by Jesús del Moral Preciado, David Gurpegui, Montserrat Royo, Bernardo Hontanilla
IntroductionRegenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (RPNI) and Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) have demonstrated superior outcomes compared to classical amputation in prophylactic prevention of pain, primarily by reducing the incidence of symptomatic neuromas, residual limb pain, and phantom limb pain. However, direct comparisons between these two techniques remain limited. Furthermore, their comparative effectiveness across diverse patient demographics (including age, sex, and comorbidities) and surgical variables (amputation level, etiology, and nerve handling) has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to synthesize the available evidence to determine the comparative safety and efficacy of primary TMR or RPNI.
Methods and designThis review will be conducted following the methodological guidance of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. A comprehensive electronic search will be performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and MedRxiv, without language restrictions. We will include randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials, and observational studies. Study selection and data extraction will be managed using Covidence. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, assess full-text eligibility, evaluate risk of bias, and extract data.
Ethics and disseminationAs this systematic review relies on the analysis of secondary data from published studies, ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.
PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024617299
To assess perceived patient safety competencies among nursing students and to examine their associations with their perceptions regarding clinical learning environment and unfinished nursing care.
An international comparative cross-sectional study.
A total of 1442 nursing students from the Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia, and Türkiye participated between February and December 2025. Data were collected using the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey, the Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher scale, and the Unfinished Nursing Care Survey for Students. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, Spearman correlations, and multivariate general linear modelling were applied.
Students reported significantly higher patient safety competencies in clinical compared with academic settings (p ≤ 0.001). Significant cross-country differences were observed across all competency domains (p ≤ 0.001). Perceived patient safety competencies were positively correlated with the overall quality of the clinical learning environment (r = 0.356–0.420; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with unfinished nursing care (r = −0.107 to −0.171; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pedagogical atmosphere, premises of nursing care, supervisory relationship, and particularly the role of the nurse teacher were significant predictors of patient safety competencies.
The development of nursing students' patient safety competencies is closely linked to the quality of clinical learning environments. Strengthening educational and organisational conditions within clinical placements may play an important role in preparing future nurses for safe clinical practice.
Improving the quality of clinical learning environments, strengthening supervision, and addressing unfinished nursing care may support the development of nursing students' patient safety competencies and contribute to safer patient care.
The study was carried out according to the STROBE checklist.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Weight stigma and internalised weight bias are associated with poor mental, social and physical health. Weight-neutral approaches prioritise well-being and sustainable health behaviours. However, the feasibility and acceptability of weight-neutral interventions remain uncertain.
Weight-Neutral Health Intervention (WIN) is an investigator-initiated single-arm feasibility study enrolling 56 adults with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 in the Capital Region of Denmark. The study investigates a codesigned weight-neutral health intervention. The 6-month intervention comprises 1 preparatory session and 11 group sessions led by trained practitioners, focusing on intuitive eating, body acceptance and self-compassion; optional components include support-network events, up to three individual online sessions and access to ‘size-inclusive yoga’ and ‘body competence’ courses. The primary feasibility outcome is follow-up completion. Recruitment proportion and adherence are secondary feasibility outcomes. These will be assessed using a set of predefined ‘traffic-light’ stop/go progression criteria. Exploratory feasibility outcomes include data completeness for other outcomes and participant engagement with the intervention. Exploratory clinical outcomes include questionnaire data (quality of life, depression, weight bias internalisation, eating behaviours, self-esteem, body image, stress and life satisfaction), clinical measures (weight, heart rate and blood pressure), biomarkers (blood samples and hair cortisol), 7-day actigraphy (physical activity and sleep) and serious adverse events. Qualitative interviews, focus groups and fieldnotes will be used to explore acceptability and contextual factors. If progression criteria are met, the study will inform the design of a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised trial. The exploratory outcomes will inform outcome selection, setting, sample size and procedures.
Approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of the Capital Region of Denmark (H-25013213). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and public platforms.
This study aimed to identify potential significant statistical associations between the development of delirium, medication and several other patient-specific factors across a 10-year retrospective longitudinal real-world dataset.
A retrospective, population-based cohort study.
The National University Hospital of Iceland.
All patients≥18 years hospitalised between 2010 and 2020.
The primary outcome was a diagnosis of delirium within 2 years of a patient filling a prescription for a specific medication. The exposure was pre-admission medication use or a pre-existing condition. Secondary outcomes included mortality, length of hospital stay, readmission rate and frequency of additional delirium diagnosis.
