Conectar
To explore the influence of oral health-related knowledge, attitudes and practices on oral health risk-related behaviours of people in custodial settings.
Integrative review.
Scopus, ProQuest Central, Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO and Education Research Complete were searched in March 2024 and December 2025.
Studies reporting on any individuals in custodial settings, at least one oral health-related knowledge, attitude or practice and at least one oral health risk-related behaviour (either smoking, alcohol, illicit substances or sugar consumption). Data related to custodial population's oral health knowledge, attitudes, or practices and oral health risk-related behaviour were extracted, synthesised narratively and reported thematically.
Findings from the 26 studies reveal that people in custodial settings had a general lack of oral health knowledge, and oral health risk-related behaviours were prevalent. The most common risk-related behaviours reported were tobacco use and free sugar consumption. Oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of this population were influenced by custodial healthcare systems and attitudes of dental professionals.
This review highlights the influence custodial healthcare and dental professionals have on the knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk-related behaviours of people in custodial settings. Oral health targeted interventions and strategies are required to improve oral health-related knowledge and attitudes thereby encouraging oral health practices among people in custodial settings.
This review will inform targeted oral health promotion programs that can improve oral health outcomes and experiences of this population.
People in custodial settings experience a disproportionate burden of oral diseases. This review underscores the need for proactive interventions and systemic reform to improve correctional healthcare experiences globally.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) 2018.
No patient or public contribution.
Synthesises evidence on influencing factors contributing to poor oral health among people in custodial settings. Highlights impact of healthcare staff and custodial healthcare systems on population health. Highlights the necessity of oral health promotion programs to improve oral health knowledge and to promote oral health protective behaviours.
Gender biases in healthcare approaches lead to inequities in patient health outcomes, historically affecting women and gender minorities the most. In medicine, the concept of gender medicine explicitly addresses these disparities. Although Miers introduced the term gender-sensitive care in nursing two decades ago, there is still no consensus on how to define this phenomenon within the nursing discipline.
To conduct an operational concept analysis of gender-sensitive nursing.
A systematic literature review was performed using Walker and Avant's concept analysis method. This approach allowed for the identification of antecedents, defining attributes, empirical referents and consequences, as well as the proposal of model cases to illustrate the findings.
A total of 34 articles were analysed. Three antecedents were identified: healthcare system accessibility, organizational commitment to equity and education from a gender perspective. Four defining attributes emerged: gender-aware nurses, legitimization of care, implementation of a gender-sensitive approach in nursing management and leadership, and the integration of gender assessment in the nursing process. Three key consequences were also identified: patient empowerment, harm prevention and minimization, and improvement in the quality and effectiveness of nursing care. Additionally, various instruments and strategies were found to operationalize the empirical referents of the concept. Model cases were proposed to exemplify the synthesized evidence.
Far from being an abstract concept, gender-sensitive nursing is a measurable and actionable phenomenon that can be promoted in clinical practice through various empirical indicators.
Gender-sensitive nursing legitimizes individual experiences shaped by gender identity and fosters structural improvements that empower patients. Gender-sensitive nursing is a measurable and actionable phenomenon that can be promoted in clinical practice through various empirical indicators.
Rates of mental health difficulties among girls and young women in the UK have risen sharply, and disproportionately so for those from marginalised groups. My Story and Me is a new digital public mental health intervention that uses storytelling to reduce stigma, increase awareness and support early help-seeking among girls and young women aged 14–18. The feasibility study aims to determine the acceptability of the intervention and future full trial, including assessing optimal settings and meaningful changes in the primary outcome measure (anxiety and depression).
This is an 18-month mixed-methods, uncontrolled feasibility study conducted in secondary schools, further education colleges and community organisations across the UK. We will recruit 120–180 participants. Quantitative data will be collected at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The primary outcomes are anxiety and depression, and secondary outcomes are social support, mentalising, stigma, quality of life, loneliness, empowerment, intervention acceptability, resource use and randomisation acceptability. Platform-level engagement data will assess adherence and fidelity. Qualitative interviews with young women and staff will explore acceptability, feasibility, mechanisms of change and views on trial procedures, including randomisation in a future full trial. Analysis will be descriptive and exploratory, including comparisons across settings and priority groups (LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and those experiencing digital poverty). A framework and reflexive thematic analysis approach will be used for qualitative data. Prespecified progression criteria will inform decisions about advancing to a full cluster randomised trial.
