The ‘time-limited trial’ for patients with critical illness is a collaborative plan made by clinicians, patients and families to use life-sustaining therapies for a defined duration. After this period, the patient’s response to therapy informs decisions about continuing recovery-focused care or transitioning to comfort-focused care. The promise of time-limited trials to help navigate the uncertain limits and benefits of life-sustaining therapies has been extensively discussed in the palliative and critical care literature, leading to their dissemination into clinical practice. However, we have little evidence to guide clinicians in how to conduct time-limited trials, leading to substantial variation in how and why they are currently used. The overall purpose of this study is to characterise the features of an optimal time-limited trial through a rich understanding of how they are currently shaping critical care delivery.
We are conducting an observational, multicentre, focused ethnography of time-limited trials in patients with acute respiratory failure receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in six intensive care units (ICUs) within five hospitals across the US. Study participants include patients, their surrogate decision makers and ICU clinicians. We are pursuing two complementary analyses of this rich data set using the open-ended, inductive approach of constructivist grounded theory and, in parallel, the structured, deductive methods of systems engineering. This cross-disciplinary, tailored approach intentionally preserves the tension between time-limited trials’ conceptual formulation and their heterogeneous, real-world use.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Wisconsin Institutional Review Board (IRB) as the single IRB (ID: 2022-1681; initial approval date 23 January 2023). Our findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations, and summaries for the public.
Delayed antibiotic prescribing (DAP) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing inappropriate antibiotic use for uncomplicated respiratory tract infections (uRTIs) in primary care across high-income countries. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in low-income and middle-income countries remains limited. This cluster-randomised controlled trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of DAP for optimising antibiotic use in primary healthcare institutions (PHIs) in China.
We designed a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, three-arm cRCT in adult patients with uRTIs. The study will involve 12 PHIs in Korla City of China. Participating institutions will be randomised at a 1:1:1 ratio to three parallel arms: (1) DAP-intervention arm, (2) Immediate antibiotic prescribing comparator arm and (3) Usual care (observational arm). The primary outcome is symptom duration. Secondary outcomes include symptom severity, antibiotic use, adverse events, patient satisfaction and patient belief regarding antibiotic efficacy.
Ethics committee approval of this study was obtained from Peking University Institution Review Board (IRB00001052-24169). The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences.
ChiCTR2500097330.
Type 1 diabetes is characterised by progressive loss of pancreatic beta cells. Studies have shown that interleukin (IL)–17 is likely a mediator for this destruction. Whether inhibition of IL-17 could preserve beta cell function in people with new-onset type 1 diabetes is unknown.
In this phase 2, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted at 17 study sites in Sweden, 127 adults aged 18–45 years old with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes will be enrolled. Participants will be randomised to receive either subcutaneous IL-17 inhibitor or placebo for 52 weeks, in addition to their conventional therapy. The primary endpoint will be change in residual insulin secretion measured by the area under the curve for C-peptide in response to 2-hour mixed meal tolerance test between baseline and week 52. Additionally, masked continuous glucose monitoring will be performed during 14 days at the run-in period, week 13, week 26 and week 52. Secondary endpoints will be change in time in glucose range (3.9–10 mmol/L), time in hypoglycaemia (
Approvals were obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Dnr 2020–05098) and the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Dnr 5.1-2021-105808) before participant enrolment. Participants provide informed consent before inclusion. Results of this study will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and key findings will be presented at international scientific conferences.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04589325.
Overuse of CT scans is associated with multiple harms, such as an increased risk of cancer development, particularly in children. However, the rate of CT scan use is high and unwarranted worldwide.
This study aimed to identify the patterns and reported indications for head CT scans ordered for non-traumatic paediatric cases in Palestine.
This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study based on a desk review.
The study was carried out from June 2024 to September 2024 in five hospitals located in five major Palestinian governorates in the West Bank.
The study included records of children aged 14 or younger, presenting with non-traumatic complaints and having undergone head CT between January 2020 and September 2024. A total of 3715 patient records were explored, of which 2977 were included in the final analysis; 1764 (59.3%) males and 1213 (40.7%) females.
