliance and hospital outcomes were also compared among EMS recognized and unrecognized hemorrhagic strokes. Results: Over 24 months, EMS-transported 188 hemorrhagic stroke patients; 108 (57.4%) were recognized by EMS. Recognized cases had higher rates of stroke scale documentation (84.3% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.001); multivariable logistic regression confirmed a strong independent relationship between stroke scale documentation and recognition (adjusted OR 15.1 [5.6 to 40.7]). Recognized cases also had shorter on-scene times (15.5 vs. 21 min, p < 0.001) and door-to-computed tomography (DTCT) acquisition times (20 vs. 47 min, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Among EMS-transported hemorrhagic stroke cases, stroke screen documentation was strongly associated with EMS stroke recognition, which was in turn associated with higher quality of EMS care and faster computed tomography (CT) scans upon emergency department arrival.

Educating Paramedics on the Finger-to-Nose Test Improves Recognition of Posterior Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Emergency medical services (EMS) stroke recognition facilitates rapid care, however, prehospital stroke screening tools rely on signs that are often absent in posterior circulation strokes. We hypothesized that addition of the finger-to-nose (FTN) test to the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale would improve EMS posterior stroke recognition. Methods- In this controlled before and after study of consecutive EMS transported posterior ischemic strokes, paramedics in a single EMS agency received in-person training in the use of the FTN test. Paramedics at 2 other local EMS agencies served as controls. We compared the change in posterior stroke recognition, door-to-CT times, and alteplase delivery between the FTN (intervention) and control agencies. Results- Over 21 months, 51 posterior circulation strokes were transported by the FTN agency and 88 in the control agencies. Following training, posterior stroke recognition improved from 46% to 74% (P=0.039) in the FTN agency, whereas there was no change in the control agencies (32% before versus 39% after, P=0.467). Mean door-to-CT time in the FTN agency also improved following training (62-41 minutes, P=0.037) but not in the control agencies (58-61 minutes, P=0.771). There was no difference in alteplase delivery. Conclusions- Paramedics trained in the FTN test were more likely to identify posterior stroke. If future studies confirm these findings, such training may expedite the care of posterior stroke patients transported by EMS.

Brief Educational Intervention Improves Emergency Medical Services Stroke Recognition.

Background and Purpose- Recognition of stroke symptoms and hospital prenotification by emergency medical services (EMS) facilitate rapid stroke treatment; however, one-third of patients with stroke are unrecognized by EMS. To promote stroke recognition and quality measure compliant prehospital stroke care, we deployed a 30-minute online EMS educational module coupled with a performance feedback system in a single Michigan county. Methods- During a 24-month study period, a registry of consecutive EMS-transported suspected or unrecognized stroke cases was utilized to perform an interrupted time series analysis of the impact of the EMS education and feedback intervention. For each agency, we compared EMS stroke recognition and quality measure compliance rates, as well as emergency department performance and hospital outcomes during 12 preintervention months with performance in the remaining study months. Results- A total of 1805 EMS-transported cases met inclusion criteria; 1235 (68.4%) of these had ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes or transient ischemic attacks. There were no trends toward improvement in any outcome before the intervention. After the intervention, the EMS stroke recognition rate increased from 63.8% to 69.5% ( P=0.037). Prenotification increased from 60.9% to 77.3% ( P<0.001). Among patients with ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, there was a trend toward higher rates of tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) delivery (13.9%-17.7%; P=0.096) and a significant increase in tPA delivery within 45 minutes (5.7%-8.9%; P=0.042) after intervention. However, improvements in EMS recognition were limited to the first 3 months following intervention. Conclusions- A brief educational intervention was associated with improved EMS stroke recognition, hospital prenotification, and faster tPA delivery. Gains were primarily observed immediately following education and were not sustained through provision of performance feedback to paramedics.

