FreshRSS

🔒
❌ Acerca de FreshRSS
Hay nuevos artículos disponibles. Pincha para refrescar la página.
Hoy — Octubre 2nd 2025Tus fuentes RSS

Leveraging emotional intelligence to alleviate mental health: protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Bangladesh

Por: Salwa · M. · Chowdhury · S. M. · Rois · R. · Uddin · M. K. · Akhter · S. · Nahar · K. · Mullick · A. R. · Mannan · M. · Kundu · G. K. · Fatema · K. · Maruf Haque Khan · M. · Haque · M. A.
Background

Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders often experience high levels of stress that impact their mental health, yet few interventions focus on their well-being. To address this gap, we developed a mental health intervention based on emotional intelligence (EI), designed for delivery in healthcare settings. We hypothesise that enhancing EI can reduce parenting stress and improve psychological well-being. This study aims to assess the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of this EI-based intervention in Bangladesh.

Methods and analysis

This hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study will include a cluster randomised controlled trial, an implementation analysis and an economic evaluation. Eight child development centres will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to intervention and waitlist control groups. A total of 480 parents (mothers and fathers) will be recruited. The intervention consists of interactive sessions on EI skills, supported by personal diaries and a mobile app. Data will be collected at baseline and 12 weeks postintervention using validated tools to assess EI, parenting stress, psychological well-being and other mental health outcomes. Implementation will be evaluated using mixed methods to assess feasibility, acceptability and fidelity. Cost-effectiveness will be determined through a cost–utility analysis of direct and indirect costs.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the Institutional Review Board of Bangladesh Medical University (BSMMU/2022/10733). Written informed consent will be obtained at each stage of data collection and intervention. Findings will be disseminated through open-access publications, plain-language summaries, academic conferences, community workshops and policy briefs. Data will be shared in open-access platforms to inform mental health strategies in low-resource settings globally.

Trial registration number

NCT06166550.

AnteayerTus fuentes RSS

Association between household food insecurity and underweight status among women in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Por: Lotus · S. U. · Akash · S. M. · Salsabil · N. · Hossain · M. T. · Sarker · S. · Zaman · Z. I. · Kawnine · R. · Haque · K. S. · Ahmed · M. Z. E. M. N. U. · Hossain · A.
Objectives

Bangladesh is highly prone to recurrent flooding that disrupts all four pillars of food security. This study aimed to explore the effect of household food insecurity on the underweight status of women in flood-affected areas of Bangladesh, which remains underexplored.

Design

This is a cross-sectional analysis.

Setting

This study was conducted in eight sub-districts (upazilas) across eight districts in Bangladesh that experience severe to moderate river flooding, flash floods and substantial tidal surges.

Participants

A total of 532 women participated in the study. The inclusion criteria for participation were as follows: (1) being at least 18 years of age, (2) residing in the household for at least 1 year and (3) having experienced limited food access in the 4 weeks before data collection due to flood-related constraints.

Primary outcome measures

Household food insecurity was measured using the U.S. Agency for International Development Household Food Insecurity Access Scale questionnaire. An underweight status was evaluated through anthropometric measurements of women. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using robust log-linear models.

Results

Moderate food insecurity was the most common (58.3%) among the participants. The prevalence of underweight was the highest (52.1%) in the severely food-insecure group and decreased significantly with improved food security. Severe household food insecurity was strongly associated with a higher prevalence of underweight individuals (aPR = 4.12; 95% CI, 1.60 to 10.60). An underweight status was also prevalent in women from moderately food-insecure households (aPR = 1.75; 95% CI, 0.68 to 4.55).

Conclusion

This study reveals a significant association between household food insecurity and underweight status, highlighting the major challenges faced by women living in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh. These findings emphasise the urgent need to address household food insecurity to improve nutritional outcomes for women in vulnerable communities.

Exploring ethnic minority and underserved groups experiences of the National Health Service Cardiovascular Disease Health Check uptake in North East England: applying a behavioural insights, qualitative approach

Por: Brady · S. M. · Chidanyika · J. · Verrill · K. · Portice · J. S. · Scott · S. · Newton · J.
Background

The North East of England has the lowest healthy life expectancy and the highest health inequalities of any region in England. The conventional model, whereby we ‘expect’ individuals to be motivated to attend a ‘healthcare setting’ to undergo cardiovascular disease (CVD) health checks every 5 years has low levels of uptake, with populations most at risk frequently failing to engage.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to gather behavioural insights into the barriers/challenges that limit engagement with the current NHS CVD Health Checks.

Methods: design, setting, participants and outcomes

Drawing on a Behavioural Insight approach, 7 qualitative focus groups with members of ethnic minorities and underserved groups (n=45 participants) were conducted to understand barriers and challenges to uptake of NHS CVD Health Checks in one region in North East England (Middlesbrough). Data were analysed using a Behavioural Insights approach, applied to establish key themes, barriers and enablers.

