Pauline Reid, Kev Patterson, Emma McCulloch, Laura Walsh, Amal Murshid, William Kinsella, Andrew Moore, Thomas Skouras, Philip J Smith
{"title":"Nurse-led approach to standardising the management of iron-deficiency anaemia, achieving the 2-week cancer pathway targets and reducing hospital admissions: practicalities and learnings from a success story","authors":"Pauline Reid, Kev Patterson, Emma McCulloch, Laura Walsh, Amal Murshid, William Kinsella, Andrew Moore, Thomas Skouras, Philip J Smith","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102438","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102438","url":null,"abstract":"The most significant and common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency, which occurs when iron absorption cannot meet the body’s demands due to growth, pregnancy, poor nutrition, malabsorption or blood loss. It is estimated that in the UK 11% of the adult population have iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and investigation is essential to exclude significant pathology as the underlying cause. It has been shown that IDA is responsible for 57 000 hospital admissions in the UK, and at least 10% of gastroenterology referrals per annum. IDA is a major red flag symptom for gastrointestinal cancer. At the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, a dedicated nurse-led IDA service was developed in 2005 to help alleviate the clinical pressures created by the two week suspected cancer referral pathway. With the success of this service, investigation and management of IDA has been extended to referrals from accident and emergency, with the aim of reducing hospital admissions and to investigating and optimising iron replacement therapy in preoperative patients. Delivering this as a nurse consultant-led service was proposed by the gastroenterology medical team who felt that, as a clinical problem with well established, published investigative algorithms, IDA would be suitable for management in a dedicated nurse-led clinic. This article will focus on the strategies employed to achieve sufficient resources and clinic capacity to run this service effectively, develop strong nurse education and training, and the development of agreed investigation pathways. A robust results review process, with rapid management of abnormal results, was established with timely discharge for those patients with normal results. Optimisation of iron replacement therapy and verification of sustained haematological response was prioritised as this was identified as being poorly managed across all specialties. A process for ongoing audit of results was included to show the success of the service and highlight areas for redesign. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our nurse-led IDA service and suggest it as the basis for other IDA services in the UK and beyond.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138520421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Darragh Storan, Edel McDermott, Jenny Moloney, Lisa Keenan, Roisin Stack, Juliette Sheridan, Glen Doherty, Garret Cullen, Louise McHugh, Hugh E Mulcahy
{"title":"Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index is a valid and reliable measure of disability in an English-speaking hospital practice and predicts long-term requirement for treatment escalation","authors":"Darragh Storan, Edel McDermott, Jenny Moloney, Lisa Keenan, Roisin Stack, Juliette Sheridan, Glen Doherty, Garret Cullen, Louise McHugh, Hugh E Mulcahy","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102428","url":null,"abstract":"Objective The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Disability Index (IBD-DI) was developed according to WHO standards and has been validated in population-based cohorts. However, there are limited data on its relationship to various psychosocial and economic variables or its relevance to hospital clinical practice. The study aims were to determine the validity and reliability of the IBD-DI in an English-speaking hospital out-patient population and to evaluate its association with short and long-term disease activity. Design/Methods 329 subjects were enrolled in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study assessing the IBD-DI and a range of quality of life, work impairment, depression, anxiety, body image, interpersonal, self-esteem, disease activity, symptom scoring scales in addition to long-term outcome. Results The IBD-DI had adequate structure, was internally consistent and demonstrated convergent and predictive validity and was reliable in test–retest study. Disability was related to female sex (p=0.002), antidepressant use (p<0.001), steroid use (p<0.001) and disease activity (p<0.001). Higher IBD-DI scores were associated with long-term disease activity and need for treatment escalation in univariate (p<0.001) and multivariate (p=0.002) analyses. Conclusion The IBD-DI is a valid and reliable measure of disability in English-speaking hospital populations and predicts long-term requirement for treatment escalation.