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Investigation of divergent thinking among surgeons and surgeon trainees in Canada (IDEAS): a mixed-methods study

Por: Thabane · A. · McKechnie · T. · Arora · V. · Calic · G. · Busse · J. W. · Sonnadara · R. · Bhandari · M.
Objective

To assess the creative potential of surgeons and surgeon trainees, as measured by divergent thinking. The secondary objectives were to identify factors associated with divergent thinking, assess confidence in creative problem-solving and the perceived effect of surgical training on creative potential, and explore the value of creativity in surgery.

Design

We used a mixed-methods design, conducting a survey of divergent thinking ability using a validated questionnaire followed by two semi-structured interviews with top-scoring participants.

Participants & setting

Surgeons and surgeon trainees in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was divergent thinking, assessed with the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults. Participants also self-assessed their confidence in creative problem-solving and the effect of surgical training on their creative potential. We performed descriptive analyses and multivariable linear regression to identify factors associated with divergent thinking. We conducted a thematic analysis of the interview responses.

Results

82 surgeons and surgeon trainees were surveyed; 43 were junior trainees and 28 were senior trainees. General surgery, orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery represented 71.9% of the participants. The median participant age was 28 years (range 24–73), 51.2% of whom were female. Participants demonstrated levels of divergent thinking that were higher but not meaningfully different from the adult norm (62.39 (95% CI 61.25, 63.53), p

Conclusions

The divergent thinking ability among surgeons and surgeon trainees was not meaningfully different from the adult normative score; however, their ability to generate original ideas was below average.

Institutional capacity assessment in the lens of implementation research: Capacity of the local institutions in delivering WASH services at Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh

by Mahbubur Rahman, Mahbub-Ul Alam, Sharmin Khan Luies, Sharika Ferdous, Zahidul Mamun, Musarrat Jabeen Rahman, Debashish Biswas, Tazrina Ananya, Asadullah, Abul Kamal, Ritthick Chowdhury, Eheteshamul Russel Khan, Dara Johnston, Martin Worth, Umme Farwa Daisy, Tanvir Ahmed

Background

The influx of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) has left the Southwest coastal district of Cox’s Bazar with one of the greatest contemporary humanitarian crises, stressing the existing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources and services. This study aimed to assess the existing capacity of local institutions involved in delivering WASH services and identify relevant recommendations for intervention strategies.

Methods

We used a qualitative approach, including interviews and capacity assessment workshops with institutions engaged in WASH service delivery. We conducted five key informant interviews (KII) with sub-district level officials of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) to have a general idea of WASH service mechanisms. Seven capacity assessment workshops were organized with the relevant district and sub-district level stakeholders from August 2019 to September 2019. These workshops followed three key areas: i) knowledge of policy, organizational strategy, guidelines, and framework; ii) institutional arrangements for service delivery such as planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and reporting; and iii) availability and management of human, financial and infrastructural resources. Data were categorized using thematic content analysis.

Results

The majority of stakeholders lacked awareness of national WASH policies. Furthermore, the top-down planning approaches resulted in activities that were not context-specific, and lack of coordination between multiple institutions compromised the optimal WASH service delivery at the local level. Shortage of human resources in delivering sustainable WASH services, inadequate supervision, and inadequate evaluation of activities also required further improvement, as identified by WASH stakeholders.

Conclusion

Research evidence suggests that decision-makers, donors, and development partners should consider learning from the WASH implementers and stakeholders about their existing capacity, gaps, and opportunities before planning for any WASH intervention in any particular area.

Is the quality of public health facilities always worse compared to private health facilities: Association between birthplace on neonatal deaths in the Indian states

by Priyanka Dixit, Thiagarajan Sundararaman, Shiva Halli

Background

The role of place of delivery on the neonatal health outcomes are very crucial. Although the quality of care is being improved, there is no consensus about who is the better healthcare provider in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), public or private facilities. The aim of this study is to assess the differentials in neonatal mortality by the type of healthcare providers in India and its states.

Methods

We used the data from the fourth wave of the National Family Health Survey 2015–16 (NFHS-4). Information on 259,627 live births to women within the five years preceding the survey was examined. Neonatal mortality rates for state and national levels were calculated using DHS methodology. Multi-variate logistics regression was performed to find the effect of birthplace on neonatal deaths. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to evaluate the relationship between place of delivery and neonatal deaths to account for the bias attributable to observable covariates.

Results

The rise in parity of the women and purchasing power influences the choice of healthcare providers. Increased neonatal mortality was found in private hospital delivery compared to public hospitals in Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states using propensity score matching analysis. However, analysis on the standard of pre-natal and post-natal care indicates that private hospitals generally outperformed public hospitals.