Results

Our findings identified that underserved communities in North East England find engaging with NHS CVD Health Checks challenging due to issues related to access, understanding and attitudes. Communities identified that harnessing relationships with existing community champions would raise awareness and confidence in engaging. Making services accessible where communities gathered, while also increasing understanding and knowledge, was also recognised as key to engagement.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that despite there being substantial barriers to engagement with NHS CVD Health Checks, novel methods encouraging uptake may be effective to address the significant health inequalities seen in deprived communities. Ensuring a co-developed and co-delivered approach to CVD risk reduction with underserved communities, together with social marketing campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of CVD, and why reducing its risk is so important, is key to success.

Clinical practice guidelines for the care of people experiencing chronic primary pain: protocol for a systematic review with interpretation against an established chronic pain care priority framework

Por: Briggs · A. M. · Siegfried · N. · Waller · R. · OConnell · N. E. · Romero · L. · Klem · N.-R. · Ampiah · P. K. · Belton · J. L. · Blyth · F. M. · De Morgan · S. · Lord · S. M. · Nicholas · M. · OSullivan · P. B. · Shakya · A. · Smith · A. J. · Slater · H.
Introduction

Most clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for assessing and managing people’s chronic pain focus on specific pain conditions, body sites or life course stages. This creates complexity for clinicians making care choices in the absence of a diagnosis and/or where a person experiences more than one pain condition. Specific to this context is the ICD-11 classification of chronic primary pain where an experience of pain cannot be better accounted for by another condition. CPGs for chronic primary pain, agnostic to condition or body part, may support clinicians towards best pain care since many of the principles of person-centred chronic pain care are transdiagnostic. The two aims of this systematic review are to (1) identify and appraise CPGs for chronic primary pain, relevant across the life course and (2) map the CPG content against a pain care priority framework to evaluate the extent to which the CPG content aligns with the priorities of people with lived chronic pain experience.

Methods and analysis

We will systematically search nine scholarly databases, the Epistemonikos database and international and national guidelines clearinghouses. CPGs published within 2015–2025, in any language, that offer recommendations about assessment and/or management of chronic primary pain for people of any age, excluding hospitalised inpatients or institutionalised populations, will be included. Pairs of reviewers will independently screen citations for eligibility and appraise CPG quality and implementation potential using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE)-II and the AGREE-Recommendations Excellence tools, respectively. Data extraction will include the citation and scope characteristics of each CPG, methods used to develop recommendations, verbatim recommendations, guiding principles or practice information and narrative excerpts related to the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) considerations (or equivalent). We will use the PROGRESS-PLUS framework as a checklist to identify whether determinants of health equity were considered by guideline developers. CPG recommendations will be organised according to common topics and categorised in a matrix according to strength and direction. Qualitative content analysis will be used to synthesise excerpts relating to GRADE EtD considerations (or equivalent), and we will map extracted data against an established chronic pain care priority framework to determine the extent to which the CPGs align with values and preferences of people with lived experience. Interpretation will be informed by an interdisciplinary Advisory Group, including lived experience partners.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review. Results will be disseminated through publication in an open-access peer-reviewed journal, through professional societies, and integrated into education curricula and public-facing resources. Reporting will be consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD420251000482.

The adaptive physical activity programme in stroke (TAPAS): protocol for a process evaluation in a sequential multiple assignment randomised trial

Por: Rocliffe · P. · Whiston · A. · O Mahony · A. · OReilly · S. M. · OConnor · M. · Cunningham · N. · Glynn · L. · Walsh · J. C. · Walsh · C. · Hennessy · E. · Murphy · E. · Hunter · A. · Butler · M. · Paul · L. · Fitzsimons · C. F. · Richardson · I. · Bradley · J. G. · Salsberg · J. · Hayes
Introduction

Participation in physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone of the secondary prevention of stroke. Given the heterogeneous nature of stroke, PA interventions that are adaptive to individual performance capability and associated co-morbidity levels are recommended. Mobile health (mHealth) has been identified as a potential approach to supporting PA post-stroke. To this end, we used a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomised Trial design to develop an adaptive, mHealth intervention to improve PA post-stroke – The Adaptive Physical Activity programme in Stroke (TAPAS) (Clinicaltrials.Gov NCT05606770). As the first trial in stroke recovery literature to use this design, there is an opportunity to conduct a process evaluation for this type of adaptive intervention. The aim of this process evaluation is to examine the implementation process, mechanism of change and contextual influences of TAPAS among ambulatory people with stroke in the community.

Methods and analysis

Guided by the Medical Research Council Framework for process evaluations, qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to examine the (1) implementation process and the content of TAPAS (fidelity adaptation, dose and reach); (2) mechanisms of change (participants’ response to the intervention; mediators; unexpected pathways and consequences) and (3) influence of the context of the intervention. Quantitative data will be presented descriptively, for example, adherence to exercise sessions. Qualitative data will be collected among TAPAS participants and the interventionist using semi-structured one-to-one or focus group interviews. Transcribed interviews will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Key themes and sub-themes will be developed.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been granted by the Health Service Executive Mid-Western Ethics Committee (REC Ref: 026/2022) (25/03/2024). The findings will be submitted for publication and presented at relevant national and international academic conferences.

