Software de gestión y análisis de los casos de intoxicaciones por plaguicidas - PlaguiTox / Management and analysis software for pesticide poisoning cases - PlaguiTox

Introducción: El Centro Nacional de Toxicología de Cuba, supervisa y controla la información de eventos atribuibles a la inmunización, vacunación e intoxicaciones con medicamentos y plaguicidas. Los casos que llegan al centro, se justifican mayormente por el uso de plaguicidas que tienen un alto nivel de toxicidad y riesgo de muerte. Los especialistas en toxicología, requieren facilidad para revisar las hojas de seguridad, el listado oficial de plaguicidas autorizados en Cuba y los casos anteriores. Esto permite analizar y emitir un diagnóstico, que salve la vida del afectado. Objetivo: Presentar un sistema para la gestión y el análisis de los casos intoxicados por plaguicidas. Métodos: El desarrollo se sustentó en la metodología de software Extreme Programming, modelado con la herramienta CASE Visual Paradigm 8.0 y lenguaje UML 2.0. Se utilizó Java con NetBeans 8.0.2 y como gestor de base de datos PostgreSQL 9.3. Resultados: Se desarrolló una herramienta de gestión de la información toxicológica, así como una base de casos de los síntomas, plaguicidas y diagnóstico por plaguicida. Los especialistas en toxicología cuentan con una herramienta de apoyo a la toma de decisiones, que reduce la ocurrencia de errores humanos(AU)

Introduction: The Cuban National Toxicology Center supervises and controls the information of events attributable to immunization, vaccination and poisonings with medications and pesticides. The cases that arrive at the center are mainly justified by the use of pesticides that have a high level of toxicity and risk of death. Specialists in toxicology require ease to review the safety sheets, the official list of authorized pesticides in Cuba and the above cases. This allows analyzing and issuing a diagnosis that saves the life of the affected person. Objective: To present a system for the management and analysis of cases poisoned by pesticides. Methods: The development was based on the Extreme Programming software methodology, modeled with the CASE Visual Paradigm 8.0 tool and the UML 2.0 language. Java was used with NetBeans 8.0.2 and as PostgreSQL 9.3 database manager. Results: A toxicological information management tool was developed, as well as a case database of symptoms, pesticides and pesticide diagnosis. Toxicology specialists have a decision support tool that reduces the occurrence of human errors(AU)

A retrospective analysis of ethnic and gender differences in alcohol consumption among emergency department patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of alcohol use have recognized several trends in consumption patterns among gender and age yet few have examined ethnic differences. This study examines the intra- and inter-ethnic differences in alcohol consumption among a population of patients seen in the emergency department. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the emergency department in a large urban setting. Information on drinking behavior and ethnicity was collected using the Computerized Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention (CASI) tool. We explored differences in drinking patterns using a multivariate multinomial logistic regression model. RESULTS: We analyzed the drinking habits of 2,444 patients surveyed between November 2012 and May 2014. The results indicate that when compared to non-Hispanic whites, Asians have the lowest odds of drinking within normal limits or excessively, followed by other Latinos, and Mexicans. Age and gender consistently showed statistically significant associations with alcohol-use. The odds of drinking within normal limits or excessively are inversely associated with age and were lower among females. The predicted probabilities show a marked gender-specific difference in alcohol use both between and within ethnic/racial groups. They also highlight an age-related convergence in alcohol use between men and women within ethnic groups. DISCUSSION: The results of this study show intra-racial/ethnic variability associated with sex and education. The highlighted differences within and between ethnic groups reinforce the need to use refined categories when examining alcohol use among minorities. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm some alcohol consumption trends among ethnic minorities observed in literature. It provides empirical evidence of the marked gender differences and highlights an age-related convergence for gender-specific alcohol use. Health-care personnel should be aware of these differences when screening and counseling.

Distracted Driving, A Major Preventable Cause of Motor Vehicle Collisions: "Just Hang Up and Drive".

For years, public health experts have been concerned about the effect of cell phone use on motor vehicle collisions, part of a phenomenon known as "distracted driving." The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) article "Mobile Device Use While Driving - United States and Seven European Countries 2011" highlights the international nature of these concerns. Recent (2011) estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are that 10% of fatal crashes and 17% of injury crashes were reported as distraction-affected. Of 3,331 people killed in 2011 on roadways in the U.S. as a result of driver distraction, 385 died in a crash where at least one driver was using a cell phone. For drivers 15-19 years old involved in a fatal crash, 21% of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones. Efforts to reduce cell phone use while driving could reduce the prevalence of automobile crashes related to distracted driving. The MMWR report shows that there is much ground to cover with distracted driving. Emergency physicians frequently see the devastating effects of distracted driving on a daily basis and should take a more active role on sharing the information with patients, administrators, legislators, friends and family.

