To explore why there is variation in implementation of multifactorial falls prevention practices that are recommended to reduce falls risks for older patients in hospital.
Mixed method, realist evaluation.
Three older persons and three orthopaedic wards in acute hospitals in England.
Healthcare professionals, including nurses, therapists and doctors (n=40), and patients aged 65 and over, and carers (n=31).
We examined mechanisms hypothesised to underpin the implementation of multifactorial falls risk assessment and multidomain, personalised prevention plans.
We developed an explanation detailing that how contextual factors supported or constrained implementation of recommended falls prevention practices.
Nurses led delivery of falls risk assessment and prevention planning using their organisation’s electronic health records (EHR) to guide and document these practices. Implementation of recommended practices was influenced by (1) organisational EHR systems that differed in falls risk assessment items they included, (2) competing priorities on nurse time that could reduce falls risk assessment to a tick box exercise, encourage ‘blanket’ rather than tailored interventions and that constrained nurse time with patients to personalise prevention plans and (3) established but not recommended falls prevention practices, such as risk screening, that focused multidisciplinary communication on patients screened as at high risk of falls and that emphasised nursing, rather than Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), responsibility for preventing falls through constant patient supervision.
To promote consistent delivery of multifactorial falls prevention practices, and to help ease the nursing burden, organisations should consider how electronic systems and established ward-based practices can be reconfigured to support greater multidisciplinary staff and patient and carer involvement in modification of individual falls risks.
Countries face challenges in maternal and newborn care (MNC) regarding costs, workforce and sustainability. Organising integrated care is increasingly seen as a way to address these challenges. The evidence on the optimal organisation of integrated MNC in order to improve outcomes is limited.
(1) To study associations between organisational elements of integrated care and maternal and neonatal health outcomes, experiences of women and professionals, healthcare costs and care processes and (2) to examine how the different dimensions of integrated care, as defined by the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care, are reflected in the literature addressing these organisational elements.
We included 288 papers and identified 23 organisational elements, grouped into 6 categories: personal continuity of care; interventions to improve interdisciplinary collaboration and coordination; care by a midwife; alternative payment models (non-fee-for-service); place of birth outside the obstetric unit and woman-centred care. Personal continuity, care by a midwife and births outside obstetric units were most consistently associated with improved maternal and newborn outcomes, positive experiences for women and professionals and potential cost savings, particularly where well-coordinated multidisciplinary care was established. Positive professional experiences of collaboration depended on clear roles, mutual trust and respectful interdisciplinary behaviour. Evidence on collaboration interventions and alternative payment models was inconclusive. Most studies emphasised clinical and professional aspects rather than organisational integration, with implementation barriers linked to prevailing biomedical system orientations.
Although the literature provides substantial evidence of organisational elements that contribute to improved outcomes, a significant gap remains in understanding how to overcome the barriers in sustainable implementation of these elements within healthcare systems. Interpreted through a systems and transition science lens, these findings suggest that strengthening integrated maternity care requires system-level changes aligning with WHO policy directions towards midwifery models of person-centred care.
To characterise patient and medication-related patterns observed in drug-related pressure ulcers (DRPUs) and provide descriptive findings that may support future consensus-building.
Multicentre retrospective observational study.
20 hospitals across Japan participated in the study with hospital pharmacists specialised in PU care.
A total of 1113 hospitalised patients with existing PUs were included and classified into three groups (definite, probable and no-possibility of DRPUs) based on predefined criteria.
The primary outcome was the description of medication-related characteristics observed in each DRPU classification group, including polypharmacy, initiation of new medications and dose adjustments. Secondary outcomes included differences in ulcer characteristics and functional status across DRPU categories.
The definite group (n=128, 11.5%) showed a significantly higher prevalence of polypharmacy (83.6% vs 71.1% in the no-possibility group, p
Medication-related characteristics such as polypharmacy, initiation of new medications, dose modifications and use of antipsychotics were more frequently observed in the definite DRPU group. These descriptive findings may help characterise the clinical patterns of DRPUs and may inform future hypothesis generation.
