Background Recently published data show that many women interested in breast augmentation (BA) actively search the Internet for information. The Internet is currently the main source of information ...on this topic.
Objectives Little is known about the quality of available information on the Internet concerning BA. The goal was to evaluate this in a systematic manner using a validated and reproducible tool.
Methods Women (n = 96) unrelated to medicine were asked which keywords they would use to search the Internet if they were interested in BA. Five keywords were used. Qualitative and quantitative assessment was performed with the modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool. A total of 2500 websites containing information on BA were identified using Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask, and AOL.
Results Out of 623 eligible websites, only 153 (25%) addressed more than 20 EQIP items. Scores were higher for encyclopaedias and academic websites compared to hospital and practitioner websites. The median EQIP score was only 15 (IQR = 12-20), and quantitative postoperative morbidity and mortality risk estimates were available in only 38% and 25% of the websites, respectively. Major complications (e.g. capsular contraction, implant safety) were mentioned in only 156 (25%) of the websites.
Conclusions This is the first assessment of online patient information on BA using the EQIP tool. This analysis demonstrated several shortcomings in the quality of information provided to BA candidates. There is an immediate need for better informative and educational websites regarding BA procedures that are compatible with international quality standards for plastic surgery.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background : /Aims: Patients who undergo endoscopic biopsy suffer anxiety until results are confirmed. This study assesses the effects of written educational material on the anxiety level of patients ...following endoscopic biopsy. Methods : : This study was a randomized controlled study trial with 83 patients divided into the following three groups: a biopsy group given written educational material prepared by our institution following the biopsy (intervention group, n=28), a biopsy group without written material (biopsy only group, n=25), and a control group without biopsy (control group, n=30). The anxiety level of each patient was evaluated three times using Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): for baseline at the first visit to our institution, at the day of endoscopy, one day later, and one week after the procedure. We compared baseline characteristics, STAI scores at each visit, and differences in STAI scores among the three groups. Results : : No difference was found in STAI score among groups at baseline and before and after the endoscopic procedure. However, the STAI-state score of the intervention group was slightly lower than biopsy only group one day post-procedure (40.3±7.7 vs. 43.9±7.1, p=0.135). The STAI-state score significantly decreased from pre- to post-procedure only in the intervention group (–2.75±6.1 vs. 0.92±4.0, p＜0.027). Conclusion : s: Use of written educational material for patients having biopsy might lessen their anxiety level. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2016;67:92-97)
Healthcare professionals often use multimedia patient education media, but not all have the same content quality. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Educational Content Validation ...Instrument in Health to the Spanish setting and assess its psychometric properties. A methodological validation study was carried out between January and September 2020. Data collection took place from May to June 2020. A translation, back translation, committee review, and pre-testing was carried out. Subsequently, reliability (internal consistency), and validity (factorial and convergent) were assessed by requiring 210 Healthcare Professionals to complete the instrument based on video material. In addition, a refinement of the instrument was conducted based on the modification indexes. The instrument showed adequate internal consistency, although some redundancy in the items (α = .93). Exploratory factor analysis suggested a unifactorial structure that explained an adequate variance (47.37%). Convergent validity was poor (r = .11; P = .05). After analysis, 6 items were deleted without impairing the validity results and eliminating redundancy. Therefore, a 12-item version of the instrument was created. It can help to assess more objectively the contents of the materials prescribed, facilitating the choice of those of higher quality and potentially improving their patients’ health outcomes. Further studies are needed to confirm the previous results and reassess some of the shortcomings.
Background: Patient package inserts (PPIs) are the most important and accessible source of information for patients which is expected to contribute with the safe and efficient use of medicines. ...However, the information in the PPIs is not always appropriate and complete, and may lead to medication errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the conformity of pediatric antibiotics’ PPIs with the standards of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated 51 PPIs related to 13 best-selling pediatric antibiotics in Iran based on the criteria approved by Iran’s FDA. Six categories of criteria as writing and formatting, drug description, warnings and precautions, side effects, interactions, and references were considered in evaluating the extent of conformity. Findings: In total, 2652 items from 51 PPIs were evaluated. The PPIs content was insufficient in various aspects of conformity with standards in each category (54.8%). Among the six categories, the best match was found in warnings and precautions with 359 items (70.3%). The lowest conformity was found in the reference category with 76 items (18.6%). Conclusion: The PPIs of Iranian pediatric antibiotics do not fully meet Iran’s FDA standards. It is strongly recommended that the drug leaflets must be updated based on the standards of Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education to overcome this problem.
Objective Most professional organizations now provide patient information material, and not all of this material is appropriate for the average American adult to comprehend. The National Institutes ...of Health (NIH) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommend that patient education materials be written at the sixth-grade level. Our aim was to assess the readability of neurosurgery-related patient education material and compare it with The American Medical Association, NIH, and United States Department of Health and Human Services recommendations. Methods Materials provided by the American Association of Neurologic Surgeons (AANS) and the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and National Institutes of Health were assessed with the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Flesch Reading Ease score with Microsoft Office Word software. Results None of the articles had Flesch-Kincaid grade levels at or below the sixth-grade level. All articles on the AANS Conditions and Treatments section were written at or above the ninth-grade level; three of the AANS Camera-Ready Fact Sheets and four of the NIH/NLM articles were written between the seventh- and eighth-grade levels. Conclusions Current patient education material provided by the AANS is written well above the recommended level. Material from the NLM and NIH performed better, but was still above the recommended sixth-grade level. Education materials should contain information relevant to patients' conditions, be accurate in the information they present, and be written with the average patient in mind.
