This study aimed to validate the mediating role of nurses' AI trust in the relationship between AI uncertainties and AI competence.
A cross-sectional study.
A purposive sample of 550 registered nurses with at least 1 year of clinical experience from three tertiary and two secondary hospitals in Jinan and Hangzhou, China, was used. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing AI uncertainty, trust and competence. Demographic data included gender, age, education level, years of clinical experience, professional title and hospital level. Mediation analysis.
Most nurses were from tertiary hospitals (88.9%), held a bachelor's degree (87.6%), and had over 6 years of experience. The mediating role of AI trust between AI uncertainties and AI competence is validated. AI uncertainties affected AI trust (B = 0.39, p < 0.0001), explaining 10% of the variance. AI uncertainties and AI trust affected AI competence (B = 0.25 and 0.67, p < 0.0001), explaining 63% of the variation. AI trust's total effect was 0.51, comprising direct and indirect effects of 0.25 and 0.26, respectively.
Hospitals can reduce uncertainty through an AI-transparent decision-making process, providing clinical examples of AI and training nurses to use AI, thereby increasing trust. Second, AI systems should be designed to consider nurses' psychological safety needs. Hospital administrators utilise optimised AI technology training and promotional techniques to mitigate nurses' resistance to AI and enhance their positive perceptions of AI competence through trust-building mechanisms.
Impact: Enhancing nurses' AI trust can reduce uncertainty and improve their competence in clinical use. Strategies such as transparency, explainability and training programmes are crucial for improving AI implementation in healthcare.
This study focused solely on clinical nurses and did not include patients or the public.
The study adhered to STROBE guidelines.
The optimal method for conducting spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) remains a subject of ongoing debate. High-flow oxygen via endotracheal tube (HFOT) has emerged as a novel alternative for SBTs. However, studies investigating the associated physiological changes are lacking. Compared to high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), HFOT has demonstrated diminished physiological effects, likely due to the bypassing of the upper airway, which may limit its widespread adoption as an SBT strategy. Two HFOT interfaces with different expiratory port diameters will be evaluated. It is hypothesised that the narrower interface would generate higher airway pressure and mitigate weakening physiological effects compared to the HFNC. This study aims to compare the physiological effects of two HFOTs compared to T-piece during SBTs.
This is a single-centre, prospective, physiological randomised crossover study in adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours who are deemed ready for SBT. After enrolment, each patient will be disconnected from the ventilator and undergo five SBT phases in random order: T-piece at 6 L/min, HFOT via interface with an expiratory port diameter of 9.8 mm at 40 L/min and 60 L/min and HFOT via interface with an expiratory port diameter of 6.9 mm at 40 L/min and 60 L/min. To reduce carryover effects, each phase will be separated by a 10-min washout period during which baseline mechanical ventilation is resumed. Key physiological parameters will be assessed in each study phase, including airway pressure, changes in end-expiratory lung volume, vital signs, oxygenation levels and inspiratory effort. Postextubation inspiratory effort will also be measured. Finally, 20 patients with the complete five SBT phases and postextubation datasets will be analysed
The study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee and Review Board of Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University (IIT2024-157-002). The data generated in the present study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The results of the trial will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals.
by Miao Yu, Li Ma, Qingbian Ma
IntroductionTriage is an essential strategy to mitigate crowding and guarantee patients’ safety in emergency departments. To improve the quality of triage in emergency departments, Nurses should be equipped with the necessary competencies. Therefore, this review aims to synthesize available evidence on the competency elements required for triage nurses in emergency departments and to identify factors that influence their competency development.
Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be implemented following the five steps outlined by Arksey and O’Malley. We will use the PCC (population, concept, context) frameworks-Triage nurse (Population), Nursing competency (Concept), and EDs (Context)- to determine the research questions, and formulate the search terms. We will search six electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wangfang Data). Internet resources including WorldCat, and Google Books will be also searched to ensure comprehensive coverage. Studies will be selected by two independent authors based on defined eligibly criteria, and completed in August 2025. This will be followed by data extraction, and summarizing in October 2025. Then, evidence will be synthesized using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Five-domain Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research will be used to guide our thematic analysis of barriers and facilitators to development of competency. The results will be presented in December 2025. Findings from this scoping review will be beneficial to develop the training programs to facilitate the successful transition of nurses into effective triage nurse roles in the future.