Many pregnant women have a history of trauma, such as abuse or violence, which can significantly impact their mental and physical health. Discussing these experiences in maternity care presents an opportunity to support women, reduce stigma and connect them with resources. However, concerns persist about stigmatisation, re-traumatisation and unwarranted safeguarding referrals.
The objective of this study was to explore how trauma discussions should be approached in maternity care, drawing on the perspectives of women with lived experience, voluntary sector representatives and healthcare providers in the UK. Findings aim to inform the development of a future intervention.
Semistructured interviews were conducted with women with trauma histories (experts by experience; n=4), representatives of voluntary sector organisations (n=7) and healthcare providers (n=12). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. A qualitative content analysis approach was employed, supported by a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement group (named as the ‘Research Collective’ for this study) comprising experts by experience, maternity care professionals and voluntary sector practitioners. The group contributed to both study design and data analysis.
Five descriptive categories emerged: (1) Rationale for discussions—whether and why trauma should be addressed; (2) Professionals and settings—who should lead discussions and in what environment; (3) Timing considerations—when discussions should occur; (4) Communicating about trauma—strategies to sensitively explore prior trauma; and (5) Supporting care providers—training and emotional support needs. Participants highlighted both the benefits of trauma discussions and the practical, emotional and systemic challenges involved.
Trauma discussions in maternity care are complex but essential. Findings provide practical, UK-specific insights into timing, communication and staff support considerations, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive, co-designed approaches to facilitate safe and effective trauma-informed care.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the Caribbean, yet there is limited published information on the availability and utilisation of diagnostic imaging and treatment methods. Inequities in healthcare infrastructure, access to neuroimaging and acute treatment options may contribute to poorer outcomes following stroke, particularly in the low-resource settings that characterise most of the Caribbean region. The objective of this review is to map the literature on access to diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for adult stroke care in the Caribbean to identify potential limitations in acute treatment and examine how restricted access may impact outcomes. The resulting data can help inform strategies for improving access to stroke care in resource-limited communities.
We will apply a three-step strategy based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework: first, a limited search to identify relevant articles; second, selection of key search terms; third, implementation into a comprehensive search strategy. The query will range from 1 January 1995 to 1 June 2025 (date of final search). Search results will be extracted and screened by two independent reviewers, and findings will be presented in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We will consider studies focusing on ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in the Caribbean, emphasising access to diagnostic imaging, stroke centres, prehospital management and emergent treatment. Studies examining acute stroke management capacity within the region will be considered. Studies will be excluded if they: focus exclusively on primary stroke prevention, postacute care, longitudinal care pathways for stroke victims or paediatric populations; are unrelated to stroke diagnosis or treatment or are conducted outside the Caribbean.
This protocol aims to perform secondary analysis of previously published literature; therefore, ethical approval is not required. The results of this review will be disseminated through academic conferences and peer-reviewed publication.
Infant feeding practices in the first 2 years of life are linked to long-term weight trajectories. Despite the importance of obesity prevention interventions, there are no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating early childhood education and care (ECEC) and primary caregiver-targeted interventions on child weight and feeding outcomes.
To assess the efficacy of an 18-month digital health intervention (Tiny Bites) delivered to ECEC services and primary caregivers of children aged 4 to ≤12 months on child age-adjusted and sex-adjusted body mass index-for-age z-score (zBMI) relative to usual care control in the Hunter New England (HNE) region of New South Wales, Australia.
This type 1 hybrid cluster RCT will include up to 60 ECEC services and 540 children/caregiver dyads. The intervention supports ECEC services and caregivers to deliver recommended responsive feeding practices to infants. ECEC services will receive access to an online assessment platform, training and resources, and implementation support. Primary caregivers will receive text messages, monthly e-newsletters, online links and direct communication from ECEC services. We will assess the impact on child zBMI at 18-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include duration of consuming any breastmilk, child diet and caregiver responsive feeding practices. We will also assess ECEC policy and practice implementation related to targeted feeding practices, programme cost effectiveness, adverse effects and engagement with the programme (ECECs and caregivers). For the primary outcome, between-group differences will be assessed for paired data using two-level hierarchical linear regression models.
