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Strechen I, Wilson P, Eltalhi T, Piche K, Tschida-Reuter D, Howard D, Sutor B, Tiong I, Herasevich S, Pickering B, Barwise A. Harnessing health information technology to promote equitable care for patients with limited English proficiency and complex care needs. Trials 2024; 25:450. [PMID: 38961501 PMCID: PMC11223355 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08254-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with language barriers encounter healthcare disparities, which may be alleviated by leveraging interpreter skills to reduce cultural, language, and literacy barriers through improved bidirectional communication. Evidence supports the use of in-person interpreters, especially for interactions involving patients with complex care needs. Unfortunately, due to interpreter shortages and clinician underuse of interpreters, patients with language barriers frequently do not get the language services they need or are entitled to. Health information technologies (HIT), including artificial intelligence (AI), have the potential to streamline processes, prompt clinicians to utilize in-person interpreters, and support prioritization. METHODS From May 1, 2023, to June 21, 2024, a single-center stepped wedge cluster randomized trial will be conducted within 35 units of Saint Marys Hospital & Methodist Hospital at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The units include medical, surgical, trauma, and mixed ICUs and hospital floors that admit acute medical and surgical care patients as well as the emergency department (ED). The transitions between study phases will be initiated at 60-day intervals resulting in a 12-month study period. Units in the control group will receive standard care and rely on clinician initiative to request interpreter services. In the intervention group, the study team will generate a daily list of adult inpatients with language barriers, order the list based on their complexity scores (from highest to lowest), and share it with interpreter services, who will send a secure chat message to the bedside nurse. This engagement will be triggered by a predictive machine-learning algorithm based on a palliative care score, supplemented by other predictors of complexity including length of stay and level of care as well as procedures, events, and clinical notes. DISCUSSION This pragmatic clinical trial approach will integrate a predictive machine-learning algorithm into a workflow process and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. We will compare the use of in-person interpreters and time to first interpreter use between the control and intervention groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT05860777. May 16, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Strechen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Critical Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Patrick Wilson
- Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Targ Eltalhi
- Language Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Diane Howard
- Language Services Operations Administrator, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Bruce Sutor
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology and Medical Director of Language Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ing Tiong
- Information Technology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Svetlana Herasevich
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Critical Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Brian Pickering
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Critical Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Amelia Barwise
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Ju X, Mittinty M, Smithers L, Jamieson L. Early Childhood Caries Intervention in Aboriginal Australian Children: A Cross-in Randomized Trial. JDR Clin Trans Res 2024; 9:239-247. [PMID: 37615160 PMCID: PMC11184907 DOI: 10.1177/23800844231191714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early childhood caries (ECC) is the strongest predictor of dental caries in adulthood. Indigenous children have higher levels of ECC compared with non-Indigenous children. The study aimed to estimate the efficacy of an ECC intervention among Aboriginal Australian children. METHODS Baby Teeth Talk was an outcome assessor-blinded, closed-cohort cross-in randomized controlled trial conducted in South Australia, Australia. We randomly allocated 448 women pregnant with an Aboriginal child to either an immediate (II) or delayed (DI) intervention group between January 2011 and May 2012. The immediate intervention comprised (1) provision of dental care to mothers during pregnancy; (2) application of fluoride varnish to teeth of children at ages 6, 12; and 18 mo; (3) motivational interviewing delivered in conjunction; and (4) anticipatory guidance. Mothers/children in the DI group received the same intervention commencing when the child was 24 mo of age. The outcomes were assessed by the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) in children aged 24, 36, and 60 mo. Regression-based approaches with generalized linear mixed effect (log-Poisson) model characterized the mean dmft to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS A total of 223 participants were randomly allocated to the II group and 225 to the DI group. Three hundred sixty-five children (178 II, 187 DI) received at least 1 dental clinical examination at 24, 36, and 60 mo of follow-up. The mean dmft was lower in the II group (0.48, 1.32, and 2.06) than in the DI group (0.82, 1.90, and 3.29) at each time point, respectively. The direct ECC intervention effect was to prevent/decrease dental decay experience (dmft) occurrence by 84% (RR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.20-2.48) after adjusting for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicated that the time-varied ECC intervention had immediate and longer-term effects on the prevention of ECC among Indigenous Australian children. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT The study aimed to estimate the efficacy of an early childhood caries (ECC) intervention among Aboriginal Australian children. The findings indicated that the culturally appropriate ECC intervention is effective for the preventive of ECC and can be used by clinicians, educators, and policy makers when planning an ECC intervention, so as to prevent and reduce ECC and meet identified oral health needs across the Australian population, which is important for preventive dental care.
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Affiliation(s)
- X. Ju
- Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, the University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - M.N Mittinty
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - L. Smithers
- School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - L. Jamieson
- Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences Building, The University of Adelaide, SA, USA
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Hughes JP, Lee WY, Troxel AB, Heagerty PJ. Sample Size Calculations for Stepped Wedge Designs with Treatment Effects that May Change with the Duration of Time under Intervention. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2024; 25:348-355. [PMID: 37728810 PMCID: PMC10950842 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-023-01587-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The stepped wedge design is often used to evaluate interventions as they are rolled out across schools, health clinics, communities, or other clusters. Most models used in the design and analysis of stepped wedge trials assume that the intervention effect is immediate and constant over time following implementation of the intervention (the "exposure time"). This is known as the IT (immediate treatment effect) assumption. However, recent research has shown that using methods based on the IT assumption when the treatment effect varies over exposure time can give extremely misleading results. In this manuscript, we discuss the need to carefully specify an appropriate measure of the treatment effect when the IT assumption is violated and we show how a stepped wedge trial can be powered when it is anticipated that the treatment effect will vary as a function of the exposure time. Specifically, we describe how to power a trial when the exposure time indicator (ETI) model of Kenny et al. (Statistics in Medicine, 41, 4311-4339, 2022) is used and the estimand of interest is a weighted average of the time-varying treatment effects. We apply these methods to the ADDRESS-BP trial, a type 3 hybrid implementation study designed to address racial disparities in health care by evaluating a practice-based implementation strategy to reduce hypertension in African American communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Wen-Yu Lee
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea B Troxel
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrick J Heagerty
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Romero SAD, Au L, Flores-Ortega RE, Helsten T, Palomino H, Kaiser BN, Echevarria M, Lukas K, Freeman K, Zou J, Aristizabal P, Armenian S, Su HI. Let's TOC Fertility: A stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial of the Telehealth Oncofertility Care (TOC) intervention in children, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Contemp Clin Trials 2024; 141:107537. [PMID: 38614445 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors experience overall increased risks of infertility that are preventable through effective fertility preservation services prior to starting cancer treatment. Oncofertility care is the evidence-based practice of informing newly diagnosed cancer patients about their reproductive risks and supporting shared decision-making on fertility preservation services. Despite longstanding clinical guidelines, oncofertility care delivery continues to be limited and highly variable across adult and pediatric oncology settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS We describe the design of a stepped wedge cluster randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the multi-component Telehealth Oncofertility Care (TOC) intervention conducted in 20 adult and pediatric oncology clinics across three health systems in Southern California. Intervention components are: 1) electronic health record-based oncofertility needs screen and referral pathway to a virtual oncofertility hub; 2) telehealth oncofertility counseling through the hub; and 3) telehealth oncofertility financial navigation through the hub. We hypothesize the intervention condition will be associated with increased proportions of patients who engage in goal-concordant oncofertility care (i.e., engagement in reproductive risk counseling and fertility preservation services that meet the patient's fertility goals) and improved patient-reported outcomes, compared to the usual care control condition. We will also evaluate intervention implementation in a mixed-methods study guided by implementation science frameworks. DISCUSSION Our overall goal is to speed implementation of a scalable oncofertility care intervention at cancer diagnosis for children, adolescent and young adult cancer patients to improve their future fertility and quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05443737.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A D Romero
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, United States of America; Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California at San Diego, United States of America.
| | - Lauren Au
- Department of Medicine, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa John A Burns School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Ricardo E Flores-Ortega
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Teresa Helsten
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, United States of America; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, United States of America
| | - Helen Palomino
- Cancer Resource Center of the Desert, United States of America
| | - Bonnie N Kaiser
- Department of Anthropology and Global Health Program, University of California San Diego, United States of America
| | | | - Kara Lukas
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States of America
| | - Kendall Freeman
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States of America
| | - Jingjing Zou
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California at San Diego, United States of America
| | - Paula Aristizabal
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Saro Armenian
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States of America
| | - H Irene Su
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, United States of America; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, United States of America
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Gyedu A, Issaka A, Donkor P, Mock C. Assessment and reassessment of injured patients at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. Afr J Emerg Med 2024; 14:122-127. [PMID: 38799078 PMCID: PMC11127473 DOI: 10.1016/j.afjem.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Frequent reassessment of injured patients is an important component of trauma and emergency care. How frequently such reassessment is done in African hospitals has been minimally addressed. We sought to address this gap, as well as to assess the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) to improve assessment and reassessment rates. Methods We undertook a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial with research assistants observing trauma care before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of eight non-tertiary Ghanaian hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in seven key performance indicators (KPIs) of assessment and reassessment were evaluated using generalized linear mixed regression. KPIs included: respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, level of consciousness, mobility, temperature, and oxygen saturation. Results Management of 4077 patients was observed: 2067 before TIF initiation and 2010 after. In the before period, completion of KPIs of initial assessment ranged from 55% (oxygen saturation) to 88% (level of consciousness). KPIs for reassessment for patients still in the EU after 30 min (n = 1945, in before period) were much lower than for initial assessment, ranging from 10% (respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) to 13% (level of consciousness). The TIF did not significantly improve performance of any KPI of assessment or reassessment. Similar patterns pertained for the subgroup of seriously injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥9). Conclusion At non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana, performance of KPIs of initial assessment were mostly adequate, but with room for improvement. Performance of KPIs for reassessment were very low, even for seriously injured patients. The intervention (trauma intake form) did not impact reassessment rates, despite previously having been shown to impact many other KPIs of trauma care. Potential avenues to pursue to improve reassessment rates include other quality improvement efforts and increased emphasis on reassessment in training courses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gyedu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Adamu Issaka
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Peter Donkor
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Charles Mock
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Gyedu A, Issaka A, Appiah AB, Donkor P, Mock C. Care of Injured Children Compared to Adults at District and Regional Hospitals in Ghana and the Impact of a Trauma Intake Form: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial. J Pediatr Surg 2024; 59:1210-1218. [PMID: 38154994 PMCID: PMC11105994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) to improve achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) of initial trauma care among injured children, compared to adults, at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana. METHODS A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was performed with research assistants directly observing the management of injured patients before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of 8 non-tertiary hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in outcomes between children and adults in periods before and after TIF introduction were determined with multivariable logistic regression. Differences in outcomes among children after TIF introduction were determined using generalized linear mixed regression. RESULTS Management of 3889 injured patients was observed; 757 (19%) were children <18 years. Trauma care KPIs at baseline were lower for children compared to adults. Improvements in primary survey KPIs were observed among children after TIF introduction. Examples include airway assessment [279 (71%) to 359 (98%); adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 74.42, p = 0.005)] and chest examination [225 (58%) to 349 (95%); AOR 53.80, p = 0.002)]. However, despite these improvements, achievement of KPIs was still lower compared to adults. Examples are pelvic fracture evaluation [children: 295 (80%) vs adults: 1416 (88%), AOR: 0.56, p = 0.001] and respiratory rate assessment (children: 310 (84%) vs adults: 1458 (91%), AOR: 058, p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS While the TIF was effective in improving most KPIs of pediatric trauma care, more targeted education is needed to bridge the gap in quality between pediatric and adult trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries. TYPE OF STUDY Stepped-wedged cluster randomized controlled trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gyedu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Adamu Issaka
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
| | - Anthony Baffour Appiah
- Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter Donkor
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Charles Mock
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Liu J, Li F. Optimal designs using generalized estimating equations in cluster randomized crossover and stepped wedge trials. Stat Methods Med Res 2024:9622802241247717. [PMID: 38813761 DOI: 10.1177/09622802241247717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Cluster randomized crossover and stepped wedge cluster randomized trials are two types of longitudinal cluster randomized trials that leverage both the within- and between-cluster comparisons to estimate the treatment effect and are increasingly used in healthcare delivery and implementation science research. While the variance expressions of estimated treatment effect have been previously developed from the method of generalized estimating equations for analyzing cluster randomized crossover trials and stepped wedge cluster randomized trials, little guidance has been provided for optimal designs to ensure maximum efficiency. Here, an optimal design refers to the combination of optimal cluster-period size and optimal number of clusters that provide the smallest variance of the treatment effect estimator or maximum efficiency under a fixed total budget. In this work, we develop optimal designs for multiple-period cluster randomized crossover trials and stepped wedge cluster randomized trials with continuous outcomes, including both closed-cohort and repeated cross-sectional sampling schemes. Local optimal design algorithms are proposed when the correlation parameters in the working correlation structure are known. MaxiMin optimal design algorithms are proposed when the exact values are unavailable, but investigators may specify a range of correlation values. The closed-form formulae of local optimal design and MaxiMin optimal design are derived for multiple-period cluster randomized crossover trials, where the cluster-period size and number of clusters are decimal. The decimal estimates from closed-form formulae can then be used to investigate the performances of integer estimates from local optimal design and MaxiMin optimal design algorithms. One unique contribution from this work, compared to the previous optimal design research, is that we adopt constrained optimization techniques to obtain integer estimates under the MaxiMin optimal design. To assist practical implementation, we also develop four SAS macros to find local optimal designs and MaxiMin optimal designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxia Liu
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery and Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Ouyang Y, Taljaard M, Forbes AB, Li F. Maintaining the validity of inference from linear mixed models in stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials under misspecified random-effects structures. Stat Methods Med Res 2024:9622802241248382. [PMID: 38807552 DOI: 10.1177/09622802241248382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Linear mixed models are commonly used in analyzing stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials. A key consideration for analyzing a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial is accounting for the potentially complex correlation structure, which can be achieved by specifying random-effects. The simplest random effects structure is random intercept but more complex structures such as random cluster-by-period, discrete-time decay, and more recently, the random intervention structure, have been proposed. Specifying appropriate random effects in practice can be challenging: assuming more complex correlation structures may be reasonable but they are vulnerable to computational challenges. To circumvent these challenges, robust variance estimators may be applied to linear mixed models to provide consistent estimators of standard errors of fixed effect parameters in the presence of random-effects misspecification. However, there has been no empirical investigation of robust variance estimators for stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials. In this article, we review six robust variance estimators (both standard and small-sample bias-corrected robust variance estimators) that are available for linear mixed models in R, and then describe a comprehensive simulation study to examine the performance of these robust variance estimators for stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials with a continuous outcome under different data generators. For each data generator, we investigate whether the use of a robust variance estimator with either the random intercept model or the random cluster-by-period model is sufficient to provide valid statistical inference for fixed effect parameters, when these working models are subject to random-effect misspecification. Our results indicate that the random intercept and random cluster-by-period models with robust variance estimators performed adequately. The CR3 robust variance estimator (approximate jackknife) estimator, coupled with the number of clusters minus two degrees of freedom correction, consistently gave the best coverage results, but could be slightly conservative when the number of clusters was below 16. We summarize the implications of our results for the linear mixed model analysis of stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials and offer some practical recommendations on the choice of the analytic model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdong Ouyang
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew B Forbes
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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Doherty S, Kianian B, Dass G, Edward A, Kone A, Manolova G, Sivayokan S, Solomon M, Surenthirakumaran R, Lopes-Cardozo B. Changes in mental health stigma among healthcare professionals and community representatives in Northern Sri Lanka during an mhGAP intervention study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024:10.1007/s00127-024-02684-4. [PMID: 38713387 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02684-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Research indicates that exposure to conflict, natural disasters, and internal displacement can increase mental health conditions. Since the end of the civil conflict within Sri Lanka, the country has worked to increase access to mental health services to meet the needs of conflict-affected populations, however, gaps remain. To address this, integration of mental health services into primary care can reduce the strain on growing specialized care. As part of a larger study primary care practitioners (doctors), public health professionals (nurses, midwives), and community representatives (teachers, social workers) were trained to deliver mental health services in primary care across the heavily impacted Northern Province. The aim was to reduce mental health stigma among enrolled healthcare workers and community representatives by 50%. METHODS Stigma was measured across all participant groups at six time points: pre- and post- initial training at baseline, pre- and post- refresher training 3-months after initial training, and pre- and post- refresher training 6-months after initial training. RESULTS Results indicate a small improvement in average stigma scores at the 6-month refresher point for primary care practitioners, and no meaningful difference in average scores across time points for public health professionals or community representatives. CONCLUSION World Health Organization mhGAP training appears to reduce stigma among primary care practitioners and could be an effective strategy to counteract mental health stigma in low resource settings. Future research should investigate underlying mechanisms of stigma reduction to improve delivery of mental health services in primary care and community settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Doherty
- Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ, UK.
