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Benjamin Littenberg

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Littenberg.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

The Vermont Diabetes Information System (VDIS): study design and subject recruitment for a cluster randomized trial of a decision support system in a regional sample of primary care practices.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence that optimal care for diabetes can result in reduced complications and improved economic outcomes, such care is often not achieved. The Vermont Diabetes Information System (VDIS) is a registry-based decision support and reminder system based on the Chronic Care Model and targeted to primary care physicians and their patients with diabetes. PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a regional decision support system for patients with diabetes. METHODS: Randomized trial of an information system with clustering at the practice level. Ten percent random subsample of patients selected for a home interview. SUBJECT: and setting includes 10 hospitals, 121 primary care providers, and 7348 patients in 55 Vermont and New York primary care practices. RESULTS: We report on the study design and baseline characteristics of the population. Patients have a mean age of 63 years and a mean glycosolated hemoglobin A1C of 7.1 %. Sixty percent of the population has excellent glycemic control (A1 C < 7%); 45% have excellent lipid control (serum LDL-cholesterol <100 mg /dL and serum triglycerides <400 mg/dL). Twenty-five percent have excellent blood pressure control (<130/80mmHg). These results compare favorably to recent national reports. However, only 8% are in optimal control for all three of hyperglycemia, lipids and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience to date indicates that a low cost decision support and information system based on the Chronic Care Model is feasible in primary care practices that lack sophisticated electronic information systems. VDIS is well accepted by patients, providers and laboratory staff. If proven beneficial in a rigorous, randomized, controlled evaluation, the intervention could be widely disseminated to practices across America and the world with a substantial impact on the outcomes and costs of diabetes. It could also be adapted to other chronic conditions. We anticipate the results of the study will be available in 2006.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Effect of false-positive mammograms on return for subsequent screening mammography.

There has been concern that false-positive mammograms may deter women from future screening mammograms. We sought to determine whether false-positive mammograms affected follow-up for rescreening. We studied a cohort of 41,844 women in the Vermont Mammography Registry. We measured the proportion of women returning for the next screening mammogram for 30 months following an initial screening mammogram, and compared rates of follow-up screening at 18 and 30 months in women with false-positive and true-negative initial mammograms. We adjusted for potential confounders using multivariable logistic regression models. Of the 2469 women aged 50 years or older with false-positive mammograms, 67.2% (n = 1660) returned at 18 months for rescreening, compared with 63.9% (16,948/26,521) of the women with true-negative mammograms (P = 0.001). Similarly, 86.8% (2143/2469) of the women with false-positive mammograms returned at 30 months for rescreening, compared with 84.7% (22,466/26,521) of the women with true-negative mammograms (P = 0.005). After adjusting for age, use of hormone replacement therapy, prior mammography, prior false-positive mammography, and education, women with false-positive mammograms were more likely to return at 18 months (odds ratio [OR] = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30 to 1.51) and at 30 months (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.44). Despite previous concerns, false-positive screening mammograms did not discourage women from returning for subsequent screening mammography. However, other deleterious effects of false-positive results still warrant improvements in the accuracy of breast cancer screening.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Paper standard gamble: a paper-based measure of standard gamble utility for current health.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a paper-based instrument that is simple to administer and produces a reliable estimate of patient standard gamble (SG) utilities for current health status. METHODS: A 1-page paper questionnaire instrument, paper standard gamble (PSG), was designed to estimate SG utilities. We performed two studies to assess the validity of PSG. First we compared PSG and SG utilities for current health in patients with prostate cancer. They randomly received either PSG followed by SG or vice versa, always with an intervening SF-12. In the second validity study, we assessed the test-retest reliability of PSG by administering it to prostate cancer patients twice, at least 2 weeks apart. RESULTS: In the first study, utilities were assessed in 64 men (32 per SG/PSG order group). A paired-comparison t test suggested no difference between SG and PSG (mean difference = -0.007; 95% confidence interval (Cl), -0.022 to 0.008). The concordance correlation coefficient was 0.92 (95% Cl, 0.79 to 0.99). In the second study, test and retest PSGs were available for 184 patients. The concordance correlation coefficient was 0.88 (95% Cl, 0.73 to 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that PSG may serve as a reliable substitute for SG when current health utility is of interest. PSG may have particular advantages for acquisition of health-related quality-of-life data in longitudinal studies.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

APACHE II predicts long-term survival in COPD patients admitted to a general medical ward.