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135141134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Challenge of achieving truly individualised informed consent in therapeutic endoscopy","authors":"Philip Berry, Sreelakshmi Kotha","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102545","url":null,"abstract":"Objective Guidance covering informed consent in endoscopy has been refined in the UK following the obstetric case of Nadine Montgomery, and in light of updated General Medical Council guidance. All risks likely to be material to the patient must be explored, as well as alternatives to the procedure. Despite this, departments and endoscopists still struggle to meet the current standards. In this article, we explore the challenges encountered in achieving individualised consent in therapeutic endoscopy through real-life scenarios. Methods Five realistic therapeutic endoscopy (hepatobiliary) scenarios are described, followed by presentation of possible or ideal approaches, with references related to existing literature in this field. Results The vignettes allow consideration of how to approach difficult consent challenges, including anxiety and information overload, urgency during acute illness, failure to disclose the risk of death, the role of trainees and intraprocedural distress under conscious sedation. Conclusions The authors conclude that a high degree of transparency is required while obtaining consent for therapeutic endoscopy accompanied by full documentation, involvement of relatives in nearly all cases, and clarity around the presence of trainees who may handle the scope. A greater focus on upskilling trainees in the consent process for therapeutic endoscopy is required.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135390824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer Phillips, Ann Jane Archer, Alice Lagnado, Morgan O’Flaherty, Aileen Fraser, Ruth Carr
{"title":"European Crohn’s and Colitis Guidelines on sexuality, fertility, pregnancy and lactation: a guideline review","authors":"Jennifer Phillips, Ann Jane Archer, Alice Lagnado, Morgan O’Flaherty, Aileen Fraser, Ruth Carr","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102534","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102534","url":null,"abstract":"The European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation has recently published the third version of the European Consensus on reproduction in inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we summarise their key recommendations.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135679141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin Giles, Kirsty Fancey, Karen Gamble, Zeshan Riaz, Joanna K Dowman, Andrew J Fowell, Richard J Aspinall
{"title":"Novel, nurse-led early postdischarge clinic is associated with fewer readmissions and lower mortality following hospitalisation with decompensated cirrhosis","authors":"Benjamin Giles, Kirsty Fancey, Karen Gamble, Zeshan Riaz, Joanna K Dowman, Andrew J Fowell, Richard J Aspinall","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102489","url":null,"abstract":"Objective Patients hospitalised with decompensated cirrhosis have high rates of early unplanned readmission. Many readmissions are avoidable with secondary preventative strategies, but patients are often readmitted prior to outpatient review. To address this, we established a novel, nurse-led early postdischarge (EPD) clinic delivering goal-directed care for cirrhosis complications and evaluated the impact. Methods Retrospective cohort study comparing outcomes in 78 patients seen in the EPD clinic with 91 phenotypically matched controls receiving standard, consultant hepatologist care. Follow-up for 12 months from index admission with endpoints including survival, time to readmission, number of readmissions and healthcare burden. Results Median time to readmission was 51 days in controls and 98 days in the intervention group (p<0.01). The intervention cohort had significantly fewer readmissions at 30 days (12% vs 30%, p<0.01) and 90 days (27% vs 49%, p<0.01) but not significantly at 12 months (58% vs 68%, p=0.16) with an overall reduction in bed day usage of 29%. Mortality for the control group was 4% at 30 days with no deaths in the intervention group. There were significantly fewer deaths in the intervention group at 90 days (5% vs 15%, p<0.05) and 12 months (22% vs 41%, p<0.01). Conclusions Following an index hospitalisation with decompensated cirrhosis, goal-directed postdischarge care can be effectively delivered by specialist nurses, prior to outpatient review by hepatologists. This model was associated with significantly fewer readmissions, lower bed day usage and a reduced mortality. Our data suggest such models of care deserve wider implementation and further evaluation.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135590053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca K Grant, William M Brindle, Caitlyn L Taylor, Edward J Rycroft, Oluwadara Oyewole, Sarah C Morgan, Eleanor F Watson, Atul Anand, Norma C McAvoy, Ian D Penman, Nicholas I Church, Kenneth C Trimble, Colin L Noble, John N Plevris, Gail S M Masterton, Rahul Kalla
