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Nutrients Mar 2024People are increasingly encouraged to reduce animal food consumption and shift towards plant-based diets; however, the implications for children's health are unclear. In... (Review)
Review
People are increasingly encouraged to reduce animal food consumption and shift towards plant-based diets; however, the implications for children's health are unclear. In this narrative review of research in high-income settings, we summarize evidence on the increasing consumption of plant-based diets in children and update an earlier systematic review regarding their associations with children's health outcomes. The evidence indicates that vegan, but not vegetarian, diets can restrict growth relative to omnivorous children and increase the risk of being stunted and underweight, although the percentage affected is relatively small. Bone mineral content is reduced in vegetarian and, in particular, vegan children, compared to omnivores. Both vegetarian and vegan children who do not use vitamin B12 supplements manifest with B12 deficiency; however, supplementation rectifies this problem. Both vegetarians and vegans have lower concentrations of 25(OH)D if unsupplemented, and lower body iron stores, but usually have normal iron metabolism markers. Both groups are at risk of iodine deficiency, and this might affect thyroid health. Children consuming a vegan diet have a more favorable lipid profile than omnivorous children; however, the results for a vegetarian diet are inconsistent and vary by outcome. Based on the same scientific evidence, national and international dietary recommendations are heterogeneous, with some countries supporting plant-based diets among infants, children, and adolescents, and others discouraging them. We offer a research roadmap, highlighting what is needed to provide adequate evidence to harmonize dietary recommendations for plant-based diets in children. A number of measures should urgently be introduced at international and national levels to improve the safety of their use in children.
Topics: Child; Infant; Adolescent; Animals; Humans; Diet, Plant-Based; Diet; Diet, Vegetarian; Vegetarians; Diet, Vegan; Iron; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 38474851
DOI: 10.3390/nu16050723 -
Archives of Dermatological Research Jun 2024Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), grouped together under the terminology of epidermal necrolysis (EN), are a spectrum of... (Review)
Review
Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), grouped together under the terminology of epidermal necrolysis (EN), are a spectrum of life-threatening dermatologic conditions. A lack of standardization and validation for existing endpoints has been identified as a key barrier to the comparison of these therapies and development of evidenced-based treatment. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of prospective studies involving systemic or topical treatments for EN, including dressing and ocular treatments. Outcomes were separated into mortality assessment, cutaneous outcomes, non-cutaneous clinical outcomes, and mucosal outcomes. The COSMIN Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of studies on reliability and measurement error of outcome measurement instruments. Outcomes across studies assessing treatment in the acute phase of EN were varied. Most data came from prospective case reports and cohort studies representing the lack of available randomized clinical trial data available in EN. Our search did not reveal any EN-specific validated measures or scoring tools used to assess disease progression and outcomes. Less than half of included studies were considered "adequate" for COSMIN risk of bias in reliability and measurement error of outcome measurement instruments. With little consensus about management and treatment of EN, consistency and validation of measured outcomes is of the upmost importance for future studies to compare outcomes across treatments and identify the most effective means of combating the disease with the highest mortality managed by dermatologists.
Topics: Humans; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; Reproducibility of Results; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Treatment Outcome; Bandages
PubMed: 38878166
DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03062-5 -
BMC Geriatrics Jun 2024The aging population is a challenge for the healthcare system that must identify strategies that meet their needs. Practicing patient-centered care has been shown... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The aging population is a challenge for the healthcare system that must identify strategies that meet their needs. Practicing patient-centered care has been shown beneficial for this patient-group. The effect of patient-centered care is called patient-centered outcomes and can be appraised using outcomes measurements.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim was to review and map existing knowledge related to patient-centered outcomes and patient-centered outcomes measurements for older people, as well as identify key-concepts and knowledge-gaps. The research questions were: How can patient-centered outcomes for older people be measured, and which patient-centered outcomes matters the most for the older people?
STUDY DESIGN
Scoping review.
METHODS
Search for relevant publications in electronical databases, grey literature databases and websites from year 2000 to 2021. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, followed by full text review and extraction of data using a data extraction framework.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies were included, of which six with involvement of patients and/or experts in the process on determine the outcomes. Outcomes that matter the most to older people was interpreted as: access to- and experience of care, autonomy and control, cognition, daily living, emotional health, falls, general health, medications, overall survival, pain, participation in decision making, physical function, physical health, place of death, social role function, symptom burden, and time spent in hospital. The most frequently mentioned/used outcomes measurements tools were the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT), EQ-5D, Gait Speed, Katz- ADL index, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), SF/RAND-36 and 4-Item Screening Zarit Burden Interview.
