Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with or without ST-segment elevation, is a common presentation of coronary heart disease and affected more than 800,000 American adults in 2010. The overall goal of this dissertation was to examine decade-long trends in the extent of delay in the receipt of a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients hospitalized with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 30-day hospital readmission rates in patients having survived an AMI, and multiple decade long trends in 1-year post-hospital all-cause mortality, as well as factors associated with these outcomes, among patients hospitalized with AMI. Methods: Data from the Worcester Heart Attack Study, a population-based chronic disease surveillance project that has been carried out among adult residents of the Worcester, MA, metropolitan area, hospitalized with AMI on a biennial basis from 1975 through 2009 at all medical centers in central MA, were used for this dissertation. Results: Between 1999 and 2009, among patients hospitalized with STEMI, the likelihood of receiving a primary PCI within 90 minutes after emergency department arrival increased dramatically from 1999/2001 (11.6%) to 2007/2009 (70.5%). Between 1999 and 2009, among hospital survivors of an AMI, the 30-day all-cause rehospitalization rates decreased from 1999/2001 (20.3%) to 2007/2009 (16.7%). The overall cause-specific 30-day rehospitalization rates due to CVD, non-CVD, and AMI were 10.1%, 7.1%, and 1.8%, respectively, during the years under study. Between 1975 and 2009, among hospital survivors for a first AMI, the 1-year post-discharge mortality rates remained relatively stable from 1975-1984 (12.9%) to 1986-1997 (12.5%), but increased during 1999-2009 (15.8%). We identified several demographic, clinical and in-hospital treatment factors associated with an increased risk of failing to receive a primary PCI within 90 minutes after emergency department arrival, 30-day readmissions, and 1-year post-discharge mortality. Conclusions: Our findings can hopefully lead to the enhanced development of innovative, patient-centered, intervention strategies which can further improve the treatment and transitions of care, as well as short and long-term prognosis, of men and women hospitalized with AMI.

Background: Following passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, 30-day hospital readmissions have come under greater scrutiny. Excess readmissions for certain medical conditions and procedures now result in penalizations on all Medicare reimbursements. We examined the risk factors, outcomes, and costs of 30-day readmissions after colorectal surgery (CRS). Methods: The University HealthSystem Consortium database was queried for adults (≥ 18 years) who underwent colorectal resection for cancer, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or benign tumors between January 2008 and December 2011. Our outcomes of interest were readmission within 30-days of the patient’s index discharge, hospital readmission outcomes, and total direct hospital costs. Results: A total of 70,484 patients survived the index hospitalization after CRS during the years under study, 13.7% (9,632) of which were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. The strongest independent predictors of readmission were: LOS ≥4 days (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.32-1.57), stoma (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.45-1.61), and discharge to skilled nursing (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.49-1.76) or rehabilitation facility (OR 2.93; 95% CI 2.54-3.40). Of those readmitted, half occurred within 7 days of the index admission, 13% required ICU care, 6% had a reoperation, and 2% died during the readmission stay. The median combined total direct hospital cost was over twice as high ($26,917 v. $13,817) for readmitted than for nonreadmitted patients. Conclusions: Readmissions following colorectal resection occur frequently and incur a significant financial burden on the healthcare system. Future studies aimed at targeted interventions for high-risk patients may reduce readmissions and curb escalating healthcare costs. Categorization: Outcomes research; Cost analysis; Colon and Rectal Surgery

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure, yet little is known about the impact of this condition in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), especially from a more generalizable, community-based perspective. The primary objective of this study was to describe the in-hospital and post discharge mortality and treatment of patients hospitalized with ADHF according to COPD status. Methods: The study population consisted of patients hospitalized with ADHF at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts during 4 study years: 1995, 2000, 2002, and 2004. Results: Of the 9,748 patients hospitalized with ADHF during the years under study, 35.9% had a history of COPD. The average age of this population was 76.1 years, 43.9% were men, and 93.3% were white. At the time of hospital discharge, patients with COPD were less likely to have received evidence-based heart failure medications, including beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, than patients without COPD. Multivariable adjusted in-hospital death rates were similar for patients with and without COPD. However, among patients who survived to hospital discharge, patients with COPD had a significantly higher risk of dying at 1 (adjusted RR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06, 1.14) and 5-years (adjusted RR 1.40; 95% CI 1.28, 1.42) after hospital discharge than patients who were not previously diagnosed with COPD. Conclusions: COPD is a common co-morbidity in patients hospitalized with ADHF and is associated with a worse long-term prognosis. Further research is required to understand the complex interactions of these diseases and to ensure that patients with ADHF and COPD receive optimal treatment modalities.