OBJECTIVE: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) was developed to predict intensive-care unit (ICU) resource utilization. This study tested APACHE II's ability to predict long-term survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admitted to general medical floors. DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted for COPD exacerbation outside the ICU. APACHE II scores were calculated by chart review. Mortality was determined by the Social Security Death Index. We tested the association between APACHE II scores and long-term mortality with Cox regression and logistic regression. PATIENTS: The analysis included 92 patients admitted for COPD exacerbation in two Burlington, Vermont hospitals between January 1995 and June 1996. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In Cox regression, APACHE II score (hazard ratio [HR] 1.76 for each increase in a 3-level categorization, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16 to 2.65) and comorbidity (HR 2.58; 95% CI, 1.36 to 4.88) were associated with long-term mortality (P <.05) in the univariate analysis. After controlling for smoking history, comorbidity, and admission pCO2, APACHE II score was independently associated with long-term mortality (HR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.27 to 3.80). In univariate logistic regression, APACHE II score (odds ratio [OR] 2.31; 95% confidence internal [CI] 1.24 to 4.30) and admission pCO2 (OR 4.18; 95% CI, 1.15 to 15.21) were associated with death at 3 years. After controlling for smoking history, comorbidity, and admission pCO2, APACHE II score was independently associated with death at 3 years (OR 2.62; 95% CI, 1.12 to 6.16). CONCLUSION: APACHE II score may be useful in predicting long-term mortality for COPD patients admitted outside the ICU.

APACHE↗
PubMed2002

Cryptosporidiosis stimulates an inflammatory intestinal response in malnourished Haitian children.

The mechanisms by which Cryptosporidium parvum cause persistent diarrhea and increased morbidity and mortality are poorly understood. Three groups of Haitian children <18 months old were studied: case patients, children with diarrhea not due to Cryptosporidium, and healthy control subjects. Compared with both control groups, children with acute cryptosporidiosis were more malnourished (including measures of stunting [P=.03] and general malnutrition [P=.01]), vitamin A deficient (P=.04), and less often breast-fed (P=.04). Markers of a proinflammatory immune response, interleukin (IL)-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor I, were significantly elevated in the case population (P=.02 and P<.01, respectively), as was fecal lactoferrin (P=.01) and the T helper (Th)-2 cytokine IL-13 (P=.03). The counterregulatory cytokine IL-10 was exclusively elevated in the case population (P<.01). A Th1 cytokine response to infection was not detected. This triple cohort study demonstrates that malnourished children with acute cryptosporidiosis mount inflammatory, Th-2, and counterregulatory intestinal immune responses.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

CT colonography: multiobserver diagnostic performance.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate multiobserver diagnostic performance and reader agreement for colorectal polyp detection in a well-characterized cohort of patients with increased number of polyps, compared with an average-risk patient, with colonoscopy as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 70 patients suspected of having polyps was examined with spiral computed tomographic (CT) colonography, with colonoscopy performed the same day. After air insufflation per rectum, supine and prone images were obtained with single-detector row CT (5-mm collimation, 8-mm table increment, 2-mm reconstruction interval). Images were analyzed independently by four experienced abdominal radiologists using two-dimensional multiplanar reformation followed by selective use of three-dimensional endoscopic volume-rendered images. Data were analyzed both per polyp and per patient. RESULTS: Analysis per polyp demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 0.68 for lesions 10 mm or larger (n = 40), with 75% agreement among the four readers. Analysis per patient demonstrated improved detection and agreement, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.88 for patients with polyps or cancers 10 mm or larger (n = 28), with 94% agreement. When sensitivity and receiver operating characteristic analyses were analyzed per polyp size threshold, results among readers converged and peaked at polyp diameters of approximately 10 mm. CONCLUSION: In this patient cohort, diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement with single-detector row CT colonography was sufficient for detection of patients with lesions 10 mm or larger, with more variable results for smaller polyps.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Changing Patterns of Transesophageal Echocardiography Use in the Intensive Care Unit.

