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This collection of research papers addresses fundamental questions concerning the nature of myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the problem of disbelief and lack of knowledge and understanding of the condition among many doctors and the origins of this problem, and its impact on patients and their families. We report briefly the growing knowledge of the underlying pathological processes in ME/CFS, and the development of new organizations, including Doctors with ME, the US ME/CFS Clinical Coalition and EUROMENE, to address aspects of the challenges posed by the illness. We discuss the implications of COVID-19, which has much in common with ME/CFS, with much overlap of symptoms, and propose a new taxonomic category, which we are terming post-active phase of infection syndromes (PAPIS) to include both. This collection of papers includes a number of papers reporting similar serious impacts on the quality of life of patients and their families in various European countries. The advice of EUROMENE experts on diagnosis and management is included in the collection. We report this in light of guidance from other parts of the world, including the USA and Australia, and in the context of current difficulties in the UK over the promulgation of a revised guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). We also consider evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions for ME/CFS, and on the difficulties of determining the costs of care when a high proportion of people with ME/CFS are never diagnosed as such. The Special Issue includes a paper which is a reminder of the importance of a person-centred approach to care by reviewing mind–body interventions. Finally, another paper reviews the scope for prevention in minimizing the population burden of ME/CFS, and concludes that secondary prevention, through early detection and diagnosis, could be of value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic precipitated a major shift in the use of telehealth in Australia. The changes highlighted gaps in our knowledge regarding the efficacy of, and clinician attitudes to, the use of telehealth. The current study expands and deepens the available evidence as a result of being collected in unique circumstances that removed one of the major barriers (lack of Medicare rebates) and also one major enablers (willingness) of telehealth uptake. Methods: Using a semi-structured interview, we invited clinicians (N = 39) to share their perspectives, attitudes and experiences of using telehealth. Topics covered included perceptions of the strengths and challenges of telehealth, and how experience of using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic had influenced clinicians' views and intentions regarding their future practice. Participants included clinicians from five disciplines across public and private practice: paediatrics, neurology, immunology, rural general practice, and orthopaedics. Results: We found three key dimensions for consideration when assessing the suitability of telehealth for ongoing practice: the attributes of the patient population, the attributes of the clinical context and environment, and the risks and benefits of a telehealth approach. These findings map to the existing literature and allow us to infer that the experiences of clinicians who previously would have chosen telehealth did not differ significantly from those of our 'pandemic-conscripted' clinicians. Conclusions: Our findings map clearly to the existing literature and allow us to infer that the experiences of the clinicians who have chosen telehealth (and are already represented in the literature) did not differ significantly from those trying out telehealth under the unique circumstances of the removal of the Medicare Benefits Scheme barrier and external pressure that over-rides the 'willingness' enabling factor in uptake decisions. What is known about the topic? Clinician and patient experiences of telehealth use have already been documented in contexts where both clinician and patient have opted-in to that process. What does this paper add? The paper adds data on clinician experience across a range of specialities, from a context (pandemic public-heath measures) where the choice element was reduced for both patient and clinician. What are the implications for practitioners? The data speak to the generalisability of existing evidence, but also provide practical considerations in planning for the inclusion of telehealth for specialist health services in the Australian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart transplant (HTx) recipients are at an increased risk of developing infections or malignancies due to immunosuppressive medication. Thus, regular aftercare in those patients is of utmost importance. The extent of collateral damage due to the COVID‐19 pandemic (delayed or canceled clinical visits and diagnostics) on high‐risk patients is yet unknown. We believe that, especially for HTx‐patients, data acquisition on potential pandemic‐related nonattendance is crucial to improve clinical care in the future. Therefore, we aim to decipher possible COVID‐19‐related alterations in attendance to clinical care after HTx using a survey‐based approach. Methods: HTx recipients, 2 years beyond transplantation were selected (n = 75). We filed a paper‐based questionnaire or an online survey containing nine items about COVID‐19‐related exceptional circumstances. Fifty‐two patients (69%) returned fully answered questionnaires. Results: A perceived impact on daily life was evident with 79% of all patients, reporting a moderate‐to‐severe negative influence of the COVID‐19 pandemic on daily routine. We detected increased nonattendance of clinical care during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to prepandemic time (38 vs. 6%, p <.0001). The various diagnostic modalities of aftercare were heterogeneously affected, ranging from 2% nonattendance for influence vaccination and 18% for colonoscopy. Off note, nonattendance to clinical care within the pandemic was independent of perceived impact of the pandemia on daily life (p >.68). Conclusions: For the first time, we objectively demonstrate a significant decrease