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Feasibility of a cluster randomised trial on the effect of trauma life support training: a pilot study in India

Por: Gerdin Wärnberg · M. · Basak · D. · Berg · J. · Chatterjee · S. · Felländer-Tsai · L. · Ghag · G. · Juillard · C. · Khajanchi · M. · Khan · T. · Mishra · A. · Nandu · V. V. · Roy · N. · Singh · R. · Soni · K. D. · Strömmer · L.
Objective

To assess the feasibility of conducting a cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Primary Trauma Care (PTC) with standard care on patient outcomes.

Design

This was a pilot pragmatic three-armed parallel, cluster randomised, controlled trial conducted between April 2022 and February 2023. Patients were followed up for 30 days.

Setting

Tertiary care hospitals across metropolitan areas in India.

Participants

Adult trauma patients and residents managing these patients were included.

Interventions

ATLS or PTC training was provided for residents in the intervention arms.

Main outcomes and measures

The outcomes were the consent rate, loss to follow-up rate, missing data rates, differences in the distribution between observed data and data extracted from medical records, and the resident pass rate.

Results

Two hospitals were randomised to the ATLS arm, two to the PTC arm and three to the standard care arm. We included 376 patients and 22 residents. The percentage of patients who consented to follow-up was 77% and the percentage of residents who consented to receive training was 100%. The loss to follow-up rate was 14%. The pass rate was 100%. Overall, the amount of missing data for key variables was low. The data collected through observations were similar to data extracted from medical records, but there were more missing values in the extracted data.

Conclusions

Conducting a full-scale cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of ATLS, PTC and standard care on patient outcomes appears feasible, especially if such a trial would use data and outcomes available in medical records.

Trial registration number

NCT05417243.

Enhancing integrated epidemic response mechanisms in humanitarian emergencies: a scoping review and qualitative study

Por: Esmail · M. · Chatterjee · P. · Parikh · K. · Quaye · M. A. · Spiegel · P.
Objectives

Epidemics pose significant challenges for fragile health systems, particularly in humanitarian emergencies. Recent responses to epidemics such as cholera in Yemen and Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have highlighted the lack of effective and integrated coordination. We review existing global models for addressing large-scale epidemics in humanitarian emergencies, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and propose operational recommendations to enhance response mechanisms.

Design

A two-pronged approach was used to identify and critically assess current response coordination frameworks. Using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, a scoping review was undertaken, which was complemented by key informant interviews with humanitarian emergency response experts. The interviews focused on identifying the existing challenges and potential strategies to improve epidemic response in humanitarian contexts.

Participants

The scoping review included 51 documents (13 peer-reviewed articles and 38 grey literature documents). We conducted in-depth interviews with 28 respondents representing 17 different agencies and donors.

Interventions

We focused on two major response architectures: the Incident Management System (IMS) and the cluster system. IMS is an important coordination and response instrument increasingly being used to respond to infectious disease threats.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Outcome measures of interest included the gaps in the current mechanisms to address infectious disease threats in complex humanitarian emergencies.

Results

Unlike the cluster system model, which relies on consensus decision-making, IMS has a command-and-control approach, ensuring rapid decision-making. However, it can also lead to vertical responses that neglect the cross-sectoral and complex needs of affected communities. In addition, we found that the absence of context-specific response coordination mechanisms, with clear roles and responsibilities for involved stakeholders, was a common shortcoming. Fragmented response efforts that sidelined national and local stakeholders and a lack of reliable funding were also identified as important weaknesses.

Conclusions

We recommend the integration of coordination mechanisms into a sufficiently flexible framework that can be adapted to local contexts, while empowering national and local actors and ensuring the continuity of essential humanitarian services. We propose a paradigm shift towards mechanisms that respect humanitarian principles, effectively addressing the epidemic threats while remaining focused on deploying community-centric response efforts.

How effective is mHealth-supported home-based post-knee arthroplasty rehabilitation in improving knee function and continuum of care: protocol of an open label randomised controlled trial from India

Por: Girotra · S. · Shrivastava · P. · Kumar · A. · Madan · R. · Grover · S. · Batra · S. · Garg · B. · Praveen · D. · Chatterjee · S. · Kasotia · A. · Biswas · S. · Soni · M. · Gara · S. · Malhotra · R. · Maddison · R. · Devasenapathy · N.
Introduction

Monitoring physical rehabilitation is an essential component of patient recovery after knee arthroplasty. Monitoring can be remote, or clinic based. In India, unsupervised home-based physical rehabilitation is a common practice, but there is a lack of evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of remote monitoring. Therefore, we developed and piloted a mobile application (TeleREhabilitation after knee ArThroplasty app) based on behaviour design thinking to support the recovery period. This trial aims to compare the effectiveness, acceptability, cost and safety of this app-supported home-based intervention against usual care using an open label, 1:1 individual randomised superiority trial at two tertiary care hospitals in India.

