Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Dec 2020
Understanding the Psychosocial Needs of Women who Present with Advanced Breast Cancer.
Advanced breast cancer (ABC) remains common in Singapore. In 2019, 22.1% of breast cancer patients presented with ABC in our institution. Despite increasing affluence and the advent of national mammographic screening, the incidence of ABC has not changed significantly. This suggests inherent differences in women who present late. We aim to explore the socio-economic background, knowledge and attitudes of women who present with ABC. ⋯ Further public education to improve understanding of breast cancer and screening mammography may help to improve rates for earlier detection of breast cancer.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Dec 2020
Practical Considerations for Converting Operating Rooms and Post-anaesthesia Care Units into Intensive Care Units in the COVID-19 Pandemic - Experience from a Large Singapore Tertiary Hospital.
COVID-19 has spread globally, infecting and killing millions of people worldwide. The use of operating rooms (ORs) and the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) for intensive care is part of surge response planning. We aim to describe and discuss some of the practical considerations involved in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. ⋯ In addition, due to the worldwide shortage of ICU ventilators, the US Food and Drug Administration has granted temporary approval for the use of anaesthesia gas machines for patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Lastly, planning of logistics and staff deployment needs to be carefully considered during a crisis. Although OR and PACU are not designed for long-term care of critically ill patients, they may be adapted for ICU use with careful planning in the current pandemic.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · Dec 2020
Factors Influencing Hearing Disability and Reduction in Disability among First-time Hearing Aid Users in Singapore.
This study aims to examine the factors associated with self-reported hearing disability and early reduction in disability after first-time hearing aid (HA) fitting in Singapore. ⋯ Hearing disability is high among first-time HA users in Singapore. Ethnicity and PTA thresholds were associated with self-reported hearing disability. After HA fitting, higher daily HA usage, sensorineural HL, and worse PTA thresholds of the better hearing ear were associated with early reduction in disability. Patient counselling on the benefits of HL rehabilitation could focus on hearing disability rather than PTA thresholds. The management of patients' expectations could focus on reducing rather than eliminating disability.