| | - Behzad Kianian
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Giselle Dass
- THEME Institute, 50/13, Old Kesbawa Road, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka
| | - Anne Edward
- THEME Institute, 50/13, Old Kesbawa Road, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka
| | - Ahoua Kone
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Gergana Manolova
- World Health Organization, Av. Appia 20, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sambasivamoorthy Sivayokan
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Jaffna, Ramanathan Road, PO Box 57, Thirunelvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
| | - Madonna Solomon
- THEME Institute, 50/13, Old Kesbawa Road, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka
| | - Rajendra Surenthirakumaran
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Jaffna, Ramanathan Road, PO Box 57, Thirunelvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
| | - Barbara Lopes-Cardozo
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
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Hamaker ME, Wildiers H, Ardito V, Arsandaux J, Barthod-Malat A, Davies P, Degol L, Ferrara L, Fourrier C, Kenis C, Kret M, Lalet C, Pelissier SM, O'Hanlon S, Rostoft S, Seghers N, Saillour-Glénisson F, Staines A, Schwimmer C, Thevenet V, Wallet C, Soubeyran P. Study protocol for two stepped-wedge interventional trials evaluating the effects of holistic information technology-based patient-oriented management in older multimorbid patients with cancer: The GERONTE trials. J Geriatr Oncol 2024; 15:101761. [PMID: 38581958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2024.101761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Current hospital-based care pathways are generally single-disease centred. As a result, coexisting morbidities are often suboptimally evaluated and managed, a deficiency becoming increasingly apparent among older patients who exhibit heterogeneity in health status, functional abilities, frailty, and other geriatric impairments. To address this issue, our study aims to assess a newly developed patient-centred care pathway for older patients with multimorbidity and cancer. The new care pathway was based on currently available evidence and co-designed by end-users including health care professionals, patients, and informal caregivers. Within this care pathway, all healthcare professionals involved in the care of older patients with multimorbidity and cancer will form a Health Professional Consortium (HPC). The role of the HPC will be to centralise oncologic and non-oncologic treatment recommendations in accordance with the patient's priorities. Moreover, an Advanced Practice Nurse will act as case-manager by being the primary point of contact for the patient, thus improving coordination between specialists, and by organising and leading the consortium. Patient monitoring and the HPC collaboration will be facilitated by digital communication tools designed specifically for this purpose, with the added benefit of being customisable for each patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS The GERONTE study is a prospective international, multicentric study consisting of two stepped-wedge trials performed at 16 clinical sites across three European countries. Each trial will include 720 patients aged 70 years and over with a new or progressive cancer (breast, lung, colorectal, prostate) and at least one moderate or severe multimorbidity. The patients in the intervention group will receive the new care pathway whereas patients in the control group will receive usual oncologic care. DISCUSSION GERONTE will evaluate whether this kind of holistic, patient-oriented healthcare management can improve quality of life (primary outcome) and other valuable endpoints in older patients with multimorbidity and cancer. An ancillary study will assess in depth the socio-economic impact of the intervention and deliver concrete implementation guidelines for the GERONTE intervention care pathway. TRIAL REGISTRATION FRONE: NCT05720910 TWOBE: NCT05423808.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marije E Hamaker
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Hans Wildiers
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vittoria Ardito
- Department SDA Bocconi, Government, Health and Not for profit Division, CERGAS, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Julie Arsandaux
- Nantes Université, Univ Angers, Laboratoire de psychologie des Pays de la Loire, LPPL, UR 4638, F-44000 Nantes, France; Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Aurore Barthod-Malat
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Paul Davies
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Lien Degol
- Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucia Ferrara
- Department SDA Bocconi, Government, Health and Not for profit Division, CERGAS, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Celia Fourrier
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Cindy Kenis
- Department of General Medical Oncology and Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marion Kret
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Caroline Lalet
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Simone Mathoulin Pelissier
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Univ Bordeaux, Inserm BordHEalth eaux Population U1219 Epicene Team, France
| | - Shane O'Hanlon
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, D04 T6F4 Dublin, Ireland; Department of Geriatric Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siri Rostoft
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Nelleke Seghers
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Florence Saillour-Glénisson
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anthony Staines
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Christine Schwimmer
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Vincent Thevenet
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Cedric Wallet
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; CHU de Bordeaux, INSERM, Institut Bergonié, CIC 1401, Euclid/F-CRIN clinical trials platform, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre Soubeyran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Bergonié, Inserm U1312, SIRIC BRIO, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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11
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Xiao Y, Fulda KG, Young RA, Hendrix ZN, Daniel KM, Chen KY, Zhou Y, Roye JL, Kosmari L, Wilson J, Espinoza AM, Sutcliffe KM, Pitts SI, Arbaje AI, Chui MA, Blair S, Sloan D, Jackson M, Gurses AP. Patient Partnership Tools to Support Medication Safety in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Protocol for a Nonrandomized Stepped Wedge Clinical Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e57878. [PMID: 38684080 PMCID: PMC11091807 DOI: 10.2196/57878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preventable harms from medications are significant threats to patient safety in community settings, especially among ambulatory older adults on multiple prescription medications. Patients may partner with primary care professionals by taking on active roles in decisions, learning the basics of medication self-management, and working with community resources. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the impact of a set of patient partnership tools that redesign primary care encounters to encourage and empower patients to make more effective use of those encounters to improve medication safety. METHODS The study is a nonrandomized, cross-sectional stepped wedge cluster-controlled trial with 1 private family medicine clinic and 2 public safety-net primary care clinics each composing their own cluster. There are 2 intervention sequences with 1 cluster per sequence and 1 control sequence with 1 cluster. Cross-sectional surveys will be taken immediately at the conclusion of visits to the clinics during 6 time periods of 6 weeks each, with a transition period of no data collection during intervention implementation. The number of visits to be surveyed will vary by period and cluster. We plan to recruit patients and professionals for surveys during 405 visits. In the experimental periods, visits will be conducted with two partnership tools and associated clinic process changes: (1) a 1-page visit preparation guide given to relevant patients by clinic staff before seeing the provider, with the intention to improve communication and shared decision-making, and (2) a library of short educational videos that clinic staff encourage patients to watch on medication safety. In the control periods, visits will be conducted with usual care. The primary outcome will be patients' self-efficacy in medication use. The secondary outcomes are medication-related issues such as duplicate therapies identified by primary care providers and assessment of collaborative work during visits. RESULTS The study was funded in September 2019. Data collection started in April 2023 and ended in December 2023. Data was collected for 405 primary care encounters during that period. As of February 15, 2024, initial descriptive statistics were calculated. Full data analysis is expected to be completed and published in the summer of 2024. CONCLUSIONS This study will assess the impact of patient partnership tools and associated process changes in primary care on medication use self-efficacy and medication-related issues. The study is powered to identify types of patients who may benefit most from patient engagement tools in primary care visits. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05880368; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05880368. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/57878.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xiao
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
- College of Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Kimberley G Fulda
- Department of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and North Texas Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (NorTex), University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Richard A Young
- Family Medicine Residency Program, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Z Noah Hendrix
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Kathryn M Daniel
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Kay Yut Chen
- College of Business, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Yuan Zhou
- College of Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Jennifer L Roye
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Ludmila Kosmari
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Joshua Wilson
- College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Anna M Espinoza
- Department of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and North Texas Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (NorTex), University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Kathleen M Sutcliffe
- Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Samantha I Pitts
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alicia I Arbaje
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michelle A Chui
- School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Somer Blair
- Office of Clinical Research, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Dawn Sloan
- Family Medicine Residency Program, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Masheika Jackson
- Family Medicine Residency Program, John Peter Smith Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Ayse P Gurses
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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12
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Westgate PM, Nigam SR, Shoben AB. Reconsidering stepped wedge cluster randomized trial designs with implementation periods: Fewer sequences or the parallel-group design with baseline and implementation periods are potentially more efficient. Clin Trials 2024:17407745241244790. [PMID: 38650332 DOI: 10.1177/17407745241244790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS When designing a cluster randomized trial, advantages and disadvantages of tentative designs must be weighed. The stepped wedge design is popular for multiple reasons, including its potential to increase power via improved efficiency relative to a parallel-group design. In many realistic settings, it will take time for clusters to fully implement the intervention. When designing the HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM) Communities Study, implementation time was a major consideration, and we examined the efficiency and practicality of three designs. Specifically, a three-sequence stepped wedge design with implementation periods, a corresponding two-sequence modified design that is created by removing the middle sequence, and a parallel-group design with baseline and implementation periods. In this article, we study the relative efficiencies of these specific designs. More generally, we study the relative efficiencies of modified designs when the stepped wedge design with implementation periods has three or more sequences. We also consider different correlation structures. METHODS We compare efficiencies of stepped wedge designs with implementation periods consisting of three to nine sequences with a variety of corresponding designs. The three-sequence design is compared to the two-sequence modified design and to the parallel-group design with baseline and implementation periods analysed via analysis of covariance. Stepped wedge designs with implementation periods consisting of four or more sequences are compared to modified designs that remove all or a subset of 'middle' sequences. Efficiencies are based on the use of linear mixed effects models. RESULTS In the studied settings, the modified design is more efficient than the three-sequence stepped wedge design with implementation periods. The parallel-group design with baseline and implementation periods with analysis of covariance-based analysis is often more efficient than the three-sequence design. With respect to stepped wedge designs with implementation periods that are comprised of more sequences, there are often corresponding modified designs that improve efficiency. However, use of only the first and last sequences has the potential to be either relatively efficient or inefficient. Relative efficiency is impacted by the strength of the statistical correlation among outcomes from the same cluster; for example, the relative efficiencies of modified designs tend to be greater for smaller cluster auto-correlation values. CONCLUSION If a three-sequence stepped wedge design with implementation periods is being considered for a future cluster randomized trial, then a corresponding modified design using only the first and last sequences should be considered if sole focus is on efficiency. However, a parallel-group design with baseline and implementation periods and analysis of covariance-based analysis can be a practical, efficient alternative. For stepped wedge designs with implementation periods and a larger number of sequences, modified versions that remove 'middle' sequences should be considered. Due to the potential sensitivity of design efficiencies, statistical correlation should be carefully considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Westgate
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Shawn R Nigam
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Abigail B Shoben
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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13
