Saskatchewan Health

About: Saskatchewan Health is a government organization based out in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 442 authors who have published 489 publications receiving 7728 citations.

Quality of Blood Pressure Tracking Apps for the iPhone: Content Analysis and Evaluation of Adherence With Home Blood Pressure Measurement Best Practices

Abstract: Background: Blood pressure (BP) tracking apps may aid in hypertension (HTN) self-management, but app quality may be problematic. Objective: This study aimed to develop a content-dependent rating system for BP tracking apps and systematically evaluate BP tracking features, content-independent quality, functional characteristics, and educational comprehensiveness of English language iPhone apps developed with the primary purpose of tracking a consumer’s BP measurements. Methods: We created a 28-item checklist reflecting overall app quality and a simplified 2-item checklist to assess adherence with home BP monitoring best practices. Apps with educational information were evaluated for comprehensiveness on a 7-point scale and for consistency with evidence-based guidelines. Higher scores represent better quality and comprehensiveness. We searched the Canadian App Store on June 28, 2016, using the keywords hypertension and blood pressure. A total of 2 reviewers independently assessed apps according to the standardized template. We determined if paid apps, educational apps, or those rated ≥4 stars were of higher quality. Results: Of the 948 apps screened, 62 met the inclusion criteria. The mean overall quality score was 12.2 (SD 4.6, out of 28) and 6 apps (10%, 6/62) met the home BP monitoring best practice criteria. In all, 12 apps contained educational content (mean comprehensiveness 2.4, SD 1.6 out of 14), most commonly, background information on HTN. Apps with educational content (mean 15.1, SD 3.8 vs 11.8, SD 4.8; P=.03) or a ≥4 star rating (median 19, interquartile range [IQR] 15-20, vs 12, IQR 9-15; P=.02) had higher overall quality. Conclusions: The BP tracking apps reviewed had variable quality and few met the home BP monitoring best practice criteria. When deciding to recommend a specific BP tracking app, we suggest clinicians should evaluate whether the app allows input of duplicate BP readings in the morning and evening for at least seven days and presents the mean BP value for user-specified dates. Greater attention to home BP measurement best practices is required during app development.

Measuring Competency of Pharmacy Residents: A Survey of Residency Programs' Methods for Assessment and Evaluation.

