Published On: 02-08-2023
A systematic review is a thorough method of evaluating a large body of scientific research. It involves searching the literature, identifying relevant studies, and interpreting the findings. A systematic review may be conducted by a single author or a team of experts. It should include a comprehensive search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a clear description of methods for extracting data from the selected studies.
A systematic review involves a detailed plan and search strategy derived a priori. It is intended to minimize bias by identifying and appraising all relevant studies on a particular topic.
Systematic reviews often include a meta-analysis component, a statistical technique to synthesize the data from several studies into a single quantitative estimate or summary effect size (Petticrew & Roberts, 2006). The summary effect size measures the strength of a relationship between two variables.
A systematic review is an evidence-based evaluation of the quality and reliability of published studies in a given field. It should meet the same standards of rigor as primary research, with equivalent emphasis on methodological transparency and reporting results.
A review should be formulated to answer a clinically relevant question, using explicit, systematic methods to minimize bias and produce more reliable findings from which conclusions can be drawn and decisions made (Antman 1992, Oxman 1993). It is recommended that reviews follow the PRISMA guidelines and meta-analysis protocols to ensure compliance with this standard.
In this study, we analyzed the conclusiveness of 131 synthetic and 65 systematic reviews published in the Annals of Surgery between 2012 and 2018. We evaluated study characteristics, including the year of publication, country of publication, region of publication, level of evidence (LOE), type of surgery performed, the two-year impact factor (IF), and if the study was a meta-analysis or systematic review.
The study used computer literature searches to identify patient safety and plastic surgery articles. Articles were identified according to country of origin, journal, and publication date.
The analysis revealed that 82 percent of the articles were cost analyses, and 18 percent were complete economic evaluations. This means that a significant proportion of the evidence on patient safety in plastic surgery still needs to be improved and that this should be addressed as an urgent issue.
Systematic reviews are a type of literature review that requires equivalent standards of rigor as primary research. They are used to identify, define and assess research on a topic to inform evidence-based decisions and practice.
A systematic review is a rigorous synthesis of the evidence on a presented issue. It involves multiple people in the identification, appraisal, and synthesis of studies to evaluate research objectively. The methodology is transparent and reproducible.
To conduct a systematic review, you must be prepared to spend considerable time and resources searching the literature for relevant evidence. This involves conducting systematic searches in the Library databases and searching for grey literature such as government reports.
You must also deduplicate your reference list if you have retrieved multiple references from database searches. This method is recommended because it saves time by avoiding unnecessary screening of duplicate references. Moreover, it reduces the time needed to complete your review.
Systematic reviews are conducted according to a carefully planned methodology. They are used to identify and synthesize all available scholarly research on a particular topic. The search process in a systematic review is transparently documented and reported. All steps must be reproducible to provide a reliable basis for future research and decision-making.
Published On: 01/31/2023
A new screening tool can quickly identify which patients would benefit from discussions about palliative care. According to researchers, it can promote understanding of the concept and assist clinicians in surgical critical care units in making decisions about palliative care.
The tool is more focused on identifying palliative care needs than other screening techniques. Patients in the ICU who are nearing the end of their lives (EOL) may spend less time in the hospital.
A team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has created a novel palliative care screening tool for surgical procedures (UNC-Chapel Hill). Within seconds, the tool identifies SICU patients who would benefit from a meeting with a palliative care provider.
Palliative care has been found to improve quality of life, lessen symptom severity, and use resources in patients with advanced disease. However, the majority of those in need of palliative care go unidentified.
This study aimed to find a proper and useful palliative care screening tool specifically designed to spot individuals in the emergency room with high unmet palliative care needs. The tool's content was approved by knowledgeable doctors in palliative care during the development phase using a quality improvement procedure.
Several techniques are available to screen for palliative care requirements in primary care and the emergency room. Many of these technologies use a wide range of general and disease-specific signs to identify individuals who may require palliative care.
The tool aims to assist medical professionals in surgical intensive care units in identifying patients who might gain from palliative care conversations that emphasize quality of life. This is crucial when aggressive medical treatments don't work to prolong life or enhance outcomes.
