Conectar
by Qian Li, Yilun Huang, Samuel Yeung-Shan Wong, Winnie W. S. Mak, Xue Yang
Background and objectiveA well-established link exists between depression and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) at the individual level, while it remains unexplored within the family system. This study aims to investigate the interdependent relationship between parent and adolescent depression and IGD, and to identify the potential mechanisms.
MethodsA cross-sectional dyadic study was conducted with adolescents and their parents (primary caregiver) in Hong Kong. Adolescents completed anonymous surveys in classrooms, and parents completed online surveys via WhatsApp or phone interviews. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) and Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) were utilized to test the interdependence and mediators between depression and IGD in parent-child dyads, respectively.
ResultsA total of 1,277 parent-child dyads were included. Depressive symptoms in parents (β = 0.072) and adolescents (β = 0.273, both p Conclusions
Adolescent depressive symptoms were positively associated with their own and parental IGD symptoms, which were mediated by adolescent-reported family relationships and adolescent gaming time. The influence of adolescents’ mental health problems on parents’ problematic behaviors within the family system should not be overlooked.
The transition from hospital to home is a vulnerable stage in the patient pathway. Patients and carers often report unmet information needs regarding diagnoses, medication changes, follow-up arrangements and escalation pathways during the post-hospital discharge period. Digital information interventions—such as electronic health records, patient portals or remote communication systems—have been proposed to improve discharge pathways. However, evidence on their impact is unproven. The aim of this review is to understand what works for whom, how, why and in what circumstances in relation to digital information interventions during the hospital-to-home journey.
Pawson’s realist review approach will be used. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols and Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards quality and reporting standards will also be followed. The review will follow five steps: (1) Development of the initial programme theory; (2) evidence search; (3) selection and appraisal of data; (4) extraction and organisation of data and (5) data synthesis and analysis. The search will be conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid); Embase; PsycINFO; Web of Science and Cochrane Library and supplemented with citation tracking, grey literature, relevant organisational websites, programme evaluation reports and through consultation with stakeholders. The realist review will be an iterative process, and the initial realist programme theory will be tested (confirmed, refuted or refined) in response to the data searches and stakeholder discussions. Patient and public involvement and engagement will be embedded throughout the review. Patients, carers and health and care stakeholders will contribute to refining the initial programme theory, interpreting emerging programme theory and co-developing dissemination outputs to ensure findings remain grounded in lived realities.
Ethical approval is not required for this review as it involves secondary analysis of published literature. The review will be conducted in accordance with principles of research integrity, transparency and responsible stakeholder involvement. Findings will inform the co-design of future digital discharge interventions and contribute to national priorities around digital transformation, safety and equity in transitional care. Dissemination will include conference presentations, a peer-reviewed journal article and accessible summaries co-developed with stakeholders to support equitable implementation and impact.
Epic MyChart, used as a patient portal or within Epic Healthy Planet programmes, is integrated with the Epic electronic health record system, enabling secure access to health information, communication with clinicians and self-management tools. Despite increasing portal adoption in the UK and internationally, there is fragmented and unclear evidence demonstrating impact on clinical outcomes, engagement, safety, experience, efficiency and equity. This scoping review will map existing research on Epic MyChart, identify barriers and facilitators to uptake, and explore technical and operational determinants influencing implementation.
We will conduct a scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, refined by Levac et al, and report according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and PRISMA-Equity guidelines. Eligible studies will include original research evaluating Epic MyChart or Epic Healthy Planet programmes, reporting outcomes related to patient-reported measures, clinical effectiveness, engagement, safety, efficiency or equity. Searches will cover MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, trial registries and grey literature. Two reviewers will independently screen records and extract data on study characteristics, outcomes, equity factors and implementation determinants. Quantitative findings will be synthesised narratively using synthesis without meta-analysis guidance; qualitative data will undergo thematic synthesis. Stakeholder consultations with health informatics experts, clinicians, data scientists and health system managers, alongside a patient and public involvement workshop, will support interpretation of findings. A logic model will illustrate relationships between portal features, implementation factors and outcomes. Although focused on Epic MyChart, the review will offer insights relevant to other patient portals, as many implementation and equity considerations are shared across digital health systems.
