Elmer Villanueva

The validity of self-reported weight in US adults: a population based cross-sectional study

BackgroundInvestigating the validity of the self-reported values of weight allows for the proper assessment of studies using questionnaire-derived data. The study examined the accuracy of gender-specific self-reported weight in a sample of adults. The effects of age, education, race and ethnicity, income, general health and medical status on the degree of discrepancy (the difference between self-reported weight and measured weight) are similarly considered.MethodsThe analysis used data from the US Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-reported and measured weights were abstracted and analyzed according to sex, age, measured weight, self-reported weight, and body mass index (BMI). A proportional odds model was applied.ResultsThe weight discrepancy was positively associated with age, and negatively associated with measured weight and BMI. Ordered logistic regression modeling showed age, race-ethnicity, education, and BMI to be associated with the degree of discrepancy in both sexes. In men, additional predictors were consumption of more than 100 cigarettes and the desire to change weight. In women, marital status, income, activity level, and the number of months since the last doctors visit were important.ConclusionsPredictors of the degree of weight discrepancy are gender-specific, and require careful consideration when examined.

Outcome in adult bronchiectasis

The outcome in adult bronchiectasis has not been well described; in particular there has been a lack of long-term prospective studies. Therefore a follow-up study was performed to assess outcome in bronchiectasis in a cohort of adult patients. One hundred-and-one sequential adults, 33 male and 68 female; age 54 ± 14 years (mean ± SD) with bronchiectasis had a clinical assessment and spirometry performed. All were non-smokers and 84 were classified as having idiopathic disease. Patients were commenced on a standardized treatment regime and followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. On their last review when patients were clinically stable, a repeat clinical assessment and spirometry was performed and compared with the initial review. The primary endpoints measured were symptoms and FEV1. Subjects were followed up for 8.0 ± 4.9 years. Clinical review showed that the patients had persistent symptoms that, in the case of dyspnea and sputum volume, were worse on follow-up. Spirometry showed a significant decline in FEV1 over the follow-up period with an average loss of 49 ml per year. This study showed in this group of predominantly female adult patients with bronchiectasis followed up for 8 years, patients had persistent symptoms and an excess loss in FEV1.

Intensive therapy following upper limb botulinum toxin A injection in young children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized trial

Botulinum toxin A (BoNT‐A) combined with occupational therapy is effective in improving upper limb outcomes in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). It is now essential to identify the most effective therapies following BoNT‐A. Given the added burden for children and families, the aim of this study was to explore whether modified constraint‐induced movement therapy (mCIMT) leads to sufficiently superior gains compared with bimanual occupational therapy (BOT) in young children with unilateral CP following BoNT‐A injections.

A comparative study between transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence mapping in the diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa.

The classification of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) into 3 main subtypes has been based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that is able to directly visualize and quantify specific ultrastructural features. Immunofluorescence antigenic mapping (IFM) is a technique that determines the precise level of skin cleavage by determining binding sites for a series of antibodies. To date, no study has compared the accuracy of these two techniques in diagnosing the major types of EB. A prospective cohort of 33 patients thought to have EB on clinical grounds had TEM, IFM, and genetic testing performed. The sensitivities and specificities of TEM and IFM were calculated compared with the genetic results. Of 33 cases, 30 had a positive EB diagnosis. TEM subclassified EB into its three major forms in 24/30 cases (80%) and IFM in 29/30 cases (97%). Overall, TEM sensitivities and specificities when compared with genetic results were 71% and 81%, respectively. IFM sensitivities and specificities when compared with genetic results were 97% and 100%, respectively. If a patient tested positive for EB by IFM, the likelihood ratio of having a particular type of EB was consistently greater than 20 against the reference standard (compared with a likelihood ratio less than 10 for TEM). Our results indicate that the diagnosis of EB is improved (sometimes substantially) by the use of IFM compared with TEM.

Phenotypes of Adult Bronchiectasis: Onset of Productive Cough in Childhood and Adulthood

Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous disorder with a large number of etiologic factors. The main symptom is a chronic productive cough. The aim of this study was to describe the phenotypes of patients with bronchiectasis who had developed a chronic productive cough in childhood (before 16 years of age) compared with those who had developed a productive cough as adults. One hundred and eighty-two subjects with bronchiectasis diagnosed by computed tomography scanning were studied. Subjects all had a detailed clinical review and assessment of potential etiologic factors performed by the investigators. There were 107 (59%) subjects who developed a chronic productive cough in childhood and 75 (41%) subjects who developed a chronic productive cough in adulthood. There were significant differences in a number of parameters between the two groups including duration of cough, frequency of exacerbations, presence of rhinosinusitis, crackles on examination and lung function. The adult group could be further divided into those who had developed a cough whilst smoking and those who had no obvious relationship with smoking. In conclusion there were a number of significant differences between the child onset and adult onset group that may reflect different phenotypes of bronchiectasis.

Improving question formulation for use in evidence appraisal in a tertiary care setting: a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN66375463]

BackgroundThe specificity of clinical questions is gauged by explicit descriptions of four dimensions: subjects, interventions, comparators and outcomes of interest. This study determined whether adding simple instructions and examples on clinical question formulation would increase the specificity of the submitted question compared to using a standard form without instructions and examples.MethodsA randomised controlled trial was conducted in an evidence-search and appraisal service. New participants were invited to reformulate clinical queries. The Control Group was given no instructions. The Intervention Group was given a brief explanation of proper formulation, written instructions, and diagrammatic examples. The primary outcome was the change in the proportion of reformulated questions that described each the dimensions of specificity.ResultsFifty-two subjects agreed to participate in the trial of which 13 were lost to follow-up. The remaining 17 Intervention Group and 22 Control Group participants were analysed. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Overall, 20% of initially submitted questions from both groups were properly specified (defined as an explicit statement describing all dimensions of specificity). On follow-up, 7/14 questions previously rated as mis-specified in the Intervention Group had all dimensions described at follow-up (p = 0.008) while the Control Group did not show any changes from baseline. Participants in the Intervention Group were also more likely to explicitly describe patients (p = 0.028), comparisons (p = 0.014), and outcomes (p = 0.008).ConclusionsThis trial demonstrated the positive impact of specific instructions on the proportion of properly-specified clinical queries. The evaluation of the long-term impact of such changes is an area of continued research.