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Gyedu A, Loglo L, Ablorh K, Brobbey-Kyei IA, Donkor P, Mock C. Improvement in quality of trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana during on-hours and off-hours with a trauma intake form: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. Injury 2024:111569. [PMID: 38679559 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2024.111569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to determine the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) of initial trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana during on-hours (8AM-5PM weekdays) compared to off-hours (nights, weekends, and holidays). We also sought to assess the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) with built-in decision support prompts to improve care and to assess whether this effectiveness varied between on-hours and off-hours. METHODS A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was performed with research assistants directly observing trauma care before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of eight hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in KPIs and mortality were assessed using multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed regression. RESULTS Management of 4,077 patients was observed; 1,126 (28 %) during on-hours and 2,951(72 %) during off-hours. At baseline, four of 20 KPIs were performed significantly more often during off-hours. TIF improved care during both on- and off-hours. Seventeen KPIs improved during on-hours and 18 KPIs improved during off-hours. After TIF, six KPIs were performed more often during on-hours, but differences, though significant, were small (1-5 %). Examples of KPIs which were performed more often during on-hours after TIF included: airway assessment (99 % for on-hours vs. 98 % for off-hours), evaluation for intra-abdominal bleeding (91 % vs. 87 %), and spine immobilization for blunt trauma (90 % vs. 85 %) (all p < 0.05). At baseline, mortality among seriously injured patients (Injury Severity Score >9) was higher during on-hours (27 %) compared to off-hours (17 %, p = 0.047). TIF lowered mortality for seriously injured patients during both on-hours (27 % before TIF, 8 % after, p = 0.027) and during off-hours (17 % before, 7 % after, p = 0.004). After TIF, mortality among seriously injured patients was equal between on- and off-hours (8 % vs. 7 %, NS). CONCLUSIONS At baseline, KPIs of trauma care were slightly better during off-hours compared with on-hours, and mortality was lower among seriously injured patient during off-hours. A quality improvement initiative (the TIF) using built-in decision support prompts improved care strongly in both on- and off-hours and eliminated the mortality difference between on- and off-hours. Use of similar decision support prompts during initial trauma care should be promoted widely in other low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gyedu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Lord Loglo
- Konongo-Odumase Government Hospital, Konongo, Ghana
| | | | | | - Peter Donkor
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Charles Mock
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Nevins P, Ryan M, Davis-Plourde K, Ouyang Y, Macedo JAP, Meng C, Tong G, Wang X, Ortiz-Reyes L, Caille A, Li F, Taljaard M. Adherence to key recommendations for design and analysis of stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials: A review of trials published 2016-2022. Clin Trials 2024; 21:199-210. [PMID: 37990575 PMCID: PMC11003836 DOI: 10.1177/17407745231208397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT), in which clusters are randomized to a time at which they will transition to the intervention condition - rather than a trial arm - is a relatively new design. SW-CRTs have additional design and analytical considerations compared to conventional parallel arm trials. To inform future methodological development, including guidance for trialists and the selection of parameters for statistical simulation studies, we conducted a review of recently published SW-CRTs. Specific objectives were to describe (1) the types of designs used in practice, (2) adherence to key requirements for statistical analysis, and (3) practices around covariate adjustment. We also examined changes in adherence over time and by journal impact factor. METHODS We used electronic searches to identify primary reports of SW-CRTs published 2016-2022. Two reviewers extracted information from each trial report and its protocol, if available, and resolved disagreements through discussion. RESULTS We identified 160 eligible trials, randomizing a median (Q1-Q3) of 11 (8-18) clusters to 5 (4-7) sequences. The majority (122, 76%) were cross-sectional (almost all with continuous recruitment), 23 (14%) were closed cohorts and 15 (9%) open cohorts. Many trials had complex design features such as multiple or multivariate primary outcomes (50, 31%) or time-dependent repeated measures (27, 22%). The most common type of primary outcome was binary (51%); continuous outcomes were less common (26%). The most frequently used method of analysis was a generalized linear mixed model (112, 70%); generalized estimating equations were used less frequently (12, 8%). Among 142 trials with fewer than 40 clusters, only 9 (6%) reported using methods appropriate for a small number of clusters. Statistical analyses clearly adjusted for time effects in 119 (74%), for within-cluster correlations in 132 (83%), and for distinct between-period correlations in 13 (8%). Covariates were included in the primary analysis of the primary outcome in 82 (51%) and were most often individual-level covariates; however, clear and complete pre-specification of covariates was uncommon. Adherence to some key methodological requirements (adjusting for time effects, accounting for within-period correlation) was higher among trials published in higher versus lower impact factor journals. Substantial improvements over time were not observed although a slight improvement was observed in the proportion accounting for a distinct between-period correlation. CONCLUSIONS Future methods development should prioritize methods for SW-CRTs with binary or time-to-event outcomes, small numbers of clusters, continuous recruitment designs, multivariate outcomes, or time-dependent repeated measures. Trialists, journal editors, and peer reviewers should be aware that SW-CRTs have additional methodological requirements over parallel arm designs including the need to account for period effects as well as complex intracluster correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Nevins
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mary Ryan
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kendra Davis-Plourde
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yongdong Ouyang
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Can Meng
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guangyu Tong
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xueqi Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Luis Ortiz-Reyes
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Agnès Caille
- Université de Tours, Université de Nantes, INSERM, SPHERE U1246, Tours, France
- INSERM CIC 1415, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Kullgren JT, Kim HM, Slowey M, Colbert J, Soyster B, Winston SA, Ryan K, Forman JH, Riba M, Krupka E, Kerr EA. Using Behavioral Economics to Reduce Low-Value Care Among Older Adults: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med 2024; 184:281-290. [PMID: 38285565 PMCID: PMC10825788 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.7703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Importance Use of low-value care is common among older adults. It is unclear how to best engage clinicians and older patients to decrease use of low-value services. Objective To test whether the Committing to Choose Wisely behavioral economic intervention could engage primary care clinicians and older patients to reduce low-value care. Design, Setting, and Participants Stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial conducted at 8 primary care clinics of an academic health system and a private group practice between December 12, 2017, and September 4, 2019. Participants were primary care clinicians and older adult patients who had diabetes, insomnia, or anxiety or were eligible for prostate cancer screening. Data analysis was performed from October 2019 to November 2023. Intervention Clinicians were invited to commit in writing to Choosing Wisely recommendations for older patients to avoid use of hypoglycemic medications to achieve tight glycemic control, sedative-hypnotic medications for insomnia or anxiety, and prostate-specific antigen tests to screen for prostate cancer. Committed clinicians had their photographs displayed on clinic posters and received weekly emails with alternatives to these low-value services. Educational handouts were mailed to applicable patients before scheduled visits and available at the point of care. Main Outcomes and Measures Patient-months with a low-value service across conditions (primary outcome) and separately for each condition (secondary outcomes). For patients with diabetes, or insomnia or anxiety, secondary outcomes were patient-months in which targeted medications were decreased or stopped (ie, deintensified). Results The study included 81 primary care clinicians and 8030 older adult patients (mean [SD] age, 75.1 [7.2] years; 4076 men [50.8%] and 3954 women [49.2%]). Across conditions, a low-value service was used in 7627 of the 37 116 control patient-months (20.5%) and 7416 of the 46 381 intervention patient-months (16.0%) (adjusted odds ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.97). For each individual condition, there were no significant differences between the control and intervention periods in the odds of patient-months with a low-value service. The intervention increased the odds of deintensification of hypoglycemic medications for diabetes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.24) but not sedative-hypnotic medications for insomnia or anxiety. Conclusions and Relevance In this stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial, the Committing to Choose Wisely behavioral economic intervention reduced low-value care across 3 common clinical situations and increased deintensification of hypoglycemic medications for diabetes. Use of scalable interventions that nudge patients and clinicians to achieve greater value while preserving autonomy in decision-making should be explored more broadly. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03411525.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T. Kullgren
- Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - H. Myra Kim
- Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
| | - Megan Slowey
- Center for Health and Research Transformation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joseph Colbert
- University of Michigan Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Barbara Soyster
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Kerry Ryan
- University of Michigan Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Jane H. Forman
- Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Melissa Riba
- Center for Health and Research Transformation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Erin Krupka
- University of Michigan School of Information, Ann Arbor
| | - Eve A. Kerr
- Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor
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16
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Gyedu A, Amponsah-Manu F, Awuku K, Ameyaw E, Korankye KK, Donkor P, Mock C. Differences in trauma care between district and regional hospitals and impact of a trauma intake form with decision support prompts in Ghana: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. World J Surg 2024; 48:527-539. [PMID: 38312029 PMCID: PMC10960944 DOI: 10.1002/wjs.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to determine the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) of initial trauma care at district (first-level) and regional (second-level) hospitals in Ghana and to assess the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) to improve care. METHODS A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was performed with direct observations of trauma management before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of eight hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in KPIs were assessed using multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed regression. RESULTS Management of 4077 patients was observed; 30% at regional and 70% at district hospitals. Eight of 20 KPIs were performed significantly more often at regional hospitals. TIF improved care at both levels. Fourteen KPIs improved significantly at district and eight KPIs improved significantly at regional hospitals. After TIF, regional hospitals still performed better with 18 KPIs being performed significantly more often than district hospitals. After TIF, all KPIs were performed in >90% of patients at regional hospitals. Examples of KPIs for which regional performed better than district hospitals after TIF included: assessment for oxygen saturation (83% vs. 98%) and evaluation for intra-abdominal bleeding (82% vs. 99%, all p < 0.001). Mortality decreased among seriously injured patients (injury severity score ≥9) at both district (15% before vs. 8% after, p = 0.04) and regional (23% vs. 7%, p = 0.004) hospitals. CONCLUSIONS TIF improved care and lowered mortality at both hospital levels, but KPIs remained lower at district hospitals. Further measures are needed to improve initial trauma care at this level. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04547192).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gyedu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Donkor
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Charles Mock
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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17
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Tian Z, Li F. Information content of stepped wedge designs under the working independence assumption. J Stat Plan Inference 2024; 229:106097. [PMID: 37954217 PMCID: PMC10634667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jspi.2023.106097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The stepped wedge design is increasingly popular in pragmatic trials and implementation science research studies for evaluating system-level interventions that are perceived to be beneficial to patient populations. An important step in planning a stepped wedge design is to understand the efficiency of the treatment effect estimator and hence the power of the study. We develop several novel analytical results for designing stepped wedge cluster randomized trials analyzed through generalized estimating equations under a misspecified working independence correlation structure. We first contribute a general variance expression of the treatment effect estimator when data collection is scheduled for each cluster-period. Because resource and patient-centered considerations may intentionally call for an incomplete design with outcome data being omitted for certain cluster-periods, we further derive the information content based on the robust sandwich variance to identify data elements that may be preferentially omitted with minimum loss of precision in estimating the treatment effect. We prove that centrosymmetric pairs of cluster-periods, treatment sequences and periods have identical information content and thus contribute equally to the treatment effect estimation, as long as the true covariance structure for the cluster-period means remains centrosymmetric. Finally, we provide an example of how to obtain an incomplete stepped wedge design that admits a more efficient independence GEE estimator but requires less data collection effort. Our results elegantly extend existing ones from linear mixed models coupled with model-based variances to accommodate a misspecified independence working correlation structure through the robust sandwich variances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zibo Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Li F, Chen X, Tian Z, Wang R, Heagerty PJ. Planning stepped wedge cluster randomized trials to detect treatment effect heterogeneity. Stat Med 2024; 43:890-911. [PMID: 38115805 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Stepped wedge design is a popular research design that enables a rigorous evaluation of candidate interventions by using a staggered cluster randomization strategy. While analytical methods were developed for designing stepped wedge trials, the prior focus has been solely on testing for the average treatment effect. With a growing interest on formal evaluation of the heterogeneity of treatment effects across patient subpopulations, trial planning efforts need appropriate methods to accurately identify sample sizes or design configurations that can generate evidence for both the average treatment effect and variations in subgroup treatment effects. To fill in that important gap, this article derives novel variance formulas for confirmatory analyses of treatment effect heterogeneity, that are applicable to both cross-sectional and closed-cohort stepped wedge designs. We additionally point out that the same framework can be used for more efficient average treatment effect analyses via covariate adjustment, and allows the use of familiar power formulas for average treatment effect analyses to proceed. Our results further sheds light on optimal design allocations of clusters to maximize the weighted precision for assessing both the average and heterogeneous treatment effects. We apply the new methods to the Lumbar Imaging with Reporting of Epidemiology Trial, and carry out a simulation study to validate our new methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xinyuan Chen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
