Background: Nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding is used for children unable to tolerate adequate nutrition orally to sustain growth and development. This vulnerable population is at risk of gaps in care because they often lack a medical home due to the transitional nature of the technology. This study explores perspectives and challenges of family caregivers (FCs) of children requiring NGTs transitioning from hospital to home.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Clinical management of ventilator-assisted individuals (VAIs) was challenged by social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the Long-Term In-Home Ventilator Engagement (LIVE) Program was launched in Ontario, Canada to provide intensive digital care case management to VAIs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the acceptability of the LIVE Program hosted via a digital platform during the COVID-19 pandemic from diverse perspectives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented need for virtual healthcare that was safe, acceptable and feasible to deliver. In May 2020, we launched the Long-term In-Home Ventilator Engagement (LIVE) program for ventilator assisted individuals using ventilators hosted on an e-platform in Ontario, Canada.
Objectives: To assess the acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and usability of the LIVE program reported by patients, family caregivers, and healthcare providers (HCP).
Objectives: This qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of family caregivers (FCs) of children with medical complexity who are initiated on new medical technology in the hospital and transition to new daily life at home. The study aims to investigate FCs' response and readiness for medical technology use, the value of education and transition support and the challenges associated with managing new medical technology in the home.
Study Design: A qualitative descriptive approach was used to conduct and analyse 14 semistructured interviews with a group of FCs composed of 11 mothers and 3 fathers.
Objective: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder that manifests with motor deterioration and respiratory complications. The paradigm of care is shifting as disease-modifying therapies including nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam alter the disease trajectory of SMA. The objective of this study was to explore caregivers' experiences with disease-modifying therapies for SMA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The primary objective was to quantify psychosocial risk in family caregivers (FCs) of children with medical complexity (CMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT). The secondary objectives were to compare this finding with the average PAT score of this population before the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine potential clinical predictors of psychosocial risk in FCs of CMC.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Background And Objectives: Children with medical complexity have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated changes in healthcare delivery. The primary objective of this study was to gain a thorough understanding of the lived experiences of family caregivers of children with medical complexity during the pandemic.
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with family caregivers of children with medical complexity from a tertiary pediatric hospital.
Objective: Early screening and diagnosis of nocturnal hypoventilation can slow progression to diurnal hypercapnia and mortality in children with neuromuscular disease (NMD). However, gold standard, laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) testing is a limited resource. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of ambulatory transcutaneous carbon dioxide (tcCO) monitoring used in the home compared to PSG in children with NMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the immediate and sustained knowledge retention and sense of self-efficacy of homecare nurses following completion of a standardized competency-based tracheostomy education course. Safe discharge of children requiring tracheostomy with or without ventilation relies on the competence of homecare nurses.
Study Design: Pragmatic, randomized controlled trial of 44 homecare nurses.
Background Overview And Rationale: We co-developed a multi-component virtual care solution (TtLIVE) for the home mechanical ventilation (HMV) population using the aTouchAway™ platform (Aetonix). The TtLIVE intervention includes (1) virtual home visits; (2) customizable care plans; (3) clinical workflows that incorporate reminders, completion of symptom profiles, and tele-monitoring; and (4) digitally secure communication via messaging, audio, and video calls; (5) Resource library including print and audiovisual material.
Objectives And Brief Methods: Our primary objective is to evaluate the TtLIVE intervention compared to a usual care control group using an eight-center, pragmatic, parallel-group single-blind (outcome assessors) randomized controlled trial.
Purpose: Volume-assured pressure support in noninvasive ventilation (VAPS-NIV) is a newer mode providing automatic pressure support adjustment to ensure a constant alveolar ventilation. Previous studies have shown that NIV effectiveness depends on patient adherence and tolerance. The aim of this study was to determine the adherence and efficacy of VAPS-NIV compared to spontaneous-time (S/T) mode in pediatric patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerbal medicines are important in treatment of inflammation as they are safe and nontoxic. Tannins are important bioactive compounds used as anti-inflammatory agents and possess wound healing potential. Anti-inflammatory activity of tannins extracted from seedling leaf tissue and callus culture extracts of Achyranthes aspera L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArtif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol
June 2019
Pristine- and strontium-doped AgO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized utilizing the symbolic co-precipitation method, in which sodium hydroxide was used as a precipitating agent. Various instrumentation methods were employed to get an inside view of the synthesized NPs. Powdered X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis revealed the existence of high crystallinity and small-sized NPs (an average diameter range of 35-48 nm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Choledochotomy followed by T-tube has long been a standard surgical treatment for choledocholithiasis. It is still a preferred choice in many hospitals where minimal invasive procedures are not feasible. The use of T-tube is not without complications.
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