Objective Correspondence Analysis (CA) is a multivariate graphical technique designed to explore relationships among categorical variables. Epidemiologists frequently collect data on multiple categorical variables with to the goal of examining associations amongst these variables. Nevertheless, despite its usefulness in this context, CA appears to be an underused technique in epidemiology. The objective of this paper is to present the utility of CA in an epidemiological context. Study Design and Setting The theory and interpretation of CA in the case of two variables and more than two variables is illustrated through two examples. Results The outcome from correspondence analysis is a graphical display of the rows and columns of a contingency table that is designed to permit visualization of the salient relationships among the variable responses in a low-dimensional space. Such a representation reveals a more global picture of the relationships among row-column pairs which would otherwise not be detected through a pairwise analysis. Conclusion When the study variables of interest are categorical, CA is an appropriate technique to explore relationships amongst variable response categories and can play a complementary role in analyzing epidemiological data.

Transitions in care from hospital to primary care for older patients with chronic diseases (CD) are complex and lead to increased mortality and service use. In response to these challenges, transitional care (TC) interventions are being widely implemented. They encompass education on self-management, discharge planning, structured follow-up and coordination among the different healthcare professionals. We conducted a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of interventions targeting transitions from hospital to the primary care setting for chronically ill older patients.. Randomized controlled trials were identified through Medline, CINHAL, PsycInfo, EMBASE (1995-2015). Two independent reviewers performed the study selection, data extraction and assessment of study quality (Cochrane "Risk of Bias"). Risk differences (RD) and number needed to treat (NNT) or mean differences (MD) were calculated using a random-effects model. From 10,234 references, 92 studies were included. Compared to usual care, significantly better outcomes were observed: a lower mortality at 3 (RD: -0.02 [-0.05, 0.00]; NNT: 50), 6, 12 and 18 months post-discharge, a lower rate of ED visits at 3 months (RD: -0.08 [-0.15, -0.01]; NNT: 13), a lower rate of readmissions at 3 (RD: -0.08 [-0.14, -0.03]; NNT: 7), 6, 12 and 18 months and a lower mean of readmission days at 3 (MD: -1.33; [-2.15, -0.52]), 6, 12 and 18 months. No significant differences were observed in quality of life. In conclusion, TC improves transitions for older patients and should be included in the reorganization of healthcare services.

BackgroundCognition and mobility in older adults are closely associated and they decline together with aging. Studies evaluating associations between cognitive factors and gait performance in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are scarce. In this study, our aim was to determine whether specific cognitive factors have a more identifiable effect on gait velocity during dual-tasking in people with MCI.MethodsFifty-five participants, mean age 77.7 (SD = 5.9), 45% women, with MCI were evaluated for global cognition, working memory, executive function, and attention. Gait Velocity (GV) was measured under a single-task condition (single GV) and under two dual-task conditions: 1) while counting backwards (counting GV), 2) while naming animals (verbal GV). Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine associations with an alpha-level of 0.05.ResultsParticipants experienced a reduction in GV while engaging in dual-task challenges (p < 0.005). Low executive function and working memory performances were associated with slow single GV (p = 0.038), slow counting GV (p = 0.017), and slow verbal GV (p = 0.031). After adjustments, working memory was the only cognitive factor which remained significantly associated with a slow GV.ConclusionIn older adults with MCI, low working memory performance was associated with slow GV. Dual-task conditions showed the strongest associations with gait slowing. Our findings suggest that cortical control of gait is associated with decline in working memory in people with MCI.

BackgroundChoice of insulin delivery for type 1 diabetes can be difficult for many parents and children. We evaluated decision coaching using a patient decision aid for helping youth with type 1 diabetes and parents decide about insulin delivery method.MethodsA pre/post design. Youth and parent(s) attending a pediatric diabetes clinic in a tertiary care centre were referred to the intervention by their pediatric endocrinologist or diabetes physician between September 2013 and May 2015. A decision coach guided youth and their parents in completing a patient decision aid that was pre-populated with evidence on insulin delivery options. Primary outcomes were youth and parent scores on the low literary version of the validated Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS).ResultsForty-five youth (mean age = 12.5 ± 2.9 years) and 66 parents (45.8 ± 5.6 years) participated. From pre- to post-intervention, youth and parent decisional conflict decreased significantly (youth mean DCS score was 32.0 vs 6.6, p < 0.0001; parent 37.6 vs 3.5, p < 0.0001). Youth’s and parents’ mean decisional conflict scores were also significantly improved for DCS subscales (informed, values clarity, support, and certainty). 92% of youth and 94% of parents were satisfied with the decision coaching and patient decision aid. Coaching sessions averaged 55 min. Parents (90%) reported that the session was the right length of time; some youth (16%) reported that it was too long.ConclusionDecision coaching with a patient decision aid reduced decisional conflict for youth and parents facing a decision about insulin delivery method.

An educational intervention combining an antibiotic guide and a prescribing profile was effective in decreasing nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions. Repetition of the intervention at regular intervals may be necessary to maintain its effectiveness.

IMPORTANCE Procedural sedation for children undergoing painful procedures is standard practice in emergency departments worldwide. Previous studies of emergency department sedation are limited by their single-center design and are underpowered to identify risk factors for serious adverse events (SAEs), thereby limiting their influence on sedation practice and patient outcomes.OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence and risk factors associated with sedation-related SAEs.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study was conducted in 6 pediatric emergency departments in Canada between July 10, 2010, and February 28, 2015. Children 18 years or younger who received sedation for a painful emergency department procedure were enrolled in the study. Of the 9657 patients eligible for inclusion, 6760 (70.0%) were enrolled and 6295 (65.1%) were included in the final analysis.EXPOSURES The primary risk factor was receipt of sedation medication. The secondary risk factors were demographic characteristics, preprocedural medications and fasting status, current or underlying health risks, and procedure type. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESFour outcomes were examined: SAEs, significant interventions performed in response to an adverse event, oxygen desaturation, and vomiting. RESULTSOf the 6295 children included in this study, 4190 (66.6%) were male and the mean (SD) age was 8.0 (4.6) years. Adverse events occurred in 736 patients (11.7%; 95% CI, 6.4%-16.9%). Oxygen desaturation (353 patients [5.6%]) and vomiting (328 [5.2%]) were the most common of these adverse events. There were 69 SAEs (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.5%-1.7%), and 86 patients (1.4%; 95% CI, 0.7%-2.1%) had a significant intervention. Use of ketamine hydrochloride alone resulted in the lowest incidence of SAEs (17 [0.4%]) and significant interventions (37 [0.9%]). The incidence of adverse sedation outcomes varied significantly with the type of sedation medication. Compared with ketamine alone, propofol alone (3.7%; odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% CI, 2.3-13.1) and the combinations of ketamine and fentanyl citrate (3.2%; OR, 6.5; 95% CI, 2.5-15.2) and ketamine and propofol (2.1%; OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 2.3-8.7) had the highest incidence of SAEs. The combinations of ketamine and fentanyl (4.1%; OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.8-8.1) and ketamine and propofol (2.5%; OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-3.8) had the highest incidence of significant interventions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThe incidence of adverse sedation outcomes varied significantly with type of sedation medication. Use of ketamine only was associated with the best outcomes, resulting in significantly fewer SAEs and interventions than ketamine combined with propofol or fentanyl.

Findings on the relationship between frailty and sociodemographic variables, morbidity and disability, support previous studies, providing further evidence that although frailty seems to be a distinct geriatric concept, it also overlaps with other concepts.

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