Critical Care - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 18
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Designing an App for Pregnancy Care for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community
    Smith, W ; Wadley, G ; Daly, JO ; Webb, M ; Hughson, J ; Hajek, J ; Parker, A ; Woodward-Kron, R ; Story, DA (The Association for Computing Machinery, 2017)
    We report a study to design and evaluate an app to support pregnancy information provided to women through an Australian health service. As part of a larger project to provide prenatal resources for culturally and linguistically diverse groups, this study focused on the design and reception of an app with the local Vietnamese community and health professionals of a particular hospital. Our study had three stages: an initial design workshop with the hospital; prototype design and development; prototype-based interviews with health professionals and focus groups with Vietnamese women. We explore how an app of this sort must be designed for a range of different use scenarios, considering its use by consumers with a multiplicity of differing viewpoints about its nature and purpose in relation to pregnancy care.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Postoperative outcomes following cardiac surgery in non-anaemic iron-replete and iron-deficient patients - an exploratory study
    Miles, LF ; Kunz, SA ; Na, LH ; Braat, S ; Burbury, K ; Story, DA (WILEY, 2018-04)
    Iron deficiency anaemia is strongly associated with poor outcomes after cardiac surgery. However, pre-operative non-anaemic iron deficiency (a probable anaemia precursor) has not been comprehensively examined in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, despite biological plausibility and evidence from other patient populations of negative effect on outcome. This exploratory retrospective cohort study aimed to compare an iron-deficient group of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with an iron-replete group. Consecutive non-anaemic patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting or single valve replacement in our institution between January 2013 and December 2015 were considered for inclusion. Data from a total of 277 patients were analysed, and were categorised by iron status and blood haemoglobin concentration into iron-deficient (n = 109) and iron-replete (n = 168) groups. Compared with the iron-replete group, patients in the iron-deficient group were more likely to be female (43% vs. 12%, iron-replete, respectively); older, mean (SD) age 64.4 (9.7) vs. 63.2 (10.3) years; and to have a higher pre-operative EuroSCORE (median IQR [range]) 3 (2-5 [0-10]) vs. 3 (2-4 [0-9]), with a lower preoperative haemoglobin of 141.6 (11.6) vs. 148.3 (11.7) g.l-1 . Univariate analysis suggested that iron-deficient patients had a longer hospital length of stay (7 (6-9 [2-40]) vs. 7 (5-8 [4-23]) days; p = 0.013) and fewer days alive and out of hospital at postoperative day 90 (83 (80-84 [0-87]) vs. 83 (81-85 [34-86]), p = 0.009). There was no evidence of an association between iron deficiency and either lower nadir haemoglobin or higher requirement for blood products during inpatient stay. After adjusting the model for pre-operative age, sex, renal function, EuroSCORE and haemoglobin, the mean increase in hospital length of stay in the iron-deficient group relative to the iron-replete group was 0.86 days (bootstrapped 95%CI -0.37 to 2.22, p = 0.098). This exploratory study suggests there is weak evidence of an association between non-anaemic iron deficiency and outcome after cardiac surgery after controlling for potentially confounding variables.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Peri-operative correction of non-anaemic iron deficiency
    Miles, LF ; Story, DA ; Litton, E (WILEY, 2017-07)
  • Item
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Peri-operative lidocaine infusion for open radical prostatectomy - a reply
    Weinberg, L ; Story, D ; Gordon, I ; Christophi, C (WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2016-10)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Sodium bicarbonate infusion in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation: a single center randomized controlled pilot trial
    Weinberg, L ; Broad, J ; Pillai, P ; Chen, G ; Nguyen, M ; Eastwood, GM ; Scurrah, N ; Nikfarjam, M ; Story, D ; McNicol, L ; Bellomo, R (WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2016-05)
    BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) carries significant morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that sodium bicarbonate would reduce the incidence and/or severity of liver transplantation-associated AKI. METHODS: In this double-blinded pilot RCT, adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation were randomized to an infusion of either 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (0.5 mEq/kg/h for the first hour; 0.15 mEq/kg/h until completion of surgery); (n = 30) or 0.9% sodium chloride (n = 30). PRIMARY OUTCOME: AKI within the first 48 h post-operatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups with regard to baseline characteristics, model for end-stage liver disease and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores, and pre-transplantation renal function. Intra-operative factors were similar for duration of surgery, blood product requirements, crystalloid and colloid volumes infused and requirements for vasoactive therapy. Eleven patients (37%) in the bicarbonate group and 10 patients (33%) in the sodium chloride group developed a post-operative AKI (p = 0.79). Bicarbonate infusion attenuated the degree of immediate post-operative metabolic acidosis; however, this effect dissipated by 48 h. There were no significant differences in ventilation hours, ICU or hospital length of stay, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-operative infusion of sodium bicarbonate did not decrease the incidence of AKI in patients following orthotopic liver transplantation.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Colloid fluids in adult anesthesia and ICU
