Background
Overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is a worldwide challenge. As a result of the increased demand for EDs, slow internal patient flow, and unavailability of hospital beds, patients ...are kept in the corridors, causing a boarding effect. Studies have associated boarding in EDs with unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse events. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to describe the effects of ED boarding on the occurrence of adverse events.
Design
We followed the Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist and registered this systematic review with PROSPERO (CRD42020117915).
Methods
Literature searches were performed using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS), Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Cochrane, as well as Google Scholar, OpenThesis, and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations from September to November 2019. Cohort or case control studies that evaluated the occurrence of adverse events in patients who remained in an ED, waiting for a hospital bed, were included in the review.
Results
Seven studies met our eligibility criteria. Boarding in EDs may be related to a reduction in the quality of care, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes and adverse events.
Conclusions
Boarding in EDs may be related to increases in adverse incidents and events.
Clinical Relevance
The evidence in this review suggests that ED boarding increases the occurrence of unfavorable outcomes and identifies important considerations for future research.
To explore the available knowledge on the application of biopsychosocial model (BPS) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A scoping review, including 32 papers that used a BPS to ...manage adult patients with CLBP, published in any language. Six different databases were searched.
According to the description of the protocols, most of them use BPS for assessment of the patients. In this first stage the most often evaluated were pain and disability, kinesiophobia and quality of life, and work-related factors. The intervention most used associate psychological and physical domains using pain education or cognitive functional therapy and active exercise. Even though was not the most common, in the social domain occupational, behavioral and family interventions were observed.
BPS is more often used as combination of physical and psychological aspects, being the social domain restricted to work-related factors. Patien'ts perception of their health status is little explored, and it is suggested that the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health be used. Practice Implication: Patient perception as well as social factors in addition to occupational ones should be included in the clinical approach of the patient with CLBP and should be further explored in research.
•Patient’s perspective on health status should be considered during treatment course.•Interventions using the model usually uses physical and psychological aspects.•The use of the International Classification of Functioning was not observed in the studies, despite the World Health Organization recommendation.•Social aspects are frequently not considered in assessments and interventions.
To develop and evaluate the usability of the admission monitoring system in an emergency room.
This applied research intends to develop a software product and evaluate its usability. The development ...followed four stages: systematic review, structuring of the system framework, construction of system forms, and evaluation of the information generated. In the evaluation, the experts simulated the use of the system by inserting data from a fictitious medical record. We measured usability using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Scores and scores were calculated individually and globally. We propose these evaluation standards: worst case scenario, poor, average, good, excellent, and best-case scenario.
The Sistema de Informação e Monitoramento das Internações em Pronto-Socorro (SIMIPS - Information and Monitoring System for Emergency Room Admissions) monitors the epidemiological profile of admissions to the emergency room, time management, clinical deterioration, incidence of adverse events, and human resource management. The usability of SIMIPS, evaluated by 17 experts, reached the SUS Score 86.5 (best case scenario), and some suggestions for modifications were accepted.
We consider SIMIPS an easy-to-use tool, with real importance in the management of emergencies in view of overcrowding and congestion problems faced in Brazil.
Objective:
Evaluate whether questionnaires identified all the self-reported patient outcomes raised in focus groups.
Design:
Mixed methods research combined with qualitative analysis of focus groups.
...Settings:
Physical therapy clinic in a teaching hospital in Brazil.
Subjects:
A total of 27 patients (aged >18 years, mean age 55.2 years) with chronic non-specific low back pain.
Interventions:
Three focus groups were conducted by the same investigator and analyzed by meaning unit condensation. The results obtained from the focus groups were codified according to the International Classification of Functioning. A similar process was adopted to codify the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index according to the International Classification of Functioning. The results of both coding processes were compared.
Results:
In the analysis, seven main concepts were identified, comprising 77 meaning units. Only three meaning units were not linked to the International Classification of Functioning. Most of the codes present in the questionnaires and focus groups represent limitations to activities. Some codes were identified in the questionnaires that were not mentioned by the focus group participants. No questionnaire assessed environmental factors or problems related to specific parts of the body, and very few assessed body function, all of which were issues raised in the focus groups.