The University College London Research Ethics Committee (0692) has approved the My Story and Me protocol. Interested participants will be required to complete an expression of interest and consent form to take part in the study, and young people under 16 years old will be required to obtain parent/carer informed consent. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, lived experience summaries, a policy briefing and academic conference presentations.
Patient safety is a global priority, as adverse events represent the 14th leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among the most common complications in hospitalized adults are functional decline, pressure injuries, and falls, all of which increase hospital stays, healthcare costs, and mortality. Although these risks are typically assessed independently, their interaction has been scarcely explored, and the identification of integrated patient risk profiles could better guide nursing care.
To establish profiles of adult inpatients based simultaneously on their level of functional capacity, risk of pressure injuries, and risk of falls.
Cross-sectional observational study.
A total of 2.666 patients were admitted to adult inpatient units in a Spanish hospital.
Data from the Barthel, Braden, and Downton scales collected within 24 h of admission were analyzed. A hierarchical cluster analysis followed by the k-means method was used to classify patients. Relationship between profiles and clinical variables were explored through multiple correspondence analysis, and predictors for each profile were identified using multinomial logistic regression.
Three patient profiles were identified: profile 1 (low risk), minor dependency, low risk of pressure injuries and falls (68.5%); profile 2 (moderate risk), moderate dependency and intermediate risk (15.4%); and profile 3 (high risk), severe dependency with high risk of pressure injuries and falls (16.1%). Older age, female sex, and higher comorbidity were significantly associated with higher-risk profiles (p < 0.001).
Hospitalized adults can be reliably classified into risk profiles based on functional capacity and the risk of pressure injuries and falls.
The identification of combined risk profiles may potentially guide nursing strategies to enhance patient safety, support individualized care planning, and contribute to optimizing resource distribution in hospital settings.
Loss of functional capacity, pressure injuries, and falls are key nursing-sensitive indicators of care quality. Profile-based stratification offers a new framework for personalized, data-driven, and safety-oriented nursing care.
The identification of integrated risk profiles based on functional capacity, pressure injury risk, and fall risk may support more comprehensive nursing assessment in hospitalized adults. These profiles may help inform care prioritization, facilitate early identification of vulnerable patients, and contribute to more efficient allocation of nursing resources. Incorporating multidimensional risk stratification into clinical practice may enhance coordinated and patient-centered care planning.
To explore the perceptions of older female caregivers living in poverty in a high-income country regarding their health and self-care needs.
Descriptive qualitative study.
Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted with older female caregivers between October 2023 and March 2024. The reflexive thematic analysis method described by Braun & Clarke was followed, and ATLAS.ti 25 software was used for data analysis.
The analysis identified one main overarching theme, ‘Caring as an expected role that shapes identity and daily life’ and two interrelated themes: (1) ‘The need for a holistic approach to self-care’ and (2) ‘Caring on empty in the context of economic hardship and limited support’.
Self-care among older female caregivers living in poverty is constrained by caregiving expectations and socioeconomic disadvantage. Addressing their health needs requires nursing interventions that recognise caregiving as a central element of their lives and adopt holistic, context-sensitive approaches.
Nursing interventions should comprehensively assess older female caregivers' multidimensional health needs and enhance access to integrated support and services, addressing structural gender and socioeconomic inequities to strengthen health, dignity, and resilience.
Living in poverty exacerbates the challenges older female caregivers face in attending to their own health and self-care, increasing the risk of exhaustion, distress, and chronic illness. Recognising and addressing these needs through equitable, targeted interventions is essential to reduce health inequalities.
The study has been reported following the COREQ guidelines.
Limited patient and public involvement was incorporated, focusing on verification of their transcripts, ensuring accuracy and credibility in the interpretation of their accounts.