Knowledge and attitudes regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation among Jordanian physical education students: a cross-sectional online survey

Por: Manaseer · T. S. · Al-Nassan · S. M. · Oteir · A. O.
Objective

To examine the knowledge and attitudes regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among Jordanian physical education (PE) students with and without CPR training, and the association between knowledge and attitudes.

Design

Cross-sectional survey-based study.

Settings

Private and public universities in Jordan.

Participants

A convenience sample of 372 full-time second, third and fourth-year PE students.

Outcome measures

Primary outcomes were levels of knowledge and attitudes towards CPR, measured using a validated questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included group comparisons (trained vs untrained) and the correlation between knowledge and attitude scores.

Result

Of the 372 participants (mean age: 22.0±1.6 years; 51% female), 189 (51%) reported prior CPR training. Only 3% of students demonstrated high knowledge (>80% of correct answers), while 56% had low knowledge (

Conclusion

CPR knowledge among Jordanian PE students was low regardless of training. Attitudes were positive, mainly among trained students. There is a need for a structured CPR education in PE that addresses cultural and psychological barriers to improve preparedness for emergency response in athletic settings.

Assessing the maternal health-related digital health interventions for pregnant women and new mothers in developing countries: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Por: Sultana · A. · Akhter · T. · Ahona · A. A. · Shariful Islam · S. M. · Majumder · A. · Banik · P. C. · Islam · M. A.
Background

Maternal and child health remains a critical public health challenge in developing countries. Annually, an estimated 250 000–280 000 maternal deaths occur, with up to 95% attributed to inadequate access to timely, effective and quality healthcare. While digital health interventions have demonstrated significant potential in improving maternal health services, education and support in high-income settings, their effectiveness, feasibility and broader impact in resource-limited contexts remain understudied.

Methods and analysis

This systematic review will assess the effectiveness, feasibility and impact of digital health interventions for pregnant women and new mothers in resource-limited settings across developing countries. We will conduct a comprehensive search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar and grey literature sources to identify randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies and observational studies published in any language. The quality of included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane‘s risk of bias tools, RoB 2 for randomised trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomised studies. A standardised data extraction form will be developed, piloted and used to systematically collect study data. We will employ the web-based CADIMA platform to facilitate screening, data extraction and evidence synthesis while minimising bias. Data will be synthesised narratively by summarising study characteristics and, where appropriate, through meta-analysis using random-effects models to calculate pooled effect sizes. Finally, we will evaluate the strength of the evidence for each outcome using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to assess confidence in the findings.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval was required for this systematic review, as it uses only previously published data. The findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant international conferences to disseminate them to the broader academic community. To ensure practical application of our results, we will develop a policy brief summarising key findings and recommendations.

PROSPERO registration number

This protocol is registered to PROSPERO, and the registration number is CRD42025631164.

Postnatal care utilisation and health beliefs among mothers in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Por: Altraifi · A. A. · Albasheer · O. · Abdelwahab · S. I. · Chourasia · U. · Abdelmageed · M. M. · Hakami · A. M. · Khormi · A. H. · Medani · I. E. · Ali · S. A. · Habeeb · S. A. · Shebaly · G. A. · Somaily · M. M. · Harshan · S. M. · Ali · S. M. · Hukma · S. H.
Background

The postnatal period is critical for preventing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Globally, a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur within the first 6 weeks after delivery. Timely and adequate postnatal care (PNC) can detect and manage life-threatening complications; however, service utilisation remains alarmingly low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Saudi Arabia. Addressing the behavioural and perceptual factors that influence service use is essential for improving health outcomes.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess mothers’ utilisation of PNC services and examine how their health beliefs and sociodemographic characteristics influence this behaviour.

Design

A cross-sectional study guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM) was conducted to explore predictors of PNC utilisation.

Setting

Eight primary healthcare (PHC) centres were randomly selected from 179 PHC centres distributed in the different governorates of the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia.

Participants

A total of 464 mothers were surveyed between October and December 2023 using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was PNC utilisation, defined by the number of postnatal visits. The independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics and HBM constructs (perceived susceptibility, benefits, barriers and cues to action).

Results

In terms of PNC utilisation, 80.0% of participants had two or fewer postnatal visits, whereas 20.0% had three or more postnatal visits. Perceived barriers had the strongest influence (mean score 2.51±0.87), followed by cues to action (2.43±0.89), susceptibility (1.92±0.72) and benefits (1.86±0.64). In the multivariate analysis, perceived barriers, cues to action and perceived susceptibility were significantly associated with PNC utilisation, with adjusted ORs of 1.679 (95% CI: 1.007 to 2.799), 0.470 (95% CI: 0.256 to 0.863) and 0.405 (95% CI: 0.197 to 0.832), respectively.

Conclusions

PNC utilisation in the Jazan region remains suboptimal. Perceptual factors, particularly barriers and cues to action, play a central role in service use. Health interventions targeting these beliefs and improving follow-up mechanisms may help increase PNC engagement and improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Saudi Arabia.

