Chronic Breathlessness Explanations and Research Priorities: Findings From an International Delphi Survey.

Context: Explanations provided by health professionals may underpin helpful or harmful symptom beliefs and expectations of people living with chronic breathlessness.

Objectives: This study sought perspectives from health professionals with clinical/research expertise in chronic breathlessness on priority issues in chronic breathlessness explanations and research.

Methods: Authors (n = 74) of publications specific to chronic breathlessness were invited to a three-round Delphi survey.

Exercise Training in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Are Cardiovascular Comorbidities and Outcomes Taken into Account?-A Systematic Review.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and interstitial lung diseases (ILD) frequently suffer from cardiovascular comorbidities (CVC). Exercise training is a cornerstone intervention for the management of these conditions, however recommendations on tailoring programmes to patients suffering from respiratory diseases and CVC are scarce. This systematic review aimed to identify the eligibility criteria used to select patients with COPD, asthma or ILD and CVC to exercise programmes; assess the impact of exercise on cardiovascular outcomes; and identify how exercise programmes were tailored to CVC.

"Let's Boogie": FEASIBILITY OF A DANCE INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE.

Purpose: Exercise is an effective treatment for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, lack of adherence to exercise programs is a common barrier. Innovative approaches to exercise are needed to increase patient engagement and adherence. Dance has been shown to benefit populations with neurological conditions.

Safety and effectiveness of low-dose amikacin in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease treated in Toronto, Canada.

Background: Treatment guidelines suggest either a low-dose or high-dose approach when prescribing amikacin for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM PD), but data supporting the low-dose approach are limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety and efficacy of the use of a low-dose of intravenous amikacin in a cohort of patients with NTM PD.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with NTM PD who received amikacin at our institution between July 1, 2003 and February 28, 2017.

Improving access to community-based pulmonary rehabilitation: 3R protocol for real-world settings with cost-benefit analysis.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has demonstrated patients' physiological and psychosocial improvements, symptoms reduction and health-economic benefits whilst enhances the ability of the whole family to adjust to illness. However, PR remains highly inaccessible due to lack of awareness of its benefits, poor referral and availability mostly in hospitals. Novel models of PR delivery are needed to enhance its implementation while maintaining cost-efficiency.

A systematic review of estimates of the minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptom state of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index in patients who underwent total hip and total knee replacement.

Objective: To systematically review the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) estimates in pain and function measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) in patients who underwent primary total knee replacement (TKR) and primary total hip replacement (THR).

Design: The study was carried out following PRISMA recommendations. We searched five electronic databases.

Getting on with life: a qualitative evaluation of an independent living skills education program for people with physical disabilities.

The Independent Living Movement seeks to promote independence for people living with disabilities by encouraging them to direct their own care. Programs exist that strive to teach individuals the necessary skills to live independently; however, these programs have not been widely researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore alumni perceptions of a long-duration, immersive, independent living program and its influence on community independent living.

Balance Measures Over 12 Months in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: To describe balance for 12 mo in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Individuals with COPD completed the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BEST), and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale before pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), post-PR and at 3, 6, and 12 mo. If an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) occurred, balance measures were repeated after 7 d and 1 mo.

Trends in incidence, prevalence, and mortality of neuromuscular disease in Ontario, Canada: A population-based retrospective cohort study (2003-2014).

Background: Population trends of disease prevalence and incidence over time measure burden of disease and inform healthcare planning. Neuromuscular disorders (NMD) affect muscle and nerve function with varying degrees of severity and disease progression.

Objective: Using health administrative databases we described trends in incidence, prevalence, and mortality of adults and children with NMD.

Change in Function Over Inpatient Rehabilitation After Hypoxic Ischemic Brain Injury: A Population-Wide Cohort Study.

Objective: To estimate change in motor, cognitive, and overall functional performance during inpatient rehabilitation (IR) and to identify potential determinants of these outcomes among patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI).

Design: Population-based retrospective cohort study using Ontario's health administrative data.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation.

Balance assessment in people with COPD: An evidence-based guide.

Balance problems and an increased rate and risk of falls are common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although a balance assessment is now recommended by clinical practice guidelines for pulmonary rehabilitation, specific tests have yet to be suggested. The purpose of this review is to provide an evidence-based synthesis of balance measurement in older adults and in people with COPD, to guide practice in this area.

Effect of Early Mobility as a Physiotherapy Treatment for Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We conducted a systematic review of the effect of early mobility on length of stay (LOS), mortality, and clinical outcomes as a treatment for adults hospitalized with pneumonia. An electronic search of four databases was conducted. Inclusion criteria were (1) acute medical condition of pneumonia in adults and (2) early mobility intervention.

