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The global opioid epidemic highlights the need to re-evaluate pain management strategies and find alternatives to minimize opioid exposure. Opioids are primary analgesics and sedatives in intensive care units (ICUs) but may have negative consequences for patients and families. This study aimed to identify key patient-important outcomes related to opioid reduction and the use of analgesic adjuncts (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) in critically ill adult patients through a modified Delphi study involving patients, families, and healthcare providers. A modified Delphi process, including two survey rounds and one discussion round among stakeholders (patients, family members, and healthcare providers), was used to identify and rate key patient-important outcomes, evaluation time-points, and suitable tools/definitions for a potential randomized controlled trial. Opioid reduction was identified as a key patient-important outcome by 82% of participants across both survey rounds. Various themes emerged from surveys and stakeholder meetings, showing a preference for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological adjunctive therapies for ICU pain management. Opinions varied based on clinical or non-clinical backgrounds. Participants agreed that reducing opioid exposure and using adjunctive pain management strategies are crucial patient-important outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the efficacy and safety of opioid alternatives and both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. This study highlights that both patients and families value reducing opioid exposure and exploring alternatives, aligning with healthcare providers’ goals. Improved communication and education about opioid use can enhance patient-centered care. These findings support the need for future trials on adjunctive analgesics to reduce opioid exposure and improve outcomes, addressing both clinical and patient-family perspectives.

Background Long-term prescription of opioids by healthcare professionals has been linked to poor individual patient outcomes and high resource utilization. Supportive strategies in this population regarding acute healthcare settings may have substantial impact. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary studies. The studies were included according to the following criteria: 1) age 18 and older; 2) long-term prescribed opioid therapy; 3) acute healthcare setting presentation from a complication of opioid therapy; 4) evaluating a supportive strategy; 5) comparing the effectiveness of different interventions; 6) addressing patient or healthcare related outcomes. We performed a qualitative analysis of supportive strategies identified. We pooled patient and system related outcome data for each supportive strategy. Results A total of 5664 studies were screened and 19 studies were included. A total of 9 broad categories of supportive strategies were identified. Meta-analysis was performed for the “supports for patients in pain” supportive strategy on two system-related outcomes using a ratio of means. The number of emergency department (ED) visits were significantly reduced for cohort studies ( n  = 6, 0.36, 95% CI [0.20–0.62], I 2 = 87%) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) ( n  = 3, 0.71, 95% CI [0.61–0.82], I 2 = 0%). The number of opioid prescriptions at ED discharge was significantly reduced for RCTs ( n  = 3, 0.34, 95% CI [0.14–0.82], I 2 = 78%). Conclusion For patients presenting to acute healthcare settings with complications related to long-term opioid therapy, the intervention with the most robust data is “supports for patients in pain”.

Introduction Opioids are routinely used to treat a variety of chronic conditions associated with pain. However, they are a class of medications with a significant potential for adverse health effects, with and without misuse. Opioid misuse, as defined as inappropriate use of appropriately prescribed opioids, is becoming more well-recognized publicly but does not have clear treatment options. Opioid misuse has been linked to variety of poor outcomes and its consequences have a significant impact on healthcare resource utilization. The evidence on harm reduction strategies to mitigate adverse events prompting presentation to acute care settings for patients presenting with long-term opioid use is sparse. Methods and analysis We will perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to catalog effective harm reduction strategies and identify the most effective ones to reduce avoidable healthcare utilization in patients on long-term opioid therapy who present to acute health care settings with complications attributed to opioid misuse. A search strategy will be developed and executed by an information specialist; electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library) and additional sources will be searched. Search themes will include opioids, chronic drug use, and acute healthcare settings. Citation screening, selection, quality assessment, and data abstraction will be performed in duplicate. A comprehensive inventory of harm reduction strategies will be developed. Data will be collected on patient-related outcomes associated with each identified harm reduction strategy. When sufficiently homogeneous data on interventions, population, and outcomes is available, it will be pooled for aggregate analysis. Evaluation of the methodological quality of individual studies and of the quality of the body of evidence will be performed. Our primary objective will be to identify harm reduction strategies that have been shown to result in clinically relevant and statistically significant improvements in patient outcomes and/or decreased healthcare utilization. Discussion This study will better characterize harm reduction strategies for patients on long-term prescribed opioids presenting to acute healthcare settings. It will also add new knowledge and generate greater understanding of key knowledge gaps of the long-term prescribed opioid use and its impact on healthcare utilization. Systematic review registration CRD42018088962 .

Ideal for use in rapid-response arenas, this how-to guide helps clinicians identify a range of ECG abnormalities, refine the differential diagnosis, and choose the best intervention. Introductory chapters address simple concepts needed to evaluate normal 12-lead ECGs; subsequent chapters present specialized criteria needed to interpret abnormal ECGs. Differential diagnosis is presented in an organized step-by-step manner. Hundreds of easy-to-understand diagrams link anatomic information with ECG findings. Practice ECGs with answers appear at the end of each abnormality chapter. A brand-new chapter in this edition contains 25 arrhythmia strips to help readers practice and test their interpretive skills.

Parents in Massachusetts successfully persuaded their state's secretary of education to engage with dyslexia researchers at the Gabrieli Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an effort to raise his knowledge base about dyslexia. [...]to the surprise of one mom in Virginia, a personal phone call from the state's Director of Special Education during their movement's hard fought, yet sadly unsuccessful, legislative lobbying campaign helped her realize that the years of outreach and dialogue actually did build a bridge that may prove helpful in the future.

Given her influential position on the Texas State Board of Education and the knowledge that she had acquired about dyslexia from her training as an Academic Language Therapist at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas, she had the power, the knowledge, and the motivation to improve the quality of education of all children in Texas. The authors touch on the value of using the personal story to open doors and start the dialogue, the necessary partnerships and collaborations with like-minded professional organizations to enact meaningful policy goals, and the power of these constituents to drive momentum and bring stakeholders to the table using multiple strategies for engagement including, most importantly, strong social media campaigns.

Background Long-term prescription of opioids by healthcare professionals has been linked to poor individual patient outcomes and high resource utilization. Supportive strategies in this population regarding acute healthcare settings may have substantial impact. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary studies. The studies were included according to the following criteria: 1) age 18 and older; 2) long-term prescribed opioid therapy; 3) acute healthcare setting presentation from a complication of opioid therapy; 4) evaluating a supportive strategy; 5) comparing the effectiveness of different interventions; 6) addressing patient or healthcare related outcomes. We performed a qualitative analysis of supportive strategies identified. We pooled patient and system related outcome data for each supportive strategy. Results A total of 5664 studies were screened and 19 studies were included. A total of 9 broad categories of supportive strategies were identified. Meta-analysis was performed for the “supports for patients in pain” supportive strategy on two system-related outcomes using a ratio of means. The number of emergency department (ED) visits were significantly reduced for cohort studies (n = 6, 0.36, 95% CI [0.20-0.62], I2 = 87%) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 3, 0.71, 95% CI [0.61-0.82], I2 = 0%). The number of opioid prescriptions at ED discharge was significantly reduced for RCTs (n = 3, 0.34, 95% CI [0.14-0.82], I2 = 78%). Conclusion For patients presenting to acute healthcare settings with complications related to long-term opioid therapy, the intervention with the most robust data is “supports for patients in pain”.