Objective To evaluate the accuracy of newer-generation home blood glucose meter (Accu-Check? Integra) in patients with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 109 cases with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes or IGR who were asked to take oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), while paired samples, that were Accu-Check? Integra in capillary blood glucose (CBG) and laboratory glucose in venous plasma glucose (VPG ), were taken simultaneously. Taking VPG as the reference value, the accuracy of the home glucose meter was assessed according to the international standardization organization (ISO), including, the accuracy was studied by means of Median absolute difference (Median AD) and Median absolute relative difference (Median RAD), the consistency of CBG and VPG was studied by Clarke Error Grid analysis, the correlation of CBG and VPG was analyzed according to liner regression analysis, and the sensitivity and specificity for hyperglycemia were also calculated. Results There were 292 VPG values paired with CBG values, among which 93.49% of CBG values met ISO home glucose meter criteria, the median AD was 7.2 mg/dL, and the median RAD was 4.76%. Paired glucose measurements from the Accu-Check Integra meter and laboratory glucose measurement demonstrated that 100% of paired points in the overall subject population fell in zones A and B of the Clarke Error Grid. The CBG value was well correlated to VPG value in the overall level, and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.6% and 95.7% respectively for hyperglycemia. Conclusion The newer-generation home blood glucose meter (Accu-Check? Integra) demonstrates a high degree of accuracy, and it can precisely report the real value of blood glucose.
This is the fifth paper in the evidence-based medicine glossary series. In this paper, we mainly introduce the systematic error（bias）and random error in medical research, review the definition and classification of bias made by different institutions and individuals. We also identify and categorize more than 10 types of bias in systematic review, which are considered the best evidence in evidence-based medicine. Additionally, we introduce some methods to reduce and eliminate bias, explaine six subject headings related to bias in MeSH, and introduce a new glossary — uncertainty in metrology.
ObjectiveTo explore the plan-do-check-action (PDCA) circulation method in reducing errors in general inspection items of health examination and to improve the quality of examination. MethodsUsing PDCA circulation method, the reasons of errors in general items of health examination for 39 individuals examinied between August and December 2010 were analyzed. Rectification was carried out according to the reasons, and the differences in the incidence rate of errors in general items of health examination before (from August to December, 2010) and after the rectification was (from Auguest to December, 2011) was compared. ResultsAfter the rectification, the incidence of errors in general items of health examination (0.08%) was significantly lower than that before the rectification (0.45%) (P<0.05). ConclusionPDCA circulation method can effectively reduce the incidence of errors in general items of health examination thus may ensure the medical quality.
Objective To analyze outpatient pharmacy internal prescription dispensing errors list and raise suggestions on preventive measures, in order to provide better and safer medical service for patients. Methods We summarized and analyzed the prescription dispensing error types and causes based on 320 cases of internal prescription dispensing errors of the outpatient pharmacy in a hospital of the highest rank between January and June 2014. Then, we put forward suggestions on improvement measures. Six months after the implementation of these measures, we compared the error rate after dispensing between January and June 2014 with those between July and December 2014. Results Among all the 320 prescription dispensing errors, 120 (37.50%) were wrong medication amount, 101 (31.57%) were wrong drugs, 76 (23.75%) were wrong usage and dosage, 17 (5.31%) were wrong packaging specification, and 6 (1.87%) were wrong medication form. The dispensing error rate between July and December 2014 was reduced compared with the rate between January and June 2014. The error rate after dispensing declined from 0.01‰ to 0.006‰. Conclusion Encouraging drug dispensing personnel to issue internal dispensing error recording list for the staff who had errors in dispensing, promoting pharmacists’ professional quality, strengthening the management of outpatient pharmacy, reasonable storage of medicines, enhancing intervention of irrational prescriptions, improving the spatial layout of the pharmacy, and perfecting dispensing error management system, can in a large extent reduce medication errors.
To investigate the γ pass rate limit of plan verification equipment for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan verification and its sensitivity on the opening and closing errors of multi-leaf collimator (MLC), 50 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma VMAT plan with clockwise and counterclockwise full arcs were randomly selected. Eight kinds of MLC opening and closing errors were introduced in 10 cases of them, and 80 plans with errors were generated. Firstly, the plan verification was conducted in the form of field-by-field measurement and true composite measurement. The γ analysis with the criteria of 3% dose difference, distance to agreement of 2 mm, 10% dose threshold, and absolute dose global normalized conditions were performed for these fields. Then gradient analysis was used to investigate the sensitivity of field-by-field measurement and true composite measurement on MLC opening and closing errors, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to investigate the optimal threshold of γ pass rate for identifying errors. Tolerance limits and action limits for γ pass rates were calculated using statistical process control (SPC) method for another 40 cases. The error identification ability using the tolerance limit calculated by SPC method and the universal tolerance limit (95%) were compared with using the optimal threshold of ROC. The results show that for the true composite measurement, the clockwise arc and the counterclockwise arc, the descent gradients of the γ passing rate with per millimeter MLC opening error are 10.61%, 7.62% and 6.66%, respectively, and the descent gradients with per millimeter MLC closing error are 9.75%, 7.36% and 6.37%, respectively. The optimal thresholds obtained by the ROC method are 99.35%, 97.95% and 98.25%, respectively, and the tolerance limits obtained by the SPC method are 98.98%, 97.74% and 98.62%, respectively. The tolerance limit calculated by SPC method is close to the optimal threshold of ROC, both of which could identify all errors of ±2 mm, while the universal tolerance limit can only partially identify them, indicating that the universal tolerance limit is not sensitive on some large errors. Therefore, considering the factors such as ease of use and accuracy, it is suggested to use the true composite measurement in clinical practice, and to formulate tolerance limits and action limits suitable for the actual process of the institution based on the SPC method. In conclusion, it is expected that the results of this study can provide some references for institutions to optimize the radiotherapy plan verification process, set appropriate pass rate limit, and promote the standardization of plan verification.