Background: Overtreatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa) is a concern as many men die of other causes prior to experiencing a treatment benefit. This dissertation characterizes the need for assessing other cause mortality (OCM) risk in older men with PCa and informs efforts to identify patients most likely to benefit from definitive PCa treatment. Methods: Using the linked Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey database, 2,931 men (mean age=75) newly diagnosed with clinical stage T1a-T3a PCa from 1998-2009 were identified. Survival analysis methods were used to compare observed 10-year OCM by primary treatment type. Age and health factors predictive of primary treatment type were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. Predicted mortality estimates from Social Security life tables (recommended for life expectancy evaluation) and two OCM risk estimation tools were compared to observed rates. An improved OCM prediction model was developed fitting Fine and Gray competing risks models for 10-year OCM with age, sociodemographic, comorbidity, activities of daily living, and patient-reported health data as predictors. The tools’ ability to discriminate between patients who died and those who did not was evaluated with Harrell’s c-index (range 0.5-1), which also guided new model selection. Results: Fifty-four percent of older men with localized PCa underwent radiotherapy while 13% underwent prostatectomy. Twenty-three percent of those treated with radiotherapy and 12% of those undergoing prostatectomy experienced OCM within 10 years of treatment and thus were considered overtreated. Health factors indicative of a shorter life expectancy (increased comorbidity, worse physical health, smoking) had little to no association with radiotherapy assignment but were significantly related to reductions in the likelihood of undergoing prostatectomy. Social Security life tables overestimated mortality risk and discriminated poorly between men who died and those who did not over 10 years (c-index=0.59). Existing OCM risk estimation tools were less likely to overestimate OCM rates and had limited but improved discrimination (c-index=0.64). A risk model developed with self-reported age, Charlson comorbidity index score, overall health (excellent-good/fair/poor), smoking, and marital status predictors had improved discrimination (c-index=0.70). Conclusions: Overtreatment of older men with PCa is primarily attributable to radiotherapy and may be reduced by pretreatment assessment of mortality-related health factors. This dissertation provides a prognostic model which utilizes a set of five self-reported characteristics that better identify patients likely to die of OCM within 10 years of diagnosis than age and comorbidity-based assessments alone.

