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P Ravaud

Publications and source records attributed to P Ravaud.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Randomized clinical trial to assess the effect of an educational programme designed to improve nurses' assessment and recording of postoperative pain.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an intervention designed to improve postoperative pain assessment and recording by nurses. METHODS: This cluster randomized clinical trial included two intervals of 3 months each: a preintervention observational study (period 1) followed by a period of intervention (period 2). Six surgical wards were randomly assigned to receive either an experimental intervention, including educational seminars for nurses on pain, pain assessment and the use of a visual analogue scale (n = 3), or standard care (control group; n = 3). The main outcome measures were the percentage of patients in whom pain was assessed, number of pain assessments per patient and postoperative pain intensity scores. RESULTS: A total of 2278 patients were included. Significant improvements were found in the percentage of patients in whom pain was assessed and the number of daily pain assessments per patient in the intervention group between periods 1 and 2. In contrast, these outcomes were unchanged between the two intervals in wards randomized to standard care. During period 2, pain scores at 48 h were significantly decreased in the intervention wards compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: An educational programme dedicated to nurses strongly increased the use of regular pain assessment, and may have contributed to a modest improvement in postoperative analgesia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Management of osteoarthritis (OA) with an unsupervised home based exercise programme and/or patient administered assessment tools. A cluster randomised controlled trial with a 2x2 factorial design.

BACKGROUND: Diary recording of pain and disabling activities in osteoarthritis (OA) is widely recommended, but, to our knowledge, its impact on symptoms has not been investigated. Exercise programmes have been shown to be effective when patients are closely supervised by nurses or physiotherapists; however, data are lacking on the efficacy of an unsupervised home based exercise regimen in patients with OA. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of patient administered assessment tools and an unsupervised home based exercise programme alone or in combination in patients with OA. METHODS: The study was a 24 week, open cluster randomised controlled trial with a factorial design. Rheumatologists (n = 867) were assigned to four groups according to the treatment given: standardised tools (ST; n = 220), exercises (EX; n = 213), both tools and exercises (ST+EX; n = 213), or usual care (n = 221). Each rheumatologist was to enroll four patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for OA (three with knee OA, one with hip OA). "Tools" consisted of weekly recording of pain and disabling activities in a diary. A home based exercise programme was performed daily at least four times per week with the aid of videotape and booklet. In addition to exercise and assessment, all patients received 12.5 mg or 25 mg of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug rofecoxib once daily. Outcome variables were: pain (measured on a visual analogue scale, 0-100); Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, function subscale (0-100); and patient assessment of the quality of care (0-100). RESULTS: Overall, 2957 patients with OA (2216 knee, 741 hip) were included. After 24 weeks, both pain and function improved in the ST, EX, ST+EX, and usual care groups (mean (SD) -17 (27), -20 (29), -15 (27), -19 (29); and -11 (19), -12 (19), -10 (19), -11 (20), respectively), without significant differences between groups. However, patients in the EX and ST+EX groups were more likely to agree that their rheumatologist had done his best to preserve their functional and physical activities. CONCLUSION: Although patients' assessments favoured the exercise programme, results from this study failed to demonstrate a short term symptomatic effect of the two non-pharmacological treatments (weekly recording of condition and exercise) in patients with OA concurrently receiving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Detection of small joint synovitis by ultrasonography: the learning curve of rheumatologists.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography allows assessment of soft tissue structures and has become a valued tool for diagnosing synovitis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the learning curve for ultrasonography in evaluating synovitis of the small joints in rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints were evaluated using ultrasonography (Esaote AU 5 Epi, linear probe 10-13 MHz) by four rheumatologists, the first being experienced (senior), the others having no (fellows 1 and 2) or little (fellow 3) experience in ultrasonography. For each fellow, the learning curve was divided into blocks. In each block the fellow examined five consecutive patients with the senior; then, blinded to the senior's results, two further patients alone (seven patients examined per block). For each evaluation, the MCP, PIP, and MTP joints were individually tagged as having synovitis or not. The ultrasonography results were compared between fellow and senior for the two last patients of each block, using proportions of agreement and kappa statistics. RESULTS: 70 patients were evaluated (seven practice patients, followed by nine blocks). For fellows 1 and 2, the proportions of agreement were respectively 42% and 47% (kappa = 0 and 0) at the first evaluation, and rose progressively to 82% and 82% (kappa = 0.63 and 0.62) at the ninth evaluation. For fellow 3, initially good results were followed by decreased accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Detecting synovitis of the MCP, PIP, and MTP joints using ultrasonography can be done accurately by rheumatologists initially not experienced in this technique. At least 70 examinations were necessary to develop competence.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[FACT: French national registry of acute coronary syndromes. Specific study of French general hospital centers].

