Hydrocortisone Cream to Reduce Perineal Pain after Vaginal Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To determine if the use of hydrocortisone cream decreases perineal pain in the immediate postpartum period.

Study Design And Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT), crossover study design, with each participant serving as their own control. Participants received three different methods for perineal pain management at three sequential perineal pain treatments after birth: two topical creams (corticosteroid; placebo) and a control treatment (no cream application).

Surveillance of medical device-related hazards and adverse events in hospitalized patients.

Context: Although adverse drug events have been extensively evaluated by computer-based surveillance, medical device errors have no comparable surveillance techniques.

Objectives: To determine whether computer-based surveillance can reliably identify medical device-related hazards (no known harm to patient) and adverse medical device events (AMDEs; patient experienced harm) and to compare alternative methods of detection of device-related problems.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This descriptive study was conducted from January through September 2000 at a 520-bed tertiary teaching institution in the United States with experience in using computer tools to detect and prevent adverse drug events.