in attendance to clinical care in HTx recipients during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Efforts are needed to increase attendance in this highly vulnerable patient cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare comes with opportunities but also numerous challenges. A specific challenge that remains underexplored is the lack of clear and distinct definitions of the concepts used in and/or produced by these algorithms, and how their real world meaning is translated into machine language and vice versa, how their output is understood by the end user. This "semantic" black box adds to the "mathematical" black box present in many AI systems in which the underlying "reasoning" process is often opaque. In this way, whereas it is often claimed that the use of AI in medical applications will deliver "objective" information, the true relevance or meaning to the end‐user is frequently obscured. This is highly problematic as AI devices are used not only for diagnostic and decision support by healthcare professionals, but also can be used to deliver information to patients, for example to create visual aids for use in shared decision‐making. This paper provides an examination of the range and extent of this problem and its implications, on the basis of cases from the field of intensive care nephrology. We explore how the problematic terminology used in human communication about the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of concepts of intensive care nephrology becomes a much more complicated affair when deployed in the form of algorithmic automation, with implications extending throughout clinical care, affecting norms and practices long considered fundamental to good clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, there are equally as many papers presenting a more circumspect outlook, especially regarding psychosocial outcomes.[[4]] These include difficulties adjusting to a new body after surgery, body-mind disconnect, food-related battles, changes in personal relationships, the need for ongoing life-long lifestyle changes and expectations that surgery will fix more than weight.[[4]] Unrealistic, high expectations of surgery are not uncommon[6] and those undertaking surgery may underestimate or ignore the prospect of challenges after surgery. 38 Ogden J, Ratcliffe D, Snowdon-Carr V. British obesity metabolic surgery society endorsed guidelines for psychological support pre- and post-bariatric surgery. Keywords: bariatric surgery; clinical care; qualitative research; support EN bariatric surgery clinical care qualitative research support 1 7 7 07/19/23 20230801 NES 230801 INTRODUCTION Obesity is a complex lifelong disease of excessive adiposity, impairing health and well-being.[1] Intentional weight loss in those with obesity is associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases and favourable health outcomes.[2] Bariatric surgery, in association with lifestyle change, is currently the most effective and durable strategy for weight management for people living with obesity.[3] The literature supporting the weight and health benefits of bariatric surgery is extensive. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Ghana is a malaria-endemic country with the entire population at risk. The Northern region of the country recorded the highest malaria case fatality rate (CFR) for two consecutive years: 1.11% in 2013 and 1.07% in 2014. Even though the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has achieved a reduction in malaria mortality, the existence of high case fatality in the Northern region was alarming. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the factors associated with malaria mortality in the northern region of Ghana to institute control measures. Methods: An unmatched case control study was conducted from July 2015 to August 2015. The study population consisted of patients admitted to health facilities for severe malaria in the Northern region of Ghana. A case was defined as a patient diagnosed with severe malaria at an eligible health facility who died as a result of malaria. A control was a patient diagnosed with severe malaria admitted to an eligible health facility who did not die. Health facilities that recorded CFRs of 1.0% and above were randomly sampled for this study, after which, 10 cases and 20 controls were recruited from each health facility. Information on cases and controls was then abstracted from hospital records using an electronically deployed abstraction tool. Continuous variables were expressed as means and medians, and categorical variables as frequencies and proportions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the strength of the association between malaria mortality and factors predictive of malaria mortality. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In all, a total of 95 cases and 190 controls participated in this study. The median ages of cases and controls were 4.1 years (IQR = 21.6) and 5.7 years (IQR = 18.2), respectively. Fifty-four (56.8%) cases were females, while 93 (49.0%) of the controls were females. Factors associated with malaria mortality included: duration of hospital stay less than 24 h [aOR: 12.0, 95% CI (5.9–24.6)], severe pallor [aOR: 2.3, 95% CI (1.1–4.6)], children under 5 years [aOR: 2.8, 95% CI (1.4–5.6)], oral Artesunate/Amodiaquine administration [aOR: 0.4, 95% CI (0.2–0.9)] and sepsis as an additional diagnosis [aOR: 4.1, 95% CI (1.8–9.5)]. Conclusion: Predictors of malaria mortality in the Northern region include children under 5 years, severe pallor, sepsis as an additional diagnosis, and use of oral anti-malarial. Patients with severe pallor and sepsis as co-morbidities should receive proactive management. The NMEP and its partners should implement measures to strengthen the referral system, anaemia prevention and management, and retrain health workers on malaria case management. Malaria control interventions targeted at under five children in the region should be reviewed and enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While healthcare policy has fostered implementation strategies to improve inclusion and access of under-served groups to clinical care, systemic and structural elements still disproportionately