| 1. |
- Forssell, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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A proposed model for prediction of survival based on a follow-up study in unresectable pancreatic cancer
- 2013
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 2044-6055. ; 3:12, s. 1-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To define an easy-to-use model for prediction of survival time in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer in order to optimise patient' care. DESIGN: An observational retrospective study on patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The initial radiographs at presentation of symptoms were reviewed and the maximum diameter of the primary tumour was determined. The occurrence of liver metastases and performance status that determines initiation of chemotherapy was also used in the regression analysis to identify prognostic subgroups. SETTING: County hospital in south-east of Sweden. POPULATION: Consecutive patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer who were diagnosed between January 2003 and May 2010 (n=132). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical analyses were performed using Stata V.13. Survival time was assessed with Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test for equality of survivor functions and Cox regression for calculation of individual hazard based on tumour diameter, presence of liver metastases and initiation of chemotherapy treatment according to patient performance status. RESULTS: The individual hazard was log h=0.357 tumour size+1.181 liver metastases-0.989 performance status/chemotherapy. Three prognostic groups could be defined: a low-risk group with a median survival time of 6.7 (IQR 9.7) months, a medium-risk group with a median survival time of 4.5 (IQR 4.5) months and a high-risk group with a median survival time of 1.2 (IQR 1.7) months. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum diameter of the primary tumour and the presence of liver metastases found at the X-ray examination of patients with pancreatic cancer, in conjunction with whether or not chemotherapy is initiated according to performance status, predict the survival time for patients who do not undergo surgical resection. The findings result in an easy-to-use model for predicting the survival time.
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| 2. |
- Kjellberg, A., et al.
(författare)
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Randomised, controlled, open label, multicentre clinical trial to explore safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen for preventing ICU admission, morbidity and mortality in adult patients with COVID-19
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction COVID-19 may cause severe pneumonitis and trigger a massive inflammatory response that requires ventilatory support. The intensive care unit (ICU)-mortality has been reported to be as high as 62%. Dexamethasone is the only of all anti-inflammatory drugs that have been tested to date that has shown a positive effect on mortality. We aim to explore if treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is safe and effective for patients with severe COVID-19. Our hypothesis is that HBO can prevent ICU admission, morbidity and mortality by attenuating the inflammatory response. The primary objective is to evaluate if HBO reduces the number of ICU admissions compared with best practice treatment for COVID-19, main secondary objectives are to evaluate if HBO reduces the load on ICU resources, morbidity and mortality and to evaluate if HBO mitigates the inflammatory reaction in COVID-19. Methods and analysis A randomised, controlled, phase II, open label, multicentre trial. 200 subjects with severe COVID-19 and at least two risk factors for mortality will be included. Baseline clinical data and blood samples will be collected before randomisation and repeated daily for 7 days, at days 14 and 30. Subjects will be randomised with a computer-based system to HBO, maximum five times during the first 7 days plus best practice treatment or only best practice treatment. The primary endpoint, ICU admission, is defined by criteria for selection for ICU. We will evaluate if HBO mitigates the inflammatory reaction in COVID-19 using molecular analyses. All parameters are recorded in an electronic case report form. An independent Data Safety Monitoring Board will review the safety parameters. Ethics and dissemination The trial is approved by The National Institutional Review Board in Sweden (2020-01705) and the Swedish Medical Product Agency (5.1-2020-36673). Positive, negative and any inconclusive results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals with open access.