    Story, DA (WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2016-03)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    The experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder, their caregivers and health care providers during day procedure: A mixed methods study
    Taghizadeh, N ; Heard, G ; Davidson, A ; Williams, K ; Story, D (WILEY, 2019-09)
    BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder is now diagnosed in more than 1% of children in Australia and USA. Children with autism spectrum disorder may have additional health care needs, require more specialized services for their health care, or experience more difficulties during hospital attendance. Customized care for these children may assist in decreasing potentially challenging behaviours during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of children with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers during attendance for day procedures in two hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Further, the perceptions of their health care providers were explored. METHODS: Twenty-nine participants, including 14 health care providers and 15 caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder, were interviewed within 72 hours of their day procedure attendance at the Royal Children's Hospital and the Royal Dental Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Interviews were recorded digitally, then transcribed and coded. Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods (content analysis) were used. RESULTS: Hospital attendance was often stressful. Participants identified a number of facilitating factors including good communication, clear explanations, and friendly attitudes of staff. Flexibility and individualized care of patients (such as avoiding unnecessary blood pressure measurements, and not changing into hospital gowns) were valued. Supportive aids (such as computers or special interest objects), use of social stories, and giving premedication were all considered helpful. Perceived barriers to care included prolonged waiting times for operation date as well as waiting on the day of operation, lack of private space, lack of noninvasive equipment such as cutaneous infrared thermometers, poor communication, and inadequate training of staff about autism spectrum disorder. CONCLUSION: Providing optimal care for children with autism spectrum disorder requires a multifaceted approach that may require changes to hospital work flow, staff training, better use of aids (such as tablet computers and social stories), and premedication. Good communication and flexibility are key areas of importance.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Selecting and optimising patients for total knee arthroplasty
    Miles, LF ; Burbury, KL ; Story, DA (WILEY, 2019-09)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Surgical nurses' perceptions and experiences of a medications and oral restrictions policy change: A focus group study
    The-Phung, T ; Dunnachie, G ; Brien, J-A ; Story, DA (WILEY, 2019-09)
    AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the perceptions and experiences of surgical nurses before and after introducing the Medications and Oral Restrictions Policy (the Policy). BACKGROUND: The Policy was developed following extensive consultation, and evidence-based strategies were considered for its implementation. However, it is possible uptake did not meet expectations. DESIGN: Focus group interviews. METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted in November 2015 around 'what worked, what didn't and why, before and after hospital-wide implementation of the Policy.' Data were coded and analysed using an inductive-deductive thematic analysis approach. The COREQ checklist guided reporting. RESULTS: The three groups consisted of 16, 14 and six surgical nurses. Before the Policy, there was confusion, lack of clarity and guidance, and lack of experience and confidence in managing medications when patients had oral restrictions. After the Policy rollout, there was a sense of 'knowing what to do' because of improved clarity and decision support; but there were also problems with: not everyone knowing about the policy, particularly due to staff movement and turnover; and, individual interpretation of the policy including use of its signs outside of context, and decision-making processes. CONCLUSION: Exploration of nurses' perceptions of a medication-related policy change found that while the Policy provided clarity and decision support for some, it made little difference for others. Limited reach of the policy was an issue despite an effort to address this at the outset, as well as variations in interpretation of the policy and subsequent decision-making. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: How individuals interpret information and their understanding of the context behind the policy or guideline may affect implementation and should be considered alongside other barriers when implementing medication-related initiatives. Furthermore, implementation strategies that are independent of ongoing resources and/or key champions to sustain should be prioritised for all initiatives.