Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia versus epidural patient-controlled analgesia for postoperative analgesia, sedation, and the incidence of side effects. Methods We searched the specialized trials registered in the Cochrane anesthesia group, The Cochrane Library (CCTR), MEDLINE (1966 to Sept. 2008), EMbase (1966 to Sept. 2008), PubMed (1966 to Sept. 2008), and handsearched some Chinese anesthesia Journals and Clinical anesthesia journals. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of intravenous versus epidural analgesia for post-operation were included. The quality of the trials was critically assessed. RevMan 4.2.8 software was used for meta-analyses. Results Thirteen RCTs involving 580 patients of intravenous versus epidural analgesia for post-operation were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were no significant differences in postoperative analgesia and sedation at the hour-points of 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th hours after operation. There were no significant differences in plasma fentanyl concentration in the two groups on the same analgesia effects. There were also no significant differences in side effects. Conclusion Both intravenous patient-controlled analgesia and epidural patient-controlled analgesia have the same clinical effects. Compared with epidural patient-controlled analgesia, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia has fewer side effects and is more convenient. At the same time, it can reduce more costs of hospitalization. But because of the low quality and small sample size of the included studies, more well-designed, large scale, randomized controlled trials are needed.
Objective To evaluate evidence from American medical risk monitoring and precaution system (AMRMPS) which may affect the construction of Chinese medical risk monitoring and precaution system (CMRMPS). Methods We searched relevant databases and Internet resources to identify literature on AMRMPS, medical errors, and patient safety. We used the quality evaluation system for medical risk management literature to extract and evaluate data. Results In 1999, a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) not only showed the severity and cause of medical errors in America but also gave the solution of it. In 2000, the Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force (QuIC) was appointed to assess the IOM report and take specific steps to improve AMRMPS. After 5 years, a well-developed medical risk management system was established with the improvement in the public awareness of medical errors, patient safety, performance criteria of medical safety, information technology and error reporting system. There was still some weakness of this system in risk precaution and prevention. Conclusion The experience from AMRMPS can be used to establish the CMRMPS. Firstly, we should disseminate and strengthen the awareness of medical risk and patient safety in public. Secondly, we should establish hospital audit system which includes auditing of medical staff and course of medical risk in continuing and academic education. Thirdly, we should develop regulations and guidelines on health care, medical purchase and drug supply which will benefit in management of regular work. Fourthly, we should develop computer information system for hospital which will regulate the management without the disturbance from human. Lastly, we should emphasize outcome evaluations and strive for perfection during the process.
This article introduced the structure and features of the medical safety and quality management system of New South Wales (NSW) of Australia. The system was funded by government with overall design, multi-sectors involvement, and explicit roles of government, hospitals, and independent third parties. The system also developed national and state-wide regulations, policies, standards and their certification. The NSW Health Incident Information Management System (IIMS), the guidelines and interventional programs were also established to decrease the medical risk and ensure the healthcare quality. This system will be used for reference to the national medical risk and quality management system of China.
Patient values and preferences is one of the elements of evidence-based medicine research, which is also an important part that should be considered in the development of evidence-based guidelines in the present and future. However, the research in this field in China has just begun. This article gives a brief introduction of its concepts, methods, influence factors based on the international researches of patient values and preferences and a brief description of the development in China, in order to provide references for the development of evidence-based guidelines based on the consideration of patient values and preferences in the future.
ObjectiveTo compare and analyze the expenses of inpatients before and after the implementation of the adjustment plan for " abolition of the addition of drug expenses” (also called zero-addition of drug costs) in Sichuan Province, in order to provide a certain reference for understanding the effect of this reform policy and further optimizing the formulation.MethodsFrom the hospital information management system, the data of inpatients with gastric cancer in a tertiary general hospital in Sichuan Province from January to September 2016 (before implementation) and from January to September 2017 (after implementation) were collected and compared. The change in hospitalization expenses of relevant patients before and after the implementation of the adjustment plan for canceling the addition of drug expenses was analyzed.ResultsA total of 2 878 patients were included in the survey; from January to September 2016,1 453 patients were included, and from January to September 2017, 1 425 patients were included. Before and after the implementation of the policy, the median hospitalization expenses of patients with gastric cancer decreased from 7 331.31 yuan to 7 145.12 yuan, with a decrease of 2.54%; the median expenses of medicines decreased from 4 839.79yuan to 4 246.10 yuan, with an decrease of 12.27%; the median expenses of check and inspections increased from 740.00 yuan to 859.00 yuan, with an increase of 16.08%; the median expenses of treatment increased from 251.00 yuan to 424.00 yuan, with an increase of 68.92%; compared with the total expenses and drug expenses before implementation, the total expenses and drug expenses after implementation decreased significantly, while material expenses, treatment expenses, check and inspection expenses and other expenses increased somewhat (P<0.05); differences in radiotherapy expenses and surgical treatment expenses before and after the implementation of the policy were not statistically significant (P>0.05).ConclusionsAfter the implementation of the policy of " abolition of drug expenses addiction”, the total expenses is slightly reduced for the expenses composition of patients with gastric cancer. Through the strengthening of the internal operation and management of the hospital, the government should continually optimize the public medical institution. At the same time, the government should put the compensation mechanism in place and continuously improve the payment method of medical insurance to ensure that the medical value of medical personnel is respected and the medical needs of ordinary people are guaranteed.