A pilot review of 100 records was conducted, and the data collection spreadsheet included demographic and clinical characteristics, presentations, reported reasons for CT requests, CT results, and information on lumbar puncture (LP) performance.
The mean age of patients was 4.3 years (SD±3.3), with 59.3% aged 3 to 11 years, and 47.7% presenting to hospitals in northern governorates. The most commonly reported presentation was fever and convulsion (8.2%), followed by convulsions (7.7%), and a combination of fever, headache and vomiting (6.5%). Only 12.9% of the CT scans yielded positive findings, including dilated ventricles (19.3%), sinusitis (18.8%), brain oedema (12.9%), and brain mass (11.1%). Most CT scans were requested to check for contraindications to LP, with only 4.1% having a positive CT finding indicating a contraindication. At the multivariate level, a positive CT result was associated with being a neonate, having a past medical condition, ordering CT to check for contraindication to LP and presenting with convulsions.
CT scans were found to be overused without justification, particularly for ruling out contraindications to LP. The development of clear and specific national guidelines is recommended. This process can be supported through training, decision support tools, alternative management pathways and specialist consultations to ensure compliance. Additionally, enhancing reporting quality and using health information systems are vital for monitoring and improving radiological safety.
This study sought to explore decision making among caregivers of children with cancer in Pakistan, one of the largest lower middle-income countries in the world.
Cross-sectional survey study
This study was conducted in Pakistan at Indus Hospital and Health Network in Karachi and Children’s Hospital of Lahore. Children’s Hospital of Lahore is a public sector hospital, and Indus Hospital has a foundation-based funding structure. Both are larger tertiary care centers. Over 2,500 new patients are seen at these centers annually, this accounts for almost 50% of all children with cancer in Pakistan
Eligible participants included bedside caregivers, defined as a parent or family member involved in communication with the medical team, of children with cancer (
Primary outcome measures included caregiver priorities and experiences related to communication including decision-making role, involvement of the paediatric patient and decisional regret.
Participants included 200 caregivers of children
Findings from this study highlight the importance of exploring preferences for decision making and empowering bedside caregivers while respecting cultural norms. In the Pakistani context, it may be specifically important to consider gender roles and the inclusion of extended family members. Future work should investigate paediatric patient involvement in diverse settings.
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT in identifying small and large bowel obstruction and associated complications, including ischaemia and perforation, in adult patients.
Systematic review and meta-analysis reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy reporting guidelines.
Ovid MEDLINE and Embase were searched from 1946 to 20 February 2025.
The study included randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and case–control studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of CT for bowel obstruction in adults (aged ≥18 years). Only studies published in English were included. Conversely, case reports, editorials, conference abstracts without full data and studies focusing exclusively on paediatric populations or animal models were excluded.
Three reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, CT modality, diagnostic accuracy metrics (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) and complications. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² and Tau² statistics.
Sixty-five studies with 9418 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of CT for bowel obstruction were 90% (95% CI 78 to 96; I²=56%, Tau²=0.36) and 88.8% (95% CI 78.0 to 94.8; I²=65%, Tau²=0.35), respectively. For bowel ischaemia, CT showed a pooled sensitivity of 47.0% (95% CI 32.4 to 59.9; I²=0%, Tau²=0.00) and specificity of 85.3% (95% CI 77.9 to 89.5; I²=1%, Tau²=0.45). Multidetector CT (MDCT) outperformed older modalities across all endpoints. Ischaemia was present in 22.05% of all cases, with higher rates in small bowel obstruction. Perforation and mortality rates were 3.98% and 4.40%, respectively. No significant publication bias was detected, and the certainty of evidence was graded as moderate for most diagnostic accuracy outcomes.
CT, particularly MDCT, offers high diagnostic accuracy for bowel obstruction and is a critical tool for detecting serious complications such as ischaemia and perforation. However, sensitivity for ischaemia remains modest. Standardised protocols and prospective studies are needed to enhance early identification and optimise care pathways.
To assess the validity of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) healthcare database diagnosis codes for lithium toxicity at hospital admission in Ontario, Canada.
Population-based retrospective validation study.
A total of 152 hospitals linked to a provincial laboratory database in Ontario, Canada, from 2007 to 2023.