UNLABELLED: The FACT registry is currently the French registry including the greatest number of patients with acute coronary syndromes. PURPOSE: The study presents epidemiologic data, modalities and delays for medical admission. METHOD: Three thousand nine hundred and two patients were included in FACT by 362 French centers of cardiology between 06/01/2003 and 03/02/2003. One thousand eight hundred and ten patients, who had been placed in the cardiology departments of French general hospitals, were isolated from this registry. The French general hospitals represented 50.8% of the 362 centers. In order to clarify the study, these patients were divided into three groups: group A: patients without ST segment elevation but with suggestive ECG modifications; group B: patients with ST segment elevation; group C: all other patients. The results were mainly studied for groups A and B and compared. These results were also compared to those of the FACT registry and of other registries. RESULTS: The results show that the average delay for admission is 2.9 h after a first delay between the pain and the help of 6.7 h. The first intervening party is a general practitioner (36.4%) then the SAMU (31.6%) and finally the emergency departments (18.7%). 16.6% of the patients from group B undergo pre-hospital thrombolysis. The recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology are widely applied except for the most recent of them since only 27.6% of the patients from group A having a TIMI score > or = 5 receive an anti-GIIB IIIA treatment. The reasons of the non-prescription of the recommended classes are mostly linked to contra-indication and intolerance. The strategy of coronary reopening mainly depends on the presence or the absence in the department of an available medical equipment for angioplasty. If there is one, the percentage of primary angioplasty reaches 54.2% and the percentage of thrombolysis 7.9%. On the opposite, there is 8.3% of angioplasty and 54.2% of thrombolysis for the unequipped centers. The global mortality reaches 5.8% but is inversely proportional to the level of equipment of the departments: 5.9% for the departments with angioplasty, 11% for the departments with coronarography but without angioplasty and 13.8% for the departments without any interventional equipment. Nevertheless, the age of the patients is different and this influences the results: we notice that the less equipped the department is, the older the patients are. CONCLUSION: The FACT registry and the data from the general hospitals give the opportunity to think about the possibilities to improve the delays of call to the first intervening party (more particularly to the SAMU) but it also allows us to think about how to better organize the geographical distribution giving access to a medical equipment for angioplasty. All these information will also help the cardiologists to gather around the recommendations by convincing them that the benefit/risk ratio is positive.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Influence of medial meniscectomy on tibiofemoral joint space width.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of partial medial meniscectomy on tibiofemoral joint space width (JSW). DESIGN: Thirty-seven patients (mean age: 51 years), suffering from medial meniscal lesions, (post-traumatic (n=22) or degenerative (n=15)), and requiring arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, were enrolled in a prospective, controlled study. Bilateral weight-bearing radiographs in extended and flexed position were performed in the same Radiology Unit just before and 2 days after meniscectomy. During arthroscopy, the extent of meniscectomy was evaluated in percentage and medial chondropathy was quantified using the Société Française d'Arthroscopie (SFA) scoring system (SFA score: 0-100). Medial chondropathy was absent or mild (mean SFA score: 8+/-13). Meniscectomy removed an average of 61% of the posterior third of the medial meniscus, 51% of the middle third and 22% of the anterior third. Radiographs, before and after meniscectomy, were read singly and were analyzed by a single reader unaware of patient identity and date of radiographs. Medial JSW was measured at the narrowest point of the medial compartment using a 0.1mm graduated magnifying glass. RESULTS: Comparison of JSW before and after meniscectomy did not show any statistically significant difference (mm): 0.01+/-0.43 (p=0.83) and -0.05+/-0.56 (p=0.66) in the extended and flexed views, respectively. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that partial medial meniscectomy does not influence tibiofemoral JSW on weight-bearing X-rays. Consequently, joint space narrowing appearing after partial meniscectomy should lead to seeking postmeniscectomy cartilage degradation rather than being attributed to removal of the meniscus.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of progression in knee osteoarthritis: results of a 1 year study comparing arthroscopy and MRI.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine the sensitivity to change of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quantification of chondropathy after 1 year in osteoarthritis of the medial tibiofemoral compartment and to assess the predictive value of subchondral bone marrow edema and bone abnormalities on progression of chondropathy. DESIGN: Twenty patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis of the medial compartment underwent a prospective, longitudinal study. All patients were evaluated the same day at entry and after 1 year by plain weight-bearing radiographs, MRI with a three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence, using a 0.2-T dedicated MR unit, and arthroscopy. The medial tibiofemoral chondropathy was quantified blindly with MRI and arthroscopy using the French Society of Arthroscopy (SFA) score. Presence of subchondral bone marrow edema and bone abnormalities on initial MRI was recorded in order to evaluate their influence on both unchanged and worsened chondropathy after 1 year. RESULTS: After 1 year, no statistically significant changes were observed with plain radiographs and arthroscopy. At variance, a statistically significant worsening of chondropathy was found with MRI using the SFA-MR score (P=0.01). SFA-MR score was the most responsive outcome. Absence of subchondral bone abnormalities and bone marrow edema on initial MR assessment predicted absence of worsening of chondropathy after 1 year. CONCLUSION: MRI appears promising for evaluating progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Assessing residents' prescribing behavior in renal impairment.