Abstract: Background: The Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) specifies the competencies that pharmacy residents must attain and the need for assessment and evaluation. Methods of assessment and evaluation are left to the discretion of individual programs. There is a scarcity of published literature compiling and comparing the strategies used by Canadian residency programs. Objectives: To determine curricular components used for assessment and evaluation; to describe the tools used by programs; to characterize the scheduling, frequency, and repetition of curricular components; and to determine the individuals or groups involved. Methods: Coordinators of hospital pharmacy residency programs with CPRB accreditation or accreditation pending were surveyed to collect information about the assessment and evaluation of select CPRB standards. Results: From the 37 eligible residency programs, 20 unique responses (54%) were received. All respondents were general practice programs (100%) in predominantly multicentre organizations (70%). Programs were similar in terms of assessment components used, with all respondents citing care plan review, direct observation of patient care, journal clubs, creation of project timelines, and ethics submission. The predominant evaluation components were within-department presentations (100%), written manuscripts (95%), drug information rotations (85%), and longitudinal evaluations (75%). Standardized forms (70%–100%) defined by Bloom’s taxonomy (65%) and the CPRB “levels and ranges” document (60%) were the principle means used. Assessments for patient care and for provision of education were generally carried out immediately (80% and 95%, respectively), whereas project management skills were assessed predominantly at final evaluation (75%). Self-assessment and assessment by pharmacy team members occurred for every competency, whereas patients (0%–10%) and allied health professionals (5%) were less frequently involved. Conclusions: The assessment and evaluation strategies reported by programs were congruent. The results provide a summary of national practices and will allow existing and developing programs to examine their approach to assessment and evaluation for alignment with national standards. RESUME Contexte: Le Conseil canadien de residence en pharmacie (CCRP) precise les competences que les residents en pharmacie doivent acquerir ainsi que le besoin d’observation et d’evaluation. Les methodes d’observation et d’evaluation sont laissees a la discretion de chacun des programmes. La litterature publiee qui compile et compare les strategies utilisees par les programmes en residence canadiens est rare. Objectifs : Determiner les composantes des programmes utilises pour l’observation et l’evaluation des normes; decrire les outils utilises par ces programmes; etablir l’horaire, la frequence et la repetition des elements qui constituent ces programmes et determiner les personnes ou les groupes concernes. Methodes : Les coordinateurs des programmes de residence en pharmacie hospitaliere ayant un agrement ou dont l’agrement est en cours de procedure ont ete interroges afin qu’ils fournissent des informations concernant l’observation et l’evaluation des normes CCRP selectionnees. Resultats : Des 37 programmes de residence admissibles, 20 reponses individuelles (54 %) sont parvenues aux investigateurs. Tous les repondants representaient des programmes de pratique generale (100 %) dans des organismes majoritairement multicentriques (70 %). Les programmes etaient similaires en termes de points a observer : tous les repondants citaient l’examen des plans de soins, l’observation directe des soins aux patients, les clubs de journaux, la creation d’echeanciers pour la realisation de projets et la proposition de documents sur l’ethique. Les criteres d’evaluation predominants consistaient en des presentations au sein du departement (100 %), la redaction de manuscrits (95 %), des rotations reliees au service d’information pharmacotherapeutique (85 %) et les evaluations longitudinales (75 %). Les formulaires standardises (70 %–100 %) definis par la taxonomie de Bloom (65 %) et le document Levels and ranges (niveaux de performance des competences) du CCRP (60 %) etaient les ressources de base utilisees. L’observation des soins aux patients et de la formation avait generalement lieu immediatement (respectivement 80 % et 95 %,), tandis que les competences en matiere de gestion de projet etaient majoritairement evaluees en dernier (75 %). L’auto-observation et l’observation effectue par des membres de l’equipe de pharmacie portaient sur chaque competence, tandis que les patients (0 % – 10 %) et les autres professionnels de la sante (5 %) participaient plus rarement a cette observation. Conclusions : Les strategies d’observation et d’evaluation rapportees par les programmes concordaient. Les resultats fournissent un resume des pratiques nationales et permettront aux responsables des programmes existants et en cours d’elaboration d’etudier l’approche de l’observation et de l’evaluation pour l’aligner sur les normes nationales.

After-Hours/Nighttime Transfers Out of the Intensive Care Unit and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

Abstract: Purpose:We evaluated the effects of after-hours/nighttime patient transfers out of the ICU on patient outcomes, by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD 42017074082).Data S...

Management of Patients With Glomerulonephritis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations From the Canadian Society of Nephrology COVID-19 Rapid Response Team.

Abstract: Purpose of program:This article will provide guidance on how to best manage patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) during the COVID-19 pandemic.Sources of information:We reviewed relevant published ...

Review of Stillbirth in a Canadian Tertiary Care Centre.

Abstract: Objective Because literature on stillbirth in Canada and its related factors is scarce, the objective of this study was to determine the causes of stillbirth in a Canadian tertiary care centre and to identify the risk factors present in these deliveries. Methods The charts of 180 stillbirth deliveries with a gestational age greater than or equal to 20 weeks or a birth weight greater than or equal to 500 g between 2011 and 2016 were reviewed. Information collected from maternal charts included maternal demographics, known risk factors for stillbirth during pregnancy, delivery parameters, and pathologic examination (Canadian Task Force Classification III). Results The autopsy rate was 42.5%, placental pathology rate was 100%, and karyotype was completed in 20.2% of the reviewed cases. Often, the cause of stillbirth was unexplained (43.2%). The most common causes were preterm birth (9.8%) and abruption (9.3%). The most common risk factors in this population were maternal obesity (37.6%), late prenatal care (35.0%), and maternal smoking (22.4%). Conclusion Most stillbirths were unexplained in this Canadian tertiary care centre, and the rates of autopsy and karyotype were low. Identified risk factors present in this population may contribute to the significantly higher rate of stillbirth in this centre compared with the provincial rate.