| | - Zizhong Tian
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patrick J Heagerty
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Buller DB, Sussman AL, Thomson CA, Kepka D, Taren D, Henry KL, Warner EL, Walkosz BJ, Woodall WG, Nuss K, Blair CK, Guest DD, Borrayo EA, Gordon JS, Hatcher J, Wetter DW, Kinsey A, Jones CF, Yung AK, Christini K, Berteletti J, Torres JA, Barraza Perez EY, Small A. #4Corners4Health Social Media Cancer Prevention Campaign for Emerging Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Stepped-Wedge Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e50392. [PMID: 38386396 PMCID: PMC10921336 DOI: 10.2196/50392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many emerging adults (EAs) are prone to making unhealthy choices, which increase their risk of premature cancer morbidity and mortality. In the era of social media, rigorous research on interventions to promote health behaviors for cancer risk reduction among EAs delivered over social media is limited. Cancer prevention information and recommendations may reach EAs more effectively over social media than in settings such as health care, schools, and workplaces, particularly for EAs residing in rural areas. OBJECTIVE This pragmatic randomized trial aims to evaluate a multirisk factor intervention using a social media campaign designed with community advisers aimed at decreasing cancer risk factors among EAs. The trial will target EAs from diverse backgrounds living in rural counties in the Four Corners states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. METHODS We will recruit a sample of EAs (n=1000) aged 18 to 26 years residing in rural counties (Rural-Urban Continuum Codes 4 to 9) in the Four Corners states from the Qualtrics' research panel and enroll them in a randomized stepped-wedge, quasi-experimental design. The inclusion criteria include English proficiency and regular social media engagement. A social media intervention will promote guideline-related goals for increased physical activity, healthy eating, and human papillomavirus vaccination and reduced nicotine product use, alcohol intake, and solar UV radiation exposure. Campaign posts will cover digital and media literacy skills, responses to misinformation, communication with family and friends, and referral to community resources. The intervention will be delivered over 12 months in Facebook private groups and will be guided by advisory groups of community stakeholders and EAs and focus groups with EAs. The EAs will complete assessments at baseline and at 12, 26, 39, 52, and 104 weeks after randomization. Assessments will measure 6 cancer risk behaviors, theoretical mediators, and participants' engagement with the social media campaign. RESULTS The trial is in its start-up phase. It is being led by a steering committee. Team members are working in 3 subcommittees to optimize community engagement, the social media intervention, and the measures to be used. The Stakeholder Organization Advisory Board and Emerging Adult Advisory Board were formed and provided initial input on the priority of cancer risk factors to target, social media use by EAs, and community resources available. A framework for the social media campaign with topics, format, and theoretical mediators has been created, along with protocols for campaign management. CONCLUSIONS Social media can be used as a platform to counter misinformation and improve reliable health information to promote health behaviors that reduce cancer risks among EAs. Because of the popularity of web-based information sources among EAs, an innovative, multirisk factor intervention using a social media campaign has the potential to reduce their cancer risk behaviors. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05618158; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05618158. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/50392.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew L Sussman
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Cynthia A Thomson
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Deanna Kepka
- College of Nursing and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Douglas Taren
- Section of Nutrition, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Kimberly L Henry
- Department of Psychology, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Echo L Warner
- College of Nursing and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | | | - Kayla Nuss
- Klein Buendel, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Cindy K Blair
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Dolores D Guest
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Evelinn A Borrayo
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Judith S Gordon
- College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | | | - David W Wetter
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | - Christopher F Jones
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Angela K Yung
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kaila Christini
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | - John A Torres
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Care Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Wimmesberger N, Rau D, Schuchardt F, Meier S, Herrmann ML, Bergmann U, Farin-Glattacker E, Brich J. Identification of Anterior Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke During the Emergency Call: Protocol for a Controlled, Nonrandomized Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e51683. [PMID: 38349728 PMCID: PMC10900077 DOI: 10.2196/51683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endovascular thrombectomy (ET), combined with intravenous thrombolysis if possible, is an effective treatment option for patients with stroke who have confirmed anterior large vessel occlusion (aLVO). However, ET is mainly limited to comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), resulting in a lack of ET capacity in remote, sparsely populated areas. Most stroke networks use the "Drip and Ship" or "Mothership" strategy, resulting in either delayed ET or intravenous thrombolysis, respectively. OBJECTIVE This study protocol introduces the Leitstellen-Basierte Erkennung von Schlaganfall-Patienten für eine Thrombektomie und daraufhin abgestimmte Optimierung der Rettungskette (LESTOR) strategy, developed to optimize the preclinical part of the stroke chain of survival to improve the clinical outcome of patients with suspected aLVO stroke. This involves refining the dispatch strategy for identifying patients with acute aLVO stroke using a phone-based aLVO query. This includes dispatching emergency physicians and emergency medical services (EMS) to urban emergency sites, as well as dispatching helicopter EMS to remote areas. If a highly suspected aLVO is identified after a standardized aLVO score evaluation during a structured examination at the emergency scene, prompt transport to a CSC should be prioritized. METHODS The LESTOR study is a controlled, nonrandomized study implementing the LESTOR strategy, with a stepped-wedge, cluster trial design in 6 districts in southwest Germany. In an interprofessional, iterative approach, an aLVO query or dispatch protocol intended for use by dispatchers, followed by a coordinated aLVO examination score for use by EMS, is being developed, evaluated, and pretested in a simulation study. After the training of all participating health care professionals with the corresponding final aLVO query, the LESTOR strategy is being implemented stepwise. Patients otherwise receive usual stroke care in both the control and intervention groups. The primary outcome is the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days in patients with stroke receiving endovascular treatment. We will use a generalized linear mixed model for data analysis. This study is accompanied by a cost-effectiveness analysis and a qualitative process evaluation. RESULTS This paper describes and discusses the protocol for this controlled, nonrandomized LESTOR study. Enrollment was completed in June 2023. Data analysis is ongoing and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2024. The project started in April 2020 and will end in February 2024. CONCLUSIONS We expect that the intervention will improve the clinical outcome of patients with aLVO stroke, especially outside the catchment areas of CSCs. The results of the accompanying process evaluation and the cost-effectiveness analysis will provide further insights into the implementation process and allow for a better interpretation of the results. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00022152; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00022152. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/51683.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Wimmesberger
- Section Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Diana Rau
- Section Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Florian Schuchardt
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simone Meier
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias L Herrmann
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Bergmann
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erik Farin-Glattacker
- Section Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Jochen Brich
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Wang X, Turner EL, Li F. Designing individually randomized group treatment trials with repeated outcome measurements using generalized estimating equations. Stat Med 2024; 43:358-378. [PMID: 38009329 PMCID: PMC10939061 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Individually randomized group treatment (IRGT) trials, in which the clustering of outcome is induced by group-based treatment delivery, are increasingly popular in public health research. IRGT trials frequently incorporate longitudinal measurements, of which the proper sample size calculations should account for correlation structures reflecting both the treatment-induced clustering and repeated outcome measurements. Given the relatively sparse literature on designing longitudinal IRGT trials, we propose sample size procedures for continuous and binary outcomes based on the generalized estimating equations approach, employing the block exchangeable correlation structures with different correlation parameters for the treatment arm and for the control arm, and surveying five marginal mean models with different assumptions of time effect: no-time constant treatment effect, linear-time constant treatment effect, categorical-time constant treatment effect, linear time by treatment interaction, and categorical time by treatment interaction. Closed-form sample size formulas are derived for continuous outcomes, which depends on the eigenvalues of the correlation matrices; detailed numerical sample size procedures are proposed for binary outcomes. Through simulations, we demonstrate that the empirical power agrees well with the predicted power, for as few as eight groups formed in the treatment arm, when data are analyzed using the matrix-adjusted estimating equations for the correlation parameters with a bias-corrected sandwich variance estimator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqi Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Elizabeth L. Turner
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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22
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Lee KM, Cheung YB. Cluster randomized trial designs for modeling time-varying intervention effects. Stat Med 2024; 43:49-60. [PMID: 37947024 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials (SW-CRTs) are typically analyzed assuming a constant intervention effect. In practice, the intervention effect may vary as a function of exposure time, leading to biased results. The estimation of time-on-intervention (TOI) effects specifies separate discrete intervention effects for each elapsed period of exposure time since the intervention was first introduced. It has been demonstrated to produce results with minimum bias and nominal coverage probabilities in the analysis of SW-CRTs. Due to the design's staggered crossover, TOI effect variances are heteroskedastic in a SW-CRT. Accordingly, we hypothesize that alternative CRT designs will be more efficient at modeling certain TOI effects. We derive and compare the variance estimators of TOI effects between a SW-CRT, parallel CRT (P-CRT), parallel CRT with baseline (PB-CRT), and novel parallel CRT with baseline and an all-exposed period (PBAE-CRT). We also prove that the time-averaged TOI effect variance and point estimators are identical to that of the constant intervention effect in both P-CRTs and PB-CRTs. We then use data collected from a hospital disinvestment study to simulate and compare the differences in TOI effect estimates between the different CRT designs. Our results reveal that the SW-CRT has the most efficient estimator for the early TOI effect, whereas the PB-CRT typically has the most efficient estimator for the long-term and time-averaged TOI effects. Overall, the PB-CRT with TOI effects can be a more appropriate choice of CRT design for modeling intervention effects that vary by exposure time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Menglin Lee
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yin Bun Cheung
- Centre for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Signature Research Programme in Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Tampere Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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23
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Watson SI, Girling A, Hemming K. Optimal study designs for cluster randomised trials: An overview of methods and results. Stat Methods Med Res 2023; 32:2135-2157. [PMID: 37802096 PMCID: PMC10683350 DOI: 10.1177/09622802231202379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
There are multiple possible cluster randomised trial designs that vary in when the clusters cross between control and intervention states, when observations are made within clusters, and how many observations are made at each time point. Identifying the most efficient study design is complex though, owing to the correlation between observations within clusters and over time. In this article, we present a review of statistical and computational methods for identifying optimal cluster randomised trial designs. We also adapt methods from the experimental design literature for experimental designs with correlated observations to the cluster trial context. We identify three broad classes of methods: using exact formulae for the treatment effect estimator variance for specific models to derive algorithms or weights for cluster sequences; generalised methods for estimating weights for experimental units; and, combinatorial optimisation algorithms to select an optimal subset of experimental units. We also discuss methods for rounding experimental weights, extensions to non-Gaussian models, and robust optimality. We present results from multiple cluster trial examples that compare the different methods, including determination of the optimal allocation of clusters across a set of cluster sequences and selecting the optimal number of single observations to make in each cluster-period for both Gaussian and non-Gaussian models, and including exchangeable and exponential decay covariance structures.