CONCLUSIONS
Few studies have investigated the older people's opinion of what matters the most to them, which forms a knowledge-gap in the field. Future research should focus on providing older people a stronger voice in what they think matters the most to them.
Topics: Humans; Patient-Centered Care; Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Patient Outcome Assessment
PubMed: 38890618
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05134-7 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Dec 2023Standardised and universal perioperative endpoint reporting are the cornerstone for outcomes assessment, reliable clinical trials, and health services research. The...
Standardised and universal perioperative endpoint reporting are the cornerstone for outcomes assessment, reliable clinical trials, and health services research. The Outcome4medicine initiative recently reported consensus recommendations on how to assess the quality of surgical interventions, proposing a framework for surgical outcome assessment and quality improvement after medical interventions. In the same field, the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine - Core Outcome Measures for Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC) group recently proposed standardised and valid measures of mortality and morbidity, derived from a three-stage Delphi process. Here a core group of the Outcome4medicine conference discusses how these two initiatives are aligned and emphasises the importance of standardised outcome assessment by integrating the perspectives of different stakeholders.
Topics: Humans; Perioperative Care; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Quality Improvement; Delphi Technique; Treatment Outcome; Research Design
PubMed: 37879999
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.09.014 -
Journal of the American Pharmacists... 2023Care access remains a major social determinant of health. Safety net clinics may not be numerically sufficient to meet the health care demand for vulnerable populations....
BACKGROUND
Care access remains a major social determinant of health. Safety net clinics may not be numerically sufficient to meet the health care demand for vulnerable populations. Community pharmacists remain a trusted health care provider and serve as first-line care access points. To date, Georgia care access points by safety net clinics and community pharmacies have not been compared.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to evaluate care access across Georgia. County health outcomes and health factor rankings were compared with mortality prevalence of respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and a composite of ambulatory care sensitive conditions emergency department (ER) utilization and hospital discharge. In addition, this study sought to determine whether care access points improve if community pharmacies were to provide primary care services.
DESIGN AND OUTCOME MEASURES
Geographic information systems mapping was used to locate safety net clinics and community pharmacies. Care access difference was analyzed using a 2-sample t test and health outcomes and rankings were evaluated using ordinary least square regression analysis.
RESULTS
A significant difference in care access points was found between safety net clinics and community pharmacies across the state of Georgia (P < 0.05). Mortality prevalence for respiratory disease (P < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.1), kidney disease (P < 0.05), ER utilization (P < 0.01), and hospital discharge (P < 0.01) was lower in counties in the top 50% than the bottom 50% health outcome ranking and health factor ranking. Approximately 95% of counties (n = 151) would experience more than a 50% increase in primary care access points by way of community pharmacies.
CONCLUSION
Community pharmacies are well positioned to address primary care disease states, reduce health care resource strain, and decrease preventable health care resource utilization. Leveraging pharmacists to provide primary care services can address care access issues and may improve care quality and reduce preventable hospitalizations and ER utilization in Georgia.
Topics: Humans; Pharmacies; Georgia; Pharmacists; Diabetes Mellitus; Kidney Diseases; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Community Pharmacy Services
PubMed: 37499978
DOI: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.07.007 -
Health Research Policy and Systems Nov 2023Learning health systems strive to continuously integrate data and evidence into practice to improve patient outcomes and ensure value-based healthcare. While the LHS... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Learning health systems strive to continuously integrate data and evidence into practice to improve patient outcomes and ensure value-based healthcare. While the LHS concept is gaining traction, the operationalization of LHSs is underexplored.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and synthesize the existing evidence on the implementation and evaluation of advancing learning health systems across international health care settings.
METHODS
A mixed methods systematic review was conducted. Six databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PAIS, Scopus and Nursing at Allied Health Database) were searched up to July 2022 for terms related to learning health systems, implementation, and evaluation measures. Any study design, health care setting and population were considered for inclusion. No limitations were placed on language or date of publication. Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full texts of identified articles. Data were extracted and synthesized using a convergent integrated approach. Studies were critically appraised using relevant JBI critical appraisal checklists.
