Lidose-Isotretinoin Administered Without Food Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Severe Recalcitrant Nodular Acne: An Open-Label, Single-Arm, Phase IV Study.

We sought to assess the impact of Lidose-isotretinoin taken without food on patient quality of life (QoL) at baseline, monthly intervals, and end of study in patients with severe recalcitrant nodular acne. In this open-label, single-arm, multicenter study, 197 patients took twice-daily Lidose-isotretinoin without food for 20 weeks (120-150mg/kg cumulative dosage). Patient visits occurred at Weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20.

Effect of OTX-101, a Novel Nanomicellar Formulation of Cyclosporine A, on Conjunctival Staining in Patients with Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: A Pooled Analysis of Phase 2b/3 and 3 Clinical Trials.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), a multifactorial disease, is the most common ocular condition for patients seeking medical treatment and is characterized by ocular burning, stinging, and dryness. This pooled analysis examined the effect of OTX-101 0.09% versus vehicle on the total and individual conjunctival staining in patients with KCS from phase 2b/3 and phase 3 studies.

Efficacy and Safety of OTX-101, a Novel Nanomicellar Formulation of Cyclosporine A, for the Treatment of Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: Pooled Analysis of a Phase 2b/3 and Phase 3 Study.

Background: OTX-101 (CEQUA™) is approved in the United States for treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). This pooled analysis of 2 studies (phase 2b/3 and phase 3) evaluates the efficacy and safety of OTX-101 0.09% in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population and the subgroup of patients with a baseline Schirmer score less than 10 mm.

Effect of OTX-101, a Novel Nanomicellar Formulation of Cyclosporine A, on Corneal Staining in Patients With Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: A Pooled Analysis of Phase 2b/3 and Phase 3 Studies.

Background: Keratoconjunctivitis sicca affects 5% to 33% of the population and is often accompanied by symptoms such as burning and dryness. This pooled analysis evaluated total and central corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) in patients receiving OTX-101 0.09% or vehicle in phase 2b/3 and 3 studies and whether improvements in corneal staining correlated with improved visual acuity.

Adapting CAHPS for an American Indian population.

Objective: Develop a culturally appropriate, reliable, and valid survey that can be used by the Choctaw Nation Health Services (CNHS) to compare patients' health care experiences across CNHS clinics, and to support quality improvement efforts.

Methods: We worked with CNHS staff to adapt the CAHPS Clinician and Group Survey for this purpose. We conducted cognitive interviews and a field-test to evaluate the survey.

Which aspects of non-clinical quality of care are most important? Results from WHO's general population surveys of "health systems responsiveness" in 41 countries.

Quality of care research has reached some agreement on concepts like structure, process and outcome, and non-clinical versus clinical processes of care. These concepts are commonly explored through surveys measuring patient experiences, yet few surveys have focused on patient, or "user", priorities across different quality dimensions. Population surveys on priorities can contribute to, although not replace participation in, policy decision making.

Racial and ethnic differences in patient assessments of interactions with providers: disparities or measurement biases?

Patient assessment surveys have established a primary role in health care quality measurement as evidence has shown that information from patients can affect quality improvement for practitioners and lead to positive marketwide changes. This article presents findings from the recently released National Healthcare Disparities Report revealing that although most clinical quality and access indicators show superior health care for non-Hispanic whites compared with blacks and Hispanics, blacks and Hispanics assess their interactions with providers more positively than non-Hispanic whites do. The article explores possible explanations for these racial/ethnic differences, including potential pitfalls in survey design that draw biased responses by race/ethnicity.

The CAHPS Hospital Survey: development, testing, and use.

The CAHPS Hospital Survey was designed to provide valid and reliable assessments from patients about their hospital care experiences--and yet minimize the cost for hospitals and the burden for survey respondents.

Measuring hospital care from the patients' perspective: an overview of the CAHPS Hospital Survey development process.

Objective: To describe the developmental process for the CAHPS Hospital Survey.

Study Design: A pilot was conducted in three states with 19,720 hospital discharges.

Methods Of Analysis: A rigorous, multi-step process was used to develop the CAHPS Hospital Survey.

Radioactive seed migration to the chest after transperineal interstitial prostate brachytherapy: extraprostatic seed placement correlates with migration.

Purpose: To examine the incidence of seed migration detected on chest X-ray and to identify the predictors associated with its occurrence.

Methods And Materials: Between May 1998 and April 2000, 102 patients underwent permanent prostate brachytherapy at our institution and 100 were eligible for the study. Chest X-rays obtained at follow-up were examined for the number and location of seeds.

Patient/parent assessment of the quality of care.

Providing patient-centered care is an accepted goal in medicine today. Focusing on the patient has drawn attention to the importance of the interpersonal aspects of care, such as communication between the health care provider and patient, or in the case of health care for children, the parent and child. Patients or parents may be the best or only source of information for assessing the personal aspects of care.