Objective: Formulating a comprehensive, practical, and urology-focused ward round checklist to enhance safety, efficiency and clear documentation for the Urology ward team when reviewing in-patients. Design: Identification of important parameters which should be addressed in every patient interaction. FIASCO – VH was coined for ease: • Fluid balance • Investigations • Intravenous access • Antibiotics • Analgesia • Stool • Catheter status • Observations • Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment • Home and follow up. Baseline measurement followed by implementation of the checklist and completion of three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. Setting: Single-centre district general hospital within the United Kingdom Participants: 279 ward round interactions with Urology inpatients Intervention: Implementation of the ward round checklist Main outcome measures: Adherence to parameters identified in the urology checklist Results: Stool (23.5%) and pain (30.6%) were worst assessed at baseline, with median 39.3% parameters assessed over all interactions. Significant improvement in assessed parameters after first (median 74.3%), second (median 84.0%), and third cycles (median 100%). These were associated with positive patient outcomes. There was discrepancy between factors verbally addressed and clinically documented (median 84.0% to 57.7% after second cycle). A dedicated third cycle reduced this gap (median 100% to 97%). 100% junior doctors surveyed believed the checklist has enabled addressing of factors which might have otherwise been missed. Conclusion: The use of a comprehensive, urology-focused, easy-to-memorise ward round checklist is feasible and led to sustained, well-documented improvements in all measured aspects of patients’ care, and perceived level of care by the team.
Background: There is inadequate data concerning prevalence and risk factors of asthma among adults, more studies are needed, to support health authorities in asthma management. Methods: This is a cross- sectional study done at Taiba University in Almadinah Almonawarah, Saudi Arabia, in March- April 2014 using a modified translated (ISAAC) questionnaire for adults and respiratory function test. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel version 2010. Results: Out of 200 samples 124 were included, the rate of response was 62%, All students who are known cases of asthma and those who had lung function test suspecting asthma were included in the prevalence of asthma which was found to be 12.8%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 21.77%, more among females and associated with asthma.
Background and aim: Demodicosis is a parasitic skin disease caused by D. folliculorum and D. brevis, and is also known as hair follicle mite. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of D. folliculorum and D. brevis in hematologic cancer patients and to investigate their relation with chemotherapy. Materials and methods: Sixty-six hematologic cancer patients and 60 healthy individuals with similar age and sex were included in the study. Of the patients with hematological cancer, 50 received chemotherapy and 16 did not receive chemotherapy. The demographic characteristics of the patients were noted. Samples were taken from the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead of the participants with standardized skin surface biopsy and examined in light microscopy at 40x and 100x magnifications to determine the mite density in cm2. Demodicosis was assessed as positive if 5 or more Demodex spp. were seen per cm2. Results: Demodex spp. was positive in 19 (28.78%) of the cancer patients and 3 (5%) of the control group. The prevalence of Demodex spp. was significantly higher in the patient group (p<0.001). The mean mite count (31.31/cm2), in the patient group was also significantly higher than the control group (1.08/cm2), (p<0.001). Demodex spp. density was 38.94/cm2 in patients receiving chemotherapy and 7.50/cm2 in patients not receiving chemotherapy, and the difference between them was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study showed that patients with hematological cancer were infected with Demodex spp. more than controls and that the density of Demodex spp. was significantly increased in chemotherapy group. It should be kept in mind that Demodex spp. increases with weakening of the immune system and may cause skin lesions in hematologic cancer patients, especially in chemotherapy receiving patients.
Microcephaly is characterized by a complex etiology, in addition to being associated with congenital Zika virus infection, being caused by environmental, genetic factors, metabolism diseases, as well as by the use of drugs and maternal diseases during the gestational period. This study aimed to know the microcephaly in the maternal-child life cycle in the Cariri region and its repercussion on maternal mental health. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive research with a quantitative-qualitative approach, delineated through a descriptive study in the formal statistical analysis for quantitative results. Schutze’s narrative was used for qualitative analysis. The study was carried out in inland Ceara in a reference unit for children with microcephaly. Thirteen mothers were interviewed, who have children with microcephaly due to ZIKAV, who had contact with the virus during the fertile period during pregnancy. The profile of the study subject showed that maternal education corresponds to secondary education, 23.1%, with Pardo selfreported colour 92.3%, married marital status 61.5%, with 46.2% as housekeeper occupation, and the mean age of 29.38% (range: 15 to 41 years). The results showed that there is a difference between living conditions of families, knowledge about Zika virus and mothers’ feelings about this pathology. Therefore, public policies and health education should be implemented in relation to ZIKAV, in an attempt to reduce cases of microcephaly in the NE of Brazil.
