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BMC Medical Education Jun 2024Burnout levels in medical students are higher than in other student groups. Empathy is an increasingly desired outcome of medical schools. Empathy is negatively... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Burnout levels in medical students are higher than in other student groups. Empathy is an increasingly desired outcome of medical schools. Empathy is negatively associated with burnout in physicians. Our objective was to quantitatively review the available literature on associations between empathy and burnout in medical students, and to explore associations between specific empathy aspects (cognitive and affective) and burnout sub-dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment).
METHODS
A comprehensive search of the literature published up until January 2024 was undertaken in the PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases. Two independent reviewers screened 498 records and quality-rated and extracted data from eligible studies. The effect size correlations (ESr) were pooled using a random-effects model and between-study variation explored with meta-regression. The review was preregistered with PROSPERO (#CRD42023467670) and reported following the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies including a total of 27,129 medical students published between 2010 and 2023 were included. Overall, empathy and burnout were negatively and statistically significantly associated (ESr: -0.15, 95%CI [-0.21; -0.10], p < .001). When analyzing sub-dimensions, cognitive empathy was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (ESr: -0.10, 95%CI [-0.17; -0.03], p = .006) and depersonalization (ESr: -0.15, 95%CI [-0.24; 0.05], p = .003), and positively associated with personal accomplishment (ESr: 0.21, 95%CI [0.12; 0.30], p < .001). Affective empathy was not statistically significantly associated with emotional exhaustion, depersonalization or personal accomplishment. Supplementary Bayesian analysis indicated the strongest evidence for the positive association between cognitive empathy and personal accomplishment. Response rate and gender moderated the relationship so that higher response rates and more male respondents strengthen the negative association between empathy and burnout.
CONCLUSION
Greater empathy, in particular cognitive empathy, is associated with lower burnout levels in medical students. This appears to be primarily driven by cognitive empathy's positive association with personal accomplishment.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
#CRD42023467670.
Topics: Humans; Students, Medical; Empathy; Burnout, Professional; Depersonalization
PubMed: 38849794
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05625-6 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common medical complication of pregnancy, and it can lead to complications for the mother and the infant/fetus. This was...
BACKGROUND
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common medical complication of pregnancy, and it can lead to complications for the mother and the infant/fetus. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present systematic review aimed to describe the changes in screening, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
The systematic review was conducted from December 2019 until January 1, 2022. To find articles related to the purpose of the study, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and WHO were searched using relevant and validated keywords using MeSH/Emtree.
RESULTS
In total, 675 entries were ascertained from the database inquiry, and 17 scholarly works were deemed suitable for inclusion in the final review. The salient conclusions derived from this review were as follows: (a) During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decrease in the use of OGTTs and a rise in the use of HbA1c assays for both GDM screening and diagnosing. (b) A predominant number of physicians incorporated some variation of telemedicine to remotely supervise and conduct follow-up evaluations of patients with GDM. Various strategies are presented for the provision of prenatal care to women afflicted with GDM, such as concentrating on high-risk demographics, the initiation of lifestyle modifications at early stages, and the implementation of remote patient monitoring techniques. The 'single test procedure' is identified as the most suitable for the preliminary screening of GDM. The OGTT should be assigned clinical precedence in patients at high risk during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) was established as the primary management strategy, and the most influential determinant of the transition from dietary adjustments to pharmacotherapy was the Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) levels during the second trimester.
CONCLUSION
Suggested strategies for GDM screening and management during the pandemic integrated into routine antenatal care, emphasized the importance of remote diabetes education and technology utilization during health emergencies.
PubMed: 38845870
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31943 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jun 2024The internet has become a prevalent source of health information for patients. However, its accuracy and relevance are often questionable. While patients seek... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The internet has become a prevalent source of health information for patients. However, its accuracy and relevance are often questionable. While patients seek physicians' expertise in interpreting internet health information, physicians' perspectives on patients' information-seeking behavior are less explored.
