Articles: checklist.
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repeated self-assessment of symptoms and problems of patients is required for quality assurance in palliative care. In Germany, the Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS) has been designed specifically for palliative care patients. To adapt MIDOS as a German version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) a revised version of MIDOS(2) has now been validated. Two original items on average and highest pain intensity (11-step NRS) were replaced by one item on pain intensity on a 4-step VRS and the assessment of vomitus, lack of appetite and depressive mood were added to the assessment of nausea, dyspnoea, constipation, weakness, tiredness, anxiety, others and well-being which were already part of the original version. ⋯ MIDOS(2) can be recommended for routine daily documentation in palliative care because of low burden, little expenditure of time and high participation of patients. Statistical evaluation indicated good external validity and reliability.
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Comparative Study
Reliability and validity of a Brazilian version of the Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) compared to the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ).
Bipolar disorders are often not recognized and undertreated. The diagnosis of current or past episodes of hypomania is of importance in order to increase diagnostic certainty. The Hypomania Checklist-32 is a self-applied questionnaire aimed at recognizing these episodes. As part of the international collaborative effort to develop multi-lingual versions of the Hypomania Checklist-32, we aimed to validate the Brazilian version and to compare its psychometric properties with those of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. ⋯ The Brazilian version of the Hypomania Checklist-32 has adequate psychometric properties and helps discriminating bipolar disorder from major depressive disorder (but not bipolar disorder I from bipolar disorder II) with good sensitivity and specificity indices, similar to those of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire.
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Editorial Comment
Strategies for improving surgical quality--checklists and beyond.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effect of a comprehensive surgical safety system on patient outcomes.
Adverse events in patients who have undergone surgery constitute a large proportion of iatrogenic illnesses. Most surgical safety interventions have focused on the operating room. Since more than half of all surgical errors occur outside the operating room, it is likely that a more substantial improvement in outcomes can be achieved by targeting the entire surgical pathway. ⋯ Implementation of this comprehensive checklist was associated with a reduction in surgical complications and mortality in hospitals with a high standard of care. (Netherlands Trial Register number, NTR1943.).