What follow-up interventions, programmes and pathways exist for minor stroke survivors after discharge from the acute setting? A scoping review

Objective
To identify the breadth and range of follow-up interventions currently provided to people after minor stroke with a focus on the definitions used for minor stroke, intervention components, intervention theory and outcomes used. These findings will inform the development and feasibility testing of a pathway of care.

Design
Scoping review.

Search strategy
The final search was run in January 2022. Five databases were searched—EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, British Nursing Index and PsycINFO. Grey literature was also searched. Title and abstract screening and full-text reviews were conducted by two researchers and a third was involved when differences of opinion existed. A bespoke data extraction template was created, refined and then completed. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used to describe interventions.

Results
Twenty-five studies, using a range of research methodologies were included in the review. A range of definitions were used for minor stroke. Interventions focused largely on secondary prevention and management of increased risk of further stroke. Fewer focused on the management of hidden impairments experienced after minor stroke. Limited family involvement was reported and collaboration between secondary and primary care was seldom described. The intervention components, content, duration and delivery were varied as were the outcome measures used.

Conclusion
There is an increasing volume of research exploring how best to provide follow-up care to people after minor stroke. Personalised, holistic and theory-informed interdisciplinary follow-up is needed that balances education and support needs with adjustment to life after stroke.

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Giugno 2023

Natural Course of Ruptured but Untreated Intracranial Aneurysms: A Multicenter 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:The current understanding of untreated ruptured intracranial aneurysms has been limited by study design and inaccurate patient data. Multicenter clinical registry studies on untreated ruptured intracranial aneurysms in Chinese patients are scarce. We aimed to calculate the mortality of patients with untreated ruptured intracranial aneurysms in a current, clearly defined hospital cohort in China, with emphasis on mortality predictors over a 2-year period.METHODS:Patients with saccular untreated ruptured intracranial aneurysms were identified from the Chinese Multicenter Cerebral Aneurysm Database, a multicenter, prospective, observational database registered in China, which involved 32 tertiary medical centers covering 4 northern Chinese provincial regions. Patients with intracranial aneurysms, regardless of ruptured status, shape, age, or comorbidities, were consecutively included in 12 of 32 medical centers between 2017 and 2020. Survival probabilities were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for the cumulative 2-year mortality. We analyzed the reasons for treatment decisions stratified by demographic characteristics and clinical features.RESULTS:For 941 enrolled patients, 58.6% of patients died within 1 month of symptom onset; and 68.1% within 2 years. 98 patients underwent surgical repair during follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified Hunt and Hess grades 3 to 5 (hazard ratio, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.01–2.35];P=0.047), loss of consciousness at symptom onset (hazard ratio, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.18–2.07];P=0.002), and largest aneurysm size of ≥5 mm (hazard ratio, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.05–1.59];P=0.014) as mortality predictors during the 2-year follow-up. Among patients who were successfully followed up, 42.6% (280) of them refused surgical treatment.CONCLUSIONS:Patients with poor Hunt and Hess grades, loss of consciousness at symptom onset, or largest aneurysms ≥5 mm in size showed a high mortality rate. A high number of treatment refusals was present in this study. These findings have implications for medical insurance policy, doctor-patient communication, and popular science education.

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Giugno 2023

Rehabilitation cooperation and person-centred dialogue meeting for patients sick-listed for common mental disorders: 12 months follow-up of sick leave days, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and work ability – a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial from the CO-WORK-CARE project

Objectives
To study whether early and enhanced cooperation within the primary care centres (PCC) combined with workplace cooperation via a person-centred employer dialogue meeting can reduce days on sick leave compared with usual care manager contact for patients on sick leave because of common mental disorders (CMD). Secondary aim: to study lapse of CMD symptoms, perceived Work Ability Index (WAI) and quality of life (QoL) during 12 months.

Design
Pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial, randomisation at PCC level.

Setting
28 PCCs in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, with care manager organisation.