Ethics approval has been provided by HNE Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (2023/ETH01158), Deakin University (2024-202) and University of Newcastle HREC (R-2024-0039). Trial results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific conferences locally and internationally and to relevant practice stakeholders.
ACTRN12624000576527.
Tobacco use is the most significant modifiable risk factor for adverse health outcomes, and early research indicates there are also significant harms associated with vaping. National targets aim to reduce smoking and vaping during pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want to quit, cessation is frequently attempted without support, increasing the chance of relapse. Group-based smoking cessation programmes increase quit success by 50%–130% in the general population; however, they have never been evaluated in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Gulibaa study is an Indigenous-led and community-embedded project that will co-design, implement and evaluate a group-based model of care to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be smoke- and vape-free. Staff of Health Services in New South Wales, Australia, will receive training to deliver a face-to-face group-based smoking and vaping cessation intervention. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who identify as a woman or non-binary, are pregnant or of reproductive age (16 to 49 years), currently smoke or vape at least once per day and are willing to attend the programme are eligible to participate. Up to 500 participants will be recruited. A mixed method evaluation approach will be implemented guided by the RE-AIM framework. Outcomes will include intervention reach, intervention effectiveness (determined primarily by self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 6 months follow-up), acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, programme fidelity and maintenance and cost effectiveness.
Embedding culturally safe support to quit during pregnancy can result in improved outcomes for both mother and child and immediately improve intergenerational health and well-being. Ethics approval has been provided by the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council and the University of Newcastle. Study findings will be disseminated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in ways that are meaningful to them, as well as through Aboriginal health services, key national bodies, relevant state and federal government departments.
ACTRN12625001050448.
by Temitope Ruth Folorunso, Gabriel Silva, Marilis E. Girón, Tess Lindow, Micah Persyn, Lori Eckhardt, Janna R. Willoughby
Effective culturing and DNA extraction protocols are essential for advancing research on fungal pathogens of brown spot needle blight (BSNB) that infect loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and other Pinus species. We evaluated the performance of four widely used fungal media, including Sabouraud dextrose, malt extract, potato dextrose, and yeast extract peptone dextrose, in both solid (agar) and liquid (broth) formats, quantifying fungal growth through colony diameter and biomass accumulation over a three-week period. Sabouraud dextrose agar and broth consistently supported the most rapid and extensive growth in both formats, while potato dextrose underperformed across these metrics. To identify an optimal protocol for downstream molecular applications, we also compared four DNA extraction methods, three of which were modified variants of the CTAB (cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide) chemistry as well as the Qiagen DNeasy kit following the yeast DNA extraction protocol. DNA yield, quantified by fluorometry, was highest for the high-salt CTAB polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) protocol and DNA purity (assessed by 260/280 absorbance ratio) was optimal for both PVP and Qiagen extractions. From these comparisons, we suggest that Sabouraud dextrose culturing combined with CTAB PVP extraction for use as a robust and accessible pipeline for generating high-quality fungal DNA.Adolescents in informal urban communities, defined as settlements that fall outside of formal governmental planning and regulatory frameworks, are at increasing risk of poor-quality diets and malnutrition in all its forms. The food environment is the interface of adolescent food choice and the broader food system, and food environment interventions have the potential to improve adolescent diets and nutritional outcomes.
We will conduct a mixed-methods study, integrating methods from participatory systems science and nutritional epidemiology to characterise linkages among adolescents’ neighbourhood and home food environments, and their food choices, diets and nutritional outcomes. We will recruit adolescents, caregivers, school staff and food system actors from five communities along a gradient of urban informality in Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in cognitive mapping, group-based modelling and a cohort study over one academic year to evaluate dietary choices and nutritional outcomes.