Ethical approval is not required as the review uses published data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication, conferences and stakeholder engagement to inform implementation of patient portals internationally.
The protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/5azdh/overview).
Although Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has been increasingly used in wound care to improve impaired healing, there is little scientific evidence supporting its role and underlying biomolecular mechanisms. Aims of the present study are to provide a quantitative analysis of recent literature investigating NPWT in diabetic wound healing focusing on healing duration, wound closure, hospitalisation period and complications, and qualitative insight into studies analysing biomolecular mechanisms. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024524813). 21 studies published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE between 2019 and 2024 were included. Clinical studies indicated NPWT was superior to standard care dressings (SCD), promoting faster wound healing with significantly reduced hospitalisation times by 7.8 days (95% CI: −14.2 to −1.4, p = 0.017), and significantly reduced complications rates, particularly major and minor amputations (95% CI: −10.2 to −1.3, p = 0.01). Mechanistic in vitro and animal studies highlighted NPWT can reduce local inflammation, oxidative stress, support angiogenesis and improve scarring, essential components of normal healing. Although studies suggest NPWT is more effective than SCD for diabetic wound healing, the paucity of studies, small cohorts and scarce outcomes consistency make defining clear conclusions challenging. There is still more evidence required to fully understand NPWT's role in the complex diabetic wound healing.
Postoperative neurocognitive disorders, including delirium and longer-term cognitive decline, are among the most common and costly complications of surgery in older adults, yet effective preventive strategies remain limited. Insomnia and sleep–circadian disruption are highly prevalent in this population, affecting up to one-third of older adults undergoing elective surgery and represent potentially modifiable risk factors that are rarely addressed in perioperative care. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line, evidence-based treatment for insomnia; however, its feasibility and efficacy have not been systematically evaluated for perioperative implementation. This protocol describes a pilot randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a condensed CBT-I intervention in the perioperative setting. The study will also explore its potential effects on insomnia and postoperative outcomes.
The SLEEP-BOOST study is a single-site, randomised controlled pilot trial conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital. The study will enrol 50 older adults (≥65 years) undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery with insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index≥10). Participants will be randomised 1:1 to either a condensed CBT-I intervention or a patient contact-matched Sleep Hygiene Education control group. All participants will complete 3 weeks of preoperative actigraphy and daily sleep diaries, with follow-up assessments at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after surgery. The primary outcome is feasibility, assessed through adherence metrics, protocol engagement and acceptability. Secondary outcomes will be treated as exploratory including insomnia severity, sleep quality, actigraphy-derived sleep and circadian metrics, cognitive trajectories, postoperative pain, mood, functional status and incidence of postoperative neurocognitive disorders.
This protocol has received ethics approval from Massachusetts General Hospital Institutional Review Board (Protocol #2024P000780). Dissemination is expected to include peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, conference presentations as well as websites or social media platforms of relevant sleep treatment organisations. Participants will receive a summary of the study results.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted the mental health of young people from minority ethnic communities, yet effective interventions such as mental health psychoeducational workshops, shown to work for other populations, have rarely been offered or investigated among this population.
This qualitative study examines the impact, challenges and benefits of mental health psychoeducational workshops co-created with and for 12-to-16-year-olds from black and mixed ethnic minority groups in London, UK.
12 (8 female: 3 male) black and mixed ethnic minority 12-to-16-year-olds (M=16, SD=1.55 years) currently attending a West London community centre co-created, participated in, and fed back on the impact of five mental health and life-skill workshops through one-on-one semi-structured interviews (M=10 min 8 s, range=3–16 min), which were transcribed verbatim.
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the interviews revealed three superordinate themes, with a total of eight codes clustered: (1) workshop features promoting positive mental health, (2) positive mental health outcomes and (3) workshop features impeding positive mental health outcomes. Overall, young people perceived workshops to have a positive impact on their mental health and helped provide support in coping with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study findings highlight the potential benefits and barriers to entry of mental health and life-skill workshops for young people from minority ethnic communities.
