Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
-
Current meta-analysis was conducted aiming to assess the efficacy and safety of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) in the treatment of acute leukaemia (AL) patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT). ⋯ Our findings suggest that rhIL-11 is effective and safe in the treatment of CIT in patients with AL.
-
While public reports of hospital-level surgical quality measures are becoming increasingly common in health care, a comprehensive national assessment of surgical quality across multiple cancer sites has yet to be developed. Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare claims present a potential resource from which to measure outcomes following cancer surgery given the national scope of patients and providers. However, due to the administrative nature of the data, clinical cancer information such as stage is not recorded. Leveraging the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry linked to FFS Medicare claims to analyse outcomes for patients whom we ultimately know stage information, we determined whether Medicare claims are suitable for measuring provider quality following cancer surgery by assessing the extent to which the lack of stage information modifies assessments of provider performance. ⋯ These findings support the use of FFS Medicare claims for hospital-level analyses of short-term outcomes following cancer surgery. Quality reporting based on these analyses can be used to help patients choose among hospitals and for evaluating policies to improve surgical cancer care.
-
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older adults are detrimental to both clinical outcomes and health care costs, with their prominence set to increase in tandem with a fast-growing ageing population. Beers Criteria is one of the most commonly used guidelines that lists specific PIMs. Community pharmacists would therefore benefit from knowledge of Beers Criteria in detecting PIMs in primary care. This study therefore investigates the awareness of Beers Criteria and knowledge of PIMs among community pharmacists in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. ⋯ Awareness of Beers Criteria remains low among community pharmacists in Malaysia. Pharmacists who are aware of Beers Criteria have improved knowledge regarding PIMs in the older adults. There is a need to increase the awareness and use of Beers Criteria among community pharmacists.
-
The main leading cause of the upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) is viral infection. However, parental attitudes often lead to inappropriate prescription of antibiotics contributing to development of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study is to assess parental knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards the use of antibiotics in Dubai and to reveal the associated factors. ⋯ The study has identified key factors associated with misuse of URTI antibiotics and highlights the importance of targeting those groups with intervention programs and campaigns to increase awareness and decrease misconception of antibiotic use.
-
Meta Analysis
Effects of eradicating Helicobacter pylori on metachronous gastric cancer prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is closely associated with the incidence of gastric cancer. However, whether H pylori eradication prevents metachronous gastric cancer remains uncertain. The aim of our study is to assess how eradicating H pylori influences metachronous gastric cancer onset following treatment of early stage gastric cancer via endoscopic resective surgery. ⋯ Eradicating H pylori via therapeutic treatment can effectively reduce rates of metachronous gastric cancer, and as such, it should be implemented in H pylori-infected individuals recently treated for early stage gastric cancers via endoscopic resection.