A total of 85 942 admissions and readmissions were included in the dataset, which comprised 1066 variables. The cohort comprised 55 495 patients (51.5% male) with a median [IQR] age of 71 years [58, 82]. Throughout the study, 3533 patients were diagnosed with delirium at least once over the 10-year study period. A statistically significant association (2 test, p
Numerous medications and other patient-specific risk factors have been identified, which underlines the complexity of delirium development. To strengthen patient safety and hinder the development of delirium, an increased emphasis is needed to review medication use and improve our understanding of medication risk associated with delirium cause, treatment and prevention. Specific prescribing/deprescribing advice should be developed to inform prescribing practice and patient safety.
Frostbite is a common reason for emergency department (ED) presentations in Canada. Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue, has been investigated to reduce the risk of amputation with its use expanding. Two Canadian cities implemented iloprost over different times leading to a practice variation that allowed for treatment comparison. Our objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of iloprost compared with non-iloprost treatment. Secondary objectives include assessing the impact of iloprost dosage and homelessness.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult severe frostbite cases presenting to EDs in Calgary and Edmonton between November 2021 and April 2024. Data were abstracted from clinical databases and analysed for demographic and injury characteristics, treatment and amputation outcomes.
Of 1812 total ED encounters for frostbite, 257 patients with grades 2–4 extremity frostbite were included for analysis. Logistic regression found that overall patients receiving iloprost were associated with reduced likelihood of any amputation (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.96) and fewer digit amputations (p
Iloprost infusion was associated with a reduction in amputation rates in grade 3 and 4 frostbite with the greatest association seen in grade 3 cases. Greater iloprost dosage was associated with improved digit salvage. Homelessness was associated with delayed ED presentation.
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.
Addition of bevacizumab and paclitaxel as induction therapy prior to standard atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) may help to overcome vascular endothelial growth factor-associated resistance mechanisms that limit the immune-mediated antitumour efficacy of atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel.
The Induction Therapy of PTX+BV Followed by Atezolizumab+Nab-PTX for PD-L1+TNBC (INDUCE) study is a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase II trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two cycles of induction therapy with bevacizumab and paclitaxel followed by atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel compared with standard atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with PD-L1-positive mTNBC. The primary outcome of the study is progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours, V.1.1. We have estimated that 89 PFS events are needed to allow a power of 80% to detect a difference between treatment groups at a one-sided significance level of 10% in this study. The target sample size is set to 106 patients to account for dropouts.
The study protocol and informed consent form have been approved by the Certified Research Review Board at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. Study results will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
jRCTs041240039 NCT06793553.
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae and remains a public health concern in endemic countries. Early diagnosis is fundamental to prevent transmission and irreversible disabilities. Histopathological identification of acid-fast bacilli in tissue specimens is traditionally considered the laboratory reference standard; however, its sensitivity is limited, particularly in paucibacillary forms. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been proposed as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for detecting M. leprae antigens in tissue samples, but its diagnostic accuracy has not been systematically synthesised. This protocol outlines a systematic review aimed at evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of IHC in the laboratory diagnosis of leprosy.
This systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies will include analytical observational studies and clinical trials evaluating IHC in human subjects with suspected leprosy. The reference standard will be defined as the identification of acid-fast bacilli in skin biopsy specimens from patients with compatible clinical presentation using conventional staining methods (eg, Fite-Faraco), with the exclusion of alternative mycobacterial infections when applicable. Searches will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and BVS/LILACS (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde/Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), as well as grey literature sources, at 31 May 2026. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection, data extraction using a standardised Microsoft Excel form and risk of bias assessment using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Sensitivity and specificity estimates will be calculated. If appropriate, a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted using RevMan (Review Manager) and Stata.
Ethical approval is not required because this study will use publicly available data. The results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific conferences.
by Jabir Aman, Bikila Balis, Naol Oda, Dawit Tamiru, Tadesse Gure Eticha, Dawit Firdisa, Aboma Motuma
BackgroundMeconium aspiration syndrome is a life-threatening respiratory disease affecting around 5% of neonates worldwide. Although several studies have been conducted in developed countries, data on meconium aspiration syndrome and its associated factors remain limited in low-resource settings, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the meconium aspiration syndrome and associated factors among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at public hospitals in Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia.