Conclusion:
This study shows that not all fields considered important by patients to their function are being evaluated, and emotional and contextual factors should be included in clinical assessments in order to fully understand patient need.
The aim of the study is to compare the available reference values and the six-minute walk test equations in healthy children/adolescents. Our systematic review was planned and performed in accordance ...with the PRISMA guidelines. We included all studies that established reference values for the six-minute walk test in healthy children/adolescents.
To perform this review, a research was performed in PubMed, EMBASE (via SCOPUS) and Cochrane (LILACS), Bibliographic Index Spanish in Health Sciences, Organization Collection Pan-American Health Organization, Publications of the World Health Organization and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) via Virtual Health Library until June 2015 without language restriction.
The initial research identified 276 abstracts. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were fully reviewed and approved by both reviewers. None of the selected studies presented sample size calculation. Most of the studies recruited children and adolescents from school. Six studies reported the use of random samples. Most studies used a corridor of 30 meters. All studies followed the American Thoracic Society guidelines to perform the six-minute walk test. The walked distance ranged 159 meters among the studies. Of the 12 included studies, 7 (58%) reported descriptive data and 6 (50%) established reference equation for the walked distance in the six-minute walk test.
The reference value for the six-minute walk test in children and adolescents ranged substantially from studies in different countries. A reference equation was not provided in all studies, but the ones available took into account well established variables in the context of exercise performance, such as height, heart rate, age and weight. Countries that did not established reference values for the six-minute walk test should be encouraged to do because it would help their clinicians and researchers have a more precise interpretation of the test.
The dynamic balance of the lower limbs has shown great importance in accomplishing activities of daily living, especially for walking and maintenance in the orthostatic position. In this context, ...individuals with knee osteoarthritis have changes in their physical capacity, mainly due to joint changes and muscular wear. The instrument called OctoBalance® is one of the most used to evaluate this balance, which analyses four different executions of movement in the limbs. However, individuals with knee osteoarthritis cannot perform this evaluation due to the need for single limb support during movements. This study aimed to verify whether it is reproducible to perform the dynamic balance evaluation of lower limbs with a reduction of 10% of body weight through a suspension system. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 2 collections with a 48-hour interval between them, using the Lower Body Test performed with OctoBalance®. The dynamic balance test followed the protocol of 3 repetitions observing the learning factor and then 3 repetitions where the values were collected, with the suggested adaptation for all 4 diagonals in both limbs. The interclass correlation index (ICI), coefficient of variation (CV), estimative standard error (EEE) and minimum detectable difference (MDD) were calculated as indicators of reproducibility. Also, Bland-Altman Graphs were used for visual verification of the agreement between the means. Results: The reliability tests showed a very high interclass correlation through the ICI and low variation values for all the movements evaluated through the CV. The EEE and MDD calculations showed positive responses for greater reliability, and the Bland-Altman graphs showed an agreement between the means. Reproducibility was positive for the Lower Body Test with the Octobalance® platform for the evaluation of lower limb dynamic balance in women with knee osteoarthritis.
ICU patients are exposed to several factors that can lead to muscle structural and functional changes, and ultrasonography can identify them. Although several studies have analyzed the reliability of ...muscle ultrasonography assessment, a protocol with more muscle assessments becomes a challenge. The aim of this study was to analyze the inter and intra-examiner reliability of peripheral and respiratory muscle ultrasonography assessment in critically ill patients. The sample size was 10 individuals aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted to the ICU. Practical training of four health professionals from different backgrounds was performed. After training, each examiner acquired three images to assess the thickness and echogenicity of the muscle groups: biceps brachii, forearm flexor group, quadriceps femoris, tibialis anterior and diaphragm. For the reliability analysis, an intraclass correlation coefficient was performed. Six hundred US images were analyzed for muscle thickness and 150 for echogenicity. Excellent intra-examiner reliability for echogenicity (ICC: 0.867-0.973) and inter-examiner reliability for thickness were found in all muscle groups (ICC: 0.778-0.942). For muscle thickness intra-examiner reliability, excellent results were found (ICC: 0.798-0.988), with a "good" correlation in one diaphragm assessment (ICC: 0.718). Excellent inter- and intra-examiner reliability of the thickness assessment and intra-examiner echogenicity of all muscles analyzed were found.