Community-based and co-produced workshops were perceived as beneficial to mental health by Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic young people, warranting greater consideration and implementation in practice.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in Thailand and imposes a growing burden on the health system, driven by limited nephrology capacity and high rates of unplanned dialysis. The kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) estimates the risk of progression to kidney failure (KF) on age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. This study aims to validate and, if required, recalibrate the four-variable KFRE for the Thai population and to assess the potential impact of KFRE-guided referral strategies on clinical care and health system performance.
We will conduct a retrospective cohort study using linked, de-identified national health databases covering approximately 70% of the Thai population. Adult patients with CKD stages 3–5 will be included. KFRE performance will be evaluated at 2 and 5 years for discrimination and calibration. If miscalibration is identified, the model will be recalibrated using Cox-based methods. Simulations (1000 iterations) indicated that approximately 920 KF events by 5 years would be required to achieve the target standard errors for the calibration slope. A subsequent impact analysis will compare KFRE-guided referral with current Thai CKD guideline criteria and real-world practice using a decision-tree and Markov modelling framework.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Institute for the Development of Human Research Protections, Thailand (COA No. IHRP2025110), Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The requirement for informed consent was waived due to the use of anonymised secondary data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and policy briefs to supplement evidence-based referral strategies and health system planning.
Remote consultations (video, telephone, text) have become integral to the delivery of primary care and are promoted by government initiatives. While many find these more convenient, they may also discriminate against those with lower digital literacy and present a barrier to empathy by removing some non-verbal communication. The aim of this realist review is to understand how therapeutic empathy can be effectively expressed during remote consultations in general practice across different situations and for different people.
This realist review will follow the methodological framework proposed by Pawson and colleagues, which includes the following five steps: (1) identify existing theories to develop an initial programme theory; (2) systematically search bibliographic databases to identify relevant literature; (3) select, extract and organise data; (4) synthesise evidence to develop context-mechanism-outcome configurations; (5) refine and finalise programme theory. This iterative process will be guided by a Content Expert Group consisting of patients, carers, clinical staff working in general practice and representatives from national stakeholder groups. The final programme theory will inform the development of evidence-based recommendations to help clinical staff working in general practice express empathy during remote consultations.
This review does not require ethics approval. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, national and international conferences and through relevant professional associations and primary care networks in the UK.
CRD420261306014.
Intersectionality, as applied to health, provides a framework for understanding how overlapping social identities, such as ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status, shape differential health outcomes and healthcare experiences. Individuals who occupy multiple marginalised identities often experience compounded disadvantages. Ethnic minority (EM) populations, defined here as social groups who are numerically smaller and/or socially marginalised within a given national or regional context based on ethnicity, race, culture, language, ancestry, or related heritage (often overlapping with racialised identities), frequently experience systemic exclusion, racism and structural barriers that also contribute to persistent disparities in morbidity, mortality and healthcare access. However, much health research relies on single-axis analyses, which can obscure within-group variation and may inadvertently reinforce inequities. Despite growing recognition of intersectionality, its empirical application to EM health remains limited. This systematic review aims to synthesise evidence on how intersectionality theory has been conceptualised and applied to understand health outcomes and healthcare utilisation among EM populations globally.
This systematic review will follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the PRISMA-Equity Extension. Comprehensive searches of peer-reviewed databases and grey literature, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest will identify quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method empirical studies published from 2000 to 2026. Eligible studies must implement intersectionality theory to EM health or healthcare utilisation outcomes. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles. Data extraction will also be conducted independently and discrepancies will be discussed with input from a third reviewer. Guided by the PROGRESS-Plus equity framework, findings will be synthesised thematically, implementing a mixed-method convergent integrated synthesis design.
This review only analyses previously published data, thus it does not require ethical approval. Findings will be presented at relevant academic or professional conferences and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
CRD420251248887.