MethodA retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among all neonates admitted from January 1 to December 30, 2023 and data were extracted from patient charts during April 1–30, 2025. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select 417 charts of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The data were collected by a data extraction checklist via Kobo Toolbox. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used in SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) for the analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to declare statistical significance at a p-value ≤ 0.05.
ResultsThe prevalence of meconium aspiration syndrome among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit was 24.2% [95% CI, 20.2–28.6]. Factors significantly associated with meconium aspiration syndrome were post-term gestation [AOR = 9.05, 95% CI 2.38–34.41], antepartum hemorrhage [AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.31–8.60], prolonged labor [AOR = 3.06, 95% CI 1.27–7.36], premature rupture of membranes [AOR = 3.65, 95% CI 1.28–10.45], low Apgar scores at 5th minute [AOR = 11.27, 95% CI 3.44–36.92] and intrapartum thick meconium passage [AOR = 5.98, 95% CI 2.6–13.6].
Conclusions and recommendationsThese findings indicate a high prevalence of meconium aspiration syndrome, and to reduce its impact, targeted clinical interventions should be implemented. Pregnancies reaching 42 weeks of gestation, prolonged labor, and high-risk conditions such as antepartum hemorrhage, premature rupture of membranes, or the presence of thick meconium are important factors to consider. Careful monitoring and appropriate management may be warranted in these cases.
by Uğur Dursun, Mevlüt Sinan Ocak
Reciprocating nickel–titanium instruments generate mechanical stress during root canal preparation, which may affect instrument safety. Although instrument design is known to influence torque generation, the effect of different irrigating solutions on the real-time operative torque remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various irrigating solutions on torque generated during root canal shaping using reciprocating single-file systems. Extracted human mandibular premolars with oval canals were assigned to groups prepared using sodium hypochlorite, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or saline in combination with three reciprocating file systems. All canals were instrumented with a torque-controlled motor, and the real-time operative torque and preparation time were digitally recorded. The mean torque, maximum torque, and shaping duration were statistically compared between the irrigant and instrument groups. The irrigation solution alone did not show a significant main effect on torque values or preparation time. However, a significant interaction between the file system and irrigant type was detected, indicating that the torque response depended on the specific file–irrigant combination. In contrast, the file system type significantly influenced torque behavior, with the T-Endo MUST system producing higher mean and peak torque than the other instruments. These findings suggest that instrument design characteristics may have a greater impact on the development of mechanical stress during root canal preparation than the irrigation solution used.To evaluate the feasibility and relevance of the LIFE-UP Day audit, a simple, 1-day benchmarking tool based on the multidisciplinary LIFE-UP bundle (Limit sedation, optimise nutritional Intakes, engage Families, promote Exercise and follow-UP the patients after discharge) and assessing the implementation of postintensive care syndrome (PICS) prevention strategies in daily practice.
Exploratory multicentre cross-sectional audit study.
Eight Belgian adult intensive care units (ICUs), between April and July 2024.
All patients present at 08:00 on the audit day and hospitalised for ≥24 hours.
An independent nurse collected data on sedation, analgesia, nutrition, family empowerment, physical exercise and post-ICU follow-up. A multidimensional LIFE-UP composite score (raw 0–10 points), normalised to a 5-point scale, was created to quantify adherence to PICS prevention practices based on current recommendations. Feasibility was evaluated through data accessibility, resource needs, cooperation of ICU teams and the ability to complete the audit within 1 day. Relevance was evaluated through adherence to the bundle, assessed by comparing LIFE-UP scores between ICUs. Quantitative results were expressed as median and IQR.
The audit was tested in 87 patients aged 68 (59–74) years, 9 (5–15.5) days after their admission. The audit was feasible across all ICUs: necessary data were available, resources required were minimal and cooperation was excellent. The LIFE-UP score highlighted significant variability between ICUs (2.5 (1.75–2.75), p
The LIFE-UP Day audit proved feasible and provides a first structured framework for benchmarking. Broader implementation will be essential to validate the LIFE-UP score, refine the model and ultimately determine whether it can translate into improved patient and family outcomes.
Induction of labour (IOL) is a commonly performed obstetric intervention, particularly when delivery is deemed more beneficial than continuing the pregnancy due to maternal or fetal indications. When the cervix is unfavourable for delivery, cervical ripening is performed prior to IOL. A wide variety of mechanical, pharmacological and combination methods are used, but the optimal approach balancing efficacy, safety and patient experience remains uncertain. Conventional aggregate data (AD) meta-analyses lack individual-level data, limiting exploration of patient-level factors for personalised medicine and do not address concerns about the trustworthiness of data presented in peer-reviewed randomised controlled trials (RCTs). This protocol describes an individual participant data (IPD) network meta-analysis (NMA) designed to evaluate and rank cervical ripening methods for IOL using only high quality, trustworthy data.