Participants
30 PCCs were invited, 28 (93%) accepted invitation (14 intervention, 14 control) and recruited 341 patients newly sick-listed because of CMD (n=185 at intervention, n=156 at control PCCs).

Intervention
Complex intervention consisting of (1) early cooperation among general practitioner (GP), care manager and a rehabilitation coordinator, plus (2) a person-centred dialogue meeting between patient and employer within 3 months. Control group: regular contact with care manager.

Main outcome measures
12 months net and gross number of sick leave days at group level. Secondary outcomes: 12 months depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, perceived WAI and QoL (EuroQoL-5 Dimensional, EQ-5D).

Results
No significant differences were found between intervention and control groups concerning days of sick leave (intervention net days of sick leave mean 102.48 (SE 13.76) vs control 96.29 (SE 12.38) p=0.73), return to work (HR 0.881, 95% CI 0.688 to 1.128), or CMD symptoms, WAI or EQ-5D after 12 months.

Conclusions
It is not possible to speed up CMD patients’ return to work or to reduce sick leave time by early and enhanced coordination among GP, care manager and a rehabilitation coordinator, combined with early workplace contact over and above what ‘usual’ care manager contact during 3 months provides.

Trial registration number
NCT03250026.

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Giugno 2023

Is proactive telephone-based breastfeeding peer support a cost-effective intervention? A within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis of the 'Ringing Up about Breastfeeding earlY (RUBY) randomised controlled trial

Objective
The ‘Ringing Up about Breastfeeding earlY’ (RUBY) randomised controlled trial showed increased breastfeeding at 6 months in participants who received the proactive telephone-based peer support breastfeeding intervention compared with participants allocated to receive standard care and supports. The present study aimed to evaluate if the intervention was cost-effective.

Design
A within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis.

Setting
Three metropolitan maternity services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Participants
First time mothers intending to breastfeed their infant (1152) and peer volunteers (246).

Intervention
The intervention comprised proactive telephone-based support from a peer volunteer from early postpartum up to 6 months. Participants were allocated to usual care (n=578) or the intervention (n=574).

Main outcome measures
Costs during a 6-month follow-up period including individual healthcare, breastfeeding support and intervention costs in all participants, and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Results
Costs per mother supported were valued at $263.75 (or $90.33 excluding costs of donated volunteer time). There was no difference between the two arms in costs for infant and mothers in healthcare and breastfeeding support costs. These figures result in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $4146 ($1393 if volunteer time excluded) per additional mother breast feeding at 6 months.

Conclusion
Considering the significant improvement in breastfeeding outcomes, this intervention is potentially cost-effective. These findings, along with the high value placed on the intervention by women and peer volunteers provides robust evidence to upscale the implementation of this intervention.

Trial registration number
ACTRN12612001024831.

Leggi
Giugno 2023

Long-term impacts of an urban sanitation intervention on enteric pathogens in children in Maputo city, Mozambique: study protocol for a cross-sectional follow-up to the Maputo Sanitation (MapSan) trial 5 years postintervention

Introduction
We previously assessed the effect of an onsite sanitation intervention in informal neighbourhoods of urban Maputo, Mozambique on enteric pathogen detection in children after 2 years of follow-up (Maputo Sanitation (MapSan) trial, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02362932). We found significant reductions in Shigella and Trichuris prevalence but only among children born after the intervention was delivered. In this study, we assess the health impacts of the sanitation intervention after 5 years among children born into study households postintervention.

Methods and analysis
We are conducting a cross-sectional household study of enteric pathogen detection in child stool and the environment at compounds (household clusters sharing sanitation and outdoor living space) that received the pour-flush toilet and septic tank intervention at least 5 years prior or meet the original criteria for trial control sites. We are enrolling at least 400 children (ages 29 days to 60 months) in each treatment arm. Our primary outcome is the prevalence of 22 bacterial, protozoan, and soil transmitted helminth enteric pathogens in child stool using the pooled prevalence ratio across the outcome set to assess the overall intervention effect. Secondary outcomes include the individual pathogen detection prevalence and gene copy density of 27 enteric pathogens (including viruses); mean height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height z-scores; prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting; and the 7-day period prevalence of caregiver-reported diarrhoea. All analyses are adjusted for prespecified covariates and examined for effect measure modification by age. Environmental samples from study households and the public domain are assessed for pathogens and faecal indicators to explore environmental exposures and monitor disease transmission.

