Conectar
To examine the personal characteristics, promoting factors and organisational barriers to the professional realisation of diabetes nurse practitioners in Israel.
A descriptive study using quantitative and qualitative data.
The participants self-completed an electronic questionnaire, which included questions on demographic and professional characteristics and a self-realisation questionnaire constructed by the authors. Researcher-led focus groups were conducted, guided by a semi-structured guide. The discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed by qualitative methods.
Forty-one diabetes nurse practitioners (median age 50 years, 98% females) participated in the study. On average, the participants reported a relatively high self-realisation of their professional role, especially those who have been working in this role for many years. While some of them work independently and are supported by their organisation, their managers and other healthcare team members, specifically physicians, many feel that there are barriers to the full implementation of the role and achieving professional realisation. These include multitasking challenges and insufficient remuneration. Self-realisation was viewed by the participants as an opportunity to provide excellent care to patients as well as being professional beyond caring for patients. They wanted to expand their knowledge as well as guide and teach. Furthermore, they also associated self-realisation with the autonomy to carry out procedures and make decisions independently of physicians. Internal motivation was perceived as an important factor for personal self-realisation, which stems from personal creativity, aspiration for excellence, a subjective sense of freedom, self-guidance, desire for self-development and aspiration for personal growth at the highest levels.
Recognition and fostering of diabetes nurse practitioners' role contribute to nurses' self-realisation and professional growth.
Personal and organisational factors should be aligned to support diabetes nurse practitioners in delivering high-quality care to patients with diabetes.
COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research).
No patient or public contribution.
The study aims to investigate patients' perceptions of recurrence risk associated with atrial fibrillation, with the goal of establishing a theoretical foundation for developing future measurement scale and intervention strategies.
A qualitative interview study.
Seventeen patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation at a Grade-A tertiary hospital participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted between October and December 2024. Participants were selected via purposive sampling. The data were analysed employing thematic analysis in accordance with Colaizzi's method. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist.
The perceptions of recurrence risk among patients with atrial fibrillation can be summarised into five themes: (1) perceived likelihood of recurrence, (2) perceived severity of recurrence, (3) perceived triggers of recurrence, (4) emotional reaction to recurrence, and (5) efficacy perception of managing recurrence risk.
Perceptions of recurrence risk among patients with atrial fibrillation are diverse and often underestimated due to limited knowledge and subjective symptom interpretation, affecting health behaviours. Understanding patients' subjective appraisals, emotions, and perceived efficacy is essential. Validated assessment tools and tailored risk communication may enhance self-management and support targeted interventions.
This study provides critical insights into how atrial fibrillation patients perceive their risk of recurrence. It also provides a theoretical foundation for creating validated assessment tools and tailoring individualised health education and intervention programmes.
Patients were involved in the study design, data collection, and interpretation of findings. Their contributions included providing feedback on the initial interview guide to ensure relevance and clarity, participating in in-depth interviews to share their lived experiences with atrial fibrillation recurrence, and offering reflections on key themes emerging from the data.
To assess career satisfaction among Chinese nurses, explore influencing factors, and examine the mediating role of role breadth self-efficacy (RBSE) in the relationship between subjective age and career satisfaction.
A multi-centre, cross-sectional study.
Between June and October 2024, 2033 questionnaires were distributed to nurses across seven geographic regions in China, collecting data on demographics, subjective age, RBSE, and career satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear stepwise regression, and path analysis were used to identify determinants of career satisfaction and test the mediating effect of RBSE.
The effective response rate was 97%. Chinese nurses reported moderate-to-high career satisfaction, younger subjective age relative to chronological age, and moderate RBSE levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis identified education level, work institution, salary, weekly working hours, subjective age, and RBSE as significant predictors of career satisfaction. Path analysis revealed a significant negative association between subjective age and career satisfaction (β = −0.23, p < 0.001), which was partially mediated by RBSE (indirect effect = −0.11, 95% CI: −0.18 to −0.05).
