Publications by authors named "Niven A"

Background: In the UK, recent evidence of young people and gambling indicates a higher prevalence of gambling in comparison to other addictive behaviours. Engaging in gambling-related behaviour at a young age is associated with short and long-term consequences, including financial, emotional, academic, interpersonal, and physical and mental health detriments; otherwise known as gambling-related harms (GRH). Given the unique vulnerability of this younger group, early interventions aimed at delaying or preventing gambling are critical.

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To identify medical phrases utilized by the critical care team that may have an unintended impact on the critically ill patient, we administered an anonymous survey to multi-professional critical care team members. We elicited examples of imprecise language that may have a negative emotional impact on the critically ill. Of the 1600 providers surveyed, 265 offered 1379 examples (912 unique) which were clustered into 5 categories.

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Background: The Covid-19 pandemic initiated an enduring shift in working patterns, with many employees now working at home (w@h). This shift has exacerbated existing high levels of occupational sedentary behaviour (SB) in office workers, which is a recognised risk to health and well-being. This study aimed to use the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to better understand both employees' SB, and line managers behaviour to assist employees to reduce SB when w@h, and identify how employees can best be supported to reduce SB.

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Abnormal pre-transplant pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are associated with reduced survival after allogeneic HCT. Existing scoring systems consider risk dichotomously, attributing risk only to those with abnormal lung function. In a multicenter cohort of 1717 allo-HCT recipients, we examined the association between pre-transplant PFT measures and need for ICU admission (120d), frequency of mechanical ventilation (120d) and overall survival (5 y).

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Introduction: In the United Kingdom, fractures of the cervical dens process in older and/or frail patients are usually managed nonsurgically in a hard collar. However, hard collars can lead to complications and this management approach is now being questioned, with growing interest in maximising patients' short-term quality-of-life. It is vital that patients' perspectives are considered; yet, there is a dearth of literature examining the aspect.

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Article Synopsis
  • Digital twins are digital replicas of patients that help test clinical interventions and reduce preventable harm; a new software has been developed to simulate critical illness scenarios based on electronic health records.
  • A study involving 35 first-year internal medicine residents assessed the app's usability through both qualitative and quantitative methods during user testing sessions.
  • Results showed that the digital twin application had good usability and low to moderate workload, with residents eager to use it for ICU rotations and providing feedback on areas for software improvement.
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Background: Diffusing capacity (DLCO) measurements are affected by hemoglobin. Two adjustment equations are used: Cotes (recommended by ATS/ERS) and Dinakara (used in the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation comorbidity index [HCT-CI]). It is unknown how these methods compare, and which is better from a prognostication standpoint.

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Unlabelled: Initial Society of Critical Care Medicine Discovery Viral Infection and Respiratory illness Universal Study (VIRUS) Registry analysis suggested that improvements in critical care processes offered the greatest modifiable opportunity to improve critically ill COVID-19 patient outcomes.

Objectives: The Structured Team-based Optimal Patient-Centered Care for Virus COVID-19 ICU Collaborative was created to identify and speed implementation of best evidence based COVID-19 practices.

Design Setting And Participants: This 6-month project included volunteer interprofessional teams from VIRUS Registry sites, who received online training on the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and iNjury approach, a structured and systematic method for delivering evidence based critical care.

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Background: CERTAIN (Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and iNjury) education program was developed to accelerate the global dissemination of a standardized, systemic, structured approach to critical care delivery. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic prompted the evolution of this program from a live in-person course to a blended synchronous and asynchronous learning experience, including virtual simulation.

Objectives: We describe our experience and insights gained through this digital program transformation and highlight areas in need of further research to advance the delivery of high-quality online education offerings to global interprofessional audiences.

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Background: The medical intensive care unit (MICU) offers rich resident learning opportunities, but traditional teaching strategies can be difficult to employ in this fast-paced, high-acuity environment. Resident perspectives of learning within this environment may improve our understanding of the common challenges residents face and inform novel approaches to transform the MICU educational experience.

Objective: We conducted a qualitative study of internal medicine residents to better understand their approach to learning the critical care activities that they are entrusted to perform in the MICU.

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Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Global spirometry reference equations were recently derived to offer a "race-neutral" interpretation option. The impact of transitioning from the race-specific GLI-2012 to the GLI Global reference equations is unknown. Describe the direction and magnitude of changes in predicted lung function measurements in a population of diverse race and ethnicity using GLI Global in place of GLI-2012 reference equations.