Ethics and dissemination
Study protocols have been reviewed and approved by human subjects review boards at the Ministry of Health, Republic of Mozambique and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Deidentified study data will be deposited at https://osf.io/e7pvk/.

Trial registration number
ISRCTN86084138.

Leggi
Giugno 2023

Prevalence of Venous Infarction in Patients With Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Baseline Diffusion-Weighted MRI and Follow-Up MRI

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:A venous pattern of infarction on neuroimaging is used as a clue to undiagnosed cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT); prevention of venous infarction is a goal of CVT management; and venous infarction is a factor used for clinical prognostication. Despite widespread use of the term venous infarct, the prevalence of true venous infarction is unclear. Our primary aim was to determine the prevalence of venous infarction in patients with CVT. We also measured the prevalence of diffusion abnormality without infarction, vasogenic edema, and intracranial hemorrhage.METHODS:Single-center, retrospective cohort study using a registry of 110 consecutive patients admitted to hospital with cerebral venous thrombosis between 2004 and 2014. Inclusion criteria were brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced venography at presentation, and repeat brain MRI ≥1 month later. Exclusion criteria were dural arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous malformation, cavernous sinus thrombosis, or previous neurosurgical procedure. Main outcome was proportion of patients with venous infarction (irreversible ischemic injury) diagnosed using diffusion-weighted MRI at presentation, confirmed using T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI ≥1 month later, and reported with 95% CI using the Wilson score interval method. We also report the prevalence of transient diffusion MRI abnormality without infarction, vasogenic edema, and intracranial hemorrhage.RESULTS:Seventy-three patients met the inclusion criteria, and after exclusions, the final study population was 59 patients with median age 41 years (interquartile range, 32–57). Venous infarction occurred in 12% (7/59 [95% CI, 6%–23%]) of patients, and final infarct volume was >1 mL in only 5.1% (3/59) of patients. An additional 8% (5/59 [95% CI, 4%–18%]) of patients had a transient diffusion MRI abnormality without infarction. Prevalence of cerebral vasogenic edema and intracranial hemorrhage were 66% (39/59 [95% CI, 53%–77%]) and 54% (32/59 [95% CI, 41%–66%]), respectively.CONCLUSIONS:In patients with CVT, venous infarction is uncommon and venous infarcts are typically very small. Vasogenic edema and hemorrhage are more common consequences of CVT.

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Giugno 2023

Longitudinal assessment of the eating pattern of people with dementia and its association with problems for feeding and malnutrition: a prospective follow-up study protocol

Introduction
Dementia conditions the patient’s nutrition from the beginning and vice versa. Generating difficulties for feeding (FEDIF) will influence its evolution. There are currently few nutritional longitudinal studies in people with dementia. Most focus on problems already established. The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia (EdFED) Scale identifies FEDIF of patients with dementia by studying their behaviours while eating or being fed. It also indicates areas of potential clinical interventions.

Methods and analysis
Prospective multicentre observational study carried out in nursing homes, Alzheimer’s day care centres and primary healthcare centres. The study population will be dyads composed by the patient (diagnosed of dementia, over 65 years of age and who have feeding difficulties) and their family caregiver. Sociodemographic variables and nutritional status (body mass index, Mini Nutritional Assessment, blood test and calf and arm circumference) will be assessed. The Spanish version of the EdFED Scale will be completed and the presence of nursing diagnoses related to feeding behaviours will be collected. Follow-up will take place for 18 months.