Conclusions

The study observed a significant variation in neonatal mortality among public and private health care systems in India. Findings of the study urges that more attention be paid to the improve care at the place of delivery to improve neonatal health. There is a need of strengthened national health policy and public-private partnerships in order to improve maternal and child health care in both private and public health facilities.

Barriers and facilitators for developing a prehospital emergency care system evaluation tool (PEC-SET) for low-resource settings: a qualitative analysis

Por: Joiner · A. · Blewer · A. L. · Pek · P. P. · Ostbye · T. · Staton · C. A. · Silvalila · M. · Ong · M. · Nadarajan · G. D.
Objectives

Strengthening of emergency care systems, including prehospital systems, can reduce death and disability. We aimed to identify perspectives on barriers and facilitators relating to the development and implementation of a prehospital emergency care system assessment tool (PEC-SET) from prehospital providers representing several South and Southeast (SE) Asian countries.

Design

We conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGD) informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). FGDs were conducted in English, audioconferencing/videoconferencing was recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using an inductive and deductive approach. Participants suggested specific elements to be measured within three main ‘pillars’ of disease conditions proposed by the research team of the tool being developed (cardiovascular, trauma and perinatal emergencies).

Setting

We explored the perspectives of medical directors in six low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in South and SE Asia.

Participants

A total of 16 participants were interviewed (1 Vietnam, 4 Philippines, 4 Thailand, 5 Malaysia, 1 Indonesia and 1 Pakistan) as a part of 4 focus groups.

Results

Themes identified within the four CFIR constructs included: (1) Intervention characteristics: importance of developing an contextually specific tool, need for generalisability, trialling in one geographical area or with one pillar before expanding; (2) Inner setting: data transfer barriers, workforce shortages; (3) Outer setting: underdevelopment of EMS nationally; need for further EMS system development prior to implementing a tool and (4) Individual characteristics: lack of buy-in by prehospital personnel. Elements proposed by participants included both process and outcome measures.

Conclusions

Through the CFIR framework, we identified several themes which can provide a basis for codeveloping a PEC-SET for LMICs with local stakeholders. This work may inform development of quality improvement tools in LMIC PEC systems.

Risk of atrial fibrillation and association with other diseases: protocol of the derivation and international external validation of a prediction model using nationwide population-based electronic health records

Por: Nadarajah · R. · Wu · J. · Arbel · R. · Haim · M. · Zahger · D. · Benita · T. R. · Rokach · L. · Cowan · J. C. · Gale · C. P.
Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health issue and there is rationale for the early diagnosis of AF before the first complication occurs. Previous AF screening research is limited by low yields of new cases and strokes prevented in the screened populations. For AF screening to be clinically and cost-effective, the efficiency of identification of newly diagnosed AF needs to be improved and the intervention offered may have to extend beyond oral anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis. Previous prediction models for incident AF have been limited by their data sources and methodologies.

Methods and analysis

We will investigate the application of random forest and multivariable logistic regression to predict incident AF within a 6-month prediction horizon, that is, a time-window consistent with conducting investigation for AF. The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)-GOLD dataset will be used for derivation, and the Clalit Health Services (CHS) dataset will be used for international external geographical validation. Analyses will include metrics of prediction performance and clinical utility. We will create Kaplan-Meier plots for individuals identified as higher and lower predicted risk of AF and derive the cumulative incidence rate for non-AF cardio-renal-metabolic diseases and death over the longer term to establish how predicted AF risk is associated with a range of new non-AF disease states.

Ethics and dissemination

Permission for CPRD-GOLD was obtained from CPRD (ref no: 19_076). The CPRD ethical approval committee approved the study. CHS Helsinki committee approval 21-0169 and data usage committee approval 901. The results will be submitted as a research paper for publication to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at peer-reviewed conferences.

Trial registration number

A systematic review to guide the overall project was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021245093). The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05837364).

Relationship between Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score and cognitive performance among ageing rural Indian participants: a cross-sectional analysis

Por: Mensegere · A. L. · Sundarakumar · J. S. · Diwakar · L. · Issac · T. G. · SANSCOG Study Team · Gangadhar · Rao · Rao · Sivakumar
Objective

The burden of cardiovascular risk factors is increasing in India, which, in turn, can adversely impact cognition. Our objective was to examine the effect of cardiovascular risk factors measured by Framingham Risk Score (FRS) on cognitive performance among a cohort of healthy, ageing individuals (n=3609) aged ≥45 years from rural India.

Design

A cross-sectional analysis.

Setting

A rural community setting in southern India.