We will identify eligible parallel-group RCTs enrolling pregnant women with a singleton, cephalic fetus at ≥34 weeks’ gestation requiring cervical ripening, through comprehensive searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, Scopus, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Register, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov and reference lists of prior reviews. The interventions we consider will be selected via Delphi consensus with international clinical experts. Eligible trial investigators will be invited to contribute de-identified IPD; AD will be used if IPD is unavailable. Trials will be assessed for trustworthiness using the Trustworthiness in RAndomised Clinical Trials checklist and the IPD Integrity Tool, with only eligible studies included in the primary analysis. All statistical analyses will follow a pre-specified statistical analysis plan (SAP) finalised before any analyses are conducted. A two-stage, contrast-based, frequentist IPD-NMA will compare cervical ripening methods for three co-primary outcomes: vaginal birth, composite adverse perinatal outcomes and composite adverse maternal outcomes. Subgroup analyses will assess effect modifiers (eg, parity, age and previous caesarean), with treatment rankings presented using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve and rank-heat plots. Sensitivity analyses will examine the impact of bias, missing data and population criteria.
This study has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (No. 48189). IPD will be de-identified and securely transferred for storage on a Monash University-hosted shared network drive. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference abstracts and the Cervical Ripening for Induction of Labour Collaborative Evidence Network Meta-Analysis (CIRCLE-NMA) website (https://circlenma.com). Patient and public involvement will guide the communication and interpretation of results.
CRD420251077464.
Pressure injury represents a significant but preventable health problem, especially in clinical settings characterised by a high degree of risk. Despite the critical role played by nurses in pressure injury prevention, evidence suggests that inconsistencies remain concerning their knowledge and skill levels. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge amongst nurses regarding pressure injury prevention and the factors associated with this level. The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 346 nurses reached through convenience sampling. The research data were collected online using the nurse descriptive form and the Pieper–Zulkowski Pressure Injury Knowledge Test, accessed through a Google Forms link shared on various social media platforms between December 2023 and February 2025. Most of the 346 nurses who participated in the study were female (89.0%), and the mean age was 36.19 years (±8.52 years). Most participants had a bachelor's degree (76.8%), and 35.6% had more than 20 years of professional experience. The pressure injury knowledge test score of the nurses was 43.00 (10.50). There was a significant difference in knowledge scores between clinical units (p = 0.009); the highest scores were found in nurses working in high-risk units (e.g., operating theatre) (p = 0.029). The study demonstrated that the implementation of unit-specific, practise-based training programmes is imperative to enhance nurses' knowledge. It is suggested that future studies utilise a combination of methods in order to address the individual, environmental and organisational factors that have a bearing on knowledge levels.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Stage II/III patients undergo curative-intent surgery yet still face the recurrence risk. Detecting recurrences early provides the best opportunity for optimal treatment. We aimed to develop a microsimulation model to evaluate CRC management-associated outcomes based on current guidelines, including the performance of guideline-recommended surveillance in detecting recurrences.
Two separate individual-level state transition (microsimulation) models for colon and rectal cancer were built with a lifetime horizon using monthly cycles. The models integrated treatment and surveillance strategies per current guidelines.
The currently recommended surveillance modalities by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for surveilling patients with CRC after curative-intent surgery.
65-year-old patients with stage II and stage III CRC who underwent curative-intent surgery in the USA.
Cumulative recurrences, detected recurrences, detection rate, overall survival and recurrence-free survival in a 5-year horizon, as well as average life expectancy, were the outcome measures used.
Over 5 years, disease recurrence was observed in 9.5% of patients with stage II–III colon cancer and in 38.0% of patients with stage II–III rectal cancer. Of these, 82.5% and 85.5% were detected via surveillance, respectively, within 5 years. The predicted 5-year overall survival was 86.0% for colon cancer and 69.3% for rectal cancer, with corresponding recurrence-free survival rates of 78.9% and 53.8%. Based on current guidelines-recommended surveillance, detecting one colon cancer recurrence requires 148 carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests, 37 CT scans and 21 colonoscopies. In contrast, detecting one rectal cancer recurrence requires 31 CEA tests, 8 CT scans and 4 colonoscopies.