RegistrationThe scoping review was registered in Open Science (https://osf.io/6fcr4).
The optimal blood pressure (BP) target for patients with heart failure (HF) remains a topic of debate. The relationship between out-of-office BP measurements and the prognosis of HF patients is still unclear. However, there is a lack of large-scale studies investigating out-of-office BP levels in Chinese populations with HF. This study aims to outline the rationale and design of the Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Measurements in Patients with Heart Failure registry (OOBPM-HF) study in China.
The OOBPM-HF study is a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study involving participants recruited from 26 hospitals in China. Patents with relatively stable HF symptoms will undergo a screening process to determine their eligibility for study participation. Data from baseline clinical, laboratory and imaging examinations will be collected. BP parameters, including office BP, ambulatory BP and home BP, will be measured and documented. The primary endpoint of the study is the composite endpoint of death from cardiovascular causes and HF hospitalisation. Participants will be followed up for a duration of 18 months.
The study will establish a comprehensive understanding of the associations between out-of-office BP measurements and HF prognosis within the Chinese population. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the optimal BP range for patients with HF and will contribute to the management of BP in this patient group.
ChiCTR2400090786; Result.
Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) induced by mechanical ventilation in general anaesthesia are related to poor clinical outcomes. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a key component of the lung protective ventilation strategy. Individualised PEEP guided by end-expiratory oesophageal pressure (Pes) to maintain a positive end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure can avoid alveolar collapse and improve the respiratory mechanics. However, there is no research studying the relationship between the Pes-guided PEEP titration and PPCs. The aim of our study is to investigate the potential role of Pes-guided PEEP titration on the incidence of PPCs and respiratory mechanics.
A total of 232 elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia will be recruited in four tertiary teaching hospitals in China. Patients will be randomly allocated to the control group (PEEP set at 3 cm H2O) without lung recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) or Pes-guided PEEP group with RMs in a 1:1 ratio. Preoperative preparation, anaesthesia management and postoperative care will be performed similarly in both groups. The primary outcome will be the development of PPCs within 7 days after surgery. The intraoperative respiratory parameters, the oxygenation index, vital signs and non-respiratory complications within 7 days after surgery, the 15-item Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire, unplanned reintubation and unplanned transfer to the intensive care unit, hospital stay, perioperative plasma levels of lung injury biomarkers, complications within 30 days after surgery and 90-day mortality after surgery will be recorded and evaluated as the secondary outcomes.
The study has received ethics approval from the ethics committee of the Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (China) with the approval number B2023-334R. The results of the study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Version 1, on 9 October 2023.
To examine hospital discharge practices, including clinical and laboratory assessments, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) following their first hospitalisation for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and to explore the association of these practices with adverse events, defined as hospital readmission, emergency department visits and mortality.
Retrospective cohort study.
Follow-up for 100 days after a newly diagnosed CVD among patients with T2DM in Region Halland, Sweden.
A total of 1482 patients with T2DM and a new diagnosis of CVD during hospitalisation were included. Patients were followed from hospital discharge for up to 100 days. Inclusion criteria were a hospital discharge diagnosis of CVD and a prior diagnosis of T2DM. Patients with incomplete discharge data or without follow-up records were excluded.
The primary outcome was the overall risk of serious adverse events after hospital discharge, including mortality, hospital readmission and ED encounters, within 100 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included primary care visits and pharmacotherapy adjustments for CVD and T2DM during the same period.
The readmission rate within the study period was 27%, while 86% of patients visited primary care within 100 days after discharge. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy increased, with beta-blocker usage rising to 73% and statin use reaching 82%. A significant, though modest, increase in pharmacotherapy for T2DM was observed, with metformin use increasing from 53% to 57% (p
Despite moderate improvements in postdischarge pharmacotherapy, limited changes in diabetes management suggest room for optimisation. The findings emphasise the need for improved discharge planning and continuity of care. Future research should investigate the effects of standardised discharge protocols on treatment outcomes and readmission rates for this patient group.