Patients 50 years of age or older taking lithium with hospital-based serum lithium laboratory measurements during admission to the hospital (n=2804).
Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) comparing an ICD-10 diagnostic coding algorithm for lithium toxicity to a serum lithium concentration of 1.5 mmol/L or more. The codes used in the algorithm were T568, T435, Y495, X41 and X49. Serum lithium values and changes in the concentration of serum lithium from baseline levels in patients with and without a diagnosis code for lithium toxicity (code-positive and code-negative, respectively).
The sensitivity of the ICD-10 coding algorithm for identifying a serum lithium level≥1.5 mmol/L was 84% (95% CI 81% to 87%). The specificity and the NPV were over 88%, and the PPV was 63% (95% CI 60% to 66%). The median (IQR) serum lithium measurement in code-positive patients was 1.7 (1.2 to 2.2) mmol/L, and it was 0.6 (0.4 to 0.9) mmol/L in code-negative patients. The median (IQR) increase in serum lithium concentration compared with the most recent prehospital baseline values was 0.7 (0.2 to 1.3) mmol/L in code-positive patients and 0.0 (–0.2 to 0.2) mmol/L in code-negative patients.
In Ontario, the sensitivity of the ICD-10 coding algorithms was moderate for identifying a serum lithium level≥1.5 mmol/L at hospital admission. The presence or absence of the ICD-10 codes for lithium toxicity at hospital admission successfully differentiated two groups of patients with distinct serum lithium measurements.
Patient and family engagement in patient safety in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) is not well described. This scoping review synthesised the literature to identify key strategies, barriers and enablers of engagement and to explain how patients and families contribute to safety efforts in healthcare settings.
Scoping review following Arksey–O’Malley and reported per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.
PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from inception to April 2024.
We included qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies, published in English across all healthcare settings, that met the following criteria: (1) explored the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of patients, families or healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding patient engagement in safety activities; (2) described the participation of patients, caregivers or families in the design, delivery or evaluation of interventions aimed at promoting patient safety in healthcare facilities.
Data were extracted using a standardised charting form, and a narrative synthe.sis was conducted to identify key themes. The National Health Service (NHS) framework for patient engagement in patient safety was applied to categorise forms of engagement (information, involvement and partnership) and levels of engagement (own care, service provider and system) among included studies.
Of 7709 records screened, 36 studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies explored the perspectives of patients, families and HCPs on patient engagement in safety. Key findings revealed that while patients and families recognised the importance of their roles in safety, unclear role definitions, lack of training and communication barriers limited their participation. HCPs acknowledged the value of patient involvement but identified challenges such as knowledge gaps, time constraints and lack of institutional support. Thirteen studies involved patients and family caregivers in safety improvement initiatives. Most interventions were limited to information sharing, with only two achieving partnership-level engagement. Engagement primarily occurred at the individual and provider levels, with no studies addressing the policy level. Factors influencing engagement were identified at four levels: patient, HCP, system and community.
Despite its potential benefits, the implementation and impact of patient and family engagement in patient safety efforts in LLMICs remain largely unexplored. Most efforts focus on information sharing through educational interventions at the direct care level, with limited involvement of patients and families at the partnership level. To enhance safety outcomes, future initiatives must adopt context-specific strategies that empower patients and families as active partners. Drawing lessons from high-income countries and adapting them to the socio-cultural and infrastructural realities of LLMICs will be crucial for developing scalable, cost-effective and sustainable engagement practices.
The Maharashtra Anaemia Study 3 (MAS 3) aims to (1) Investigate the nutritional, environmental, and economic impacts on haemoglobin concentration/anaemia, (2) Identify the underlying micronutrient causes of anaemia and (3) Investigate the association between anaemia and physical and cognitive development of Indian children during their first 18 years of life. This paper introduces the MAS 3 cohort, which consists of data collected from the participants in the prospective Pune Maternal Nutrition Study from the antenatal period to children at 18 years of age (1996–2014) in the Maharashtra state, India.