RESULTS
Thirty-five studies were included in the review. Most studies were conducted in the United States (n = 21) and published between 2019 and 2022 (n = 24). Digital data capture was the most common LHS characteristic reported across studies, while patient engagement, aligned governance and a culture of rapid learning and improvement were reported least often. We identified 33 unique strategies for implementing LHSs including: change record systems, conduct local consensus discussions and audit & provide feedback. A triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data revealed three integrated findings related to the implementation of LHSs: (1) The digital infrastructure of LHSs optimizes health service delivery; (2) LHSs have a positive impact on patient care and health outcomes; and (3) LHSs can influence health care providers and the health system.
CONCLUSION
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the implementation of LHSs in various healthcare settings. While this review identified key implementation strategies, potential outcome measures, and components of functioning LHSs, further research is needed to better understand the impact of LHSs on patient, provider and population outcomes, and health system costs. Health systems researchers should continue to apply the LHS concept in practice, with a stronger focus on evaluation.
Topics: Humans; Learning Health System; Delivery of Health Care; Health Personnel; Checklist; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 38012681
DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-01071-w -
The European Respiratory Journal Mar 2024The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic substantially impacted different age groups, with children and young people not exempted. Many have experienced enduring... (Review)
Review
Core outcome measurement set for research and clinical practice in post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) in children and young people: an international Delphi consensus study "PC-COS Children".
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic substantially impacted different age groups, with children and young people not exempted. Many have experienced enduring health consequences. Presently, there is no consensus on the health outcomes to assess in children and young people with post-COVID-19 condition. Furthermore, it is unclear which measurement instruments are appropriate for use in research and clinical management of children and young people with post-COVID-19. To address these unmet needs, we conducted a consensus study, aiming to develop a core outcome set (COS) and an associated core outcome measurement set (COMS) for evaluating post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people. Our methodology comprised of two phases. In phase 1 (to create a COS), we performed an extensive literature review and categorisation of outcomes, and prioritised those outcomes in a two-round online modified Delphi process followed by a consensus meeting. In phase 2 (to create the COMS), we performed another modified Delphi consensus process to evaluate measurement instruments for previously defined core outcomes from phase 1, followed by an online consensus workshop to finalise recommendations regarding the most appropriate instruments for each core outcome. In phase 1, 214 participants from 37 countries participated, with 154 (72%) contributing to both Delphi rounds. The subsequent online consensus meeting resulted in a final COS which encompassed seven critical outcomes: fatigue; post-exertion symptoms; work/occupational and study changes; as well as functional changes, symptoms, and conditions relating to cardiovascular, neuro-cognitive, gastrointestinal and physical outcomes. In phase 2, 11 international experts were involved in a modified Delphi process, selecting measurement instruments for a subsequent online consensus workshop where 30 voting participants discussed and independently scored the selected instruments. As a result of this consensus process, four instruments met consensus criteria for inclusion: PedsQL multidimensional fatigue scale for "fatigue"; PedsQL gastrointestinal symptom scales for "gastrointestinal"; PedsQL cognitive functioning scale for "neurocognitive" and EQ-5D for "physical functioning". Despite proposing outcome measurement instruments for the remaining three core outcomes ("cardiovascular", "post-exertional malaise", "work/occupational and study changes"), a consensus was not achieved. Our international, consensus-based initiative presents a robust framework for evaluating post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people in research and clinical practice a rigorously defined COS and associated COMS. It will aid in the uniform measurement and reporting of relevant health outcomes worldwide.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; COVID-19; Delphi Technique; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Research Design; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38359962
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01761-2023 -
JAMA Dermatology Jun 2024Inconsistent reporting of outcomes in clinical trials of rosacea is impeding and likely preventing accurate data pooling and meta-analyses. There is a need for...