Methods and analysis

Consecutive adults undergoing partial or total, unilateral or bilateral knee arthroplasty who can use a smart phone will be invited to participate in this trial. Consenting individuals will be randomised to either an app-supported intervention or a usual home-based rehabilitation which typically consists of provision of oral or written instructions at discharge and follow-up check-up with the surgeon or physiotherapist at their discretion or as per individual need. We aim to recruit 300 individuals over a period of eighteen months. The primary objective is to compare patient-reported knee function between the two groups at 3 and 6 months postsurgery. Secondary objectives are to compare patient-reported outcomes (pain and activity), performance-based outcomes (lower limb strength and knee function), resource utilisation and quality of life. Fidelity of implementation, end-user experiences and challenges in implementing this intervention will be measured using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data will be analysed in Stata, and group comparisons will be done using mixed effect linear regression. A mixed-methods approach will be used to analyse and interpret the process evaluation data. A modified intention-to-treat approach will be taken, which includes all those who were randomised irrespective of their adherence to trial protocol if they had at least one follow-up visit after enrolment.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been approved by the ethics committees of the sponsor institute (The George Institute for Global Health) and the two clinical sites (All India Institute for Medical Sciences, Delhi & Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi). The results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and via plain language newsletters to the trial participants.

Trial registration number

CTRI/2024/06/068838.

Evaluation of a text-mining application for the rapid analysis of free-text wildlife necropsy reports

by Stefan Saverimuttu, Kate McInnes, Kristin Warren, Lian Yeap, Stuart Hunter, Brett Gartrell, An Pas, James Chatterton, Bethany Jackson

The ability to efficiently derive insights from wildlife necropsy data is essential for advancing conservation and One Health objectives, yet close reading remains the mainstay of knowledge retrieval from ubiquitous free-text clinical data. This time-consuming process poses a barrier to the efficient utilisation of such valuable resources. This study evaluates part of a bespoke text-mining application, DEE (Describe, Explore, Examine), designed for extracting insights from free-text necropsy reports housed in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Wildbase Pathology Register. A pilot test involving nine veterinary professionals assessed DEE’s ability to quantify the occurrence of four clinicopathologic findings (external oiling, trauma, diphtheritic stomatitis, and starvation) across two species datasets by comparison to manual review. Performance metrics—recall, precision, and F1-score—were calculated and analysed alongside tester-driven misclassification patterns. Findings reveal that while DEE (and the principals underlying its function) offers time-efficient data retrieval, its performance is influenced by search term selection and the breadth of vocabulary which may describe a clinicopathologic finding. Those findings characterized by limited terminological variance, such as external oiling, yielded the highest performance scores and the most consistency across application testers. Mean F1-scores across all tested findings and application testers was 0.63–0.93. Results highlight the utility and limitations of term-based text-mining approaches and suggests that enhancements to automatically capture this terminological variance may be necessary for broader implementation. This pilot study highlights the potential of relatively simple, rule-based text-mining approaches to derive insights natural language wildlife data in the support of One Health goals.

Impact of barcode medication administration on patient safety in UK hospital settings: protocol for a mixed-methods realist evaluation

Por: Mahmoud · A. · Abdelaziz · S. · McErlean · M. · Jani · Y. · Slatter · M. · Villena · A. · Bird · J. · Grailey · K. · Taylor · A. · Franklin · B. D.
Introduction

Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems are increasingly being implemented in hospital settings, with the aim of decreasing medication administration errors. However, the majority of the literature demonstrating the value of BCMA in supporting patient safety is from the USA. Furthermore, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that support its use. This study aims to explore the impact of BCMA on patient safety including medication admisntration errors and nursing time spent providing direct patient care, in terms of what works, for whom, under what circumstances, and how.

Methods and analysis

We will use a mixed-methods realist evaluation. The study will be conducted in four phases, at two London NHS teaching trusts and one South West Region NHS Trust using different electronic health record systems. Phase 1 will involve documentary analysis and a narrative review to develop an initial programme theory for how BCMA is expected to work. Phase 2 will use interviews with key informants to refine this programme theory. The programme theory will then be tested in phase 3 using mixed methods: (1) observation of nurses’ medication administration; (2) analysis of alert data from the BCMA systems to understand the alerts’ clinical significance and utility and (3) interviews with nurses and hospital inpatients to explore their views. These data will be triangulated to refine and finalise the programme theory in phase 4, together with recommendations for practice.

Ethics and dissemination

The Study Coordination Centre has obtained approval (24/SC/0326) from the Oxford B NHS Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority. The study’s findings will be presented at scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, summaries of the findings will be produced, targeted at relevant groups such as healthcare professionals, policy-makers and study participants.