Recruitment of 2466 married non-pregnant women, and their husbands, took place between June 1994 and April 1996 in six villages, approximately 50 km from Pune city in India. Women were followed up monthly to identify those who became pregnant. A total of 797 pregnant women were followed up for data collection at or near gestational week 18 and 28, with further data collection for women and children occurring within 72 hours of delivery, for both live and stillbirths. Of the 797 women, 710 were included in the MAS 3 cohort, and long-term follow-up of children occurred at 6 years, 12 years and 18 years of age.
In the MAS 3 cohort, most mothers (73%) were aged between 18 and 25 years at the time of their final prepregnancy visit (baseline), and half (55%) belonged to families of middle-upper socioeconomic status (SES). At the children’s baseline (birth) visit, children had a mean birth weight of 2630 g (SD: 376), with one third (31%) of low birth weight. At the 6-year, 12-year and 18-year follow-up visits, data were available for 706 (99%), 689 (97%) and 694 (98%) children.
MAS 3 will be used to address a number of research objectives, including (1) Trends of haemoglobin and anaemia-related micronutrients from age 6 to 18 years, (2) Micronutrient causes of anaemia during childhood, (3) Prevalence and risk factors for maternal anaemia and childhood anaemia, (4) Impact of maternal anaemia on immediate birth outcomes and (5) Intergenerational risk factors associated with anaemia.
This study aimed to determine the characteristics of acute poisoning patients.
This was a prospective cohort study.
The study was conducted for 1 year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) at a tertiary care hospital in Sindh, Pakistan.
From the patients who arrived at the emergency department due to poisoning, 1404 were registered and included in the study.
The data were collected on demographics (gender, age, residential area, education, employment) and poisoning characteristics, prehospital care, treatment, and services at the hospital, and treatment outcomes (survived and died). A 2 test was used to find the association between independent variables and treatment outcomes. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors of death at a 95% CI.
The majority of patients were male (57.1%) and aged ≤30 years (77.6%). The poisoning was primarily intentional (67.5%), and pesticides (56.1%) were commonly involved in the poisoning. The patients were managed mainly by symptomatic treatment (98.1%) and gastric lavage (65.1%). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that delayed reporting (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.00; 95% CI 1.20 to 3.36; p=0.008) and non-existence of antidote (AOR=1.81; 95% CI 1.08 to 3.03; p=0.025) increased the odds of death while unintentional poisoning (AOR=0.27; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.51; p
The study found that the intentional pesticide poisoning within uneducated, young populations in rural areas was significantly prevalent, and early identification and management of severe cases and extended hospital stays influenced survival.
by Ramtin Naderian, Sajjad Ahmad, Mojgan Rahmanian, Shahrzad Aghaamoo, Aryan Rahbar, Omid Pajand, Akram Alizadeh, Shahin Nazarian, Samira Sanami, Majid Eslami
Chandipura virus (CHPV) is endemic in India, with frequent outbreaks reported. No approved medicines or vaccines exist for CHPV. We aimed to develop a multi-epitope vaccine for CHPV using immunoinformatics approaches. In this study, a multi-epitope vaccine construct was developed by combining 11 CTL epitopes, 2 HTL epitopes, and 1 linear B-cell epitope from glycoprotein (G) with 1 EAAAK linker, 10 AAY linkers, 2 GPGPG linkers, 1 KK linker, and adjuvant (RS-09 peptide). We predicted and optimized the vaccine’s protein structure. Furthermore, the vaccine 3D structure was docked with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) using the Cluspro 2.0 server, and the docked complex was analyzed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation by the assisted model building with energy refinement (AMBER) v.20 package. The vaccine’s immune simulation profile was determined, and the vaccine sequence was reverse translated and in silico cloned into the pET28a (+). The vaccine’s population coverage was 99.79% across the worldwide. The vaccine was soluble, non-allergenic and non-toxic, with high levels of antigenicity. The quality of the vaccine’s 3D structure improved following refining, and the number of residues in the most favoured regions of the Ramachandran plot increased by 94.2%. The molecular docking, with a docking score of −1157 kcal/mol, and MD simulation results revealed a robust interaction and remarkable stability between the vaccine and TLR4. The immune response simulation indicated a decrease in antigen levels and an increase in interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentrations after each injection. In silico results indicate that this vaccine possesses significant promise against CHPV; however, laboratory and animal studies are necessary to validate our findings.Hysterectomy, a common surgical procedure, is frequently associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, may help alleviate these symptoms; however, existing evidence is largely drawn from mixed surgical populations and does not specifically address its efficacy and safety in hysterectomy patients. This meta-analysis provides a focused and updated synthesis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in this population, incorporating time-stratified pain outcomes and subgroup analyses by dose, surgical approach, timing and route of administration to evaluate the role of dexamethasone in postoperative recovery.
Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched through 1 November 2024.
We included RCTs comparing dexamethasone with placebo for postoperative outcomes in hysterectomy patients.
Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration and Evidence Project tools. Meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models. Findings were summarised in GRADE evidence profiles and synthesised qualitatively.
15 RCTs (1362 patients) were included. Dexamethasone significantly reduced PONV (risk ratio (RR): 0.53, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.61, p2: 0% high certainty) and pain scores at 24 hours (mean difference (MD): –0.20, 95% CI –0.35 to –0.05, p=0.009, I²=0%, moderate certainty), 8–12 hours (MD: –0.60, 95% CI –0.88 to –0.31, p2: 27%, moderate certainty and 4 hours (MD: –0.43, 95% CI –1.07 to 0.21, p=0.19, 93%, moderate certainty). It also decreased the use of rescue antiemetics (RR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.75, I2: 39%, high certainty) and postoperative opioid consumption (standardised MD: –0.48, 95% CI –0.90 to –0.05, p=0.03, I2: 74%, low certainty). The effects of rescue analgesics and hospital stay duration were nonsignificant. Subgroup analyses showed consistent antiemetic efficacy of dexamethasone across doses, timings, routes and procedures. For pain, greater analgesic effects were seen with higher doses and perineural administration, particularly at 8–12 hours. The risk of bias was low in most studies, but evidence of publication bias was observed for the pain score outcome.
Dexamethasone is an effective adjunct in hysterectomy, significantly reducing PONV and postoperative pain at 8–12 and 24 hours, particularly with 4–10 mg doses. Benefits are consistent across routes, timings and surgical approaches, with greater early analgesia after perineural use. It reduces opioid consumption but has a limited effect on rescue analgesia, supporting its role as a complementary analgesic. While generally considered safe, current safety data are limited, highlighting the need for further research. These results support its use in multimodal recovery protocols and identify priorities for future studies in high-risk and diverse surgical populations.
CRD42024608067.
To explore the acceptability and feasibility of using a trauma-informed communication tool to convey client needs to health professionals; and to understand the barriers and enablers for clients using the tool.
Mixed methods design pilot study conducted by nurses from a regional community health service in Victoria, Australia, of purposively sampled clients who have a history of sexual assault and/or family violence and clinicians from a primary care service.
The investigators developed a pocket-sized communication card to convey clients' history of trauma and the clients' emotional and physical needs to health care providers.
Pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys using validated scales (‘Acceptability of Intervention Measure’ and ‘Intervention Appropriateness Measure’) were administered via anonymous online or paper-based survey.
Sixteen clients completed the pre-intervention survey and 12 clients completed the post-intervention client survey. Seven Nurses and three Social Workers completed the clinician survey.
Both clients and clinicians reported high rates of acceptability and appropriateness of the tool on the outcome measures. The most commonly reported barriers to using the tool were clients forgetting to use the card and concern about how health professionals may respond.
Content analysis of qualitative data revealed themes categorised as positive impacts (prevention of re-traumatisation), negative impacts (negative response from health professionals) and suggestions for improvement of the tool (developing a digital version, raising clinicians' awareness of the tool).
This novel tool has demonstrated a high degree of acceptability and applicability in a sample of clients with a history of trauma secondary to sexual assault and/or family violence, and community health clinicians, and several positive and negative impacts have been identified. Further research should focus on larger participant numbers and include developing a digital version and a clinician education component.
Use of a tool to communicate impacts of trauma may prevent re-telling of traumatic stories by clients and enhance quality of care delivery.
The Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) has been used to report the results of this study.
