Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2012
Quality of life and stress level in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis subjected to conservative treatment.
Quality of life (QoL) and stress level of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis is under growing consideration by physicians, physiotherapists and other specialists (psychologist, nurses). The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life and stress level in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who are under brace treatment. It involved 45 adolescents, ages ranging between 10.0 and 15.0 years, all with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) with Cobb angle between 20-45 degrees. ⋯ Adolescents revealed higher score with BSSQ Deformity (median = 15) comparing to BSSQ Brace (median = 12). Conservative treatment does not severely impact on the quality of life of scoliotic adolescents. The adolescents who were under brace treatment suffered moderate level of stress from the deformity.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2012
STRIVE: Stress Resilience In Virtual Environments: a pre-deployment VR system for training emotional coping skills and assessing chronic and acute stress responses.
The incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning OEF/OIF military personnel is creating a significant healthcare challenge. This has served to motivate research on how to better develop and disseminate evidence-based treatments for PTSD. One emerging form of treatment for combat-related PTSD that has shown promise involves the delivery of exposure therapy using immersive Virtual Reality (VR). ⋯ The STRIVE project aims to present this approach to service members prior to deployment as part of a program designed to better prepare military personnel for the types of emotional challenges that are inherent in the combat environment. During these virtual training experiences users are monitored physiologically as part of a larger investigation into the biomarkers of the stress response. One such construct, Allostatic Load, is being directly investigated via physiological and neuro-hormonal analysis from specimen collections taken immediately before and after engagement in the STRIVE virtual experience.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2012
Nasotracheal intubation in a difficult airway using the Storz C-MAC Videolaryngoscope, the Boedeker Bougie endotracheal introducer, and the Boedeker curved forceps.
Airway management has multiple indications for nasotracheal intubation. In this study, we focus on its indication in difficult airways. This work describes a modified procedure of nasotracheal intubation using the new Storz CMAC® Videolaryngoscope, the malleable Boedeker Bougie and the curved Boedeker Forceps in the intubation of a difficult airway manikin.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2012
What do radiology incident reports reveal about in-hospital communication processes and the use of health information technology?
There has been recent rapid growth in the use of medical imaging leading to concerns about an increase in unnecessary investigations, patient exposure to radiation, and incorrect diagnoses. Incident reporting systems provide a portal for staff to catalogue adverse events which occur within a hospital or department. Analysing incident reports can reveal trends and provide guidance for quality improvement efforts. ⋯ Communication breakdown and HIT systems are contributors to error, and should be addressed. HIT systems need to be monitored and flaws addressed to ensure quality care.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2012
Viability of healthcare service delivery alternatives for the Australian mining sector.
The changing and demanding nature of the mining workforce in rural and remote Australia brings unique challenges to the delivery of healthcare services. In an attempt to control costs whilst delivering cost effective and quality healthcare, new models of delivery must be considered. ⋯ A cost-benefit framework is analysed comparing three models of service provision using travel to a major location, locum services and remote health monitoring. Ultimately, new models of care must be considered to address the issues of increasing workforce turnover, to cater for rising healthcare costs, and to improve the health of such communities.