Heat-sensitive moxibustion is the appropriate technique of the external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and it is widely used in community because of its "easy learning, simple operation and clear curative effect". Pragmatic randomized controlled trial is a main intervention design in the real world study, which provides a high-level evidence for the effectiveness assessment of heat-sensitive moxibustion in community management. Focusing on the key links of randomization, e.g. block randomization, stratified randomization, cluster randomization, sample size allocation, allocation concealment and blinding, the paper elaborates the advantages, disadvantages and technical details of two-stage randomization with consideration of patient preference in pragmatic randomized controlled trials of heat-sensitive moxibustion in community. It facilitates improving the quality of evidence, reproducibility and methodological homogeneity among different trials.
Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Patient Preference ; Random Allocation ; Reproducibility of Results

patient preference (16%), and loss to follow-up (6%). The no surgery group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the surgery group (hazard ratio=3.34; 95% confidence interval=1.66–6.72; p<0.001), after adjustment for age, CCI, and dose reductions.CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of women treated with NACT do not undergo IDS, and these women are older, frailer, and have worse OS. More studies are needed to find optimal therapies to maximize outcomes in this high-risk, elderly population.]]>
Aged ; Comorbidity ; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Patient Preference ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) harvesting is associated with significant perioperative pain and opioid consumption. This randomized controlled trial sought to determine if the transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block provides effective analgesia for anterior ICBG harvesting. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing wrist fusion surgery with anterior ICBG harvesting were randomized to receive a TFP block with either 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine or 5% dextrose. Patients additionally received a brachial plexus block for primary surgical-site anesthesia and either a general or spinal anesthetic depending on patient preference. Primary outcomes of interest were perioperative opioid consumption (measured as intravenous morphine equivalents [IME]), pain intensity at the ICBG harvest site for up to 48 h postoperatively, and the incidence of persistent postoperative pain at 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: The TFP group used less opioid in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) (median 0 vs. 2.5 mg IME, P = 0.01) and in the first 8 h following PACU discharge (median 2.5 vs. 13.0 mg IME, P = 0.02). The patients who received a TFP block also had lower pain scores in PACU (median 0 vs. 4.0 out of 10, P < 0.001). Although opioid consumption and pain scores were lower in the TFP group at later timepoints, this difference was not statistically significant. Persistent pain at the ICBG site was reported in only 4.3% and 6.5% of all patients at 6 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The TFP block provides effective early analgesia for anterior ICBG harvesting. The incidence of persistent postoperative pain was low.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Local ; Brachial Plexus Block ; Fascia ; Glucose ; Humans ; Incidence ; Morphine ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Preference ; Transplants ; Wrist

A conventional approach for the treatment of long-span edentulous areas is the use of removable dentures. However, placing implants in these areas results in superior functional outcomes by increasing the stability, support, and resistance of the prostheses and improving the masticatory efficiency. Treatment modalities utilizing implants can be further classified into either removable or fixed-type prostheses. Several factors such as the amount of alveolar bone resorption, inter-arch relationship, patient preferences, and socioeconomic status should be considered when determining the appropriate treatment approach. Monolithic zirconia has been considered a suitable material for implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis, because of the drastic improvement in its mechanical properties. It exhibits fewer incidences of fracture and chipping of the prostheses, and has greater bulk of material than metal-ceramic crowns and zirconia-veneered ceramics. Moreover, highly translucent monolithic zirconia is also available in the market, and its application is gradually increasing for anterior tooth rehabilitation. The present report describes a patient who underwent full-mouth rehabilitation with fixed dental prostheses (eight upper and three lower implant placements). All teeth, except bilateral mandibular canines and left mandibular first and second premolars, were extracted after the diagnosis of generalized chronic moderate-to-advanced periodontitis of the remaining teeth. The patient reported satisfactory esthetic and functional outcomes during the one-year follow-up visit.
Bicuspid ; Bone Resorption ; Ceramics ; Crowns ; Dental Prosthesis ; Dentures ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Patient Preference ; Periodontitis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rehabilitation ; Social Class ; Tooth

In 2018, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) published a consensus recommendation on management of hyperglycemia. This consensus report emphasized the need for patient-centered management considering multimorbidity and individual patient preferences and barriers. Patients with type 2 diabetes with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who fail to control blood glucose with the initial glucose-lowering medication are recommended a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor or a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. For patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure, SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended. In patients who need an injectable medication, GLP-1 receptor agonists are the preferred choice over insulin. In this section, we summarize “Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes, 2018. A Consensus Report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).”
Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Comorbidity ; Consensus ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Patient Preference ; Patient-Centered Care ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which are mainly primary care conditions, are ideally managed in local health centers (LHCs). However, majority of patients with NCDs utilize tertiary hospitals. Objectives: To determine factors associated with willingness of patients with NCDs consulting at the UP-PGH Family Medicine Clinic (FMC), a hospital-based primary care clinic, to transfer medical care to local health centers. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a 5-part, interview-assisted questionnaire was conducted among 380 patients with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. Data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA. Results: Respondents had a low degree of willingness to transfer medical care to health centers at 32% (SD ± 21). Significant predictors include being married, presence of hypertension, PhilHealth coverage, satisfaction with waiting time and perception of appropriate service delivery at FMC. Conclusion Patients with NCDs consulting at FMC had low willingness to transfer to local health centers. Moreover, there was low utilization of local health centers despite awareness of presence of LHCs in the community. Almost all viewed that NCDs are best managed in a hospital-based outpatient clinic rather than the health center, consistent with perceptions of higher quality of service delivery and higher service satisfaction in the FMC. Sociodemographic, economic and health system factors were identified to affect willingness to transfer.
Primary Health Care ; Patient Transfer ; Health Facilities ; Patient Preference ; Noncommunicable Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients may feel embarrassed during colonoscopy. Our study aimed to assess changes in patient preference, over the past decade, for the sex of their colonoscopist. METHODS: Prospective studies were performed at a single health center from July to September 2008, and from July to September 2016. Subjects included colonoscopy patients (2008: 354, 2016: 304) who were asked to complete a questionnaire before colonoscopy. RESULTS: In 2016, 69 patients (24.9%) expressed a sex preference, compared with 46 patients (14.6%) in 2008. By 2016, female patient preference for a female colonoscopist had significantly increased to 95% (odds ratio [OR], 2.678; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.418– 5.057; P=0.002). In multivariate analysis, patient sex (OR, 4.404; P=0.000), patient age (OR, 0.977; 95% CI, 0.961–0.992; P=0.004), and year of procedure (OR, 1.674; 95% CI, 1.028–2.752) were statistically significant factors in sex preference. Between 2008 and 2016, female patients preferred a female colonoscopist because of embarrassment. Male patients also preferred a male colonoscopist, and the primary reason shifted from expertise to patient embarrassment (2008: 29%, 2016: 63%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients have an increased gender preference for the colonoscopist because of embarrassment. Taking this into account can increase patient satisfaction during colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Patient Preference ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the validity of CH-6D, a generic preference-based health-related quality of life measure for children and adolescents. METHODS: A group of children were recruited from 3 elementary schools and 3 community child- centers in Cheonan (n=112). Adolescents were recruited nationwide from the panel of high school students provided by Macromilembrain (n=229). The elementary school students completed the survey through self-administration and the high school students completed it on-line through their smart phone. Two kinds of construct validity were tested. First, convergent validity was tested by correlating the CH-6D score with Health Utilities Index (HUI) Mark 2 which was also a utility measure for children and adolescents. Second, known-group validity was tested by testing differences in the CH-6D scores by subjective health status and use of medical services. RESULTS: The correlation between CH-6D and HUI Mark 2 was statistically significant in both elementary and high school students. The Pearson correlation coefficients for the elementary and high school samples were .52 (p < 0.0001) and .66 (p < .0001), respectively. Results of a one-way ANOVA showed that better the subjective health status, the higher was the CH-6D score. The results of the t-tests showed that the CH-6D score was significantly lower in those who had used medical service in the previous two weeks than in those who had not used it for both elementary and high school samples. CONCLUSIONS: CH-6D was found to have convergent validity and known-group validity for both elementary and high school students. This shows the potential validity of CH-6D for clinical and economic research in children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Humans ; Patient Preference ; Quality of Life ; Smartphone

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and eosinophil infiltration in the esophageal epithelium. The definition of eosinophilic esophagitis continues to evolve, most recently with the characterization of proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia. Diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis is based on consensus guidelines, but can be challenging because none of the symptoms, endoscopic findings, or histologic features are specific for eosinophilic esophagitis on their own. For treatment, either oral topical corticosteroids or dietary elimination therapy are reasonable first-line options. The choice will depend on both patient preference and clinician expertise. In cases with severe esophageal strictures, dilation is also performed. Proton pump inhibitors play an important role in current management.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Consensus ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophilic Esophagitis* ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelium ; Patient Preference ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps

The Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) recently updated the Clinical Practice Guidelines on antihyperglycemic agent therapy for adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In combination therapy of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), general recommendations were not changed compared to those of 2015 KDA guidelines. The committee of Clinical Practice Guideline of KDA has extensively reviewed and discussed the results of meta-analyses and systematic reviews of the effectiveness and safety of OHAs and many clinical trials on Korean patients with T2DM for the update of guidelines. All OHAs were effective when added to metformin or metformin and sulfonylurea, although the effects of each agent on body weight and hypoglycemia were different. Therefore, selection of a second agent as a metformin add-on therapy or a third agent as a metformin and sulfonylurea add-on therapy should be based on the patient's clinical characteristics and the efficacy, side effects, cardiovascular benefit, risk of hypoglycemia, effect on body weight, patient preference, and combined comorbidity.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypoglycemic Agents* ; Metformin ; Patient Preference ; Treatment Outcome