by Xi Cao, Bi-ting Zhu, Cai-peng Xie, Jing-yue Cai, Ding-guo Dong, Miao-ting Chen, Cheng-zhao Huang, Yong-chun Lin
To explore the risk factors influencing vancomycin trough concentration (Cvg−min) overexposure in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation and rank the factors, the medical records of 194 mechanically ventilated critically ill patients hospitalized from 12/10/2021–06/10/2024 were analyzed. Among 194 critically ill patients, 77.83% were male and 22.17% were female. Univariate analysis showed that oxygenation index (OI), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), urea nitrogen (UN), septic shock, heart disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), moderate/severe chronic kidney disease (CKD), etc. were statistically different (P P P CI) and consistency ratio (CR) of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was 0.0796 and 0.0885, respectively, which meets the consistency test standard. The contributions of APTT, OI, CHF and moderate to severe CKD to the overexposure of Cvg−min were 0.0584, 0.1899, 0.1614 and 0.5902, respectively. The overexposure rates of Cvg−min in patients with moderate/severe CKD and CHF were 95.12% and 95.23%, respectively. With regard to OI, when the cutoff value of OI was less than 245, the Cvg−min overexposure rate was 83%, otherwise, the overexposure rate was 60.97%. The risk factors for excessive exposure of Cvg−min in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation were ranked as follows: moderate/severe CKD > OI > CHF > APTT.The primary aim of this study is to investigate the factors contributing to the development of kinesiophobia in patients following coronary artery stent implantation, integrating perspectives from both patients and healthcare professionals. The main hypothesis is that understanding and methods for effectively overcoming the fear of exercise and improving the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation require further exploration from both patient and professional viewpoints.
This qualitative study used a semi-structured interview approach to gather data from participants.
The study was conducted at a hospital in Gansu province, China, focusing on the level of care provided to cardiac rehabilitation patients.
A total of 11 cardiac rehabilitation patients identified as having kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for kinesiophobia Heart, TSK-SV Heart >37) through screening and nine healthcare professionals participated in the study. The selection criteria included patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation and professionals involved in their care.
The study identified a core theme, ‘Navigating Fear and Uncertainty’, encompassing five themes that elucidate how various factors contribute to the prevalent phenomenon of kinesiophobia among patients. These were further delineated into 11 subthemes: (1) physiological factors (fatigue, negative illness experiences), (2) psychological factors (hypervigilance, psychogenic anxiety and depression), (3) capacity factors (reduced physical abilities, lack of rehabilitation knowledge and skills), (4) motivational factors (low exercise self-efficacy, rehabilitation cognitive errors) and (5) support systems (primary caregivers, healthcare professionals and medical support). The results provide a qualitative understanding rather than quantitative measures, hence no CIs or statistical significance levels are provided.
The kinesiophobia observed in patients following coronary artery stent implantation stems from the combined influence of multiple factors, warranting early assessment and intervention by healthcare professionals. The study suggests that healthcare institutions should address the practical concerns faced by cardiac rehabilitation patients and enhance familial, medical and societal support systems to increase patient engagement and compliance with exercise rehabilitation. Further research is needed to develop and validate interventions based on these findings.
This study explored the factors associated with oncology nurses' behaviour and intention to provide cancer care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Taiwan.
A qualitative descriptive study.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 oncology nurses between August and October 2023. The interview data were analysed using the framework method (the socio-ecological model) and constant comparative techniques.
Factors associated with oncology nurses' behaviour and intentions to provide cancer care for LGBT individuals were categorised and presented by the levels of the social-ecological model: (1) intrapersonal level: oncology nurses' attitudes toward LGBT populations and their experiences, confidence, and beliefs in providing cancer care for LGBT individuals; (2) interpersonal level: concerns or interactions with oncology nurses' colleagues, other heterosexual cancer patients, and managers; (3) community and organisation levels: organisational climate and related training courses; and (4) societal and policy level: policy regarding sexual orientation, gender identity collection, and social atmosphere.
Multilevel barriers associated with oncology nurses' behaviours and intentions to provide cancer care to LGBT individuals were identified. The study findings emphasised the importance of related training courses offered by organisations to reduce cancer care disparities among LGBT individuals. These courses also aim to enhance oncology nurses' confidence and comfort in delivering holistic and patient-centred cancer care for this population.
