Singapore medical journal
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Singapore medical journal · Feb 2025
Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of advance care planning among specialist healthcare professionals in neurology, neuro-oncology and surgery.
This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) of advance care planning (ACP) among specialist healthcare professionals (HCPs) in neurology, neuro-oncology and surgery. ⋯ Enhanced ACP support, such as protocols, supervision and training, could improve ACP practice and engagement among specialist HCPs.
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Singapore medical journal · Feb 2025
Effectiveness of palliative care curriculum in a single medical school: a cross-sectional study among students.
Caring for dying patients is a quotidian responsibility within medicine. The aim of this study was to better understand how well a medical school's curriculum and clinical exposure prepared students to cope with palliative care and improved their clinical confidence in palliative care medicine. ⋯ Medical students expressed a lack of confidence in palliative care medicine regardless of their year of study, and felt that there was insufficient teaching and exposure to palliative care education.
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Singapore medical journal · Jan 2025
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with repeat rapid response team activations in a tertiary centre in Singapore.
Rapid response teams (RRTs) are prevalent in healthcare institutions worldwide. Repeated activations are associated with increased morbidity and higher resource utilisation, and represent a heterogeneous population that may benefit from early identification. To date, there are no published data on repeat RRT activations in Singapore. We aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes between patients who required single versus multiple RRT activations. ⋯ Our study found that repeat RRT activations were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates and increased hospital length of stay, independent of age, performance status and comorbidities. The results of our study highlight the need for early recognition and intervention in this patient group and discussion on goals of care when appropriate.
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Singapore medical journal · Jan 2025
Necrotising fasciitis in the elderly: comparison between patients aged 60 years and older and those younger than 60 years.
Increasing age is associated with an increased incidence of necrotising fasciitis. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical presentation, investigations, microbiology and clinical outcome in elderly (age ≥60 years) and nonelderly (age <60 years) patients with extremity necrotising fasciitis. ⋯ In patients aged ≥60 years, necrotising fasciitis of the extremities is associated with significantly increased risk of amputation and mortality. It is important for the treating surgeon to be aware of this association, so that early appropriate empirical antibiotics and radical surgical debridement can be initiated and the patient appropriately counselled.