Early mobilization and physical exercise are considered fundamental components in cardiovascular surgery rehabilitation; however, occasionally they are inadequate for inhibiting functional decline. ...Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a promising tool in cardiovascular rehabilitation; however, to date, no randomized clinical trial has measured the effects of NMES on functional capacity and quality of life in patients who undergo routine cardiac surgery with a short intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of NMES on walking ability, muscle strength, functional independence, and quality of life in cardiac valve surgery patients in the immediate postoperative period.
A randomized, parallel, controlled, 2-arm clinical trial with assessor blinding was conducted. Fifty-nine adult patients in the preoperative period after cardiac valve reconstruction and/or replacement were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. The intervention group underwent NMES in the quadriceps and gastrocnemius, bilaterally, for 60 minutes, for up to 10 sessions. The primary outcome was ambulation ability, assessed through the Six-Minute Walk Test and Walking Speed Test at postoperative day 5 (5PO). Secondary outcomes were muscular strength (assessed through the Medical Research Council scale), functional independence measure (assessed through the Functional Independence Measurement Questionnaire), and quality of life (assessed through the Nottingham Health Profile) at baseline (preoperative) and at postoperative days 3 and 5.
The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups, except for body mass index. There was no statistically significant difference, with a small effect size, between both groups regarding the distance walked (95% CI, -64.87 to 65.97) and walking speed (95% CI, -0.55 to 0.57). There was a statistically significant difference in upper-limb muscle strength loss and decline in mobility at postoperative day 3, which had a tendency to recover to initial values at 5PO, in both groups. No significant between-group difference was noted for muscle strength, functional independence, and quality of life.
The use of NMES had no effect on walking ability, strength, quality of life, or functional outcome in the postoperative period for patients that underwent regular valve replacement.
Objective
To evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on functional capacity of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.
Design
A prospective, randomized ...controlled trial.
Setting
A cardiac surgery specialist hospital in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Subjects: Patients in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery.
Intervention
The control group received the conventional physiotherapy and the intervention group received neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles bilaterally, applied for 60 min, twice a day for up to 10 sessions per patient, in the immediate postoperative period until postoperative day 5.
Main measures
The primary outcome was the distance walked, which was evaluated using the 6-min walk test on postoperative day 5. Secondary outcomes were gait speed, lactate levels, muscle strength, electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris and Functional Independence Measure, some of them evaluated on preoperative and postoperative period.
Results
Of 132 eligible patients, 88 patients were included and randomly allocated in two groups, and 45 patients were included in the analysis. No significant difference was found on the distance walked (p = 0.650) between patients allocated in intervention group (239.06 ± 88.55) and control group (254.43 ± 116.67) as well as gait speed (p = 0.363), lactate levels (p = 0.302), knee extensor strength (p = 0.117), handgrip strength (p = 0.882), global muscle strength (p = 0.104), electromyographic activity (p = 0.179) and Functional Independence Measure (p = 0.059).
Conclusions
Although the effects are still uncertain, the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation carried out in five days didn't present any benefit on functional capacity of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery.
Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to high mortality, and pharmacological or percutaneous primary interventions do not significantly inhibit ischemia/reperfusion injuries, particularly those caused by ...oxidative stress. Recently, research groups have evaluated several naturally occurring antioxidant compounds for possible use as therapeutic alternatives to traditional treatments. Studies have demonstrated that d-limonene (DL), a monoterpene of citrus fruits, possesses antioxidant and cardiovascular properties. Thus, this work sought to elucidate the mechanisms of protection of DL in an isoproterenol-induced murine MI model. It was observed that DL (10 μmol) attenuated 40% of the ST elevation, reduced the infarct area, prevented histological alterations, abolished completely oxidative stress damage, restored superoxide dismutase activity, and suppressed pro-apoptotic enzymes. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that DL produces cardioprotective effects from isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Swiss mice through suppression of apoptosis.
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