The study findings can be employed to assist in developing related training courses and understand the challenges oncology nurses face when providing cancer care to LGBT individuals.
No patient or public contributions.
To explore the association between body image, fear of childbirth and maternal-fetal attachment and the mediating effects of fear of childbirth among different body image profiles.
A cross-sectional study.
Pregnant women were recruited from obstetric outpatient clinics between February 2022 and October 2023. Face-to-face data were collected using validated questionnaires. First, the mediating role of fear of birth was examined between body image and maternal-fetal attachment by calculating the total scores. Then, latent analysis was performed to identify body image profiles, and the relative mediation effects were examined for fear of childbirth in the association between body image profiles and maternal-fetal attachment.
This study included 676 pregnant women, most of whom were in their third trimester. Using the total score, fear of childbirth was found to partially mediate the relationship between body image and maternal-fetal attachment. Latent profile analysis revealed three body image profiles in pregnant women: positive, moderate and negative. Using positive body image as the reference, pregnant women with moderate body image experienced a higher fear of childbirth, resulting in lower maternal-fetal attachment. Notably, the relative mediating effect of fear of childbirth was more pronounced in women with more negative body image profiles.
Body image affected maternal-fetal attachment directly and indirectly through fear of childbirth, with stronger mediating effects among women with more negative body image profiles.
The findings provide evidence on the underlying pathways between body image and maternal-fetal attachment and suggest body image and fear of childbirth as potential intervention targets to improve maternal-fetal attachment. Pregnant women with more negative body image may benefit more from such interventions.
Little is known about the pathway between body image and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women. Body image affects maternal-fetal attachment directly and indirectly through fear of childbirth. The mediating effects of fear of childbirth were more pronounced among women with more negative body image profiles. These findings highlight fear of childbirth in the association between body image and maternal-fetal attachment and identify women with a more negative body image as high-risk populations, which provides insights for developing personalised interventions to improve perinatal psychological health.
The study has followed the STROBE checklist for reporting method.
No patient or public contribution.
by Miaomiao Ma, Deliang Lv, Xiaobing Wu, Yuqing Chen, Shimiao Dai, Yutian Luo, Hui Yang, Wei Xie, Fengzhu Xie, Qinggang Shang, Ziyang Zhang, Zhiguang Zhao, Ji-Chang Zhou
BackgroundThe increased risks for cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in populations with normal weight obesity (NWO) have not been well-identified. We aimed to study their associations in an adult population in South China.
MethodsBased on the CVD prevalence of 4% in Shenzhen and a calculated sample size of 6,000, a cross-sectional study with a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was conducted in Shenzhen City. The cardiovascular comorbidities being studied were abdominal obesity (AO), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease, while the CVD events were occurrences of myocardial infarction and strokes. Questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were performed. NWO was defined as a condition with the highest tertile of body fat percentage (BF%) among the normal body mass index (BMI) range (18.5–23.9 kg/m2). Continuous data were reported as mean [standard deviation (SD)] and categorical data as percentages (%). CVD comorbidities and CVD events and their detection rates in different groups were compared using ANONA analysis and Chi-squared test. Spearman’s correlation coefficients between BF% and cardiometabolic abnormalities were calculated by partial correlation analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BF%, CVD comorbidities, and CVD events, adjusted for multiple confounders.
ResultsAmong the total 6,240 subjects who completed the study and had BMI and BF% data available, 3,086 had normal BMI. The prevalence of NWO was 16.36%, with 13.15% for men and 19.54% for women. With confounders adjusted, the risks of AO (OR = 6.05, 95%CI = 3.40–10.75), essential hypertension (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.09–2.22), dyslipidemia (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.49–2.29), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 4.61, 95%CI = 2.32–9.18) were significantly increased in the populations with NWO compared with the population without NWO (P Conclusion
NWO was found to be positively associated with CVD comorbidities but not with CVD events. The current study provides a ground to conduct further studies on whether body fat affects the risk of occurrence of CVD events and the underlying mechanisms in the future.