Participants

Healthy, ageing, dementia-free participants, aged 45 years and above, belonging to the villages of Srinivaspura (a rural community located around 100 km from Bangalore, India), were recruited.

Primary outcome measures

Using a locally adapted, validated, computerised cognitive test battery, we assessed cognitive performance across multiple cognitive domains: attention, memory, language, executive functioning and visuospatial ability.

Results

The median (IQR) age of the sample was 57 (50.65) and 50.5% were women. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that participants with higher FRS performed poorly in attention (visual attention (β=–0.018, p=0.041)), executive functioning (categorical fluency (β=–0.064, p

Conclusion

Increased cardiovascular risk as evidenced by FRS was associated with poorer cognitive performance in all cognitive domains among dementia-free middle-aged and older rural Indians. It is imperative to design and implement appropriate interventions (pharmacological and lifestyle-based) for cardiovascular risk reduction and thereby, prevent or mitigate accelerated cognitive impairment in ageing individuals.

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in childhood encephalitis (IgNiTE): a randomised controlled trial

Por: Hill · M. · Iro · M. · Sadarangani · M. · Absoud · M. · Cantrell · L. · Chong · K. · Clark · C. · Easton · A. · Gray · V. · Kneen · R. · Lim · M. · Liu · X. · Pike · M. · Solomon · T. · Vincent · A. · Willis · L. · Yu · L.-M. · Pollard · A. J. · The IgNiTE study team · Pollard · Lim · Solomon
Objective

To investigate whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) improves neurological outcomes in children with encephalitis when administered early in the illness.

Design

Phase 3b multicentre, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Setting

Twenty-one hospitals in the UK.

Participants

Children aged 6 months to 16 years with a diagnosis of acute or subacute encephalitis, with a planned sample size of 308.

Intervention

Two doses (1 g/kg/dose) of either IVIG or matching placebo given 24–36 hours apart, in addition to standard treatment.

Main outcome measure

The primary outcome was a ‘good recovery’ at 12 months after randomisation, defined as a score of≤2 on the Paediatric Glasgow Outcome Score Extended.

Secondary outcome measures

The secondary outcomes were clinical, neurological, neuroimaging and neuropsychological results, identification of the proportion of children with immune-mediated encephalitis, and IVIG safety data.

Results

18 participants were recruited from 12 hospitals and randomised to receive either IVIG (n=10) or placebo (n=8) between 23 December 2015 and 26 September 2017. The study was terminated early following withdrawal of funding due to slower than anticipated recruitment, and therefore did not reach the predetermined sample size required to achieve the primary study objective; thus, the results are descriptive. At 12 months after randomisation, 9 of the 18 participants (IVIG n=5/10 (50%), placebo n=4/8 (50%)) made a good recovery and 5 participants (IVIG n=3/10 (30%), placebo n=2/8 (25%)) made a poor recovery. Three participants (IVIG n=1/10 (10%), placebo n=2/8 (25%)) had a new diagnosis of epilepsy during the study period. Two participants were found to have specific autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis. No serious adverse events were reported in participants receiving IVIG.

Conclusions

The IgNiTE (ImmunoglobuliN in the Treatment of Encephalitis) study findings support existing evidence of poor neurological outcomes in children with encephalitis. However, the study was halted prematurely and was therefore underpowered to evaluate the effect of early IVIG treatment compared with placebo in childhood encephalitis.

Trial registration number

Clinical Trials.gov NCT02308982; ICRCTN registry ISRCTN15791925.

Estilo de vida en mujeres con cáncer de mama: un estudio de revisión narrativa

Objetivo: El presente estudio de revisión tuvo como objetivo evaluar el estilo de vida de
mujeres con cáncer de mama. Métodos: en este estudio, la información sobre el estilo de vida en
mujeres con cáncer de mama se obtuvo de bases de datos en persa e inglés utilizando palabras clave
en persa y su equivalente en inglés para "Estilo de vida, cáncer de mama" basado en MeSH (encabezamientos de temas médicos) de 2000 a 2020. Entre todos los artículos buscados, 48 estudios se
incluyeron en la investigación de revisión. Para recopilar información de los estudios, se revisaron
cuidadosamente los artículos y se extrajeron los resultados. Resultados: De acuerdo con la evidencia
científica disponible, el estilo de vida tiene un efecto sobre la salud y algunos factores relacionados
como la actividad física inadecuada, el estrés, los patrones de alimentación, las malas conductas
como el tabaquismo y el consumo de alcohol se asocian con el cáncer de mama. Conclusión: Por lo
tanto, las intervenciones y capacitaciones deben planificarse para proporcionar un terreno adecuado
y suficiente para orientar a las mujeres hacia estilos de vida y hábitos de comportamiento saludables.

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