Article
Rheumatology
Anne Barton, Meghna Jani, Christine Bundy, James Bluett, Stephen McDonald, Brian Keevil, Faraz Dastagir, Melissa Aris, Ian Bruce, Pauline Ho, Eoghan McCarthy, Ellen Bruce, Ben Parker, Kimme Hyrich, Rachel Gorodkin
Summary: This study successfully reduced self-reported non-adherence to MTX from 24.7% to 7.4% through a series of interventions. Key factors for improvement included motivational interviewing and consistency in information delivery.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Oliver Marsden, Philippa Clery, Stuart D'Arch Smith, Kathleen Leedham-Green
Summary: The healthcare sector is a major contributor to climate change and there are international calls for more sustainable forms of clinical care. The UK healthcare sector has committed to net zero carbon by 2040 and sustainable healthcare is a mandated outcome for all UK graduating doctors. Bristol Medical School piloted the Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI) workshop and identified challenges in translating classroom learning into clinical practice. The study conducted focus groups to identify barriers and facilitators to practice among medical students, and generated educational recommendations based on the findings and behavior change theory. Students who applied their learning to the clinical workplace were internally motivated and self-determined, but needed time and opportunity to complete projects. Other students were cautious of disrupting established hierarchies and frustrated by institutional inertia, impacting their confidence in suggesting or achieving change. Conclusions include recommendations for wider curricular engagement with sustainable clinical practice, workplace enablement strategies, and structured opportunities for project work.
BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rebekah Sandhu, Tao-en (Henry) Lee
Summary: Protein-energy malnutrition is prevalent and costly in the inpatient rehabilitation population. Dietitians can use handgrip strength testing as a useful tool to identify and treat muscle function losses related to nutrition. This quality improvement project demonstrated that handgrip strength is feasible, clinically useful, and does not impact dietitian efficiency.
NUTRITION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Onkar Khullar, Aubriana Perez, Meredith Dixon, Jose N. Binongo, Manu S. Sancheti, Allan Pickens, Theresa Gillespie, Seth D. Force, Felix G. Fernandez
Summary: This study examined the success of routine patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessment in an academic-based thoracic surgery practice. Results showed that out of 9725 thoracic surgery office visits, PROs data were obtained in 6899 visits from 3551 patients. The overall questionnaire completion rate was 65.7%, with a significant decline in April 2020. Rating: 8 out of 10.
ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nitin Agarwal, Brett Youngerman, Wayel Kaakaji, Greg Smith, John M. McGregor, Ciaran J. Powers, Bharat Guthikonda, Richard Menger, Clemens M. Schirmer, Joshua M. Rosenow, Jeffrey Cozzens, Kristopher T. Kimmell
Summary: This review discusses the importance of clinical practice guidelines and quality improvement initiatives in enhancing healthcare quality and optimizing patient outcomes.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Allergy
W. Marty Blom, Liselotte M. van Dijk, Anouska Michelsen-Huisman, Geert F. Houben, Andre C. Knulst, Yvette F. M. Linders, Kitty C. M. Verhoeckx, Bregje C. Holleman, Leo R. Lentz
Summary: This study analyzed the communication of allergen information on food labels and provided recommendations for improvement based on communication theory. The researchers found a wide range of inconsistent ways in presenting allergen information on labels, emphasizing the need for standardization to enhance usability and ensure safe food purchases for allergic consumers.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Sheri Scott
Summary: It is evident that the climate crisis is at a critical level, prompting the need for change. Limited published research exists on the impact of clinical laboratory practices on healthcare's carbon footprint. To achieve environmental sustainability in clinical laboratories, targeted areas of focus are necessary. By employing educational principles such as Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the form of Sustainability in Quality Improvement (SusQI), quality improvement objectives can be met, benefiting both the patient and the environmental impact of the organization.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andrzej Pacana, Karolina Czerwinska