Medication use patterns and polypharmacy among elderly in Iran: a cross-sectional study using national health insurance claims data

Por: Ataei · S. M.-N. · Golestani · A. · Khosravi · S. · Tabatabaei-Malazy · O. · Malekpour · M.-R. · Ebrahimpur · M. · Mirzadeh · F. S. · Shahali · Z. · Amini · M. R. · Effatpanah · M.
Objectives

Polypharmacy, defined as the concurrent use of multiple medications, is a growing concern among the elderly, especially in low-income and middle-income countries such as Iran. This study aims to explore the prevalence and patterns of polypharmacy among the elderly in Iran, using health insurance claims data to identify common drug classes and coprescribed medications, with a focus on informing policy decisions and improving medication management.

Design

Retrospective population-based observational study.

Setting

Nationwide data from the Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) across 24 provinces.

Participants

1 876 527 individuals aged 65 years and older, insured by the IHIO from 2014 to 2017. Individuals with incomplete demographic information or lacking medication records in the database were excluded from the analysis.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Prevalence and patterns of polypharmacy, demographic factors associated with polypharmacy, and common drug classes used. Medications were classified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical system. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications, with cumulative polypharmacy considering total drug use over time, and consecutive polypharmacy focusing on the frequency of monthly drug use. Logistic regression and association rule mining were applied to explore demographic factors and medication patterns associated with polypharmacy.

Results

Of the study population, 74.9% experienced cumulative polypharmacy over 6 months and 64.6% over 1 month, with 7.6% experiencing consecutive polypharmacy. Females and those aged 75–79 were more prone to polypharmacy. Systemic glucocorticoids were the most commonly used medications (50.02%), followed by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (42.73%) and platelet aggregation inhibitors (41.92%). Polypharmacy was most strongly associated with medications related to the alimentary tract and metabolism, cardiovascular system, nervous system and blood and blood-forming organs.

Conclusions

Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among the elderly in Iran, with significant variations by gender, age, insurance fund and region. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to manage polypharmacy and improve medication safety in this population.

Adherence to guidelines on quality neonatal resuscitation practices among healthcare professionals in Ghana: an observational study

Por: Salia · S. M. · Kaba · R. A. · de Haas · B. · Stekelenburg · J.
Aims and objectives

The study evaluated healthcare professionals’ adherence to guidelines on quality neonatal resuscitation practices in Ghana.

Design

This study employed an observational design. A validated observational checklist for neonatal resuscitation was used to assess the adherence to quality neonatal resuscitation guidelines among healthcare professionals.

Setting

The study was conducted among healthcare professionals in six healthcare facilities, consisting of five government-owned healthcare facilities and a private non-profit health facility across the northern, middle and coastal belts of Ghana.

Participants

The study participants were 75 healthcare professionals across the six sampled healthcare facilities.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures of interest are: initial preparation prior to resuscitation; stimulation and airway maintenance; positive pressure ventilation; coordinated positive pressure ventilation with chest compression and postresuscitation infection prevention and control measures.

Results

The results revealed that 53% of the healthcare professionals demonstrated good (scored 80%–100%) adherence to guidelines on quality neonatal resuscitation practices; the remaining scored moderate 36% (scored 50%–79%) and 11% (scored 0%–49%) poor adherence. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that increased staffing levels and a bachelor’s degree or higher were positively associated with the performance of positive pressure ventilation (adjusted OR (aOR) 19.3 (95% CI 2.430799, 152.8657), p=0.005) and (aOR 9.9 (95% CI 1.070278, 92.38303), p=0.043), respectively. Furthermore, professional nurses and medical practitioners were more likely to adhere to coordinated positive pressure ventilation with chest compressions than auxiliary nursing staff (aOR 13.2 (95% CI 1.917858, 92.61999), p=0.009) and (aOR 15.7 (95% CI 1.227859, 200.1105), p=0.034).

Conclusion

The results showed that 53% of healthcare professionals demonstrated good adherence for neonatal resuscitation practices. Addressing the identified gaps and inequalities in neonatal resuscitation practice will improve healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills in neonatal resuscitation, which ultimately helps to reduce neonatal deaths among babies in Ghana.

The use of cost analysis in examinations of health coaching interventions: a scoping review protocol

Por: Dougherty · M. · Bartels · S. M. · Smith · J. G. · Zeliadt · S. B. · Hyde · J. · Kim · B.
Introduction

Health coaching is the process of working with a trained coach, peer, or healthcare professional towards self-determined health and wellness goals. Health coaching is being increasingly adopted in multiple healthcare settings and has been shown to improve overall health outcomes and long-term maintenance of chronic conditions in multiple countries and healthcare settings. Research surrounding the costs of implementing health coaching and its effects on healthcare costs, particularly long-term costs, has been limited. Although analysis of healthcare costs has become an important priority in recent years, the available literature looking at the cost impacts of health coaching is small and inconclusive, finding mixed results with a variety of methodologies. This scoping review aims to identify gaps in the literature and help set a research agenda regarding the costs of health coaching implementation and its impacts.

