Publications by authors named "R Downey"
Objective: Evaluate an electronic platform for remote symptom monitoring to enhance postdischarge care in thoracic surgery using patient reporting of symptoms.
Summary Background Data: Owing to the increased use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, patients are spending a larger portion of their postoperative course at home. For patients undergoing complex operations, this represents an opportunity for early identification of abnormal symptoms at home before deterioration.
Age-related hearing loss is a risk factor for mobility problems and falls, possibly due to poor access to spatial sounds or the higher allocation of attention required to listen, thereby reducing cognitive resources to support mobility. Introducing stabilizing spatial sounds or reducing cognitive load through hearing aids could possibly improve balance performance; however, evidence is mixed. Few studies have evaluated the effects of hearing aids and spatial sounds on balance during realistic, multisensory, dual-tasking conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to create a prediction model to help decide between stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for treating early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Researchers analyzed data from 1,291 patients to develop the model using logistic regression, which produced three risk categories for patient treatment based on several health factors.
- The model showed strong predictive power and suggested that the decision on treatment modality does not significantly impact overall survival, highlighting the importance of assessing intermediate-risk patients through a multidisciplinary approach.
Article Synopsis
- The latest Commission on Cancer guidelines suggest specific lymph node sampling during lung cancer resections, but its effect on patient outcomes is not well-explored.
- In a study of 9,289 lung resections, 33% followed the guidelines, showing higher rates of nodal upstaging and complications, yet similar rates of adjuvant therapy and recurrence.
- While survival rates were similar in stages I and II, guideline adherence in stage III resulted in improved survival, indicating a need for further research on optimal lymph node sampling in diverse lung cancer cases.*