During development of the tool, it was reviewed by a lived experience consumer representative, the health organisations' consumer advisory panel, and a small sample of clients.
To evaluate the associations between anthropometric indices and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and waist circumference (WC) in Iranian adults.
Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a population-based cohort.
Fasa adults’ cohort study, a rural community-based cohort in Fars province, Iran.
A total of 1550 adults aged 35–70 years with MetS, identified from among 10 118 cohort participants using the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Programme III criteria.
The anthropometric indices include abdominal volume index (AVI), a body shape index (ABSI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), body roundness index (BRI), body adiposity index (BAI), conicity index, ponderal index and visceral adiposity index (VAI).
Participants (56.1% female) with a mean age of 49.8±9.5 years. AVI was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (β=0.010, p
Anthropometric indices, including VAI, AIP, BAI, BRI and AVI, exhibit significant associations with key components of MetS in Iranian adults, particularly blood pressure, glycaemic markers and central adiposity. Among these, BAI showed the strongest correlation with MetS parameters, while ABSI displayed the weakest.
Non-adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment remains a major challenge in high-burden regions. However, few studies have qualitatively examined the sociocultural and emotional barriers to adherence, particularly among Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This study explores the patient-related, sociocultural and treatment-related barriers to treatment adherence among patients with TB of Pakistani and Afghan origin living in Pakistan.
We conducted an exploratory qualitative study consisting of semistructured focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with purposively selected multisectoral stakeholders. The data were analysed thematically using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches.
We employed a qualitative study design in the TB DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short course) centres in the Haripur and Peshawar districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.
We conducted IDIs (n=29) and FGDs (n=11) with three categories of participants: TB healthcare providers, patients with TB and their carers.
We identified several contributors to lower treatment adherence. These included patient-related barriers (eg, lack of awareness about TB and its treatment), sociocultural barriers (eg, stigma, refugee status of Afghan patients, gender roles and reliance on traditional and spiritual healing) and treatment-related barriers (eg, demanding treatment regimen and TB-induced depression).
Several personal, sociocultural and treatment-related barriers contribute to lower treatment adherence in patients with TB. A significant contributing factor to treatment non-adherence in patients is the high prevalence of anxiety and depression related to TB and its treatment, for which there is no treatment or counselling available at the DOTS level in Pakistan, warranting the need for mental health interventions that could improve adherence and treatment outcomes for both TB and depression.
by Ibrahim Aqtam, Ahmad Ayed, Ahmad Batran, Moath Abu Ejheisheh, Riham H. Melhem, Mustafa Shouli
IntroductionWork engagement, defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption, is crucial for nurse retention and quality of care in high-stress environments. Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) present unique emotional and psychological challenges for nurses, necessitating skills like emotional intelligence (EI) to enhance work engagement. This study investigates the association between EI, demographic factors, and work engagement among Palestinian NICU nurses.
MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was employed during February-April 2025. Of 230 nurses invited, 207 completed the survey (response rate = 90.2%) across 12 Palestinian NICUs using convenience sampling. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression via SPSS v26. Validated tools, the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), were used.
ResultsEmotional intelligence (EI) demonstrated a strong positive correlation with work engagement (r = 0.693, p B = 0.463, β = 0.535, p = 0.002), female gender (B = −2.250, β = −0.115, p = 0.017), and rotating shifts (B = 1.579, β = 0.105, p = 0.028) were significant predictors. EI was the strongest predictor (B = 0.358, β = 0.593, p M = 47.3 ± 5.8).
DiscussionThe findings demonstrate strong associations between EI and engagement in high-stress NICU environments. Based on these findings, we propose implementing comprehensive EI training programs in nursing curricula, establishing mentorship programs to address age-related disparities, and developing gender-sensitive workplace policies to optimize work engagement and improve patient care quality.
In critical care, intensive care unit (ICU) staff and physicians often estimate patients' height and weight visually, impacting calculations for cardiac function, ventilation, medication, nutrition and renal function. However, accurate assessment is challenging in critically ill patients. This study evaluates the accuracy of visual estimations by ICU staff.
Descriptive cross-sectional study.
National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.