prevent service users from accessing research opportunities embedded within clinical settings. This contributes to the widening of health inequalities, as the absence of representativeness prevents the applicability and effectiveness of evidence-based interventions in under-served clinical populations. The present study aims to identify the individual (micro), organisational (meso) and structural (macro) barriers to clinical research access in patients with comorbid alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver disease. Methods: A focused ethnography approach was employed to explore the challenges experienced by patients in the access to and implementation of research processes within clinical settings. Data were collected through an iterative-inductive approach, using field notes and patient interview transcripts. The framework method was utilised for data analysis, and themes were identified at the micro, meso and macro levels. Results: At the micro-level, alcohol-related barriers included encephalopathy and acute withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol-unrelated barriers also shaped the engagement of service users in research. At the meso-level, staff and resource pressures, as well as familiarity with clinical and research facilities were noted as influencing intervention delivery and study retention. At the wider, macro-level, circumstances including the 'cost of living crisis' and national industrial action within healthcare settings had an impact on research processes. The findings emphasise a 'domino effect' across all levels, demonstrating an interplay between individual, organisational and structural elements influencing access to clinical research. Conclusions: A combination of individual, organisational and structural barriers, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the socioeconomic landscape in which the study was conducted further contributed to the unequal access of under-served groups to clinical research participation. For patients with comorbid alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver disease, limited access to research further contributes towards a gap in effective evidence-based treatment, exacerbating health inequalities in this clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The well-being of both the mother and her baby can be influenced by the quality of the care they receive during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It's crucial to ascertain the quality of the healthcare provided in order to improve it. Therefore, utilizing a maternity dashboard is vital to measure key performance indicators (KPIs), improve the quality of care, and ensure high-quality care. Objectives: To identify and determine effective KPIs for developing a maternity dashboard. Methods: This qualitative applied research was conducted in two stages to identify and determine KPIs for developing a maternity dashboard in Iran. In the first stage, a literature review was performed, followed by a qualitative comparative analysis of maternity dashboards in various countries to extract KPIs. In the second stage, 48 KPIs were identified and validated by a panel of experts using the Delphi technique. These KPIs were classified into 6 categories and finalized by the expert panel. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: In the initial phase of the Delphi technique, all experts confirmed three main categories of KPIs required for developing the maternity dashboard: (1) clinical activity, (2) fetal and neonatal complications, and (3) postnatal. In the second stage, an expert panel reviewed the indicators, leading to the identification of six groups of essential KPIs, including clinical activity, antenatal care, childbirth, maternal complications, fetal and neonatal complications, and postnatal care, upon which 100% consensus was reached by experts. Conclusions: Maternity dashboards are vital instruments for delivering effective maternity care. These dashboards can provide valuable and practical information through KPIs, which serve as criteria for evaluating performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide management is attended with ethical dilemmas. Philosophical positions like respect for life (which generally accords with the theological position), autonomy, duty to others, and utilitarianism; as well as legal requirements provide a context for ethical decision making. Ethical principles involved are duty to others, autonomy (including informed consent and confidentiality), beneficence and non-maleficence. The application of these principles are considered in various clinical situations related to acute care (advanced directives, withdrawal of or withholding life‑sustaining treatments, surrogate decision makers, informed consent, no-suicide contracts, involuntary hospitalization) as well as long-term care in mental health settings (acutely and chronically suicidal patients, patients with suicidal behavior who are not in a suicidal crisis, and therapeutic relationship). Organizational issues (legal statutes, institutional preparedness) and cultural issues (family ties, religiosity) relevant to ethics related to suicidality are also discussed. It is emphasized that professional bodies should appreciate the difficulties faced by health‑care professionals in the ethical decision making related to suicide and develop instruments to support them [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at identifying the training needs of the veterinary officers serving under different state governments. Three states of the sub-tropical region of the country namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir were chosen purposively for their accessibility and ease in communication. A total of 120 veterinary officers were selected i.e., 40 from each state. A Schedule was developed that consisted of 44 statements across different domains viz clinical care, diagnostics, managemental practices, extension activities. The responses were recorded by assigning scores as 3, 2 & 1 for most needed, needed and least needed respectively. The results revealed that most of the training needs were associated with management of infertility and reproductive health in livestock (Mean Obtained Score: