Large-scale studies link preoperative cognition to delirium risk, reveal its deadly toll after surgery
Editor's Note Older surgical patients with preoperative cognitive impairment face significantly higher odds of developing postoperative delirium (POD), and POD itself is tied to markedly worse surgical outcomes, according to two major studies published July 2025. Together, the findings point to delirium as both a high-impact and potentially modifiable target…
Study: Attire shapes patient trust, perceptions
Editor's Note Physician attire, particularly white coats, directly affects patients' perceptions of professionalism, trust, and communication, according to an August 12 article in MedPage Today. Preferences vary dramatically based on clinical setting, medical specialty, and physician gender. The article focuses on a systematic review published in The BMJ analyzing patient…
Major study clarifies risks, severity of perioperative pulmonary aspiration
Editor's Note Preliminary results from a nearly million-case review reveal that perioperative pulmonary aspiration, while feared, is rare but potentially deadly. According to a February 4 Anesthesiology News report, researchers found an overall incidence of 1 in 5,572 anesthesia cases, with aspiration-related mortality at about 1 in 67,000. As detailed…
Study: Travel, staff nurses perceive workplaces similarly
Editor's Note Travel nurses and permanent staff nurses share similar perceptions of their work environments and ethical workplace climates, according to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. The results challenge common assumptions about differences between these two groups and emphasize the need for nurse leaders to facilitate…
Study: Medicare Advantage surgical episodes cost less, achieve similar quality as traditional Medicare
Editor's Note Medicare Advantage (MA) patients undergoing elective surgery incurred lower costs than comparable patients in traditional Medicare (TM) without higher readmission rates and with no significant difference in mortality rates, according to a study published August 1 in JAMA Health Forum. The findings suggest that MA plans reduce surgical…
Study: Mixed reality system shows promise as alternative to optical neurosurgical navigation
Editor's Note A mixed reality navigation (MRN) system for neurosurgery achieved performance comparable to traditional optical navigation (TON) in certain clinical scenarios, while significantly reducing equipment costs, according to an August 1 study published in BMC Surgery. The MRN system, built around a Microsoft HoloLens headset and infrared tracking tools,…
Nearly half of hospital patient harm events go unreported, OIG reveals
Editor's Note Nearly half of hospital harm events—particularly surgical events—were not captured by reporting systems, according to a July 30 TechTarget report on new findings from the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG report examined 299 harm events experienced by a nationally representative sample of 770 Medicare patients discharged…
Psychological therapy results vary by intervention in acute pain care, review shows
Editor's Note Psychological interventions such as hypnosis, music therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may reduce acute pain in clinical settings, though statistically significant effects were found only in some studies, according to a July 16 scoping review published in The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Hypnosis was the most adaptable…
Brief NIH funding halt sparks backlash
Editor's Note The Trump administration paused new NIH research grants and contracts, prompting widespread concern before abruptly reversing course, according to a July 30 article in Forbes. Citing a separate report in STAT, the article details how the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed the NIH to suspend new…
Study: Mental fatigue, missed perioperative care linked
Editor's Note A July 16 study published in BMC Research Notes found that mental fatigue among perioperative nurses is significantly associated with increased rates of missed perioperative nursing care. This cross-sectional study surveyed 385 operating room nurses working in university-affiliated hospitals in East Azerbaijan, Iran. Participants met inclusion criteria related…
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- Study: Attire shapes patient trust, perceptions
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