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to understand physicians' perceptions of patients' internet health information-seeking behavior as well as their communication strategies and the challenges and needs they face with internet-informed patients.
METHODS
An initial search in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Communication and Mass Media Complete, and PsycINFO was conducted to collect studies published from January 1990 to August 1, 2022. A subsequent search on December 24, 2023, targeted recent studies published after the initial search cutoff date. Two reviewers independently performed title, abstract, and full-text screening, adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement guidelines. Thematic analysis was then used to identify key themes and systematically categorize evidence from both qualitative and quantitative studies under these themes.
RESULTS
A total of 22 qualifying articles were identified after the search and screening process. Physicians were found to hold diverse views on patients' internet searches, which can be viewed as a continuous spectrum of opinions ranging from positive to negative. While some physicians leaned distinctly toward either positive or negative perspectives, a significant number expressed more balanced views. These physicians recognized both the benefits, such as increased patient health knowledge and informed decision-making, and the potential harms, including misinformation and the triggering of negative emotions, such as patient anxiety or confusion, associated with patients' internet health information seeking. Two communicative strategies were identified: the participative and defensive approaches. While the former seeks to guide internet-informed patients to use internet information with physicians' expertise, the latter aims to discourage patients from using the internet to seek health information. Physicians' perceptions were linked to their strategies: those holding positive views tended to adopt a participative approach, while those with negative views favored a defensive strategy. Some physicians claimed to shift between the 2 approaches depending on their interaction with a certain patient. We also identified several challenges and needs of physicians in dealing with internet-informed patients, including the time pressure to address internet-informed patient demands, a lack of structured training, and being uninformed about trustworthy internet sites that can be recommended to internet-informed patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This review highlights the diverse perceptions that physicians hold toward internet-informed patients, as well as the interplay between their perceptions, communication strategies, and their interactions with individual patients. Incorporating elements into the medical teaching curriculum that introduce physicians to reliable internet health resources for patient guidance, coupled with providing updates on technological advancements, could be instrumental in equipping physicians to more effectively manage internet-informed patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022356317; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=356317.
Topics: Humans; Internet; Physicians; Physician-Patient Relations; Information Seeking Behavior; Attitude of Health Personnel; Communication
PubMed: 38842920
DOI: 10.2196/47620 -
Virology Journal Jun 2024Limited data is available regarding the severity and mortality of Mpox in individuals with immunocompromised conditions. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Limited data is available regarding the severity and mortality of Mpox in individuals with immunocompromised conditions. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to understand the impact of HIV- or non-HIV-associated immunosuppression on the severity of Mpox requiring hospitalization and mortality.
METHODS
A thorough literature search was performed from 2022 up to January 2024. The results were presented as odds ratios (ORs). We only included patients who required hospitalization for severity rather than isolation.
RESULTS
A total of 34 studies were included in this analysis. Our analysis did not find a significant difference in the hospitalization risk between HIV-positive individuals and those who were HIV-negative (OR = 1.03; P = 0.85; 7 studies; CD4 count of fewer than 200 cells/µL was less than 0.5% across all studies). Patients with a CD4 count lower than 200 cells/µL or an unsuppressed RNA viral load (> 200 copies/ml) had a significantly higher hospitalization risk (OR = 5.3, P < 0.001) and (OR = 3, P < 0.001), respectively. Most of the reported deaths were reported in patients with HIV with CD4 counts below 200 cells/µL, with some fatal cases occurring in non-HIV immunosuppressed patients, particularly organ transplant recipients. Based on the autopsy findings, Mpox was confirmed in multiple organs, particularly the digestive tract, lung, and testes. Furthermore, some studies documented cases of death that were suspected to be related to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Most of the death reports showed concomitant non-Mpox infections at the time of hospitalization and death CONCLUSIONS: Our finding shows that Mpox acts as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. These individuals should be prioritized for early care and closely monitored for signs of deteriorating clinical conditions. Clinical manifestations and autopsy findings strongly suggest Mpox dissemination to multiple organs, particularly the digestive tract, and lungs. However, the presence of concomitant non-Mpox infections complicates the assessment of the attribution of Mpox to death. Caution should be exercised when interpreting data suggesting poorer outcomes in individuals with non-HIV immunosuppression, as current evidence is scarce and further research is needed.