OBJECTIVE: Although fitting orders to renal function avoids overdosage and therefore iatrogenic risk, dosage adjustment is rarely made. The objective of this study was to assess residents' prescribing behavior in renal impairment, through a standardized simulated clinical setting. METHOD: This criterion-referenced study was carried out in a French teaching hospital. The hospital had 118 residents; 71 of them were asked to complete a questionnaire including four vignettes, simulating drug prescription in four 'patients' with various degrees of renal impairment (16 orders). The patients had an order of gentamicin sulfate, diclofenac sodium, and amlodipine bensylate. For each drug, the resident could maintain the order, discontinue the order, or change the dosage. A fourth drug, enalapril maleate, was to be started, with three possible dosages and the possibility of not prescribing it. The reference chosen for assessment was the Vidal dictionary, which corresponds to the Physician's Desk Reference and is the French reference for prescription. RESULTS: All the residents approached for the survey accepted the offer to complete the questionnaire. Among the 16 simulated orders, the median number of appropriate orders per resident was nine. Considering the renal function of their patients, 62% of residents wrote an inappropriate order for gentamicin, 42% wrote an inappropriate order for didofenac, and 52% wrote an inappropriate order for enalapril. Although no adjustment to renal function was required, 28% of the residents decreased the dosage of amlodipine and ordered an underdose. CONCLUSION: Considering the iatrogenic risk related to the lack of dosage adjustment, attention should be drawn to increasing residents' awareness of dosage adjustment in renal impairment and to providing them with better information on patients' renal function.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Medication misuse in hospitalized patients with renal impairment.

OBJECTIVES: The potential consequences of medication misuse in renal impairment have not been assessed in a population of in-patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and potential consequences of a lack of dosage adjustment in hospitalized patients with renal impairment. DESIGN: Order sheets for in-patients having a creatinine above 0.7 mg/dl were analysed. We considered the appropriateness of prescriptions for medications having potential nephrotoxicity and/or eliminated through renal excretion or metabolism (TEM medications) and having manufacturer's guidelines for dosage adjustment in renal impairment. MAIN MEASURES: On the basis of these guidelines, each line of prescription was rated as 'appropriate order', 'inappropriate dosage', or 'contra-indicated order'. Experts also rated prescriptions as potentially fatal or severe, serious, significant, or without potential for increased adverse effects. RESULTS: Two hundred and two order sheets were completed for 164 patients. They totalled 1469 lines of prescription, 85% of which were TEM medications, with guidelines for dosage adjustment for 71% of them (n = 886). Of these 886 prescriptions, 34% were inappropriate, 14% being contra-indicated and 20% with inappropriate dosage given the patient's renal function. Among the 202 order sheets, 75% included at least one inappropriate prescription. Sixty-three per cent included at least one prescription with potentially adverse consequences, 3% of these having potentially fatal or severe consequences. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that physicians do not take into account sufficiently patient renal function when prescribing. In light of these results, improving the quality of drug prescription in patients with renal impairment could be of importance for improving the quality of care.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Impact assessment of arthrosis education programs].

