Nevin Manimala

Nurs Open. 2022 Nov 20. doi: 10.1002/nop2.1485. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the study was to test the psychometric properties of the Facilitative Student-Patient Relationship (FSPR) Scale in clinical practicum in hospital settings within six European countries.

DESIGN: A multi-country, cross-sectional survey design was applied.

METHODS: A convenience sample of graduating nursing students (N = 1,796) completed the FSPR Scale. Psychometric testing was carried out through explorative factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha.

RESULTS: Both validity and reliability of the scale were confirmed. The explorative factor analysis yielded a two-factor construct explaining 47.7% of the total variance, identifying two sub-scales: caring relationship and learning relationship. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure. The Cronbach alpha coefficients (0.8-0.9) indicated acceptable reliability of the scale.

PMID:36404294 | DOI:10.1002/nop2.1485

Aust Crit Care. 2022 Nov 17:S1036-7314(22)00196-5. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2022.09.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Nursing involvement in optimising antimicrobials in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains understudied.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore nurses’ perceptions and experiences of antimicrobial optimisation or stewardship in ICUs in Australia.

METHODS: An anonymous web-based survey was deployed nationally in early 2021 through two ICU nursing networks. Associations between survey responses were analysed descriptively and by using nonparametric tests (with statistical significance established at p ≤ 0.05). Free-text survey responses underwent qualitative thematic analysis. Interpretation and reporting of quantitative and qualitative data were integrated.

RESULTS: A total of 226 ICU nurses completed the survey. The majority (197/226; 87%) responded that lack of education limits engagement in AMS. Only 13% (30/226) reported the presence of AMS education and training for nurses in their ICUs. Only about half (108/226; 48%) of the nurses were confident to question prescribers when they considered that the antimicrobial prescribed was unnecessary, with nurses in senior roles more likely to do so than nurses providing bedside care (p < 0.05). Gaps in education (including unfamiliarity with AMS roles), noninclusive antimicrobial discussions, moral distress, and potential workload burden were seen as potential barriers/challenges to engagement.

CONCLUSION: The multifactorial barriers identified that inhibit nurses from performing AMS tasks could be addressed by strengthening interprofessional education at all levels and by applying practical AMS interventions that are inclusive for nursing participation. A purposeful culture change that fosters psychological safety and collaborative practice is paramount to supporting nurses in these roles.

PMID:36404269 | DOI:10.1016/j.aucc.2022.09.005

Aust Crit Care. 2022 Nov 17:S1036-7314(22)00221-1. doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2022.10.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lung ultrasound (LUS) for physiotherapists is an emerging bedside tool. The LUS score of aeration presents as a possible means of assessing and monitoring lung aeration associated with respiratory physiotherapy treatments. There are no studies to date that have assessed the interrater reliability (IRR) of physiotherapists assigning the LUS score of aeration. This study assessed the IRR of assigning the LUS score among adult, mechanically ventilated patients in an intensive care unit with a clinical suspicion of acute lobar atelectasis.

METHODS: A convenience sample of patients had an LUS performed by a physiotherapist, and images were independently reviewed by two physiotherapists. Each lung zone was assigned an LUS score between 0 and 3 (with 0 being normal aeration and 3 being complete consolidation, presence of effusion, or pneumothorax). IRR was assessed using the kappa statistic.

RESULTS: A total of 1032 LUS images were obtained. Assigning of the LUS across all lung zones demonstrated substantial agreement with kappa 0.685 (95% confidence interval: 0.650, 0.720). Right (0.702 [0.653, 0.751]) and left (0.670 [0.619, 0.721]) lung zones also demonstrated substantial agreement.

CONCLUSION: We found substantial IRR between physiotherapists in assigning the LUS score in a mechanically ventilated adult population in the intensive care unit.

AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12619000783123.

PMID:36404268 | DOI:10.1016/j.aucc.2022.10.008

J Geriatr Oncol. 2022 Nov 17:S1879-4068(22)00520-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2022.10.016. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The GAH (Geriatric Assessment in Hematology) scale is a psychometrically valid tool aimed at identifying older patients with hematological malignancies at higher risk of treatment-related toxicity. Our objective in this study was to determine the weights for each dimension of the GAH scale and the cut-off point to reliably predict treatment tolerability in this population, estimated by a weighted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and quantified by the area under the curve (AUC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The RETROGAH was a retrospective cohort study including 126 patients who had previously participated in the GAH study. Patients were ≥ 65 years old with newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), or chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) and treated with standard front-line therapy within three months after having completed the GAH scale.

