Scientific Knowledge on the Subject: Despite observational studies suggesting that COPD exacerbation can be detected using a combination of symptoms and physiological measures, such as pulse and oxygen saturation, larger randomized controlled trials have not shown any effect of telemonitoring on time to first hospital admission (TTFH), hospitalization and quality of life. Tested tele-monitoring programs had a negligible impact on healthcare costs, and, in some cases, resulted in an increased healthcare utilisation. What This Study Adds to the Field:This randomized controlled trial of 312 COPD patients is the first using only objective lung function data measured daily by the forced oscillation technique to prompt early intervention. Despite being feasible and well accepted by patients, this approach did not affect TTFH and quality of life. However, it significantly reduced healthcare costs, mostly due to a reduction in duration and frequency of subsequent hospitalisations, which was greatest in patients hospitalised the year before recruitment.This article has an online data supplement, which is accessible from this issue's table of content online at www.atsjournals.org 3 AbstractRationale Early detection of COPD exacerbations using tele-monitoring of physiological variables might reduce the frequency of hospitalisation.Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of home monitoring of lung mechanics by the forced oscillation technique (FOT) and cardiac parameters in older COPD patients with co-morbidities.Methods This multicentre, randomized clinical trial recruited 312 GOLD grade II-IV COPD patients (median age 71 years [IQR:66-76], 49.6% grade II, 50.4% grade III-IV), with a history of exacerbation in the previous year and at least one non-pulmonary co-morbidity. Patients were randomised to usual care (n=158) or tele-monitoring (n=154) and followed for 9 months. All telemonitoring patients self-assessed lung mechanics daily and in a subgroup with congestive heart failure (n=37) cardiac parameters were monitored. An algorithm identified deterioration, triggering a telephone contact to determine appropriate interventions. Measurements and Main resultsPrimary outcomes were time to first hospitalisation (TTFH) and change in EQ-5D utility index score. Secondary outcomes included: rate of antibiotic/corticosteroid prescriptions, hospitalisation, CAT, PHQ-9 and MLHF questionnaire scores, quality-adjusted life years and healthcare costs. Tele-monitoring did not affect TTFH, EQ-5D utility index score, antibiotic prescriptions, hospitalization rate and questionnaire scores. Tele-medicine was associated with fewer repeat hospitalizations (-54%, p=0.017). Previously hospitalised patients showed the greatest reduction in hospitalization rate (-53%, p=0.017) with large potential for cost savings (-3736€/patient/year, p=0.010). ConclusionsIn older COPD patients with co-morbidities remote monitoring of lung function by FOT and cardiac parameters did not change TTFH and EQ-5D. However patients at risk of hospitalisation may benefit fr...

Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z drugs) and associated placebo responses in adults and to evaluate potential moderators of effectiveness in a dataset used to approve these drugs.Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data source US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Study selection Randomised double blind parallel placebo controlled trials of currently approved Z drugs (eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem). Data extractionChange score from baseline to post-test for drug and placebo groups; drug efficacy analysed as the difference of both change scores. Weighted raw and standardised mean differences with their confidence intervals under random effects assumptions for polysomnographic and subjective sleep latency, as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included waking after sleep onset, number of awakenings, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and subjective sleep quality. Weighted least square regression analysis was used to explain heterogeneity of drug effects.Data synthesis 13 studies containing 65 separate drug-placebo comparisons by type of outcome, type of drug, and dose were included. Studies included 4378 participants from different countries and varying drug doses, lengths of treatment, and study years. Z drugs showed significant, albeit small, improvements (reductions) in our primary outcomes: polysomnographic sleep latency (weighted standardised mean difference, 95% confidence interval −0.57 to −0.16) and subjective sleep latency (−0.33, −0.62 to −0.04) compared with placebo. Analyses of weighted mean raw differences showed that Z drugs decreased polysomnographic sleep latency by 22 minutes (−33 to −11 minutes) compared with placebo. Although no significant effects were found in secondary outcomes, there were insufficient studies reporting these outcomes to allow firm conclusions. Moderator analyses indicated that sleep latency was more likely to be reduced in studies published earlier, with larger drug doses, with longer duration of treatment, with a greater proportion of younger and/or female patients, and with zolpidem. ConclusionCompared with placebo, Z drugs produce slight improvements in subjective and polysomnographic sleep latency, especially with larger doses and regardless of type of drug. Although the drug effect and the placebo response were rather small and of questionable clinical importance, the two together produced to a reasonably large clinical response. IntroductionHypnotic drugs are often prescribed in primary care for insomnia.1 Despite a reduction in prescribing of benzodiazepine hypnotics in the past decade, hypnotic use and costs remain high because of the introduction and increase in use of Z drugs, 2 a group of non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drugs (including eszopiclone, zaleplon, and zolpidem), which act on the GABA (γ aminobutyric acid) receptor and are used in the treatment of insomnia. These are now the most commonly prescribed hypnotic agents worldwide. Prescriptions exceed costs of $285m (£178m, €221m) in the Unite...