Ethics and dissemination
All data will be carried out respecting European legislation 2016/679 in data protection, and the Spanish ‘Organic Law 3/2018 of December 2005’. The clinical data will be kept segregated and encrypted. The informed consent has been obtained. The research has been authorised by the Costa del Sol Health Care District on 27 February 2020 and the Ethics Committee on 2 March 2021. It has obtained funding from the Junta de Andalucía on 15 February 2021. Findings of the study will be presented at provincial, national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With White Matter Hyperintensities in the WAKE-UP Trial

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:White matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin (WMH) are the most prominent imaging feature of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Previous studies suggest a link between cSVD burden and intracerebral hemorrhage and worse functional outcome after thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to determine the impact of WMH burden on efficacy and safety of thrombolysis in the MRI-based randomized controlled WAKE-UP trial of intravenous alteplase in unknown onset stroke.METHODS:The design of this post hoc study was an observational cohort design of a secondary analysis of a randomized trial. WMH volume was quantified on baseline fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of patients randomized to either alteplase or placebo in the WAKE-UP trial. Excellent outcome was defined as score of 0-1 on the modified Rankin Scale after 90 days. Hemorrhagic transformation was assessed on follow-up imaging 24-36 hours after randomization. Treatment effect and safety were analyzed by fitting multivariable logistic regression models.RESULTS:Quality of scans was sufficient in 441 of 503 randomized patients to delineate WMH. Median age was 68 years, 151 patients were female, and 222 patients were assigned to receive alteplase. Median WMH volume was 11.4 mL. Independent from treatment, WMH burden was statistically significantly associated with worse functional outcome (odds ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.57–0.92]), but not with higher chances of any hemorrhagic transformation (odds ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.60–1.01]). There was no interaction of WMH burden and treatment group for the likelihood of excellent outcome (P=0.443) or any hemorrhagic transformation (P=0.151). In a subgroup of 166 patients with severe WMH, intravenous thrombolysis was associated with higher odds of excellent outcome (odds ratio, 2.40 [95% CI, 1.19–4.84]) with no significant increase in the rate of hemorrhagic transformation (odds ratio, 1.96 [95% CI, 0.80–4.81]).CONCLUSIONS:Although WMH burden is associated with worse functional outcome, there is no association with treatment effect or safety of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke of unknown onset.REGISTRATION:URL:https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01525290.

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Maggio 2023

Predictors of suicidal ideation, attempts among adults living with HIV attending ART follow-ups at Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Objective
To assess the magnitude of suicidal ideation, attempts and associated factors among adults living with HIV attending antiretroviral therapy follow-ups at Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital, Addis Ababa.

Design
Hospital-based observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.

Setting
A study was conducted in Tirunesh Beijing General Hospital, Addis Ababa from 8 February 2022 to 10 July 2022.

Participants
Two hundred and thirty-seven HIV-positive youth were recruited for interviews, using the systematic random sampling technique. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess suicide. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Oslo social support and HIV perceived stigma scale instruments were used to assess the factors. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were computed to assess factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt. Statistical significance was declared at p value

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Maggio 2023

What proportion of clinical prediction models make it to clinical practice? Protocol for a two-track follow-up study of prediction model development publications

Introduction
It is known that only a limited proportion of developed clinical prediction models (CPMs) are implemented and/or used in clinical practice. This may result in a large amount of research waste, even when considering that some CPMs may demonstrate poor performance. Cross-sectional estimates of the numbers of CPMs that have been developed, validated, evaluated for impact or utilized in practice, have been made in specific medical fields, but studies across multiple fields and studies following up the fate of CPMs are lacking.

Methods and analysis
We have conducted a systematic search for prediction model studies published between January 1995 and December 2020 using the Pubmed and Embase databases, applying a validated search strategy. Taking random samples for every calendar year, abstracts and articles were screened until a target of 100 CPM development studies were identified. Next, we will perform a forward citation search of the resulting CPM development article cohort to identify articles on external validation, impact assessment or implementation of those CPMs. We will also invite the authors of the development studies to complete an online survey to track implementation and clinical utilization of the CPMs.
We will conduct a descriptive synthesis of the included studies, using data from the forward citation search and online survey to quantify the proportion of developed models that are validated, assessed for their impact, implemented and/or used in patient care. We will conduct time-to-event analysis using Kaplan-Meier plots.