But frequently, the medical staff is reluctant to advocate for palliative care because they believe it will burden and confuse families even more. The UNC researchers sought to develop a quick screening tool to evaluate whether patients would profit from early goal-of-care talks in a matter of seconds.
The study was a quality-improvement effort that used pre/post designs, electronic medical records, and questionnaires of the clinical staff. It was discovered that using the screening tool led to more goal-of-care dialogues.
During the perioperative phase, patients frequently have to make important healthcare decisions. These decisions range from whether to move forward with surgical procedures to any associated, potentially onerous aftercare.
It is crucial to comprehend a patient's preferred course of treatment and intended outcome before surgery to assist patients, and their families in navigating these difficult, in-the-moment decisions. In addition to surgery's immediate and long-term impacts on a patient's functional status and quality of life, these expectations may also be influenced by pre-existing directives that prohibit certain procedures.
Numerous research has looked at methods for spotting people who might benefit from palliative care. Most of these methods forecast death and deterioration and identify potential palliative care needs by combining general and disease-specific information, such as symptoms or clinical signs.
The new tool was created with input from the surgical team, which consists of physicians, nurses, and advanced practice practitioners. It has 12 "yes/no" questions that help doctors identify patients who might benefit from conversations about palliative care or objectives of care.
Before surgery, the tool aims to enhance communication between the surgical and palliative care teams. This may lessen the possibility of errors, including the wrong patient, the wrong side, and retained foreign objects, which might injure patients.
The technology can be used for surgical procedures, although there are certain restrictions on how well it works. For instance, viewing numerous views of preoperative imaging studies is not permitted.
Nonetheless, UNC-Chapel Hill is already using the technology, which has the potential to be used for surgical procedures. It might make it possible to recognize patients who require palliative care and speed up the preparation of advance directives.
The development of new surgical educational technologies is helping doctors get ready for the obstacles they'll face in their careers. The growing complexity of operations is a major factor in this. Virtual reality and animal labs are two examples of the teaching methods now in use. The use of these technologies enables instructors to present students with a wide range of simulated scenarios, better preparing them for real-world challenges. Additionally, they assist in the formation of study habits that will facilitate comprehension of the methods employed.
Over the past decade, there has been a change in the way laparoscopic surgery is taught to future surgeons. This shift has been brought on by a number of different causes. Training based on a master-apprentice model and computer simulations are gaining popularity. These strategies were developed to meet the demands of today's sophisticated operating rooms.
Skills like intracorporeal suturing and two-handed instrument manipulation are cornerstones of laparoscopic surgery training. The best way to gain these abilities is through a course that covers a variety of cutting-edge methods. The trainee will gain practical expertise with the tools and be better prepared to go on to more complex processes.
Evidence suggests that the master-apprentice arrangement can speed up the learning process. This method is predicated on formalized guidance from seasoned laparoscopic surgeons. In addition, a simulation laboratory is part of this setup.
The use of simulation in laparoscopic surgical education is on the rise. It's an ideal place to practice and test laparoscopic techniques without putting anyone in danger. It also serves as a predictor of how well a doctor will perform.
There are a lot of difficult situations that surgical residents have to learn to deal with. Among these is learning what it takes to work in the medical field, as a health advocate, and in management. In the face of such difficulties, educators in the field of surgery would do well to keep in mind the various learning styles of their studentse medical field, as a health advocate, and in management. In the face of such difficulties, educators in the field of surgery would do well to keep in mind the various learning styles of their students. Educators that take advantage of this information to personalize their lessons benefit both their students and the classroom as a whole.
The validity of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory (LSI) for assessing individual differences in the way people take in and use information was investigated in a recent study. There were three groups given LSI in this analysis. As an established evaluation tool, the LSI has stood the test of time. Three tests are used to determine how well one has done.
Physicians' inclinations toward one particular learning style have been measured with the LSI. The goal of this research was to determine if the LSI can reliably determine which learning styles individuals tend to favor throughout training.
Residents and professors in general surgery at the University of Alberta took the LSI. The information was gathered by means of a confidential survey. The University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board gave its stamp of approval to the study.