{"title":"Tailoring follow-up endoscopy in patients with severe oesophagitis","authors":"Rebecca K Grant, William M Brindle, Caitlyn L Taylor, Edward J Rycroft, Oluwadara Oyewole, Sarah C Morgan, Eleanor F Watson, Atul Anand, Norma C McAvoy, Ian D Penman, Nicholas I Church, Kenneth C Trimble, Colin L Noble, John N Plevris, Gail S M Masterton, Rahul Kalla","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102485","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102485","url":null,"abstract":"Objective We aimed to investigate the clinical utility of follow-up oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD2) in patients with severe oesophagitis (Los Angeles grades C or D) through evaluating the yield of Barrett’s oesophagus (BO), cancer, dysplasia and strictures. Second, we aimed to determine if the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) may be used to identify patients to undergo OGD2s. Design/method Patients in NHS Lothian with an index OGD (OGD1) diagnosis of severe oesophagitis between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015 were identified. Univariate analysis identified factors associated with grade. Patients were stratified by frailty and a diagnosis of stricture, cancer, dysplasia and BO. Results In total 964 patients were diagnosed with severe oesophagitis, 61.7% grade C and 38.3% grade D. The diagnostic yield of new pathology at OGD2 was 13.2% (n=51), new strictures (2.3%), dysplasia (0.5%), cancer (0.3%) and BO (10.1%). A total of 140 patients had clinical frailty (CFS score ≥5), 88.6% of which were deceased at review (median of 76 months). In total 16.4% of frail patients underwent OGD2s and five new pathologies were diagnosed, none of which were significantly associated with grade. Among non-frail patients at OGD2, BO was the only pathology more common (p=0.010) in patients with grade D. Rates of cancer, dysplasia and strictures did not vary significantly between grades. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that OGD2s in patients with severe oesophagitis may be tailored according to clinical frailty and only be offered to non-frail patients. In non-frail patients OGD2s have similar pick-up rates of sinister pathology in both grades of severe oesophagitis.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135972909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vivek Chand Chand Goodoory, Allan John Morris, Andrew M Veitch
{"title":"Twitter debate: should upper gastrointestinal bleeding training and certification be formalised?","authors":"Vivek Chand Chand Goodoory, Allan John Morris, Andrew M Veitch","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102549","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136232957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Time to treat the climate and nature crisis as one indivisible global health emergency","authors":"Chris Zielinski","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102569","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134973891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mark Wright, Sarah Willmore, Sumita Verma, Anita Omasta-Martin, Humraj Sahota, Wendy Prentice, Amelia Jane Stockley, Fiona Finlay, Julia Verne, Ben Hudson
{"title":"Developing a generic business case for an advanced chronic liver disease support service","authors":"Mark Wright, Sarah Willmore, Sumita Verma, Anita Omasta-Martin, Humraj Sahota, Wendy Prentice, Amelia Jane Stockley, Fiona Finlay, Julia Verne, Ben Hudson","doi":"10.1136/flgastro-2023-102530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/flgastro-2023-102530","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction Liver disease deaths are rising, but specialist palliative care services for hepatology are limited. Expansion across the NHS is required. Methods We surveyed clinicians, patients and carers to design an ‘ideal’ service. Using standard NHS tariffs, we calculated the cost of this service. In hospitals where specialist palliative care was available for liver disease, patient-level costs and bed utilisation in last year of life (LYOL) were compared between those seen by specialist palliative care before death and those not. Results The ‘ideal’ service was described. Costs were calculated as whole time equivalent for a minimal service, which could be scaled up. From a hospital with an existing service, patients seen by specialist palliative care had associated costs of £14 728 in LYOL, compared with £18 558 for those dying without. Savings more than balanced the costs of introducing the service. Average bed days per patient in LYOL were reduced (19.4 vs 25.7) also intensive care unit bed days (1.1 vs 1.8). Despite this, time from first admission in LYOL to death was similar in both groups (6 months for the specialist palliative care group vs 5 for those not referred). Conclusions We have produced a template business case for an ‘ideal’ advanced liver disease support service, which self-funds and saves many bed days. The model can be easily adapted for local use in other trusts. We describe the methodology for calculating patient-level costs and the required service size. We present a financially compelling argument to expand a service to meet a growing need.","PeriodicalId":46937,"journal":{"name":"Frontline Gastroenterology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135266338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}