Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Social robots have been used in other countries for improvement of quality of life for persons with dementia.

Method: LOVOT was introduced as an adjunct to regular therapy sessions (either Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy) and as an interactive companion during the patient's inpatient stay. The project was carried out over a span of 6 weeks (weekdays) for a maximum of 10-15 mins on an ad-hoc basis.

Association of Novel Clinical and Behavioural Markers with HbA1c Improvement: A Latent Class Analysis of 912 Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: The escalating prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) overwhelms healthcare systems. Lifestyle interventions enhancing patient monitoring and adherence vary in efficacy, emphasizing the need to understand differential response across patient subgroups. This study aimed to segment patients with T2DM into distinct latent classes and identify characteristics associated with optimal 12-month glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction.

Delphi definition of general practice/family medicine specialty for a post-COVID world: in-person and remote care delivery.

Introduction: The evolving landscape of general practice (GP)/family medicine (FM) in the post-COVID-19 era, focussing on integrating telemedicine and remote consultations requires a new definition for this specialty. Hence, a broader consensus-based definition of post-COVID-19 GP/FM is warranted.

Methods: This study involved a modified electronic Delphi technique involving 27 specialists working in primary care recruited via convenient and snowball sampling.

Optimal treatment strategies for gallbladder disease in pregnancy: a systematic review with dual network meta-analyses.

Background: This study sought to determine the optimal treatment strategy and timing for cholecystectomy in managing gallbladder diseases during pregnancy. It evaluated the effectiveness of conservative management (CM), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and open cholecystectomy (OC) in pregnancy and compared cholecystectomy outcomes across three trimesters.

Methods: Studies comparing CM, LC, and OC or evaluating cholecystectomy outcomes across trimesters were included in a literature search until February 2024.

Advancing social prescribing in Singapore: an update on progress.

In 2019, SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) introduced Social Prescribing (SP) program to support patients in transitioning back to the community after hospitalization, which involves personalized care plans developed by Wellbeing Coordinators (WBCs) to connect patients with relevant community resources. With the recent launch of the nation-wide 'Healthier SG' initiative, a population health strategy in Singapore aimed at enabling individuals to prevent and manage chronic diseases, it is important to provide an update on our program's recent developments. This includes creating a living asset map, updating outcome assessment tools, organizing training sessions to enhance the skills SP practitioners, and establishing the Singapore Community of Practice in Social Prescribing (SCOMP).

Reducing anxiety and enhancing satisfaction in thyroid patients with DietLens application during radioactive iodine therapy: A quasi-experimental study.

Hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer significantly impact health, and often require Radioactive Iodine (RAI) therapy. Anxiety is common in patients undergoing RAI, particularly related to dietary compliance. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the mobile health application, DietLens in reducing anxiety and increasing satisfaction in patients preparing for RAI therapy, focusing on low-iodine diet (LID).

A retrospective cohort study of intra-corporeal versus extra-corporeal anastomosis for right hemicolectomy with cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: We aimed to compare outcomes and cost effectiveness of extra-corporeal anastomosis (ECA) versus intra-corporeal anastomosis (ICA) for laparoscopic right hemicolectomy using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Programme data.

Methods: Patients who underwent elective laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer from January 2018 to December 2022 were identified. Non-cancer diagnoses, emergency procedures or synchronous resection of other organs were excluded.

Keeping patients safe through medication review and management in the community.

Background: There are numerous publications on inpatient medication errors. However, little focus is given to medication errors that occur at home.

Aims: To describe and analyse the types of medication errors among community-dwelling patients following their discharge from an acute care hospital in Singapore.

Comparative cost-effectiveness of open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver resection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of open, laparoscopic, and robotic liver resection.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were conducted. Surface under cumulative ranking area values, mean difference, odds ratio, and 95% credible intervals were calculated for all outcomes.

Psychological Resilience in Post-acute Care: A Cross-Sectional Study of Health Care Workers in Singapore Community Hospitals.

Objectives: Psychological resilience is a crucial component of mental health and well-being for health care workers. It is positively linked to compassion satisfaction and inversely associated with burnout. The current literature on health care worker resilience has mainly focused on primary care and tertiary hospitals, but there is a lack of studies in post-acute and transitional care settings.

Evaluating the economic efficiency of open, laparoscopic, and robotic distal pancreatectomy: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of open (ODP), laparoscopic (LDP), and robotic (RDP) distal pancreatectomy (DP).