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24
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Correction: Effects of Implementation of a Supervised Walking Program in Veterans Affairs Hospitals. Ann Intern Med 2023; 176:1575. [PMID: 37844304 DOI: 10.7326/l23-0389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
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25
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Kasza J, Bowden R, Ouyang Y, Taljaard M, Forbes AB. Does it decay? Obtaining decaying correlation parameter values from previously analysed cluster randomised trials. Stat Methods Med Res 2023; 32:2123-2134. [PMID: 37589088 PMCID: PMC10683336 DOI: 10.1177/09622802231194753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
A frequently applied assumption in the analysis of data from cluster randomised trials is that the outcomes from all participants within a cluster are equally correlated. That is, the intracluster correlation, which describes the degree of dependence between outcomes from participants in the same cluster, is the same for each pair of participants in a cluster. However, recent work has discussed the importance of allowing for this correlation to decay as the time between the measurement of participants in a cluster increases. Incorrect omission of such a decay can lead to under-powered studies, and confidence intervals for estimated treatment effects can be too narrow or too wide, depending on the characteristics of the design. When planning studies, researchers often rely on previously reported analyses of trials to inform their choice of intracluster correlation. However, most reported analyses of clustered data do not incorporate a correlation decay. Thus, often all that is available are estimates of intracluster correlations obtained under the potentially incorrect assumption of no decay. In this article, we show that it is possible to use intracluster correlation values obtained from models that incorrectly omit a decay to inform plausible choices of decaying correlations. Our focus is on intracluster correlation estimates for continuous outcomes obtained by fitting linear mixed models with exchangeable or block-exchangeable correlation structures. We describe how plausible values for decaying correlations may be obtained given these estimated intracluster correlations. An online app is presented that allows users to obtain plausible values of the decay, which can be used at the trial planning stage to assess the sensitivity of sample size and power calculations to decaying correlation structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kasza
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rhys Bowden
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Yongdong Ouyang
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Andrew B Forbes
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Smith AW, DiMartino L, Garcia SF, Mitchell SA, Ruddy KJ, Smith JD, Wong SL, Cahue S, Cella D, Jensen RE, Hassett MJ, Hodgdon C, Kroner B, Osarogiagbon RU, Popovic J, Richardson K, Schrag D, Cheville AL. Systematic symptom management in the IMPACT Consortium: rationale and design for 3 effectiveness-implementation trials. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2023; 7:pkad073. [PMID: 37930033 PMCID: PMC10627528 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkad073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer and its treatment produce deleterious symptoms across the phases of care. Poorly controlled symptoms negatively affect quality of life and result in increased health-care needs and hospitalization. The Improving the Management of symPtoms during And following Cancer Treatment (IMPACT) Consortium was created to develop 3 large-scale, systematic symptom management systems, deployed through electronic health record platforms, and to test them in pragmatic, randomized, hybrid effectiveness and implementation trials. Here, we describe the IMPACT Consortium's conceptual framework, its organizational components, and plans for evaluation. The study designs and lessons learned are highlighted in the context of disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Wilder Smith
- Outcomes Research Branch, Healthcare Delivery Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lisa DiMartino
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA
- RTI International, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sofia F Garcia
- Department of Medical Social Sciences and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sandra A Mitchell
- Outcomes Research Branch, Healthcare Delivery Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Justin D Smith
- Division of Health Systems Innovation and Research, Department of Population Health Sciences, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sandra L Wong
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - September Cahue
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David Cella
- Department of Medical Social Sciences and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Roxanne E Jensen
- Outcomes Research Branch, Healthcare Delivery Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael J Hassett
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine Hodgdon
- Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Deborah Schrag
- Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea L Cheville
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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27
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Gyedu A, Stewart BT, Nakua E, Donkor P. Standardized trauma intake form with clinical decision support prompts improves care and reduces mortality for seriously injured patients in non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana: stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. Br J Surg 2023; 110:1473-1481. [PMID: 37612450 PMCID: PMC10564400 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WHO Trauma Care Checklist improved key performance indicators (KPIs) of trauma care at tertiary hospitals. A standardized trauma intake form (TIF) with real-time clinical decision support prompts was developed by adapting the WHO Trauma Care Checklist for use in smaller low- and middle-income country hospitals, where care is delivered by non-specialized providers and without trauma teams. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the TIF for improving KPIs in initial trauma care and reducing mortality at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana. METHODS A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was conducted by stationing research assistants at emergency units of eight non-tertiary hospitals for 17.5 months to observe management of injured patients before and after introduction of the TIF. Differences in performance of KPIs in trauma care (primary outcomes) and mortality (secondary outcome) were estimated using generalized linear mixed regression models. RESULTS Management of 4077 injured patients was observed (2067 before TIF introduction, 2010 after). There was improvement in 14 of 16 primary survey and initial care KPIs after TIF introduction. Airway assessment increased from 72.9 to 98.4 per cent (adjusted OR 25.27, 95 per cent c.i. 2.47 to 258.94; P = 0.006) and breathing assessment from 62.1 to 96.8 per cent (adjusted OR 38.38, 4.84 to 304.69; P = 0.001). Documentation of important clinical data improved from 52.4 to 76.7 per cent (adjusted OR 2.14, 1.17 to 3.89; P = 0.013). The mortality rate decreased from 17.7 to 12.1 per cent among 302 patients (186 before, 116 after) with impaired physiology on arrival (hypotension or decreased level of consciousness) (adjusted OR 0.10, 0.02 to 0.56; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION The TIF improved overall initial trauma care and reduced mortality for more seriously injured patients. REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04547192 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gyedu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Surgery Unit, University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Barclay T Stewart
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Emmanuel Nakua
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Peter Donkor
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Hemming K, Taljaard M. Key considerations for designing, conducting and analysing a cluster randomized trial. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1648-1658. [PMID: 37203433 PMCID: PMC10555937 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Not only do cluster randomized trials require a larger sample size than individually randomized trials, they also face many additional complexities. The potential for contamination is the most commonly used justification for using cluster randomization, but the risk of contamination should be carefully weighed against the more serious problem of questionable scientific validity in settings with post-randomization identification or recruitment of participants unblinded to the treatment allocation. In this paper we provide some simple guidelines to help researchers conduct cluster trials in a way that minimizes potential biases and maximizes statistical efficiency. The overarching theme of this guidance is that methods that apply to individually randomized trials rarely apply to cluster randomized trials. We recommend that cluster randomization be only used when necessary-balancing the benefits of cluster randomization with its increased risks of bias and increased sample size. Researchers should also randomize at the lowest possible level-balancing the risks of contamination with ensuring an adequate number of randomization units-as well as exploring other options for statistically efficient designs. Clustering should always be allowed for in the sample size calculation; and the use of restricted randomization (and adjustment in the analysis for covariates used in the randomization) should be considered. Where possible, participants should be recruited before randomizing clusters and, when recruiting (or identifying) participants post-randomization, recruiters should be masked to the allocation. In the analysis, the target of inference should align with the research question, and adjustment for clustering and small sample corrections should be used when the trial includes less than about 40 clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Hemming
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Ouyang Y, Hemming K, Li F, Taljaard M. Estimating intra-cluster correlation coefficients for planning longitudinal cluster randomized trials: a tutorial. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1634-1647. [PMID: 37196320 PMCID: PMC10555741 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well-known that designing a cluster randomized trial (CRT) requires an advance estimate of the intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC). In the case of longitudinal CRTs, where outcomes are assessed repeatedly in each cluster over time, estimates for more complex correlation structures are required. Three common types of correlation structures for longitudinal CRTs are exchangeable, nested/block exchangeable and exponential decay correlations-the latter two allow the strength of the correlation to weaken over time. Determining sample sizes under these latter two structures requires advance specification of the within-period ICC and cluster autocorrelation coefficient as well as the intra-individual autocorrelation coefficient in the case of a cohort design. How to estimate these coefficients is a common challenge for investigators. When appropriate estimates from previously published longitudinal CRTs are not available, one possibility is to re-analyse data from an available trial dataset or to access observational data to estimate these parameters in advance of a trial. In this tutorial, we demonstrate how to estimate correlation parameters under these correlation structures for continuous and binary outcomes. We first introduce the correlation structures and their underlying model assumptions under a mixed-effects regression framework. With practical advice for implementation, we then demonstrate how the correlation parameters can be estimated using examples and we provide programming code in R, SAS, and Stata. An Rshiny app is available that allows investigators to upload an existing dataset and obtain the estimated correlation parameters. We conclude by identifying some gaps in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdong Ouyang
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Karla Hemming
- Institute of Applied Health Research, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Ma C, Lee A, Courtney D, Castle D, Wang W. Comparing analytical strategies for balancing site-level characteristics in stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials: a simulation study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:206. [PMID: 37700232 PMCID: PMC10496299 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-02027-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials (SWCRTs) are a type of cluster-randomized trial in which clusters are randomized to cross-over to the active intervention sequentially at regular intervals during the study period. For SWCRTs, sequential imbalances of cluster-level characteristics across the random sequence of clusters may lead to biased estimation. Our study aims to examine the effects of balancing cluster-level characteristics in SWCRTs. METHODS To quantify the level of cluster-level imbalance, a novel imbalance index was developed based on the Spearman correlation and rank regression of the cluster-level characteristic with the cross-over timepoints. A simulation study was conducted to assess the impact of sequential cluster-level imbalances across different scenarios varying the: number of sites (clusters), sample size, number of cross-over timepoints, site-level intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICC), and effect sizes. SWCRTs assumed either an immediate "constant" treatment effect, or a gradual "learning" treatment effect which increases over time after crossing over to the active intervention. Key performance metrics included the relative root mean square error (RRMSE) and relative mean bias. RESULTS Fully-balanced designs almost always had the highest efficiency, as measured by the RRMSE, regardless of the number of sites, ICC, effect size, or sample sizes at each time for SWCRTs with learning effect. A consistent decreasing trend of efficiency was observed by increasing RRMSE as imbalance increased. For example, for a 12-site study with 20 participants per site/timepoint and ICC of 0.10, between the most balanced and least balanced designs, the RRMSE efficiency loss ranged from 52.5% to 191.9%. In addition, the RRMSE was decreased for larger sample sizes, larger number of sites, smaller ICC, and larger effect sizes. The impact of pre-balancing diminished when there was no learning effect. CONCLUSION The impact of pre-balancing on preventing efficiency loss was easily observed when there was a learning effect. This suggests benefit of pre-balancing with respect to impacting factors of treatment effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement Ma
- Biostatistics Core, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alina Lee
- Biostatistics Core, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Darren Courtney
- Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David Castle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health Service Innovation, Statewide Mental Health Service, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Wei Wang
- Biostatistics Core, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Center for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Coulibaly K, Bousmah MAQ, Ravalihasy A, Taéron C, Mbiribindi R, Senne JN, Gubert F, Gosselin A, Desgrées du Loû A. Bridging the knowledge gap of biomedical HIV prevention tools among sub-saharan african immigrants in France. Results from an empowerment-based intervention. SSM Popul Health 2023; 23:101468. [PMID: 37560089 PMCID: PMC10407280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Biomedical HIV prevention tools are available in France to prevent new infections. However, evidence suggests a lack of knowledge of these tools among sub-Saharan African immigrants, who are particularly affected by HIV due to social hardship, an indirect factor of HIV acquisition. We analysed the impact of an empowerment-based intervention on the knowledge of treatment as prevention (TasP), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in a population of precarious sub-Saharan African immigrants. METHODS Data were collected throughout the MAKASI project. Following an outreach approach, participants were recruited in public places based on their precarious situations and followed for six months (0, 3, 6 months) between 2018 and 2021. Participants were randomized into two groups and received an empowerment intervention sequentially (stepped wedge design). We used random-effects logistic regression models to evaluate the intervention effect on the knowledge of biomedical HIV prevention tools. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04468724. RESULTS The majority of the participants were men (77.5%), and almost half of them had arrived in France within 2 years prior to inclusion (49.3%). At baseline, 56% of participants knew about TasP, 6% knew about PEP and 4% knew about PrEP. Receiving the intervention increased the odds of knowing about PEP (aOR = 2.02 [1.09-3.75]; p < 0.026). Intervention effects were observed for TasP and PrEP only after 6 months. We found significant time effects for PEP (at 3 months, aOR = 4.26 [2.33-7.80]; p < 0.001; at 6 months, aOR = 18.28 [7.39-45.24]; p < 0.001) and PrEP (at 3 months, aOR = 4.02 [2.10-7.72]; p < 0.001; at 6 months, aOR = 28.33 [11.16-71.91]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We showed that the intervention increased the knowledge of biomedical HIV prevention tools. The effect of the intervention was coupled with an important time effect. This suggested that exposure to the intervention together with other sources of information contributed to increased knowledge of biomedical HIV prevention tools among precarious sub-Saharan African immigrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karna Coulibaly
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France
- French Collaborative Institute on Migrations, CNRS, Aubervilliers, France
| | - Marwân-al-Qays Bousmah
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France
- French Collaborative Institute on Migrations, CNRS, Aubervilliers, France
| | - Andrainolo Ravalihasy
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France
- French Collaborative Institute on Migrations, CNRS, Aubervilliers, France
| | | | | | | | - Flore Gubert
- IRD, UMR LEDa-DIAL, PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Anne Gosselin
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France
- French Collaborative Institute on Migrations, CNRS, Aubervilliers, France
- Institut National D’Études Démographiques, Aubervilliers, France
| | - Annabel Desgrées du Loû
- Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Ceped, F-75006, Paris, France
- French Collaborative Institute on Migrations, CNRS, Aubervilliers, France
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Maleyeff L, Li F, Haneuse S, Wang R. Assessing exposure-time treatment effect heterogeneity in stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials. Biometrics 2023; 79:2551-2564. [PMID: 36416302 PMCID: PMC10203056 DOI: 10.1111/biom.13803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (CRT) is a unidirectional crossover study in which timings of treatment initiation for clusters are randomized. Because the timing of treatment initiation is different for each cluster, an emerging question is whether the treatment effect depends on the exposure time, namely, the time duration since the initiation of treatment. Existing approaches for assessing exposure-time treatment effect heterogeneity either assume a parametric functional form of exposure time or model the exposure time as a categorical variable, in which case the number of parameters increases with the number of exposure-time periods, leading to a potential loss in efficiency. In this article, we propose a new model formulation for assessing treatment effect heterogeneity over exposure time. Rather than a categorical term for each level of exposure time, the proposed model includes a random effect to represent varying treatment effects by exposure time. This allows for pooling information across exposure-time periods and may result in more precise average and exposure-time-specific treatment effect estimates. In addition, we develop an accompanying permutation test for the variance component of the heterogeneous treatment effect parameters. We conduct simulation studies to compare the proposed model and permutation test to alternative methods to elucidate their finite-sample operating characteristics, and to generate practical guidance on model choices for assessing exposure-time treatment effect heterogeneity in stepped-wedge CRTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Maleyeff
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sebastien Haneuse
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Li F, Kasza J, Turner EL, Rathouz PJ, Forbes AB, Preisser JS. Generalizing the information content for stepped wedge designs: A marginal modeling approach. Scand Stat Theory Appl 2023; 50:1048-1067. [PMID: 37601275 PMCID: PMC10434823 DOI: 10.1111/sjos.12615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Stepped wedge trials are increasingly adopted because practical constraints necessitate staggered roll-out. While a complete design requires clusters to collect data in all periods, resource and patient-centered considerations may call for an incomplete stepped wedge design to minimize data collection burden. To study incomplete designs, we expand the metric of information content to discrete outcomes. We operate under a marginal model with general link and variance functions, and derive information content expressions when data elements (cells, sequences, periods) are omitted. We show that the centrosymmetric patterns of information content can hold for discrete outcomes with the variance-stabilizing link function. We perform numerical studies under the canonical link function, and find that while the patterns of information content for cells are approximately centrosymmetric for all examined underlying secular trends, the patterns of information content for sequences or periods are more sensitive to the secular trend, and may be far from centrosymmetric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jessica Kasza
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth L. Turner
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul J. Rathouz
- Department of Population Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew B. Forbes
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John S. Preisser
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Katamba A, Gupta AJ, Turimumahoro P, Ochom E, Ggita JM, Nakasendwa S, Nanziri L, Musinguzi J, Hennein R, Sekadde M, Hanrahan C, Byaruhanga R, Yoeli E, Turyahabwe S, Cattamanchi A, Dowdy DW, Haberer JE, Armstrong-Hough M, Kiwanuka N, Davis JL. A user-centred implementation strategy for tuberculosis contact investigation in Uganda: protocol for a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1568. [PMID: 37592314 PMCID: PMC10436440 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16510-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis(TB) is among the leading causes of infectious death worldwide. Contact investigation is an evidence-based, World Health Organisation-endorsed intervention for timely TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention but has not been widely and effectively implemented. METHODS We are conducting a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised, hybrid Type III implementation-effectiveness trial comparing a user-centred to a standard strategy for implementing TB contact investigation in 12 healthcare facilities in Uganda. The user-centred strategy consists of several client-focused components including (1) a TB-education booklet, (2) a contact-identification algorithm, (3) an instructional sputum-collection video, and (4) a community-health-rider service to transport clients, CHWs, and sputum samples, along with several healthcare-worker-focused components, including (1) collaborative improvement meetings, (2) regular audit-and-feedback reports, and (3) a digital group-chat application designed to develop a community of practice. Sites will cross-over from the standard to the user-centred strategy in six, eight-week transition steps following a randomly determined site-pairing scheme and timeline. The primary implementation outcome is the proportion of symptomatic close contacts completing TB evaluation within 60 days of TB treatment initiation by the index person with TB. The primary clinical effectiveness outcomes are the proportion of contacts diagnosed with and initiating active TB disease treatment and the proportion initiating TB preventative therapy within 60 days. We will assess outcomes from routine source documents using intention-to-treat analyses. We will also conduct nested mixed-methods studies of implementation fidelity and context and perform cost-effectiveness and impact modelling. The Makerere School of Public Health IRB(#554), the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology(#HS1720ES), and the Yale Institutional Review Board(#2000023199) approved the study and waived informed consent for the main trial implementation-effectiveness outcomes. We will submit results for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminate findings to local policymakers and representatives of affected communities. DISCUSSION This pragmatic, quasi-experimental implementation trial will inform efforts to find and prevent undiagnosed persons with TB in high-burden settings using contact investigation. It will also help assess the suitability of human-centred design and communities of practice for tailoring implementation strategies and sustaining evidence-based interventions in low-and-middle-income countries. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was registered(ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05640648) on 16 November 2022, after the trial launch on 7 March 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achilles Katamba
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Amanda J Gupta
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Ochom
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph M Ggita
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Suzan Nakasendwa
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Leah Nanziri
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Johnson Musinguzi
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rachel Hennein
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Moorine Sekadde
- National TB and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Colleen Hanrahan
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Erez Yoeli
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stavia Turyahabwe
- National TB and Leprosy Programme, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Adithya Cattamanchi
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - David W Dowdy
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica E Haberer
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mari Armstrong-Hough
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Noah Kiwanuka
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - J Lucian Davis
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium, Kampala, Uganda.