by Linlin Yang, Jianhua Chen, Hui Miao, Na Li, Huilin Bi, Ruizhi Feng, Congxiu Miao
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent yet complex reproductive endocrine disorder affecting 11–13% of women worldwide. Its main symptoms include elevated androgen levels, irregular menstrual cycles, and long-term metabolic and offspring health implications. Despite the disease’s multifaceted nature involving genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, the role of alternative splicing in ovarian granulosa cells remains relatively unexplored. This study aims to investigate the transcriptional and alternative splicing characteristics of granulosa cells in PCOS patients and to elucidate the potential functional consequences of these changes. Analysis of previous published transcriptome sequencing data identified 491 upregulated and 401 downregulated genes in granulosa cells of PCOS patients, significantly involved in immune-related processes. Additionally, 1250 differential splicing events, predominantly involving exon skipping and affecting 947 genes, were detected. These genes with alternative splicing patterns were found to be enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress and protein post-translational modification processes, suggesting their role in PCOS pathology. Moreover, the study highlighted that the utilization of different splice isoforms of the YAP1 gene may impact its interaction in the Hippo signaling pathway, influencing the pathogenesis of PCOS. These findings underscore substantial alterations in alternative splicing in granulosa cells of PCOS patients, providing a novel viewpoint for comprehending the molecular underpinnings of PCOS and suggesting potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.by Miao Cheng, Siqi Xiao, Shaer Kayi, Yujie Guan, Yingxin Liu, Jianmei Chen, Hua Chen, Lei Wang, Xiaojin He
ObjectiveAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) patients often present with microscopic signs of gut inflammation. We used proteomic techniques to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the colon tissues of patients with AS and patients with gut inflammation, and then used investigated the influence of NMRAL1 protein on inflammatory cytokines to explore its potential role in the pathogenesis of AS and gut inflammation.
MethodsColonic mucosal tissues were collected from four different groups: healthy individuals (group A), patients with gut inflammation only (group B), patients with AS only (group C), and patients with AS combined with gut inflammation (group D). A total of 20 samples were processed for proteomic analysis, wherein proteins were extracted using SDT lysis, followed by separation via sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The proteins were digested using the filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) method and then analyzed using a timsTOF Pro mass spectrometer. The resulting peptide data were used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) across the different groups. To further explore the inflammation-related function of NMRAL1 protein, the murine monocyte/macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was used. NMRAL1 mRNA expression levels were assessed via RT-qPCR, and inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17 and IL-23) were measured using ELISA following NMRAL1 siRNA transfection in LPS-treated macrophages.
ResultsWe collected colonic mucosa specimens from 20 patients, including groups A,B, C and D with 5 patients in each group. We established a database of DEPs and identified 107 (63 upregulated and 44 downregulated) between group B and group A, 78 (16 upregulated and 62 downregulated) between group D and group C, 45 (8 upregulated and 37 downregulated) between group D and group B, and 57 (33 upregulated and 24 downregulated) between group C and group A. Further analysis revealed that the NmrA-like family domain containing 1 (NMRAL1) protein was identified as a DEP specifically associated with group D. The results of in vitro results showed a significant decrease in NMRAL1 mRNA expression in LPS-treated cells (PPPPPPP Conclusion
NMRAL1 is identified as a key differentially expressed protein in AS patients with gut inflammation. Knockdown of NMRAL1 significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting its potential role in the pathogenesis of AS and gut inflammation, and as a possible therapeutic target.
To investigate the association between positive coping style and family resilience, considering the mediating factors of burden and individual resilience within caregivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
A cross-sectional survey.
A total of, 204 caregivers of COPD patients were recruited using convenient sampling from April 2023 to May 2024 to investigate general information, family resilience, individual resilience, caregiver burden and positive coping styles on caregivers of COPD patients. Influencing factors were primarily identified using Mann–whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between family resilience, positive coping, caregiver burden and resilience. Linear regression was used to analyse the influencing factors of family resilience of caregiver. Structural equation modelling was used to detect the mediating effects of caregiver burden and resilience.
The STROBE checklist was followed.
The family resilience of caregivers was positively correlated with positive coping styles and individual resilience, and negatively correlated with caregiver burden. The family resilience of caregivers increased with the improvement positive coping style and individual resilience, and decreased with the increase of caregiver burden. Caregiver burden and resilience played the chain mediating roles between positive coping style and family resilience.