The career satisfaction of Chinese nurses is at a moderately high level; the influencing factors include the intensity of nursing work and salary levels. There is a certain difference between the subjective age and the chronological age of Chinese nurses. RBSE partly mediates the relationship between subjective age and career satisfaction.
Valuing the breadth of nurses' roles, self-efficacy, and subjective age may help improve job satisfaction.
What problem did the study address?: This study elucidates the present level of career satisfaction among nurses in China and the variables affecting it. What were the main findings?: The subjective age of Chinese nurses influences career satisfaction, with RBSE partly mediating the connection between subjective age and career satisfaction. Where and on whom will the research have an impact?: This study presents novel variables of subjective age and RBSE in the investigation of factors influencing career satisfaction among Chinese nurses, offering new avenues for enhancing career satisfaction in this demographic in the future.
We adhered to STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional research.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
This study aimed to examine the level of vicarious posttraumatic growth among intensive care unit nurses in China and explore the mediating role of death coping ability in the relationship between moral resilience and vicarious posttraumatic growth.
A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines.
Between January and March 2025, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 666 intensive care unit nurses from nine tertiary Grade A hospitals across five provinces in China. Participants completed three standardised instruments: the Rushton Moral Resilience Scale, the Coping with Death Scale–Short Version, and the Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. We used IBM SPSS 27.0 for descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and correlation analyses, and employed AMOS 27.0 to perform structural equation modelling for testing mediation effects.
Intensive care unit nurses demonstrated a moderate level of vicarious posttraumatic growth. Moral resilience was positively associated with both death coping ability and vicarious posttraumatic growth. Death coping ability was found to play a partial mediating role in the relationship between moral resilience and vicarious posttraumatic growth.
Moral resilience and death coping ability are key factors associated with vicarious posttraumatic growth among intensive care unit nurses. Nurses with stronger moral resilience are more likely to cope constructively with death-related stress, which may support psychological growth in trauma-intensive environments.
This study highlights the need to enhance intensive care unit nurses' moral and emotional capacities through ethics education, emotional coping training, and institutional support strategies. Strengthening these competencies may foster professional development and mental wellbeing in critical care settings.
by Linlin Bao, Haibo Zhao, Haiyue Ren, Chong Wang, Su Fang
Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) play critical roles in adult hair regeneration, owing to its self-renewal and multipotent differentiation properties. Emerging evidence has shown that long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are implicated in biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. However, the specific role of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 in regulating HFSCs remains unclear. To explore the effect of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 on HFSCs, stable LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 overexpression and knockdown HFSCs were established using a lentivirus vector system. The effect of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 on proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and EdU incorporation experiments. The differentiation of HFSCs into neurons and keratinocyte stem cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. We showed that LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 overexpression promoted the proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in HFSCs. High levels of LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 promoted the differentiation of HFSCs into CD34+K15+ keratinocyte progenitors and CD34+Nestin+neuron-specific enolase (NSE)+ neural stem cells. Additionally, LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 increased fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression and the subsequent activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These data demonstrated that LncRNA RP11-818O24.3 promotes self-renewal, differentiation, and the capability to inhibit apoptosis of HFSCs via FGF2 mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, highlighting its potential role as a therapeutic strategy for treating hair loss diseases.by Xinyu Zhang, Yoo Jung Oh, Yunhan Zhang, Jianfeng Zhu
The digital age has fueled a surge in ADHD self-diagnosis as people turn to online platforms for mental health information. However, the relationship between validation-seeking behaviors and self-perception in these online communities and users’ self-perception has received limited scholarly focus. Drawing on self-verification theory and utilizing natural language processing to analyze 452,026 posts from the r/ADHD subreddit, our study uncovers distinct patterns in validation-seeking behaviors. Results show that (a) self-diagnosed individuals with ADHD are more likely to seek social validation and media validation and to report higher levels of negative self-image and internalized stigma than clinically diagnosed individuals, (b) social validation was strongly associated with both positive and negative self-perceptions; and (c) diagnosis status significantly moderated these relationships, such that the effects of social validation on self-image and stigma were consistently weaker for the self-diagnosed group. Theoretically, this study extends self-verification theory by demonstrating that professional verification hierarchically moderates self-verification effectiveness. This implies a practical need for clinicians to acknowledge online validation seeking and for digital communities to affirm user experiences while mitigating stigma.Global urbanisation is intensifying alongside steadily expanding older adult populations. The resulting air pollution profoundly impacts human health by exacerbating diseases, particularly among vulnerable elderly groups. Evidence demonstrates that green spaces mitigate air pollutant effects on health. Recent studies indicate green space exposure benefits older adults physiologically, psychologically and socially. However, existing systematic reviews have not synthesised the health impacts on this demographic. Consequently, this protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate how green space exposure affects health outcomes in older adults.