Summary: Nowadays, social and environmental issues play a crucial role in gaining competitive advantage alongside quality aspects. This study aims to develop a sustainable model for quality control that incorporates the concept of sustainable development. The proposed method analyzes the characteristic parameters of automated or semi-automated nondestructive methods for detecting aluminum casting nonconformities. By considering indicators from various dimensions of sustainable development, the model enables the ranking of detection methods in terms of their efficiency. The model's usefulness was confirmed in foundry companies, providing opportunities for improving energy, emissions, and cost optimization while maintaining desired quality levels. Further research will focus on expanding the model with additional indicators related to pure quality control and automated analysis implementation.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Cynthia K. Perry, Stephan Lindner, Jennifer Hall, Leif Solberg, Andrea Baron, Deborah J. Cohen
Summary: Practice ownership influenced the types of practices enrolled in EvidenceNOW, which in turn affected their participation in external facilitation. However, once enrolled, ownership did not significantly impact the level of participation. This suggests that facilitation approaches should be tailored based on ownership-related characteristics to improve engagement in quality improvement initiatives.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Johanna Blomgren, Michael B. Wells, Kerstin Erlandsson, Dinah Amongin, Lydia Kabiri, Helena Lindgren
Summary: This study explores the co-creation process of a midwife-led quality improvement intervention targeting evidence-based midwifery practices. The process involved identifying needs, context, and determinants, including knowledge and skills gaps, lack of shared goals, and limited resources, but also revealed clear relevance, compatibility, and mission alignment for a midwife-led quality improvement. The findings guided intervention strategies such as peer-assisted learning and stakeholder relationship building, providing a practical example for different maternity care settings.
GLOBAL HEALTH ACTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Loredana Stabili, Adriana Giangrande, Daniele Arduini, Jacopo Borghese, Antonella Petrocelli, Giorgio Alabiso, Patrizia Ricci, Rosa Anna Cavallo, Maria Immacolata Acquaviva, Marcella Narracci, Cataldo Pierri, Roberta Trani, Caterina Longo
Summary: Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a sustainable solution that combines various bioremediating organisms with fish farming to remove waste. The Remedia LIFE Project established an experimental IMTA plant in the Mediterranean Sea and achieved positive results in water quality improvement, reduction of microbial pollution, enhancement of trophic status, and increase in biodiversity. The project also highlighted the commercial potential of the additional biomass produced by bioremediating organisms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Bruce Leff, Christine Ritchie, Deborah G. Freeland, Namirah Jamshed, Anita Major, Naomi Gallopyn, Shanaz Sharieff, Jane Taylor, Jean A. Yudin, Orla C. Sheehan
Summary: This article describes the work of the National HBPC Learning Network, which aims to foster a continuous learning culture among home-based primary care practices and improve practice quality. Through recruitment, training, and feedback, LN practices have addressed and improved performance in multiple quality areas.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ruoxi Wu, Jun Wu, Jun Yin, Tingting Zhu, Bin Liu
Summary: This study found that PAA pre-oxidation can effectively reduce membrane fouling and improve water quality in ultrafiltration. After UV/PAA pretreatment, both the reversible and irreversible fouling resistance of the membrane decreased significantly, and the adherence potential of foulants to the membrane surface decreased.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hao Zhou, Duo Xia, Da Zhao, Yanhua Li, Pingbo Li, Bian Wu, Guanjun Gao, Qinglu Zhang, Gongwei Wang, Jinghua Xiao, Xianghua Li, Sibin Yu, Xingming Lian, Yuqing He
Summary: The study investigated the genetic basis of taste and eating quality in rice varieties, identifying the Wx gene as a major factor affecting these traits. A novel waxy allele, Wx(la), derived from intragenic recombination, was found to confer transparent appearance and good eating quality to rice. The study provides insights into the evolution of the Wx locus and suggests potential strategies for molecular breeding to improve rice quality.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Karen E. Joynt Maddox, E. John Orav, Jie Zheng, Arnold M. Epstein
Summary: The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement-Advanced program led to small reductions in Medicare payments among participating hospitals compared to control hospitals in its first year. There were no significant differences in other outcomes such as readmission, mortality, volume, or case mix.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
