By what measure should a policy maker choose between two mediums that deliver the same or similar message or service? Between, say, video consultation or a remote patient monitoring application (i.e. patient-facing digital health innovations) and in-person consultation? To answer this question, we sought to identify measures which are used in randomised controlled trials. But first we used two theories to frame the effects of patient-facing digital health innovations on – 1) transaction costs (i.e. the effort, time and costs required to complete a clinical interaction); and 2) process outcomes and clinical outcomes along the care cascade or information value chain, such that the ‘value of information’ (VoI) is different at each point in the care cascade or value chain. From the trials, we identified three categories of measures: outcome (process or clinical), satisfaction, and cost. We found that although patient-facing digital health innovations tend to confer much of their value by altering process outcomes, satisfaction, and transaction costs, these measures are inconsistently assessed. Efforts to determine the relative value of and choose between mediums of service delivery should adopt a metric (i.e. mathematical combination of measures) that capture all dimensions of value. We argue that ‘value of information’ (VoI) is such a metric – it is calculated as the difference between the ‘expected utility’ (EU) of alternative options. But for patient-facing digital health innovations, ‘expected utility’ (EU) should incorporate the probability of achieving not only a clinical outcome, but also process outcomes (depending on the innovation under consideration); and the measures of utility should include satisfaction and transaction costs; and also changes in population access to services, and health system capacity to deliver more services, which may result from reduction in transaction costs.

IntroductionSymptomatic cervical disc herniation and degeneration are routinely treated by anterior decompression; however, the options for subsequent fusion and stabilization are numerous and ever increasing. The original anterior discectomy and fusion by Cloward [11] described interbody fusion with an autograft bone dowel. This was followed by the technique of Smith-Robinson describing the harvest of a rectangular tricortical iliac bone Abstract Introduction: Intervertebral carbon fiber cages may reduce graft collapse and promote bony fusion. Their safety and efficacy in the cervical spine have been investigated; however, no study has compared the outcomes of anterior cervical decompression and placement of a carbon fiber cage with placement of allograft and plate. Methods: Forty consecutive patients who met inclusion criteria were enrolled and randomized to anterior cervical discectomy with carbon fiber cage alone (n=20) or with allograft with plating (n=20). Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at baseline and at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Neck and arm pain as well as neck disability index (NDI) were assessed at every visit. The Short Form (SF)-36 was completed prior to operation and at 12-month intervals. Cervical radiographs were evaluated pre-op and at every follow-up for evidence of fusion and instability. Results: No significant difference was found between the two randomized groups with respect to pre-operative age (mean 50 years), sex, employment status, duration of pain or cervical levels affected. The mean followup period was 14 months (range, 6-26 months). The clinical pain and disability improvements were similar for both treatments. Post-operative donor site pain was only present in the cage group, but not of significant long-term disability. At up to 24 months, NDI scores were significantly improved in both groups when compared with baseline. At 12 and 24 months, all SF-36 questionnaire responses were also improved in both the treatment groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference in outcomes between the two groups at any time. The fusion rate was 100% in both groups by 12 and 24 months, without evidence of instability. There were no differences in complications between both groups. Conclusions: The outcomes after cervical decompression and placement of a carbon fiber cage appear to be similar to cervical decompression with allograft and plating by the Smith-Robinson technique.

The authors examined whether African American hair care professionals saw individuals who met general criteria for trichotillomania, chronic hair pulling that results in significant hair loss. Thirty-eight African American hair care professionals and 1 Caucasian hair care professional were interviewed about their customers' hair-pulling behavior and condition of their hair. Sixteen African American hair care professionals saw 21 individuals who met general criteria for trichotillomania and reportedly perceived the behavior to be problematic. Four African American hair care professionals saw 6 individuals who met general criteria for trichotillomania but did not reportedly perceive the behavior to be problematic. Hair care professionals attributed most customers' hair-pulling behavior to bad nerves, stress, habit, and worry. Hair care professionals appeared adept at treating the consequences of chronic hair pulling but offered little assistance for the actual pulling behavior. Hair care professionals' contact with individuals who engage in chronic hair pulling raises interesting implications for prevention.

OBJECTIVE The pharmacokinetics of beta-lactam antibiotics favor administration via an extended infusion. Although literature supporting extended infusion beta-lactams exists in adults, few data are available to guide the practice in pediatrics. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between extended and standard infusions in children. METHODS This retrospective chart analysis included hospitalized patients 0 to 18 years old who received at least 72 hours of cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, or meropenem between October 1, 2017, and March 31, 2019. Clinical outcomes of care included hospital length of stay, readmission within 30 days, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS A total of 551 patients (258 extended infusion, 293 standard infusion) met criteria for evaluation. Clinical outcomes among the entire population were similar. A subanalysis of select populations demonstrated decreased mortality in critical care patients (2.1% vs 19.6%, p = 0.006) and decreased 30-day readmission rates in bone marrow transplant patients (0% vs 50%, p = 0.012) who received the extended infusion compared with a standard infusion. CONCLUSIONS Outcomes were similar between extended and standard infusions in children. Subgroup analyses suggest a possible mortality benefit in the critically ill and decreased readmission rate in bone marrow transplant patients.

Citations made over a 20-year period in seven organizational science journals were systematically classified according to source. Citation analysis revealed that the number of articles concerning the study of organizations has increased substantially over the past two decades. The exchange of knowledge among three disciplines of organizational science (industrial psychology, sociology, and social psychology) was assessed utilizing three of Coombs's citation indices-self-feeding, producer-consumer, and inside-outside-and a cross-pollination index developed by the authors. Values for the indices suggest that journals and their contributors can be broadly identified as producers or consumers of knowledge. The index values also suggest that knowledge exchange among the three disciplines may be limited.Recently, a number of authors have decried the insulation that apparently exists among the many disciplines contributing to the study of organizations. Roberts, Hulin, and Rousseau (1978) call for the development of an interdisciplinary science of organizations. They suggest increased communication across disciplines to facilitate this development. Behling (1978) cautions that conflict among the many conceptual frameworks of organizational science can only be resolved by a willingness on the part of the advocates of the various disciplines "to communicate with their counterparts and to understand their viewpoints" (p. 199). Thus an examination of the exchange of knowledge between disciplines is an appropriate undertaking. One way to assess the extent of this exchange is through citation analysis. Manuscript citations (a) identify the locus of inspiration for research, (b) summarize the state of the art, (c) provide background information, and (d) critically analyze previous work (Weinstock, 1971). Analysis of citations also provides a means for assessing scientific communication (Parker, Paisley, & Garrett, 1967), scientific productivity (Bayer & Folger, 1966), and jour-Requests for reprints should be sent to