Reviewer's report
Title:Factors Impacting Physicians' Decisions to Prevent Variceal Hemorrhage
Version:2Date:26 February 2015
Reviewer: Shih-Cheng Yang
Reviewer's report:
NSBBs and EVL have been proven to be effective in preventing first variceal
bleed in cirrhotic patients with moderate/large varices. The choice of treatment
should be based on local resources and expertise, patient preference and
characteristics, side effects, and contra-indications. Kathleen Yan et al. present
an interesting study of Factors Impacting Physicians’ Decisions to prevent
Variceal Hemorrhage. This study highlights the fact that most physicians chose
both BBs and EVL as their preferred choice for prevention of first variceal
hemorrhage. In addition, most
physicians (the majority of whom performed endoscopies and had practices with
a small number (< 25%) of liver patients) prefer to use to use band ligation over
beta-blockers to prevent first variceal bleed in cirrhotic patients.
I have just a few comments to make
Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The definition of moderate/large varices should be described clearly
2. Statistical analysis in the manuscript should be rewritten in a section
3. The discussion can be condensed and concentrate on discussing the findings
of the study. I think it would be interesting to discuss why 39% % respondents
choose both BBs and EVL. Due to scenario you provided or physicians' routine
practices?
4.Table 1
Author should provide information about type of physician/level of training.
ex. Fellow/Academic practice/faculty/Private practice
Minor Essential Revisions
1. It's difficult to read Figures 2 which were poorly transcribed onto the pdf
provided.
2. Table 2. Group 1: 33.8% + 20% + 46.3% = 100.1% ?
3. p13, line 249: delete one " Beta-blockers"
Discretionary Revisions
1. Results Physicians’characteristics: A flow chart should be provided, instead of
the redundant description on page 8.
2.Scenario should be described in more details. Are there contraindications to
beta-blockers?. The presence or absence of gastric varices should be described.
Despite the absence of specific data on prophylactic studies, patients with gastric
varices may be treated with NSBB. The presence or absence of red signs (red
wale marks or red spots) on varices should be emphasized.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Factors Impacting Physicians' Decisions to Prevent Variceal Hemorrhage
Version:2Date:26 February 2015
Reviewer: Shih-Cheng Yang
Reviewer's report:
NSBBs and EVL have been proven to be effective in preventing first variceal
bleed in cirrhotic patients with moderate/large varices. The choice of treatment
should be based on local resources and expertise, patient preference and
characteristics, side effects, and contra-indications. Kathleen Yan et al. present
an interesting study of Factors Impacting Physicians’ Decisions to prevent
Variceal Hemorrhage. This study highlights the fact that most physicians chose
both BBs and EVL as their preferred choice for prevention of first variceal
hemorrhage. In addition, most
physicians (the majority of whom performed endoscopies and had practices with
a small number (< 25%) of liver patients) prefer to use to use band ligation over
beta-blockers to prevent first variceal bleed in cirrhotic patients.
I have just a few comments to make
Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The definition of moderate/large varices should be described clearly
2. Statistical analysis in the manuscript should be rewritten in a section
3. The discussion can be condensed and concentrate on discussing the findings
of the study. I think it would be interesting to discuss why 39% % respondents
choose both BBs and EVL. Due to scenario you provided or physicians' routine
practices?
4.Table 1
Author should provide information about type of physician/level of training.
ex. Fellow/Academic practice/faculty/Private practice
Minor Essential Revisions
1. It's difficult to read Figures 2 which were poorly transcribed onto the pdf
provided.
2. Table 2. Group 1: 33.8% + 20% + 46.3% = 100.1% ?
3. p13, line 249: delete one " Beta-blockers"
Discretionary Revisions
1. Results Physicians’characteristics: A flow chart should be provided, instead of
the redundant description on page 8.
2.Scenario should be described in more details. Are there contraindications to
beta-blockers?. The presence or absence of gastric varices should be described.
Despite the absence of specific data on prophylactic studies, patients with gastric
varices may be treated with NSBB. The presence or absence of red signs (red
wale marks or red spots) on varices should be emphasized.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Factors Impacting Physicians' Decisions to Prevent Variceal Hemorrhage
Version:2Date:26 February 2015
Reviewer: Shih-Cheng Yang
Reviewer's report:
NSBBs and EVL have been proven to be effective in preventing first variceal
bleed in cirrhotic patients with moderate/large varices. The choice of treatment
should be based on local resources and expertise, patient preference and
characteristics, side effects, and contra-indications. Kathleen Yan et al. present
an interesting study of Factors Impacting Physicians’ Decisions to prevent
Variceal Hemorrhage. This study highlights the fact that most physicians chose
both BBs and EVL as their preferred choice for prevention of first variceal
hemorrhage. In addition, most
physicians (the majority of whom performed endoscopies and had practices with
a small number (< 25%) of liver patients) prefer to use to use band ligation over
beta-blockers to prevent first variceal bleed in cirrhotic patients.
I have just a few comments to make
Major Compulsory Revisions
1. The definition of moderate/large varices should be described clearly
2. Statistical analysis in the manuscript should be rewritten in a section
3. The discussion can be condensed and concentrate on discussing the findings
of the study. I think it would be interesting to discuss why 39% % respondents
choose both BBs and EVL. Due to scenario you provided or physicians' routine
practices?
4.Table 1
Author should provide information about type of physician/level of training.
ex. Fellow/Academic practice/faculty/Private practice
Minor Essential Revisions
1. It's difficult to read Figures 2 which were poorly transcribed onto the pdf
provided.
2. Table 2. Group 1: 33.8% + 20% + 46.3% = 100.1% ?
3. p13, line 249: delete one " Beta-blockers"
Discretionary Revisions
1. Results Physicians’characteristics: A flow chart should be provided, instead of
the redundant description on page 8.
2.Scenario should be described in more details. Are there contraindications to
beta-blockers?. The presence or absence of gastric varices should be described.
Despite the absence of specific data on prophylactic studies, patients with gastric
varices may be treated with NSBB. The presence or absence of red signs (red
wale marks or red spots) on varices should be emphasized.
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
assistant