Evidence-based medicine: going beyond improving care provider viewpoints, using and challenges upcoming

Use of a Clinical Audit System in Implementing Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines in Patients With Peritonitis

Background

Sepsis is the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with peritonitis. "Surviving Sepsis Campaign" (SSC) is an international effort in reducing mortality based on evidence-based guidelines. This study aims to assess the impact of audit-based feedback in a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) format on improving the implementation of the SSC guidelines in patients with generalized peritonitis at our center.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted in four audit cycles in PDSA format. Multi-departmental inputs were taken to suggest modifications in practice. A questionnaire-based analysis of reasons for non-compliance was performed to find out the opinions and reasons for non-compliance. Morbidity, mortality, and the length of ICU and hospital stay among these patients were also analyzed.

Results

Baseline compliance with intravenous (IV) bolus administration, central venous pressure (CVP)-guided fluids, and inotropes support when indicated were 100%. Over the course of the three audit cycles, statistically significant improvement in compliance was noted for obtaining blood cultures before antibiotics, antibiotic administration within three hours of presentation, and serum lactate measurement. Overall bundle compliance improved from 9.2% to 64.7% by the end of audit cycle III.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that audit-based feedback is a dependable means of improving compliance with SSC guidelines. It brings about improvement by educating users, modifying their behavior through feedback, and enhances process improvement by identifying and correcting systemic deficiencies in the organization.

Comparing the effectiveness of revascularization interventions with medical therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Determining the effectiveness of cardiovascular interventions plays an important role in reimbursement decisions, health care pricing, and providing clinical guidance on the use of existing clinical technologies. This study aimed to review and analyze the effectiveness of revascularization interventions (CABG and PCI) compared to medical therapy in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Different databases were searched up to December 2017. The articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality of all studies was evaluated by Jadad score and relevant checklists. The I2 test was used to test heterogeneity. Also, to integrate the results of similar studies, meta-analysis was done using STATA software.

Results: A total of 18 studies were included. Based on the random effects model, the overall results of comparing the effectiveness of revascularization interventions with medical therapy were as follow: 38.94 [95% CI: 26.95-50.94, p<0.001, I² = 99.6%, p<0.001], [75.31, 95% CI: 74.06-76.57, p<0.001, I²= 88.8, p<0.001], and 75.76 [95% CI: 71.99-79.53, p<0.001, I2= 99.2, p<0.001] for cardiac mortality rate, quality of life, and 5-year survival, respectively. Also, in patient satisfaction index, revascularization interventions were shown to be more effective than medical therapy.

Conclusion: This study showed that revascularization interventions in all studied indices were more effective than medical therapy. Also, between revascularization interventions, PCI was more effective in cardiovascular mortality and 5-year survival than CABG in terms of quality of life. Moreover, CABG was more effective than PCI. In patient satisfaction index, the results of the 2 included studies were contradictory.

Evidence- based medicine performance among health care providers in Iranian hospitals: A nationwide survey

Background: Evidence- Based Medicine (EBM) refers to the ability and skill in the use and integration of the best evidence obtained from repeatable bias-free clinical trials with the patients' preferences and conditions. Considering this fact that few large-scale studies have been done in this field in Iran, the present study aimed at comprehensively reviewing the status of EBM performance among health care providers in Iranian hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2014 and 2015. Study participants consisted of 2800 health care providers (physicians, nurses, midwives, and paramedical personnel) in active hospitals in Iran. Data collection tool was a self-made questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was improved by comments of 10 experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using test-retest method (α= 0.85). Results: The results revealed that only 12.7% and 15.8% of the participants were highly familiar with EBM databases and terminologies, respectively. Most participants believed that EBM-related workshops and practical involvement in EBM-related programs and activities can have a more effect on the improvement of EBM performance. Most participants had a positive view of the EBM. About 47% of the participants reported that their EBM knowledge and skills is high. Among the demographic variables, there were only significant relationships between work experience and attitude, gender and attitudes, and between knowledge and skills (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that holding EBM-related workshops and practical participation in EBP-related programs and activities as well as improving facilities such as manpower, equipment, and access can have a significant effect on improving EBM- related activities.

Cost-effectiveness of Eplerenone in treatment of cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review

Background: No clear evidence is available on the cost-effectiveness of eplerenone in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the present study aimed at systematically reviewing studies that have investigated this issue.

Methods: This systematic review study was conducted in 2016. The required information were collected using key Mesh words from the following databases: Google scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, MagIran, SID, Scopus, and handsearching journals and the references of the selected articles. The quality of the selected articles was assessed by the Drummond's checklist.

Results: Nine articles were included from 296 articles found in the literature review. The selected studies have been conducted in 8 countries (The United States, Britain, Australia, Switzerland, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Canada). In general, the costeffectiveness of eplerenone was investigated in 31 757 patients with cardiovascular diseases. The average of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in studies with nonmodeling approach was equal to 0.0908 in Framingham approach, 0.0595 in Saskatchewan approach, and 0.1309 in Worcester approach. The overall average cost of treating cardiovascular diseases with eplerenone was equal to US$6694 in 1 year. Cost per additional (QALY) was estimated to be US$9478. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was high in the United States compared to European countries. The Average quality of articles was estimated to be 7.4 from 10.

Conclusions: Based on the results of the studies reviewed in the present study, it seems that eplerenone has acceptable costeffectiveness compared with current treatments, placebo, and similar drugs.