Tanya Mailhot

Cerebral oximetry as a biomarker of postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery patients

PURPOSE A promising monitoring strategy for delirium is the use of cerebral oximetry, but its validity during delirium is unknown. We assessed the relationship between oximetry and delirium. We hypothesized that as cerebral oximetry values increased, delirium would resorb. MATERIALS AND METHODS An observational study was conducted with 30 consecutive adults with delirium after cardiac surgery. Oximetry, delirium assessments, and clinical data were collected for 3 consecutive days after delirium onset. Oximetry was obtained using near-infrared spectroscopy. Delirium was assessed using diagnosis, occurrence (Confusion Assessment Method-ICU), and severity scales (Delirium Index). RESULTS All patients presented delirium at entry. The mean oximetry value decreased from 66.4±6.7 (mean±SD) to 50.8±6.8 on the first day after delirium onset and increased in patients whose delirium resorbed over the 3 days. The relationship between oximetry, delirium diagnosis, and severity was analyzed with a marginal model and linear mixed models. Cerebral oximetry was related to delirium diagnosis (P≤.0001) and severity (P≤.0001). CONCLUSION This study highlighted the links between increased cerebral oximetry values and delirium resorption. Oximetry values may be useful in monitoring delirium progression, thus assisting in the management of this complicated condition.

Evaluation of a nurse mentoring intervention to family caregivers in the management of delirium after cardiac surgery (MENTOR_D): a study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial

BackgroundDespite the use of evidence-based preventive measures, delirium affects about 40% of patients following cardiac surgery with the potential for serious clinical complications and anxiety for caregivers. There is some evidence that family involvement as a core component of delirium management may be beneficial since familiarity helps patients stay in contact with reality, however, this merits further investigation. There is also currently a gap in the scientific literature regarding objective indicators that could enhance early detection and monitoring of delirium. Therefore, this randomized pilot trial examines the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an experimental nursing intervention to help family caregivers manage post-cardiac surgery delirium in their relatives. It also explores the validity of a new and innovative measure that has potential as an indicator for delirium.Methods/DesignIn this two-group randomized pilot study (n = 30), the control group will receive usual care and the intervention group will receive the experimental intervention aimed at reducing delirium severity. The intervention nurse’s objective will be to foster the family caregiver’s self-efficacy in behaving in a supportive manner during delirium episodes. Data will be collected from standard delirium assessment scales and a novel measure of delirium, i.e., cerebral oximetry obtained using near infrared spectroscopy, as well as medical records and participants’ responses to questionnaires.DiscussionNew strategies for early detection, monitoring, and management of delirium are needed in order to improve outcomes for both patients and families. The present article exposes feasibility issues based on the first few months of the empirical phase of the study that may be useful to the scientific community interested in improving the care of patients with delirium. Another potentially important contribution is in the exploration of cerebral oximetry, a promising measure as an objective indicator for early detection and continuous monitoring of delirium. The proposed pilot study will build towards a larger trial with the potential to improve knowledge about delirium management and monitoring.Trial registrationThis pilot study was registered at Controlled Trials on March 27th 2013 and was assigned #ISRCTN95736036.

Effectiveness of serious games and impact of design elements on engagement and educational outcomes in healthcare professionals and students: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction Serious games (SGs) are interactive and entertaining digital software with an educational purpose. They engage the learner by proposing challenges and through various design elements (DEs; eg, points, difficulty adaptation, story). Recent reviews suggest the effectiveness of SGs in healthcare professionals’ and students’ education is mixed. This could be explained by the variability in their DEs, which has been shown to be highly variable across studies. The aim of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesise the best available evidence regarding the effectiveness of SGs and the impact of DEs on engagement and educational outcomes of healthcare professionals and students. Methods and analysis A systematic search of the literature will be conducted using a combination of medical subject headings terms and keywords in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Embase, Education Resources Information Center, PsycInFO, PubMed and Web of Science. Studies assessing SGs on engagement and educational outcomes will be included. Two independent reviewers will conduct the screening as well as the data extraction process. The risk of bias of included studies will also be assessed by two reviewers using the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care criteria. Data regarding DEs in SGs will first be synthesised qualitatively. A meta-analysis will then be performed, if the data allow it. Finally, the quality of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of SGs on each outcome will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Ethics and dissemination As this systematic review only uses already collected data, no Institutional Review Board approval is required. Its results will be submitted in a peer-reviewed journal by the end of 2018. PROSPERO registration number CRD42017077424.