Since the Institute of Medicine highlighted the devastating impact of medical errors in their seminal report, “To Err is Human” (2000), efforts have been underway to improve patient safety. A portion of medical errors are due to medication errors, and a large portion of these can be attributed to inadequate laboratory monitoring. In this thesis, I attempt to address this small but important corner of this patient safety endeavor. Why are patients not getting their laboratory monitoring tests? Do they fail to complete them or do doctors not order the tests in the first place? Which prescribers and which patients are least likely to do what is needed for testing to happen and what interventions would be most promising? To address these questions, I conducted a systematic review of existing interventions. I then proceeded with three aims: 1) To identify reasons that patients give for missing monitoring tests; 2) To identify patient and provider factors associated with monitoring test ordering; and 3) To identify patient and provider factors associated with completion of ordered testing. To achieve these aims, I worked with patients and data at the Fallon Clinic. For aim 1, I conducted a qualitative analysis of their reasons for missing tests as well as reporting completion and ordering rates. For aims 2 and 3, I used electronic medical record data and conducted a regression with patient and provider characteristics as covariates to identify factors contributing to test ordering and completion. Interviews revealed that patients had few barriers to completion, with forgetting being the most common reason for missing a test. The quantitative studies showed that: older patients with more interactions with the health care system were more likely to have tests ordered and were more likely to complete them; providers who more frequently prescribe a drug were more likely to order testing for it; and drug-test combinations that were particularly dangerous, indicated by a black box warning, were more likely to have appropriate ordering, though for these combinations, primary care providers were less likely to order tests appropriately, and patients were less likely to complete tests. Taken together, my work can inform future interventions in laboratory monitoring and patient safety.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has promoted implementing a RRS to provide safer care for hospitalized patients. Additionally, the Joint Commission made implementing a RRS a 2008 National Patient Safety Goal. Although mandated, the evidence to support the effectiveness of a RRS to reduce cardiac arrests on hospital medical or surgical floors and un-anticipated ICU transfers remains inconclusive, partly because of weak study designs and partly due to a failure of published studies to report all critical aspects of their intervention. This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness and the implementation of a RRS on the two campuses of the UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMMMC). The first study presented was an attempt to identify the preventability and timeliness of floor to ICU transfers. This was done using 3 chief residents who reviewed 100 randomly selected medical records. Using Cohen’s kappa to assess the inter-rater reliability it was determined that 13% of the cases could have possibly been preventable with earlier intervention. The second study was an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Rapid Response System. Outcomes were cardiac arrests, code calls and floor to ICU admissions. There were two study periods 24 months before the intervention and 24 months after. A Spline regression model was used to compare the two time periods. Though there was a consistent downward trend over all 4 years there were no statistically significant changes in the cardiac arrests and ICU transfers when comparing the before and after periods. There was a significant reduction in code calls to the floors on the University campus. The third study was a modified process evaluation of the Rapid Response intervention that will assess fidelity of RRS implementation, the proportion of the intended patient population that is reached by the RRS, the overall number of RRS calls implemented (dose delivered) and the perceptions of the hospital staff affected by the RRS with respect to acceptability and satisfaction with the RRS and barriers to utilization. The process evaluation showed that that the Rapid Response System was for the most part being used as it was designed, though the nurses were not using the specific triggers as a deciding factor in making the call. Staff satisfaction with the intervention was very high. Overall these studies demonstrated the difficulty in clearly defining outcomes and data collection in a large hospital system. Additionally the importance of different study designs and analysis methods are discussed.

The aim of this thesis is to prepare a basic overview of the issue of prevention risks of occupational accidents at construction sites. Prevention is the only effective tool to prevent risks of occupational accidents and occupational diseases (health hazards). The thesis describes the procedures and methods to search, evaluation and risk prevention in the workplace and basic description of the standard ČSN OHSAS 18001. At the same time, there are also compared the results of statistical analysis of occupational accidents for the years 2006 to 2010 in the Czech Republic and selected construction company.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cross-cultural validity of international Dutch-English comparisons when using the Dutch Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), and the intra-test reliability and construct validity of the Dutch RMI. METHODS: Cross-cultural validity was studied in a combined data-set of Dutch and English patients undergoing rehabilitation after stroke, who were assessed with the Dutch version of the RMI and the original English RMI, respectively. Mokken scale analysis was used to investigate unidimensionality, monotone homogeneity model fit, and differential item functioning between the Dutch and the English RMI. Intra-test reliability and construct validity were studied in the Dutch patients by calculating the reliability coefficient and correlating the Dutch RMI and the Dutch Barthel Index. RESULTS: The RMI was completed for Dutch (n = 200) and English (n = 420) patients after stroke. The unidimensionality and monotone homogeneity model fit of the RMI were excellent: combined Dutch-English data-set (coefficient H = 0.91); Dutch data-set (coefficient H = 0.93); English data-set (coefficient H = 0.89). No differential item functioning was found between the Dutch and the English RMI. The intra-test reliability of the Dutch RMI was excellent (coefficient rho = 0.97). In a sub-sample of patients (n = 91), the Dutch RMI correlated strongly with the Dutch Barthel Index (Spearman's correlation coefficient rho = 0.84). CONCLUSION: The Dutch RMI allows valid international Dutch-English comparisons, and has excellent intra-test reliability and construct validity.

No description available.