UNLABELLED: TWO COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES: Education programs are an integral part of the treatment of osteoarthritis and should include information of prognosis as well as advise on lifestyle and/or use of antalgesics. They should also constitute a structured educational approach with the objective of reaching a certain level of comprehension. EVALUATION: The efficacy of educational programs is difficult to demonstrate. However, results of recent evaluations based on the best methodological criteria should be helpful in defining optimal methods for patient education.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Rapid diagnosis of inflammatory synovial fluid with reagent strips.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of reagent test strips for screening inflammatory synovial fluid (SF). METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic arthrocentesis, attending the Department of Rheumatology of a large tertiary care hospital were evaluated. All SF specimens obtained were tested using two techniques: (i) white blood cell (WBC) count with the differential according to standard practice (which is considered the gold standard) (an inflammatory SF was defined as a WBC count > or =2000 cells/mm3); and (ii) reagent strips used to test urine (Multistix 8 SG, Bayer Diagnostics) for the presence of leucocytes (a positive test was defined as a strip showing more than a trace for leucocytes). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratio (LR) of the reagent strip in diagnosing inflammatory SF were determined. RESULTS: Two hundred and eight samples of SF were tested. The results of using the reagent strip were: sensitivity 76.9% (95% CI, 66.0-85.7%), specificity 86.9% (95% CI, 79.9-92.2%); positive LR, 5.88 (95% CI, 3.71-9.31) and negative LR, 0.27 (95% CI, 0.18-0.40). In 13 of the 19 false negative results, the differential cell count showed a predominance (> or =50%) of lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that, in daily practice, the evaluation of SF by reagent strips could be of use to discriminate between inflammatory and non-inflammatory SF.

Humans↗
PubMed2001

Impact of reminders and method of questionnaire distribution on patient response to mail-back satisfaction survey.

Nonresponse and methods of data collection could affect satisfaction measurement. The goal of this study was to estimate the impact of (1) nonresponse and (2) distribution method on evaluation of patient satisfaction in a mail-back study measuring patient opinion of medical and nursing care. The study was conducted in an adult hospital. Patients were pseudo-randomized according to the initial mode of questionnaire distribution (given at hospital or sent by mail). Three reminders were made at 1-week intervals to nonrespondents, regardless of the method of initial questionnaire distribution. Groups were distinguished according to the delay of response: initial (before any reminder), middle (after one or two mailed reminders), and late respondents (after mailed reminders plus telephone contact). The study included consecutively discharged patients to obtain 300 patients per arm. 482 patients returned the questionnaire (248 in the group receiving the questionnaire at the hospital and 234 in the other group). Groups were compared for satisfaction scores and delay of response. Early respondents were compared with middle and late respondents for patient characteristics, modality of hospital care, and satisfaction scores. Multivariate analyses were performed. Participation rate before any reminder was higher when the questionnaire was mailed than when it was given at the hospital (45% versus 39.7%, p = 0.03). The initial method of distribution did not influence patient satisfaction level. Satisfaction did not differ between respondents with or without reminders. Distributing questionnaires by mail may be preferred to distribution at discharge to optimize response rate. Reminders do not seem necessary to estimate satisfaction of overall potential respondents.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Management of nontuberculous infectious discitis. treatments used in 110 patients admitted to 12 teaching hospitals in France.

The optimal management of pyogenic discitis is not agreed on. No randomized clinical trials of short-course or oral antibiotic regimens have been published to date. To shed light on this issue, we reviewed the management of patients admitted for pyogenic discitis to one of 12 networked rheumatology departments. In this cross-sectional observational study, each department included the first ten patients admitted starting in January 1997 for treatment of pyogenic discitis. One hundred ten patients met the inclusion criteria, 67 men and 43 women, with a mean age of 60.6 +/- 13.7 years (range, 17-86 years). Mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 39.6 +/- 39.8 days (range, 24 h-240 days). Blood cultures were positive in 47.3% of patients, and the percutaneous discal and vertebral biopsy in 63.6% of cases; these two investigations identified the causative organism in 79 cases (72.8%). Mean duration of the rheumatology department stay was 31.3 +/- 14.1 days (range, 4-78 days). Antibiotics were given intravenously to 103 (93.6%) patients, for a mean of 25.5 +/- 17.6 days (range, 4-124 days); duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was longer than 4 weeks in 36.5% of patients. Only seven (6.4%) patients received primary oral antibiotics with no parenteral antibiotics. One hundred patients were given oral antibiotics at the same time as and after intravenous antibiotics, for a mean duration of 87.2 +/- 43.6 day (range, 20-278 days); Bracing was used in 98 (89.1%) patients. Although antibiotic selection was rational and in agreement with current recommendations, wide differences were noted across centers regarding intravenous treatment duration, hospital stay duration, and total treatment duration.

