Determination of identifier factors for prioritization of kidney transplantation candidates in patients with chronic renal disease
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BACKGROUND: In end-stage renal disease (ESRD) kidneys stop functioning effectively, and transplantation is considered as the best therapeutic intervention. Because of the increasing number of ESRD patients and the limited number of organ donors, identification of the right candidates for kidney transplantation on the waiting lists is of great importance. AIM: The purpose of the present study is to identify the factors affecting the prioritization of transplantation candidates based on the advice of a number of board-certified, local nephrologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 based on the Standard for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) protocol. In the first phase, 15 nephrology specialists were interviewed to collect their viewpoints, and results were analyzed based on the tagging framework. Then, a collection of the resulting factors were compiled into a checklist and validated using a Delphi method by 11 specialists. Eventually, final factors were selected using a weighting method followed by a practicality checking step. Weighting of factors was done by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique and Expert Choice 11.0 was used to analyze the weightings. RESULTS: After removing duplicates, 35 factors were extracted. Finally, using a Delphi study and the weighting method and a subsequent practicality checking step, 12 factors were identified. Age, body mass index, time on dialysis, history of kidney transplantation, and 8 other factors were among the final identified factors. The factor with the highest weight was simultaneous disease. CONCLUSION: Given the long waiting lists for kidney transplantation and the limited number of donated kidneys, selecting the candidate with highest priority is vital. Altogether, using these factors in the candidate identification process results in selecting the most suitable candidate for kidney transplantation; this may consequently increase the patient and graft survival rate.

Prediction models to measure transplant readiness of patients with renal failure: A systematic review.

Predicting the future of illness, a patient is facing helps the physicians to choose the best strategy to manage the disease. Models for predicting the readiness of candidates for kidney transplant can be very promising. This study sought to systematically review the predictive models and algorithms that assess the readiness of renal transplant candidates in different countries. This systematic review study was according to PRISMA-P protocol in PubMed and Science Direct databases and general search engines up to March 2017. Eligible studies were those that introduced a model to assess the readiness for renal transplantation of patients with chronic renal failure from cadavers and this assessment led to scoring prioritization or superiority among patients. We found 28 studies from 11 countries that met the search criteria and >50% of them were published from 2015 onward. Of the studies, nine models and algorithms were extracted that included 12 factors. Some models, including the European and Scandinavian models, were used jointly between different countries. All the models had at least four factors, and nearly 90% of the models considered four or five factors to measure kidney transplantation readiness. More than 50% of the models had age, dialysis duration, HLA type, and emergency status factors and, dialysis duration. Predictive models are important for renal transplant because of the significant reduction in number of cadavers and longer wait of candidates for a kidney transplant. Further studies can examine the effect of these models on the survival of the kidney transplant.

A systematic review on reminder systems in physical therapy.

BACKGROUND: The main goal of physical therapy is to help the patient gain a better health status. Several studies have investigated the use of reminders to prevent such failures on the patients' side. This article presents a systematic review of the literature concerning reminders in physical therapy. METHODS: Databases were searched until May 2017 and literatures were found from April 1992 until 2017. The literature recruitment strategy was based on applying several keywords and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) combination running against title and abstract, including concepts such as reminder, physical therapy. The finally selected articles were categorized through reminder aspects such as how, who feedback. Data were extracted according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: In 47% of studies, the reminder was sent to the patients, 29% to the physical therapists and 12% to the caretaker team. In 24% of the studies, paper-based letters were main medium for reminders while the rest were various types of media like emails and SMS mobile text messages. 35% of the articles showed positive effects of the reminders. CONCLUSIONS: Many reminder methods consisted of SMS, phone calls, letters, emails and notices on the wall were used in physical therapy. Reminders may be used to improve patients' adherence to exercise programs.

Haemodialysis services in the northeastern region of Iran.

Chronic kidney disease is growing and the current estimated global prevalence exceeds 13%. As the use of haemodialysis machines for patients with end stage renal disease increases survival considerably, it is critical to plan correctly for the allocation of these machines. This study aimed to develop a geographical information systems (GIS)-based approach to predict the need for this service in the northeastern region of Iran taking into account where patients live and where haemodialysis is the most needed and identifying areas with poor access to haemodialysis centres. Patients were interviewed to obtain self-reported actual travel time and the inverse distance-weighting algorithm was used to determine access in each area. The prediction is based on the domestic growth rate for haemodialysis services and the estimated active hours of machine use for the next five years. We estimate that six new haemodialysis machines are required in northeastern Iran at the present time with 50 machines required over the next five years. Ashkhane City was identified to have the least access to haemodialysis centres in the study area. Our GIS-based model can be used to investigate not only the need for new haemodialysis machines but also to examine geographic disparities in the allocation of haemodialysis centres and to identify areas most in need of this service. It is important that policymakers consider both spatial and non-spatial dimensions of access to enable better allocation of haemodialysis services ensuring they are targeted to reach those in need.

Comparison of the effect of web-based, simulation-based, and conventional training on the accuracy of visual estimation of postpartum hemorrhage volume on midwifery students: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Delay in diagnosis of bleeding can be due to underestimation of the actual amount of blood loss during delivery. Therefore, this research aimed to compare the efficacy of web-based, simulation-based, and conventional training on the accuracy of visual estimation of postpartum hemorrhage volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This three-group randomized clinical trial study was performed on 105 midwifery students in Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2013. The samples were selected by the convenience method and were randomly divided into three groups of web-based, simulation-based, and conventional training. The three groups participated before and 1 week after the training course in eight station practical tests, then, the students of the web-based group were trained on-line for 1 week, the students of the simulation-based group were trained in the Clinical Skills Centre for 4 h, and the students of the conventional group were trained for 4 h presentation by researchers. The data gathering tool was a demographic questionnaire designed by the researchers and objective structured clinical examination. Data were analyzed by software version 11.5. RESULTS: The accuracy of visual estimation of postpartum hemorrhage volume after training increased significantly in the three groups at all stations (1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 (P = 0.001), 8 (P = 0.027)) except station 3 (blood loss of 20 cc, P = 0.095), but the mean score of blood loss estimation after training did not significantly different between the three groups (P = 0.95). CONCLUSION: Training increased the accuracy of estimation of postpartum hemorrhage, but no significant difference was found among the three training groups. We can use web-based training as a substitute or supplement of training along with two other more common simulation and conventional methods.