BMJ open
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The typical approach of survey data collection is to use interviewers who are not from the study site and do not know the participants, yet the implications of this approach on data quality have seldom been investigated. We examine the relationship between interviewer-respondent familiarity and selected family planning outcomes, and whether this relationship changes over time between 2015 and 2016. ⋯ The standard in many large-scale surveys is to use interviewers from outside the community. Our results show that interviewer-respondent acquaintance is associated with a range of family planning outcomes; therefore, we recommend that the approach to hiring interviewers be examined and reconsidered in survey data collection efforts.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Regional citrate versus systemic heparin anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (RICH) trial: study protocol for a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-recognised complication of critical illness which is of crucial importance for morbidity, mortality and health resource utilisation. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) inevitably entails an escalation of treatment complexity and increases costs for those patients with severe AKI. However, it is still not clear whether regional citrate anticoagulation or systemic heparin anticoagulation for continuous RRT (CRRT) is most appropriate. We hypothesise that, in contrast to systemic heparin anticoagulation, regional citrate anticoagulation for CRRT prolongs filter life span and improves overall survival in a 90-day follow-up period (coprimary endpoints). ⋯ The RICH trial has been approved by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the leading Ethics Committee of the University of Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site.
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To evaluate the impact of palliative home care support on the quality of care and costs in the last 14 days of life. ⋯ Palliative home care support use positively impacts quality of care and reduces total costs of care at the end of life in Belgium. Policy makers and healthcare practitioners should increasingly focus on communicating the existing options for palliative home care support to patients and their caregivers.
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Ankle fractures are common in the elderly population. Surgical fixation is technically challenging and often results in complications due to high rates of osteoporosis and vascular disease. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) often requires prolonged periods of non-weight bearing increasing the risks of complications. Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) nailing has been suggested as an alternative to ORIF which allows immediate weight bearing, and is suggested to result in fewer complications. This study aims to compare the two surgical techniques in the elderly population with ankle fractures. ⋯ Completion of this trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness of TTC nailing versus ORIF in treatment of the elderly ankle fracture. If TTC nailing is found to result in superior outcomes, this trial has the capacity to change current clinical practice.
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Hypoxemia and hyperoxia may occur after surgery with potential related complications. The FreeO2 PostOp trial is a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial that evaluates the clinical impact of automated O2 administration versus conventional O2 therapy after major abdominal or thoracic surgeries. The study is powered to demonstrate benefits of automated oxygen titration and weaning in term of oxygenation, which is an important surrogate for complications after such interventions. ⋯ The FreeO2 PostOp study is conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and was registered on 11 September 2015 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov). First patient inclusion was performed on 14 January 2016. The results of the study will be presented at academic conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals.