According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA; 2021), food security is when all people, always, have access to enough food to have an active and health life.
Shared decision making (SDM) is a key component of patient-centered care where clinical evidence and the patient's preference and values are considered. Physical activity and weight loss are often recommendations in the treatment plan, especially in mild to moderate stage of osteoarthritis (OA). Movement is Life™ created an innovative SDM tool providing a framework for patient-centered discussions. The tool leverages an underlying Markov Model and represents the likely pain, activity levels, and lost productivity at three future time points. Comparing the patient's likely progression depending on treatment choices to doing nothing, the patient has an illustration of their future state. The tool provides a consistent communication pathway and may reduce disparities by addressing unconscious bias. Orthopaedic nurses can be a catalyst for change in the clinic setting by providing education, counseling, and health coaching to promote physical activity and weight management as a recommended treatment option for early OA symptom management.
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) protocol, to extended release epidural morphine DepoDur protocol, in patients having a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) enrolled in a structured joint replacement educational program. Overall, the results of this randomized controlled study demonstrate that CFNB and DepoDur protocol pain strategies were well tolerated in TKA patients during this study with expected side effects and appropriate side effect management. Moreover, the DepoDur protocol enhanced pain management experience and satisfaction and provided superior prolonged analgesia compared with CFNB protocol. The occurrence of adverse events, cost, length of stay, and functional outcomes was comparable between groups.
Preoperative optimization programs are becoming more common for patients seeking total joint arthroplasty; yet, limited research has been conducted to monitor the long-term effects of these programs on patient outcomes. Our aim was to develop a set of metrics that programs can use to monitor the success of preoperative optimization programs. As part of a larger survey of orthopaedic nurses, we collected data regarding current monitoring techniques for preoperative optimization programs and the feasibility of collecting specific variables. Surgical factors such as length of stay and 30-day readmissions were most often used to monitor the success of preoperative optimization programs. Surgical factors were the most likely to be accessible using the electronic medical record. Surgical factors and patient characteristics are the most feasible components for programs to monitor in order to track the outcomes of patients participating in preoperative optimization programs.
Preoperative optimization of patients seeking total joint arthroplasty is becoming more common, and risk scores, which provide an estimate for the risk of complications following procedures, are often used to assist with the preoperative decision-making process. The aim of this study was to characterize the use of risk scores at institutions that utilize nurse navigators in the preoperative optimization process. The survey included 207 nurse navigators identified via the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses to better understand the use of risk scores in preoperative optimization and the different factors that are included in these risk scores. The study found that 48% of responding nurse navigators utilized risk scores in the preoperative optimization process. These risk scores often included patient comorbidities such as diabetes (85%) and body mass index (87%). Risk scores are commonly used by nurse navigators in preoperative optimization and involve a variety of comorbidities and patient-specific factors.
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