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☐ ☆ ✇ BMJ Open

Bridging the gap: development of a methodology for retrieving and harmonising body mass index (BMI) from population-level linked electronic health records

Por: Childs · M. J. · Aldridge · S. J. · Daniels · H. · Davies · G. I. · Best · V. · Abbasizanjani · H. · Lyons · R. · Akbari · A. · Torabi · F. — Octubre 6th 2025 at 02:14
Objective

This study aims to develop a methodology to retrieve, harmonise and evaluate the completeness of national body mass index (BMI) data from linked electronic health record (EHR) sources to build a longitudinal research-ready data asset (RRDA).

Design

A longitudinal study of BMI records spanning 23 years (1 January 2000 to 31 December 2022) from four data sources.

Setting

The national BMI RRDA is created within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (Databank), encompassing the entire population of Wales, UK.

Procedure and participants

We built a methodology that provides a reproducible framework for extracting and harmonising BMI data from four major linked EHRs across two age groups: children and young people (CYP; 2–18 years old) and adults (19 years and older). The methodology is adaptable across different trusted research environments. We evaluated the completeness and retention of records over 1-, 5- and 23-year periods by calculating the proportion of missing data relative to each year’s population.

Results

We retrieved 53.4 million records for 3.2 million individuals across Wales from 1st January 2000 to 31 December 2022. Among these, 3% of CYP and 34% of adults had repeat BMI measurements recorded over periods ranging from 5 to 23 years. Throughout the entire population of Wales during this period, 49% of CYP and 26% of adults had at least one BMI reading recorded, resulting in a missingness rate of 51% for CYP and 74% for adults. Preserving BMI information by retaining the most recently recorded BMI over 1-, 5- and 23-year intervals from 2022 showed coverage rates of 10%, 33% and 68%, respectively, for CYP, and 25%, 51% and 73%, respectively, for adults.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight substantial variations in BMI data availability and retention across CYP and adults, as well as time periods within EHR in Wales. Wider adoption of this approach can enhance standardised approaches in using accessible measures like BMI to assess disease risk in population-based studies, strengthening public health initiatives and research efforts.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

The Association Between Mutuality and Quality of Life in Adults With Chronic Illnesses and Their Nurses: Actor‐Partner Interdependence Model Analysis

ABSTRACT

Aim

To examine the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.

Design

A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted.

Methods

The study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Italy. We enrol both inpatients and outpatients with chronic diseases and their nurses with a convenience sampling. One-hundred ninety-two dyads participated to the study. A self-assessment instrument including the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), and the Nurse Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale (NPM-CI scale), in the two versions—one for patients and one for nurses, was administered. The effects of nurse–patient mutuality on the physical and mental quality of life of nurses and patients were estimated with a series of actor-partner-interdependence models (APIM).

Results

Patients' and nurses' perceptions of their mutuality were positively correlated. For patient mental quality of life, there was a statistically significant actor effect both for patients, and for nurses. There was also a consistent statistically significant partner effect for patient mental quality of life. There were no statistically significant actor or partner effects for the nurses' and patients' physical quality of life. This construct may be influenced by additional components, further studies are needed.

Conclusions

Mutuality between nurses and patients in chronic diseases influence both patient and nurse quality of life.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Our results support the importance of taking a dyadic perspective when considering mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.

Impact

Nurse–patient mutuality is an indicator of a high-quality relationship, which allows shared goals and shared decision-making. Quality of life is one of the most important outcomes for chronic conditions patients and is an indicator of well-being. Quality of life is also an important variable in healthcare professionals' lives. Little is known about the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads. Mutuality has an actor effect on patient's and nurse's quality of life and has a negative partner effect on patient's quality of life. The understanding of mutuality and interdependence within the dyad, could increase mental quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.

Reporting Method

STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients were involved in the sample of the study.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

The role of nurse–patient mutuality on self‐care behaviours in patients with chronic illness

Abstract

Aim

To examine the role of nurse–patient mutuality on three self-care behaviours in chronic illness patients.

Design

A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted.

Methods

Mutuality was measured with the Nurse–Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale which has the dimensions of developing and going beyond, being a point of reference and deciding and sharing care, and self-care was measured with the Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII). Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of three dimensions of mutuality on self-care maintenance, monitoring and management behaviours controlling for patient gender, age, education, number of medications, and presence of a family caregiver.

Results

The sample included 465 inpatients and outpatients with at least one chronic illness. The three dimensions of mutuality had different roles in their influence on the three dimensions of self-care. Developing and going beyond was significantly associated with self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring behaviours. Point of reference was significantly associated with self-care maintenance behaviour. Deciding and sharing care was significantly associated with self-care monitoring and self-care management behaviours.

Conclusion

The mutuality between nurse and patient may be a novel area of research to support and improve patient self-care behaviours with implications for clinical practice and education.

Implication for Profession and Patient Care

Mutuality between nurse and patient increases patient engagement, symptom recognition, decision-making process and patient-centred approach favouring the development of self-care behaviours.

Impact

Mutuality between nurse and patient is a new concept and its association with the patient outcomes could bring relevance to the nursing profession. Self-care behaviours are important in the management of chronic diseases, but are difficult to perform. Mutuality between nurse and patient influences the three different behaviours of self-care in chronic illness, for this reason it is important to increase the level of mutuality in this dyad.

Reporting Method

STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients were involved in the sample of the study.

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