INTRODUÇÃO: O câncer de pulmão é a terceira neoplasia maligna mais frequentemente diagnosticada em todo o mundo e a primeira em termos de mortalidade. O tratamento cirúrgico é a melhor abordagem nos estágios iniciais, contudo, está associado a morbimortalidade considerável. Para que o impacto do tratamento cirúrgico na diminuição global da mortalidade pelo câncer de pulmão no estado de São Paulo seja maior, precisamos conhecer os indicadores de qualidade das instituições envolvidas no tratamento desta neoplasia, através da criação de uma base de dados abrangente, confiável e transparente. Este estudo envolveu a implementação do Registro Paulista de Tratamento Cirúrgico do Câncer de Pulmão (RPCP). O desfecho principal foi a análise da qualidade dos dados capturados através de um sistema de auditoria direta e indireta, com o intuito de identificar as variáveis com menor padrão de qualidade. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, multicêntrico, com participação de 10 instituições no estado de São Paulo. A auditoria dos dados foi realizada de forma direta por revisão dos prontuários, para análise da taxa de discordância, Coeficiente Kappa e Intraclass correlation e de forma indireta para análise dos índices de completude, acurácia e consistência. RESULTADOS: Dos 536 casos disponíveis, 511 foram incluídos para a auditoria indireta. O índice total de completude por questionário variou de 0,82 a 1, sendo que as seguintes variáveis obtiveram valor individual abaixo da meta estabelecida de 0,8: ECOG, MRC, hematócrito, potássio, uréia, creatinina, DHL, albumina, cálcio e FA, tempo de cirurgia e data da recidiva. O índice total de acurácia e consistência foi 0,99 e 0,96, respectivamente. Para auditoria direta foram randomizados 100 casos entre os 511 iniciais, sendo 4 excluídos, restando 96 para análise. As variáveis com maiores taxas de discordância ( > 20%), estavam no questionário de avaliação pré-operatória (ECOG, MRC, carga tabágica, DPOC, PFP, peso, altura, IMC e exames laboratoriais). Variáveis relacionadas ao estadiamento (tamanho da neoplasia, invasão de estruturas adjacentes, status linfonodal não invasivo) e dados cirúrgicos (tempo de cirurgia) também apresentaram taxas > 20%. CONCLUSÕES: A auditoria indireta dos dados mostrou índices de completude, acurácia e consistência aceitáveis para o padrão estabelecido e comparáveis a bancos de dados internacionais. Por outro lado, a auditoria direta, revelou algumas variáveis com altos índices de discordância, dados que serão analisados futuramente para aprimoramento do RPCP e que poderão contribuir para o desenvolvimento de outras bases de dados semelhantes / BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the third malignant neoplasm most frequently diagnosed worldwide and the first in terms of mortality. Surgical treatment is the best approach in the initial stages; however, it\'s associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. In order to improve the surgical treatment global impact on lung cancer mortality in the state of Sao Paulo, we need to know the quality indicators of the institutions involved in the treatment of this neoplasm through the creation of a extensive, reliable and transparent database. The study involved the implementation of the Paulista Lung Cancer Registry (PLCR). The main outcome was the quality analysis of the data captured through a direct and indirect audit system, in order to identify the variables with the lowest quality standard. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter study with the participation of 10 institutions in the state of São Paulo. The data audit was performed directly, through the revision of medical registries, with the intention to analyze the discordance rate; and indirectly, with the intention to analyze the completeness, accuracy and consistency indexes. RESULTS: Of the 536 cases available, 511 were included for the indirect audit. The total completeness index per questionnaire ranged from 0.82 to 1, and the following variables had a in individual value bellow the established target of 0,8: ECOG, MRC, hematocrit, potassium, urea, creatinine, LDH, albumin, calcium, AF, surgical time, date of recurrence. The total accuracy and consistency index was 0.99 and 0.96, respectively. For direct audit, 100 cases were randomized among the initial 511, of which 4 were excluded, remaining 96 for analysis. The variables with the highest discordance rates ( > 20%) were in the preoperative evaluation questionnaire (ECOG, MRC, smoking rate, COPD, PFT, weight, high, BMI and lab tests). Variables related to staging (size of neoplasm, invasion of adjacent structures, noninvasive lymph node status) and surgical data (time of surgery) also presented rates > 20%. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the established standards, the Indirect audit showed acceptable completeness, accuracy and consistency indices, comparable to international databases. On the other hand, the direct audit revealed some variables with high discordance indices, data that will be analyzed in the future for the improvement of the PLCR and that may contribute to the development of other similar databases