Involvement of Patients and Medical Professionals in the Assessment of Relative Effectiveness: A Need for Closer Cooperation

ObjectivesInvolvement of patients and medical professionals in assessment of relative effectiveness (relative effectiveness assessment) contributes to an efficient and effective health technology assessment (HTA) process and supports acceptance and implementation of the outcome. This study aimed to analyze stakeholder involvement in assessing relative effectiveness and how the parties involved value this collaboration.MethodsThis is a document analysis of all drug assessments completed in 2019 (20) by the public HTA agency of The Netherlands, enriched with semistructured interviews with employees of the HTA agency (18) and representatives of patient (5) and medical (11) associations involved in these assessments. Data were analyzed, coded, and categorized.ResultsIn almost half of the assessments, there was no coordination with the medical associations at the start of the relative effectiveness assessment and no patient associations involved in this phase. During the assessment procedure, patient and medical associations were always asked to comment on the draft report. Nevertheless, the strict 5-day deadline that the HTA agency uses as a response period often hampered a proper response and involvement. According to interviewees of the HTA agency, this leads to a great diversity in the substantive quality of their input. Patient and medical associations indicated that the HTA agency relies too much on “paper knowledge,” which leads to a (perceived) lack of alignment with clinical practice.ConclusionsThe limited involvement results in a lack of coordination and mutual trust. Optimizing involvement of patients and medical professionals in HTA practice requires effort from all parties involved. Procedural adjustments and better coordination, especially at the start of the assessment, would probably improve cooperation.     

杨宇飞教授舌癌的中医康复治疗与验案两则＊

舌癌患者手术及放化疗后会出现构音障碍、吞咽困难、口腔黏膜炎、口干、营养不良等并发症，使患者生存质量下降，甚至导致肿瘤的复发转移，影响生存期，单一方法往往顾此失彼。依托于中国中医科学院西苑医院肿瘤康复基地，杨宇飞教授在国内外调研考察基础上，结合中国国情，构建了一种“门诊多学科肿瘤康复模式”，在舌癌康复方面，以患者为中心，以中医肿瘤内科为主导，多学科共同参与，结合康复科、口腔科、营养科、药剂科等各科优势，形成全程个体化规范序贯康复方案，对患者及早进行康复，在放疗前进行预防性干预尤其重要，使患者能够快速缓解手术和放疗的不良反应，患者获益明显。现取两个典型案例总结其舌癌多学科康复的经验，以期为舌癌的康复提供借鉴。     

轴向载荷分担比指导外固定器动力化的临床应用

目的:探讨轴向载荷分担比用于胫腓骨骨干骨折术后指导外固定器轴向动力化促进骨折愈合的有效性。方法:选取外固定器治疗的胫腓骨骨干骨折患者100例,随机分为观察组50例,对照组50例。观察组在轴向载荷分担比指导下行外固定器轴向动力化治疗,对照组未行动力化,随访比较两组的治疗效果。结果:所有患者均获随访,随访时间4～12个月,平均6.5个月,治疗期间所有患者均未出现外固定针断裂、松动及再骨折等并发症,观察组1例骨搬移患者轴向载荷分担比5%,X线片显示骨折断端有连续性骨痂通过,拆除外固定器连接杆后发生移位,恢复原数值行轴向加压再动力化,现已愈合。观察组除外1例骨搬移患者,其余49例患者外固定器固定时间为[(24.4±4.7)周],骨折临床愈合时间为[(22.4±4.7)周],与对照组50例患者外固定器固定时间[(29.3±5.6)周],骨折临床愈合时间[(27.3±5.6)周]比较,显著减少(P0.05)。结论:外固定器轴向载荷分担比指导胫腓骨骨干骨折外固定术后轴向动力化可以加速骨折愈合,但不适合骨搬移截骨端已硬化患者。     

The formation of physician patient sharing networks in medicare: Exploring the effect of hospital affiliation

This study explores the forces that drive the formation of physician patient sharing networks. In particular, I examine the degree to which hospital affiliation drives physicians' sharing of Medicare patients. Using a revealed preference framework where observed network links are taken to be pairwise stable, I estimate the physicians' pair‐specific values using a tetrad maximum score estimator that is robust to the presence of unobserved physician specific characteristics. I also control for a number of potentially confounding patient sharing channels, such as (a) common physician group or hospital system affiliation, (b) physician homophily, (c) knowledge complementarity, (d) patient side considerations related to both geographic proximity and insurance network participation, and (e) spillover from other collaborations. Focusing on the Chicago hospital referral region, I find that shared hospital affiliation accounts for 36.5% of the average pair‐specific utility from a link. Implications for reducing care fragmentation are discussed.     

