CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prostaglandin E2 gel for cervical ripening and labour induction: a multicentre placebo-controlled trial.
To determine the effect of a single intracervical dose of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gel on cervical ripening and the need for subsequent labour induction with oxytocin. ⋯ A single, low dose of PGE2 gel administered intracervically is a safe and reliable method of dealing with indicated but potentially difficult inductions.
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To examine the lengths of stay of chronic status patients in an acute care hospital, to identify discharge stages that contribute to excessive stays, to estimate the length of stay at each discharge stage and to link hospital bed-day utilization by the discharge stage to the experience of the patient. ⋯ Although considered to be a useful measure of hospital efficiency, length of stay determined from discharge data creates an iceberg effect when applied to chronic status patients in acute care hospitals. Lack of access to the assigned resource is the most important reason for a delay in discharge. Interventions, whether undertaken at the patient, hospital or provincial level, must to some degree address this issue. Further study is required to determine which risk factors will predict lags at each discharge stage. Since our discharge staging reflects not only the experience of the patient but also the utilization of hospital bed-days and access to provincial resources, it provides a common language for clinicians, hospital administrators and systems planners.