Methods and analysis

The scoping review will be structured according to Levac et al’s enhancement to Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for conducting scoping reviews. PubMed, Embase, and the Health and Medicine Collection will be searched for peer-reviewed research that includes health and wellness coaching and some measurement of cost. Details about the type of study, cost analysis, methodology and results from the included articles will be extracted and summarised. Full-text publications, excluding editorials and opinion pieces, included in this scoping review will be published in 2017 or later, will be written in English, will align with the definition of health coaching as described by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching, and will include cost measurement. This review will include publications not captured in the previous integrative literature review looking at the cost-effectiveness of health coaching.

Ethics and dissemination

Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and through presentations to both health system and community-based entities currently using or considering adopting health coaching. Ethics approval is not a requirement for this review as no human research participants will be involved. All data will be obtained from publicly available literature, with no primary data generated.

Pragmatic, multicentre, factorial, randomised controlled trial of sepsis electronic prompting for timely intervention and care (SEPTIC trial): a protocol

Por: Ranard · B. L. · Qian · M. · Cummings · M. J. · Zhang · D. Y. · Lee · S. M. · Beitler · J. R. · Applebaum · J. R. · Schenck · E. J. · Mohamed · H. · Trepp · R. · Hsu · H. · Scofi · J. · Southern · W. N. · Rossetti · S. C. · Yip · N. H. · Brodie · D. · Sharma · M. · Fertel · B. S. · Adelman
Introduction

Sepsis is a major cause of death both globally and in the United States. Early identification and treatment of sepsis are crucial for improving patient outcomes. International guidelines recommend hospital sepsis screening programmes, which are commonly implemented in the electronic health record (EHR) as an interruptive sepsis screening alert based on systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Despite widespread use, it is unknown whether these sepsis screening and alert tools improve the delivery of high-quality sepsis care.

Methods and analysis

The Sepsis Electronic Prompting for Timely Intervention and Care (SEPTIC) master protocol will study two distinct populations in separate trials: emergency department (ED) patients (SEPTIC-ED) and inpatients (SEPTIC-IP). The SEPTIC trials are pragmatic, multicentre, blinded, randomised controlled trials, with equal allocation to compare four SIRS-based sepsis screening alert groups: no alerts (control), nurse alerts only, prescribing clinician alerts only, or nurse and prescribing clinician alerts. Randomisation will be at the patient level. SEPTIC will be performed at eight acute-care hospitals in the greater New York City area and enrol patients at least 18 years old. The primary outcome is the percentage of patients with completion of a modified Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) hour-1 bundle within 3 hours of the first SIRS alert. Secondary outcomes include time from first alert to completion of a modified SSC hour-1 bundle, time from first alert to individual bundle component order and completion, intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, hospital discharge disposition, inpatient mortality at 90 days, positive blood cultures (bacteraemia), adverse antibiotic events, sepsis diagnoses and septic shock diagnoses.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Columbia University Institutional Review Board (IRB) serving as a single IRB. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journal(s), scientific meeting(s) and via social media.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06117605 and NCT06117618.

Predicting dysglycaemia in individuals with gestational diabetes immediately postpartum using continuous glucose monitoring (PREDISPOSE) in a multicentre prospective cohort study in Canada: a study protocol

Por: Sigurdson · S. M. · Bernier · K. J. · Donovan · L. E. · Feig · D. S. · Lemieux · P. · Pylypjuk · C. · Shen · G. X. · Jiang · D. · Nerenberg · K. · Chrisp · M. M. · Katz · P. M. · Benham · J. L. · Yamamoto · J. M.
Introduction

Gestational diabetes is a common metabolic disorder in pregnancy which identifies a substantial increased risk of future diabetes. Despite this risk, many individuals are not screened for dysglycaemia in the postpartum period. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is an evolving technology that provides details of an individual’s glucose levels throughout the day; however, it has not yet been evaluated as a screening tool for postpartum dysglycaemia. To address this gap, this prospective cohort study will examine the use of CGM in the early postpartum period to predict the risk of maternal dysglycaemia after delivery.

Methods and analysis

The Predicting Dysglycaemia in Individuals with Gestational Diabetes Immediately Postpartum using CGM (PREDISPOSE) study is a prospective cohort study designed to assess the ability of a CGM device (Freestyle Libre 2) worn in the postpartum period to detect persistent dysglycaemia in individuals with gestational diabetes. The study will recruit 240 individuals with gestational diabetes. Each participant will wear the CGM immediately postpartum and before attending routine postpartum diabetes screening, consisting of a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and related blood work (haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), complete blood count and lipid profile). The primary outcome is the accuracy of the area under the curve for all glucose measurements from the first CGM wear to detect postpartum dysglycaemia. We will perform sensitivity and specificity analyses to determine optimal CGM cut-offs to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. Secondary outcomes include the incidence of postpartum dysglycaemia (based on 75-gram OGTT and/or HbA1c), incidence of postpartum dyslipidaemia, patient acceptability of CGM testing, data variability from CGM and cardiometabolic health outcomes diagnosed in years one, two and five after delivery.