Ethics and dissemination
No patient data are involved in the research. Most information will be extracted from published articles. We request written informed consent from the survey respondents. Results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.

OSF registration
(https://osf.io/nj8s9).

Leggi
Maggio 2023

Recommendations for follow-up care during post-deployment screening of Canadian Armed Forces personnel: how well does self-reported mental health predict referral decisions?

Objective
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) post-deployment screening aims to facilitate early care for members with mental health issues. The process consists of a questionnaire to screen for mental health problems, followed by an interview with a healthcare provider during which recommendations for follow-up care are provided if needed. In this study, we examined the association of self-reported mental health from the screening questionnaire with recommendation for follow-up care during the interview.

Design
Using screening data collected from CAF members who deployed from 2009 to 2012 (n=14 957), logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of self-reported mental health from the screening questionnaire with clinicians’ recommendation for follow-up care.

Results
In total, 19.7% of screened individuals were recommended for follow-up care. In the adjusted logistic regression model, some demographic characteristics, as well current and prior mental healthcare and self-reported mental health problems, had a substantial association with recommendation for follow-up. Compared with each mental health problem’s lowest severity category, recommendation for follow-up care was higher by approximately 12%–17% for those with mild to severe depression, 7% for those with panic disorder, 8%–10% for those with mild to severe anxiety, 8% for those experiencing high levels of stressors, 4%–10% for those at risk of alcohol use disorder and 7%–12% for those at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusions
Although the presence of mental health problems was significantly associated with receiving a follow-up recommendation, the relationships between self-reported mental health and subsequent recommendations for care were not as high as expected. Although this may partly reflect time delays between the questionnaire and interview, further research is needed on the extent to which other factors contributed to referral decisions.

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Maggio 2023

Pain neuroscience education, blended exercises and booster sessions as an effective therapy for pain, functional and psychological factors in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a study protocol for a single-blind randomised controlled trial with 22 factorial design during 6-month follow-up

Introduction
This study aims to investigate whether a pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with a blended exercises programme including aerobic, resistance, neuromuscular, breathing, stretching and balance exercises and diet education provides greater pain relief and improvement in functional and psychological factors than PNE and blended exercises alone and whether ‘exercise booster sessions (EBS)’ approach may improve outcomes and increase adherence in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) (by telerehabilitation (TR)).

Methods and analysis
In this single-blind randomised controlled trial, 129 patients (both genders; age >40) diagnosed with KOA will be randomly assigned to one of the 22 treatment combinations as: (1) blended exercises alone (36 sessions over 12 weeks), (2) PNE alone (three sessions over 2 weeks), (3) combination of PNE with blended exercises (exercise three times a week for 12 weeks combined with three sessions of PNE) and (4) a control group. Outcome assessors will be blinded towards group allocation. The primary outcome variables are the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index in knee osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score. Secondary outcomes include Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Short Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS), Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS), 30 s sit-to-stand test (30CST), Timed Up and Go (TUG), lower limbs’ muscle strength and lower limb joints’ active range of motion (AROM) will be performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months’ postinterventions. The primary and secondary outcomes will assess at baseline, 3 months and 6 months postinterventions.
The findings will be useful in establishing an effective treatment strategy covering multiple aspects behind KOA. The study protocol is conducted in clinical settings, thereby enhancing the possibility of future implementation of the treatments in the healthcare systems and self-care management. Results in comparison between groups will help to clarify the most effective of mixed-method TR (blended exercise, PNE, EBS with diet education) on more improvement in pain, functional and psychological factors in patients with KOA. This study will combine some of the most critical interventions, to be able to introduce a ‘gold standard therapy’ in the treatment of KOA.

