Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a serious health problem that affects women of all ages worldwide, including their quality of life (QOL). Interventions on lifestyle modification can be a suitable therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a PCOS pharmaceutical care service on QOL for women diagnosed with PCOS living in Syria (a country affected by war) and Jordan (non-war-zone country). ⋯ A pharmacist led intervention on lifestyle modification delivered to PCOS women led to positive effects on QOL scores. The intervention was successful in Syria and Jordan. This highlights the significant role that pharmacists can play in improving the life of women with PCOS whether living in war or non-war-zone countries.
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There are currently no criteria to guide appropriate prescribing to older persons in Africa. Although the American Geriatrics Society-Beers (AGS-Beers) Criteria appear to be favoured by African researchers, there is a need to adapt its recommendations to the continent's health care systems. This study aimed to adapt the AGS-Beers recommendations to Nigerian and South African health care contexts. ⋯ The 2015 AGS-Beers Criteria were adapted to the Nigerian and South African health care contexts. The adapted and the parent recommendations differed in their context specificity. The recommendations may serve as a guide to clinicians when prescribing medications to older persons in Nigeria and South Africa.
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Creating networked business models is one of the innovative approaches that have the ability and potential for meeting market needs. The purpose of this study is to provide a decision-making model for a fair profit sharing among the members of a diagnostic laboratory network while providing a distinctive value for the patients. ⋯ In conclusion, it is evident that the use of Shapely value may help managers in the process of sharing profits among network members in a fair way, thereby improving network performance. In this way, incentive strategies may be created for the members of the network, and long-term survival of the network may be achieved.
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Review
The effect of acute coronary syndrome care pathways on in-hospital patients: A systematic review.
Health care institutions need to construct management strategies for patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that focus on evidence-based treatments, adherence to treatment guidelines, and organized care. These help to reduce variations as well as the mortality and morbidity rates, which indicates the critical need for standardized care and adherence to evidence-based practices for patients hospitalized with ACS. The care pathways translate research and guidelines into clinical practice to close the gap between the guidelines and the clinical practices. ⋯ Implementing ACS care pathway helps to organize care processes and decrease treatment delays as well as improve the patient outcomes without adverse consequences for patients or additional resources and costs. While the current level of evidence is inadequate to warrant a formal recommendation, there is a need for more studies with an emphasis on well-designed randomization to measure patient outcomes.