Topics: Humans; Hospitalization; Immunocompromised Host; HIV Infections; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Mpox (monkeypox); Disease Outbreaks; Immunosuppression Therapy; Viral Load
PubMed: 38840177
DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02392-0 -
PloS One 2024Up to 30% of diagnostic imaging (DI) tests may be unnecessary, leading to increased healthcare costs and the possibility of patient harm. The primary objective of this... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Up to 30% of diagnostic imaging (DI) tests may be unnecessary, leading to increased healthcare costs and the possibility of patient harm. The primary objective of this systematic review was to assess the effect of audit and feedback (AF) interventions directed at healthcare providers on reducing image ordering. The secondary objective was to examine the effect of AF on the appropriateness of DI ordering.
METHODS
Studies were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov registry on December 22nd, 2022. Studies were included if they were randomized control trials (RCTs), targeted healthcare professionals, and studied AF as the sole intervention or as the core component of a multi-faceted intervention. Risk of bias for each study was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses were completed using RevMan software and results were displayed in forest plots.
RESULTS
Eleven RCTs enrolling 4311 clinicians or practices were included. AF interventions resulted in 1.5 fewer image test orders per 1000 patients seen than control interventions (95% confidence interval (CI) for the difference -2.6 to -0.4, p-value = 0.009). The effect of AF on appropriateness was not statistically significant, with a 3.2% (95% CI -1.5 to 7.7%, p-value = 0.18) greater likelihood of test orders being considered appropriate with AF vs control interventions. The strength of evidence was rated as moderate for the primary objective but was very low for the appropriateness outcome because of risk of bias, inconsistency in findings, indirectness, and imprecision.
CONCLUSION
AF interventions are associated with a modest reduction in total DI ordering with moderate certainty, suggesting some benefit of AF. Individual studies document effects of AF on image order appropriateness ranging from a non-significant trend toward worsening to a highly significant improvement, but the weighted average effect size from the meta-analysis is not statistically significant with very low certainty.
Topics: Humans; Diagnostic Imaging; Feedback; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Medical Audit
PubMed: 38837994
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300001 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jun 2024The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has increased at a greater rate than other shoulder procedures. In general, clinical and functional outcomes after...
BACKGROUND
The use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has increased at a greater rate than other shoulder procedures. In general, clinical and functional outcomes after RTSA have been favorable regardless of indication. However, little evidence exists regarding patient specific factors associated with clinical improvement after RTSA. Predicting postoperative outcomes after RTSA may support patients and physicians to establish more accurate patient expectations and contribute in treatment decisions. The aim of this study was to determine predictive factors for postoperative outcomes after RTSA for patients with degenerative shoulder disorders.
METHODS
EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library and PEDro were searched to identify cohort studies reporting on predictive factors for postoperative outcomes after RTSA. Authors independently screened publications on eligibility. Risk of bias for each publication was assessed using the QUIPS tool. A qualitative description of the results was given. The GRADE framework was used to establish the quality of evidence.
RESULTS
A total of 1986 references were found of which 11 relevant articles were included in the analysis. Risk of bias was assessed as low (N = 7, 63.6%) or moderate (N = 4, 36.4%). According to the evidence synthesis there was moderate-quality evidence indicating that greater height predicts better postoperative shoulder function, and greater preoperative range of motion (ROM) predicts increased postoperative ROM following.
CONCLUSION
Preoperative predictive factors that may predict postoperative outcomes are: patient height and preoperative range of motion. These factors should be considered in the preoperative decision making for a RTSA, and can potentially be used to aid in preoperative decision making.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level I; Systematic review.
