Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2021
Observational StudyPrehospital ABC Score Accurately Forecasts Patients Who Will Require Immediate Resource Utilization.
Scoring systems, such as the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) Score, are used to identify patients at risk for massive transfusion (MT, ≥10 U red blood cells in 24 hours). Our aeromedical transport helicopter uses ultrasound to perform the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of the Prehospital ABC (PhABC) Score to predict blood transfusions and the need for emergent laparotomy. ⋯ The PhABC Score effectively predicts in-hospital resource utilization. It provides an outstanding undertriage rate from the prehospital setting, and it is helpful to improve trauma team activation, mobilize blood products, and prepare the operating room.
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This study evaluated both randomized and nonrandomized trials of battlefield acupuncture for the treatment of both acute and chronic pain. Studies published between May 2016 and November 2019 were found through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, or Scopus, concerned with the treatment of pain using auricular acupuncture in accordance with battlefield acupuncture protocol. Search terms were battlefield acupuncture AND pain or auricular acupuncture AND pain. ⋯ No severe adverse events were reported. Clinicians may consider battlefield acupuncture as a safe treatment for pain while the evidence base grows; however, we conclude that widespread adoption of battlefield acupuncture will require further high-quality studies drawing from diverse settings and patient populations. In addition, future studies should attempt to achieve blinding.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2021
Factors Affecting Quality of Life at Discharge among Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures.
This study aimed to identify factors, including physical functions and activities that affect quality of life (QOL) at discharge among patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. ⋯ Our results suggest that if patients have high bone mineral density, intense pain, and low cognitive function at admission, then low QOL at discharge will be predicted; however, improvement of pain catastrophizing and knee extension muscle strength during first the 4 weeks of admission may be able to improve QOL at discharge. Because patients in this study were Japanese only, it is important to exercise caution when applying our results to other populations.
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Southern medical journal · Apr 2021
How Do Healthcare Executives Understand and Make Decisions about Spiritual Care Provision?
This pilot study explores how healthcare leaders understand spiritual care and how that understanding informs staffing and resource decisions. ⋯ Chaplains' interactions with staff alongside patient outcomes are a contributing factor in how resources decisions are made about spiritual care.