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Tong G, Spell VT, Horton N, Thornhill T, Keene D, Montgomery C, Spiegelman D, Wang EA, Roy B. Trusted residents and housing assistance to decrease violence exposure in New Haven (TRUE HAVEN): a strengths-based and community-driven stepped-wedge intervention to reduce gun violence. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1545. [PMID: 37580653 PMCID: PMC10426138 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15997-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We describe the rationale and study design for "TRUsted rEsidents and Housing Assistance to decrease Violence Exposure in New Haven (TRUE HAVEN)," a prospective type 1 hybrid effectiveness/implementation study of a multi-level intervention using a stepped wedge design. TRUE HAVEN aims to lower rates of community gun violence by fostering the stability, wealth, and well-being of individuals and families directly impacted by incarceration through the provision of stable housing and by breaking the cycle of trauma. DESIGN TRUE HAVEN is an ongoing, multi-level intervention with three primary components: financial education paired with housing support (individual level), trauma-informed counseling (neighborhood level), and policy changes to address structural racism (city/state level). Six neighborhoods with among the highest rates of gun violence in New Haven, Connecticut, will receive the individual and neighborhood level intervention components sequentially beginning at staggered 6-month steps. Residents of these neighborhoods will be eligible to participate in the housing stability and financial education component if they were recently incarcerated or are family members of currently incarcerated people; participants will receive intense financial education and follow-up for six months and be eligible for special down payment and rental assistance programs. In addition, trusted community members and organization leaders within each target neighborhood will participate in trauma-informed care training sessions to then be able to recognize when their peers are suffering from trauma symptoms, to support these affected peers, and to destigmatize accessing professional mental health services and connect them to these services when needed. Finally, a multi-stakeholder coalition will be convened to address policies that act as barriers to housing stability or accessing mental healthcare. Interventions will be delivered through existing partnerships with community-based organizations and networks. The primary outcome is neighborhood rate of incident gun violence. To inform future implementation and optimize the intervention package as the study progresses, we will use the Learn As You Go approach to optimize and assess the effectiveness of the intervention package on the primary study outcome. DISCUSSION Results from this protocol will yield novel evidence for whether and how addressing structural racism citywide leads to a reduction in gun violence. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05723614. Registration date: February 01, 2023. Please refer to https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05723614 for public and scientific inquiries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Tong
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Methods of Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | | | - Nadine Horton
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Thomas Thornhill
- Public Health Modeling, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Danya Keene
- Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christine Montgomery
- Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Social Work, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Donna Spiegelman
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Methods of Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emily A Wang
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Brita Roy
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Watson SI, Pan Y. Evaluation of combinatorial optimisation algorithms for c-optimal experimental designs with correlated observations. STATISTICS AND COMPUTING 2023; 33:112. [PMID: 37525745 PMCID: PMC10386961 DOI: 10.1007/s11222-023-10280-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
We show how combinatorial optimisation algorithms can be applied to the problem of identifying c-optimal experimental designs when there may be correlation between and within experimental units and evaluate the performance of relevant algorithms. We assume the data generating process is a generalised linear mixed model and show that the c-optimal design criterion is a monotone supermodular function amenable to a set of simple minimisation algorithms. We evaluate the performance of three relevant algorithms: the local search, the greedy search, and the reverse greedy search. We show that the local and reverse greedy searches provide comparable performance with the worst design outputs having variance < 10 % greater than the best design, across a range of covariance structures. We show that these algorithms perform as well or better than multiplicative methods that generate weights to place on experimental units. We extend these algorithms to identifying modle-robust c-optimal designs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11222-023-10280-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel I. Watson
- Insitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yi Pan
- Insitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Murugan R, Chang CCH, Raza M, Nikravangolsefid N, Huang DT, Palevsky PM, Kashani K. Restrictive versus Liberal Rate of Extracorporeal Volume Removal Evaluation in Acute Kidney Injury (RELIEVE-AKI): a pilot clinical trial protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e075960. [PMID: 37419639 PMCID: PMC10335418 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Observational studies have linked slower and faster net ultrafiltration (UFNET) rates during kidney replacement therapy (KRT) with mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and fluid overload. To inform the design of a larger randomised trial of patient-centered outcomes, we conduct a feasibility study to examine restrictive and liberal approaches to UFNET during continuous KRT (CKRT). METHODS AND ANALYSIS This study is an investigator-initiated, unblinded, 2-arm, comparative-effectiveness, stepped-wedged, cluster randomised trial among 112 critically ill patients with AKI treated with CKRT in 10 intensive care units (ICUs) across 2 hospital systems. In the first 6 months, all ICUs started with a liberal UFNET rate strategy. Thereafter, one ICU is randomised to the restrictive UFNET rate strategy every 2 months. In the liberal group, the UFNET rate is maintained between 2.0 and 5.0 mL/kg/hour; in the restrictive group, the UFNET rate is maintained between 0.5 and 1.5 mL/kg/hour. The three coprimary feasibility outcomes are (1) between-group separation in mean delivered UFNET rates; (2) protocol adherence; and (3) patient recruitment rate. Secondary outcomes include daily and cumulative fluid balance, KRT and mechanical ventilation duration, organ failure-free days, ICU and hospital length of stay, hospital mortality and KRT dependence at hospital discharge. Safety endpoints include haemodynamics, electrolyte imbalance, CKRT circuit issues, organ dysfunction related to fluid overload, secondary infections and thrombotic and haematological complications. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The University of Pittsburgh Human Research Protection Office approved the study, and an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board monitors the study. A grant from the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases sponsors the study. The trial results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER This trial has been prospectively registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05306964). Protocol version identifier and date: 1.5; 13 June 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavan Murugan
- Program for Critical Care Nephrology, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chung-Chou H Chang
- Biostatistics and Data Management Core, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maham Raza
- Multidisciplinary Acute Care Research Organization, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nasrin Nikravangolsefid
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - David T Huang
- Multidisciplinary Acute Care Research Organization, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Paul M Palevsky
- Renal and Electrolyte Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Kidney Medicine Section, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kianoush Kashani
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, New York, USA
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Katamba A, Gupta AJ, Turimumahoro P, Ochom E, Ggita JM, Nakasendwa S, Nanziri L, Musinguzi J, Hennein R, Sekadde M, Hanrahan C, Byaruhanga R, Yoeli E, Turyahabwe S, Cattamanchi A, Dowdy DW, Haberer JE, Armstrong-Hough M, Kiwanuka N, Davis JL. A user-centred implementation strategy for tuberculosis contact investigation in Uganda: Protocol for a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised trial. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3121275. [PMID: 37461631 PMCID: PMC10350172 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3121275/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is among the leading causes of infectious death worldwide. Contact investigation is an evidence-based, World Health Organisation-endorsed intervention for timely TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention but has not been widely and effectively implemented. Methods We are conducting a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised, hybrid Type III implementation-effectiveness trial comparing a user-centred to a standard strategy for implementing TB contact investigation in 12 healthcare facilities in Uganda. The user-centred strategy consists of several client-focused components including 1) a TB-education booklet, 2) a contact-identification algorithm, 3) an instructional sputum-collection video, and 4) a community-health-rider service to transport clients, CHWs, and sputum samples, along with several healthcare-worker-focused components, including 1) collaborative improvement meetings, 2) regular audit-and-feedback reports, and 3) a digital group-chat application designed to develop a community of practice. Sites will cross from the standard to the user-centred strategy in six, eight-week transition steps following a randomly determined site-pairing scheme and timeline. The primary implementation outcome is the proportion of symptomatic close contacts completing TB evaluation within 60 days of TB treatment initiation by the index person with TB. The primary clinical effectiveness outcomes are the proportion of contacts diagnosed with and initiating active TB disease treatment and the proportion initiating TB preventative therapy within 60 days. We will assess outcomes from routine source documents using intention-to-treat analyses. We will also conduct nested mixed-methods studies of implementation fidelity and context and perform cost-effectiveness and impact modelling. The Makerere School of Public Health IRB (#554), the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (#HS1720ES), and the Yale Institutional Review Board (#2000023199) approved the study with a waiver of informed consent for the main trial implementation-effectiveness outcomes. We will submit trial results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminate findings to local shareholders, including policymakers and representatives of affected communities. Discussion This pragmatic, quasi-experimental implementation trial will inform efforts to find and prevent undiagnosed persons with TB in high-burden setting using contact investigation. It will help assess the suitability of human-centred design and communities of practice for tailoring implementation strategies and sustain evidence-based interventions in low-and-middle-income countries. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05640648.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Leah Nanziri
- Uganda Tuberculosis Implementation Research Consortium
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Ma L, Hu X, Song L, Chen X, Ouyang M, Billot L, Li Q, Malavera A, Li X, Muñoz-Venturelli P, de Silva A, Thang NH, Wahab KW, Pandian JD, Wasay M, Pontes-Neto OM, Abanto C, Arauz A, Shi H, Tang G, Zhu S, She X, Liu L, Sakamoto Y, You S, Han Q, Crutzen B, Cheung E, Li Y, Wang X, Chen C, Liu F, Zhao Y, Li H, Liu Y, Jiang Y, Chen L, Wu B, Liu M, Xu J, You C, Anderson CS. The third Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Haemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3): an international, stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2023; 402:27-40. [PMID: 37245517 PMCID: PMC10401723 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00806-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early control of elevated blood pressure is the most promising treatment for acute intracerebral haemorrhage. We aimed to establish whether implementing a goal-directed care bundle incorporating protocols for early intensive blood pressure lowering and management algorithms for hyperglycaemia, pyrexia, and abnormal anticoagulation, implemented in a hospital setting, could improve outcomes for patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. METHODS We performed a pragmatic, international, multicentre, blinded endpoint, stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial at hospitals in nine low-income and middle-income countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam) and one high-income country (Chile). Hospitals were eligible if they had no or inconsistent relevant, disease-specific protocols, and were willing to implement the care bundle to consecutive patients (aged ≥18 years) with imaging-confirmed spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage presenting within 6 h of the onset of symptoms, had a local champion, and could provide the required study data. Hospitals were centrally randomly allocated using permuted blocks to three sequences of implementation, stratified by country and the projected number of patients to be recruited over the 12 months of the study period. These sequences had four periods that dictated the order in which the hospitals were to switch from the control usual care procedure to the intervention implementation of the care bundle procedure to different clusters of patients in a stepped manner. To avoid contamination, details of the intervention, sequence, and allocation periods were concealed from sites until they had completed the usual care control periods. The care bundle protocol included the early intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (target <140 mm Hg), strict glucose control (target 6·1-7·8 mmol/L in those without diabetes and 7·8-10·0 mmol/L in those with diabetes), antipyrexia treatment (target body temperature ≤37·5°C), and rapid reversal of warfarin-related anticoagulation (target international normalised ratio <1·5) within 1 h of treatment, in patients where these variables were abnormal. Analyses were performed according to a modified intention-to-treat population with available outcome data (ie, excluding sites that withdrew during the study). The primary outcome was functional recovery, measured with the modified Rankin scale (mRS; range 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 6 months by masked research staff, analysed using proportional ordinal logistic regression to assess the distribution in scores on the mRS, with adjustments for cluster (hospital site), group assignment of cluster per period, and time (6-month periods from Dec 12, 2017). This trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03209258) and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOC-17011787) and is completed. FINDINGS Between May 27, 2017, and July 8, 2021, 206 hospitals were assessed for eligibility, of which 144 hospitals in ten countries agreed to join and were randomly assigned in the trial, but 22 hospitals withdrew before starting to enrol patients and another hospital was withdrawn and their data on enrolled patients was deleted because regulatory approval was not obtained. Between Dec 12, 2017, and Dec 31, 2021, 10 857 patients were screened but 3821 were excluded. Overall, the modified intention-to-treat population included 7036 patients enrolled at 121 hospitals, with 3221 assigned to the care bundle group and 3815 to the usual care group, with primary outcome data available in 2892 patients in the care bundle group and 3363 patients in the usual care group. The likelihood of a poor functional outcome was lower in the care bundle group (common odds ratio 0·86; 95% CI 0·76-0·97; p=0·015). The favourable shift in mRS scores in the care bundle group was generally consistent across a range of sensitivity analyses that included additional adjustments for country and patient variables (0·84; 0·73-0·97; p=0·017), and with different approaches to the use of multiple imputations for missing data. Patients in the care bundle group had fewer serious adverse events than those in the usual care group (16·0% vs 20·1%; p=0·0098). INTERPRETATION Implementation of a care bundle protocol for intensive blood pressure lowering and other management algorithms for physiological control within several hours of the onset of symptoms resulted in improved functional outcome for patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage. Hospitals should incorporate this approach into clinical practice as part of active management for this serious condition. FUNDING Joint Global Health Trials scheme from the Department of Health and Social Care, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust; West China Hospital; the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; Sichuan Credit Pharmaceutic and Takeda China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lili Song
- The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China; The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xiaoying Chen
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Menglu Ouyang
- The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China; The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laurent Billot
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Qiang Li
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alejandra Malavera
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Paula Muñoz-Venturelli
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Clinica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Asita de Silva
- Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | | | - Kolawole W Wahab
- Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin & University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Jeyaraj D Pandian
- Neurology Department, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
| | - Mohammad Wasay
- Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Octavio M Pontes-Neto
- Department of Neurology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Abanto
- The Cerebrovascular Disease Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Sciences, Lima, Peru
| | - Antonio Arauz
- Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia Manuel Velasco Suarez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Haiping Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Suining Central Hospital, Suining, China
| | - Guanghai Tang
- Department of Neurology, Liaoning Thrombus Treatment Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Sheng Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Dazhu County People's Hospital, Dazhou, China
| | - Xiaochun She
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jiangsu Rudong County People's Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Leibo Liu
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuki Sakamoto
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoujiang You
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qiao Han
- Department of Neurology, Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Bernard Crutzen
- Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Radiology, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Emily Cheung
- Neurology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yunke Li
- The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Wang
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chen Chen
- The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China; The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feifeng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Nursing and Evidence-based Nursing Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao You
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Craig S Anderson
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; The George Institute for Global Health China, Beijing, China; The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Clinica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile; Neurology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Heart Health Research Center, Beijing, China.
