Championing eHealth in Clinical Care.

Since 1959, the rate of technological advancements, which has been buoyed by the evolution of microprocessors that stimulate innovation, has grown exponentially, doubling every 12 to 18 months (Roser & Ritchie, 2020). In 2020, it is impossible to walk down the street without seeing people checking their smartphones. However, it was only four decades ago that the personal computer was first introduced into the marketplace. It has been a little more than a decade since the first smartphone-the iPhone by Apple-was released in 2007, followed by the release of the iPad in 2010 (Zimmermann, 2017). As of 2019, an estimated 269 million people in the United States use smartphones (Holst, 2019). Increased technological advancements, as well as the widespread availability of these technologies and their application to Americans' daily lives, have become the norm. In the clinical nursing care of patients with cancer, the use of technology is also gaining momentum. This supplement to the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing explores how technology in health care can extend and enhance clinical oncology nursing care.

Cross-Disciplinary Perceptions of Structured Interprofessional Rounds in Promoting Teamwork Within an Academic Tertiary Care Obstetric Unit.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, physician and nursing leaders at Brigham and Women's Hospital initiated structured interprofessional rounds (SIPRs) on the labor and delivery (L&D) suite to improve team communication. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of providers' perceptions of SIPRs and their effectiveness in improving teamwork. We hypothesized that on average, providers would perceive SIPRs as being effective in promoting teamwork, but ratings would differ among professional groups. METHODS: After a factor analysis and internal consistency assessment, a 19-item paper-based questionnaire was used to evaluate providers' perceptions using a 5-point Likert scale. Respondents included L&D nurses, midwives, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists who participate in SIPRs. The primary aim was to evaluate the providers' perceptions of SIPRs and their association with professional roles. The outcome was total response score for each provider, ranging from 19 to 95; perception of SIPRs as being effective in promoting teamwork was defined as having a total response score of >66.5 (mean score, >3.5 per question). A univariable linear regression model was performed, followed by a multivariable analysis adjusting for predictors that modified the outcome; predictors included years of professional practice, years of experience on the L&D suite, number of clinical work hours worked weekly, and principal shift assignment among nurses. The associations between these predictors and providers' perceptions were assessed as a secondary aim. RESULTS: A total of 234 practitioners responded (100% response rate). The mean total response score (SD) for all providers was 73.3 (9.5). After multivariable adjustment, the mean total response scores were significantly higher for obstetric providers than for anesthesia (Δ mean, 6.5, 95% CI, 0.3, 12.7 P = .036) and midwifery (Δ mean, 12.5, 95% CI, 2.0, 23.0, P = .009) providers. Providers scored significantly lower if they worked >60 clinical hours per week compared with ≤20 (Δ mean, -13.7, 95% CI, -25.3, -2.1, P = .009), 21-40 (Δ mean, -8.0, 95% CI, -15.8, -0.09, P = .049), or 41-60 hours (Δ mean, -8.1, 95% CI, -14.5, -1.7, P = .004). Duration of practice in professional role and experience on the L&D suite were not predictive of SIPRs ratings. CONCLUSIONS: On average, providers on the L&D suite perceive SIPRs as being effective in promoting teamwork. Perception ratings were significantly influenced by professional role and number of clinical hours worked weekly, suggesting that these factors should be explored in future research to minimize perception gaps and support a dynamic culture of interprofessional collaboration.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and severe acute respiratory distress secondary to Legionella: 10 year experience.

Legionella-associated respiratory failure has a high mortality, despite modern ventilation modalities. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to achieve gas exchange independent of pulmonary function in patients with severe respiratory failure. This was a retrospective review of the management and outcome of patients with Legionella-associated respiratory failure treated with ECMO support in a large ECMO center over the past 10 years. A retrospective review of patients with confirmed Legionella-associated severe respiratory failure managed with ECMO support at a single center. Between 2000 and 2010, 19 patients with severe respiratory failure caused by Legionella were managed with ECMO after failure to respond to conventional intensive care management. Median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 66 and median pCO2 was 60 torr. Sixteen patients (84%) survived to hospital discharge. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered in patients with Legionella-associated respiratory failure, who have failed conventional ventilation.