Ethics and dissemination

All participating sites have received ethics approval of the current protocol and have started recruitment of participants to the study. The ethics boards that approved this study are the Biomedical Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Calgary, the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Ethics Board at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Comité d'éthique de la Recherche at Université Laval. Study results will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in a peer-reviewed journal, regardless of study findings.

Trial registration number

NCT04972955. Registration date: 28 June 2021.

Impostor syndrome, associated factors and impact on well-being across medical undergraduates and postgraduate medical professionals: a scoping review

Por: Chua · S. M. · Tan · I. Y. K. · Thummachai · M. E. · Chew · Q. H. · Sim · K.
Objectives

Impostor syndrome (IS) is a psychological state whereby individuals doubt their abilities despite evidence of competence. Though IS has been studied in specific medical groups, no review to date compares findings across groups. This study aimed to: (1) determine the range of IS rates among medical undergraduates versus postgraduates and (2) examine associated factors across both groups.

Design

This scoping review used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, using a five-step framework.

Data sources

PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception until September 2024.

Eligibility criteria

Studies were included if they were (1) empirical studies with a defined IS rating scale, (2) involving medical undergraduates, residents or clinicians and (3) published in English.

Data extraction and synthesis

Three independent reviewers used standardised methods to screen and review selected studies, and extract key variables.

Results

54 studies (77.8% from the West) were included. There was equal study distribution between undergraduates (46.3%, 25 studies) and postgraduates (46.3%, 25 studies), with the rest covering both groups. IS prevalence was substantial across all groups when assessed using the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale, ranging from 30.6% to 75.9% among undergraduates, 33.0% to 75.0% among residents and 23.5% to 50.0% among faculty and clinicians. In undergraduates, IS was associated with learning breaks, transition periods and poor academic performance. Among postgraduates, IS was correlated with younger age, junior ranking, fewer work years, inadequate faculty support or self-perceived poor clinical and teaching skills. Additionally, IS affected physical and psychological well-being (stress, anxiety, depression, burnout) and was associated with sociodemographic factors (single status, females), personality (neuroticism, perfectionistic traits, with conscientiousness, agreeableness and extraversion as protective) and interpersonal issues (conflicts, poor sense of belonging).

Conclusions

Given the high IS prevalence and associations with specific factors, practical measures are recommended to address IS and optimise learning and care for medical undergraduates and professionals.

Cardiovascular disease risk and its determinants among hypertensive patients in Eastern Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study

Por: Ali · S. Y. · Shegere · M. M. · Abdulahi · A. · Hussein · A. A. · Abdinur · A. H. · Muhumed · A. A. · Ayele · Z. A. · Abebe · D. · Abdu · S. M. · Gemechu · W. D.
Objectives

This study aims to assess the level of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and its associated determinants among hypertensive patients in Jigjiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia using the WHO 10-year CVD risk score.

Design

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed.

Setting

Hypertensive patients aged 40–74 years in two public hospitals in Jigjiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia, from 20 December 2023 to 20 February 2024.

Participants

Randomly selected 344 hypertensive patients aged 40–74 years with a duration of 1 year or more from the time of diagnosis and at least having 6-month follow-up.

Primary outcome measures

10-year CVD risk level was assessed by using WHO 10-year CVD risk score. Risk levels were categorised as low (

Secondary outcome measures

Associated factors influencing CVD risk.

Results

The study included 341 hypertensive individuals, with a 99.1% response rate. Of the respondents, 58.9% were men. The overall prevalence of CVD risk within the coming 10 years was 134 (39.3%; 95% CI: 34.1% to 44.5%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, khat chewing, smoking and comorbid conditions as significant independent predictors of CVD risk. Specifically, individuals aged 60–69 years had an adjusted OR (AOR) of 3.97 (95% CI: 1.94 to 8.16) and those aged 70–74 years had an AOR of 2.99 (95% CI: 1.57 to 5.71). Khat chewers had an AOR of 2.58 (95% CI: 1.22 to 5.46), smokers an AOR of 3.44 (95% CI: 1.59 to 7.48) and individuals with comorbidities an AOR of 2.42 (95% CI: 1.47 to 3.99).

Conclusion

There is a significant increase in 10-year CVD risk among hypertensive patients in the study area. Age, khat chewing, smoking and comorbidities were independent predictors. Regular CVD risk screening for older patients, focused health education to reduce khat and tobacco use and integrated management of comorbidities are essential to lower future cardiovascular risk.