The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Rutgers University (Pro2024001981) and Amref Health Africa (P1831-2025). Adult participants will provide written informed consent, and adolescents will provide written informed assent to participate in the study. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and to participants through planned participatory interaction throughout the study.
We aimed to describe clinical and diagnostic characteristics of primary care patients with heart failure and physicians’ adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for treating chronic heart failure.
Cross-sectional study based on baseline data from the prospective primary care-based study Heart failure in Southern Sweden (HISS).
Patients with heart failure were included from 20 primary healthcare centres in the southernmost region of Sweden (Skåne).
Between 2020 and 2023, patients were included in HISS, resulting in a total of 587 participants. Of these, 558 patients (95% of the HISS participants) had available data on left ventricular ejection fraction and were included in this study. Adult patients aged 18 years or older diagnosed with heart failure (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes I50, I11.0, I42, I43) were considered eligible for inclusion in HISS. Community-dwelling patients with assisted care were excluded.
The primary outcome measures were distribution of heart failure subtypes and prescribed medications. The secondary outcomes were temporal trends in GDMT and the association between physicians’ adherence to GDMT and clinical characteristics of patients, using logistic regression models.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was the most prevalent subtype (42%), followed by mildly reduced (30%) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, 28%). Among patients with HFrEF, 20% were prescribed the recommended GDMT according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2021 guidelines, which consisted of a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, a beta-blocker, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and a sodium-glucose 2 inhibitor. We observed no significant change in the prescribing trends for the quadruple therapy in patients with HFrEF when comparing the 2 years before and after the publication of the ESC 2021 guidelines. Similarly, we observed no association between patient characteristics and the prescription of GDMT according to ESC 2021 for patients with HFrEF.
HFpEF was the most prevalent subtype, with conclusive and recent echocardiography data among two-thirds of the cohort. Temporal trends in prescription patterns showed no appreciable increase in the use of GDMT for HFrEF during the two years following guideline publication compared with the two preceding years. These findings indicate a need for inclusion of primary care patients as a basis for intensified medical recommendations and implementation strategies.
Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease, associated with health complications, premature morbidity and significant healthcare costs. Optimal lifestyle behaviour control and patient self-management are crucial for improving diabetes control; however, they are difficult to achieve in primary care. There is limited research on the use of information from wearable devices to encourage behaviour change. This study will examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a multi-component health behaviour intervention in achieving clinically significant reductions in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among general practice patients with type 2 diabetes.
The study uses a cluster-randomised controlled design, with general practices randomly assigned to either the Wearables Integrated Technology (WEAR-IT) intervention (n=15) or usual care (n=15). To achieve a sample size of 375 participants, 12–13 patients per practice will be recruited. Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will be eligible to participate if they are aged 18–75 years; have had poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c≥7.5%), with the cognitive capacity and ability to access the intervention application via an iOS or Android smart device. The WEAR-IT self-management intervention combines information from wearable devices (physical activity, blood glucose and blood pressure) and the electronic medical record, with goal setting and coaching support. The intervention will be primarily delivered by the general practice nurse, with review and confirmation of goals by the general practitioner. Participants attending the usual care practices will receive standard care. Outcome measures, including HbA1c, lipids, blood pressure, quality of life, dietary and exercise behaviours and cost-effectiveness, will be collected at baseline, 6-month (primary endpoint) and 12-month post-randomisation. The primary analysis will compare the change in HbA1c between the intervention and control groups at 6-month follow-up, with long-term outcomes assessed at 12-month post-randomisation.
The study was approved by Bond University (BH00137). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications, conference presentations and summaries to participating sites and patients.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12624000957594).
Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) are essential for synthesising research evidence and guiding informed decision-making. However, SLRs require significant resources and substantial efforts in terms of workload. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) tools can reduce this workload. This study aims to investigate the preferences in SLR screening, focusing on trade-offs related to tool attributes.
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was performed in which participants completed 13 or 14 choice tasks featuring AI tools with varying attributes.
Data were collected via an online survey, where participants provided background on their education and experience.