Topics: Humans; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder; Range of Motion, Articular; Treatment Outcome; Shoulder Joint
PubMed: 38835042
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07500-3 -
BMC Primary Care Jun 2024The lack of trust between patients and physicians has a variety of negative consequences. There are several theories concerning how interpersonal trust is built, and...
BACKGROUND
The lack of trust between patients and physicians has a variety of negative consequences. There are several theories concerning how interpersonal trust is built, and different studies have investigated trust between patients and physicians that have identified single factors as contributors to trust. However, all possible contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship remain unclear. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding patient-physician trust and integrates contributors to trust into a model.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted using the databases MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and Eric (Ovid). We ran simultaneous searches for a combination of the phrases: patient-physician relationship (or synonyms) and trust or psychological safety. Six-hundred and twenty-five abstracts were identified and screened using pre-defined criteria and later underwent full-text article screening. We identified contributors to trust in the eligible articles and critically assessed whether they were modifiable.
RESULTS
Forty-five articles were included in the review. Patient-centered factors that contributed modifiable promoters of trust included psychological factors, levels of health education and literacy, and the social environment. Physician-centered factors that added to a trusting patient-physician relationship included competence, communication, interest in the patient, caring, the provisioning of health education, and professionalism. The patient-physician alliance, time spent together, and shared decision-making also contributed to trusting relationships between patients and physicians. External contributors included institutional factors, how payments are made, and additional healthcare services.
DISCUSSION
Our model summarized modifiable contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship. We found that providing sufficient time during patient-physician encounters, ensuring continuity of care, and fostering health education are promising starting points for improving trust between patients and physicians. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that address multiple modifiable contributors to a trusting patient-physician relationship.
Topics: Humans; Health Literacy; Physician-Patient Relations; Trust
PubMed: 38824511
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02435-z -
Respiratory Medicine 2024Anxiety is common in those with chronic physical health conditions and can have significant impacts on both quality of life and physical health outcomes. Despite this,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Anxiety is common in those with chronic physical health conditions and can have significant impacts on both quality of life and physical health outcomes. Despite this, there are limited studies comprehensively investigating the prevalence of anxiety in respiratory and sleep medicine settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide insight into the global prevalence of anxiety symptoms/disorders in respiratory and sleep medicine outpatients.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases were searched from database inception to January 23, 2023 for studies assessing the prevalence of anxiety in adult (≥16 years) respiratory and sleep medicine outpatients. Data was screened and extracted independently by two investigators. Anxiety was measured using various self-report questionnaires, structured interviews, and/or patient records. Using CMA software for the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was used for pooled estimates, and subgroup analysis was conducted on relevant models using a mixed-effects model.
RESULTS
116 studies were included, featuring 36,340 participants across 40 countries. The pooled prevalence of anxiety was 30.3 % (95%CI 27.9-32.9 %, 10,679/36,340). Subgroup analysis found a significant difference across type of condition, with pulmonary tuberculosis the highest at 43.1 % and COVID-19 outpatients the lowest at 23.4 %. No significant difference was found across anxiety types, country or age. Female sex and the use of self-report measures was associated with significantly higher anxiety estimates.
CONCLUSIONS
Anxiety is a common experience amongst patients in respiratory and sleep medicine outpatient settings. Thus, it is crucial that anxiety identification and management is considered by physicians in the field.
REGISTRATION
The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021282416).
