Patient, caregiver and clinician views on engagement in comparative effectiveness research.

Aim: Describe patient, caregiver and clinician views toward engagement as partners in health research.

Materials & Methods: Online surveys of patients and caregivers managing rare (n = 560 patients, n = 609 caregivers) or chronic conditions (n = 762 patients, n = 776 caregivers) and practicing clinicians (n = 638).

Results: Over half of respondents were unfamiliar with the concept of partnering with researchers but most expressed interest in working in a research partnership.

Patient, caregiver and clinician use of comparative effectiveness research findings in care decisions: results from a national study.

Aim: To assess awareness, use and attitudes concerning comparative effectiveness research (CER) findings.

Materials & Methods: Online surveys of patients and caregivers managing rare (n = 560 patients, n = 609 caregivers) or chronic conditions (n = 762 patients, n = 776 caregivers), and practicing clinicians (n = 638).

Results: Less than half of patients and caregivers reported exposure to any type of CER findings in the past 12 months.

Health researcher views on comparative effectiveness research and research engagement.

Aim: To understand researcher capability for and interest in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (PC-CER), particularly related to engaging with patients/caregivers.

Materials & Methods: Web-based survey of 508 health researchers recruited via professional health research organizations.

Results: Most respondents (94%) were familiar with CER and many (69%) reported having previously conducting some form of CER.

Pia Mater Significantly Contributes to Spinal Cord Intraparenchymal Pressure in a Simulated Model of Edema.

Study Design: Intraparenchymal pressure (IPP) measurements in an in vitro cadaveric model of CNS edema.

Objective: To assess the contribution of pia mater to IPP and the effect of piotomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Multicenter randomized control trials have shown that decompression with durotomy/duroplasty significantly decreases intracranial pressure (ICP).

Ventriculostomy-associated infection: a new, standardized reporting definition and institutional experience.

Objective: Shortcomings created by the lack of both a uniform definition of ventriculostomy-associated infection (VAI) and reporting standards have led to widely ranging infections rates (2-24%) whose significance is uncertain. We propose a standardized definition of VAI and a consistent reporting format compliant with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for device-related infections. Using those parameters to establish an infection-control surveillance program, we report our 4-year institutional VAI rates.