Ethics and dissemination
The trial has been approved by the ethics committee for research involving human subjects of the Sport Sciences Research Institute of Iran (IR.SSRC.REC.1401.021). The study findings will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number
IRCTID: IRCT20220510054814N1.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

Multimodal individualised intervention to prevent functional decline after stroke: protocol of a randomised controlled trial on long-term follow-up after stroke (LAST-long)

Introduction
Multimodal interventions have emerged as new approaches to provide more targeted intervention to reduce functional decline after stroke. Still, the evidence is contradictory. The main objective of the Life After Stroke (LAST)-long trial is to investigate if monthly meetings with a stroke coordinator who offers a multimodal approach to long-term follow-up can prevent functional decline after stroke.

Methods and analysis
LAST-long is a pragmatic single-blinded, parallel-group randomised controlled trial recruiting participants living in six different municipalities, admitted to four hospitals in Norway. The patients are screened for inclusion and recruited into the trial 3 months after stroke. A total of 300 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be randomised to an intervention group receiving monthly follow-up by a community-based stroke coordinator who identifies the participants’ individual risk profile and sets up an action plan based on individual goals, or to a control group receiving standard care. All participants undergo blinded assessments at 6-month, 12-month and 18-month follow-up. Modified Rankin Scale at 18 months is primary outcome. Secondary outcomes are results of blood tests, blood pressure, adherence to secondary prophylaxis, measures of activities of daily living, cognitive function, physical function, physical activity, patient reported outcome measures, caregiver’s burden, the use and costs of health services, safety measures and measures of adherence to the intervention. Mixed models will be used to evaluate differences between the intervention and control group for all endpoints across the four time points, with treatment group, time as categorical covariates and their interaction as fixed effects, and patient as random effect.

Ethics and dissemination
This trial was approved by the Regional Committee of Medical and Health Research Ethics, REC no. 2018/1809. The main results will be published in international peer-reviewed open access scientific journals and to policy-makers and end users in relevant channels.

Trial registration number
ClincalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03859063, registered on 1 March 2019.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

Does recommended mental health follow-up care occur after postdeployment screening in the Canadian Armed Forces? A retrospective cohort study

Objective
To determine Canadian service members’ level of adherence to a recommendation for mental health services follow-up that was assigned by clinicians during postdeployment screening.

Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting
Canadian military population.

Participants
The cohort consisted of personnel (n=28 460) with a deployment within the 2009–2014 time frame. A stratified random sample (n=3004) was selected for medical chart review. However, we restricted our analysis to individuals whose completed screening resulted in a recommendation for mental health services follow-up (sample n=316 (weighted n=2034) or 11.2% of screenings.

Interventions
Postdeployment health screening.

Primary outcome measure
The outcome was adherence to a screening-indicated mental health services follow-up recommendation, assessed within 90 days, a preferred delay, and within 365 days, a delay considered partially associated with the screening recommendation.

Results
Adherence within 90 days of screening was 71.1% (95% CI 59.7% to 82.5%) for individuals with ‘major’ mental health concerns, 36.1% (95% CI 23.9% to 48.4%) for those with ‘minor’ mental health concerns, and 46.8% (95% CI 18.6% to 75.0%), for those with psychosocial mental health concerns; the respective 365-day adherence fractions were 85.3% (95% CI 76.1% to 94.5%), 55.7% (95% CI 42.0% to 69.4%) and 48.6% (95% CI 20.4% to 76.9%). Logistic regression indicated that a 90-day adherence among those with a ‘major’ mental health concern was higher among those screening after 2012 (adjusted OR (AOR) 5.45 (95% CI 1.08 to 27.45)) and lower, with marginal significance, among those with deployment durations greater than 180 days (AOR 0.35 (95% CI 0.11 to 1.06)).

Conclusions
On an individual level, screening has the potential to identify when a care need is present and a follow-up assessment can be recommended; however, we found that adherence to this recommendation is not absolute, suggesting that administrative checks and possibly, process refinements would be beneficial to ensure that care-seeking barriers are minimised.

Leggi
Maggio 2023