Professionals who have published SLRs registered on Pubmed, or who were affiliated with a recent Health Economics and Outcomes Research conference were included as participants.
The use of a hypothetical AI tool in SLRs with different attributes was considered by the participants. Key attributes for AI tools were identified through a literature review and expert consultations. These attributes included the AI tool’s role in screening, required user proficiency, sensitivity, workload reduction and the investment needed for training. Primary outcome measures: The participants’ adoption of the AI tool, that is, the likelihood of preferring the AI tool in the choice experiment, considering different configurations of attribute levels, as captured through the DCE choice tasks. Statistical analysis was performed using conditional multinomial logit. An additional analysis was performed by including the demographic characteristics (such as education, experience with SLR publication and familiarity with AI) as interaction variables.
The study received responses from 187 participants with diverse experience in performing SLRs and AI use. The familiarity with AI was generally low, with 55.6% of participants being (very) unfamiliar with AI. In contrast, intermediate proficiency in AI tools is positively associated with adoption (p=0.030). Similarly, workload reduction is also strongly linked to adoption (p
The findings suggest that workload reduction is not the only consideration for SLR reviewers when using AI tools. The key to AI adoption in SLRs is creating reliable, workload-reducing tools that assist rather than replace human reviewers, with moderate proficiency requirements and high sensitivity.
Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs) are intended to reduce unnecessary psychiatric hospital admission and length of stay for people with intellectual disability and autistic people. The use and impact of C(E)TRs have not been systematically evaluated since their introduction in England in 2015. The aims of this study are to describe the demographic and clinical profiles of people who receive a community C(E)TR and to investigate their effects on admission, length of hospital stay and clinical and functional change.
We will conduct a retrospective cohort study using de-identified data from electronic health records derived from two large National Health Service mental health providers in London, England, including one replication site. Data will be extracted using the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) tool for all people with recorded intellectual disability and/or autism who received mental healthcare from 2015. We will identify community C(E)TR events using keyword searches. Community C(E)TRs will be examined in two ways: (1) In a community cohort, we will capture data in the 6-month periods before and after a community C(E)TR and compare this to a matched control group and (2) In a hospital cohort, we will compare groups who did and did not receive a community C(E)TR prior to their admission. We will describe the socio-demographic and clinical profiles of each group and their health service use, and compare C(E)TR and no C(E)TR groups using t-tests (or a non-parametric equivalent). The primary outcomes are admission to a psychiatric hospital (community cohort) and length of psychiatric hospital admission and clinical change (hospital cohort). Admission to psychiatric hospital will be estimated using propensity score weighting and difference-in-differences methods. Cox’s proportional hazard model will be used for length of hospital admission and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to assess clinical change.
Use of CRIS to examine de-identified clinical data for research purposes has overarching ethical approval. This study has been granted local approval by the South London and Maudsley CRIS Oversight Committee. Findings will be disseminated in an open-access peer-reviewed academic publication, at conference presentations, and to service users and carers in accessible formats.
Influenza is a major global health concern, responsible for up to 650 000 respiratory-related deaths annually. Although influenza is often perceived as mild in healthy adults, it can cause severe outcomes in high-risk groups, such as older adults, young children, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions. Various clinical, sociodemographic and environmental factors influence the progression to severe outcomes, whereas resilience factors, such as vaccination, may reduce risks. Despite growing research, the evidence base regarding risk and resilience is spread across many different aspects of the literature. This umbrella review will synthesise evidence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses to identify key risk and resilience factors associated with the progression of influenza to severe outcomes in the general population.
This umbrella review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines. We will include systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting host-related risk or resilience factors for severe influenza outcomes. Four databases (EMBASE, Scopus, Medline and CINAHL) will be searched for English-language publications. Study quality will be assessed using AMSTAR 2, and the body of evidence will be evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Due to heterogeneity, findings will be analysed narratively. Risk and resilience factors will be grouped into demographic, clinical, behavioural, social and psychological domains.