Abscess↗
PubMed2001

Measurement of joint space width in hip osteoarthritis: influence of joint positioning and radiographic procedure.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the influence of patient positioning and radiographic procedure, and defined a smallest detectable difference (SDD) in hip osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: OA hip patients each had a standardized pelvic radiograph and, 5 min later, a modified pelvic radiograph with the feet internally rotated 5 degrees (part 1 of the study), the X-ray beam centred on the umbilicus (part 2), or another standardized pelvic radiograph (part 3). RESULTS: Corresponding mean differences in joint space width (JSW) measurements (limits of agreement) between views were +0.03 (-0.53 to +0.59), -0.31 (-1.15 to +0.53) and -0.02 (-0.48 to +0.44) mm. The two views differed significantly in mean JSW in part 2 of the study (P=1.6x10(-4)), but not in part 1 (P=0.375) and part 3 (P=0.580). The SDD estimate was 0.46 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Modifying the X-ray beam and foot rotation increases variability in JSW measurements. Use of urograms to evaluate radiological progression should be avoided. A change greater than 0.46 mm could define radiological hip OA progression.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A clinical decision support system for prevention of venous thromboembolism: effect on physician behavior.

CONTEXT: Computer-based clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have been promoted for their potential to improve quality of health care. However, given the limited range of clinical settings in which they have been tested, such systems must be evaluated rigorously before widespread introduction into clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether presentation of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines using a CDSS increases the proportion of appropriate clinical practice decisions made. DESIGN: Time-series study conducted between December 1997 and July 1999. SETTING: Orthopedic surgery department of a teaching hospital in Paris, France. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1971 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery. INTERVENTION: A CDSS designed to provide immediate information pertaining to venous thromboembolism prevention among surgical patients was integrated into daily medical practice during three 10-week intervention periods, alternated with four 10-week control periods, with a 4-week washout between each period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Proportion of appropriate prescriptions ordered for anticoagulation, according to preestablished clinical guidelines, during intervention vs control periods. RESULTS: Physicians complied with guidelines in 82.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77.6%-87.1%) of cases during control periods and in 94.9% (95% CI, 92.5%-96.6%) of cases during intervention periods. During each intervention period, the appropriateness of prescription increased significantly (P<.001). Each time the CDSS was removed, physician practice reverted to that observed before initiation of the intervention. The relative risk of inappropriate practice decisions during control periods vs intervention periods was 3.8 (95% CI, 2.7-5.4). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, implementation of clinical guidelines for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis through a CDSS used routinely in an orthopedic surgery department and integrated into the hospital information system changed physician behavior and improved compliance with guidelines. JAMA. 2000;283:2816-2821

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2000

Despite financial penalties, French physicians' knowledge of regulatory practice guidelines is poor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of awareness and knowledge of regulatory practice guidelines (references medicales opposables [RMOs] or regulatory medical references) implemented to control ambulatory care costs among French family physicians. DESIGN: Observational study. Participants were asked to identify RMO topics among a list of actual and fictitious RMO topics and the RMOs themselves among a list of actual and fictitious RMOs. SETTING: General practice in France. SUBJECTS: Three hundred twenty-one family physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Average score of 100 (95% confidence interval [CI]) on the awareness of RMO topics and knowledge of the RMOs. RESULTS: The average overall score was 55.8 of 100 (95% CI, 53.3-58.3) for the awareness of the RMO topics and 50.5 (95% CI, 48.3-52.7) for knowledge of the RMOs themselves-53.2 (95% CI, 51.1-55.3) for diagnostic RMOs and 47.8 (95% CI, 45.6-50.0) for therapeutic RMOs. Chance would have yielded an expected mean score of 50. A statistically significant difference was noted between the average score for actual (62.2) and fictitious (43.2) RMOs, P<.001. None of the respondents correctly identified all 24 correct answers. CONCLUSION: Despite implementation of RMO policy, the awareness and knowledge of RMOs among French family physicians seem weak. The number of RMOs and the difficulties in controlling physicians probably explain these results. Thus, it is doubtful that the RMO policy will have a long-term effect on physicians' behavior.

Clinical Competence↗