A prospective cohort analysis of adjacent vertebral body bone mineral density in lumbar surgery patients with or without instrumented posterolateral fusion: a 9- to 12-year follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, cohort study of 11 patients who underwent either a posterior lumbar spinal fusion with instrumentation (n = 7) or a lumbar laminotomy and discectomy alone (n = 4) and who were evaluated by dual energy radiograph absorptiometry (DEXA) to determine bone mineral density (BMD) at the adjacent three cephalad vertebral levels. OBJECTIVES: To determine long-term BMD changes that occur at the adjacent three levels above an instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion or an isolated laminotomy and lumbar discectomy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No long-term prospective study has evaluated the affects of instrumented lumbar fusions on bone remodeling at adjacent vertebral levels. Several studies in animals and humans have reported a decrease in BMD at the adjacent level during the first 6 months after spinal fusion with a return to baseline at 1-year follow-up in up to 60% of patients. METHODS: DEXA was performed initially at a mean postoperative follow-up of 4 years (range, 2.3-5.5 years) and again at a mean of 10.8 years (range, 9.1-2.4 years). Eleven patients were divided into two groups: laminotomy and discectomy (n = 4) and instrumented posterior spinal fusion (n = 7). All patients underwent surgical procedures at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 levels with DEXA analysis being performed on the adjacent three cephalad levels. The discectomy group (mean age, 57.8 years) underwent lumbar hemilaminotomy without fusion whereas the other group (mean age, 60 years) underwent pedicle-screw instrumentation and posterolateral lumbar fusion. Peripheral sites, including the femoral neck, were included in the DEXA analysis to normalize for individual differences in bone mineral metabolism. RESULTS: At the mean 10.8-year follow-up, the fusion group was noted to have at the adjacent level, two levels cephalad, and three levels cephalad normalized BMDs of 1.47, 1.39, and 1.27, respectively. A 14.8%, 10.8%, and 9.5% increase respectively in normalized BMD was observed when compared with the mean 4-year fusion values (P < 0.05). This increase was also noted on comparative T-score, Z-score, and absolute BMD values (P < 0.05). The discectomy group when evaluated revealed no statistically significant change from the mean 4 to 10.8-year follow-up (BMD, normalized BMD, T-score, Z-score). No statistically significant difference was noted in hip BMD at the mean 4-year and 10.8-year follow-up (1.05 versus 1.03), suggesting that the effects were local. CONCLUSIONS: The local BMD adjacent to an instrumented lumbar fusion is increased at a mean of 10.8-years after surgery. There is a gradual decrease in BMD changes with increasing distance from the fusion level. Alterations in fusion site biomechanics and modulus mismatch between the host bone and the spinal instrumentation most likely result in chronic, localized bone remodeling with an increased BMD that decreases the greater the distance from the fusion mass.

Impact of tracheostomy or laryngectomy on spousal and caregiver relationships.

Caregiving is an important component in the management of patients with a tracheostomy or laryngectomy. The purpose of this integrative research literature review was to gain a better understanding of the impact of caregiving for adults and children with laryngectomy or tracheostomy on the patient, the family, and the caregiver. Patients who had undergone laryngectomy or tracheostomy included those with and without cancer. This integrated review of the literature on caregiving in this population demonstrates the dearth of studies on this subject. Despite the significance of the caregiving role, few studies have addressed caregiving, and those that have are primarily descriptive. Studies are needed that develop and test interventions to assist caregivers in adaptation to their role, identification of methods of decreasing caregiver burden and strain, and coordination of resources to support patients and caregivers of patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies.

SOHN 2002 Web-based membership survey: results, analysis and recommendations.

In March, 2002, the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses, Inc. (SOHN) conducted a web-based survey of members' knowledge of and satisfaction with its portfolio of products and services. This paper reports on the process of developing and conducting the survey, as well as its findings. A new "Volunteer Agreement/Code of Conduct", piloted for this team's work is introduced. General and specific recommendations are put forth for SOHN members and leaders, including useful information to facilitate work for future survey teams.