行为决策的评估理论构建研究

本研究构建了行为决策的评估理论,揭示人类行为发生、发展和改变的规律,为开展健康相关行为干预提供科学依据。本理论认为,所有的人类行为都是个体为了生存和发展,在对内、外部刺激进行评估后所做出的主动反应。个体以基因遗传、自我图式、群体规范和直觉为参照系,对内、外部刺激的重要性、安全性威胁和获益性,以及个体所拥有的行为资源进行感觉性评估和社会性评估,用以做出生理性反应和社会性行为决策,并通过感受器、中枢神经和效应器,形成“刺激-评估-行为决策-行为”循环。开展行为干预时,应通过与个体进行讨论和分析,帮助其发现和确认刺激的重要性、安全性、获益性及其拥有的行为资源。     

A prognostic signature based on immune-related genes for cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma

Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) is the fourth commonest female malignancy worldwide. CESC progresses in immune-microenvironment mainly composed of infiltrating immune and stromal cells. Here, we performed an integrated analysis incorporating the expression profiles from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and scores of immune and stromal cells calculated by Estimation of Stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm. A two-gene signature (CD1C and CD6 genes) was established to predict the prognosis of CESC. Based on this signature, patients were divided into the high- and low-risk groups, and this signature showed good prognostic performance according to the results of Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in train set and two validation sets. A nomogram was built for evaluating the clinical applicability of this signature. In addition, based on Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database, 2 hub genes showed negative correlations with tumor purity and positive correlations with infiltrating levels of immune filtrating cells. What’s more, we propose new treatment strategies for the two prognostic subtypes. Low- risk patients were found presenting with a higher level of immune checkpoint molecules and showing higher immunogenicity in immunophenoscore (IPS) analysis, which indicated a better response for immunotherapy. Meanwhile, estimated by Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database, the high-risk patients showed sensitive responses to five chemotherapy drugs. Finally, 10 candidate small-molecule drugs for CESC were defined. In summary, the CD1C-CD6 signature can accurately predict the prognosis of CESC.     

基于超效率DEA的天津市基本公共卫生配置资源效率研究

评价天津市各辖区基本公共卫生服务的资源配置效率,寻求有效的资源配置措施和方法,为进一步优化卫生资源配置提供参考依据。方法利用数据包络分析,对天津市16辖区的基本公共卫生服务进行效率评价。结果天津市基本公共卫生服务的资源配置效率整体不高,仅有5辖区达到了规模最优,多数区非DEA有效,且投入过剩与产出不足并存。结论为了达到最优的基本公共卫生服务效率,政府及各级基本公共卫生服务机构必须有效地完善、落实相关政策,优化资源投入结构,统筹地区差异,加强资源供给管理,提高资源利用效率。     

不同髋关节骨病晚期“异病同证”临证探析

"异病同证"是中医学对病证关系的特殊认识,起初是指不同的病具有相同的病机,从而表现出相同的证候,反映了中医学辨证论治的特点,在临证中主要体现在一方用于治疗多种病证。随着病证结合诊疗模式的形成,"异病同证"的含义也发生了变化,多指西医诊断不同疾病在其发展的过程中出现了相同的病机,从而表现出相同的证候。股骨头坏死、髋骨关节炎、类风湿性髋关节炎是发于髋关节骨骼、软骨及滑膜的3个不同解剖组织的3种疾病,在疾病的晚期出现了髋关节疼痛、活动受限的症状和腰膝酸软、行走无力的证候,无论是症状体征或中医证候,均表现出其相似性,体现着中医学"异病同证"的思想,本文从临床症状、影像变化、中医证候特点、病因病机及临床治疗方面探析3种疾病的趋同性和差异性,结果发现,除了临床症状体征相似,3种髋关节骨病晚期均见关节软骨退变、关节间隙狭窄、关节积液、滑膜增厚、骨质增生及软骨下骨囊变等相似X射线表现;肾藏精、主骨生髓,只有肾精充足,筋骨方可得以骨髓充养,肝藏血、主筋,肝血充足筋骨才能濡养,病至晚期,3种疾病与肝肾脏腑功能失常密切相关,肝肾不足、经脉筋骨失养是3种髋关节骨病晚期的共同病机,肝肾亏虚、腰膝酸软、行走无力亦成为其共同证候。不仅为"同证"提供理论依据,也有助于"异病"的鉴别诊断、提高髋关节疾病的诊断水平、丰富中医学"异病同证"的内涵。     

Evolución del gasto en servicios sanitarios antes y después del ictus isquémico: análisis de base poblacional

IntroductionDespite improved survival rates, stroke represents an increasing healthcare and socioeconomic burden. We describe the main characteristics of patients with ischaemic stroke and resource use and associated expenditure one year before and 3 years after stroke, using a population-based dataset.MethodsThe information technology systems of the Catalan Health Service were used to identify patients with ischaemic strokes occurring between January 2012 and December 2016. For each patient, information from one year before the stroke and up to 3 years thereafter was linked across databases. We describe annual and monthly resource use and healthcare expenditure per patient.ResultsWe identified 36,044 patients with ischaemic stroke (mean age, 74.7 ± 13.3 years). The survival rate at 3 years was 63%. Average expenditure per patient was €3,230 the year before stroke, €11,060 for year one after stroke, €4,104 for year 2, and €3,878 for year 3. The greatest determinants of cost in year one were hospitalisation (including initial hospitalisation), representing 45% of the difference in expenditure compared to the previous year, and convalescence and rehabilitation services, representing 33% of this difference. After year one, the increase in expenditure was mainly determined by additional hospital admissions and drug treatment.ConclusionAfter ischaemic stroke, healthcare expenditure increases primarily because of initial hospitalisation. After year one, the expenditure decreases but remains above baseline values. Information from population-based datasets is useful for improving the planning of stroke services.