This systematic review protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy will be applied across: (1) electronic databases (eg, PubMed, Web of Science), (2) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and (3) the Guidelines International Network database. Grey literature will be searched via GreyNet International, covering records from each database’s inception to November 2024. The study will analyse associations between green space exposure and health outcomes in older adults. Two researchers will independently screen literature, extract data and assess risk of bias. Heterogeneity will be assessed with a focus on study design, exposure variables and outcome measures. If sufficient homogeneity exists, a meta-analysis will be undertaken; otherwise, a narrative synthesis will be performed.
This study requires no ethics approval because it uses publicly available data from published studies. The completed review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated at relevant conferences.
PROSPERO (CRD42024619700).
Chronic venous disease, particularly lower extremity varicose veins (VVs) and incompetent perforating veins (IPVs), is a prevalent condition associated with significant morbidity, including venous ulcers and post-surgical recurrence. Current diagnostic modalities for IPVs—such as digital subtraction angiography, CT venography, magnetic resonance venography and conventional ultrasound—are limited by ionising radiation, operator dependency or inadequate spatial resolution. Ultrasound tomography (UT), an emerging automated 3D imaging technology, offers comparable resolution, wider field of view and reduced operator bias compared with conventional ultrasound. Preliminary studies suggest UT improves IPV detection rates, yet its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility remain unvalidated in large-scale trials. This study aims to evaluate UT’s diagnostic performance and its impact on surgical outcomes in a paired-design and randomised controlled trial (RCT), addressing a critical gap in non-invasive venous assessment.
This study combines a paired diagnostic trial and a prospective, triple-blind RCT. In the paired trial (n=84), patients with VVs (Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological C2–C5) receive both conventional ultrasound and UT combined with Doppler examination to compare IPV detection sensitivity against surgical findings. The RCT (n=264) randomises patients to conventional ultrasound group (control group) or conventional ultrasound＋UT group (intervention group). After examination, all patients undergo standardised treatment (radiofrequency ablation with sclerotherapy and selective IPV ligation), with follow-up extending to 5 years. The primary endpoint is 1-year recurrence rates and secondary endpoints, including 3-month, 3-year and 5-year recurrence rates, as well as Venous Clinical Severity Scores, quality of life and Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire scores.
The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital (approval number: 2024-132). Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant, and final results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
The study has been registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), identifier: ChiCTR2500097289.
Until now, there has still been a lack of sufficient evidence on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) measured by the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in China. This study aims to comprehensively assess EQ-5D outcomes and influencing factors in Chinese patients with SLE.
A multicentre, cross-sectional study based on the Chinese Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment and Research Group registry.
101 hospitals across 27 provinces of China.
1336 patients with SLE.
The information on EQ-5D was collected via an online questionnaire. Medical records were obtained from the Chinese Rheumatology Data Centre (CRDC). Clinical influencing factors related to the reported health problems were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Then, each health state was converted into a health utility score based on the Chinese 2014 tariff. Given the ceiling effects, Tobit regression models were used to analyse the factors influencing health utility scores.
