Author: Jason Curtis

Training Governance Colleagues in Improvement Methodology (2023)

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Type of publication:Service improvement case study

Author(s):*Gemma Styles

Citation:SaTH Improvement Hub, September 2023

Abstract:To ensure that all members of the governance teams (and patient safety teams) have been offered the opportunity to engage in the improvement hub training programmes (either fundamentals or Practitioner) by end of August 2023 in preparation for the introduction of PSIRF.

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To reduce the use of take away containers in the improvement hub (2023)

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Type of publication:Service improvement case study

Author(s):*Gemma Styles

Citation:SaTH Improvement Hub, October 2023

Abstract:To reduce the number of takeaway cups and takeaway food boxes used by the improvement team whilst in the improvement hub by 95% by the end of September 2023.

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Accuracy of Radiomics in Predicting IDH Mutation Status in Diffuse Gliomas: A Bivariate Meta-Analysis (2024)

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Type of publication:Journal article

Author(s):Di Salle, Gianfranco; Tumminello, Lorenzo; Laino, Maria Elena; *Shalaby, Sherif; Aghakhanyan, Gayane; Fanni, Salvatore Claudio; Febi, Maria; Shortrede, Jorge Eduardo; Miccoli, Mario; Faggioni, Lorenzo; Cosottini, Mirco; Neri, Emanuele.

Citation:Radiology Artificial intelligence. 6(1):e220257, 2024 Jan [epub ahead of print]

Abstract:Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the predictive accuracy of radiomics in the noninvasive determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status in grade 4 and lower-grade diffuse gliomas. Materials and Methods A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles published between January 1, 2010, and July 7, 2021. Pooled sensitivity and specificity across studies were estimated. Risk of bias was evaluated using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2, and methods were evaluated using the radiomics quality score (RQS). Additional subgroup analyses were performed according to tumor grade, RQS, and number of sequences used (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021268958). Results Twenty-six studies that included 3280 patients were included for analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of radiomics for the detection of IDH mutation were 79% (95% CI: 76, 83) and 80% (95% CI: 76, 83), respectively. Low RQS scores were found overall for the included works. Subgroup analyses showed lower false-positive rates in very low RQS studies (RQS < 6) (meta-regression, z = -1.9; P = .02) compared with adequate RQS studies. No substantial differences were found in pooled sensitivity and specificity for the pure grade 4 gliomas group compared with the all-grade gliomas group (81% and 86% vs 79% and 79%, respectively) and for studies using single versus multiple sequences (80% and 77% vs 79% and 82%, respectively). Conclusion The pooled data showed that radiomics achieved good accuracy performance in distinguishing IDH mutation status in patients with grade 4 and lower-grade diffuse gliomas. The overall methodologic quality (RQS) was low and introduced potential bias.

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Experiences of health and digital literacy pilot sites: the barriers and facilitators to the embedding of health literacy and digital health literacy activities in public libraries and community information services in England (2023)

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Type of publication:Report

Author(s):Rudd, Sarah; Price, Veronica; *Curtis, Jason

Citation:2023

Abstract:The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns accelerated the shift to digital delivery of health services and information. This has widened the digital and literacy divide in some sections of the population, which has been recognised as contributing to inequalities in health outcomes. If people and communities are to have agency in their own healthcare decisions, they need to be provided with appropriate support. This pilot scheme sought to explore whether public libraries and other trusted community hubs can become pillars of support to individuals: who seek assistance in finding good quality health information online; who need access to digital devices; and who require advice on navigating online sources of information. This report is based on the experiences of fourteen small scale pilot projects in which public, health and prison library services worked in cross-sector partnerships and with external stakeholders, on schemes designed to improve accessibility to health information and to reduce the digital divide for the communities they serve.

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