Moving evidence into practice with outcomes-driven acuity data.

This article describes how driving evidence-based practice across the paediatric population using outcomes-driven acuity technology led to the formulation of a combined multihospital and health information technology acuity council. The cross-collaboration among acuity experts resulted in a pilot project being undertaken, implementing evidence-based practice using acuity data and expanding newborn and post-partum acuity outcome sets. The newborn acuity outcome set was expanded from four to seven outcomes, and the post-partum outcome set from nine to 12 outcomes.

Previous exposure in a high-risk area for travellers' diarrhoea within the past year is associated with a significant protective effect for travellers' diarrhoea: a prospective observational cohort study in travellers to South Asia.

Background: Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common health problem in travellers. Depending on the region visited, up to 40% of travellers develop diarrhoea during a 2-week trip. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for TD among travellers to the Indian subcontinent.

Quality of life assessment in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.

Previous studies by our group have attempted to examine quality of life (QoL) issues in a cohort of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) by assessing a variety of psychological tests and by asking patients to rate their own QoL. The present study was undertaken to extend previous observations by asking patients to spontaneously select those domains of life experience that they think are most important in determining their quality of life. Sixty-eight medically stable CPD patients were asked to spontaneously select those three to five domains felt to be most important to them in defining their QoL.

Psychosocial factors and clinical outcome on CAPD.

Patient dropout from chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) and transfer to hemodialysis remains a major problem with patients on CPD. Peritonitis, exit-site infections, and medical complications requiring hospitalization often adversely affect the outcome of CPD. The role of psychosocial factors in determining patient outcome and influencing the rates of these complications is not clear.