Chronic non-healing wounds represent a major global public health challenge. Their persistence is frequently attributed to localized biological deficits that cause them unresponsive to conventional therapeutic modalities. While Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has demonstrated promising results as an adjunctive treatment by delivering highly concentrated growth factors, its clinical application is currently impeded by a lack of clinical standardization, particularly optimal injection frequency, interval, and dosage. The aim of this study is to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of a specific, non-intensive two-dose PRP injection protocol for accelerating the reduction of wound area in patients with various types of refractory chronic wounds. We conducted a prospective, single-arm, pretest-posttest study enrolling 18 patients with refractory non-healing wounds, defined as lesions persisting for a minimum period of 4 weeks which had failed to achieve definitive closure under optimized standard care. Autologous high-concentration PRP was injected intradermally around the wound margin at baseline (Day 0) and again 3 weeks later (Day 21). Wound area was digitally measured at baseline and subsequently at 7, 11 and 15 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean reduction in wound area (cm2) at the 15-week follow-up, assessed using a Paired Samples t-test. The mean patient age was 57.89 ± 15.64 years, and wounds had a mean chronicity of 15.83 ± 19.05 months. The PRP preparation achieved a mean platelet concentration 8.5 times greater than the peripheral blood threshold (first injection) and 7.0 times greater than the threshold (second injection), confirming high therapeutic quality. Analysis of the total cohort demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mean wound area from baseline 27.41 ± 70.38 cm2 to 15 weeks 21.5 ± 68.96 cm2. Three patients (16.67%) achieved complete epithelialization. Subgroup trends suggested diabetic and venous ulcers responded more favourably than radiation-induced ulcers. The protocol was safe, with no systemic or severe localized adverse events observed among participants. The defined two-dose PRP injection protocol provides a clinically effective and safe adjunctive therapy that significantly promotes wound area reduction in challenging chronic non-healing wounds. This reproducible, low-frequency protocol offers a rationale for standardization in advanced wound care, warranting validation through future large-scale Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).
This study evaluated the associations between achieving treatment goals and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on advanced treatment.
Retrospective cohort analyses of deidentified data from an established registry.
US-based single-centre registry between 2003 and 2024.
Data from patients with RA in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study registry were analysed using multivariable regression analyses. Patients were classified into four groups based on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores at baseline and 1 year (consistently at/not at target, gain or lose target). Patients who were consistently at target were further classified into remission, very low disease activity (LDA) and LDA subgroups.
PROs (Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) overall, pain, fatigue scores) and HCRU (surgery rates, durable medical equipment (DME) use) were assessed over 2 years.
The primary endpoint compared MDHAQ PROs and surgery and DME HCRU among the four primary groups. The secondary endpoint assessed the association between maintaining LDA and achieving remission at follow-up with PROs and HCRU.
Among 637 patients with CDAI data, 257 (40%) had LDA at baseline; 57 (22%) lost target at 1 year. Of 380 (60%) patients with CDAI >10 at baseline, 115 (30%) attained LDA. Patients not attaining LDA had higher surgery risk, DME use and MDHAQ scores. Of 200 (31%) patients with LDA at baseline and 1 year, 89 (45%) achieved remission, 79 (40%) very LDA and 32 (16%) LDA. Remission was associated with reduced DME use (adjusted OR (AOR) 5.4 (95% CI 1.9 to 15.4) at year 1 and AOR 4.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 11.1) at year 2) and improved MDHAQ scores compared with LDA (overall unadjusted mean 0.07 vs 0.5 at year 1 and 0.09 vs 0.4 at year 2; p
Achieving and maintaining LDA is challenging for patients with RA but leads to better functional outcomes and reduced DME use. Patients who achieve remission have further improvements.
With an ageing population, understanding leading causes of hospitalisation in older adults is critical for care strategies. These leading causes may vary across residential settings and by seasonal patterns. This study examines the temporal trends of leading causes of hospitalisation among older adults in community-dwelling and nursing home settings, specifically comparing patterns during winter and summer seasons.
A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from Hong Kong public hospitals (2012–2018) was conducted for three million adults aged ≥65. Age-standardised and sex-standardised monthly hospitalisation rates and average annual percentage change (AAPC, representing the average yearly percentage change in rates) were examined for leading causes during summer and winter across settings.