Family caregivers of COPD patient with higher education levels also have higher family resilience. Higher positive coping style may lead to higher family resilience of caregivers of COPD patients by reducing caregiver burden and promoting resilience.
There are individual differences in the level of family resilience of caregivers of COPD patients, and nurses can provide personalised interventions to different family caregivers by understanding their characteristics and needs. Nurses can improve the family resilience of caregivers by guiding them to adopt positive coping styles, reducing burdens and promoting resilience.
This study was conducted with the participation of caregivers of COPD patients who contributed data by completing study questionnaires.
This study aimed to establish a comprehensive set of nursing-sensitive quality indicators (NSQIs) for patients with dysphagia following tracheotomy due to acquired brain injury (ABI), based on the ‘structure-process-outcome’ model.
A Delphi survey.
The research utilised a mixed-methods approach, including systematic literature reviews, qualitative interviews and two rounds of Delphi expert consultations. A diverse team comprising specialists in dysphagia rehabilitation and nursing management conducted the research, which involved defining and refining NSQIs through extensive evaluations and consensus among recruited experts.
The finalised NSQI includes 4 structural indicators, 13 process indicators and 4 outcome indicators, covering key aspects such as resource allocation, patient assessment and clinical outcomes. The expert consensus provides verification. Kendall's harmony coefficients are 0.304 and 0.138 (p < 0.001), respectively, and the mean importance assignments of indicators at all levels are 3.90–5.00. The final care of patients with tracheotomy and dysphagia after brain injury was constructed. The evaluation indicators include a total of 4 first-level indicators, 23 second-level indicators and 52 third-level indicators.
The established NSQIs offer a systematic framework to enhance the quality of nursing care for ABI patients with posttracheotomy dysphagia. This model facilitates precise monitoring and proactive management of nursing practices, promising better patient outcomes and streamlined care processes.
This study develops targeted NSQIs to improve dysphagia management in ABI patients’ posttracheotomy, fostering better patient outcomes and advancing nursing education through essential specialised training.
Expert-driven insights from experienced clinicians informed the NSQIs, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness in enhancing patient-centred care.
To investigate the frailty status of inpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and analyse its influencing factors, so as to provide evidence for the early identification of high-risk groups and frailty management.
Early identification of frailty can guide the development and implementation of holistic and individualized treatment plans. However, at present, the frailty of patients with CHF has not attracted enough attention.
A cross-sectional study.
From June 2022 to June 2023, a convenience sample of 256 participants were recruited at a hospital in China. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of frailty in patients with CHF, and an ROC curve was drawn to determine the cut-off values for each influencing factor. STROBE checklist guides the reporting of the manuscript.
A total of 270 questionnaires were sent out during the survey, and 256 valid questionnaires were ultimately recovered, resulting in an effective recovery rate of 94.8%. The incidence of frailty in hospitalized patients with CHF was 68.75%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, self-care ability, nutritional risk, Kinesiophobia and NT-proBNP were risk factors for frailty, while albumin and LVEF were protective factors.
Multidimensional frailty was prevalent in hospitalized patients with CHF. Medical staff should take measures as early as possible from the aspects of exercise, nutrition, psychology and disease to delay the occurrence and development of frailty and reduce the occurrence of clinical adverse events caused by frailty.
This study emphasizes the importance of the early identification of multidimensional frailty and measures can be taken to delay the occurrence and development of frailty through exercise, nutrition, psychology and disease treatment.
Patients contributed through sharing their information required for the case report form and filling out questionnaires.
To review the content, format and effectiveness of shared decision-making interventions for mode of delivery after caesarean section for pregnant women.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Six databases (PubMed, Web of science Core Collection, Cochrance Network, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched starting at the time of establishment of the database to May 2023. Following the PRISMAs and use Review Manager 5.3 software for meta-analysis. Two review authors independently assessed the quality of the studies using the risk of bias 2 tool. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023410536).
The search strategy obtained 1675 references. After abstract and full text screening, a total of seven studies were included. Shared decision-making interventions include decision aids and counselling that can help pregnant women analyse the pros and cons of various options and help them make decisions that are consistent with their values. The pooled results showed that shared decision-making intervention alleviated decisional conflicts regarding mode of delivery after caesarean section, but had no effect on knowledge and informed choice.