Prevalence of osteoporosis in prostate cancer survivor patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Por: Ebrahimi · M. · Mohammadi · A. · Sarmadi · S. · Rahimnia · R. · Zare-Kaseb · A. · Reis · L. O. · Namazi Shabestari · A. · Aghamir · S. M. K.
Introduction

Osteoporosis is a skeletal condition with decreased bone mass and structural deterioration, increasing fracture vulnerability. Several studies have found a correlation between prostate cancer in men and an increased risk of osteoporosis. This study aims to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods and analysis

The primary objective of this study will be to estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis in prostate cancer survivor patients. An extensive search will be conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and ProQuest databases to ensure comprehensive coverage. The search will encompass the timeframe from 1 January 1994 to 24 September 2024. Furthermore, we will not impose any limitations on the language or geographical location of the published studies. In order to assess the potential bias in the included studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for prevalence studies will be employed. The analysis of data will be performed using STATA V.17. The prevalence of osteoporosis or osteopenia will be calculated for each study by dividing the number of participants with these conditions by the total number of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. A subgroup analysis will examine prevalence regarding geographical location, age groups, ethnicity, definitions and measurements of osteoporosis or osteopenia, risk of bias in the included studies, type and duration of androgen deprivation therapy, and site of osteoporosis diagnosis. We will employ multiple methods to detect publication bias, including funnel plot analysis, Begg’s and Egger’s tests, and the Trim and Fill method. If we have enough data, we will conduct a sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out-remove method.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical approval or patient consent is required as this study synthesises only published aggregate data. Results will be disseminated via a peer-reviewed publication.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42024600884.

Antibiotic resistance of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli in a tertiary hospital in Niger: a prospective cross-sectional study

Por: Tapha · O. · Yacouba · A. · Degbey · C. · Mamoudou Issa Koukou · N. · Abass Albana · I. · Saley · S. M. · Hanki · Y. · Mounkaila · B. · Doutchi · M. · Brah · S. · Mamadou · S.
Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital in Niger.

Design

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Niger.

Participants

All clinical samples received at the bacteriology laboratory during the study period for diagnostic purposes were included.

Results

Out of 548 clinical Gram-negative isolates, 60 strains of NFGNB (10.94%) were isolated. These NFGNB strains were mainly isolated from male patients (62%, n=37) with a mean age of 41.2±27.3 years. NFGNB was more frequent in urine samples (91.7%), followed by pus (6.6%). Among the NFGNB strains isolated, Acinetobacter baumannii was predominant (60%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.3%) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (13.33%). 20% (n=12) of NFGNB isolated were multidrug-resistant (MDR), including 13.33% (n=8) carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii and 6.67% (n=4) carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. There is no statistically significant association between MDR-NFGNB and age, sex and origin of patients (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Our study revealed a relatively high MDR-NFGNB prevalence rate in a Nigerien tertiary care hospital. These findings emphasise the need for vigilant antibiotic stewardship, with appropriate infection prevention and control practices to curb the emergence and spread of MDR-NFGNB infections in hospital settings.

European, multicentre, prospective observational phase IV clinical study to assess the impact of lebrikizumab on health-related well-being and control of skin manifestations in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (ADTrust): study protocol

Por: Augustin · M. · Bewley · A. · Brüggen · M.-C. · de Bruin-Weller · M. S. · Ezzedine · K. · Ferrucci · S. M. · Gkalpakiotis · S. · Herranz · P. · Johansson · E. K. · Kampe · T. · Lapeere · H. · Legat · F. J. · Rehbinder · E. M. · Szepietowski · J. C. · Torres · T. · Vestergaard · C.
Introduction

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, heterogeneous skin disease affecting 2%–7% of adults, with roughly 30% having moderate-to-severe disease. AD symptoms, like intense itching and skin pain, carry a substantial disease burden that negatively impacts patients’ quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial well-being. Lebrikizumab is a novel, high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to and neutralises interleukin-13 with high potency. Three clinical trials with lebrikizumab (ADvocate 1 and 2; ADhere) demonstrated significant clinical benefit in patients with AD, while the 3-year long-term extension study of lebrikizumab (ADjoin) further demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety in patients with AD. The ADTrust study will evaluate patient well-being, their relationship with their skin, long-term effectiveness, and safety of lebrikizumab, treatment satisfaction, and long-term effect of lebrikizumab treatment on different aspects of patients’ lives, including itch, pain, sleep, fatigue, work impairment and overall QoL among adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD in a real-world setting.

Methods and analysis

This non-interventional, prospective, observational, real-world evidence study will involve approximately 150 sites across Europe and approximately 1200 adults with moderate-to-severe AD treated with lebrikizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint is patient well-being assessed by the 5-item WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5) questionnaire. Key secondary endpoints include clinical effectiveness (Eczema Area and Severity Index and Investigator’s Global Assessment Scale), disease symptomatology and control (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure, 24-hour peak pruritus, skin pain, fatigue and sleep quality Numerical Rating Scale, and safety and tolerability. Other validated endpoints will evaluate physician-reported and patient-reported QoL and treatment satisfaction (Dermatology Life Quality Index, Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire-9), patients’ work productivity and impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)-AD) and disease control (AD Control Tool). Novel experimental endpoints will also be evaluated with the aim to assess patients’ relationship with their skin (SkinLove questionnaire), disease control (intensity and frequency of flares) and an Effectiveness Diary (a brief monthly survey on a voluntary basis with the aim to assess the long-term impact of lebrikizumab on three fundamental aspects of the patients’ life: the well-being (WHO-5), the itch intensity (24 hours peak pruritus) and the frequency and intensity of flares). Statistical analyses will be descriptive and explorative and based on observed cases. Missing data imputation may be used to handle missing data for primary endpoints and secondary effectiveness endpoints.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will be conducted according to the protocol, which has ethics committee approval (Hamburg Ethic Committee in Germany: 2024-101358-BO-ff), and all applicable laws and regulatory requirements for each participating country. The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and congress presentations.

