Archives of internal medicine
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Physician counseling is effective in promoting healthy behavior. We evaluated whether patient reports of physician acknowledgment of overweight patients' weight status are associated with the patients' perceptions of their own weight and desire to lose weight. ⋯ Among patients who were overweight or obese, patient reports of being told by a physician that they were overweight were associated with more realistic perceptions of the patients' own weight, desire to lose weight, and recent attempts to lose weight.
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Sepsis is common, highly morbid, and costly, yet little is known about differences in the care or outcomes of patients with sepsis across hospitals. We sought to characterize variations in hospital spending and mortality rates and to determine whether higher levels of spending are associated with better hospital survival. ⋯ Hospital spending and adjusted mortality rates for patients with sepsis vary substantially, but higher hospital expenditures are not associated with better survival. Efforts to enhance the value of sepsis care could be modeled on hospitals that achieve lower-than-expected mortality and costs.
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Editorial Comment Comparative Study
Resource use in the last 6 months of life: what does it mean for patients?
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Heart failure (HF) is a debilitating and chronic condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, much less is known about end-of-life (EOL) costs among patients with HF. ⋯ Resource use in the last 6 months of life among patients with HF in Alberta is changing, with a reduction in hospitalizations, in-hospital deaths, and an increase in the use of outpatient services. However, EOL costs are substantial and continue to increase.