Efficacy of a novel sensory discrimination training device for the management of phantom limb pain: protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Por: Oatway · S. · Martin · D. · Graham · A. · Batterham · A. · MacSween · A. · Smith · S. · Ravindran · D. · Ryan · C.
Introduction

Many amputees experience phantom limb pain (PLP). Pharmacological management is the mainstay of treatment, but effectiveness is limited, and it is associated with significant side effects. Sensory discrimination training (SDT) is a non-pharmacological treatment for PLP. Previously, SDT required a clinician, or carer, to administer it, creating a barrier to real world use. In this trial, an automated SDT device (SP1X, 2pd Ltd, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom) for the self-management of PLP will be investigated for efficacy.

Methods and analysis

The Phantom Relief is a decentralised, randomised, placebo-controlled, mixed-methods, superiority trial. Participants will take part from their own homes, using an electronic data capture tool to complete all trial documentation. Eligible, consenting individuals with PLP (intensity rated as ≥4 on a 0–10 scale; n=100) will be randomised to receive the SP1X device (intervention group) or a placebo device SP1X7 (placebo group). The first and second treatment sessions will be observed via video call to provide set-up guidance and any additional advice needed. The primary outcome measure will be the McGill Pain Questionnaire revised (SF-MPQ-2). Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, 3 weeks (immediately post intervention) and 3 months follow-up. Statistical analysis will be carried out by a blinded statistician (analysis of covariance model conditioning on the baseline and stratification factors). Semi-structured interviews will be carried out with a sub-sample (n=10–15) of intervention group participants. Participants will be provided with their allocated device for home use. Online video calls will be used to instruct participants on how to set up and use the device by the research assistant (RA). The RA will observe the first and second treatment sessions and provide any additional advice needed. Participants in both groups will be asked to use the device for 60 min/day for at least 15 days of the 21-day treatment period and to record device use in a study diary.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval has been obtained from Teesside University School of Health and Life Sciences Research and Ethics Committee, the North of Scotland Research Ethics Service, Health Research Authority, and a letter of no objection was obtained from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations and a doctoral thesis.

Trial registration number

NCT04103983.

Morphine for chronic breathlessness (MABEL) in the UK: a health economic evaluation of a multisite, parallel-group, dose titration, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Por: Atter · M. J. · Hall · P. · Evans · R. A. · Norrie · J. · Cohen · J. · Williams · B. · Chaudhuri · N. · Bajwah · S. · Higginson · I. · Pearson · M. · Currow · D. · Stewart · G. · Fallon · M. · Johnson · M.
Objectives

To compare costs and health consequences and to assess the cost-effectiveness of using low-dose oral long-acting morphine in people with chronic breathlessness.

Design

Within-trial planned cost-consequences and cost-effectiveness analysis of data from a multisite, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of low-dose, long-acting morphine.

Setting

11 hospital outpatients across the UK.

Participants

Consenting adults with chronic breathlessness due to long-term cardiorespiratory conditions.

Intervention

5–10 mg two times a day oral long-acting morphine with a blinded laxative for 56 days.

Primary outcome measures

Mean and SD of healthcare resource use (HRU) by trial arm; mean differences and 95% CI of costs between trial arms.

Secondary outcome measures

Mean differences in 28- and 56-day quality-adjusted life years (QALYs based on EuroQol five-dimension five-level score), Short Form-six dimensional scores and ICEpop CAPability-Supportive Care Measure scores; cost-utility of long-acting morphine for chronic breathlessness.

Results

143 participants (75 morphine and 67 placebo) were randomised; 140 (90% power, males 66%, mean age 70.5 (SD 9.4)) formed the modified intention-to-treat population (participants receiving at least one dose of study medication). There were more inpatient and fewer outpatient services used by the morphine group versus the placebo. In the base-case analysis at 56 days, long-acting morphine was associated with similar mean per-patient costs and QALYs. There was an increase of £24 (95% CI –£395 to £552) and 0.002 (95% CI –0.004 to 0.008) QALYs. Hospitalisations were the main driver of cost differences. The corresponding incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £12 000/QALY, with a probability of cost-effectiveness of 54% at a £20 000 willingness-to-pay threshold. In the scenario analysis that excluded costs of adverse events considered unrelated to long-acting morphine by site investigators and researchers, the probability of cost-effectiveness increased to 73%.

Conclusion

Oral morphine for chronic breathlessness is likely to be a cost-effective intervention provided adverse events are minimised, but the effect on outcome is small and cautious interpretation is warranted.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN87329095.