Impact of Passive Leg Cycling in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review.

Passive leg cycling is an important clinical tool available for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI). Passive cycling can be used to derive exercise-related benefits in patients with poor motor control. There have been a number of studies examining the effects of passive cycling on a variety of outcomes.

Development of a Web-Based Peer Support Program for Family Caregivers of Ventilator-Assisted Individuals Living in the Community: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Across Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States, the prevalence of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) prevalence is 6.6-12.9 per 100,000.

Radiologic types of Mycobacterium xenopi pulmonary disease: different patients with similar short-term outcomes.

Mycobacterium xenopi pulmonary disease (Mxe-PD) is common among nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in Europe and Canada. Associations between radiological pattern and clinical features and outcomes are inadequately studied in Mxe-PD. We sought to investigate clinical characteristics and outcomes according to the dominant radiological pattern among patients with Mxe-PD.

Readmission following hypoxic ischemic brain injury: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Readmission to acute care is common and is associated with indicators of suboptimal care and health system inefficiencies. The objective of this study was to identify independent determinants of readmission following survival of hypoxic ischemic brain injury.

Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using Ontario's administrative health data.

Meaningful Change Estimates for the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument in Older Adults.

Background: The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) is a well-validated and frequently used patient-reported outcome for older adults. The aim of this study was to estimate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the LLFDI-Function Component (LLFDI-FC) and its subscales among community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the Boston Rehabilitative Impairment Study of the Elderly, a longitudinal cohort study of older adults with mobility limitations residing in the community.

A theory-based multi-component intervention to increase reactive balance measurement by physiotherapists in three rehabilitation hospitals: an uncontrolled single group study.

Background: Most implementation interventions in rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, have used passive, non-theoretical approaches without demonstrated effectiveness. The goal of this study was to improve an important domain of physiotherapy practice - reactive balance measurement - with a targeted theory-based multi-component intervention developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework. The primary objective was to determine documented reactive balance measure use in a 12-month baseline, during, and for three months post- intervention.

Treatment correlates of successful outcomes in pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Treatment outcomes for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis remain poor. We aimed to estimate the association of treatment success and death with the use of individual drugs, and the optimal number and duration of treatment with those drugs in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Methods: In this individual patient data meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify potentially eligible observational and experimental studies published between Jan 1, 2009, and April 30, 2016.

Adjuvant lung resection in the management of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection: A retrospective matched cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Lung resection in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is considered when medical therapy alone fails to provide long term control. Data regarding comparative and long-term outcomes are limited. We aimed to review indications and outcomes of adjuvant lung resection for NTM-PD compared with controls.

Interprofessional empathy: A four-stage model for a new understanding of teamwork.

Collaboration in healthcare implies that health providers share responsibility and partner with each other in order to provide comprehensive patient care. A review of the empirical literature on teamwork in healthcare settings suggests that the relationships between service providers remain conflictual and variable in commitment to interprofessional collaboration. Recently, social psychologists have given considerable attention to the possibility that empathy could be used to improve intergroup attitudes and relations.

Patterns of healthcare utilisation for respiratory complications of adults with neuromuscular disease: a population study.

Our objective was to quantify health service utilisation including monitoring and treatment of respiratory complications for adults with neuromuscular disease (NMD), identifying practice variation and adherence to guideline recommendations at a population level.We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort study (2003-2015) of adults with NMD using hospital diagnostic and health insurance billing codes within administrative health databases.We identified 185 586 adults with NMD.

Respiratory health service utilization of children with neuromuscular disease.

Objectives: To quantify health service utilization including assessment, monitoring, and treatment of respiratory complications of children with neuromuscular disease (NMD), identifying practice variation and adherence to guideline recommendations at a population level.

Methods: North American population-based cohort study (2003-2015) of children with NMD using hospital diagnostic and physician billing codes within health administrative databases.

Results: We identified 18 163 children with NMD.

Management of drug-resistant tuberculosis in special sub-populations including those with HIV co-infection, pregnancy, diabetes, organ-specific dysfunction, and in the critically ill.

Tuberculosis remains a major problem globally, and is the leading cause of death from an infectious agent. Drug-resistant tuberculosis threatens to marginalise the substantial gains that have recently been made in the fight against tuberculosis. Drug-resistant TB has significant associated morbidity and a high mortality, with only half of all multidrug-resistant TB patients achieving a successful treatment outcome.

Return to work after occupational and non-occupational lower extremity amputation.

Background: Factors impacting on return to work (RTW) after lower extremity amputation are important in occupational rehabilitation.

Aims: Our objective was to compare RTW in patients who had traumatic work-related amputation with amputations from other causes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with participants employed at the time of amputation and at least 1 year post-discharge from amputee rehabilitation.