SURGEONS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS AND USAGE OF EVIDENCE‐BASED MEDICINE IN SURGICAL PRACTICE: A PILOT STUDY

Background:  Within surgery the debate about the place of evidence‐based medicine (EBM) has focused on the nature and compatibility of EBM with surgical practice with an inevitable polarization of opinion. However, EBM techniques are being embedded into undergraduate medical curricula and surgical training programs across Australia. The Monash University Department of Surgery at Monash Medical Centre implemented a pilot study to explore current knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of practising surgeons towards EBM techniques.

Stress hyperglycemia may not be harmful in critically ill patients with sepsis

BACKGROUND Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is commonly seen in critically ill patients. It has been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes in some groups of patients. The effects of SH on critically ill patients with sepsis have not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SH in critically ill patients with sepsis. METHODS In this retrospective study, patients with sepsis admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) over a 5-year period were included. RESULTS Of 297 patients, 204 (68.7%) had SH during the study period. The mean blood glucose level in patients with SH was 8.7 mmol/L compared with 5.9 mmol/L in those without SH (P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences in age; sex; sepsis severity; cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal comorbidities; requirement of mechanical ventilation; inotropes; and Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation III and Simplified Acute Physiology 2 scores on ICU admission. Intensive care unit mortality was significantly lower in patients who had SH. The median duration of ICU and hospital length of stay was longer in patients with SH. On logistic regression analysis, the presence of SH was associated with reduced ICU mortality. Subgroup analysis revealed SH to be protective in patients with septic shock. CONCLUSION Stress hyperglycemia may not be harmful in critically ill patients with sepsis. Patients with SH had lower ICU mortality.

A randomised controlled trial of a blended learning education intervention for teaching evidence-based medicine

BackgroundFew studies have been performed to inform how best to teach evidence-based medicine (EBM) to medical trainees. Current evidence can only conclude that any form of teaching increases EBM competency, but cannot distinguish which form of teaching is most effective at increasing student competency in EBM. This study compared the effectiveness of a blended learning (BL) versus didactic learning (DL) approach of teaching EBM to medical students with respect to competency, self-efficacy, attitudes and behaviour toward EBM.MethodsA mixed methods study consisting of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and qualitative case study was performed with medical students undertaking their first clinical year of training in EBM. Students were randomly assigned to receive EBM teaching via either a BL approach or the incumbent DL approach. Competency in EBM was assessed using the Berlin questionnaire and the ‘Assessing Competency in EBM’ (ACE) tool. Students’ self-efficacy, attitudes and behaviour was also assessed. A series of focus groups was also performed to contextualise the quantitative results.ResultsA total of 147 students completed the RCT, and a further 29 students participated in six focus group discussions. Students who received the BL approach to teaching EBM had significantly higher scores in 5 out of 6 behaviour domains, 3 out of 4 attitude domains and 10 out of 14 self-efficacy domains. Competency in EBM did not differ significantly between students receiving the BL approach versus those receiving the DL approach [Mean Difference (MD)=−0.68, (95% CI–1.71, 0.34), p=0.19]. No significant difference was observed between sites (p=0.89) or by student type (p=0.58). Focus group discussions suggested a strong student preference for teaching using a BL approach, which integrates lectures, online learning and small group activities.ConclusionsBL is no more effective than DL at increasing medical students’ knowledge and skills in EBM, but was significantly more effective at increasing student attitudes toward EBM and self-reported use of EBM in clinical practice. Given the various learning styles preferred by students, a multifaceted approach (incorporating BL) may be best suited when teaching EBM to medical students. Further research on the cost-effectiveness of EBM teaching modalities is required.

Development and validation of the ACE tool: assessing medical trainees’ competency in evidence based medicine

BackgroundWhile a variety of instruments have been developed to assess knowledge and skills in evidence based medicine (EBM), few assess all aspects of EBM - including knowledge, skills attitudes and behaviour - or have been psychometrically evaluated. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument that evaluates medical trainees’ competency in EBM across knowledge, skills and attitude.MethodsThe ‘Assessing Competency in EBM’ (ACE) tool was developed by the authors, with content and face validity assessed by expert opinion. A cross-sectional sample of 342 medical trainees representing ‘novice’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘advanced’ EBM trainees were recruited to complete the ACE tool. Construct validity, item difficulty, internal reliability and item discrimination were analysed.ResultsWe recruited 98 EBM-novice, 108 EBM-intermediate and 136 EBM-advanced participants. A statistically significant difference in the total ACE score was observed and corresponded to the level of training: on a 0-15-point test, the mean ACE scores were 8.6 for EBM-novice; 9.5 for EBM-intermediate; and 10.4 for EBM-advanced (p < 0.0001). Individual item discrimination was excellent (Item Discrimination Index ranging from 0.37 to 0.84), with internal reliability consistent across all but three items (Item Total Correlations were all positive ranging from 0.14 to 0.20).ConclusionThe 15-item ACE tool is a reliable and valid instrument to assess medical trainees’ competency in EBM. The ACE tool provides a novel assessment that measures user performance across the four main steps of EBM. To provide a complete suite of instruments to assess EBM competency across various patient scenarios, future refinement of the ACE instrument should include further scenarios across harm, diagnosis and prognosis.