Among community-dwelling individuals, the top five causes in 2018 were symptoms, signs and abnormalities not classified elsewhere (NEC), neoplasms, genitourinary, circulatory and respiratory diseases in winter, with digestive diseases replacing respiratory diseases in summer. Symptoms, signs and abnormalities NEC (AAPC: 2.7% (95% CI 1.8% to 3.6%) in winter; 3.4% (2.8% to 4.0%) in summer), neoplasms (2.4% (1.4% to 3.4%) in winter; 2.5% (1.6% to 3.4%) in summer), genitourinary (2.5% (2.1% to 2.9%) in winter; 2.4% (1.8% to 3.0%) in summer) and digestive diseases (2.5% (1.6% to 3.3%) in winter; 2.6% (1.7% to 3.5%) in summer) increased, while circulatory diseases decreased in winter. In nursing home residents, the top five causes in 2018 were respiratory diseases, symptoms, signs and abnormalities NEC, genitourinary, circulatory and digestive diseases in winter and summer. Symptoms, signs and abnormalities NEC increased (2.9% (0.9% to 5.0%) in winter; 2.9% (0.8% to 5.1%) in summer), while circulatory diseases declined across seasons. Genitourinary diseases remained stable across seasons, whereas digestive diseases declined in winter.
In Hong Kong’s ageing population, seasonal and temporal shifts in hospitalisation causes were observed. Symptoms, signs and abnormalities NEC emerged as the top two causes across settings, highlighting challenges for primary care and hospital management and need for enhanced prevention and care strategies.
Turnover intention among nurses is a well-established predictor of actual turnover. Despite the critical nursing shortages during COVID-19, the relative contributions of individual and organisational factors to increased turnover intention remain insufficiently understood.
This study aimed to identify the determinants of turnover intention among clinical nurses at both individual and organisational levels and to evaluate the independent effects of these factors in infectious situations.
This study conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected in Hong Kong between April 2020 and September 2021.
A convenience sample of 188 Chinese registered nurses in Hong Kong was recruited. The survey assessed questions on demographic, organisational and workplace violence-related characteristics, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and the Anticipated Turnover Scale. Univariable and structured multi-phase linear regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors and to evaluate the influence of individual- and organisational-level factors. The study followed the STROBE checklist for reporting cross-sectional studies.
The regression model, incorporating individual- and organisational-level factors, explained 22.68% of the variance in turnover intention. Individual-level factors associated with increased turnover intention included younger age, high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and low use of accommodation coping strategies. Organisational-level factors included exposure to workplace violence and insufficient support for reporting such incidents.
This study underscores the significance of minimising workplace violence and enhancing workplace safety, in addition to addressing individual-level factors, to reduce nurses' turnover intention—particularly in the context of future pandemics and epidemics.
These findings provide insights into the factors influencing clinical nurses' turnover intention, supporting the development and implementation of targeted clinical protocols and regulations to address modifiable factors and promote a sustainable nursing workforce.
No patient or public contribution.
