3 research outputs found
The Impact of Histotripsy Technique in Tumor Ablation - a Systematic Review
No full textAccording to a study conducted in the U.S., cancer affects more than 700,000 individuals worldwide each year, with 35,660 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. in 2015 alone. However, there are only a few standard treatment choices, which include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. This systematic review report on the impact of histotripsy in tumor ablation. In this paper, the effectiveness, safety and advantages of histotripsy compared to other methods are explored. A search was done on ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for articles published from the date of inception of the databases to 21st March 2023. Reference lists of identified studies were also screened. Non-duplicate articles were identified, and 12 articles were included for thematic analysis. During the analysis, different effects of histotripsy were categorized. This categorization led to the realization of the effectiveness, immunological effects, safety and advantages of histotripsy compared to the therapeutic options. Histotripsy is effective and safe treatment for various types of cancer, including cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
The Road to Developing Standard Time for Efficient Nursing Care: A Time and Motion Analysis
No full text(1) Background: The amount of time nurses spend with their patients is essential to improving the quality of patient care. Studies have shown that nurses spend a considerable amount of time on a variety of activities––which are often not taken into account while estimating nurse-to-patient care time allocation––that could potentially be eliminated, combined or delegated with greater productivity. The current study aimed to calculate standard time for each activity category by quantifying the amount of time required by nurses to complete an activity category and determine the adjustment time that can be given during work, as well as determine factors that can be altered to improve the efficiency of nursing care on inpatient general wards of a governmental hospital. (2) Method: A time and motion study was conducted over two weeks using 1-to-1 continuous observations of nurses as they performed their duties on inpatient general wards, while observers recorded each single activity, and specifically the time and movements required to complete those activities. (3) Result: There was 5100 min of observations over 10 working days. Nurses spent 69% (330 min) of time during their 8 h morning shift on direct patient care, (19.4%) ward/room activities (18%), documentation (14%), indirect patient care (12%) and professional communication (5%). Around 94 min of activities seem to be wasted and can be potentially detrimental to nurses’ overall productivity and threaten patient care quality. The standard number of hours that represents the best estimate of a general ward nurse regarding the optimal speed at which the staff nurse can provide care related activities was computed and proposed. (4) Conclusions: The findings obtained from time–motion studies can help in developing more efficient and productive nursing work for more optimal care of patients. © 2023 by the authors
The development of a Multidisciplinary e-Care Coordination (MDeCC) prototype to facilitate effective care of pressure injuries
No full textAbstract Background Pressure injuries (PIs) remain a critical quality and safety concern in healthcare, often resulting from fragmented care coordination and inconsistent adherence to evidence-based practices. They mainly impact immobile patients, especially the elderly, critically ill, or neurologically impaired individuals with extended stays or poor nutrition. Digital health solutions show promise in standardizing and enhancing interdisciplinary care, but many systems do not accurately reflect real-world workflows or frontline clinical needs. Objective This study describes the first two phases in the development of the Multidisciplinary e-Care Coordination (MDeCC) system, an evidence-based, co-designed digital care component for PI management focusing on protocol development, stakeholder engagement, and initial digital configuration. Methods A qualitative participatory design approach was employed across two phases to co-develop the content and structure of the MDeCC prototype. In Phase 1, three iterative co-design workshops were conducted with clinicians, administrators, and caregivers. These workshops served as qualitative inquiry sessions to explore current workflows, identify challenges, and co-generate design input. A structured PI care protocol was co-created and validated through stakeholder feedback. In Phase 2, the validated protocol was translated into a configurable digital prototype compatible with the hospital’s OASIS system. Results The process yielded a tailored MDeCC prototype grounded in seven evidence-based care domains: assessment, nutrition, mobility, pain management, support surfaces, education, and sustainability of care. Design features emphasized multidisciplinary usability, mobile accessibility, role-specific dashboards, and integration with institutional workflows. Conclusion The MDeCC has the potential to support wound care teams, hospital policymakers, and quality inspectors in advancing more coordinated, accountable, and sustainable pressure injury care practices. Future phases will assess real-world deployment and impact. Clinical trial number Not applicable