Acceptability and feasibility of recruitment and data collection in a field study of hospital nurses’ handoffs using mobile devices

BackgroundThe portability and multiple functionalities of mobile devices make them well suited for collecting field data for naturalistic research, which is often beset with complexities in recruitment and logistics. This paper describes the implementation of a research protocol using mobile devices to study nurses’ exchanges of patient information at change of shift.MethodsNurses from three medical and surgical units of an acute care teaching hospital in Montreal, Canada, were invited to participate. On 10 selected days, participants were asked to record their handoffs using mobile devices and to complete paper questionnaires regarding these exchanges. Nurse acceptance of mobile devices was assessed using a 30-item technology acceptance questionnaire and focus group interviews. The principal feasibility indicator was whether or not 80 complete handoffs could be collected on each unit.ResultsFrom October to December 2017, 63 of 108 eligible nurses completed the study. Results suggest that the use of mobile devices was acceptable to nurses, who felt that the devices were easy to use but did not improve their job performance. The principal feasibility criterion was met, with complete data collected for 176, 84, and 170 of the eligible handoffs on each unit (81% of eligible handoffs). The research protocol was acceptable to nurses, who felt the study’s demands did not interfere with their clinical work.ConclusionsThe research protocol involving mobile devices was feasible and acceptable to nurses. Nurses felt the research protocol, including the use of mobile devices, required minimal investment of time and effort. This suggests that their decision to participate in research involving mobile devices was based on their perception that the study protocol and the use of the device would not be demanding. Further work is needed to determine if studies involving more sophisticated and possibly more demanding technology would be equally feasible and acceptable to nurses.

Using a Wireless Electroencephalography Device to Evaluate E-health and E-learning Interventions

Background Measuring engagement and other reactions of patients and health professionals to e-health and e-learning interventions remains a challenge for researchers. Objective The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using a wireless electroencephalography (EEG) device to measure affective (anxiety, enjoyment, relaxation) and cognitive (attention, engagement, interest) reactions of patients and healthcare professionals during e-health or e-learning interventions. Methods Using a wireless EEG device, we measured patient (n = 6) and health professional (n = 7) reactions during a 10-minute session of an e-health or e-learning intervention. The following feasibility and acceptability indicators were assessed and compared for patients and healthcare professionals: number of eligible participants who consented to participate, reasons for refusal, time to install and calibrate the wireless EEG device, number of participants who completed the full 10-minute sessions, participant comfort when wearing the device, signal quality, and number of observations obtained for each reaction. The wireless EEG readings were compared to participant self-rating of their reactions. Results We obtained at least 75% of possible observations for attention, engagement, enjoyment, and interest. EEG scores were similar to self-reported scores, but they varied throughout the sessions, which gave information on participants’ real-time reactions to the e-health/e-learning interventions. Results on the other indicators support the feasibility and acceptability of the wireless EEG device for both patients and professionals. Discussion Using the wireless EEG device was feasible and acceptable. Future studies must examine its use in other contexts of care and explore which components of the interventions affected participant reactions by combining wireless EEG and eye tracking.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging noninvasive monitoring modality based on chromophore absorption of infrared light. There are four different types of NIRS system—continuous, time domain, frequency domain, and functional—and numerous devices that are now commercially available. These devices differ by the use of different technical components to obtain continuous NIRS values. Their resulting values are not necessarily interchangeable, and few studies have compared them. Cerebral NIRS is an indirect indicator of perfusion adequacy. Therefore, it allows continuous information on oxygen supply-versus-demand balance. NIRS is indicated when continuous monitoring of cerebral tissue perfusion is considered. Therefore, the application of NIRS covers many procedures including cardiac and noncardiac surgeries but also applications in intensive care and emergency medicine in other clinical and research areas. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in the use of somatic NIRS because both cerebral and somatic desaturation have been associated with worse outcome. The somatic component could serve as an earlier warning of impaired perfusion. There are several limitations in the use of NIRS monitoring and pitfalls that are discussed in detail. As any technology, NIRS is being used as part of a multimodal strategy because abnormal NIRS indicates a perfusion problem but does not provide the precise mechanism. Future studies should explore the impact of this approach on clinical outcome.