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This study investigated the impact of exercise training on major pulmonary vasomotor mediators and receptors including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1), ET-1 receptors A (ET) and-B (ET) in high-fat-high-carbohydrate (HFHC) induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD increased iNOS, ET-1 and ET (p < 0.05) but not ET (p > 0.

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Background: Dyspnea and fatigue are characteristics of long SARS-CoV-2 (COVID)-19. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) can be used to better evaluate such patients.

Research Question: How significantly and by what mechanisms is exercise capacity impaired in patients with long COVID who are coming to a specialized clinic for evaluation?

Study Design And Methods: We performed a cohort study using the Mayo Clinic exercise testing database.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented mental health disturbances, burnout, and moral distress among health care workers, affecting their ability to care for themselves and their patients.

Research Question: In health care workers, what are key systemic factors and interventions impacting mental health and burnout?

Study Design And Methods: The Workforce Sustainment subcommittee of the Task Force for Mass Critical Care (TFMCC) utilized a consensus development process, incorporating evidence from literature review with expert opinion through a modified Delphi approach to determine factors affecting mental health, burnout, and moral distress in health care workers, to propose necessary actions to help prevent these issues and enhance workforce resilience, sustainment, and retention.

Results: Consolidation of evidence gathered from literature review and expert opinion resulted in 197 total statements that were synthesized into 14 major suggestions.

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Importance: The conflict in Ukraine has forced civilian hospitals with limited trauma and battlefield medicine experience to care for casualties of war, placing significant strain on the health care system. Using the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury (CERTAIN) program, a multimodal trauma critical care knowledge-exchange platform was created for clinicians practicing in these institutions.

Objectives: To describe the development and implementation of the CERTAIN for Ukraine program and to evaluate the reach of this intervention, together with participant engagement and satisfaction.

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Background: Walking is an integral part of Scotland's National Physical Activity Strategy, and the charity Paths for All's Workplace Step Count Challenge is a flagship programme within this strategy to promote physical activity. Effectively promoting physical activity requires collaborative engagement between stakeholders. However, there is limited guidance on how to do this.

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Home working has increased due to COVID-19, but little is known about how this change has impacted the health risk behaviour of elevated sedentary time. The aim of this cross-sectional exploratory study was to assess occupational sitting behaviour when working at home, and use the Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model to identify influences on this behaviour. University staff (n = 267; 69% female; 92% white) who were predominantly working from home completed a questionnaire to assess sitting time, sitting breaks, demographic and occupational characteristics, and a 7-item COM-B questionnaire and open-ended questions to assess influences on time spent sitting whilst working from home.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how exercise training affects lung function in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by a high-fat, high-carb diet.
  • Mice fed a high-fat, high-carb diet showed obesity, liver damage, and increased lung inflammation markers, but exercise training helped reduce these negative effects by improving mitochondrial function in lung tissue.
  • The research concludes that aerobic exercise can significantly improve pulmonary health in NAFLD cases, indicating a potential therapeutic role for exercise in similar conditions.
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Burnout is occurring in epidemic proportions among intensive care unit physicians and other health-care professionals-accelerated by pandemic-driven stress. The impact of burnout is far-reaching, threatening the health of individual workers, the safety and quality of care our patients receive, and eroding the infrastructure of health care in general. Drivers of burnout include excessive quantity of work (nights, weekends, and acuity surges); excessive menial tasks; incivility, poor communication, and challenges to team success; and frequent moral distress and end-of-life issues.

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Background: Working patterns have changed dramatically due to COVID-19, with many workers now spending at least a portion of their working week at home. The office environment was already associated with high levels of sedentary behavior, and there is emerging evidence that working at home further elevates these levels. The aim of this rapid review (PROSPERO CRD42021278539) was to build on existing evidence to identify what works to reduce sedentary behavior in an office environment, and consider whether these could be transferable to support those working at home.

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Background: Low volume-high intensity interval exercise (LV-HIIE) has gained interest, due to its efficiency in invoking health and fitness benefits. However, little research has studied "at home" feasibility or effects of LV-HIIE. This study aimed to demonstrate that remote "at-home" LV-HIIE research is possible and to investigate if affective responses to the LV-HIIE protocol, subsequent intentions, and self-efficacy to repeat were related to self-reported tolerance of the intensity of exercise.

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Introduction: Fractures of the odontoid process frequently result from low impact falls in frail or older adults. These are increasing in incidence and importance as the population ages. In the UK, odontoid fractures in older adults are usually managed in hard collars to immobilise the fracture and promote bony healing.

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