Karen Marie Lyng

Incidence and prevention of deep venous thrombosis occurring late after general surgery: randomised controlled study of prolonged thromboprophylaxis

OBJECTIVE To study the incidence of late deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and to evaluate a regimen of prolonged thromboprophylaxis after general surgery. DESIGN Randomised, controlled, open trial, with blinded evaluation. SETTING University hospital, Denmark. SUBJECTS 176 consecutive patients undergoing major elective abdominal or non-cardiac thoracic operations, of whom 118 were eligible for evaluation. INTERVENTIONS Thromboprophylaxis with a low-molecular-weight heparin, tinzaparin, given for four weeks (n = 58), compared with one week (control group, n = 60). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of DVT established by bilateral venography four weeks after the operation. RESULTS The incidence of late DVT in the control group was 6/60 (10%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4% to 21%). In the prophylaxis group it was 3/58 (5.2%, 95% CI 1% to 14%) (p = 0.49). CONCLUSION Prolonged thromboprophylaxis had no significant effect on the incidence of DVT occurring late after general surgery.

From Paper Based Clinical Practice Guidelines to Declarative Workflow Management

We present a field study of oncology workflow, involving doctors, nurses and pharmacists at Danish hospitals and discuss the obstacles, enablers and challenges for the use of computer based clinical practice guidelines. Related to the CIGDec approach of Pesic and van der Aalst we then describe how a sub workflow can be described in a declarative workflow management system: the Resultmaker Online Consultant (ROC). The example demonstrates that declarative primitives allow to naturally extend the paper based flowchart to an executable model without introducing a complex cyclic control flow graph.

Colour Doppler flow imaging ultrasonography versus venography as screening method for asymptomatic postoperative deep venous thrombosis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate colour Doppler flow imaging ultrasonography (CDFI), compared with venography, as a screening method for postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in a clinical trial on thromboprophylaxis. METHODS Patients undergoing major abdominal or thoracic surgery were prospectively screened for DVT by CDFI. Patients were examined preoperatively, and on post-operative days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. When the CDFI was positive venography was performed. Bilateral venography was performed on day 28 in all patients. The study group comprised 82 patients who underwent CDFI and venography on the same day: four because of suspected DVT (positive CDFI), and 78 on day 28 according to protocol. RESULTS DVT was detected by venography in seven patients, in three of whom CDFI was positive. CDFI was falsely positive in one case. There were two popliteal and five calf DVTs, of which CDFI detected one and two, respectively. The sensitivity of CDFI was 43%, the specificity 99%. The PVpos for CDFI was 75%, and the PVneg 96%. CONCLUSION Due to low sensitivity, CDFI cannot stand alone as a screening method for asymptomatic postoperative DVT.

Methodological Review: Participatory design for computerization of clinical practice guidelines

There have been made many attempts on computerization of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), none have, however achieved any general application in clinical work practice. The objective of this paper is: (1) to raise awareness about the impact the design method used for computerization of CPGs have on the final solution and (2) to explore the potential benefits--and disadvantages--of participatory design (PD) as an approach to design. However, rather than attempting to comprehensively cover the whole field of PD pertinent to healthcare, we focus on providing details on three aspects of PD: PD as a design philosophy, PD as a toolbox and PD as a way to create a shared realm of understanding among IT-designers and health professionals as these are areas of utmost relevance for the design of computerized CPGs. Additionally, the application of PD for computerization of CPGs is illustrated by two cases. We conclude that PD is a beneficial approach for design of computerized CPGs.

From clinical practice guidelines, to clinical guidance in practice - impacts for computerization.

This paper presents a case study of clinical guidance within oncology clinics. Close to all patients treated within the observed clinics were treated according to clinical practice guidelines in the form of either a research or a standard treatment protocol. The clinical practice guideline artifacts were however rarely applied in clinical practice. It was first when the guidelines were translated and transformed into second order guiding artifacts (SOGAs) they were applied. The SOGAs applied in clinical practice were activity specific holding space for relevant documentation. The transformation from clinical practice guideline to SOGA was executed according to a standard operating procedure. A wide number of physical features were applied to support quick overview and application in clinical practice. The clinicians were actively participating in the translation and transformation process obtaining ownership to the resulting artifacts. The implications for computerization of clinical practice guidelines are discussed.

The Role of Simulation in Clinical Information Systems Development

This paper describes the role of simulation involving end-users in Health Informatics. Simulation has long been established as a widely accepted method in clinical skills training. During the last decade simulation has also gained a place in the development and evaluation of clinical information systems. Simulation is especially well suited for the evaluation of human factors and organizational aspects in relation to application of information systems. In full-scale simulation tests it is possible to evaluate socio-technical interaction. A near to real life experience can be achieved by creating high fidelity environments. The paper discusses how simulation may be used during the lifecycle of clinical information systems, and the requirements on simulation fidelity in various situations. We recommend that simulation should get a more prominent role in the design and evaluation of clinical information systems.

Clinical simulation as a boundary object in design of health IT-systems

Healthcare organizations are very complex, holding numerous stakeholders with various approaches and goals towards the design of health IT-systems. Some of these differences may be approached by applying the concept of boundary objects in a participatory IT-design process. Traditionally clinical simulation provides the opportunity to evaluate the design and the usage of clinical IT-systems without endangering the patients and interrupting clinical work. In this paper we present how clinical simulation additionally holds the potential to function as a boundary object in the design process. The case points out that clinical simulation provides an opportunity for discussions and mutual learning among the various stakeholders involved in design of standardized electronic clinical documentation templates. The paper presents and discusses the use of clinical simulation in the translation, transfer and transformation of knowledge between various stakeholders in a large healthcare organization.