Methods: Studies reporting the costs of DP were included in a literature search until August 2023. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) values, mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were calculated for outcomes of interest.

Evaluation of the impact of prospective payment systems on cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective payment systems (PPSs) on cholecystectomy. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, examining studies published until December 2023. The review process focused on identifying research across major databases that reported critical outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), mortality, complications, admissions, readmissions, and costs following PPS for cholecystectomy.

Evaluation of the American College of Surgeons risk calculator in hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer in a Southeast Asian population.

Purpose: This study evaluated the accuracy of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) calculator in predicting outcomes after hepatectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis in a Southeast Asian population.

Methods: Predicted and actual outcomes were compared for 166 patients undergoing hepatectomy for CRC liver metastasis identified between 2017 and 2022, using receiver operating characteristic curves with area under the curve (AUC) and Brier score.

Results: The ACS-NSQIP calculator accurately predicted most postoperative complications (AUC > 0.

Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia among older adults in a post-acute hospital in Singapore.

Background: Sarcopenia is common in older adults worldwide, but its prevalence varies widely owing to differences in diagnostic criteria, population sampled, and care setting. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients aged 65 and above admitted to a post-acute hospital in Singapore.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 400 patients recruited from a community hospital in Singapore.

Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and other large language models for social determinants of health: Current state and future directions.

This perspective highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) in patient health outcomes and health inequity, a global problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide a broad discussion on current developments in digital health and artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs), as transformative tools in addressing SDOH factors, offering new capabilities for disease surveillance and patient care. Simultaneously, we bring attention to challenges, such as data standardization, infrastructure limitations, digital literacy, and algorithmic bias, that could hinder equitable access to AI benefits.

Predictive modeling algorithms for liver metastasis in colorectal cancer: A systematic review of the current literature.

This study aims to assess the quality and performance of predictive models for colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). A systematic review was performed to identify relevant studies from various databases. Studies that described or validated predictive models for CRCLM were included.

The impact of hospital volume on liver resection: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Background: This study aims to compare the outcomes of high-volume, medium-volume, and low-volume hospitals performing hepatic resections using a network meta-analysis.

Methods: A literature search until June 2023 was conducted across major databases to identify studies comparing outcomes in high-volume, medium-volume, and low-volume hospitals for liver resection. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area values, odds ratio, and mean difference with 95% credible intervals were reported for postoperative mortality, failure-to-rescue, morbidity, length of stay, and hospital costs.

A reduction in hospital length of stay reduces costs for colorectal surgery: an economic evaluation of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program in Singapore.

Purpose: In 2017, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) was introduced in the Department of Colorectal Surgery at Singapore General Hospital as a pilot quality improvement initiative. This study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of NSQIP by evaluating its effects on surgical outcomes, length of stay (LOS), and costs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing colorectal surgery (2017-2020).

Evaluating the association of COVID-19 restrictions on discharge planning and post-discharge outcomes in the community hospital and Singapore regional health system.

Objectives: The COVID-19 is a global health issue with widespread impact around the world, and many countries initiated lockdowns as part of their preventive measures. We aim to quantify the duration of delay in discharge to community from Community Hospitals, as well as quantify adverse patient outcomes post discharge pre and during lockdown period.

Design And Methods: We conducted a before-after study comparing the length of stay in Community Hospitals, unscheduled readmissions or Emergency Department attendance, patients' quality of life using EQ5D-5l, number and severity of falls, in patients admitted and discharged before and during lockdown period.

Role of Caregivers in Remote Management of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review of Literature.

Background: With the growing use of remote monitoring technologies in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), caregivers are becoming important resources that can be tapped into to improve patient care.

Objective: This review aims to summarize the role of caregivers in the remote monitoring of patients with T2DM.

Methods: We performed a systematic review in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science up to 2022.

Primary health level screening for postpartum depression during well-child visits: Prevalence, associated risk factors, and breastfeeding.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a public health problem that is associated with detrimental effects on the wellbeing of the mother, child and family. Early detection for PPD at the primary health level provides an opportunity for intervention. We aim to examine: (1) the prevalence rate of PPD in the primary care population, (2) acceptance and attendance rates of intervention for women who screened positive for PPD, (3) sociodemographic and maternal risk factors of PPD, and (4) the impact of PPD on breastfeeding.