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Choi S, O’Grady MA, Cleland CM, Knopf E, Hong S, D’Aunno T, Bao Y, Ramsey KS, Neighbors CJ. Clinics Optimizing MEthadone Take-homes for opioid use disorder (COMET): Protocol for a stepped-wedge randomized trial to facilitate clinic level changes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286859. [PMID: 37294821 PMCID: PMC10256218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Regulatory changes made during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) that relaxed criteria for take-home dosing (THD) of methadone offer an opportunity to improve quality of care with a lifesaving treatment. There is a pressing need for research to study the long-term effects of the new PHE THD rules and to test data-driven interventions to promote more effective adoption by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). We propose a two-phase project to develop and test a multidimensional intervention for OTPs that leverages information from large State administrative data. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We propose a two-phased project to develop then test a multidimensional OTP intervention to address clinical decision making, regulatory confusion, legal liability concerns, capacity for clinical practice change, and financial barriers to THD. The intervention will include OTP THD specific dashboards drawn from multiple State databases. The approach will be informed by the Health Equity Implementation Framework (HEIF). In phase 1, we will employ an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to combine analysis of large state administrative databases-Medicaid, treatment registry, THD reporting-with qualitative interviews to develop and refine the intervention. In phase 2, we will conduct a stepped-wedge trial over three years with 36 OTPs randomized to 6 cohorts of a six-month clinic-level intervention. The trial will test intervention effects on OTP-level implementation outcomes and patient outcomes (1) THD use; 2) retention in care; and 3) adverse healthcare events). We will specifically examine intervention effects for Black and Latinx clients. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design will be used: quantitative and qualitative data collection will occur concurrently and results will be integrated after analysis of each. We will employ generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) in the analysis of stepped-wedge trials. The primary outcome will be weekly or greater THD. The semi-structured interviews will be transcribed and analyzed with Dedoose to identify key facilitators, barriers, and experiences according to HEIF constructs using directed content analysis. DISCUSSION This multi-phase, embedded mixed methods project addresses a critical need to support long-term practice changes in methadone treatment for opioid use disorder following systemic changes emerging from the PHE-particularly for Black and Latinx individuals with opioid use disorder. By combining findings from analyses of large administrative data with lessons gleaned from qualitative interviews of OTPs that were flexible with THD and those that were not, we will build and test the intervention to coach clinics to increase flexibility with THD. The findings will inform policy at the local and national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugy Choi
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Megan A. O’Grady
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Charles M. Cleland
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Knopf
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Sueun Hong
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States of America
- New York University Wagner School of Public Policy, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Thomas D’Aunno
- New York University Wagner School of Public Policy, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Yuhua Bao
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Ramsey
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Charles J. Neighbors
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States of America
- New York University Wagner School of Public Policy, New York, NY, United States of America
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Parker K, Nunns M, Xiao Z, Ford T, Ukoumunne OC. Intracluster correlation coefficients from school-based cluster randomized trials of interventions for improving health outcomes in pupils. J Clin Epidemiol 2023; 158:18-26. [PMID: 36997102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To summarize intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates for pupil health outcomes from school-based cluster randomized trials (CRTs) across world regions and describe their relationship with study design characteristics and context. METHODS School-based CRTs reporting ICCs for pupil health outcomes were identified through a literature search of MEDLINE (via Ovid). ICC estimates were summarized both overall and for different categories of study characteristics. RESULTS Two hundred and forty-six articles reporting ICC estimates were identified. The median (interquartile range) ICC was 0.031 (0.011 to 0.08) at the school level (N = 210) and 0.063 (0.024 to 0.1) at the class level (N = 46). The distribution of ICCs at the school level was well described by the beta and exponential distributions. Besides larger ICCs in definitive trials than feasibility studies, there were no clear associations between study characteristics and ICC estimates. CONCLUSION The distribution of school-level ICCs worldwide was similar to previous summaries from studies in the United States. The description of the distribution of ICCs will help to inform sample size calculations and assess their sensitivity when designing future school-based CRTs of health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitty Parker
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Room 2.16, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, 79 Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
| | - Michael Nunns
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - ZhiMin Xiao
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Tamsin Ford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, L5 Clifford Allbutt Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus Box 58, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Obioha C Ukoumunne
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, Department of Health and Community Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Room 2.16, South Cloisters, St Luke's Campus, 79 Heavitree Rd, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
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Tong G, Spell VT, Horton N, Thornhill T, Keene D, Montgomery C, Spiegelman D, Wang EA, Roy B. TRUsted rEsidents and Housing Assistance to decrease Violence Exposure in New Haven (TRUE HAVEN): A strengths-based and community-driven stepped-wedge intervention to reduce gun violence. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2874381. [PMID: 37214890 PMCID: PMC10197755 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2874381/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Background We describe the rationale and study design for " TRU sted r Esidents and H ousing A ssistance to decrease V iolence E xposure in N ew Haven (TRUE HAVEN)," a prospective type 1 hybrid effectiveness/implementation study of a multi-level intervention using a stepped wedge design. TRUE HAVEN aims to lower rates of community gun violence by fostering the stability, wealth, and well-being of individuals and families directly impacted by incarceration through the provision of stable housing and by breaking the cycle of trauma. Design: TRUE HAVEN is a multi-level intervention with three primary components: financial education paired with housing support (individual level), trauma-informed counseling (neighborhood level), and policy changes to address structural racism (city/state level). Six neighborhoods with among the highest rates of gun violence in New Haven, Connecticut, will receive the individual and neighborhood level intervention components sequentially beginning at staggered 6-month steps. Residents of these neighborhoods will be eligible to participate in the housing stability and financial education component if they were recently incarcerated or are family members of currently incarcerated people; participants will receive intense financial education and follow-up for six months and be eligible for special down payment and rental assistance programs. In addition, trusted community members and organization leaders within each target neighborhood will participate in trauma-informed care training sessions to then be able to recognize when their peers are suffering from trauma symptoms, to support these affected peers, and to destigmatize accessing professional mental health services and connect them to these services when needed. Finally, a multi-stakeholder coalition will be convened to address policies that act as barriers to housing stability or accessing mental healthcare. Interventions will be delivered through existing partnerships with community-based organizations and networks. The primary outcome is neighborhood rate of incident gun violence. To inform future implementation and optimize the intervention package as the study progresses, we will use the Learn As You Go approach to optimize and assess the effectiveness of the intervention package on the primary study outcome. Discussion Results from this protocol will yield novel evidence for whether and how addressing structural racism citywide leads to a reduction in gun violence. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05723614. Registration date: February 01, 2023.
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Xie F, Wen S, Deng A, Chen J, Xiong R. Evaluation of a community-based integrated care model (CIE) for frail older people in rural Foshan, China: study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial {1}. Trials 2023; 24:315. [PMID: 37158975 PMCID: PMC10165829 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07328-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While community-based eldercare has proven to be effective in qualitative studies, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of this geriatric care model in rural communities where caring for older people is traditionally the responsibility of family members, but a formal long-term care was recently introduced in China. CIE is a rural community-embedded intervention using multidisciplinary team, to provide evidenced-based integrated care services for frail older people including social care services and allied primary healthcare and community-based rehabilitation services. METHODS CIE is a prospective stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial conducted at 5 community eldercare centers in rural China. The multifaceted CIE intervention, guided by chronic care model and integrated care model, consists of five components: comprehensive geriatric assessment, individualized care planning, community-based rehabilitation, interdisciplinary case management, and care coordination. The intervention is rolled out in a staggered manner in these clusters of centers at an interval of 1 month. The primary outcomes include functional status, quality of life, and social support. Process evaluation will also be conducted. Generalized linear mixed model is employed for binary outcomes. DISCUSSION This study is expected to provide important new evidence on clinical effectiveness and implementation process of an integrated care model for frail older people. The CIE model is also unique as the first registered trial implementing a community-based eldercare model using multidisciplinary team to promote individualized social care services integrated with primary healthcare and community-based rehabilitation services for frail older people in rural China, where formal long-term care was recently introduced. TRIAL REGISTRATION {2A}: China Clinical Trials Register ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/historyversionpub.aspx?regno=ChiCTR2200060326 ). May 28th, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjiao Xie
- Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Wen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Aiwen Deng
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Jianhao Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Ribo Xiong
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China.