by Peesit Leelasawatsuk, Pasawat Supanimitjaroenporn, Nattida Rodsom, Theepat Wongkittithaworn, Manupol Tangthongkum
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prevalent in Thailand, with a substantial proportion of cases diagnosed at advanced stages. The standard treatment, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, is associated with considerable adverse effects, which may compromise therapeutic efficacy and diminish patients’ quality of life. While vitamin C has shown potential in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicities in some cancers, its effects in nasopharyngeal carcinoma remain unclear. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy were assigned to receive either 2 g of intravenous vitamin C or placebo prior to chemotherapy. The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects—including nausea, anorexia, mucositis, diarrhea, and dysphagia—did not differ significantly between groups. However, longitudinal analysis demonstrated a significantly attenuated decline in platelet counts in the vitamin C group compared with placebo. Although intravenous vitamin C did not reduce gastrointestinal toxicities, the observed platelet preservation suggests a potential supportive effect that warrants further investigation. Trial registration The study was registered with the Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20190316003) on March 16, 2019.Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale Version 3.0 (POSAS 3.0) is a robust instrument for scar evaluation. Currently, no validated POSAS 3.0 in the Malay language is available. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate POSAS 3.0 for Malay-speaking populations in Malaysia. Malaysian patients were recruited between 31 October 2023, to 31 December 2024. Translation was conducted using a forward and backward translation approach. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test–retest. Face validity was addressed with 10 patients, and content validity was evaluated by four clinical specialists. Content validity was evaluated using the item-content validity index (I-CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Seventy-eight participants with facial (n = 39, 50.0%) and non-facial (n = 39, 50.0%) soft tissue scars were recruited for the EFA. The Malay POSAS-O demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.75) and excellent inter-rater reliability, with item-level intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCs) ranging from 0.91 to 1.00 and total score ICC of 0.99. Agreement for categorical scar severity ratings was almost perfect (κ = 0.89). The Malay POSAS-P showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.89), and test–retest reliability for the total score was good to excellent (ICC = 0.89). Intermittent symptom items (painful, shooting, burning and fragile) exhibited lower stability, reflecting natural symptom variability. Content validity was excellent, with all items achieving I-CVI and CVR values of 1.00. EFA supported construct validity, with adequate Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) values (POSAS-O: 0.88; POSAS-P: 0.85), significant Bartlett's tests, strong communalities and factor loadings. The cumulative variance explained was 79.05% for POSAS-O and 68.19% for POSAS-P. The Malay version of the POSAS 3.0 is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate instrument for scar assessment. Its strong psychometric properties support its application in clinical practice and research involving Malay-speaking populations.
by Metha Yaikwawong, Khanittha Kamdee, Kasarnchon Mek-yong, Somlak Chuengsamarn
This work aimed to clarify how polymorphisms in the TNF gene relate to metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and a broad spectrum of cardiometabolic characteristics, while also determining their impact on circulating TNF‑α concentrations. A total of 765 participants were genotyped for rs1800629 and rs361525, and serum TNF-α was also measured. To assess these relationships, multivariable logistic regression models—incorporating age, sex, and body mass index (BMI)—were applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Both variants were significantly associated with MetS: rs1800629 (crude OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.45–3.44, P P P = 0.035; adjusted OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.17–7.31, P = 0.025). The rs1800629 variant was also linked to T2DM risk (adjusted OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.35–5.24, P = 0.006), whereas rs361525 showed no such association. Carriers of rs1800629 had higher mean TNF-α levels (PColchicine has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and may improve outcomes in arteriovenous fistulas used for haemodialysis due to antiproliferative effects. However, it is often avoided in patients receiving dialysis. Therefore, a large trial assessing the potential benefits of colchicine in dialysis patients cannot begin without further data on feasibility. The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility of carrying out future trials of colchicine in dialysis patients.
This is an open-label, single centre, single arm study with 100 participants. The primary outcome is feasibility and the decision to progress to a full-scale trial. This will be based on the consent rate and the colchicine discontinuation rate. Secondary objectives are testing the feasibility of data collection procedures relating to quality-of-life measures, vascular access interventions and safety. Other secondary objectives are to assess the utility of the electronic health record for collecting trial data and to explore patients’ and healthcare providers’ experiences and attitudes towards colchicine and a feasibility study.
The study has Research Ethics Committee approval (Wales REC 6; 24/WA/0277). It is intended that the results of the study will be reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
To explore the views of healthcare practitioners in Britain regarding the role of midwives and nurses in the delivery of medical and surgical abortion.
An observational study of the Shaping Abortion for Change study healthcare practitioner survey (2021–2022).
Relationships between healthcare practitioner type, participant characteristics, knowledge of and attitudes towards abortion, and views about nurses' and midwives' role in abortion care were examined using Pearson's Chi-squared tests of association and multivariable logistic regression.