Changes in metabolic energy measures for daily living activities and exercise in men and women following arduous activity in Antarctica

by John Hattersley, C. Doug Thake, Chris Imray, Adrian J. Wilson

This study reports pre- to post-expedition (pre|post) changes in energy expenditure and substrate utilisation during daily living activities (DLAs including rest, sleep, modest exercise, sedentary work and leisure) and maximum aerobic power (V˙O2max) for participants in the Inspire-22 expedition (6 men, 3 women) who undertook a 47 day unassisted Antarctic traverse from the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole. DLA measurements were carried out during a 36 hour study in a whole-body calorimeter whilst measurements of maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O2max), capillary glucose and lactate during incremental stepping exercise to volitional exhaustion were carried out under normobaric normoxic and hypoxic (14% O2) conditions in an environmental chamber. Non-exercise measures were normalised to non-fat tissue weight; exercise measures, including those in the DLAs, to body weight. Statistical analysis used the Aligned Rank Transform (ART) non-parametric ANOVA technique with covariants pre|post expedition, sex and hypoxia|normoxia as appropriate. There were no systematic differences between pre- and post-expedition energy expenditure but significant differences between men and women for the majority of the DLAs (p  0.05); a sex-independent subset of 4 showing much higher utilisation. Women had a lower protein utilisation than men during the DLA exercise activities (p 

Development, content and planned evaluation of a behavioural support intervention to reduce ultraprocessed food intake and increase physical activity in UK healthcare workers: UPDATE trial stage 2 study protocol

Por: Heuchan · G. N. · Buck · C. · Conway · R. · Dicken · S. · Brown · A. C. · Jassil · F. C. · Makaronidis · J. · Van Tulleken · C. · Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott · C. A. · Batterham · R. · Fisher · A.
Introduction

Diets high in ultraprocessed food (UPF) are associated with poor health outcomes and weight gain. Healthcare workers are particularly at risk of consuming diets high in UPF due to erratic work patterns, high stress and limited access to fresh food at work. Despite this, no interventions to date have specifically targeted a reduction in UPF intake in healthcare workers.

Methods and analysis

This article describes the development and content of a 6-month behavioural support intervention targeting a reduction in UPF intake in UK healthcare workers. The intervention was offered to all participants who took part in the UltraProcessed versus minimally processed Diets following UK dietAry guidance on healTh outcomEs trial—a two-stage study in which Stage 1 was a controlled-feeding crossover randomised controlled trial of provided UPF versus minimally processed food (MPF) diets (published previously) and was completed before the start of Stage 2. Stage 2, reported here, aimed to support participants to reduce their UPF consumption, increase MPF and increase physical activity in real-world settings. The intervention was developed using the behaviour change wheel framework, which systematically links behavioural diagnoses to intervention functions, incorporating the capability, opportunity and motivation model for behaviour change. It included tailored one-to-one and group support sessions, bespoke digital and print resources and a mobile-optimised website. The detailed description is intended to support future replication and adaptation. The acceptability and feasibility of the intervention will be assessed using quantitative and qualitative data in a future paper.

Ethics and dissemination

Sheffield Research Ethics Committee approved the trial (22/YH/0281). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and summaries shared with participants and stakeholders.

Trial registration number

NCT05627570.

Mixed-methods process evaluation of ctDNA use to guide decision-making in patients with advanced solid cancers: study protocol for a substudy of the LIQPLAT trial

Por: Schwenke · J. M. · Schmitt · A. M. · McLennan · S. · Janiaud · P. · Läubli · H. · Binder · M. · Alborelli · I. · Matter · M. S. · Hinke · J. · Widmer · C. C. · Hemkens · L. G. · Kasenda · B. · Briel · M.
Introduction

There is an urgent need to better understand how information from circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can be integrated into routine care for patients with advanced solid cancer.

Methods and analysis

The implementation of liquid biopsies in routine care of patients with advanced solid cancer trial (LIQPLAT) is a single-centre, single-arm trial investigating the implementation of ctDNA in the routine care of patients with advanced solid cancer. We present a mixed-methods process evaluation embedded in the LIQPLAT trial, following Medical Research Council guidance and the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework. We show a logic model, which details the causal chain and related assumptions from recruiting patients into the trial to the goal of improving quality of life and survival. Data collection is longitudinal and includes: semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals (pathologists, biologists, oncologists; planned n=20) and patients (planned n=15) to identify implementation barriers and facilitators; recordings of molecular tumour board meetings to analyse clinical decision-making; the 23-item Normalisation MeAsure Development survey for healthcare professionals (planned n=20) at four time points. Quantitative data from hospital records will be used to assess implementation outcomes like patient acceptance rates and ctDNA workflow success. Qualitative data will undergo thematic and content analysis, and quantitative data will be analysed using a Bayesian framework.

Ethics and dissemination

The LIQPLAT trial was approved by the regional ethics committee of Northwestern and Central Switzerland (BASEC 2024-00358). The qualitative aspects of the process evaluation were exempted from ethics review according to the Swiss Human Research Act. We follow guidelines for data security, confidentiality and information governance. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and discussed at conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT06367751, SNCTP000005844.

