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To date, there is a paucity of research conducting natural language processing (NLP) on the open-ended responses of behavior rating scales. Using three NLP lexicons for sentiment analysis of the open-ended responses of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Third Edition, the researchers discovered a moderately positive correlation between the human composite rating and the sentiment score using each of the lexicons for strengths comments and a slightly positive correlation for the concerns comments made by guardians and teachers. In addition, the researchers found that as the word count increased for open-ended responses regarding the child's strengths, there was a greater positive sentiment rating. Conversely, as word count increased for open-ended responses regarding child concerns, the human raters scored comments more negatively. The authors offer a proof-of-concept to use NLP-based sentiment analysis of open-ended comments to complement other data for clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Finite resources limit the amount of time EMS agencies can dedicate to continuing education in pediatric emergencies. EMS instructors need effective, efficient, and affordable educational strategies for these high-risk, low frequency events. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of four training methods in management of pediatric emergencies for paramedics. Methods: A validated, performance-based, simulated clinical assessment module was used to provide a baseline measurement of paramedics' resuscitation skills during three simulated pediatric emergencies. Educational modules were developed that targeted deficiencies identified by the baseline assessment, including advanced pediatric life support skills, airway management, use of the Broselow-Luten Tape®, pediatric drug dose calculations and drug delivery, seizure management, and trauma assessment. Paramedics from five EMS agencies in Michigan were randomized to four education intervention groups. The control group used an existing, online, continuing education course. Three experimental groups were exposed to the same content during five, one-hour sessions conducted over 2.5 years. Instruction was delivered using high-fidelity, simulated case-based training, low-fidelity simulation training, or lecture with procedural skills lab, based on group assignment. After the training, all groups were tested within 4–6 months using methods identical to baseline testing. Results: One hundred forty-seven subjects completed the study. There were no differences in baseline skill levels among the four groups. Only the low fidelity simulation training group demonstrated improvement of combined scenario scores (p = 0.0008). Scores for targeted skills improved in one scenario in the high-fidelity group, two in the low-fidelity group, one in the lecture/lab group, and none in the control group. Conclusions: Although improvements in those skills included in the training were found in three groups, two hours of training in pediatric emergencies per year was insufficient to produce a substantial improvement overall. Expensive, high-fidelity simulators were not necessary for teaching pediatric resuscitation skills to paramedics; instructive scenarios using low-fidelity manikins and debriefings appear to be adequate. The content delivered by an online refresher course did not provide any improvement in performance as measured by simulated, case-based assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extra pulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) are rare in developed countries. TB is the main etiology of chronic pericarditis in developing countries, but it’s epidemiology is not unknown in the United States. Methods: This retrospective study used the Healthcare Utilization Projects/Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUPS/NIS) database from 2002-2014 to evaluate the characteristics, risk factors, trends over time and region of tuberculous pericarditis in the United States. Results: The data during the study period consists of 100,790,900 discharges accounting for 482,872,274 weighted discharges. The data showed 744 weighted discharges with indication of both tuberculosis and pericarditis. A co-ocurrence of TB pericarditis and malignancy or chronic kidney disease was more common than in patients without TB pericarditis. The frequency of co-ocurrence of TB pericarditis and HIV infection, obesity, alcohol abuse and organ transplant was not elevated. Conclusion: TB pericarditis is rare disease in the USA and the classical risk factors for lung tuberculosis may not be associated with TB pericarditis. CKD and malignancy appear to be associated with TB pericarditis, further studies are required to determine causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:  Electronic health record (EHR) user interface event logs are fast providing another perspective on the value and efficiency EHR technology brings to health care. Analysis of these detailed usage data has demonstrated their potential to identify EHR and clinical process design factors related to user efficiency, satisfaction, and burnout., Objective:  This study aimed to analyze the event log data across 26 different health systems to determine the variability of use of a single vendor's EHR based on four event log metrics, at the individual, practice group, and health system levels., Methods:  We obtained de-identified event log data recorded from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019, from 26 health systems' primary care physicians. We estimated the variability in total Active EHR Time, Documentation Time, Chart Review Time, and Ordering Time across health systems, practice groups, and individual physicians., Results:  In total, 5,444 physicians (Family Medicine: 3,042 and Internal Medicine: 2,422) provided care in a total of 2,285 different practices nested in 26 health systems. Health systems explain 1.29, 3.55, 3.45, and 3.30% of the total variability in Active Time, Documentation Time, Chart Review Time, and Ordering Time, respectively. Practice-level variability was estimated to be 7.96, 13.52, 8.39, and 5.57%, respectively, and individual physicians explained the largest proportion of the variability for those same outcomes 17.09, 27.49, 17.51, and 19.75%, respectively., Conclusion:  The most variable physician EHR usage patterns occurs at the individual physician level and decreases as you move up to the practice and health system levels. This suggests that interventions to improve individual users' EHR usage efficiency may have the most potential impact compared with those directed at health system or practice levels., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Reoperation is associated with unfavorable outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. This study seeks to investigate the incidence and factors related to reoperation in patients undergoing urgent/emergent colectomies., Methods: The Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) database was used to identify patients undergoing urgent/emergent colectomies. Outcomes and risk factors of patients who underwent reoperation within 30 days were compared to those who did not., Results: 16,004 patients undergoing urgent/emergent colon resection were identified. Reoperation occurred in 12.4% and was associated with increased 30-day mortality (16.7% vs. 9.6%, p < .0001), median hospital length of stay (17 vs. 10 days, p < .0001), readmission rate (21.0% vs. 12.1%, p < .001), and discharge to a location other than home (62.3% vs. 36.8%, p < .0001). Reoperation rate was highest for vascular-related indications (23.5%), and was associated with several clinical factors (male gender, low albumin, ASA classification, and presence of pre-operative sepsis, dialysis or ventilator dependence) CONCLUSIONS: Reoperation following urgent/emergent colectomy occurs frequently. Additional study into strategies to reduce reoperations in this population is warranted., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Surgical dogma states that the "solution to pollution is dilution." We hypothesized that withholding irrigation during pediatric Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) appendectomies for perforated appendicitis would decrease postoperative abscess rate., Methods: From May 2011 to 5/2015, during SILS appendectomies, saline irrigation and suctioning was performed. From June 2015 to 8/2021, only suctioning was performed. The operations and peri-operative management were otherwise identical. We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients in the Irrigation (I) Group and 91 patients in the Non-Irrigation (NI) Group., Results: Abscess rate decreased from 19.6% in Group I to 9.9% in Group NI, but this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.12). Operative duration was significantly longer in patients who developed postoperative abscesses in Group NI (odds ratio 1.67, p = 0.002) and overall (odds ratio 1.45, p = 0.0002)., Conclusions: Withholding irrigation during SILS appendectomies trended toward a decreased postoperative abscess rate. Increased operative times were associated with postoperative abscess formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)