The field of medicine is increasingly making use of virtual reality as a teaching tool. A virtual reality simulator may replicate an actual operating room, allowing medical trainees to hone their abilities in a safe environment while receiving immediate feedback.
Modern surgical trainees may benefit from virtual reality not just because it provides a more realistic, immersive experience, but also because it may enhance surgical outcomes. University of Illinois at Chicago researchers looked at how using VR during surgery may affect outcomes. Compared to students who had only received training in a classroom setting, those who had participated in a virtual reality simulation showed a 230% improvement in surgical results.
New virtual reality systems are in the works, and they promise to be both more accessible and less expensive. These advancements ought to facilitate better dialogue between surgeons and between doctors and their patients.
A major benefit of virtual reality (VR) as a teaching tool is its capacity to replicate different human anatomies. The simulations it offers are particularly well-suited to the education of laparoscopic surgery and other similar surgical techniques.
Studying biomedical sciences requires students to work in laboratories that house animals. However, there are several rules that must be adhered to in order to ensure the ethical use of animals in scientific study.
It is important for institutions to keep animal care areas isolated from other parts of the research facility. Workers who interact with animals should get the education and preparation they need. Workers in this category should also take part in ongoing training and education opportunities.
Research teams should be educated on all facets of animal care, including ethics, regulation, euthanasia, and drug testing. The "Three Rs" are a set of ethical standards that attempt to limit the number of animals used in research, and all research organizations should be taught them.
The use of potentially harmful substances in animal research requires stringent protocols to ensure the safety of everyone involved. It's not enough to just have a secure space; there also needs to be particular safety equipment and unique processes in place for dealing with bodily fluids.
Published on: 12/29/2022
Continuing medical education in surgery has usually been based on time, with little focus on how well surgeons do their jobs. The new paradigm, on the other hand, is based on competency and includes education for the surgeon, the other people on the surgical team, the patient, and the patient's family.
The best way to learn about surgery is to add more hands-on and interactive experiences to the curriculum that is already there. As people become more picky, surgeons need to have more of the right skills. For this to happen, surgeons must take a close look at what works and what doesn't. Luckily for the profession, there are a lot of new ideas on the way. Here are a few examples:
The use of a "transparent" logbook is one of these new ideas. This not only keeps mistakes from happening in the operating room, but also gives the attending a better view of what the residents are doing. Another important change is that the M&M logs now have a column for the first assistant. It has been shown that these changes can cut the number of missed cases by as much as 50%.
A standard surgical skills rubric was also created, which is a big step forward. Unlike the old tally sheets, these have been checked all over the world. The next generation of surgeons will definitely have a better time in surgery because of these new ideas.
Competency-based continuing professional development in surgery is all about improving a doctor's skills in a way that can be measured. Some of these goals are to improve the quality of care for patients and make care safer. To make this program work, it is important to come up with a system for evaluating a doctor's performance that is both coherent and integrated.
In order to do this, it is important to define the course's goals, mission, and learning goals. The curriculum should also have a list of things to do and ways to learn. It should also be set up so that each student can have their own educational goals.
It is important to think about the surgical education framework when making the CPD program. This framework is based on what most medical experts in the field agree on.
Surgeons who are working should be able to take part in different activities for continuous professional development (CPD). But for a program to work, it is important to combine these activities with the PBLI cycle (practice-based learning and improvement).
This is a four-step process that includes learning, finding places to improve, using what you've learned, and thinking about how things are going. Practitioners will need to have the skills to look at and analyze the data in order to find performance gaps and chances to improve.
In the last century, most of medical school was based on time. Students were put in programs for a set amount of time and learned how to do the training well. A few special programs use the most up-to-date technology in education. Some of the more forward-thinking programs are moving to a system based on skills.
Educators have talked about the pros and cons of this new trend. Some doctors are very against these kinds of changes. But a lot of schools have already started to change. In the same way, this new model is being tested by some residency specialties this fall as part of a pilot program.
Competency-based learning, in its many forms, is seen as the next big thing in medical education. One example is the idea of "i-Docs," which is a digital portfolio of a doctor's skills. One well-known person in the business says that these will be available on November 1.