Interventions to enhance gender equity in academic medicine: a systematic review

Por: Burke · E. · Darker · C. · Godson Treacy · I. M. · Kavanagh · C. · Mockler · D. · Slattery · N. · Hennessy · M.
Objectives

We aimed to describe the current evidence for interventions to enhance gender equality and equity in academic medicine. We also wished to characterise the nature of the interventions, who delivered them and whether they seek to ‘fix the women’, or target issues at organisational and systemic levels.

Design

We extracted data using a form developed for the study and applied the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) and Morahan frameworks to describe and characterise interventions. We used the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QUADS) tool to critically appraise included studies.

Data sources

We searched five electronic databases in November 2022 and August 2023 (Medline (OVID), Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar) and undertook handsearching.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

We included qualitative or quantitative original studies published in full that described any new intervention designed to enhance gender equality/equity in recruitment, retention or promotion in academic medicine. The settings were Schools/Faculties of Medicine in Higher Education Institutions. The population of interest was female clinical academics/physician scientists.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data were extracted by one researcher using an Excel form specifically designed for this study with a second researcher applying the form to a subset of seven studies; significant agreement was achieved. Four researchers applied the TIDieR framework to the included studies. Due to the small number of studies and significant heterogeneity, it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis.

Results

The search of electronic databases yielded 1747 studies. A further 62 were identified through handsearching. Following removal of duplicates, 764 articles were screened for eligibility, and 199 full-text articles were screened. Of these, 27 met the inclusion criteria.

The most commonly reported interventions were career development or leadership skills programmes, followed by mentorship and multifaceted interventions. Most papers reported positive findings, but many relied on subjective measures. Robustly designed studies often reported mixed findings. The majority of interventions aimed to ‘fix the women’, with few addressing inequality at organisational level.

Conclusions

Acknowledging the possibility of publication delay, we found that despite strong evidence of the negative effects of the pandemic on women’s research productivity, there were no new interventions designed to mitigate this. Many existing interventions create ‘institutional housekeeping’ by relying on women for their delivery. This can result in failure, especially during a crisis like COVID. Most studies were low to moderate quality. More robust research and a more holistic approach are needed, moving away from ‘fixing the women’ to address the organisational and systemic structures which underpin inequality.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023391086.

Systematic protocol to identify 'clinical controls for paediatric neuroimaging research from clinically acquired brain MRIs

Por: Zimmerman · D. · Mandal · A. S. · Jung · B. · Buczek · M. J. · Schabdach · J. M. · Karandikar · S. · Kafadar · E. · Gardner · M. · Daniali · M. · Mercedes · L. · Kohler · S. · Abdel-Qader · L. · Gur · R. E. · Roalf · D. R. · Satterthwaite · T. D. · Williams · R. · Padmanabhan · V. · Seid
Introduction

Progress at the intersection of artificial intelligence and paediatric neuroimaging necessitates large, heterogeneous datasets to generate robust and generalisable models. Retrospective analysis of clinical brain MRI scans offers a promising avenue to augment prospective research datasets, leveraging the extensive repositories of scans routinely acquired by hospital systems in the course of clinical care. Here, we present a systematic protocol for identifying ‘scans with limited imaging pathology’ through machine-assisted manual review of radiology reports.

Methods and analysis

The protocol employs a standardised grading scheme developed with expert neuroradiologists and implemented by non-clinician graders. Categorising scans based on the presence or absence of significant pathology and image quality concerns facilitates the repurposing of clinical brain MRI data for brain research. Such an approach has the potential to harness vast clinical imaging archives—exemplified by over 250 000 brain MRIs at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—to address demographic biases in research participation, to increase sample size and to improve replicability in neurodevelopmental imaging research. Ultimately, this protocol aims to enable scalable, reliable identification of clinical control brain MRIs, supporting large-scale, generalisable neuroimaging studies of typical brain development and neurogenetic conditions.

Ethics and dissemination

Studies using datasets generated from this protocol will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at academic conferences.

A prospective protocol for remotely investigating brain-behaviour-genetics associations in adolescent patients in a paediatric health system with pre-existing clinical brain MRIs

Por: Mercedes · L. · Buczek · M. J. · Kafadar · E. · DiDomenico · G. · Jung · B. · Zimmerman · D. · Schabdach · J. M. · Himes · M. M. · Sotardi · S. · Vossough · A. · Driesbaugh · K. H. · Moore · T. · Barzilay · R. · Calkins · M. E. · Gur · R. E. · Roalf · D. R. · Satterthwaite · T. D. · Whit
Introduction

Adolescence is a critical period marked by rapid brain development and the onset of many mental health disorders. Brain MRI studies during adolescence, especially when paired with behavioural phenotypes and information about genetic risk factors, hold promise to advance early identification of mental health risk and spur the creation of targeted treatments to improve patient function, prognosis and quality of life. However, prospective neuroimaging is costly and time-intensive, and individuals who participate may not be reflective of the general population. These challenges are compounded when examining adolescents, as many families lack the time, energy or resources to participate in studies that use research-grade imaging. Repurposing clinical MRIs obviates many of the challenges of neuroimaging research. Here, we describe the brain-behaviour-genetics study protocol. This protocol describes procedures used to recruit participants with recent high-quality clinical brain MRIs and prospectively acquire genetic and sociobehavioural data, resulting in a highly cost-efficient design that harnesses a vast and underused neuroscientific resource.