RESULTS: The optimal cut-off value of the GAH total score to discriminate patients at higher risk of treatment toxicity was 42, with 68.5% sensitivity and 55.8% specificity. Using this value, 66.1% of patients evaluated were found to develop some type of toxicity. The AUC was 0.6259 (95% CI: 0.512-0.739; p = 0.035).

DISCUSSION: The GAH scale not only would enable clinicians to individualize therapy based on individual risk of toxicity but also discriminate patients that will benefit most from intensive treatments from those requiring an adapted approach. While futures studies in clinical practice may improve the model and overcome its limitations, the GAH scale should not be used alone when making treatment decisions.

PMID:36404260 | DOI:10.1016/j.jgo.2022.10.016

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2022 Nov 8:S0748-7983(22)00736-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2022.11.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of lymph node dissection (LND) in node-negative intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and identify the appropriately total number of lymph nodes examined (TNLE).

METHODS: Data from node-negative ICC patients who underwent curative intent resection in ten Chinese hepatobiliary centers from January 2010 to December 2018 were collected. Overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and postoperative complications were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce the bias due to confounding variables in LND group and non-lymph node dissection (NLND) group. The optimal TNLE was determined by survival analysis performed by the X-tile program using the enumeration method.

RESULTS: A total of 637 clinically node-negative ICC patients were included in this study, 74 cases were found lymph node (LN) positive after operation. Among the remaining 563 node-negative ICC patients, LND was associated with longer OS but not RFS before PSM (OS: 35.4 vs 26.0 months, p = 0.047; RFS: 15.0 vs 15.4 months, p = 0.992). After PSM, patients in LND group had better prognosis on both OS and RFS (OS: 38.0 vs 23.0 months, p < 0.001; RFS: 15.0 vs 13.0 months, p = 0.029). There were no statistically differences in postoperative complications. When TNLE was greater than 8, OS (48.5 vs 31.1 months, p = 0.025) and RFS (21.0 vs 13.0 months, p = 0.043) were longer in the group with more dissected LNs.

CONCLUSION: Routinely LND for node-negative ICC patients is recommended for it helps accurate tumor staging and associates with better prognosis. The optimal TNLE is more than 8.

PMID:36404249 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejso.2022.11.008

J Voice. 2022 Nov 17:S0892-1997(22)00345-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.10.017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the concentration of fibroblasts in the vocal folds of elderly people.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The vocal folds of 13 cadavers were removed and divided into two age groups: Control group: n-5, 18-40 years; Elderly group: n-8, ≥75 years). The vocal folds were dissected and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis using the SA100 antibody to fibroblasts. The sites analyzed were maculae flavae and medial (or vibrating) portion of the vocal folds. The AVsoft program was used to count the cells.

RESULTS: A higher concentration of fibroblasts was identified in the maculae flavae of the larynx of young adults and in the medial portion of the vocal folds of the elderly. However, these results did not determine statistically significant differences, allowing us to conclude that there was no effect of age on the concentration of fibroblasts in the vocal folds.

CONCLUSION: In the larynx of the elderly, the fibroblast population remains similar to the young adults, both in the maculae flavae and in the body of the vocal folds, possibly being responsible for the constant production of fibrous matrix in the lamina propria. Functional changes in these cells are probably more marked than quantitative ones.

PMID:36404202 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.10.017

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2022 Nov 20. doi: 10.1111/jce.15752. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Intramural or epicardial locations of the arrhythmogenic substrate are regarded as one of the main reasons for radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation failure. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of various factors including baseline impedance, irrigant and electrode configuration at similar ablation index value.

METHODS: In 12 ex vivo swine hearts, radiofrequency ablation was performed at a target AI value of 500 and a multistep impedance load (100-180Ω) in 4 settings: (1) conventional unipolar configuration with an irrigant of NS; (2) conventional unipolar configuration with an irrigant of HNS; (3) bipolar configuration with an irrigant of NS.; (4) sequential unipolar configuration with an irrigant of NS. The relationships between lesion dimensions and above factors were examined.