On the other hand, several programs that look like scavenger hunts bring us back to the time when doctors had to study for four years before they could practice.
Involving the surgeon, other people on the surgical team, the patient, and the patient's family in 360-degree education has a number of benefits. This kind of training can make a team more effective and efficient, make it easier for patients to follow their treatment plans, and reduce complications.
The Department of Surgery values what residents and faculty have to say about how to teach surgery. It also encourages teachers to do a good job. This can be done with hands-on and interactive methods like skills labs, simulation training, reading assignments, and materials on the Web.
The department encourages openness in the way appointments are made and gives rewards to individual faculty members for their work. It also tells all categorical residents that they should take part in research fellowships while they are in residency. During residency, urology residents take care of patients both in and out of the hospital and do tasks before, during, and after surgery.
During the two-year cycle, residents learn the basics of surgery, such as anatomy and physiology, non-operative trauma, pediatric surgery, the vascular system, the contents of the abdomen, soft tissues, endocrine surgery, and head and neck surgery. Several types of educational conferences, such as grand rounds and clinical and education seminars, cover these important topics.
Published On: 12-15-2022
Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, knowing which physicians to trust and how they can treat your injuries and diseases is critical. While some doctors specialize in one area, others may diagnose and treat various illnesses and problems. Pediatric cardiologists and respiratory tract specialists work with children with breathing or lung problems. They are also educated to address a variety of pediatric cardiac diseases. They can also do surgery on youngsters to fix cardiac issues.
Immunology, allergies, and immunology specialists detect and treat various immunological illnesses. Seasonal allergies to asthma are examples of these illnesses. A diagnosis is critical because understanding the source of your sickness might help you avoid additional harm to your body. Allergy and immunology professionals educate patients about their illnesses and treat them.
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, around 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, and watery eyes are all symptoms of allergies. If the allergy is severe, it might result in a fatal response. These responses include hives, breathing difficulty, and low blood pressure. If your situation is critical, you should seek medical assistance right once.
Allergic responses occur when a person's immune system reacts to an innocuous chemical. Ingestion or inhalation of allergens such as mold or dust mites can cause this reaction.
Seeing a doctor to identify and treat your heart disease is critical to your overall health. Cardiologists are trained to treat a wide range of cardiac conditions. A cardiologist can also assist you in understanding the risk factors for heart disease. They may also advise on exercise, nutrition, weight loss, stress reduction, and smoking cessation.
Most patients with cardiac problems are referred to a cardiologist by their primary care physician. The cardiologist will perform a physical examination to establish the optimal treatment approach. They may request electrocardiograms (ECGs) or transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs). The cardiologist may recommend the patient to another expert, depending on the diagnosis.
An ECG is a rapid and straightforward approach to detecting an abnormal cardiac rhythm. It may be done at home or in a hospital by a cardiologist. A cardiac catheterization, which involves inserting a tube into a major blood artery, can also be ordered by a cardiologist.
Psychiatrists serve an essential role in the healthcare system. They assist people in managing emotional and mental health issues and recommend reliable therapies. They frequently work in hospitals, medical clinics, prisons, or substance addiction treatment facilities. They can also practice privately.
In contrast to psychologists, who give counseling, psychiatrists have the technical and clinical abilities to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders. They also employ several therapeutic modalities, such as medication, psychotherapy, and psychosocial therapies. They can refer their patients to other health specialists if they require extra care.
While psychiatric professionals may be the first line of defense, remember that not all insurance plans cover mental health care. They are seeing a psychiatrist might become an expensive undertaking as a result of this.
Psychiatrists are frequently referred to as "doctors" and "therapists," but there are significant distinctions. Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating mental diseases such as depression and anxiety. They are also taught how to provide various psychological exams and drugs.
They understand what pediatric specialists might help you pick a medical specialization for your kid. Pediatric experts are uniquely educated to assist youngsters with various medical issues. They can cure multiple ailments in children, including allergies and developmental disorders. They can also aid in treating behavioral problems in children and adolescents.