IMPORTANCE
Inconsistent reporting of outcomes in clinical trials of rosacea is impeding and likely preventing accurate data pooling and meta-analyses. There is a need for standardization of outcomes assessed during intervention trials of rosacea.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a rosacea core outcome set (COS) based on key domains that are globally relevant and applicable to all demographic groups to be used as a minimum list of outcomes for reporting by rosacea clinical trials, and when appropriate, in clinical practice.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
A systematic literature review of rosacea clinical trials was conducted. Discrete outcomes were extracted and augmented through discussions and focus groups with key stakeholders. The initial list of 192 outcomes was refined to identify 50 unique outcomes that were rated through the Delphi process Round 1 by 88 panelists (63 physicians from 17 countries and 25 patients with rosacea in the US) on 9-point Likert scale. Based on feedback, an additional 11 outcomes were added in Round 2. Outcomes deemed to be critical for inclusion (rated 7-9 by ≥70% of both groups) were discussed in consensus meetings. The outcomes deemed to be most important for inclusion by at least 85% of the participants were incorporated into the final core domain set.
FINDINGS
The Delphi process and consensus-building meetings identified a final core set of 8 domains for rosacea clinical trials: ocular signs and symptoms; skin signs of disease; skin symptoms; overall severity; patient satisfaction; quality of life; degree of improvement; and presence and severity of treatment-related adverse events. Recommendations were also made for application in the clinical setting.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This core domain set for rosacea research is now available; its adoption by researchers may improve the usefulness of future trials of rosacea therapies by enabling meta-analyses and other comparisons across studies. This core domain set may also be useful in clinical practice.
Topics: Rosacea; Humans; Clinical Trials as Topic; Consensus; Delphi Technique; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38656294
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0636 -
American Journal on Intellectual and... May 2024Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to experience disparities in health and well-being despite improved provisions of...
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to experience disparities in health and well-being despite improved provisions of person-centered care. Patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) translates evidence into practice for meaningful outcomes. This piece describes findings from an environmental scan and stakeholder outreach to identify and prioritize opportunities to enhance IDD PCOR data infrastructure. These opportunities include developing a standardized research definition; advancing data standards for service systems; improving capture of IDD at point of care; developing standardized outcome measures; and encouraging Medicaid data use for IDD research. Within this piece, we discuss the implications of addressing data gaps for enhanced research. While the identified activities provide a path towards advancing IDD PCOR data infrastructure, collaborative efforts between government, researchers, and others are paramount.
Topics: Humans; Developmental Disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Patient Outcome Assessment; United States; Patient-Centered Care
PubMed: 38657962
DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-129.3.231 -
Epilepsia May 2024Understanding factors driving variation in status epilepticus outcomes would be critical to improve care. We evaluated the degree to which patient and hospital...
OBJECTIVE
Understanding factors driving variation in status epilepticus outcomes would be critical to improve care. We evaluated the degree to which patient and hospital characteristics explained hospital-to-hospital variability in intubation and postacute outcomes.
METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries admitted with status epilepticus between 2009 and 2019. Outcomes included intubation, discharge to a facility, and 30- and 90-day readmissions and mortality. Multilevel models calculated percent variation in each outcome due to hospital-to-hospital differences.
RESULTS
We included 29 150 beneficiaries. The median age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 57-78), and 18 084 (62%) were eligible for Medicare due to disability. The median (IQR) percentages of each outcome across hospitals were: 30-day mortality 25% (0%-38%), any 30-day readmission 14% (0%-25%), 30-day status epilepticus readmission 0% (0%-3%), 30-day facility stay 40% (25%-53%), and intubation 46% (20%-61%). However, after accounting for many hospitals with small sample size, hospital-to-hospital differences accounted for 2%-6% of variation in all unadjusted outcomes, and approximately 1%-5% (maximally 8% for 30-day readmission for status epilepticus) after adjusting for patient, hospitalization, and/or hospital characteristics. Although many characteristics significantly predicted outcomes, the largest effect size was cardiac arrest predicting death (odds ratio = 10.1, 95% confidence interval = 8.8-11.7), whereas hospital characteristics (e.g., staffing, accreditation, volume, setting, services) all had lesser effects.
SIGNIFICANCE
Hospital-to-hospital variation explained little variation in studied outcomes. Rather, certain patient characteristics (e.g., cardiac arrest) had greater effects. Interventions to improve outcomes after status epilepticus may be better focused on individual or prehospital factors, rather than at the inpatient systems level.
Topics: Humans; Status Epilepticus; Aged; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Patient Readmission; United States; Hospitals; Medicare; Cohort Studies; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Hospitalization; Aged, 80 and over; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38407370
DOI: 10.1111/epi.17927