Purpose: Symptom checkers (SCs) are virtual health aids to assist laypersons in self-assessing dental complaints. This study aimed to investigate the triage performance, clinical efficacy, and user-perceived utility of a prototype dental SC, Toothbuddy, in assessing unscheduled dental complaints in Singapore.
Methods: A pilot trial was conducted amongst all unscheduled dental attendees to military dental facilities in Singapore from January to May 2023.
Background And Aim: Thiopurines are recommended for maintenance of steroid-free remission (SFR) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thiopurine metabolite monitoring (MM) is increasingly used in the West but remains novel in Singapore, with limited information on its therapeutic and economic benefits. Hence, this study aims to investigate MM's clinical utility and its impact on healthcare resource utilization in Singaporean IBD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requiring infliximab frequently spend hours to attend treatment. Through quality improvement (QI) methodology, we aimed to shorten the time spent in the biologics infusion center using the accelerated infusion protocol and describe patient outcomes, safety, and associated cost savings.
Methods: From September 2018 through December 2019, eligible IBD patients receiving infliximab were recruited.
Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) are at risk of infections, many of which are preventable with vaccinations. We performed a systematic review on various aspects of vaccination in IBD.
Methods: We searched PubMed, and EMBASE databases, through 31 January 2021.
Background/aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with considerable impairment of patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Knowledge of factors that significantly affect IBD patients' HRQoL can contribute to better patient care. However, the HRQoL of IBD patients in non-Western countries are limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Multivariate models with a combination of variables can predict disease more accurately than a single variable employed alone. We developed a logistic regression model with a combination of variables and evaluated its ability to predict lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS The exhaled breath from 57 patients with lung cancer and 72 healthy controls without cancer was collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: The concept of a pharmacist/advanced practice nurse (APN)-led Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic (RMC) is a novel service in Singapore; we therefore conducted a questionnaire survey of patient experience.
Methods: Patients attending the RMC were provided with a set of questionnaires. As a substudy, a separate questionnaire was given to the rheumatologists and therapists conducting the RMC.
Point-of-care (POC) coagulometers are increasingly used by patients for self-monitoring of oral vitamin K antagonists therapy. We studied the feasibility of introducing POC international normalised ratio (INR) testing in place of standard laboratory assays in a hospital-based anticoagulation clinic with 250 active patients. The CoaguChek XS system was first validated in 253 INR samples and found to have a correlation of r = 0.
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