No ethical approval is required. The completed review will be shared through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
CRD420250644475.
Public involvement in mental health research enhances research quality. The use of citizen science methods in mental health research has been described as a conclusion of a movement towards increased public involvement; however, this field is in its early stages of development. Our objective was to create a theory of change (ToC) for how citizen science can be used to enhance mental health research quality.
Iterative consultation with the stakeholders of an existing citizen mental health science study, that is, change for citizen science to achieve co-production at scale (C-STACS: https://www.researchintorecovery.com/research/c-stacs/)
We co-developed a ToC through an iterative consultation with C-STACS stakeholders who were (a) representatives of mental health community organisations (n=10), individuals with public involvement experience (n=2) and researchers (n=5). In keeping with established ToC practice, entities were identified, including long-term impacts, outcomes needed to create an impact, stakeholder assumptions and indicators for tracking progress.
A desired primary long-term impact of greater co-production of research was identified between researchers and members of the public, which would create a secondary impact of enhancing public capacity to engage in citizen mental health science. We proposed long-term outcomes needed to enable this impact: (1) greater co-production of research objectives and pathways between researcher and the public, (2) greater embedment of citizen mental health science into funder processes (eg, the creation of specific funding calls for citizen mental health science proposals, (3) greater clarity on the boundaries between citizen science and other participatory approaches (eg, so that there is not loss of impact due to conceptual confusion between these, (4) increased knowledge around effective frameworks to enable mass public participation and (5) greater availability of technology platforms, enabling safe and accessible engagement with citizen mental health science projects.
The proposed ToC is grounded in the C-STACS project, but intended to be broadly applicable. It allows the continued formation of a community of practice around citizen mental health science and should be reviewed, as greater knowledge is developed on how citizen mental health science creates change.
by Cheyenne R. Wagi, Renee McDowell, Anyssa Wright, Kathleen L. Egan, Christina S. Meade, April M. Young, Madison N. Enderle, Angela T. Estadt, Kathryn E. Lancaster
BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) and injection drug use among young women are dramatically rising in the rural United States. From 2004 to 2017, heroin use among non-pregnant women increased 22.4% biennially, mirroring increases in HCV cases, especially among younger populations. Young women who inject drugs (YWID, ages 18–35) face elevated HCV risk due to biological, behavioral, and socio-cultural factors. Barriers to HCV testing and treatment services further delay diagnoses, fuel transmission, and limit access to harm reduction services. This study applies the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify factors influencing HCV testing and treatment among YWID in rural Appalachia Ohio.
MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with YWID (n = 30) in 2023 to understand their HCV testing and treatment experiences in rural Appalachia Ohio. Interviews were transcribed, inductively coded, and analyzed using grounded theory. Identified themes were mapped onto the TDF domains.
ResultsKey TDF domains influencing HCV care included knowledge, beliefs about consequences, and intentions. While YWID knew where to get tested, they expressed uncertainty about treatment value and access while actively using drugs. Social influences, stigma, and mistreatment by healthcare providers created barriers to treatment. Environmental context and resources, such as transportation, also influenced access to care.
ConclusionsYWID in rural Appalachia face barriers to HCV care, such as gaps in knowledge about HCV treatment, which is compounded by gendered stigma, and logistical challenges. Rapidly changing treatment restrictions led to misinformation about treatment access. These gaps highlight the need for interventions specifically designed to address YWID lived experiences.
To identify the factors influencing professionals’ implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on self-harm.
A rapid review evidence synthesis
Five electronic databases (ASSIA, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) and five indexing databases (Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI)), using the Web of Science platform, were searched in December 2023 and repeated in July 2024.
We included quantitative and qualitative studies that investigated professionals’ knowledge and implementation of NICE guidelines on self-harm, that were in English language and published between 2004 and July 2024.
One reviewer used standardised methods to search, screen, select, quality assess and synthesise the included studies, to accelerate the review. Quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data were extracted and synthesised thematically using NICE guidance implementation priorities.