Methods and analysis

The brain-behaviour-genetics protocol aims to recruit 1000 adolescents who have clinical brain MRIs contained in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s electronic health record. One or both parents of the adolescent proband will be recruited when possible. Parents and adolescents will complete a series of self-report scales spanning the domains of mental health, trauma, risk and resilience. Saliva samples will be collected from the adolescent and at least one biological parent, using an at-home saliva collection kit. Subsequent analysis will examine associations between brain development, genetics and behavioural measures in adolescence.

Ethics and dissemination

Approval for the study had been obtained from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s institutional review board (IRB #23–0 20 851). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Supporting parents and families of children with life-limiting conditions: the impact of advance care planning

Por: Moody · A. · Stocks · K. L. · Tatterton · M. J.

Commentary on: Lyon, M. E., Fraser, J. L., Thompkins, J. D., et al (2024). Advance Care Planning for Children With Rare Diseases: A Pilot RCT. Pediatrics, 153(6), e2023064557. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-064557.

Implications for research and practice

  • Having access to advance care planning, despite social and financial constraints is imperative. It is evident that in the population included in this study, advance care planning was invaluable for those below the 2021 financial poverty line.

  • Further research is required to determine if the current medical model in the USA is meeting the requirements of caregivers and children with rare diseases.

  • Context

    Rare diseases in babies, children and young people (children) are often life-shortening, and children can require constant caregiving. Bösch et al1 report that 82% of children in tertiary hospitals in the USA have a rare disease. This study was designed to establish...

    Enhancing communication confidence and competence: using simulation-based education in perinatal palliative care

    Por: Tatterton · M. J. · Whaley · V.

    Commentary on: Chen HW, Cheng SF, Hsiung Y, et al. Training perinatal nurses in palliative communication by using scenario-based simulation: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Educ Pract. 2024. 75:103885. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103885

    Implications for practice and research

  • Scenario-based simulation (SBS) is an effective method of enhancing the confidence and competence of nurses supporting families who require perinatal palliative care.

  • Further research should focus on the durability of skills acquired through SBS as well as exploring the impact of SBS on a more diverse sample.

  • Context

    Communication is a cornerstone of nursing practice and fundamental to establishing and maintaining relationships with individuals and their families. Nurses involved in the provision of perinatal palliative care work with women, babies and their families, during pregnancy, delivery and in the neonatal period. Effective therapeutic relationships with women and families empower parents, providing control and validation,1 enabling positive...

    New regimens of benznidazole for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease in adult participants in indeterminate form or with mild cardiac progression (NuestroBen study): protocol for a phase III randomised, multicentre non-inferiority clinical trial

    Por: Marques · T. · Forsyth · C. · Barreira · F. · Lombas · C. · Blum de Oliveira · B. · Laserna · M. · Molina · I. · Bangher · M. d. C. · Javier Fernandez · R. · Lloveras · S. · Fernandez · M. L. · Scapellato · P. · Patterson · P. · Garcia · W. · Ortiz · L. · Schijman · A. · Moreira · O. C.
    Introduction

    Chagas disease (CD) is one of the most neglected diseases in the world. In Latin America, CD is endemic in 21 countries, with an estimated 70 million people at risk of infection. Current treatments are limited to two nitroheterocyclic compounds: nifurtimox and benznidazole (BZN). Each has significant limitations, including long duration and safety concerns. However, data from recently completed studies suggest that reduced-duration regimens may be equally effective while enhancing safety.

    Methods and analysis

    NuestroBen is a phase III, randomised, multicentre clinical trial designed to assess whether shorter (2- and 4-week) regimens of BZN are non-inferior to the standard 8-week treatment. A total of 540 adult participants with no evidence of organ damage (the indeterminate form) or with mild cardiac progression (mild electrocardiographic alterations and without systolic dysfunction or symptoms), all in the chronic phase of CD, will be recruited at six study sites in Argentina and two study sites in Bolivia. Participants will be randomised to receive one of the two shortened regimens of BZN (300 mg per day for 2 or 4 weeks) or standard treatment (300 mg per day for 8 weeks). The primary endpoint is sustained elimination of parasitaemia from the end of treatment through 12 months of follow-up. Secondary endpoints will assess sustained clearance of parasitaemia at 1, 4, 6 and 8 months of follow-up from the end of treatment, drug tolerability and adherence to treatment. NuestroBen will also evaluate whether two shortened regimens of BZN improve drug tolerability and treatment adherence compared with the current standard treatment while maintaining efficacy in participants with the indeterminate form of CD or with mild cardiac involvement.