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| 3. |
- Persson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Operational strategies to manage non-elective orthopaedic surgical flows : A simulation modelling study
- 2017
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - London : BMJ Publishing Group. - 2044-6055. ; 7:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To explore the value of simulation modelling in evaluating the effects of strategies to plan and schedule operating room (OR) resources aimed at reducing time to surgery for non-elective orthopaedic inpatients at a Swedish hospital. Methods We applied discrete-event simulation modelling. The model was populated with real world data from a university hospital with a strong focus on reducing waiting time to surgery for patients with hip fracture. The system modelled concerned two patient groups that share the same OR resources: hip-fracture and other non-elective orthopaedic patients in need of surgical treatment. We simulated three scenarios based on the literature and interaction with staff and managers: (1) baseline; (2) reduced turnover time between surgeries by 20â €..min and (3) one extra OR during the day, Monday to Friday. The outcome variables were waiting time to surgery and the percentage of patients who waited longer than 24â €..hours for surgery. Results The mean waiting time in hours was significantly reduced from 16.2â €..hours in scenario 1 (baseline) to 13.3â €..hours in scenario 2 and 13.6â €..hours in scenario 3 for hip-fracture surgery and from 26.0â €..hours in baseline to 18.9â €..hours in scenario 2 and 18.5â €..hours in scenario 3 for other non-elective patients. The percentage of patients who were treated within 24â €..hours significantly increased from 86.4% (baseline) to 96.1% (scenario 2) and 95.1% (scenario 3) for hip-fracture patients and from 60.2% (baseline) to 79.8% (scenario 2) and 79.8% (scenario 3) for patients with other non-elective patients. Conclusions Healthcare managers who strive to improve the timelines of non-elective orthopaedic surgeries may benefit from using simulation modelling to analyse different strategies to support their decisions. In this specific case, the simulation results showed that the reduction of surgery turnover times could yield the same results as an extra OR. © 2017 Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited.
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| 4. |
- Wickström, Hanna Linnea, et al.
(författare)
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Antibiotic prescription using a digital decision support system : a register-based study of patients with hard-to-heal ulcers in Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To investigate differences in antibiotic prescription for patients with hard-to-heal ulcers assessed using a digital decision support system (DDSS) compared with those assessed without using a DDSS. A further aim was to examine predictors for antibiotic prescription. DESIGN: Register-based study. SETTING: In 2018-2019, healthcare staff in primary, community and specialist care in Sweden tested a DDSS that offers a mobile application for data and photograph transfer to a platform for multidisciplinary consultation and automatic transmission of data to the Registry of Ulcer Treatment (RUT). Register-based data from patients assessed and diagnosed using the DDSS combined with the RUT was compared with register-based data from patients whose assessments were merely registered in the RUT. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 117 patients assessed using the DDSS combined with the RUT (the study group) were compared with 1784 patients whose assessments were registered in the RUT without using the DDSS (the control group). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The differences in antibiotic prescription were analysed using the Pearson's χ2 test. A logistic regression analysis was used to check for influencing factors on antibiotic prescription. RESULTS: Patients assessed using a DDSS in combination with the RUT had significantly lower antibiotic prescription than patients entered in the RUT without using the DDSS (8% vs 26%) (p=0.002) (only healed ulcers included). Predictors for antibiotic prescription were diabetes; long healing time; having an arterial, neuropathic or malignant ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: A DDSS with data and photograph transfer that enables multidisciplinary communication appears to be a suitable tool to reduce antibiotic prescription for patients with hard-to-heal ulcers.
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| 5. |
- Wickström, Hanna L, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing video consultation with inperson assessment for Swedish patients with hard-to-heal ulcers : registry-based studies of healing time and of waiting time
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 8:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To investigate differences in ulcer healing time and waiting time between video consultation and inperson assessment for patients with hard-to-heal ulcers. Setting Patients treated at Blekinge Wound Healing Centre, a primary care centre covering the whole of Blekinge county (150 000 inhabitants), were compared with patients registered and treated according to the Registry of Ulcer Treatment, a Swedish national web-based quality registry. Participants In the study for analysing ulcer healing time, the study group consisted of 100 patients diagnosed through video consultation between October 2014 and September 2016. The control group for analysing healing time consisted of 1888 patients diagnosed through inperson assessment during the same period. In the study for analysing waiting time, the same study group (n=100) was compared with 100 patients diagnosed through inperson assessment. Primary and secondary outcome measures Differences in ulcer healing time were analysed using the log-rank test. Differences in waiting time were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Median healing time was 59 days (95% CI 40 to 78) in the study group and 82 days (95% CI 75 to 89) in the control group (P<0.001). Median waiting time was 25 days (range: 1-83 days) in the study group and 32 days (range: 3-294 days) for patients diagnosed through inperson assessment (P=0.017). There were no significant differences between the study group and the control group regarding age, gender or ulcer size. Conclusions Healing time and waiting time were significantly shorter for patients diagnosed through video consultation compared with those diagnosed through inperson assessment.
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