Arch Intern Med
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Collecting data on medical errors is essential for improving patient safety, but factors affecting error reporting by physicians are poorly understood. ⋯ Most faculty and resident physicians are inclined to report harm-causing hypothetical errors, but only a minority have actually reported an error.
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Experimental and human studies demonstrate that long-term exposure to elevated aldosterone levels results in cardiac and vascular damage. ⋯ Primary aldosteronism is associated with a cardiovascular complication rate out of proportion to blood pressure levels that benefits substantially from surgical and medical treatment in the long term.
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Despite poor outcomes, life-sustaining treatments including mechanical ventilation are continued for a large and growing population of patients with chronic critical illness. This may be owing in part to a lack of understanding resulting from inadequate communication between clinicians and patients and families. Our objective was to investigate the informational needs of patients with chronic critical illness and their families and the extent to which these needs are met. ⋯ Many patients and their families may lack important information for decision making about continuation of treatment in the chronic phase of critical illness. Strategies for effective communication in this clinical context should be investigated and implemented.
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Comparative Study
Secondhand smoke and health-related quality of life in never smokers: results from the SAPALDIA cohort study 2.
Although secondhand smoke (SHS) has been linked with various respiratory conditions and symptoms, its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is unknown. ⋯ Secondhand smoke is associated with reduced HRQOL, more significantly so in women. Exposure to SHS at home and high levels of exposure are associated with lower SF-36 scores, suggesting a dose-response relationship.
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Prognostic information in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may provide the basis for optimal management strategies at an early stage. This study aimed to develop a prognostic risk index for long-term mortality in patients with PAD. ⋯ A prognostic risk index for long-term mortality stratified patients with PAD into different risk categories. This may be useful for risk stratification, patient counseling, and medical decision making.