There is an increase in published studies relevant to the development of patient version of guidelines (PVGs). We reviewed, summarised and analysed the current developments in this field, with the aim of informing domestic scholars of the factors to consider when developing quality PVGs. We proposed three recommendations: (1) the concept of patient guidelines needs to be better defined; (2) a platform for the dissemination of PVGs should be established to support their implementation; and (3) a standardised PVGs development methodology should be developed to ensure the quality of the PVGs.
Objective Based on the PSQ-18 scale, to evaluate the effects of disease classification early warning system (DCEWS) on operation quality of health examination center (HEC). Methods By means of the comparable and retrospective cohort study methods, using “PSQ-18” of American Rand Corporation as a tool, taking the date when HEC implemented DCEWS as node, and adopting statistic software for random sampling, it was divided into two groups: the traditional group (before implementing DCEWS, n=475) and the early warning group (after implementing DCEWS, n=473). The PSQ-18 scale scores of both groups were analyzed so as to assess the effects of DCEWS on HEC. Results Such factors as sex, age, education level and family average monthly income had certain effects on the score of PSQ-18, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (Pgt;0.05); in the following 4 dimensions as the ways of interpersonal communication, degree of doctor-patient communication, convenience degree and the overall satisfaction of patients, the PSQ-18 scores of the traditional group and the early warning group were 4.0±0.92/4.2±0.97, 3.8±0.94/4.0±0.96, 4.4±0.60/4.6±0.6, 4.2±0.87/4.4±0.94, respectively, with significant differences (all Plt;0.05). Conclusion The implementation of “Disease classification early waning system” can significantly increase the “patient satisfaction” of health examinees, and can significantly improve the operation quality of health examination center.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the reasonableness of anticoagulation management strategy in patients after mechanical heart valve replacement.
MethodsAll patients were followed and registered continually at outpatient clinic from July 2011 to February 2013, with a minimum of 6 months after surgery. Targeted international normalized rate (INR) 1.60 to 2.20 and warfarin weekly dosage adjustment were used as the strategy of anticoagulation management. Except bleeding, thrombogenesis and thromboembolism, time in therapeutic range (TTR) and fraction of TTR (FTTR) were adopted to evaluate the quality of anticoagulation management.
ResultsA total 1 442 patients and 6 461 INR values were included for data analysis. The patients had a mean age of 48.2±10.6 years (14-80 years) and the following up time were 6 to 180 months (39.2±37.4 months) after surgery. Of these patients, 1 043 (72.3%) was female and 399 (27.7%) was male. INR values varied from 0.90-8.39 (1.85±0.49) and required weekly doses of warfarin were 2.50-61.25 (20.89±6.93 mg). TTR of target INR and acceptable INR were 51.1% (156 640.5 days/306 415.0 days), 64.9% (198 856.0 days/306 415.0 days), respectively. FTTR of target INR and acceptable INR were 49.4% (3 193 times/6 461 times), 62.6% (4 047 times/6 461 times). There were 8 major bleeding events, 7 mild bleeding events, 2 thromboembolism events, and 2 thrombogenesis in the left atrium.
ConclusionIt is reasonable to use target INR 1.60-2.20 and warfarin weekly dosage adjustment for patients after mechanical heart valve replacement.
Measurement properties studies of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) aims to validate the measurement properties of PROMs. In the process of designing and statistical analysis of these measurement properties studies, bias will occur if there are any defects, which will affect the quality of PROMs. Therefore, the COSMIN (consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments) team has developed the COSMIN risk of bias (COSMIN-RoB) checklist to evaluate risk of bias of studies on measurement properties of PROMs. The checklist can be used to develop systematic reviews of PROMs measurement properties, and for PROMs developers, it can also be used to guide the research design in the measurement tool development process for reducing bias. At present, similar assessment tools are lacking in China. Therefore, this article aims to introduce the primary contents of COSMIN-RoB checklist and to interpret how to evaluate risk of bias of the internal structure studies of PROMs with examples.
Objective To evaluate if performing thyroidectomy through small incision has any notable aesthetic impact on patients compared with larger incision. Methods Thirty consecutive patients underwent thyroidectomy were enrolled from March 2008 to June 2008 in this prospective randomized pilot study. The incision length was 6 cm in the small incision group and 9 cm in the larger incision group. After 3 years follow-up，the scar aesthetics were evaluated by patients and surgeons using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale （POSAS），Vancouver Scar Scale （VSS），respectively. Digital photographs about scars were taken and assessed by non-research related viewers. Results There were 13 cases who received scar aesthetic assessment in both groups. The demographic characteristics of both groups were comparative. The overall patients’ satisfactions for the small incision group and the larger incision group were （2.5±1.9） scores and （2.2±1.5）scores， respectively （P=0.55）. There were no significant differences in scar assessment scale score as for other scar assessment scales （including VSS score，PSAS score，and OSAS score） between the two groups. The evaluation of digital photographs about scars by non-research related viewers was no significant difference （P＞0.05）. Conclusion Larger cervical scar in thyroidectomy does not decrease patients’ satisfaction with their scar results.