A total of 1336 patients with SLE were included. Of them, 626 patients (46.9%) reported health problems using EQ-5D. The proportions of patients reporting problems in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were 12.80%, 5.24%, 14.90%, 27.47% and 30.46%, respectively. The mean utility score was 0.89 (SD: 0.15), and the mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS
EQ-5D may be a useful, preference-based PRO measure for SLE and could potentially be integrated into routine clinical monitoring of patients with SLE and applied in economic evaluations in the future.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a standard treatment for coronary artery disease, particularly in patients with multivessel disease. Connecting the saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) instead of the aorta has been proposed as an alternative approach to minimise aortic manipulation and potentially improve graft patency. This study aims to determine whether the RIMA-SVG technique is non-inferior to the conventional Aorta (Ao)-SVG approach in terms of 1-year graft patency, while also comparing perioperative complications and short-term clinical outcomes.
This non-inferiority, single-centre, prospective, double-blind, randomised clinical trial will enrol 300 patients undergoing CABG. Participants will be randomised into two surgical groups (RIMA-SVG vs Ao-SVG). The primary outcome is the 1-year SVG patency rate, assessed using coronary CT angiography. Secondary outcomes include perioperative complications, all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and surgical site infections occurring during hospitalisation and up to 1 year postoperatively. Randomisation will be computer-generated, and all procedures will be performed by experienced surgeons. Patients will be followed up 12 months post-surgery. Non-inferiority will be established if the upper bound of the one-sided 97.5% CI for the difference in graft occlusion rates is less than the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 10%.
This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Jilin University (No. 460) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06787651). All participants will provide written informed consent before enrolment. To ensure data integrity and minimise bias, randomisation details will be concealed from researchers until surgery, and data analysts will remain blinded to group assignments. The findings will be disseminated through academic journals and conference presentations to promote knowledge sharing and clinical application in the field of cardiovascular surgery.
To evaluate the association between the stress hyperglycaemia ratio (SHR) and baseline stroke severity in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and to investigate whether the relationship is non-linear.
Retrospective cohort study.
A tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province, China.
1479 consecutive AIS patients admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset between 2016 and 2022.
SHR was calculated as fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) divided by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c, %). Stroke severity was assessed by the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and categorised as mild (NIHSS ≤5) or moderate to severe (NIHSS >5). Associations between SHR and stroke severity were examined using multivariable logistic regression, generalised additive models and threshold effect analysis.
Patients with more severe strokes had significantly higher SHR values (median 0.99 vs 0.94; p
SHR is independently associated with greater stroke severity at admission. Values below 1.3 may reflect heightened metabolic stress and could help inform early risk stratification in AIS management, but their discriminative power is limited and should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical indicators.
by Ping Guo, Yuwen Liu, Xiaomi Huang, Yanfang Zeng, Zhonglan Cai, Guang Tu
BackgroundAcute pulmonary edema is a severe clinical condition with high mortality. The anion gap, reflecting metabolic acid-base disturbances, is often elevated in critically ill patients. However, its relationship with outcomes in acute pulmonary edema remains unclear.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between admission anion gap levels and 28-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute pulmonary edema.
MethodsThis retrospective cohort study utilized data from the MIMIC-IV database (2008–2019) and included adult patients with acute pulmonary edema. Patients were categorized into quartiles based on anion gap levels. Cox regression models analyzed the relationship between anion gap and mortality, with restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and subgroup analyses.
ResultsA total of 1094 patients were included. Univariate Cox regression showed a positive correlation between anion gap levels and 28-day mortality (HR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.09–1.17, P P P Conclusion
Admission anion gap levels predict 28-day all-cause mortality in acute pulmonary edema patients, particularly in younger patients and those without renal disease. Clinically, anion gap monitoring should be emphasized, and individualized prognostic and treatment strategies should be developed with factors like age and renal status to improve outcomes.
by Haoyang Zhou, Jinfeng Yang, Na Li, Jinying Li, Jianxin Ran, Yan Zheng, Yifan Long, Fang Cheng, Yuanpeng Liao
BackgroundSarcopenia is an age-associated disorder characterized by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function. The condition is linked to low levels of anabolic hormones such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), with its downstream phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3) signaling pathway. There is growing evidence that resistance training (RT) or vibration training (VT) could improve physical functioning in individuals with sarcopenia. However, the related physiological influence of exercise on sarcopenia remains elusive.