Topics: Humans; Prevalence; Anxiety; Sleep Wake Disorders; COVID-19; Female; Male; Adult; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38823565
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107677 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research May 2024Mobile health (mHealth) uses mobile technologies to promote wellness and help disease management. Although mHealth solutions used in the clinical setting have typically... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mobile health (mHealth) uses mobile technologies to promote wellness and help disease management. Although mHealth solutions used in the clinical setting have typically been medical-grade devices, passive and active sensing capabilities of consumer-grade devices like smartphones and activity trackers have the potential to bridge information gaps regarding patients' behaviors, environment, lifestyle, and other ubiquitous data. Individuals are increasingly adopting mHealth solutions, which facilitate the collection of patient-generated health data (PGHD). Health care professionals (HCPs) could potentially use these data to support care of chronic conditions. However, there is limited research on real-life experiences of HPCs using PGHD from consumer-grade mHealth solutions in the clinical context.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to analyze existing literature to identify how HCPs have used PGHD from consumer-grade mobile devices in the clinical setting. The objectives are to determine the types of PGHD used by HCPs, in which health conditions they use them, and to understand the motivations behind their willingness to use them.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was the main research method to synthesize prior research. Eligible studies were identified through comprehensive searches in health, biomedicine, and computer science databases, and a complementary hand search was performed. The search strategy was constructed iteratively based on key topics related to PGHD, HCPs, and mobile technologies. The screening process involved 2 stages. Data extraction was performed using a predefined form. The extracted data were summarized using a combination of descriptive and narrative syntheses.
RESULTS
The review included 16 studies. The studies spanned from 2015 to 2021, with a majority published in 2019 or later. Studies showed that HCPs have been reviewing PGHD through various channels, including solutions portals and patients' devices. PGHD about patients' behavior seem particularly useful for HCPs. Our findings suggest that PGHD are more commonly used by HCPs to treat conditions related to lifestyle, such as diabetes and obesity. Physicians were the most frequently reported users of PGHD, participating in more than 80% of the studies.
CONCLUSIONS
PGHD collection through mHealth solutions has proven beneficial for patients and can also support HCPs. PGHD have been particularly useful to treat conditions related to lifestyle, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, or in domains with high levels of uncertainty, such as infertility. Integrating PGHD into clinical care poses challenges related to privacy and accessibility. Some HCPs have identified that though PGHD from consumer devices might not be perfect or completely accurate, their perceived clinical value outweighs the alternative of having no data. Despite their perceived value, our findings reveal their use in clinical practice is still scarce.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
RR2-10.2196/39389.
Topics: Humans; Telemedicine; Health Personnel; Patient Generated Health Data; Smartphone
PubMed: 38820580
DOI: 10.2196/49320 -
BMJ Neurology Open 2024Spontaneous spinal cord infarction (SCInf) is a rare condition resulting in acute neurological impairment. Consensus on diagnostic criteria is lacking, which may present...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Spontaneous spinal cord infarction (SCInf) is a rare condition resulting in acute neurological impairment. Consensus on diagnostic criteria is lacking, which may present a challenge for the physician. This review aims to analyse the current literature on spontaneous SCInf, focusing on epidemiology, the diagnostic process, treatment strategies and neurological outcomes.
METHODS
The study was performed in accordance with a previously published protocol. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were searched using the keywords 'spontaneous', 'spinal cord', 'infarction' and 'ischaemic'. The eligibility of studies was evaluated in two steps by multiple reviewers. Data from eligible studies were extracted and systematically analysed.
RESULTS
440 patients from 33 studies were included in this systematic review. Analysis of vascular risk factors showed that hypertension was present in 40%, followed by smoking in 30%, dyslipidaemia in 29% and diabetes in 16%. The severity of symptoms at admission according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale was score A 19%, score B14%, score C36% and score D32%. The mean follow-up period was 34.8 (±12.2) months. ASIA score at follow-up showed score A 11%, score B 3%, score C 16%, score D 67% and score E 2%. The overall mortality during the follow-up period was 5%. When used, MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) supported the diagnosis in 81% of cases. At follow-up, 71% of the patients were able to walk with or without walking aids.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest a significant role for vascular risk factors in the pathophysiology of spontaneous SCInf. In the diagnostic workup, the use of DWI along with an MRI may help in confirming the diagnosis. The findings at follow-up suggest that neurological recovery is to be expected, with the majority of patients regaining ambulation. This systematic review highlights gaps in the literature and underscores the necessity for further research to establish diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines.
PubMed: 38818241
DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-000754