This study aimed to explore consumers', clinicians', and arthritis advocates’ perceptions of a novel osteoarthritis (OA) information booklet that challenged existing beliefs, integrated a ...biopsychosocial perspective, and incorporated consumer voice and experience.
A mixed-methods study was conducted using an evaluation survey completed after first reading the booklet and subsequent focus groups with Thematic Analysis. Focus groups were conducted with consumers (people with OA; four groups; n = 19), general practitioners (two groups; n = 11), primary healthcare nurses (two groups; n = 14) and arthritis advocates (two groups; n = 12).
Quantitative data identified positive initial impressions of the booklet. Four key themes emerged from the focus groups related to: i) an informative and empowering booklet; ii) the need to be clear about the booklet's purpose and audience; iii) discordance between clinician, advocate, and consumer perspectives; and iv) information and advice conflicting with prior beliefs or experience.
A novel information booklet was well received by consumers, clinicians, and arthritis advocates. New information resources can be improved in partnership with consumers and key stakeholders. Co-design with consumers needs to be carefully considered during resource development as consumer views often contrasted with professionals' perceptions of consumer needs. Successful implementation of updated OA information will require a multi-faceted approach that also targets clinicians’ knowledge and beliefs.
Online health information is of variable and often low scientific quality. In particular, elderly less-educated populations are said to struggle in accessing quality online information (digital ...divide). Little is known about (1) how their online behavior differs from that of younger, more-educated, and more-frequent Web users, and (2) how the older population may be supported in accessing good-quality online health information.
To specify the digital divide between skilled and less-skilled Web users, we assessed qualitative differences in technical skills, cognitive strategies, and attitudes toward online health information. Based on these findings, we identified educational and technological interventions to help Web users find and access good-quality online health information.
We asked 22 native German-speaking adults to search for health information online. The skilled cohort consisted of 10 participants who were younger than 30 years of age, had a higher level of education, and were more experienced using the Web than 12 participants in the less-skilled cohort, who were at least 50 years of age. We observed online health information searches to specify differences in technical skills and analyzed concurrent verbal protocols to identify health information seekers' cognitive strategies and attitudes.
Our main findings relate to (1) attitudes: health information seekers in both cohorts doubted the quality of information retrieved online; among poorly skilled seekers, this was mainly because they doubted their skills to navigate vast amounts of information; once a website was accessed, quality concerns disappeared in both cohorts, (2) technical skills: skilled Web users effectively filtered information according to search intentions and data sources; less-skilled users were easily distracted by unrelated information, and (3) cognitive strategies: skilled Web users searched to inform themselves; less-skilled users searched to confirm their health-related opinions such as "vaccinations are harmful." Independent of Web-use skills, most participants stopped a search once they had found the first piece of evidence satisfying search intentions, rather than according to quality criteria.
Findings related to Web-use skills differences suggest two classes of interventions to facilitate access to good-quality online health information. Challenges related to findings (1) and (2) should be remedied by improving people's basic Web-use skills. In particular, Web users should be taught how to avoid information overload by generating specific search terms and to avoid low-quality information by requesting results from trusted websites only. Problems related to finding (3) may be remedied by visually labeling search engine results according to quality criteria.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
INTRODUCTION We present a novel solution to ensure that information and contact details are always available to patients while in cast. An information sticker containing both telephone numbers and a ...Quick Response (QR) code is applied to the cast. When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code loads the plaster team's webpage. This contains information and videos about cast care, complications and enhancing recovery. METHODS A sticker was designed and applied to all synthetic casts fitted in our fracture clinic. On cast removal, patients completed a questionnaire about the sticker. A total of 101 patients were surveyed between November 2015 and February 2016. The questionnaire comprised ten binary choice questions. RESULTS The vast majority (97%) of patients had the sticker still on their cast when they returned to clinic for cast removal. Eighty-four per cent of all patients felt reassured by the presence of the QR code sticker. Nine per cent used the contact details on the cast to seek advice. Over half (56%) had a smartphone and a third (33%) of these scanned the QR code. Of those who scanned the code, 95% found the information useful. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that use of a QR code reassures patients and is an effective tool in the proactive management of potential cast problems. The QR code sticker is now applied to all casts across our trust. In line with NHS England's Five Year Forward View calling for enhanced use of smartphone technology, our trust is continuing to expand its portfolio of patient information accessible via QR codes. Other branches of medicine may benefit from incorporating QR codes as portals to access such information.
Processing fluency (the inferred subjective ease with which people process information) has been a topic of increasing research attention in the field of psychology over the past decade. We examined ...the effect of improving written materials in terms of processing fluency with regard to encouragement for obtaining breast and cervical cancer screening. We randomly assigned 670 women to intervention or control conditions; the 215 who mailed back distributed questionnaires were the study participants. A standard leaflet for cancer screening was mailed to the control group, while the materials mailed to the intervention group were improved in terms of perceptual fluency (e.g., legibility), linguistic fluency (e.g., readability), retrieval fluency (e.g., reducing amount of information) and imagery fluency (having recipients imagine future behavior and events). The screening rate of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (29.4% vs. 14.2%, χ
2
= 7.275, df = 1, p = .007, φ = .184). Improving the processing fluency of written materials may be useful for encouraging individuals to obtain breast and cervical cancer screening.
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