Since its advent, the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has grown rapidly. In patients undergoing TEE in the intensive care unit over two time periods (4 years apart), we evaluated whether TEE led to new/unsuspected findings or changes in patient management. Results showed that the indications for which patients underwent TEE changed considerably between the two time periods. Hemodynamic instability was an indication for TEE in 41% of the patients in the first interval and 56% of the patients in the second interval. TEE frequently established a new diagnosis (41%) and led to significant management changes (28%) in both time periods. These changes occurred despite the use of a pulmonary artery catheter in nearly 2/3 of the patients studied. Therefore, despite increasing and changing use, TEE frequently establishes unsuspected diagnosis and directly influences patient management when used in intensive care patients.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paper Standard Gamble: the reliability of a paper questionnaire to assess utility.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is often best estimated by standard gamble techniques. However, these techniques usually require time-consuming and expensive interviews or computer-directed questionnaires. Paper Standard Gamble (PSG) is a paper questionnaire that has previously been shown to accurately represent standard gambles elicited by computer. The authors sought to demonstrate its test-retest reliability in comparison to other, paper-based measures of quality of life. METHODS: The authors used a longitudinal cohort design with duplicate assessments of quality of life by PSG, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, and the Mental and Physical Component Summary scores of the SF-12 in stable dermatology out-patients. Baseline measures were performed by mail 1 to 2 weeks before a scheduled dermatology clinic visit. Follow-up measures were performed in the waiting room before being seen by the dermatologist. The authors calculated the coefficient of variation and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient for each of the instruments. RESULTS: 74 patients with stable skin conditions participated. The coefficient of variation of PSG (0.47%) was smaller than the other instruments (4.26%-5.22%); PSG's correlation was higher (0.97 v. 0.65-0.80). CONCLUSION: PSG, a 1-page paper questionnaire, is a reliable measure of patient utility suitable for use in postal surveys.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medication error reporting by community pharmacists in Vermont.

OBJECTIVE: To document community pharmacists' awareness and use of the United States Pharmacopeia Medication Errors Reporting (USP MER) program. DESIGN: Telephone survey. SETTING: Community pharmacies in Vermont. PARTICIPANTS: One self-identified community pharmacist from each community pharmacy. INTERVENTION: Each operating community pharmacy in Vermont was contacted by telephone between June 2002 and February 2003. The first individual to self-identify himself or herself as a pharmacist was asked to participate. The telephone surveys were conducted using a standard script. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Survey responses to questions about awareness and use of USP MER. RESULTS: A pharmacist was contacted in 98% (122/124) of all operating community pharmacies in Vermont. Nine (7%) pharmacists refused to participate, leaving 113 pharmacists who responded to the survey. Although more than one half of all respondents (70/113; 62%) had heard of USP MER, less than one quarter (24/113; 21%) had ever submitted a report. Significantly more pharmacists employed by independent pharmacies had submitted a report, compared with pharmacists from other pharmacy types (chain, supermarket, mass merchandiser; P = .03). Submitting reports through a corporate hierarchy or to a corporate program was the reason most frequently cited by pharmacists for not submitting reports directly to USP MER (37%). Whether corporate reports were forwarded to USP MER is unknown. CONCLUSION: The majority of Vermont community pharmacists were aware of USP MER. However, use was low. Barriers to reporting to a common system such as USP MER may differ depending on pharmacy type. Further research to document the barriers to submitting reports is warranted.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