MOS 2.57), followed by sample collection, storage, and transportation procedure in disease diagnosis (MOS 2.57) and disease diagnosis through ultrasonography and radiography (MOS 2.56). Under the specific domains viz. clinical care, diagnostics, managemental practices, extension related activities, training needs were concentrated in the domains of management of infertility and reproductive health in dairy cows and buffaloes (MOS 2.57), sample collection, storage and transportation for disease diagnosis (MOS 2.57), handling the outbreaks (MOS 2.43), technical and popular writing skills (MOS 2.39), stress and time management (MOS 2.45), and biosafety measures (MOS 2.34) respectively. To meet the training needs the study suggests organizing formal and informal trainings and creating better training resources in the reported niche areas. Focusing on improving the training experience can help in augmenting the skills of veterinarians, which indirectly helps to realize the objective of empowering the animal husbandry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic medical centers conduct clinical research and provide patient care to the community and their workforce. Conflict may exist, as employees might expect benefits or feel pressured or coerced to participate in research studies or receive clinical care. Without evidence, some universities consider employees to be part of a vulnerable population for research consent at their institution, potentially restricting opportunities for employees to participate in clinical trials. At the same time, these universities encourage employees to receive health care at the same institution. We hypothesized that attitudes toward voluntary research participation and receipt of health care services at the site of employment are similar and favorable. To study this, we conducted a survey of employees at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) that asked parallel questions focusing on attitudes regarding concerns with participation in research and receipt of clinical care. We found the majority of respondents reported favorable and similar attitudes regarding employee participation in clinical care 596/688 (87%) or research 605/639 (95%) and personally comfortable with the idea (614/688 (90%) for clinical care, 582/639 (92%) for research participation). Our findings support efforts to remove barriers that restrict participation in clinical research by employees at academic medical centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis on the effects of speech therapy and phonosurgery, for transgender women, in relation to the fundamental frequency gain of the voice, regarding the type of vocal sample collected, and we compared the effectiveness of the treatments. In addition, the study design, year, country, types of techniques used, total therapy time, and vocal assessment protocols were analyzed. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO databases for observational studies and clinical trials, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, between January 2010 and January 2023. The selection of studies was carried out according to Prisma 2020. The quality of selected studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Results: Of 493 studies, 31 were deemed potentially eligible and retrieved for full-text review and 16 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Six studies performed speech therapy and ten studies phonosurgery. The speech therapy time did not influence the post-treatment gain in voice fundamental frequency (p = 0.6254). The type of sample collected significantly influenced the post-treatment voice frequency gain (p < 0.01). When the vocal sample was collected through vowel (p < 0.01) and reading (p < 0.01), the gain was significantly more heterogeneous between the different types of treatment. Phonosurgery is significantly more effective in terms of fundamental frequency gain compared to speech therapy alone, regardless of the type of sample collected (p < 0.01). The average gain of fundamental frequency after speech therapy, in the /a/ vowel sample, was 27 Hz, 39.05 Hz in reading, and 25.42 Hz in spontaneous speech. In phonosurgery, there was a gain of 71.68 Hz for the vowel /a/, 41.07 Hz in reading, and 39.09 Hz in spontaneous speech. The study with the highest gain (110 Hz) collected vowels, and the study with the lowest gain (15 Hz), spontaneous speech. The major of the included studies received a score between 4 and 8 on the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Conclusion: The type of vocal sample collected influences the gain result of the fundamental frequency after treatment. Speech therapy and phonosurgery increased the fundamental frequency and improved female voice perception and vocal satisfaction. However, phonosurgery yielded a greater fundamental frequency gain in the different samples collected. The study protocol was registered at Prospero (CRD42017078446). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardized fall risk scores have not proven to reliably predict falls in clinical settings. Machine Learning offers the potential to increase the accuracy of such predictions, possibly vastly improving care for patients at high fall risks. We developed a boosting algorithm to predict both recurrent falls and the severity of fall injuries. The model was trained on a dataset including extensive information on fall events of patients who had been admitted to Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin between August 2016 and July 2020. The data were recorded according to the German expert standard for fall documentation. Predictive power scores were calculated to define optimal feature sets. With an accuracy of 74% for recurrent falls and 86% for injury severity, boosting demonstrated the best overall predictive performance of all models assessed. Given that our data contain initially rated risk scores, our results demonstrate that well trained ML algorithms possibly provide tools to substantially reduce fall risks in clinical care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: obstructive sleep apnoea is a common and burdensome condition, characterised by obstruction of the airway during sleep at the level of the