MethodThis prospective randomized controlled trial will be conducted among 96 participants, aged between 65 and 80 years. In participants, sarcopenia diagnosis will be confirmed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria, and participants will be randomized into either control, RT, VT, or RVT (combined RT and VT) groups. The intervention will last 12 weeks, with assessments performed at baseline, 12 weeks (after intervention), and 24 weeks (follow-up). The primary outcomes will include skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, and gait speed. Secondary outcomes comprise IGF-1 concentrations, PI3K/AKT and FOXO3 protein activity, quality of life, and timed-up-and-go test performance assessments.
DiscussionThis clinical study aims to elucidate the potential modulation of molecular mechanisms in vivo for combined RT and VT in sarcopenia patients and to identify the effects of the intervention on physical function.
Trial registrationChiCTR, ChiCTR2400083643. Registered on April 29, 2024.
Sepsis and antibiotic resistance constitute a deadly synergy, causing the loss of millions of lives across the world, with their economic and developmental consequences posing a threat to global prosperity. Their impact is disproportionately felt in resource-limited settings and among vulnerable populations, especially children. A key challenge is prompt diagnosis and timely commencement of appropriate antibiotic therapies. These challenges are compounded in low-income and middle-income countries by a lack of comprehensive epidemiological data, with Nigeria being one such country for which it is lacking. Kaduna is the third largest state in Nigeria, with over 10 million inhabitants, of whom more than half are children under 14 years old. While bacterial sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are recognised as a growing problem in the state, there are huge gaps in the current understanding of their aetiology. This project employs a cross-sectional design to investigate the clinical and haematological markers of paediatric sepsis, alongside determining the bacterial cause and prevalence of AMR at four high-turnover hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Further, whole-genome sequencing of isolated bacterial pathogens will be performed to determine the genetic features of resistance. This project represents the largest surveillance study of paediatric sepsis in Kaduna to date. Additionally, we aim to use the clinical, haematological, microbiological and genomic data to derive predictive models for sepsis causes, treatment strategies and patient outcomes.
This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional study that will recruit up to 461 children with bacterial sepsis who were admitted at the two teaching and two general hospitals in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Children presenting with features of fever, subnormal temperature and body weakness would be recruited into the study and have their blood samples collected. The blood samples will be used for culture, complete blood count, HIV and malaria testing. Accordingly, we will capture clinical presentation, haematological characteristics, causative pathogen from blood culture and patient outcomes. Nutritional status, known congenital immunosuppressive diseases, HIV infection and malaria infection will also be determined and documented. The bacterial isolates will be phenotypically characterised for AMR and genotypically following whole genome sequencing. Known and potential confounders to the outcomes of bacterial sepsis would be assessed in all participants, and adjustment for confounding would be performed using logistic regression and/or stratification±Mantel-Haenszel estimator where applicable.
Ethical approvals were granted by the University of Birmingham (ERN_2115-Jun2024), the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTHZ/HREC/H45/2023), Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna (NHREC/30/11/21A) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health (MOH/AD M/744/VOL.1/1110018). The study will be conducted using the international guidelines for good clinical practice and based on the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The results will be disseminated via oral and poster presentations in scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journal articles.
We will recruit 478 paediatric patients with newly diagnosed IgAV across multiple centres. Participants will undergo prospective longitudinal assessment at disease onset and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postdiagnosis. Standardised evaluations will include clinical manifestations, physical examinations, laboratory parameters and patient-reported outcomes. The data will be analysed statistically with SPSS software (V.27.0), adopting a significance threshold of p
This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (2024-K0480), the Ethics Committee of the First People’s Hospital of Yulin (YLSY-IRB-SR-2025060), the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Liuzhou Workers’ Hospital (KY2024356) and the Ethics Committee of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (No. (2025–1)003) and written informed consent was obtained from all the parents or guardians of the patients involved. It will be disseminated by publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentation in abstract form at national and international scientific meetings.
ChiCTR2500099716.
To systematically identify and appraise existing risk prediction models for EN aspiration in adult inpatients.
