The impact of different researchers to capture quality of life measures in a dementia randomised controlled trial.

Background: Capturing changes in health and wellbeing within randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can be complex. The precision and accuracy of outcome scales to measure change is crucial, and therefore, consideration needs to be given to potential measurement errors when collecting these outcomes. Many RCTs use multiple researchers to collect data, which has the potential to introduce variation in measurements.

Update to the Canadian clinical practice guideline for best-practice management of breast cancer-related lymphedema: study protocol.

Background: One of the more frequent complications following treatment for breast cancer, lymphedema is a substantial swelling of the arm, breast and chest wall that occurs on the side where lymph nodes were removed. The aim of this work is to update recommendations on the prevention, diagnosis and management of lymphedema related to breast cancer.

Methods: We present the protocol for an update of the 2001 clinical practice guideline on lymphedema from the Steering Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Care and Treatment of Breast Cancer.

A study of changes in everyday mobility during the Covid-19 pandemic: As perceived by people living in Malmö, Sweden.

Sweden's strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19 has not included any form of lockdown, in contrast to the approaches adopted by most other countries. Instead, the strategy has been largely based on strong recommendations for society. Even though Sweden has not had any form of lockdown, the Covid-19 pandemic has during a relatively short period of time brought changes for society, significantly disrupting everyday life.

Examining the Process of Modal Choice for Everyday Travel Among Older People.

Modal choice is a prominent concept within transport studies. However, the term is often used quite loosely, with little known about the factors lying behind the choice, the alternatives available to a person, and whether the person had a 'choice' to begin with. This study draws on a travel survey among older people living in Sweden's large metropolitan regions.

Plugging the patient evidence gap: what patients with swallowing disorders post-stroke say about thickened liquids.

Background: Oropharyngeal dysphagia post-stroke is well known, with its presence increasing the risk of poor outcomes in particular aspiration and aspiration pneumonia. Management to minimize the risk of aspiration and improve swallow safety post-stroke includes the treatment of thickened liquids (TL), an established bolus modification intervention. Despite widespread use, there is a lack of robust empirical evidence and minimal patient evidence as to the experience and acceptability of using thickeners by people who experience dysphagia after a stroke.

Cytologic assessment of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 status in metastatic breast carcinoma.

Background: Discordance in the receptor status between primary breast carcinomas (PBC) and corresponding metastasis is well documented. Interrogation of the receptor status of metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC) in cytology material is common practice; however, its utility has not been thoroughly validated. We studied patients with MBC, and evaluated the concordance rates of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) between PBC surgical specimens and corresponding MBC cell blocks (CBs).

What information is used in treatment decision aids? A systematic review of the types of evidence populating health decision aids.

Background: Patient decision aids (DAs) are support tools designed to provide patients with relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare. While DAs can be effective in improving patient knowledge and decision quality, it is unknown what types of information and evidence are used to populate such decision tools.

Methods: Systematic methods were used to identify and appraise the relevant literature and patient DAs published between 2006 and 2015.

Diffuse intra-abdominal splenosis presenting as carcinomatosis exhibiting positron emitted tomography hypermetabolic activity.

•Splenosis can mimic carcinomatosis upon many imaging modalities.•History of splenectomy must be considered when evaluating carcinomatosis.•Scintigraphy is the preferred for confirming the presence of splenosis.

Collaboration to transform care.

Transforming Care is an improvement initiative introduced at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in October 2010. The health board collaborated with a university to develop a degree module to support its implementation. This article describes the delivery and evaluation of the module, and how Transforming Care is helping to unite a newly formed organisation.

Pulmonary embolism presenting as non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

We describe a case which highlights the difficulties in diagnosing pulmonary embolism as it can mimic other conditions. In a patient with chest pain with raised troponin, a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism should also be considered as well if the clinical picture does not fit with myocardial infarction. Otherwise, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism can be easily missed and patients may not receive appropriate treatment resulting in increased mortality.

Changes in information behavior in clinical teams after introduction of a clinical librarian service.

Objectives: The eighteen-month evaluation of a clinical librarian project (October 2003-March 2005) conducted in North Wales, United Kingdom (UK) assessed the benefits of clinical librarian support to clinical teams, the impact of mediated searching services, and the effectiveness of information skills training, including journal club support.

Methods: The evaluation assessed changes in teams' information-seeking behavior and their willingness to delegate searching to a clinical librarian. Baseline (n = 69 responses, 73% response rate) and final questionnaire (n = 57, 77% response rate) surveys were complemented by telephone and face-to-face interviews (n = 33) among 3 sites served.

Neuroimaging of NREM sleep in primary insomnia: a Tc-99-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography study.

Study Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) demonstrate the feasibility of combining polysomnography and SPECT neuroimaging to study NREM sleep in primary insomnia and 2) evaluate possible functional CNS abnormalities associated with insomnia.

Design: Patients with insomnia and good sleeper controls were studied polysomnographically for three nights with a whole brain SPECT Scan of NREM sleep on Night 3. Groups were screened for medical/psychiatric history, substance use, and matched on age, body mass index, and education.