by Chia-Ying Li, Hung-Yu Lin, En-Pei Isabel Chiang, Hung-Chang Hung, Feng-Yao Tang
Sucralose, a widely utilized non-caloric sweetener, is frequently added to food and beverage products as a sugar substitute aimed at lowering energy consumption and reducing obesity-related health risks. However, epidemiological studies have indicated a possible association between high intake of sucralose and increased prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Prior research has demonstrated that diminished levels of circulating human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs) are linked to a higher risk of CAD. Although sucralose is broadly consumed, its direct biological impact on hEPCs has not been comprehensively characterized. In this study, we investigated the cellular effects of sucralose on hEPCs using a variety of in vitro techniques, including assays for viability, migration, capillary-like tube formation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release-cytotoxicity assay, and protein expression profiling by Western blotting. Our results revealed that increased concentrations of sucralose significantly impaired hEPCs viability, motility, and neovasculogenic function, accompanied by increased expression of markers associated with apoptosis, inflammasome activation, and pyroptosis. Mechanistic analysis further demonstrated that sucralose strongly activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/PERK pathways in these cells. Inhibition of ER stress via 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) substantially attenuated sucralose-induced cell death and reduced the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and inflammasome markers. Taken together, these findings suggest that sucralose disrupts hEPCs function in part by triggering ER stress, which promotes both apoptotic and pyroptotic cell death programs.by Ana Laura Januário Lelis, Leandro Aparecido Ferreira da Silva, Daniel Moretto Casali, Tiago Leiva, Murilo Chuba Rodrigues, José Paulo Roman Barroso, Pedro Veloso Facury Lasmar, Camila Lisboa Tomaz, Anabelle Jorge Barbosa, Camila Cesario Fernandes Sartini, Johnny Maciel de Souza, Danilo Domingues Millen
This study evaluated the effects of increasing narasin doses on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, ruminal pH stability, papillae histology, and microbial composition in Angus cattle fed feedlot diets. Three rumen-cannulated Angus steers (average body weight: 680 kg) were assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design and received diets containing 13, 20, or 27-ppm of narasin. Each experimental period consisted of 14 days of adaptation followed by seven days of sampling. Ruminal degradability was assessed on days 15–17, apparent digestibility on days 15–19, continuous ruminal pH on days 19–20, and samples for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), microbiota, and ruminal histology were collected on days 20 and 21. Ruminal degradability was not affected by narasin dose. Digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF) was significantly influenced, with the greatest values observed at 27-ppm (P = 0.01). Increasing narasin doses improved ruminal pH stability, as indicated by a linear increase in minimum pH (P = 0.01) and a reduction in the duration of pH below 5.6 (P = 0.10). At 13 ppm, SCFA production, particularly acetate and propionate, increased (P P P = 0.02), and butyrate (P P P = 0.03). Narasin supplementation altered ruminal microbial composition, increasing the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Isotricha while reducing lactic acid–producing bacteria. In terms of ruminal morphology, supplementation with 20-ppm of narasin increased the keratin layer thickness of ruminal papillae (P = 0.02), suggesting enhanced epithelial development. Overall, narasin supplementation modulated ruminal function and microbial ecology, with doses between 13 and 20-ppm providing the most favorable balance between fermentative efficiency and ruminal health in feedlot cattle.To explore how older women experiencing poverty in a high-income country perceive their family caregiver role from a gender perspective.
Descriptive qualitative study.
A convenience sample of seventeen older female caregivers experiencing poverty was interviewed in-depth between October 2023 and March 2024. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted following the phases described by Braun & Clarke. ATLAS.ti software was used for data analysis.
Three main themes were developed from the data analysis: (1) The duality of family caregiving: between informal female support and structural neglect, (2) family care in later life as a continuation of a life devoted to others, (3) older female family caregiving as a gender issue.
Older female caregivers experiencing poverty have limited formal support and unequal access to resources. Older women experiencing poverty experience both gratitude and despair in their caregiving role, which inevitably deteriorates their health.
Nursing interventions for older female caregivers experiencing poverty should include an assessment of social determinants of health, focusing on gender and socio-economic barriers. Implementing system navigation interventions, such as community-based case management, resource referral programmes, and personalised care coordination, could connect older female family caregivers to essential resources and support networks, thus addressing their mental health needs and promoting equity, which would enhance their overall well-being and dignity.
Experiencing poverty increases the vulnerability of older female caregivers, exacerbating gender inequality. These women often face mental health issues as they face the pressure of meeting their own needs and those of their care recipients with a lack of formal support. This neglect can lead to serious health problems, which emphasises the need for equitable nursing interventions.
The study is reported following the COREQ guidelines.