Amongst 763 participants including doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists, 71.6% supported specialist nurses in sexual and reproductive health and abortion clinics and hospitals, expanding their roles to include prescribing abortion medications and surgical abortion methods. Support was lower for midwives (35.8%) and primary care nurses (32.5%). There was considerable support for all nursing and midwifery groups to be involved in adjacent tasks of abortion care. Differences in support by healthcare practitioner type persisted after adjustment for exposure variables.
There is strong support for specialist nurses to expand their role in abortion care. This change could be implemented following clarification of the legal position. Some healthcare practitioner groups are more reluctant to support broader involvement of nurses and midwives in abortion provision.
Expanding specialist nurses' role in abortion care could increase service capacity and improve patient access and experience. Understanding and addressing the concerns of healthcare practitioners opposing this change is critical for successful implementation and patient safety.
This study addresses the potential for nurse and midwife role expansion in abortion care. The findings highlight broad support for specialist nurses whilst identifying barriers to wider role expansion. The research informs policy discussions on workforce optimisation and access to abortion services across Britain.
This study adheres to the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies.
In the SACHA study, patient and public involvement was included at all stages to inform study design, recruitment, data collection and analysis.
by Jacqueline Muts, Danée Knevel, Dick den Hertog, Rachel K. Wong, Timothy C.Y. Chan, Britt J. van Keulen, Johannes B. van Goudoever, Chris H.P. van den Akker
Background and aimsThe macronutrient composition of donor human milk (DHM) can vary substantially due to several factors such as maternal age, diet, and lactation duration. However, consistent macronutrient levels in DHM facilitate the administration of the required amounts to preterm infants. The current pooling strategy at most human milk banks combines milk from different batches from a single donor. This study aims to stabilize the macronutrient quality of DHM by pooling milk from different donors by utilizing machine learning prediction and optimisation techniques.
MethodsThe current pooling strategy is compared with a new theoretical approach that pools milk batches from up to 5 donors. To predict the crude protein and energy content, we used the following variables: body mass index, the donor’s diet (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), maternal age, full-term or preterm delivery, lactation stage, and volume pumped. These predictions are then used within an optimisation model to create milk pools that minimize the deviations from the target macronutrient levels (1.0 g protein/100 mL and 70 kcal/100 mL).
ResultsThe prediction model is based on 2236 created single-donor pools from 480 donors. Random forest regression models provided the most accurate predictions of macronutrient content. The new pooling strategy using multiple donors shows reduced deviations from target values compared to the current single-donor approach (average total absolute deviation 0.402 versus 0.664).
ConclusionThis study proves the potential of data-driven methods to improve operational efficiency in human milk banks, and improving the consistency of donor human milk.
Ensuring equity in medical specialist distribution is essential for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). This study explored the changes in the availability and distribution of medical specialists in Thailand from 2015 to 2024 and assessed the equity impacts on workforce.
A retrospective longitudinal analysis of national administrative workforce data.
Public and private hospitals across Thailand, covering 1471 facilities in 77 provinces.
The primary outcomes were specialist-to-population ratios and geographical equity measured using the Gini coefficient (G), where values closer to 0 indicate greater equity. Explanatory variables included specialty type, geographical region and the timing of major workforce policies, including mandatory service and specialty-specific legislative interventions.
Between 2015 and 2024, the GPs and specialists in Thailand expanded significantly, with improvements in both density and distribution. The Gini coefficient for GPs showed the largest equity improvement (G=0.42 in 2015 and G=0.22 in 2024), reflecting the impact of mandatory service programme and rural recruitment programmes. Among specialists, emergency and family medicine have shown rapid growth and significant reductions in distribution inequity, reflecting the success of legislative policies. Sustainability of workforce policies was challenged by the ‘leaking stock’ phenomenon due to attraction of career opportunities and economic drives.
Workforce targeted interventions have led to improvements in the availability and equitable distribution of GPs and medical specialists over the past decade. Further policy, such as retention incentives and assisted technology, is needed to achieve equitable distribution across all specialties, particularly in low-density fields. Thailand’s experience offers the lessons for other low- and middle-income countries as the evidence-based and equity-focused workforce policies for UHC advancement.
FreshRSS 