Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

The Characteristics of Chinese Women’s Victimization in Sex Offenses

Abstract: The purpose of the present study is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the characteristics of Chinese women’s victimization in sex offenses using data collected from two surveys of criminal victimization in the cities of Beijing and Tianjin in 1992 and 2004, respectively. The assessment analyzes the demographic characteristics of female victims in such offenses and the characteristics of their victimization. The data from the Beijing and Tianjin surveys are compared in the analysis. The results show a shift in the demographic pattern between the two surveys, which may be related to the dramatic change in China’s transformation to a state-directed market economy during the time period. However, the data from both surveys indicate some similar characteristics of sex offenses against women in contemporary urban China. Some of these characteristics significantly differ from those discovered in the United States.

Thirty-day unplanned readmission in hospitalised asthma patients in the USA.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Hospital quality improvement and hospital performance are commonly evaluated using parameters such as average length of stay (LOS), patient safety measures and rates of hospital readmission. Thirty-day readmission (30-DR) rates are widely used as a quality indicator and a quantifiable metric for hospitals since patients are often readmitted for the exacerbation of conditions from index admission. The quality of patient education and postdischarge care can influence readmission rates. We report the 30-DR rates of patients with asthma using a national dataset for the year 2013. OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to assess the 30- day readmission (30-DR) rate as well as, the causes and predictors of readmissions. STUDY DESIGNS/METHODS Using the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) (2013), we identified primary discharge diagnoses of asthma by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code '493'. Categorical and continuous variables were assessed by a χ2 test and a Student's t-test, respectively. The independent predictors of unplanned 30-DR were detected by multivariate analysis. We used sampling weights, which are provided in the NRD, to generate the national estimates. RESULTS There were 130 490 (weighted N=311 173) inpatient asthma admissions during 2013. The overall 30-DR for asthma was 11.9%. The associated factors for 30-DR were age 45-84 years (40.32% vs 29.05%; p<0.001), enrolment in Medicare (49.33% vs 30.61% p<0.001), extended LOS (mean, 4.40±0.06 vs 3.25±0.04 days; p<0.001), higher mean cost (US$8593.91 vs US$6741.31; p<0.001) and higher disposition against medical advice (DAMA) (4.14% vs 1.51%; p<0.001). The factors that increased the chance of 30-DR were advanced age (≥45-64 vs ≤17 years; OR 4.61, 95% CI 4.04 to 5.27, p<0.0001), male sex (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.26, p<0.0001), a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.18, p<0.0001), DAMA (OR 2.32, 95% CI 2.08 to 2.59, p<0.0001), non-compliance with medication (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.46, p<0.0001), post-traumatic stress disorder (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.79, p<0.0001), alcohol use (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.65, p<0.0001), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.27, p<0.0001), obstructive sleep apnoea (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.18, p<0.0042) and hypertension (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.17, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS We found that the overall 30-DR rate for asthma was 11.9% all-cause readmission. Major causes of 30-DR were asthma exacerbation (36.74%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (11.47%), respiratory failure (6.46%), non-specific pneumonia (6.19%), septicaemia (3.61%) and congestive heart failure (3.32%). One-fourth of the revisits occurred in the first week, while half of the revisits took place in the first 2 weeks. Education regarding illness and the importance of medicine compliance could play a significant role in preventing asthma-related readmission.

Patient-Reported Versus Physician-Estimated Symptoms Before and After TAVR.

Abstract: Aims In contrast to patient-reported health status measures (such as the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ]), New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class is based on a physician's assessment of heart failure symptoms and functional limitations on behalf of the patient. We sought to determine the concordance and predictors of physician under- and overestimation of symptoms prior to and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods and results The analytic cohort included 172,667 patients within the STS/ACC TVT Registry who underwent transfemoral TAVR. At baseline, physicians underestimated patients' symptoms in 47.4%, correctly assessed symptoms in 26.6%, and overestimated symptoms in 26.0%. At 30 days after TAVR, these proportions were 22.8%, 50.3%, and 26.9%, respectively. Using nominal logistic regression with random intercepts to account for within hospital clustering, we found that physicians were more likely to incorrectly estimate patients' symptoms when patients were older, women, had a prior stroke, had severe lung disease, had atrial fibrillation, or were more obese. There was marked variability in the rates of underestimation, correct estimation, and overestimation across the 641 sites. Conclusion Among patients undergoing treatment for severe aortic stenosis, physicians estimate patients' symptoms and functional status poorly both prior to and after TAVR, with different patterns. These findings emphasize the need to collect patient-reported health status to more reliably assess the benefits of TAVR in routine clinical practice.

Improving fetal congenital heart disease screening using a checklist‐based approach

Abstract: To determine if using a checklist of specific ultrasound image criteria to screen the fetal heart improves the cardiac exam completion rate, defined as the ability to classify the heart as normal or abnormal. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with singleton pregnancies who underwent a fetal anatomy survey between 18 and 28 weeks' gestation. A checklist was used from 1 September 2015 to 31 March 2016 to categorize exams as complete-normal, complete-abnormal, or incomplete. Performance was compared with a 7-month period prior to checklist introduction (1 December 2014 to 30 June 2015). Checklist utilization improved the cardiac exam completion rate by 8.9%. With the checklist, 1083 of 1202 exams (90.1%) were completed compared to 987 of 1193 (82.7%) pre-checklist, P < .001. We did not detect a change in cases classified as abnormal and referred for echocardiography: 25 (2.1%) with the checklist and 16 (1.3%) pre-checklist, P = .16. We did not detect more congenital heart disease (CHD), 12 (1.0%) with checklist screening, 5 (0.4%) pre-checklist, P = .14. Critical CHD was not missed in either group. Using the checklist improved the cardiac exam completion rate. There was no change in congenital heart disease detection.