    Ethics and dissemination

    In Argentina, this study was approved by Fundación de Estudios Farmacológicos y Medicamentos ‘Luis M. Zieher’ for its conduct at the Instituto de Cardiología de Corrientes ‘Juana Francisca Cabral’ (reference: NuestroBen-2020/2021) and the Instituto Nacional de Parasitología ‘Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben’ (reference: NuestroBen-2020/2021) by Comité Institucional de Ética de Investigación en Salud for the Centro de Chagas y Patología Regional de Santiago del Estero (reference: NuestroBen-2020-088/2021), by Comité de Ética en Investigación for the Hospital de Infecciosas F.J. Muñiz (reference: NuestroBen-2020–4037) and the Hospital General de Agudos D.F. Santojanni (reference: NuestroBen-2020–4039) and by Comité de Bioética for the Fundación Huésped (reference: NuestroBen-2020/2021). In Bolivia, it was approved by Comité de Ética en Investigación en Salud from the Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho (reference: NuestroBen-2020/2025). All participants are asked to provide written informed consent to participate. Recruitment processes started in July 2023, and as of 15 June 2025, 140 participants have been recruited. Findings will be shared with Argentinian and Bolivian public health officials and with the Chagas and tropical medicine communities via international conferences. Findings will also be published in medical journals.

    Trial registration number

    NCT04897516.

    Challenges of using and managing medication: a meta-ethnography of the experiences and perceptions of people with intellectual disability and people who support them

    Por: Ghosh · I. · Adams · D. · Auguste · P. · Brown · A. · Chaplin · E. · Flynn · S. · Gauly · J. · Gill · P. · Langdon · P. E. · Mahon · D. · Martin · K. · Patterson · S. · Sutherland · D. · Tromans · S. J. · Chen · Y.-F. · Seers · K. · Supporting Medication use In people with a LEarning d
    Objective

    To explore the challenges experienced by people with intellectual disability, their carers and health and social care professionals when using and managing medication.

    Design

    A synthesis of qualitative research using meta-ethnography.

    Data source

    We searched seven databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Science, Social Science and Conference Proceedings Citation Indices (Web of Science), Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and Proquest Dissertations and Theses from inception to September 2022 (updated in July 2023).

    Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

    We included studies exploring the challenges and perceptions of people with intellectual disability, their carers and health and social care professionals regarding medication management and use.

    Results

    We reviewed 7593 abstracts and 475 full texts, resulting in 45 included papers. Four major themes were identified: (1) Medication-related issues, (2) navigating autonomy and relationships, (3) knowledge and training needs and (4) inequalities in the healthcare system. We formulated a conceptual framework centred around people with intellectual disability and described the interconnectedness between them, their carers and health and social care professionals in the process of managing and using medication. We identified challenges that could be associated with the person, the medication and/or the context, along with a lack of understanding of these challenges and a lack of capability or resources to tackle them. We developed an overarching concept of ‘collective collaboration’ as a potential solution to prevent or mitigate problems related to medication use in people with intellectual disability.

    Conclusions

    The effective management of medication for people with intellectual disability requires a collaborative and holistic approach. By fostering person-centred care and shared decision-making, providing educational and practical support, and nurturing strong relationships between all partners involved to form a collective collaboration surrounding people with intellectual disability, improved medication adherence and optimised therapeutic outcomes can be achieved.

    PROSPERO registration number

    CRD42022362903.

    N-acetyl cysteine for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: study protocol for a multi-site, double-blind randomised controlled trial (NAC-AUD study)

    Por: Morley · K. · Arunogiri · S. · Connor · J. P. · Clark · P. J. · Chatterton · M. L. · Baillie · A. · Slade · T. · Berk · M. · Lubman · D. · Haber · P. S.
    Introduction

    Current treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUD) have limited efficacy. A previous 28-day pilot trial of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) vs placebo found NAC to be feasible and safe, with evidence of improvement on some measures of alcohol consumption. Thus, the primary aim of the NAC-AUD study is to examine the therapeutic and cost-effectiveness of NAC vs placebo in improving treatment outcomes for AUD. We will also examine the (i) effect of NAC vs placebo on mood, markers of liver injury, cognition and hangover symptoms; and (ii) predictors of any response.

    Methods and analysis

    This double-blind trial will randomise participants with AUD to a 12-week regimen of either NAC (2400 mg/day) or placebo. All participants will receive medical management. The primary drinking outcome will be the number of heavy drinking days (HDDs) per week, validated by phosphatidylethanol (PEth). Secondary alcohol-related outcomes will include standard drinks per drinking day (SDDD) per week and absence of any HDDs. Other secondary outcomes will include markers of liver injury, depression, anxiety, craving, hangover symptoms, cognition and blood oxidative stress markers. We will also examine the cost-efficacy of NAC vs placebo.