Our validated model suggests that relative to an optimal benchmark in which all recurrences are detected, recurrence detection under current guidelines may be suboptimal, indicating room for improvement. As new tests emerge, this model could be a valuable tool for evaluating existing clinical practices and the potential of new tests to enhance patient outcomes.
Young people face challenges in accessing information on HIV and sexual and reproductive health services, with corresponding suboptimal uptake. Decision aids can provide information and decisional support to improve young people’s engagement with health interventions. However, they have not been widely implemented among young people. The availability of different choices for HIV and pregnancy prevention means that it is important to implement interventions that facilitate informed choices for these methods. We describe a protocol for a scoping review that aims to explore the availability, acceptability and use of decision aids for HIV prevention and contraception for young people.
We will identify relevant studies from the following electronic databases from inception to current date: PubMed, Scopus and Global Health; and grey literature databases, namely medRxiv and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. Eligible studies will report on HIV prevention and/or contraception decision aids and be written in English. Data extraction will be done by two reviewers independently using templates, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Analysis will be done narratively, and separate for HIV prevention and contraception decision aids. Analysis will also include determination of the suitability of each decision aid for use by young people aged 15–24 years. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews will be employed to present results.
This review does not require ethics approval. The findings from this work will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at local and international conferences.
This scoping review protocol is registered in Open Science Framework with Project DOI: 10.17605/OSF/IO/46YWG (accessible via: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/46YWG).
Alcohol is causally related to more than 200 diseases and injuries. Alcohol health warning labels are a promising intervention to address alcohol-related harm with multiple possible roles, but research on its real-world impacts is lacking. This study aims to experimentally evaluate the impact of exposure to two types of content (responsibility and cancer message) and positioning of the message (front or back) on knowledge of alcohol causing cancer as the primary outcome and alcohol consumption behaviour, intentions, risk perception, emotional response, product appeal and policy support as secondary outcomes. The study also aims to assess the potential testing effect of pre-measurement on the primary outcome.
Participants (of the legal drinking age in Spain (18 years or older), purchased at least one alcoholic beverage (with alcohol by volume (ABV) ≥ 1.2% for their own consumption and speaking Catalan or Spanish) will be recruited outside of supermarkets in Barcelona after purchasing alcohol, randomly assigned into one of the eight experimental groups, complete a baseline questionnaire (with half of the sample answering baseline questions measuring knowledge) and receive label stickers displaying either responsibility or cancer message, and applied to either front or back of every alcohol container they have purchased. They will complete follow-up surveys measuring the primary and secondary outcomes 1 week and 1 month after the intervention, either online or via telephone. The key hypotheses are that the label containing a cancer message will have a greater impact on the primary and secondary outcomes compared with the responsibility label. To evaluate the impact of health warning labels on knowledge of alcohol causing cancer, logistic regression will be employed to model the probability of a correct response as a function of the key independent variables, with results reported as ORs. Secondary outcomes will be modelled through linear regressions for continuous variables, and through logistic regressions for dichotomic variables or categorical variables that will be dichotomised a priori. The target sample size is 1300 participants.
The study has been approved by the Ethical Committee for Research with Medicines (CEIm) IDIAP Jordi Gol (24/228-P) and the Ethical Research Committee of the WHO (ERC.0004213). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, on social media and policy fora in national, European and global context, and will inform WHO and European Union-level policy recommendations.
European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, SANTE/2022/SI2.883729.
by Aniket Pramanick, Yufang Hou, Saif M. Mohammad, Iryna Gurevych
Large Language Models (LLMs) have ushered in a transformative era in Natural Language Processing (NLP), reshaping research and extending NLP’s influence to other fields of study. However, there is little to no work examining the degree to which LLMs influence other research fields. This work empirically and systematically examines the influence and use of LLMs in fields beyond NLP. We curate 106 LLMs and analyze ∼148k papers citing LLMs to quantify their influence and reveal trends in their usage patterns. Our analysis reveals not only the increasing prevalence of LLMs in non-CS fields but also the disparities in their usage, with some fields utilizing them more frequently than others since 2018, notably Linguistics and Engineering together accounting for ∼45% of LLM citations. Our findings further indicate that most of these fields predominantly employ task-agnostic LLMs, proficient in zero or few-shot learning without requiring further fine-tuning, to address their domain-specific problems. This study sheds light on the cross-disciplinary impact of NLP through LLMs, providing a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges.