No abstract

The detection of TBMI in trauma patients on 64-slice MDCT can be improved, especially in patients presenting with blunt injury. Missed cases in this population occurred because the possibility of TBMI was not considered despite the presence of indirect imaging signs. The prospective diagnosis of TBMI remains challenging despite advances in CT technology and widespread use of 64-slice MDCT.

The detection of TDR in trauma patients on 64-MDCT can be improved, especially in patients presenting with penetrating injury. A careful search for subtle diaphragmatic defects and indirect evidence of injury is important to avoid missing the diagnosis.

Initiation of the integrated knowledge translation QICC-L4 project in a large geographic region was associated with marked improvements in relevant colorectal cancer surgery quality markers.

Background: Following surgery for rectal cancer, two unfortunate outcomes for patients are permanent colostomy and local recurrence of cancer. We tested whether a qualityimprovement strategy to change surgical practice would improve these outcomes. Methods:Sixteen hospitals were cluster-randomized to the intervention (Quality Initiative in Rectal Cancer strategy) or control (normal practice) arm. Consecutive patients with primary rectal cancer were accrued from May 2002 to December 2004. Surgeons at hospitals in the intervention arm could voluntarily participate by attending workshops, using opinion leaders, inviting a study team surgeon to demonstrate optimal techniques of total mesorectal excision, completing postoperative questionnaires, and receiving audits and feedback. Main outcome measures were hospital rates of permanent colos tomy and local recurrence of cancer.Results: A total of 56 surgeons (n = 558 patients) participated in the intervention arm and 49 surgeons (n = 457 patients) in the control arm. The median follow-up of patients was 3.6 years. In the intervention arm, 70% of surgeons participated in workshops, 70% in intraoperative demonstrations and 71% in postoperative questionnaires. Surgeons who had an intraoperative demonstration provided care to 86% of the patients in the intervention arm. The rates of permanent colostomy were 39% in the intervention arm and 41% in the control arm (odds ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-1.48). The rates of local recurrence were 7% in the intervention arm and 6% in the control arm (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.68-1.64).Interpretation: Despite good participation by surgeons, the resource-intense quality-improvement strategy did not reduce hospital rates of permanent colostomy or local recurrence compared with usual practice. (ClinicalTrials.gov trial register no. NCT00182130.) AbstractPreviously published at www.cmaj.ca

The purpose of this study was to compare graduating baccalaureate students in a problem-based curriculum with those in a conventional nursing program with regard to perceived preparation for clinical practice, clinical functioning, knowledge and satisfaction with their education. Prior to graduation, students completed a self-report questionnaire that consisted of five sections and took about 45 minutes to complete. Following graduation, their pass rates on the National Nursing Registration Examination (RN Exam) were also compared. The findings indicated no significant differences in their perceived preparation for nursing practice, although the conventional students scored higher in all areas. There were also no significant differences between the two groups in their perceived clinical functioning, although there was a trend toward higher function in the areas of communication and self-directed learning in the PBL group. There were no statistically significant differences in RN scores. The PBL students scored significantly higher on perceptions of their nursing knowledge, particularly in the areas of individual, family and community health assessment, communication, teaching/learning, and the health care system. The students undertaking the PBL program were more satisfied with their educational experience than their counterparts in the conventional program, indicating higher satisfaction with tutors, level of independence, assessment and program outcomes, but no difference in relation to workload or clarity of expectations. This study contributes to our understanding of the relationship between different educational approaches and student outcomes. It suggests that PBL is an effective approach for educating nurses. Furthermore, it indicates that nursing students in the PBL program, like their counterparts in PBL medical programs, report higher levels of satisfaction. Future studies that are longitudinal in design and rely less on self-report measures would contribute further to our understanding of the benefits and limitations of PBL in nursing education.

Surgeons were aware of and agreed in principle with the province-level QI strategy for pancreas cancer surgery. Decisions to continue or cease performing surgery were made by individual surgeons.

Background: Theory suggests the uptake of a medical innovation is influenced by how potential adopters perceive innovation characteristics and by characteristics of potential adopters. Innovation adoption is slow among the first 20% of individuals in a target group and then accelerates. The Quality Initiative in Rectal Cancer (QIRC) trial assessed if rectal cancer surgery outcomes could be improved through surgeon participation in the QIRC strategy. We tested if traditional uptake of innovation concepts applied to surgeons in the experimental arm of the trial. Methods:The QIRC strategy included workshops, access to opinion leaders, intraoperative demonstrations, postoperative questionnaires, and audit and feedback. For intraoperative demonstrations, a participating surgeon invited an outside surgeon to demonstrate optimal rectal surgery techniques. We used surgeon timing in a demonstration to differentiate early and late adopters of the QIRC strategy. Surgeons completed surveys on perceptions of the strategy and personal characteristics.Results: Nineteen of 56 surgeons (34%) requested an operative demonstration on their first case of rectal surgery. Early and late adopters had similar perceptions of the QIRC strategy and similar characteristics. Late adopters were less likely than early adopters to perceive an advantage for the surgical techniques promoted by the trial (p = 0.023).