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King KM, Yeng S, Brennan C, Creel D, Ames JW, Cotes G, Bann CM, Black MM. Integrated Early Childhood Development in Cambodia: Protocol of a Cluster Stepped-Wedge Trial. Pediatrics 2023; 151:191224. [PMID: 37125891 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-060221n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Limited evidence is available on mechanisms linking integrated, multisector interventions with early childhood development. The Integrated Early Childhood Development program aims to improve children's development by promoting targeted caregiving behaviors beginning prenatally through age 5 years, in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia. METHODS This cluster stepped-wedge trial is being conducted in Cambodia among 3 cohorts, encompassing 339 villages and 1790 caregivers who are pregnant or caring for a child aged <5 years. The 12- to 15-month intervention is delivered to each cohort using a staggered stepped-wedge design. Among all cohorts, enrollment evaluations will be followed by 3 data collection waves. Targeted caregiving interventions are provided through community, group, and home-visiting platforms. Child development is measured using the Caregiver Reported Early Development Instrument and the Early Childhood Development Index 2030. The evaluation assesses mediation through targeted caregiving behaviors: responsive caregiving, nutrition, health and hygiene, and household stability and support; moderation by household wealth, caregiver education, and child birth weight; and sustainability after the intervention concludes. CONCLUSIONS This protocol article describes the plans for a cluster randomized controlled trial to measure the impact of an integrated, multisector intervention on children's development. By partnering with the Royal Government of Cambodia and addressing intervention pathways and moderators, this trial will provide guidance for policies and programs to promote early childhood development using principles of implementation science and equity, including increased investment for vulnerable families.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seng Yeng
- RTI International, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Claire Brennan
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Darryl Creel
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Carla M Bann
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Maureen M Black
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Nevins P, Davis-Plourde K, Pereira Macedo JA, Ouyang Y, Ryan M, Tong G, Wang X, Meng C, Ortiz-Reyes L, Li F, Caille A, Taljaard M. A scoping review described diversity in methods of randomization and reporting of baseline balance in stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials. J Clin Epidemiol 2023; 157:134-145. [PMID: 36931478 PMCID: PMC10546924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials (SW-CRTs), clusters are randomized not to treatment and control arms but to sequences dictating the times of crossing from control to intervention conditions. Randomization is an essential feature of this design but application of standard methods to promote and report on balance at baseline is not straightforward. We aimed to describe current methods of randomization and reporting of balance at baseline in SW-CRTs. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We used electronic searches to identify primary reports of SW-CRTs published between 2016 and 2022. RESULTS Across 160 identified trials, the median number of clusters randomized was 11 (Q1-Q3: 8-18). Sixty-three (39%) used restricted randomization-most often stratification based on a single cluster-level covariate; 12 (19%) of these adjusted for the covariate(s) in the primary analysis. Overall, 50 (31%) and 134 (84%) reported on balance at baseline on cluster- and individual-level characteristics, respectively. Balance on individual-level characteristics was most often reported by condition in cross-sectional designs and by sequence in cohort designs. Authors reported baseline imbalances in 72 (45%) trials. CONCLUSION SW-CRTs often randomize a small number of clusters using unrestricted allocation. Investigators need guidance on appropriate methods of randomization and assessment and reporting of balance at baseline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Nevins
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kendra Davis-Plourde
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Yongdong Ouyang
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mary Ryan
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guangyu Tong
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Xueqi Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Can Meng
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Luis Ortiz-Reyes
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Agnès Caille
- Université de Tours, Université de Nantes, INSERM, SPHERE U1246, Tours, France; INSERM CIC 1415, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Bagaragaza E, Colombet I, Perineau M, Aegerter P, Guirimand F. Assessing the implementation and effectiveness of early integrated palliative care in long-term care facilities in France: an interventional mixed-methods study protocol. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:35. [PMID: 37024830 PMCID: PMC10077649 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01157-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Majority of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) have limited and delayed access to palliative care even though many suffer from incurable chronic illnesses that will likely require the provision of palliative care. We present the study protocol of "PADI-Palli", an intervention aims to advance early integrated palliative care into standard care delivered in LTCF. This study will assess the effectiveness of early integrated palliative care on palliative care accessibility for older persons in LTCF, and identify the key factors for the successful implementation of early integrated palliative care and its sustainability in the LTCF context. METHODS This multicentre interventional study utilises a pragmatic research design with a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach. The qualitative study will use a case study design and the quantitative study will use a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial. In total, 21 participating LTCF from three French regions will be randomly allocated to one of seven clusters. The clusters will cross over from the usual care to the active intervention condition over the course of the study. The primary outcome relates to the accurate identification of palliative care needs and early access to palliative care for LTCF residents. Secondary outcomes are quality of care, quality of life for residents and their families, and quality of life at work for professionals. Measurements will be performed before and after the intervention. Implementation and evaluation of PADI-Palli intervention is grounded in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. DISCUSSION Existing evidence demonstrates that early integrated palliative care in cancer care leads to a significant improvement in patient outcomes and processes of care. Little is known, however, about early integrated palliative care in the context of LTCF for older persons. This study has the potential to fill this gap in the literature by providing evidence on the effectiveness of early integrated palliative care for older persons in LTCF. Moreover, this study will provide a better understanding of the relevant contextual elements that facilitate or hinder early integrated palliative care implementation and transferability. If proven effective, this intervention can be scaled to other care settings in which older persons require palliative care. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04708002; National registration: ID-RCB number: 2020-A01832-37.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Bagaragaza
- Maison Médicale Jeanne Garnier, Département Recherche Enseignement Formation (DREF), 106 avenue Emile Zola 106-108 Avenue Emile Zola, Paris, 75015, France.
| | - Isabelle Colombet
- Maison Médicale Jeanne Garnier, Département Recherche Enseignement Formation (DREF), 106 avenue Emile Zola 106-108 Avenue Emile Zola, Paris, 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Mireille Perineau
- Centre Hospitalier d'Avignon, 305A Rue Raoul Follereau, Avignon, 84000, France
| | - Philippe Aegerter
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Département Santé Publique - U1018 UVSQ INSERM, GIRCI IdF, 2 Av. de la Source de la Bièvre, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, 78180, France
| | - Frédéric Guirimand
- Maison Médicale Jeanne Garnier, Département Recherche Enseignement Formation (DREF), 106 avenue Emile Zola 106-108 Avenue Emile Zola, Paris, 75015, France
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Vinson DR, Rauchwerger AS, Karadi CA, Shan J, Warton EM, Zhang JY, Ballard DW, Mark DG, Hofmann ER, Cotton DM, Durant EJ, Lin JS, Sax DR, Poth LS, Gamboa SH, Ghiya MS, Kene MV, Ganapathy A, Whiteley PM, Bouvet SC, Babakhanian L, Kwok EW, Solomon MD, Go AS, Reed ME. Clinical decision support to Optimize Care of patients with Atrial Fibrillation or flutter in the Emergency department: protocol of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized pragmatic trial (O'CAFÉ trial). Trials 2023; 24:246. [PMID: 37004068 PMCID: PMC10064588 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07230-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter in the emergency department (ED) includes rate reduction, cardioversion, and stroke prevention. Different approaches to these components of care may lead to variation in frequency of hospitalization and stroke prevention actions, with significant implications for patient experience, cost of care, and risk of complications. Standardization using evidence-based recommendations could reduce variation in management, preventable hospitalizations, and stroke risk. METHODS We describe the rationale for our ED-based AF treatment recommendations. We also describe the development of an electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) to deliver these recommendations to emergency physicians at the point of care. We implemented the CDSS at three pilot sites to assess feasibility and solicit user feedback. We will evaluate the impact of the CDSS on hospitalization and stroke prevention actions using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized pragmatic clinical trial across 13 community EDs in Northern California. DISCUSSION We hypothesize that the CDSS intervention will reduce hospitalization of adults with isolated AF or atrial flutter presenting to the ED and increase anticoagulation prescription in eligible patients at the time of ED discharge and within 30 days. If our hypotheses are confirmed, the treatment protocol and CDSS could be recommended to other EDs to improve management of adults with AF or atrial flutter. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05009225 . Registered on 17 August 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Vinson
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA.
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, CA, USA.
| | - Adina S Rauchwerger
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Chandu A Karadi
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Judy Shan
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - E Margaret Warton
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Y Zhang
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Dustin W Ballard
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Dustin G Mark
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Erik R Hofmann
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Dale M Cotton
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Edward J Durant
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center, Modesto, CA, USA
| | - James S Lin
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | - Dana R Sax
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Luke S Poth
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Stephen H Gamboa
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Meena S Ghiya
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mamata V Kene
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center, San Leandro, CA, USA
| | - Anuradha Ganapathy
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Patrick M Whiteley
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Sean C Bouvet
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew D Solomon
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Alan S Go
- The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
- Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Mary E Reed
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
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Davis-Plourde K, Taljaard M, Li F. Sample size considerations for stepped wedge designs with subclusters. Biometrics 2023; 79:98-112. [PMID: 34719017 PMCID: PMC9054939 DOI: 10.1111/biom.13596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The stepped wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) is an increasingly popular design for evaluating health service delivery or policy interventions. An essential consideration of this design is the need to account for both within-period and between-period correlations in sample size calculations. Especially when embedded in health care delivery systems, many SW-CRTs may have subclusters nested in clusters, within which outcomes are collected longitudinally. However, existing sample size methods that account for between-period correlations have not allowed for multiple levels of clustering. We present computationally efficient sample size procedures that properly differentiate within-period and between-period intracluster correlation coefficients in SW-CRTs in the presence of subclusters. We introduce an extended block exchangeable correlation matrix to characterize the complex dependencies of outcomes within clusters. For Gaussian outcomes, we derive a closed-form sample size expression that depends on the correlation structure only through two eigenvalues of the extended block exchangeable correlation structure. For non-Gaussian outcomes, we present a generic sample size algorithm based on linearization and elucidate simplifications under canonical link functions. For example, we show that the approximate sample size formula under a logistic linear mixed model depends on three eigenvalues of the extended block exchangeable correlation matrix. We provide an extension to accommodate unequal cluster sizes and validate the proposed methods via simulations. Finally, we illustrate our methods in two real SW-CRTs with subclusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Davis-Plourde
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Heath, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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49
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Davis-Plourde K, Taljaard M, Li F. Power analyses for stepped wedge designs with multivariate continuous outcomes. Stat Med 2023; 42:559-578. [PMID: 36565050 PMCID: PMC9985483 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Multivariate outcomes are common in pragmatic cluster randomized trials. While sample size calculation procedures for multivariate outcomes exist under parallel assignment, none have been developed for a stepped wedge design. In this article, we present computationally efficient power and sample size procedures for stepped wedge cluster randomized trials (SW-CRTs) with multivariate outcomes that differentiate the within-period and between-period intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs). Under a multivariate linear mixed model, we derive the joint distribution of the intervention test statistics which can be used for determining power under different hypotheses and provide an example using the commonly utilized intersection-union test for co-primary outcomes. Simplifications under a common treatment effect and common ICCs across endpoints and an extension to closed-cohort designs are also provided. Finally, under the common ICC across endpoints assumption, we formally prove that the multivariate linear mixed model leads to a more efficient treatment effect estimator compared to the univariate linear mixed model, providing a rigorous justification on the use of the former with multivariate outcomes. We illustrate application of the proposed methods using data from an existing SW-CRT and present extensive simulations to validate the methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Davis-Plourde
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Heath, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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50
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Lee DS, Straus SE, Farkouh ME, Austin PC, Taljaard M, Chong A, Fahim C, Poon S, Cram P, Smith S, McKelvie RS, Porepa L, Hartleib M, Mitoff P, Iwanochko RM, MacDougall A, Shadowitz S, Abrams H, Elbarasi E, Fang J, Udell JA, Schull MJ, Mak S, Ross HJ. Trial of an Intervention to Improve Acute Heart Failure Outcomes. N Engl J Med 2023; 388:22-32. [PMID: 36342109 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2211680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with acute heart failure are frequently or systematically hospitalized, often because the risk of adverse events is uncertain and the options for rapid follow-up are inadequate. Whether the use of a strategy to support clinicians in making decisions about discharging or admitting patients, coupled with rapid follow-up in an outpatient clinic, would affect outcomes remains uncertain. METHODS In a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial conducted in Ontario, Canada, we randomly assigned 10 hospitals to staggered start dates for one-way crossover from the control phase (usual care) to the intervention phase, which involved the use of a point-of-care algorithm to stratify patients with acute heart failure according to the risk of death. During the intervention phase, low-risk patients were discharged early (in ≤3 days) and received standardized outpatient care, and high-risk patients were admitted to the hospital. The coprimary outcomes were a composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes within 30 days after presentation and the composite outcome within 20 months. RESULTS A total of 5452 patients were enrolled in the trial (2972 during the control phase and 2480 during the intervention phase). Within 30 days, death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes occurred in 301 patients (12.1%) who were enrolled during the intervention phase and in 430 patients (14.5%) who were enrolled during the control phase (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.99; P = 0.04). Within 20 months, the cumulative incidence of primary-outcome events was 54.4% (95% CI, 48.6 to 59.9) among patients who were enrolled during the intervention phase and 56.2% (95% CI, 54.2 to 58.1) among patients who were enrolled during the control phase (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92 to 0.99). Fewer than six deaths or hospitalizations for any cause occurred in low- or intermediate-risk patients before the first outpatient visit within 30 days after discharge. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with acute heart failure who were seeking emergency care, the use of a hospital-based strategy to support clinical decision making and rapid follow-up led to a lower risk of the composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes within 30 days than usual care. (Funded by the Ontario SPOR Support Unit and others; COACH ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02674438.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S Lee
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Sharon E Straus
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Michael E Farkouh
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Peter C Austin
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Monica Taljaard
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Alice Chong
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Christine Fahim
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Stephanie Poon
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Peter Cram
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Stuart Smith
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Robert S McKelvie
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Liane Porepa
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Michael Hartleib
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Peter Mitoff
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Robert M Iwanochko
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Andrea MacDougall
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Steven Shadowitz
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Howard Abrams
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Esam Elbarasi
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Jiming Fang
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Jacob A Udell
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Michael J Schull
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Susanna Mak
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
| | - Heather J Ross
- From the University of Toronto (D.S.L., S.E.S., M.E.F., P.C.A., S.P., P.C., R.M.I., S. Shadowitz, H.A., J.A.U., M.J.S., S.M., H.J.R.), the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (D.S.L., M.E.F., J.A.U., H.J.R.), ICES (formerly the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (D.S.L., P.C.A., A.C., P.C., J.F., J.A.U., M.J.S.), St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health (S.E.S., C.F.), the Divisions of Cardiology (S.P.) and General Internal Medicine (S. Shadowitz) and the Department of Emergency Services and Sunnybrook Research Institute (M.J.S.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Hospital (P.M.), the Division of Cardiology, Toronto Western Hospital (R.M.I.), the Division of General Internal Medicine, Toronto General Hospital (H.A.), the Division of Cardiology, Women's College Hospital (J.A.U.), and the Division of Cardiology, Sinai Health (S.M.), Toronto, the Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa (M.T.), the Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre (S. Smith), Western University (S. Smith, R.S.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, St. Joseph's Health Care (R.S.M.), London, the Division of Cardiology, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket (L.P.), the Division of Cardiology, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough (M.H.), the Division of Cardiology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay (A.M.), and the Division of Cardiology, William Osler Health System, Brampton (E.E.) - all in Ontario, Canada; and the Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (P.C.)
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