pharynx, which may occur with symptoms or without any symptoms. The most common place for obstructive sleep apnoea management is in specialised sleep units. Aim: to identify what is known about nurses' role in comprehensive management of obstructive sleep apnoea, and to determine the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions as well as the cost effectiveness of management of obstructive sleep apnoea in primary care settings. Methods: a scoping review was carried out by searching PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and ScienceDirect. The study findings were synthesised using a thematic analysis approach. Results: In this review, 12 articles were included, and three key themes emerged, namely the role of nurses in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea, role of nurses in the follow up and support of obstructive sleep apnoea patients, and role of nurses in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea in primary care and the cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Nurses can play a critical role in obstructive sleep apnoea. There are many ways in which nurses can contribute, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, promotion of therapy adherence, and following up with patients, including monitoring for any side effects associated with the CPAP machine, such as irritation of the face. Additionally, nurses can provide patient education and coordinate with other health care providers. Nursing interventions such as patient education have been demonstrated to be highly effective in promoting adherence to PAP therapy in both sleep units and primary care settings. Based on the findings of this review, the primary care model is more cost-effective than the sleep unit model in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea patients. The role of nurses in managing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in both paediatric and adult populations shares similarities, but also includes differences that should be carefully considered and explored. In this review, one article only explored the role of nurses in paediatric OSA care. Thus, there is a need to identify the potential role of nursing in the comprehensive management of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea, as well as to explore alternative cost-effective approaches that include primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic health records (EHRs) contain valuable data for reuse in science, quality evaluations, and clinical decision support. Because routinely obtained laboratory data are abundantly present, often numeric, generated by certified laboratories, and stored in a structured way, one may assume that they are immediately fit for (re)use in research. However, behind each test result lies an extensive context of choices and considerations, made by both humans and machines, that introduces hidden patterns in the data. If they are unaware, researchers reusing routine laboratory data may eventually draw incorrect conclusions. In this paper, after discussing health care system characteristics on both the macro and micro level, we introduce the reader to hidden aspects of generating structured routine laboratory data in 4 steps (ordering, preanalysis, analysis, and postanalysis) and explain how each of these steps may interfere with the reuse of routine laboratory data. As researchers reusing these data, we underline the importance of domain knowledge of the health care professional, laboratory specialist, data manager, and patient to turn routine laboratory data into meaningful data sets to help obtain relevant insights that create value for clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes a novel quality improvement initiative by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry outpatient service to enhance the quality of clinical documentation through effective use of a standardized template. It involved carrying out an initial audit, implementation of an action plan to rectify the identified shortcomings, and completion of the audit cycle by repeating the process a year later. A significant improvement was noted across all the measurable standards. We have demonstrated that standardization of clinical documentation, reviewing and addressing factors affecting the compliance rates, and providing necessary training to doctors can all enhance the quality of clinical documentation. • Comprehensive clinical documentation is considered integral to the delivery of high-quality clinical care. • Use of a structured, standardized template for assessments prevents variability in documentation among practitioners. • Clinical audits of medical documentation can be particularly useful in psychiatry in identifying potential deficiencies. • Good quality documentation improves care coordination by improving interdisciplinary liaison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Despite the well-known adverse health conditions and negative economic outcomes associated with mental health problems, accessing treatment is difficult due to reasons such as availability and cost. As a solution, digital mental health services have flooded the industry, and new studies are quickly emerging that support their potential as an accessible and cost-effective way to improve mental health outcomes. However, many mental health platforms typically use clinical tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) or General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Yet, many individuals that seek out care do not have clinical symptomatology and thus, traditional clinical measures may not adequately capture symptom improvement in general well-being. As an alternative, this study used the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Healthy Days" measure. This subjective measure of well-being is an effective way to capture HRQoL and might be better suited as an outcome measure for treatments that include both clinical and subclinical individuals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe changes in HRQoL in clinical and subclinical members assessing virtual care and to examine the association between text-based behavioral coaching and virtual clinical sessions with changes in HRQoL. Methods: A total of 288 members completed the 4-item HRQoL measure at baseline and at 1 month following use of the Ginger on demand behavioral health platform. Baseline anxiety and depression levels were collected using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. Results: Members completed on average 1.92 (SD 2.16) coaching sessions and 0.91 (SD 1.37) clinical sessions during the assessment month. Paired samples t tests revealed significant reductions in the average number of unhealthy mental health days between baseline (mean 16, SD 8.77 days) and follow-up (mean 13.2, SD 9.02 days; t287=5.73; P<.001), and in the average number of days adversely impacted (meanbaseline 10.9, meanfollow-up 8.19; t287=6.26; P<.001). Both subclinical members (t103=3.04; P=.003) and clinical members (t183=5.5; P<.001) demonstrated significant improvements through reductions in adversely impacted days over a month. Clinical members also demonstrated significant improvements through reductions in unhealthy mental health days (t183=5.82; P<.001). Finally, member engagement with virtual clinical sessions significantly predicted changes in unhealthy mental health days (B=-0.96; P=.04). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to use the HRQoL measure as an outcome in an evaluation of a digital behavioral health platform. Using real-world longitudinal data, our preliminary yet promising results show that short-term engagement with virtual care can be an effective means to improve HRQoL for members with subclinical and clinical symptoms. Further follow-up of reported HRQoL over several months is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preoperative medical evaluation serves to identify risk factors and optimize patients before surgery. Providing a telehealth option in the perioperative setting has played a significant role in reducing barriers to quality perioperative health care. Objective: We aimed to evaluate how telemedicine preoperative evaluations using Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) impact hospital length of stay. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review between 2016 and 2017 of adult patients who underwent evaluations in our hospitalist-run preoperative medicine clinic. Patients seen in our preoperative CVT program were compared to patients seen in person to evaluate the association of visit type (preoperative CVT versus in-person evaluation) with hospital length of stay, defined as hospital stay from postoperative day 0 to discharge. There were 62 patients included in this retrospective study. Results: The adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) for hospital length of stay was significantly shorter in patients who underwent preoperative CVT compared to an in-person visit (IRR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29-0.92, P=.02). Conclusions: After adjusting for age and comorbidities, we show that preoperative telemedicine in the perioperative setting is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay compared to in-person visits. This suggests that telemedicine can play a viable role in this clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, to prevent the spread of the virus, federal regulatory barriers around telemedicine were lifted, and health care institutions encouraged patients to use telemedicine, including video appointments. Many patients, however, still chose face-2-face (f2f) appointments for nonemergent clinical care. Objective: We explored patients’ personal and environmental barriers to the use of video appointments from April 2020 to December 2020. Methods: We conducted qualitative telephone interviews of Mayo Clinic patients who attended f2f appointments at the Mayo Clinic from April 2020 to December 2020 but did not utilize Mayo Clinic video appointment services during that time frame. Results: We found that, although most patients were concerned about preventing COVID-19 transmission, they trusted Mayo Clinic to keep them safe when attending f2f appointments. Many expressed that a video appointment made it difficult to establish rapport with their providers. Other common barriers to video appointments were perceived therapeutic benefits of f2f appointments, low digital literacy, and concerns about privacy and security. Conclusions: Our study provides an in-depth investigation into barriers to engaging in video appointments for nonemergent clinical care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings corroborate many barriers prevalent in the prepandemic literature and suggest that rapport barriers need to be analyzed and problem-solved at a granular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Studies in exercise oncology are increasingly evaluating the implementation of cancer-specific exercise programming in real-world settings. Evaluating current implementation efforts and identifying current research gaps may inform future implementation. This scoping review explores studies implementing cancer-specific exercise programs to determine their pragmatic characteristics and evaluate potential for translation into practice. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using five databases (up to July 2020) to identify implementation studies that used qualitative or quantitative methods. Program pragmatism was evaluated using the PRECIS/RE-AIM tool. Results: Fourteen articles were included for review. While programs were moderately pragmatic (average: 3.4; range: 2.8–4.2), variability was observed between scoring domains. Programs scored higher (more pragmatic) in domains typical for effectiveness studies, including participant eligibility, follow-up intensity, primary trial outcome, and analysis of primary outcome. In contrast, programs scored lower (less pragmatic) in domains aligned with implementation science, including intervention flexibility, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Limited information was reported regarding program fidelity, adaptations, and maintenance/sustainability. Conclusion: Researchers should consider the pragmatism of interventions, the nuances of program adoption and implementation at the setting level, and the transition and integration of programming into the healthcare system. Future studies may benefit