The review included 10 studies. Six were conducted in accident and emergency (A&E) settings, two in general practice, one in a burns and plastic surgery hospital department and one involved cross-sectoral health professionals. Key findings indicate that awareness and implementation of self-harm guidelines is low among health professionals. Systemic barriers include lack of staff training, negative staff attitudes towards people who self-harm and lack of resources.
There is a need to develop and implement regular training on self-harm, incorporating NICE guidance and measures, to integrate knowledge and mobilise practice changes. Further research into the implementation of NICE guidelines in children who self-harm is needed, and in a wider variety of health and social care settings. The absence of studies from the social care sector into professionals’ awareness and implementation of NICE guidelines on self-harm is a key limitation.
Cohort studies of ageing and cognitive decline typically do not begin fielding comprehensive cognitive assessments until older adulthood. However, for identifying preventable dementia risk factors, there is strong value in beginning at earlier ages. The case is especially compelling in sub-Saharan Africa, where the number of older individuals is expected to triple in the next three decades, and where risk factors may operate more intensively at earlier ages. This study reports on the adaptation and validity of the Harmonised Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) approach in the Kenya Life Panel Survey (KLPS), collected among middle-aged respondents.
To evaluate the validity of the HCAP approach in Kenya, this study assesses model fit statistics from confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and tests measurement invariance by respondent characteristics.
Both rural and urban areas in Kenya.
A sample of n=5878 individuals from the KLPS, who have been surveyed regularly since they were schoolchildren in the 1990s. The HCAP assessment was administered in 2023 at an average age of 37 years (10–90 range 34 to 41).
For each individual, the CFA generates a general cognitive performance score, and cognitive performance scores for five distinct domains, including memory, executive functioning, language, orientation to time and place, and visuospatial functioning.
Fit of the models to the data was adequate for general cognitive performance (root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.03; comparative fit index (CFI)=0.94; standardised root mean residual (SRMR)=0.05), language (RMSEA=0.02; CFI=0.95; SRMR=0.05) and good for memory (RMSEA=0.05; CFI=0.99; SRMR=0.02) and executive functioning (RMSEA=0.03; CFI=0.98; SRMR=0.03). The CFA indicate that the factor structure is consistent with findings from other countries and that reliability for the general cognitive performance score was high. Statistical models also suggest invariance at the scalar level for leading demographic (gender, age) and socioeconomic (education, occupational complexity) characteristics.
This study demonstrates that the cognitive functioning of mid-age Kenyans appears to be well captured by the adapted protocol. While there is a moderate decline in cognitive performance among older individuals, this relationship appears to be mediated by education, indicating that this KLPS HCAP provides a valuable baseline for studying future cognitive decline.
To investigate the sociocultural and epidemiological factors associated with non-alcoholic beer (NAB) consumption in Poland, including motivations for use, consumption context, and its reported impact on alcohol consumption patterns.
Cross-sectional survey study.
Community setting across Poland; data were collected in December 2024.
A total of 1114 adults aged 18–84 years (mean age: 47.1±14.4 years; 54.3% female) completed the questionnaire. Participants were recruited through an online panel using stratified quota sampling to approximate national population distributions by age, sex and region. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years and residence in Poland. No exclusion criteria beyond informed consent were applied.
Not applicable.
The primary outcome was current NAB use, defined as self-reported consumption of NAB. Secondary outcomes included sociodemographic correlates, reasons for use, consumption contexts and self-reported changes in alcoholic beer consumption following NAB adoption.
70.6% of respondents reported current NAB use. Multivariable logistic regression showed that age 18–49 years (p
NAB consumption in Poland is associated with identifiable sociodemographic characteristics and motivated by practical and health-related considerations. While nearly half of current users report reduced or substituted alcohol intake, a substantial proportion incorporate NAB into existing drinking routines without change or with increased alcohol use. These findings suggest a heterogeneous behavioural impact, underlining the need for nuanced public health messaging and further research into the long-term effects of NAB use on alcohol-related outcomes.