Delirium After Cardiac Surgery and Cumulative Fluid Balance: A Case-Control Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE To assess a novel hypothesis to explain delirium after cardiac surgery through the relationship between cumulative fluid balance and delirium. This hypothesis involved an inflammatory process combined with a hypervolemic state, which could lead to venous congestion reaching the brain. DESIGN Retrospective case-control (1:1) cohort study. SETTING University-affiliated tertiary cardiology center. PARTICIPANTS Cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) patients. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Cumulative fluid balance was evaluated at 3 times: (1) upon arrival at the ICU after surgery, (2) 24 hours post-ICU arrival, and (3) 48 hours post-ICU arrival. A generalized estimated equation was used to model the association between cumulative fluid balance and delirium occurrence 24 hours later. Covariates were selected based on the statistical differences between cases and controls on delirium risk factors and clinical characteristics. The cohort included 346 patients, of which 39 (11%), 104 (30%), and 142 patients (41%) presented delirium at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-ICU arrival, respectively. The effect of time had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.603 to 2.851, and a p value < 0.001. The cumulative fluid balance was associated with delirium occurrence (OR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.066-1.355, p = .003). History of neurological disorder, having both hearing and visual impairment, type of procedure, perioperative cerebral oximetry, mean pulmonary artery pressure pre-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and mean arterial pressure post-CPB also contributed to delirium in the model. CONCLUSION Delirium is associated with a cumulative fluid balance, but the extent through which this plays an etiologic role remains to be determined.

Feasibility and acceptability of a nursing intervention with family caregiver on self-care among heart failure patients: a randomized pilot trial

BackgroundSelf-care practices in heart failure (HF) contribute to quality of life, symptom stabilization, and extended life expectancy. However, adherence to practices such as liquid and salt restriction or symptom monitoring require high motivation on a daily basis. The aim was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a nursing intervention with family caregivers, aimed at improving self-care practice of HF patients.MethodsThis pilot study involved 32 HF patient-caregiver dyads (16/group) randomized to an experimental (EG) or control group (CG). The intervention, based on the Self-Determination Theory, was designed to enhance patients’ autonomy and motivation in self-care practices, by involving their caregivers’ support. Five encounters were planned with the EG dyads—two face-to-face during hospitalization and three by telephone after discharge. The feasibility of delivering the protocol was evaluated as well as the acceptability of the intervention. The potential effectiveness of the intervention was assessed based on patient outcomes, including general self-care management and self-care specific to HF, perceived competence to manage HF, autonomous motivation (A-motivation, external extrinsic motivation, internal extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation), and perceived support from the caregiver. Caregiver outcomes included level of support provided to the patient.ResultsDespite recruitment challenges, the intervention was feasible, with 12 of the 16 dyads receiving all 5 encounters delivered per protocol. The 4 other dyads received the two hospital encounters, but at least 1 of the 3 post-discharge planned telephone encounters was not feasible because the patients had been re-hospitalized or was deceased. Participant’s satisfaction with the intervention was high. Outcomes favoring the EG include self-care specific to HF, internal extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and caregiver’s feeling that they provide a higher level of support.ConclusionsCaregiver involvement was found to be both a feasible and acceptable means of supporting self-care practice in HF patients. This approach presents a potential avenue for enhancing patients’ efforts in this regard. However, this pilot study offers preliminary findings only, which need to be replicated in a phase 3 clinical trial.