Vital signs: fatalities and binge drinking among high school students: a critical issue to emergency departments and trauma centers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published significant data and trends related to drinking and driving among United States (U.S.) high school students. National data from 1991-2011 shows an overall 54% relative decrease (from 22% to 10.3%) in drinking and driving among U.S. high school students aged ≥ 16 years. In 2011, this still represents approximately 950,000 high school students ages 16-19 years. The decrease in drinking and driving among teens is not fully understood, but is believed to be due to policy developments, enforcement of laws, graduated licenses, and economic impacts. Most significant to emergency physicians is that even with these restrictions, in 2010 approximately 2,700 teens (ages 16-19) were killed in the U.S. and about 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle accidents. In the same year, 1 in 5 drivers between the ages of 16-19 who were involved in fatal crashes had positive (>0.00%) blood alcohol concentration (BAC). We present findings from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report with commentary on current recommendations and policies for reducing drinking and driving among adolescents.

Assessment of alcohol use patterns among spanish-speaking patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess drinking patterns of Spanish-speaking patients using a bilingual computerized alcohol screening and brief intervention (CASI) tablet computer equipped with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital emergency department (ED) between 2006 and 2010. Data from 1816 Spanish-speaking ED patients were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test for independence, and the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test for comparisons using quantitative variables. RESULTS: Overall, 15% of Spanish-speaking patients were at-risk drinkers, and 5% had an AUDIT score consistent with alcohol dependency (≥20). A higher percentage of Spanish-speaking males than females were at-risk drinkers or likely dependent. Spanish-speaking males exhibited higher frequency of drinking days per week and higher number of drinks per day compared with females. Among older patients, nondrinking behavior increased and at-risk drinkers decreased. The majority of males and females were ready to change their behavior after the CASI intervention; 61% and 69%, respectively, scored 8-10. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that CASI was an effective tool for detecting at-risk and likely dependent drinking behavior in Spanish-speaking ED patients. The majority of patients were ready to change their drinking behavior. More alcohol screening and brief intervention tools should be tested and become readily accessible for Spanish-speaking patients.

Increased detection of alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking with computerized alcohol screening.

BACKGROUND: The impact of alcohol use has been widely studied and is considered a public health issue. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral Treatment (SBIRT), but the actual practice in the Emergency Department (ED) is constrained due to limited provider time and financial resources. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of alcohol screening using Computerized Alcohol Screening and brief Intervention (CASI) compared to alcohol screening by triage nurse during Medical Screening Examination (MSE) in the ED. METHODS: Retrospective review of CASI/MSE database from January 2008 through December 2009, collected in the tertiary, Level I Trauma ED was performed. Inclusion criteria included age ≥18 years, and completion of both the MSE and CASI. We analyzed the database by comparing age, gender, primary language (English, Spanish), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores using McNemar's test. RESULTS: Data were available for 5835 patients. CASI showed a significant increase in detection of at-risk drinking over MSE across all ages, gender, and primary language (p < 0.05). MSE found 2.5% at-risk drinkers and CASI found 11.5% at-risk drinkers (odds ratio [OR] 8.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.89-11.61). Similar results were found in 18- to 20-year-old patients. MSE identified 1.8% at-risk drinkers and CASI reported 15.94% (OR 19.33, 95% CI 6.30-96.47). CONCLUSION: CASI increased detection of at-risk alcohol drinkers compared with MSE across all ages, gender, and primary language. CASI is a promising innovative method for alcohol screening in the ED for the adult population, including under-aged drinkers.

Emergency departments and older adult motor vehicle collisions.

In 2009 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 33 million licensed drivers 65 years and older in the U.S. This represents a 23 percent increase from 1999, a number that is predicted to double by 2030. Although motor vehicle collisions related to emergency department visits for older adults are lower per capita than for younger adults, the older-adults MVCs require more resources, such as additional diagnostic imaging and increased odds of admission. Addressing the specific needs of older adults could lead to better outcomes, yet not enough research exists. It is important to continue training emergency physicians to treat the increasing older-patient population, but it is also imperative that we increase our injury prevention and screening methodology. We review research findings from the article "Emergency Department Visits by Older Adults for Motor Vehicle Collisions: A Five-Year National Study," with commentary on current recommendations and policies for the growing older-adult driving population.

Assessment of readiness to change and relationship to AUDIT score in a trauma population utilizing computerized alcohol screening and brief intervention.

Trauma patient readiness-to-change score and its relationship to the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score were assessed in addition to the feasibility of computerized alcohol screening and brief intervention (CASI). A bilingual computerized tablet for trauma patients was utilized and the data were analyzed using Stata. Twenty-five percent of 1145 trauma patients drank more than recommended and 4% were dependent. As many Spanish-speaking as English-speaking males did not drink, but a higher percentage of Spanish-speaking males drank more than recommended and were dependent. Half of patients who drank more than recommended rated themselves 8 or higher on a 10-point readiness-to-change scale. CASI also provided personalized feedback. A high percentage of trauma patients (92%) found CASI easy and a comfort in use (87%). Bilingual computerized technology for trauma patients is feasible, acceptable, and an innovative approach to alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in a tertiary care university.