A pediatric toxicologist can assist you if your kid has been exposed to a toxic substance, such as a chemical. They will determine the extent of your child's exposure and guarantee they are safe from the hazardous material. They may also issue medicines.
A pediatric rheumatologist will also treat a child's musculoskeletal and digestive systems. They will collaborate with other pediatric subspecialists to ensure your kid receives the best possible treatment. Rashes, joint aches, and fevers are some of the most prevalent rheumatic disorders.
Published On: 12-05-2022
There is little doubt that telemedicine is a powerful tool for reducing the spread of disease. This is why so many people, especially the elderly, go there. Some people may also benefit substantially from telemedicine because they cannot travel to a doctor's office. Even yet, it is essential to be aware of the risks involved with telemedicine.
Telemedicine played a critical role in controlling and preventing the COVID-19 outbreak. Telemedicine was used for the initial triage of patients exhibiting virus symptoms. A doctor, who can be consulted through phone or video, can help you determine the extent of your disease.
The usage of telemedicine also lessens risks to medical staff. If a person tested positive for COVID-19, they would be quarantined. Nurses and other medical staff were exposed to continual surveillance in addition to the initial telehealth evaluations.
At its height during the epidemic, 13% of all outpatient sessions were carried out via telehealth. However, the trend stopped as people started receiving care in person again.
Most telehealth consultations are with primary care providers. The need for innovation in the healthcare sector ultimately led to the rise of telemedicine. Telehealth allows for the remote management of chronic health conditions, screening for those conditions, and performing routine laboratory tests.
Telemedicine emerged as a crucial weapon in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. It also helps patients with long-term illnesses continue receiving care in the same facility. While telemedicine is helpful in many ways, it is hindered by the current COVID-19 epidemic. The main challenges are infrastructure backing, connectivity, and adequate insurance reimbursement.
Seeing a doctor in person is essential, but telemedicine can help fight infectious diseases. It can take time to get your hands on. Implementing telemedicine in many African countries is challenging due to a lack of health insurance and medico-legal concerns.
For instance, in Ontario, Canada, telemedicine services have expanded dramatically during the previous year. In April 2020, 1,7 million people used telehealth services. This is a 300 percent increase over the 13,000 visits made before the COVID outbreak.
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine significantly altered the delivery of healthcare. Although telemedicine has been used extensively in some areas, countrywide trends in its use during the epidemic are primarily unknown.
During the pandemic, telemedicine's popularity skyrocketed for many reasons. Two are the quick adoption of telemedicine by medical practitioners and the extensive availability of telemedicine resources. These developments have made it possible for patients to communicate remotely with their doctors and nurses, regardless of location.
Visits to healthcare facilities like ERs and urgent care clinics have declined dramatically since the COVID-19 epidemic began. However, the proliferation of telemedicine consultations is helping to mitigate this trend.
While there is less data on how often telemedicine is used, it is safe to assume that the total number of telemedicine visits is far higher than the annual number of patients seen in an emergency room. Telemedicine is advantageous for healthcare practitioners and their patients because of its low costs and high efficiency.
During a pandemic like COVID-19, telemedicine is an effective tool for delivering high-quality care and reducing the spread of disease. Thanks to this development in medicine, patients experiencing symptoms can now rest at home while still having easy access to their doctors. As an added benefit, this method can help doctors check patients remotely for COVID-19 from a distance.
Telemedicine can be helpful in some cases, but it has its limitations during a pandemic. Eye exams, surgery, and laboratory tests are only some examples of in-person medical treatments that should not be substituted with teleconsultations.
Even while hospitals increasingly adopt telemedicine, most COVID-19 patients still require in-person care. Hospitals are adapting to accommodate the increased demand for telemedicine services during a pandemic. There is a search for more efficient ways to train new workers quickly in the healthcare sector.
The latest COVID-19 outbreak has prompted the medical community to work tirelessly on making telemedicine safer. Thanks to telemedicine, patients can communicate with their doctors electronically to get advice on how to treat their illnesses.