The results of our review suggest that shared decision-making is an effective intervention to improve the quality of decision-making about the mode of delivery of pregnant women after caesarean section. However, due to the low quality of the evidence, it is recommended that more studies be conducted in the future to improve the quality of the evidence.
This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence for the effectiveness of shared decision-making for mode of delivery after cesarean section and may provide a basis for the development of intervention to promote the participation of pregnant women in the decision-making process.
The accurate assessment of wound healing post-caesarean section, especially in twin pregnancies, remains a pivotal concern in obstetrics, given its implications for maternal health and recovery. Traditional methods, including conventional abdominal ultrasonography (CU), have been challenged by the advent of transvaginal ultrasonography (TU), offering potentially enhanced sensitivity and specificity. This meta-analysis directly compares the efficacy of TU and CU in evaluating wound healing and scar formation, crucial for optimizing postoperative care. Results indicate that TU is associated with significantly better outcomes in wound healing, demonstrated by lower REEDA scores (SMD = −20.56, 95% CI: [−27.34.20, −13.77], p < 0.01), and in scar formation reduction, evidenced by lower Manchester Scar Scale scores (SMD = −25.18, 95% CI: [−29.98, −20.39], p < 0.01). These findings underscore the potential of integrating TU into routine post-caesarean evaluation protocols to enhance care quality and patient recovery.
To identify factors associated with health behaviours among stroke survivors, through a multi-centre study.
A sequential mixed methods design.
In the quantitative research phase, a total of 350 participants were recruited through multi-stage sampling from December 2022 to June 2023. General information questionnaires, The Stroke Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire (SPKQ), Short Form Health Belief Model Scale (SF-HBMS), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLPII), and the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, Brief Version) were distributed across five tertiary hospitals in Henan province, China. For the qualitative research component, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators of health behaviour. This study adheres to the GRAMMS guidelines.
A total of 315 participants (90.0%) completed the survey. Identified barriers to health behaviour included residing in rural areas, higher scores on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and mRS, as well as lower scores on SPKQ, SF-HBMS and WHOQOL-BREF. Twenty-four individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Twenty-eight themes were identified and categorised by frequency, covering areas such as knowledge, skills, intentions, social influences, social/professional role and identity, environmental context and resources, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences and behavioural regulation. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggested that health behaviour among stroke survivors is at a moderate level, and the identified barrier factors can be mapped into the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour).
The study indicates that key barriers to health behaviour among stroke survivors align with the COM-B model. These identified factors should be carefully considered in the planning of future systematic interventions aimed at improving health behaviours among stroke survivors.
Patients were invited to completed questionnaires in the study and semi-structured interviews. The investigators provided explanation of this study’ content, purpose and addressed issues during the data collection.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapy technique, which promotes psychological flexibility and enables patients to change behaviors based on value-directed goals. However, the beneficial effects of ACT on glycemic control, self-care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self-efficacy, and psychological burden are still unclear among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
This study aimed to systematically synthesize scientific evidence to determine the effectiveness of ACT among patients with T2DM on glycemic control, self-care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self-efficacy, and psychological burden and identify the optimal characteristics of effective interventions.
Nine electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies of randomized controlled trials from inception to June 2023. Two reviewers independently assessed the study eligibility, extracted the data, and performed the quality appraisal using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 Tool. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system.
Ten studies involving 712 participants were included. ACT demonstrated significant improvements on patients' glycemic control (mean difference [MD]: 0.95%; p < .001), self-care behaviors (MD: 1.86; p = .03), diabetes acceptance (MD: 7.80; p < .001), self-efficacy (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.04; p < .001), anxiety (SMD: −1.15; p = .006), and depression (SMD: −1.10; p = .04). However, favorable but nonsignificant improvements were found in diabetes distress. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that ACT offered more than five sessions using individualized format, with theoretical underpinnings and professional input from multidisciplinary therapists are recommended to yield better results on glycemic control and self-care behaviors.
Acceptance and commitment therapy could generate beneficial effectiveness on glycemic control, self-care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression among patients with T2DM. Large-scale trials with rigorous design and representative samples are warranted to strengthen the current evidence.