No patients or public were involved in the study development and implementation.
by Xuying Zhang, Johanna Mainzer, Isabella Giambra, Tong Yin, Petra Engel, Hannah Hümmelchen, Henrik Wagner, Axel Wehrend, Christiane Egerer, Katharina Gerhards, Gerald Reiner, Sven König
Long tails trigger tail biting in pigs and increase the risk of flystrike infections in sheep. Tail docking has been a common management practice in both species for decades, but increasingly conflicts with legal animal welfare guidelines. Sustainable solutions require breeding strategies targeting shorter tails. In consequence, the aims were to conduct whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and comparative genomic analyses (CGA) to explore functional elements influencing tail traits. Phenotypically divergent experimental populations of pigs and sheep were established through unified selection and mating experiments. Tail traits included tail length (TL) measured at birth, and tail abnormalities (TA) assessed radiographically at 14 weeks of age. WGS-based GWAS identified a significant locus on SSC18 in pigs and suggestive loci for TL in both species, which, together with previously reported loci for TA, were further analyzed by CGA. The genomic windows of the significant locus on SSC18 in pigs and the TL GWAS locus on OAR4 in sheep were found to be conserved, harboring six common genes with predicted functional variants. These variants were jointly associated with TL (Plm ) in both species in linear regression models adjusted for sex, age of the dam, body length, and body weight. In other GWAS locus windows (±1 Mb), species-specific TL candidate genes were identified in sheep (HOXB13, MUC5B, EPB41L3, MTCL1, PIEZO2, MPPE1, and LOXHD1) and in pigs (KNL1, DISP2, SPRED1, TGFB2, and HAND1), each harboring associated putative functional variants. For TA, sheep-specific candidates (PGM2, LRRC66, CRACD, LOC105601916, and SH2D4B) and pig-specific candidates (MYOT, TMCO6, and PCDHAC2) were revealed using logistic regression models (Pglm ). GO analyses of candidate genes predicted shared biological processes between sheep and pigs, whereas pathway analyses indicated that common carbohydrate metabolism pathways, along with species-specific immune and inflammatory signaling, and pig-specific TGF-β signaling and endochondral ossification, may contribute to tail length variation and abnormalities. These findings provided deeper insights into the genetic basis of differential embryonic tail morphogenesis and perinatal tail development across species.Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death globally from a single infectious agent. Early diagnosis is critical to reducing morbimortality. In cases of negative smear microscopy or limited sputum production, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples offer an alternative for diagnosis. Culture, the gold standard, requires a high bacterial load, extensive infrastructure and is time-consuming. Xpert MTB/RIF provides faster results with a higher cost. Previous systematic reviews present substantial limitations, including significant heterogeneity. Therefore, the diagnostic utility of Xpert MTB/RIF using BAL samples in adults with negative or scant sputum for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) needs to be reassessed.
A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS and Web of Science will be conducted without language or publication date restriction. Cross-sectional diagnostic studies of negative or sputum-scarce adults with presumptive PTB who underwent bronchoscopy to obtain samples for Xpert MTB/RIF and culture will be included. Screening and data extraction will be performed independently. Methodological quality will be assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A bivariate hierarchical random-effects model will synthesise sensitivity and specificity. Meta-analysis will be performed using Meta-DiSc 2.0. Heterogeneity will be assessed using I2 and Cochrane thresholds. Subgroup analyses will be performed based on study design, population differences, country, culture method and risk of bias. Publication bias will be investigated using a funnel plot. The certainty of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. There was no patient or public involvement in the development of the systematic review protocol.
Ethical approval is not required as this study will use publicly available data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication.
CRD42025639440.
To identify and synthesise existing evidence on family-centred care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other diverse identities (LGBTQ+) people in acute hospital settings, including hospital-based palliative care, oncology, general in-patient and intensive care.
A scoping review guided by the JBI methodology.
Nine databases and grey literature sources were searched. Inclusion criteria focused on LGBTQ+ adults and family-related care experiences in hospital-based acute settings. After screening, qualitative, quantitative, and narrative data were extracted. Thematic analysis synthesised findings, with quantitative data narratively integrated.
Searches were conducted across nine databases and grey literature up to April 2025.
Five studies met inclusion criteria: three qualitative, one quantitative, and one reflective narrative. Four themes emerged: (1) invisibility and disclosure dilemmas, (2) exclusion of chosen families from visiting and decision-making, (3) barriers to inclusive communication and provider competence, and (4) enabling conditions for affirming care. Challenges occurred at interpersonal (e.g., provider assumptions, discomfort) and structural (e.g., lack of inclusive protocols, failure to recognise legal surrogates) levels. In the two studies reporting gender identity, transgender participants described heightened misrecognition and exclusion.
LGBTQ+ individuals and their chosen families face relational and structural barriers in acute hospital care. Inclusive interventions, protocols, and training are urgently needed to ensure affirming care.
Acute and intensive care providers should promote inclusive family engagement by using patient-preferred terminology, recognising chosen families, and advocating for inclusive policies and staff training.
This scoping review adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Registered with the Open Science Framework: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FSU8D (23/02/2025)
Integrated digital diagnostics can support complex surgeries in many anatomic sites, and brain tumour surgery represents one of the most complex cases. Neurosurgeons face several challenges during brain tumour surgeries, such as differentiating critical tissue from brain tumour margins. To overcome these challenges, the STRATUM project will develop a 3D decision support tool for brain surgery guidance and diagnostics based on multimodal data processing, including hyperspectral imaging, integrated as a point-of-care computing tool in neurosurgical workflows. This paper reports the protocol for the development and technical validation of the STRATUM tool.
This international multicentre, prospective, open, observational cohort study, STRATUM-OS (study: 28 months, pre-recruitment: 2 months, recruitment: 20 months, follow-up: 6 months), with no control group, will collect data from 320 patients undergoing standard neurosurgical procedures to: (1) develop and technically validate the STRATUM tool and (2) collect the outcome measures for comparing the standard procedure versus the standard procedure plus the use of the STRATUM tool during surgery in a subsequent historically controlled non-randomised clinical trial.
The protocol was approved by the participant ethics committees. Results will be disseminated in scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
by Mylaine Breton, Catherine Lamoureux-Lamarche, Véronique Deslauriers, Djamal Berbiche, Maude Laberge, Annie Talbot, Aude Motulsky, Marie-Pascale Pomey, Isabelle Gaboury
BackgroundAccess to primary care is an important component of health systems. Given the barriers experienced by unattached patients to accessing primary care in Quebec (Canada), the Ministry of Health mandated the province-wide implementation of Primary care access points for unattached patients (Guichet d’accès première ligne; GAP), an organizational innovation designed to orient patients to the most appropriate professional or service. This study aims to 1) document the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs after receiving GAP services and 2) assess whether those factors vary by GAP orientation.
MethodsThis cross-sectional study builds on data collected between April and July 2024 using an online patient questionnaire. All patients with a valid email address registered on the centralized waiting list for unattached patients in three local health territories (LHTs) received an email invitation to participate in the survey. The total sample included 20,282 participants who responded to the questionnaire and used the GAP.
ResultsThe findings showed that younger age, self-reporting poor/fair physical and mental health, receiving services in LHT 3 and reporting an emergency room visit were associated with increased likelihood of reporting unmet needs. Stratified analyses suggested that some characteristics (age, use of emergency room) were associated with unmet needs across orientations, while others (self-reported physical and mental health) were associated with specific orientations.
ConclusionThis study serves as a first step in deepening our understanding from a patient perspective of how to better plan primary care services and improve unattached patients’ experiences using the GAP. The findings showed that patients oriented to other professionals than a medical appointment with a family physician had the highest percentage of unmet needs. The next step involves an in-depth exploration of the reasons for patients’ unmet needs, enabling the development of more precise and effective strategies to address them.
by Dessie Abera, Adane Mihret, Surafel Fentaw, Eyob Beyene, Abel Abera Negash, Woldaregay Erku Abegaz
BackgroundExtended-spectrum β-Lactamase and Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales cause severe infections and currently, they are spreading beyond hospitals and becoming a serious global health concern. They often colonize the gut silently, facilitating the transmission of resistant bacteria between patients and family members.
ObjectiveWe sought investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Extended-spectrum β-Lactamases-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), and factors associated there in among admitted adult patients and their family members at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
MethodsA case-control study was conducted among 100 patients and their respective 100 family members from February 2023 to October 2023. Stool specimens were collected and processed using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and ESBL production were determined using VITEK 2 system. Carbapenemase production was tested using modified carbapenem Inactivation method, and detection of resistance genes was performed by PCR.
ResultIntestinal colonization with ESBL-PE was higher in patients (39.0%) than their respective family members (24.0%) (P = 0.028). Among patients, ESBL production was common in E. coli, 40.3% and K. pneumoniae, 34.7% than their family members 24.2% and 22.2%, respectively. Of the ESBL-PE isolates, 84.6% from patients and 100% from family members carried at least one ESBL encoding gene, with blaCTX-M being the predominant. Colonization with CRE and Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales was found to be 19.0% and 10.0%, respectively. These were identified only among patients, with blaNDM and blaOXA-48 are the most prevalent genes. Older age (>53 years) (P = 0.02) and previous ICU admission (P Conclusion
ESBL-PE colonization was more prevalent in patients compared to their family members, with blaCTX-M identified as the most common gene. Exclusive detection of carbapenemase genes among patients, and the association of previous ICU admission with ESBL-PE colonization, highlights the need for targeted screening and strengthened infection prevention.
Traditional epidemiological approaches usually assume a constant relationship between cumulative exposure and disease, which implies that exposure duration and intensity contribute equally to the studied outcome. But individuals with the same cumulative exposure but different temporal exposure patterns may show different risks. Trajectory classification is a good way to assess exposure–risk associations and leads to a better understanding of lifetime variability in exposure levels. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate lung cancer risk according to the exposure trajectory classes on welding fumes and cigarette smoking.
Two population-based German case–control studies.
3498 male lung cancer cases and 3539 male control subjects.
Separate latent class mixed models (LCMM) were determined to identify profiles of exposure trajectories of cigarette smoking and occupational exposure to welding fumes. To investigate the risk of lung cancer by class membership, ORs with 95% CI were estimated via multiple logistic regression analyses.
LCMM each identified four latent classes of smoking and welding-fume exposure. Classes of smokers showed much higher risk of lung cancer compared with never smokers or subjects exposed to welding fumes. Smokers in one class characterised with the highest exposure over the past 10 years had the highest adjusted lung cancer risk (OR=39; 95% CI 29 to 53). For welding, the highest lung cancer risks were found for the class in which exposure to welding fumes in the past 10 years prior to the diagnosis of lung cancer was highest and the duration of welding was also quite high (OR=1.71; 95% CI 0.92 to 3.15).
In summary, LCMM opens a new perspective on dose–effect relationships and could be employed to complement established epidemiological methods.
To assess the care needs of older adults living in poverty in a high-income country and to analyse their relationship with other outcome variables.
A cross-sectional study.
Data were collected between September 2022 and February 2024 from 384 older adults in southeastern Spain. Descriptive statistics were calculated to assess older adults' care needs. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to determine the percentage by which the socio-demographic or outcome variables could explain the number of met care needs among older adults in poverty.
Around 20% of the care needs amongst older adults living in poverty were unmet. The most frequently unmet care need was related to money (53.6%). Almost 30% of participants were at risk of malnutrition, 18% felt lonely, and 80% perceived a low level of social support. Age, history of falls, emergency room visits, functionality, perceived social support, quality of life and nutritional status significantly predicted the number of needs met.
The health conditions of older adults living in poverty are suboptimal and may negatively influence their care needs. Nurses should consider these factors when designing, implementing and evaluating interventions to promote the biopsychosocial health of this population.
Nursing interventions to promote health amongst older adults living in poverty should focus on identifying unmet care needs, particularly those related to financial and social support. Interventions should prioritise improving nutritional status, enhancing social support networks and addressing loneliness.
Living in poverty increases older adults' vulnerability due to unmet financial, nutritional and social support needs. These unmet needs can negatively affect older adults' physical and mental health.
The study has been reported following the STROBE guidelines.
The study's participants only participated in the data collection process.
by Eléna Payen Schalkens, Maxime Acien, Andrée-Anne Marchand, Pier-Luc Isabelle, Jacques Abboud, Gabriel Moisan
BackgroundChronic metatarsalgia (CM) causes significant pain and disability, affecting quality of life. Foot orthoses (FOs) including medially wedged designs with a metatarsal pad decrease excessive plantar pressure under the metatarsal heads, which is a suggested risk factor for developing CM. This FOs model may be effective in diminishing pain and improving function in these individuals. Thus, the objective of this trial will be to compare the effects of medially wedged FOs with a metatarsal pad and sham FOs on pain and foot function in individuals with CM.
Methods/designThis participant- and assessor-blinded superiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel groups will be conducted in Trois-Rivières, Canada. Sixty-four participants with CM will be recruited from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières outpatient podiatry clinic and via social media invitations. They will be randomized into intervention (customized FOs) or control (sham FOs) groups and will be evaluated at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be: (1) mean pain during walking for the most painful foot during the past week. The secondary outcomes will be: (1) Foot Function Index, (2) Global rating of change and (3) the 5-level EQ-5D.
DiscussionMedially wedged FOs with a metatarsal pad are expected to provide a greater reduction in pain and improvement in foot function compared to sham FOs. This trial will help guide FOs prescription recommendations for managing foot pain in individuals with CM in the future.
Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06962475
FreshRSS 