The use of telemedicine has been shown to improve clinical outcomes while reducing associated costs. This can stimulate economic growth by increasing demand in already established markets, increasing access to care, and improving patient satisfaction. In the event of a pandemic, telemedicine could save many lives. It is becoming increasingly crucial to employ telemedicine in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. In addition to reducing wait times and improving patient satisfaction, telemedicine can help hospitals and clinics function more efficiently.
A recent survey of 200 professionals ranked telemedicine among the leading telemedicine technologies. According to the results, telemedicine will be a significant part of the developments in healthcare technology during the next decade.
Having a consultation can be an essential part of your surgical care. A consultation can help determine whether a patient is a good candidate for surgery and the type of surgery best suited for the patient.
Surgical consultations are a series of meetings that involve a patient and surgeon or other health care, provider. The purpose is to define treatment following clinical knowledge and experience. The consultation may be requested for medico-legal reasons or if a patient needs a second opinion.
General surgery is a broad field that deals with many diseases. It involves surgical procedures, both minimally invasive and conventional. The surgery department is staffed by surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals. The preparation for surgery is done to ensure a positive outcome.
The presurgical evaluation includes a series of tests, including a physical examination. These tests may consist of an electrocardiogram, a chest x-ray, and a urinalysis. The results of these tests may help the surgeon decide whether the surgery will be performed under general anesthesia.
Whether for a personal problem or diagnosis and treatment, the general surgeon has many medical issues. He may also need to refer his patient to another physician for advice or help.
Generally speaking, a general surgery consultation is requested when a patient has a problem with his or her abdominal area. Depending on the type of disease or condition, the talk may be based on symptoms, a patient's history, or a physical examination.
The most common reason for a general surgery consultation is abdominal pain. However, patients may have a problem with the underlying disease and not necessarily have symptoms. A doctor may also consult to determine whether the patient is fit for surgery.
eConsult systems allow primary care providers to electronically submit requests for medical specialty expertise to a specific specialty service. This increases access to specialty expertise by decreasing the time to get an expert opinion. eConsults are read by a specialist who makes recommendations regarding the patient's condition. The eConsult system then sends the proposal to the primary care practice. It takes a few minutes to complete and is an excellent way to reduce unnecessary surgeries.
In the first quarter of 2014, approximately 12082 electronic consultations were submitted to the general surgery service. The number of electronic talks presented during the calendar year reflected the high rate of eConsult adoption in the healthcare industry.
Surgical procedures are often recommended by surgeons who have completed a pre-consultation evaluation. Pre-consultation evaluations allow patients to obtain health information and reduce the risk of surgical complications. Pre-consultation assessment may also provide an early warning sign of a potential surgical procedure.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of pre-consultation evaluations for general surgery consultations in patient management. Using the SPSS for Windows 11.5 software, data were extracted and analyzed. A logic regression analysis was used to determine if completeness of the initial consultation request, pre-consult diagnosis, and scheduling of an ambulatory clinic appointment were associated with the overall surgical yield of the patient. The study also evaluated whether a patient's comorbidities were associated with pre-consult diagnosis and scheduling of an ambulatory clinic appointment.
Surgical care includes preoperative diagnosis and care. It is a risk assessment process, selecting the most appropriate procedure and postoperative care. The preoperative phase can be a challenging time for a hospital. Surgical patients constitute a significant source of revenue for a facility. The surgeon's responsibility during this time is to eliminate any risk that may lead to incorrect surgery or injury.
The preoperative assessment should include a comprehensive review of the patient's medical history, past surgeries, and other pertinent information. A thorough evaluation of the patient's vascular status should be performed. The patient should also be assessed for any fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Surgical patients should also be taught about follow-up home care.
General surgeons treat various disorders. Some of them involve abdominal organs, while others are related to the wound-healing process. In general, the skills of general surgeons help them deliver the best possible care for their patients. However, there are several challenges involved in general surgery consultations. They include:
a) The number of patients consulted was compared with the number of procedures performed. Several conditions had lower physical examination ratios than others. The lowest percentage was 30% for bowel obstruction, and a high physical examination ratio was found for criminal cases.
b) The number of patients referred to other branches of medicine was 41, while the number of emergency interventions was 47.