    Ethics and dissemination

    Ethics approval for the study has been granted by The Sydney Local Health District Ethics Review Committee (X21-0342& HREC2021/ETH11614). There are no restrictions on publication from the sponsor or other parties.

    Trial registration number

    NCT05408247.

    Treating nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder with the {alpha}-adrenergic agents clonidine and doxazosin: protocol for a phase II randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group study (ClonDoTrial)

    Por: Roepke · S. · Schoofs · N. · Priebe · K. · Wuelfing · F. · Roehle · R. · Maslahati · T. · Stieglbauer · K. · Biedermann · S. · Schaefer · I. · Gallinat · J. · Ethofer · T. · Fallgatter · A. J. · Hanewald · B. · Mulert · C. · Schmahl · C. · Otte · C. · Koglin · S.
    Introduction

    Intrusive nightmares are a hallmark symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), contributing significantly to psychiatric comorbidities, impaired physical health and diminished social functioning. Currently, no pharmacological treatments are specifically approved for managing PTSD-related nightmares. However, emerging evidence suggests that adrenoceptor-targeting agents may offer therapeutic potential. Notably, clonidine and doxazosin have demonstrated efficacy in reducing PTSD-associated nightmares, as indicated by findings from open-label studies and small randomised controlled trials.

    Methods and analysis

    This study is a multicentre, double-blind, randomised (1:1:1), placebo-controlled, parallel-group interventional trial. A total of 189 eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive clonidine, doxazosin or placebo, with a once-daily oral dose administered at bedtime for 10 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint is the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale B2 score at week 10, which measures the frequency and intensity of nightmares. Secondary efficacy endpoints include other PTSD-specific symptoms. Additionally, the safety of clonidine and doxazosin will be assessed.

    Ethics and dissemination

    The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the State of Berlin (Ethik-Kommission des Landes Berlin) (Reference: 21-683-Haupt-IV E 13), on 14 March 2022 and by the relevant federal authority, the Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, reference 4044931. The study was conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at both national and international conferences.

    Trial registration number

    NCT05360953, EudraCT 2021-000319-21.

    Conocimiento y práctica de cuidadores de niños sobre suplementación con hierro polimaltosado

    Introducción. La anemia ferropénica infantil es uno de los problemas de salud pública a nivel global, constituyendo prioridad en la atención sanitaria, una de las estrategias recomendadas para enfrentarla, es la suplementación con hierro polimaltosado, demostrando una buena tolerabilidad con bajas incidencias de efectos adversos. Objetivo. Determinar la relación entre el conocimiento y la práctica de cuidadores de niños sobre suplementación con hierro polimaltosado.Metodología. Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo-correlacional y transversal. Participaron 93 cuidadores de niños asistentes a un centro de salud de Lima-Perú y se utilizaron dos instrumentos, un cuestionario y una escala Likert que fueron validados mediante juicio de expertos y una prueba piloto, obteniendo un alfa Cronbach de 0,808 y Kuder Richardson 0,775. Resultados. El nivel de conocimiento sobre suplementación con hierro polimaltosado fue regular (82,7%), seguido por bueno (9,7%), y deficiente (7,5%). En relación a la práctica de los cuidadores, el 90,3% fueron adecuadas mientras que 9,7% fueron inadecuadas. Se encontró una relación directamente proporcional entre el conocimiento y la práctica (Rho=0,481). Discusión. La mayoría de los cuidadores presentó un nivel regular de conocimientos sobre el uso del suplemento, también se mostraron falencias con respecto a las medidas de higiene, la forma de almacenamiento y conservación del suplemento

    ABSTRACT

    Introduction. Childhood iron deficiency anemia is one of the global public health problems, constituting a priority in health care, one of the recommended strategies to deal with it is polymaltose iron supplementation, demonstrating good tolerability with low incidences of adverse effects. Objective: To determine the relationship between the knowledge and practice of child caregivers on polymaltose iron supplementation. Methodology. Quantitative, descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study. 93 caregivers of children attending a health center in Lima-Peru participated and two instruments were used, a questionnaire and a Likert scale that were validated by expert judgment and a pilot test, obtaining a Cronbach's alpha of 0.808 and Kuder Richardson 0.775. Results. El nivel de conocimiento sobre suplementación con hierro polimaltosado fue regular (82,7%), seguido por bueno (9,7%), y deficiente (7,5%). A directly proportional relationship was found between knowledge and practice (Rho=0.481). Discussion. Most caregivers presented a regular level of knowledge on the use of the supplement; shortcomings were also shown with regard to hygiene measures, the way of storage, and the conservation of the supplement.

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