A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and VIP Database from inception to 1 March 2025.
Systematic review of observational studies.
Two researchers independently performed literature screening and data extraction using the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS). The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) was employed to evaluate both the risk of bias and the clinical applicability of the included models.
A total of 17 articles, encompassing 29 prediction models, were included. The incidence of aspiration was 9.45%–57.00%. Meta-analysis of high-frequency predictors identified the following significant predictors of aspiration: history of aspiration, depth of endotracheal intubation, impaired consciousness, sedation use, nutritional risk, mechanical ventilation and gastric residual volume (GRV). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.771–0.992. Internal validation was performed in 12 studies, while both internal and external validation were conducted in 5 studies. All studies demonstrated a high risk of bias, primarily attributed to retrospective design, geographic bias (all from different parts of China), inadequate data analysis, insufficient validation strategies and lack of transparency in the research process.
Current risk prediction models for enteral nutrition-associated aspiration show moderate to high discriminative accuracy but suffer from critical methodological limitations, including retrospective design, geographic bias (all models derived from Chinese cohorts, limiting global generalisability) and inconsistent outcome definitions.
Recognising the high bias of existing models, prospective multicentre data and standardised diagnostics are needed to develop more accurate and clinically applicable predictive models for enteral nutrition malabsorption.
Not applicable.
PROSPERO: CRD420251016435
To evaluate the research capability of clinical nurses in China and identify the determinants associated with their capability.
As nursing evolves into an increasingly independent discipline, the research capability of clinical nurses has become critical for the development of the profession, advancing evidence-based practice and improving patient care quality.
A multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted using convenience sampling from September 2023 to February 2024, among clinical nurses in tertiary hospitals across three provinces in China. The Nursing Research Capability Self-Assessment Scale was used to assess the research capability of the nurses. Chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to examine factors associated with research capability. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology was followed.
A total of 1074 clinical nurses participated. The mean research capability score was 89.11 ± 27.69, reflecting a moderate level of research capability. However, two dimensions of research questions and literature review received lower scores. Multiple linear regression analysis identified that education level, professional title, administrative position and nursing job title (all p < 0.05) were independent predictors of research capability.
Clinical nurses exhibit moderate research capability, with notable deficiencies in formulating research questions and conducting literature reviews. Key factors influencing research capability include education, professional title, administrative position, and job title. Targeted training and development programmes should address these factors to enhance nurses' research competence and advance nursing science.
The waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) are associated with arterial stiffness (AS), yet there is limited research on this topic in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to investigate the relationship between WHR, WHtR and AS in patients with T2DM.
This cross-sectional study used data from patients with T2DM enrolled in the Metabolic Disease Management Center (MMC) at Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University between May 2020 and October 2023.
A total of 3201 patients were collected, and after applying the exclusion criteria, data from 3006 patients were finally analysed.
The primary outcome of AS was assessed using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).
After adjusting for gender and age, there was an increasing trend in baPWV across the quartiles of WHR and WHtR. In the multivariate regression analysis adjusting for confounding factors, it was observed that for each one-unit increase in the WHR z-score, baPWV increased by 18.1 cm/s (95% CI: 7.8 to 28.4). Similarly, for each one-unit increase in the WHtR z-score, baPWV increased by 28.6 cm/s (95% CI: 16.6 to 40.6). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, after fully adjusting for confounding factors, it was found that for every one-unit increase in the WHR z-score, the OR for elevated baPWV was 1.2 (95% CI: 1.1 to 1.4). Similarly, for every one-unit increase in the WHtR z-score, the OR for elevated baPWV was 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1 to 1.5). According to the generalised additive model, we found that WHR and WHtR were positively correlated with baPWV and elevated baPWV. Subgroup analysis revealed that elevated WHR and WHtR are significant predictors of AS, with this association being substantially amplified by poor glycaemic control (glycated haemoglobin ≥7%).
In Chinese patients with T2DM, both WHR and WHtR are positively and independently associated with baPWV and the presence of elevated baPWV.
FreshRSS 