Trial registration number

NCT06815380 (Pre-results).

Insights and interventions for improving cultural humility towards Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations in medical curricula: a qualitative case study

Por: Cai · C. · Kong · S. · Im · C. · Mondell · E. · Le · T. K. · Irvin · N. · Lawson · S. M.
Objectives

The Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community is the fastest-growing racial/ethnic population in the USA. Previous research identified that medical students perceived a lack of exposure to AANHPI patients and topics in medical school curricula; however, there remains a lack of potential interventions to address this need. The goal of our study is to present a case study for identifying interventions in medical school curricula that improve cultural humility-based training for providing medical care for AANHPI populations.

Design

In this qualitative study, authors conducted four virtual focus groups with 15 medical students at a single institution to identify curricular interventions. The authors then conducted virtual semistructured interviews with eight medical educators one-on-one to explore the feasibility of the proposed interventions. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis, and analysis was performed with ATLAS.ti.

Setting

Medical students and medical educators based at medical institutions in the USA.

Participants

15 medical students and eight medical educators participated in the study.

Results

All medical students (n=15) and educators (n=8) noted that there is limited engagement of AANHPI communities in current medical curricula and limited curricular components that address the diversity within the AANHPI umbrella. Medical student focus groups identified three interventions to improve cultural humility-based training for treating AANHPI patients: reflection spaces, community engagement and clinical training on documenting cultural needs. Educators supported the feasibility and importance of these interventions to prepare students to work with not only AANHPI patients but also with patients of other diverse backgrounds.

Conclusion

AANHPIs represent a heterogeneous population consisting of unique cultural heritages. Our research demonstrates the importance of highlighting this community in cultural humility curricula to provide an example of how to consider and appreciate diversity in patient populations. In this paper, we present student and medical educator-supported curricular interventions that not only increase awareness of issues impacting AANHPI communities, but also emphasise building skills of self-reflection, lifelong learning and empathy that are applicable to patients of all backgrounds.

Mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers: a scoping review

Por: Nasrullah · S. M. · Refat · T. · Gustavsson · M. E.
Objectives

The aim of this scoping review was to map the nature and extent of the existing literature on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers in disaster contexts. The study also explored how the interventions were evaluated.

Design

The methodology of this scoping review followed the extended guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews.

Data sources

Five academic bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar), grey literature websites (Google Scholar, ProQuest, Policy Commons, etc.) and relevant organisational archives were systematically searched for eligible documents.

Eligibility criteria

Both peer-reviewed and grey literature studies on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers in the context of any type of disaster were eligible for inclusion. Research papers that evaluated any such intervention were also included. Documents that targeted professional humanitarian workers or explored physical health conditions or diseases in disaster contexts, letters to the editor, comments, correspondence and research protocols were excluded. There were no restrictions in terms of the date and language of the documents.

Data extraction and synthesis

A systematic search of the targeted databases was conducted from 12 May 2025 to 20 May 2025. Deduplication, screening and full-text evaluation for the selection of documents were done using the online version of Rayyan. Data were collected and recorded into a structured Microsoft Excel sheet. Two researchers individually conducted the selection of the articles and the extraction of data. A third researcher helped to resolve any discrepancies if required.

Results

A total of 2627 documents were retrieved by searching the targeted databases and websites. After matching them with the eligibility criteria, 20 documents were included in the final list. 14 of them were research papers; the rest was organisational literature. All the papers were from 2006 and later, except one that was from 1998. No documents were found from the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan regions. 10 broad categories of interventions were identified, which were either implemented in the field or suggested in the form of guidelines. Most of the interventions were postexposure and preventive in nature. Psychological first aid was the most widely used intervention in this context, being used by the national societies of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Nine of the documents were research papers evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions using different scales and customised questionnaires. Four of them did not observe any notable effect on the mental health of the participants.

Conclusions

Over the past two decades, the evidence on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers has grown. The reviewed literature documented various interventions and guidelines that need further study and testing to both prove and improve their effectiveness. Organisational policies could incorporate and further evaluate these to ensure the psychosocial well-being of volunteers. A review of research papers on intervention effectiveness found heterogeneity in settings, designs, interventions and methods, precluding a systematic review. More research is needed on individual interventions, volunteer perceptions and comparing interventions to identify the most effective ones. Additionally, comparing pre-exposure and postexposure interventions with multimodal systems that support volunteers throughout deployment is recommended.

❌