from the inclusion of decision-makers and implementation experts and shifting focus towards flexible programming. PRECIS/RE-AIM may facilitate the evaluation of programs throughout the study design and implementation process. Implications for Cancer Survivors: The implementation of pragmatic exercise programs that are both scalable and sustainable is needed so that cancer survivors can experience exercise-related benefits beyond research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are used increasingly in routine clinical care and inform policies, reimbursements, and quality improvement. Less is known regarding PRO implementation in routine clinical care for diverse and underrepresented patient populations. Objective: This review aims to identify studies of PRO implementation in diverse and underrepresented patient populations, elucidate representation of clinical specialties, assess implementation outcomes, and synthesize patient needs, concerns, and preferences. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched September 2021 for studies aiming to study PRO implementation in diverse and underrepresented patient populations within the United States. Studies were screened and data extracted by three independent reviewers. Implementation outcomes were assessed according to Proctor et al. taxonomy. A descriptive analysis of data was conducted. Results: The search yielded 8,687 records, and 28 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority were observational cohort studies (n = 21, 75%) and conducted in primary care (n = 10, 36%). Most studies included majority female (n = 19, 68%) and non-White populations (n = 15, 54%), while fewer reported socioeconomic (n = 11, 39%) or insurance status (n = 9, 32.1%). Most studies assessed implementation outcomes of feasibility (n = 27, 96%) and acceptability (n = 19, 68%); costs (n = 3, 11%), penetration (n = 1, 4%), and sustainability (n = 1, 4%) were infrequently assessed. Conclusion: PRO implementation in routine clinical care for diverse and underrepresented patient populations is generally feasible and acceptable. Research is lacking in key clinical specialties. Further work is needed to understand how health disparities drive PRO implementation outcomes. Plain English summary: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) allow doctors and researchers to understand the patient perspective, such as how they are doing physically, mentally, or socially. When used, PROs can improve health and increase satisfaction of patients. Many clinics and hospitals are interested in using PROs in everyday care. Doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies are also using information from PROs to decide if the care they give is good quality. Unfortunately, certain groups of patients, such as racial and ethnic minorities and patients with low income, report worse PROs. Because of these differences, it will be important to make sure that PROs are being collected from all people, but not much is known regarding how this has been done. This study demonstrates what is known so far with regard to using PROs in everyday clinical care for these diverse patient groups. Findings from this study show that PROs can be successfully collected, but more work is needed in certain medical fields, and some types of patients have specific needs, concerns, or preferences with regard to PRO collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pediatric epilepsy is often associated with diminished health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Our aim was to establish the validity of the Pediatric Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System Quality of Life (PELHS‐QOL‐2) questions, a novel two‐item HRQOL prompt for children with epilepsy, primarily for use in clinical care. Methods: We performed a multicenter cross‐sectional study to validate the PELHS‐QOL‐2. Construct validity was established through bivariate comparisons with four comparator measures and known drivers of quality of life in children with epilepsy, as well as by creating an a priori multivariable model to predict the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE‐55). Validity generalization was established through bivariate comparisons with demographic and clinical information. Content validity and clinical utility were established by assessing how well the PELHS‐QOL‐2 met eight design criteria for an HRQOL prompt established by a multistakeholder group of experts. Results: The final participant sample included 154 English‐speaking caregivers of children with epilepsy (mean age = 9.7 years, range =.5–18, 49% female, 70% White). The PELHS‐QOL‐2 correlated with the four comparator instruments (ρ =.44–.56), was significantly associated with several known drivers of quality of life in children with epilepsy (p <.05), and predicted QOLCE‐55 scores in the multivariate model (adjusted R2 =.54). The PELHS‐QOL‐2 item was not associated with the age, sex, and ethnicity of the children nor with the setting and location of data collection, although PELHS‐QOL‐Medications was significantly associated with race (worse for White race). Following both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the PELHS‐QOL‐2 met seven of eight design criteria. Significance: The PELHS‐QOL‐2 is a valid HRQOL prompt and is well suited for use in clinical care as a mechanism to routinely initiate conversations with caregivers about quality of life in children with epilepsy. The association of PELHS‐QOL‐Medications with race merits further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallstones affect 20% of the Western population and will grow in clinical significance as obesity and metabolic diseases become more prevalent. Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is a common treatment for diseases caused by gallstones, with 1.2 million surgeries in the US each year, each costing USD 10,000. Gallbladder disease has a significant impact on the logistics and economics of healthcare. We discuss the two most common presentations of gallbladder disease (biliary colic and cholecystitis) and their pathophysiology, risk factors, signs and symptoms. We discuss the factors that affect clinical care, including diagnosis, treatment outcomes, surgical risk factors, quality of life and cost-efficacy. We highlight the importance of standardised guidelines and objective scoring systems in improving quality, consistency and compatibility across healthcare providers and in improving patient outcomes, collaborative opportunities and the cost-effectiveness of treatment. Guidelines and scoring only exist in select areas of the care pathway. Opportunities exist elsewhere in the care pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a deluge of scientific research aimed at informing the public health and medical response to the pandemic. However, early in the pandemic, those working in frontline public health and clinical care had insufficient time to parse the rapidly evolving evidence and use it for decision-making. Academics in public health and medicine were well-placed to translate the evidence for use by frontline clinicians and public health practitioners. The Novel Coronavirus Research Compendium (NCRC), a group of >60 faculty and trainees across the United States, formed in March 2020 with the goal to quickly triage and review the large volume of preprints and peer-reviewed publications on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 and summarize the most important, novel evidence to inform pandemic response. From April 6 through December 31, 2020, NCRC teams screened 54 192 peer-reviewed articles and preprints, of which 527 were selected for review and uploaded to the NCRC website for public consumption. Most articles were peer-reviewed publications (n = 395, 75.0%), published in 102 journals; 25.1% (n = 132) of articles reviewed were preprints. The NCRC is a successful model of how academics translate scientific knowledge for practitioners and help build capacity for this work among students. This approach could be used for health problems beyond COVID-19, but the effort is resource intensive and may not be sustainable in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science fiction, one of the more intriguing and imaginative genres, implements an inquisitive nature that is all but lost in modern science. Once considered the product of genius or divine inspiration, creativity -- the ability to spot problems and devise smart solutions -- is recognized as a prized and teachable skill. Creativity and novel thought are the backbones of civilization and progress, yet the study of creativity is unfortunately not part of the formal curricular instruction in most academic healthcare settings. One may contend that medicine loses its touch with humanity as technology becomes more involved in the process, but human ingenuity and our ardent desire to improve outdated solutions and reduce the pain, time, and stress of a treatment or test illustrates how creativity is spurred in junction with technology. Chance, Competition, Collaboration, Crisis, Curiosity, Culture, and Convergence are the critical forces that play a pivotal role in shaping our creative destiny in both our personal lives and organizational functions. This cycles back to the collaborative section above as people with unique abilities and expertise can congregate to solve endless problems, but it is reliant on communication, proximity, and one's own intrinsic desires. When we mix non-medical contexts with medicine it can help uplift productivity, versatility, and passion. Ultimately, convergence can enhance medicine in unexpected and innovative means, seeping into research, clinical care, and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its development, Singh's 2003 Area Deprivation Index (ADI) has been routinely used by researchers to measure a global construct of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and to investigate how living in neighborhoods of different levels of socioeconomic deprivation affects individuals' health. We empirically tested the ADI's dimensionality, using 2013–2017 American Community Survey tract-level estimates (N = 73,056), and the stability of its performance across time and place. Factor analysis findings illuminated three distinct dimensions, the ADI-3, consisting of neighborhood financial strength, economic hardship and inequality, and educational attainment. The prior-assumed unidimensional ADI measure fails standard tests of construct validity. Findings from multigroup structural equation modeling across 2009 and 2017 and between New York and Minnesota suggest that the ADI performs with only partial stability across time and place. In order to most precisely understand the complex role of neighborhood socioeconomic position in health, public health researchers must integrate construct-valid and regionally and temporally relevant measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being incorporated into clinical and surgical care for assessing outcomes. This study examined outcomes important to patients in their decision to have hip or knee replacement surgery, their perspectives on PROMs and shared decision-making, and factors they considered important for postoperative care. Methods: A cross-sectional study employing survey methods with a stratified random sample of adult orthopedic patients who were scheduled for or recently had hip or knee replacement surgery. Results: In a representative sample of 226 respondents, patients identified personalized outcomes important to them that they wanted from their surgery including the ability to walk without pain/discomfort, pain relief, and returning to an active lifestyle. They preferred a personalized outcome (54%) that they identified, compared to a PROM score, for tracking progress in their care and thought it important that their surgeon know their personal outcomes (63%). Patients also wanted to engage in shared decision-making (79%) about their post-surgical care and identified personal factors important to their aftercare, such as living alone and caring for pets. Conclusions: Patients identified unique personalized outcomes they desired from their care and that they wanted their orthopedic surgeons to know about. Asking patients to identify their personalized outcomes could add value for both patients and surgeons in clinical care, facilitating more robust patient involvement in shared decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]