RESULTS: Baseline impedance had a strong negative linear correlation with lesion dimensions at a certain AI. The correlation coefficient between baseline impedance and depth, width, and volume were R =-0.890, R =-0.755 and R =-0.813, respectively (P<0.01). There were 10 (total: 10/100, 10%; bipolar: 10/25, 40%) transmural lesions during the whole procedure. Bipolar ablation resulted in significantly deeper lesion than other electrode configurations. Other comparisons in our experiment did not achieve statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: There is a strong negative linear correlation between baseline impedance and lesion dimensions at a certain AI value. Baseline impedance has an influence on the overall lesion dimensions among irrigated fluid and ablation configurations. Over a threshold impedance of 150Ω, the predictive accuracy of AI can be compromised. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36403284 | DOI:10.1111/jce.15752

J Card Surg. 2022 Nov 20. doi: 10.1111/jocs.17047. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of long-term nursing intervention on the quality of life and social support of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was designed. A total of 60 patients with coronary heart disease treated with PCI were randomly divided into the control group and the intervention group. The patients in the control group received routine nursing care, while the patients in the intervention group received long-term nursing intervention. The Simplified Quality of Life Scale-Quality of Life Scale, the Coronary Heart Disease Self-Management Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale were used to collect and analyse the data.

RESULTS: After the intervention, the scores for quality of life, social support and self-management in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Long-term nursing intervention can improve the quality of life and sense of social support of patients with coronary heart disease after PCI.

PMID:36403273 | DOI:10.1111/jocs.17047

Bioelectromagnetics. 2022 Nov 20. doi: 10.1002/bem.22426. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Numerous studies have been carried out on the potential effects of an extremely low frequency (ELF-0-300 Hz) magnetic field (MF) on human health. However, there is limited data on the effect of a high exposure level to ELF MFs for a prolonged period. Therefore, the objective of this pilot work was to demonstrate the feasibility of a study evaluating the stress hormone concentrations resulting from a 10-min exposure to a 60 Hz MF of several tens of thousands of µT. In this pilot study, human volunteers were thus exposed for the first time to a 60 Hz, 50 mT MF for a duration of 10 min. Stress hormone levels were measured before (once), during (twice) and after (once) this 10-min exposure period. The small sample size (n = 5) did not allow to conduct standard inferential statistical tests and no conclusion regarding the exposure effects can be drawn. However, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using a simple blood testing material in a protocol testing for the effect of a 10-min exposure to a high MF level in healthy human volunteers. © 2022 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

PMID:36403265 | DOI:10.1002/bem.22426

Int Endod J. 2022 Nov 20. doi: 10.1111/iej.13872. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess and compare the clinical and radiographic outcome of partial pulpotomy and full pulpotomy using Biodentine in cariously exposed mature molar teeth with symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis METHODOLOGY: This study is a an unicentric, double-arm, randomised superiority clinical trial with parallel experimental groups, registered under CTRI (CTRI/2019/12/022559). Fifty mature permanent molar teeth with carious exposures with symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis were randomly allocated equally into two groups. Partial Pulpotomy (PP) and Full Pulpotomy (FP) was performed in the first and second group respectively following standardised protocols. Exposed pulp tissue was removed up to a depth of 2-3 mm for partial pulpotomy whereas complete coronal pulp tissue was removed up to the level of root orifices for full pulpotomy. Haemostasis was achieved with placement of 2.5% sodium hypochlorite-moistened cotton pellets placed on amputated pulp tissue for a maximum of 10 minutes. Biodentine was used as the pulp capping material. Pain scores were evaluated using 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS) pre-operatively, at 24 hours, 48 hours and 7th day after the intervention(s). Clinical and radiographic evaluation was done at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The data was statistically analysed using chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The significance level was predetermined at p<0.05. Cumulative survival probabilities were assessed at 12 months using Kaplan Meier analysis.

RESULTS: Intra-group analysis of pain scores revealed significant reduction in pain scores pre-operatively and at 24 hours, 48 hours and 7th day in both the groups. However, the difference in the pain score(s) reduction between both the groups was not statistically significant at any time interval (p > 0.05). At 1 year follow up, the success rate was 88% (22/25) and 91.6% (22/24) for PP and FP respectively (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Partial pulpotomy showed comparable results to full pulpotomy in terms of clinical/radiographic treatment outcome. If the long-term results remain the same, partial pulpotomy can be proposed as an alternative treatment modality for mature teeth with cariously exposed pulp tissue presenting with signs of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

PMID:36403208 | DOI:10.1111/iej.13872