Randomized trial finds that prostate cancer genetic risk score feedback targets prostate-specific antigen screening among at-risk men.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening may reduce death due to prostate cancer but leads to the overdiagnosis of many cases of indolent cancer. Targeted use of PSA screening may reduce overdiagnosis. Multimarker genomic testing shows promise for risk assessment and could be used to target PSA screening. METHODS: To test whether counseling based on the family history (FH) and counseling based on a genetic risk score (GRS) plus FH would differentially affect subsequent PSA screening at 3 months (primary outcome), a randomized trial of FH versus GRS plus FH was conducted with 700 whites aged 40 to 49 years without prior PSA screening. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, recall, physician discussion at 3 months, and PSA screening at 3 years. Pictographs versus numeric presentations of genetic risk were also evaluated. RESULTS: At 3 months, no significant differences were observed in the rates of PSA screening between the FH arm (2.1%) and the GRS-FH arm (4.5% with GRS-FH vs. 2.1% with FH: χ2 = 3.13, P = .077); however, PSA screening rates at 3 months significantly increased with given risk in the GRS-FH arm (P = .013). Similar results were observed for discussions with physicians at 3 months and PSA screening at 3 years. Average anxiety levels decreased after the individual cancer risk was provided (P = .0007), with no differences between groups. Visual presentation by pictographs did not significantly alter comprehension or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: This is likely the first randomized trial of multimarker genomic testing to report genomic targeting of cancer screening. This study found little evidence of concern about excess anxiety or overuse/underuse of PSA screening when multimarker genetic risks were provided to patients. Cancer 2016;122:3564-3575. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Investigation of forces involved in closure of the renal remnant after simulated partial nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential biomechanical causes of the complications of partial nephrectomy (PN) in a preclinical model of sliding-clip renorrhaphy. PN is a reference standard for amenable small renal masses. One disadvantage of PN, however, is the risk of postoperative bleeding and/or urinary leak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Simulated tumor excision and reconstruction using sliding-clip renorrhaphy were performed on fresh porcine kidneys. Suture tension (newtons, N) was measured in nonperfused and perfused states. RESULTS: Mean suture tension initially applied during renorrhaphy was 2.8 ± 0.7 N. After simulated perfusion to 120 mm Hg, increased tension was necessary to control fluid extravasation (average, 3.2 ± 0.7 N). For intravascular pressures above 200 mm Hg, an average tension of 3.4 ± 0.7 N was necessary to prevent observable leakage. The increase in suture tension under normal and hypertensive states averaged 21 ± 28% and 29 ± 31%, respectively. In experiments examining maximum suture tension before suture tear through, failure of the anchored sutures varied with the width of incorporated renal capsule. Mean forces were 5.7 ± 3.2, 8.8 ± 5.7, and 14.0 ± 6.0 N with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm of capsule, respectively. Review of video footage indicated that acute angles appear to contribute to suture failure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the tension required to cause suture failure is only slightly higher than the tension typically applied during PN and necessary to control bleeding and urine leaks. After reperfusion of the kidney, the tension can increase by ≥ 29% under hypertensive conditions. Incorporation of sufficient (≥ 0.5 cm) capsule and avoidance of acute angles of entry or exit during closure of the kidney are likely to reduce suture failure.

The classic: The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with the maggot (larva of the blow fly). 1931.

This Classic article is a reprint of the original work by William S. Baer, MD, The Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis With the Maggot (Larva of the Blow Fly). An accompanying biographical sketch on William Baer, is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-010-1415-4 . The Classic Article is ©1931 by the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc. and is reprinted with permission from Baer WS. The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with the maggot (larva of the blow fly). J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1931;13:438-475.

Stuart London's standard of living: re-examining the Settlement of Tithes of 1638 for rents, income, and poverty.

The Settlement of Tithes of 1638 can be tested for biases in its London rents. Even so, it proves to be a relatively good source for seventeenth-century London, and for calculating associated median and mean rents, as well as a Gini coefficient of inequality for the distribution of resources. Through other evidence in the Settlement, rent/income ratios for London can be approximated, and from them estimates made of London's median income. Median rents and income also allow estimates of the percentage of Londoners in poverty. Though the last is inevitably disputable, the estimate holds up well to testing by other evidence.

Towards consensus practices to qualify safety biomarkers for use in early drug development.

Application of any new biomarker to support safety-related decisions during regulated phases of drug development requires provision of a substantial data set that critically assesses analytical and biological performance of that biomarker. Such an approach enables stakeholders from industry and regulatory bodies to objectively evaluate whether superior standards of performance have been met and whether specific claims of fit-for-purpose use are supported. It is therefore important during the biomarker evaluation process that stakeholders seek agreement on which critical experiments are needed to test that a biomarker meets specific performance claims, how new biomarker and traditional comparators will be measured and how the resulting data will be merged, analyzed and interpreted.

Renal biomarker qualification submission: a dialog between the FDA-EMEA and Predictive Safety Testing Consortium.

The first formal qualification of safety biomarkers for regulatory decision making marks a milestone in the application of biomarkers to drug development. Following submission of drug toxicity studies and analyses of biomarker performance to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) by the Predictive Safety Testing Consortium's (PSTC) Nephrotoxicity Working Group, seven renal safety biomarkers have been qualified for limited use in nonclinical and clinical drug development to help guide safety assessments. This was a pilot process, and the experience gained will both facilitate better understanding of how the qualification process will probably evolve and clarify the minimal requirements necessary to evaluate the performance of biomarkers of organ injury within specific contexts.