BackgroundHealth information technology (HIT) may be used to improve care for increasing numbers of older people with long term conditions (LTCs) who make high demands on health and social care services. Despite its potential benefits for reducing disease exacerbations and hospitalisations, HIT home monitoring is not always accepted by patients. Using the Health Information Technology Acceptance Model (HITAM) this qualitative study examined the usefulness of the model for understanding acceptance of HIT in older people (≥60 years) participating in a RCT for older people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and associated heart diseases (CHROMED).MethodsAn instrumental, collective case study design was used with qualitative interviews of patients in the intervention arm of CHROMED. These were conducted at two time points, one shortly after installation of equipment and again at the end of (or withdrawal from) the study. We used Framework Analysis to examine how well the HITAM accounted for the data.ResultsParticipants included 21 patients aged between 60–99 years and their partners or relatives where applicable. Additional concepts for the HITAM for older people included: concerns regarding health professional access and attachment; heightened illness anxiety and desire to avoid continuation of the ‘sick-role’. In the technology zone, HIT self-efficacy was associated with good organisational processes and informal support; while ease of use was connected to equipment design being suitable for older people. HIT perceived usefulness was related to establishing trends in health status, detecting early signs of infection and potential to self-manage. Due to limited feedback to users opportunities to self-manage were reduced.ConclusionsHITAM helped understand the likelihood that older people with LTCs would use HIT, but did not explain how this might result in improved self-management. In order to increase HIT acceptance among older people, equipment design and organisational factors need to be considered.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01960907 October 9 2013 (retrospectively registered) Clinical tRials fOr elderly patients with MultiplE Disease (CHROMED). Start date October 2012, end date March 2016. Date of enrolment of the first participant was February 2013.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12911-017-0486-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background There are an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2015, being cared for usually by family members or friends (informal caregivers). The challenges faced by informal caregivers often lead to increased levels of stress, burden and risk of care-recipient institutionalisation. Aim The overarching aim of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of informal caregivers of people with dementia when interacting with the health care system, and whether the support received acted as a mediator of caregiver stress. The secondary aim was to investigate healthcare professionals' views and current practice regarding people with dementia and their interactions with informal caregivers. Method We employed a qualitative research design, using focus groups and one face-to-face interview with a purposive sample of informal caregivers and healthcare professionals in Lincolnshire, UK. Data were collected between March and July 2015. We used the stress-process model of stress in caregivers as a theoretical framework. Results We interviewed 18 caregivers and 17 healthcare professionals. Five themes, mapped to the stress-process in caregivers' model, captured the main challenges faced by caregivers and the type of support they wanted from health care services. Primary stressors included the challenge of diagnosing dementia; caregivers' needs and expectations of an in-depth knowledge and understanding of dementia from healthcare professionals; and need for carer education. Secondary role strain included lack of support and mismatch of communication and expectations. Caregiver involvement in monitoring care and disease was a potential mediator tool. Conclusions Fragmentation of dementia care services, lack of training for healthcare professionals and the dearth of information for caregivers means health care services are only partially fulfilling a support role. In turn, lack of support may be intensifying caregiver stress leading to worsening in their health and well-being; thus, potentially increasing the risk of institutionalisation of their care-recipient.

Background Insomnia is common leading to patients with sleep problems often presenting to primary care services including general practice, community pharmacies and community mental health teams. Little is known about how health professionals in primary care respond to patients with insomnia.