Tag: study

The Relationship between Clinical Experience and Quality of Health Care

Physicians with more experience are generally believed to have accumulated knowledge and skills during years in practice and therefore to deliver high-quality care. However, evidence suggests that there is an inverse relationship... read more

Prevention of Hospital Infections by Intervention and Training (PROHIBIT)

Results of a pan-European cluster-randomized multicentre study to reduce central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections. This study demonstrates that multimodal prevention strategies aiming at improving CVC insertion... read more

The Effect of ICU Out-of-Hours Admission on Mortality

Adjusted risk of death for ICU admission was greater over the weekends compared with weekdays. The absence of a dedicated intensivist on-site overnight may be associated with increased mortality for acute admissions. These... read more

Hope is a Therapeutic Tool

Everyone who has been a patient, or accompanied a relative to see a doctor, recognises the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. At its heart is the patient's need to understand what is wrong, be understood, and... read more

High Morning Cortisol Tied to Long-term Anxiety in Family Members of ICU Patients

A new study published in the journal Critical Care Medicine finds that a biomarker may help identify which family members will be most emotionally impacted by their loved one's ICU stay. In particular, family members who... read more

Reduction in Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections Correlated With the Introduction of a Novel Silver-Plated Dressing for Central Venous Catheters

Use of SDs is associated with a significant decrease in CLABSI rates in adult ICU patients compared to CHGIS dressings, with an estimated cost savings of US$4070 to US$39 600 per 1000 catheter days. A total of 3189 patient... read more

Effects of the I-PASS Nursing Handoff Bundle on Communication Quality and Workflow

Implementation of the I-PASS Nursing Handoff Bundle was associated with widespread improvements in the verbal handoff process without a negative impact on nursing workflow. Implementation of I-PASS for nurses may therefore... read more

Heuristic Thinking in the Emergency Department

This paper explores the use of heuristics among highly-trained physicians diagnosing heart disease in the emergency department, a common task with life-or-death consequences. Using data from a large private-payer claims database,... read more

3D-Printed Organs Could Let Surgeons Practice and Plan Dangerous Operations

An international team of researchers has used 3D-printing technology to produce individually-tailored model organs. These dummy organs could one day improve your chances of surviving surgery, by allowing doctors to plan and... read more

Are hospital readmission penalties a good idea?

A closely watched experiment in health care has unfolded over the last few years: Financial incentives for hospitals to reduce readmissions. It was a feature of the Affordable Care Act, and researchers are now assessing its... read more

Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Immunocompromised Patients

In immunocompromised patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARF), initial management aims primarily to avoid invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). HFNC has an effect on intubation but not on mortality rates.... read more

Clinical Examination, Critical Care Ultrasonography and Outcomes in the Critically Ill

In the Simple Intensive Care Studies-I (SICS-I), we aim to unravel the value of clinical and haemodynamic variables obtained by physical examination and critical care ultrasound (CCUS) that currently guide daily practice... read more

Efficacy and Safety of Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients

Our results provide moderate quality evidence that PPIs are the most effective agents in preventing CIB, but they may increase the risk of pneumonia. The balance of benefits and harms leaves the routine use of SUP open to... read more

The Impact of Mean Arterial Pressure on Functional Outcome Post Trauma-Related Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Although no definitive conclusions could be reached based on the data collected, this study does give valuable insight into future avenues of research on the topic of hemodynamic management in traumatic ASCI as well as provides... read more

Effects of Physical Activity on Poststroke Cognitive Function

Despite the social, health, and economic burdens associated with cognitive impairment poststroke, there is considerable uncertainty about the types of interventions that might preserve or restore cognitive abilities. The... read more

Intensive Care Syndrome: Promoting Independence and Return to Employment (InS:PIRE)

Many patients suffer significant physical, social and psychological problems in the months and years following critical care discharge. At present, there is minimal evidence of any effective interventions to support this... read more

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoproducts determine antibiotic efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus

Chronic coinfections of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently fail to respond to antibiotic treatment, leading to significant patient morbidity and mortality. Currently, the impact of interspecies interaction... read more

A tailored multicomponent program to reduce discomfort in critically ill patients

Critically ill patients are exposed to stressful conditions and experience several discomforts. The primary objective was to assess whether a tailored multicomponent program is effective for reducing self‑perceived discomfort.... read more

What’s the Effective Antibiotic Dosing in Critically Ill Patients?

Mortality due to severe infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains high despite recent therapeutic advancements. It is believed that ICU pathogens are relatively different from those in the general wards as they... read more

Initial Nutritional Management During NIV and Outcomes

Patients starting noninvasive ventilation (NIV) to treat acute respiratory failure are often unable to eat and therefore remain in the fasting state or receive nutritional support. Nearly three-fifths of patients receiving... read more

The Prognostic Value of MRI in Moderate and Severe TBI

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability, yet many predictors of outcome are not precise enough to guide initial clinical decision-making. Although increasingly used in the early phase following... read more

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Performed by Pulmonary Critical Care Physicians for Right Ventricle Assessment in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

This is the first study to evaluate pulmonary critical care fellows' and intensivists' use of goal-directed echocardiography in diagnosing right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary Critical Care... read more