We included a convenient sample of adult (≥18 years) cardiac patients admitted to the critical care unit in this study. Patients who refused to give consent, trauma/surgery of lower limbs or patients with below-knee or above-knee amputation were excluded to avoid bias.
A convenient sample of cardiac ICU patients was included. Measured weight (kg) and height (cm) were compared with visual estimations by senior ICU nurse, senior non-ICU nurse, ICU consultants, fellows and residents. Correlation and agreement were analysed using Bland–Altman plots and 95% agreement limits.
A total of 356 patients were evaluated, of whom 204 (57.3%) were male, with a mean age of 55.2 ± 14.3 years. The median SOFA score was 3 [2–5], and 101 patients (28.4%) were on mechanical ventilation. The mean difference between measured and estimated weight by senior non-ICU nurse was 4.7±9.2 [–13.38–22.83] kg, senior ICU nurse was 7.8±9.9 [–11.56–27.12] kg, ICU consultants was 3.0±6.6 [–9.89–15.79] kg, ICU fellow was 3.0±7.1 [–10.88–16.92] kg and ICU resident was 8.0±9.6 [–10.83–26.79] kg. Similarly, the mean difference between measured and estimated height by senior non-ICU nurse was 2.0±7.3 [-12.36–16.34] cm, senior ICU nurse was 2.4±7.5 [–12.19–17.00] cm, ICU consultants was 1.5±5.6 [–9.51–12.48] cm, ICU fellow was 1.1±5.5 [–9.68–11.95] cm and ICU resident was 2.3±8.5 [–14.40–19.01] cm.
The findings indicate that healthcare professionals tend to overestimate both weight and height. The accuracy of these estimations varied among professional groups, underscoring the potential clinical consequences of such errors. This emphasises the need for objective measurements in clinical decision-making.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace are a major health problem which is significantly related to the adverse effects on the workforce’s health in different occupations, including the petrochemical industry employees. Many health behaviors can play a significant role in preventing complications caused by MSDs; however, in developing countries such as Iran, there is a lack of clarity about the factors affecting the prevention of complications from these disorders from the perspective of petrochemical industry employees. This study aimed to investigate effective factors to prevent complications caused by MSDs in petrochemical industry workers in Iran.
This qualitative study was conducted using the conventional content analysis method. The data were collected using in-depth and unstructured interviews with 23 employees and managers of the petrochemical industry. In this study, the participants were selected from different industry centres using the purposeful sampling method and based on the maximum diversity (work duties, age, level of education). The collected data were then analysed using the initial matrix developed based on the available literature.
The analysis of the data from 23 interviews resulted in the identification of four main categories: educational-consultative support, organisational-management structure transformation, infrastructure security and physical environment redesign, and self-care necessity. These categories are the primary factors that influence the preventive behaviours related to MSDs among employees in the petrochemical industry.
The concepts that have emerged based on the results of this study can potentially help to develop comprehensive and appropriate training and health promotion programmes in creating, maintaining and promoting preventive behaviours of complications caused by MSDs in petrochemical industry workers.
To summarise and critically appraise the evidence of mindfulness-based interventions for psychological distress in patients with cancer and their partners.
A critical review.
The critical appraisal checklists of the Centre for Evidence-Based Management were utilised for the quality appraisal while reporting the results using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement.
Six electronic databases were searched, including MEDLINE, CINHAL, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, from inception to August 2023.
A total of six studies were included. Mindfulness-based interventions in general improved psychological distress among patients with cancer and their partners. However, the components of the interventions varied.
Treating patients with cancer and their partners as a unit may improve psychological distress for both parties. It is recommended that cancer couples be involved in mindfulness-based interventions simultaneously to achieve positive effects. Future research into the effectiveness and best practices of mindfulness-based interventions remains necessary.
The findings provide information and evidence for improving psychological distress among patients with cancer and their partners to guide the development of a mindfulness-based intervention.
Mindfulness-based interventions were effective in improving psychological distress in patients with cancer and their partners. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions varied based on intervention formats. Engaging cancer couples in mindfulness-based intervention together may have a positive impact on both partners.
Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement 2020.
No Patient or Public Contribution.