Healthcare Research Research Articles

Association of sleep duration with obesity in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Research on sleep duration and obesity is extensive in children and young individuals but limited and inconsistent for older adults. Our study aims to clarify the current status of this association in the elderly population. We searched six English and four Chinese databases up to January 25, 2024, for observational studies on sleep duration and obesity in older adults. Two researchers independently conducted the literature search and data extraction. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for cross-sectional studies. Meta-analyses were performed using Stata 15.0 software, using both random-effects and fixed-effects models to calculate pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The meta-analysis of 15 studies found a correlation between short sleep duration and obesity in older individuals (pooled odds ratio, 1.40 [95% CI: 1.12-1.73]; P = 0.003). However, no significant correlation was found between long sleep duration and obesity among the elderly (pooled odds ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.95-1.13]; P = 0.426). Short sleep duration in the elderly was associated with obesity. More prospective studies need to be included in the future to improve the reliability of the conclusions. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Implications of Big Data Analytics, AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning in the Health Care System of Bangladesh: Scoping Review.

The rapid advancement of digital technologies, particularly in big data analytics (BDA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL), is reshaping the global health care system, including in Bangladesh. The increased adoption of these technologies in health care delivery within Bangladesh has sparked their integration into health care and public health research, resulting in a noticeable surge in related studies. However, a critical gap exists, as there is a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding the research landscape; regulatory challenges; use cases; and the application and adoption of BDA, AI, ML, and DL in the health care system of Bangladesh. This gap impedes the attainment of optimal results. As Bangladesh is a leading implementer of digital technologies, bridging this gap is urgent for the effective use of these advancing technologies. This scoping review aims to collate (1) the existing research in Bangladesh's health care system, using the aforementioned technologies and synthesizing their findings, and (2) the limitations faced by researchers in integrating the aforementioned technologies into health care research. MEDLINE (via PubMed), IEEE Xplore, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched to identify published research articles between January 1, 2000, and September 10, 2023, meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) any study using any of the BDA, AI, ML, and DL technologies and health care and public health datasets for predicting health issues and forecasting any kind of outbreak; (2) studies primarily focusing on health care and public health issues in Bangladesh; and (3) original research articles published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings written in English. With the initial search, we identified 1653 studies. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria and full-text review, 4.66% (77/1653) of the articles were finally included in this review. There was a substantial increase in studies over the last 5 years (2017-2023). Among the 77 studies, the majority (n=65, 84%) used ML models. A smaller proportion of studies incorporated AI (4/77, 5%), DL (7/77, 9%), and BDA (1/77, 1%) technologies. Among the reviewed articles, 52% (40/77) relied on primary data, while the remaining 48% (37/77) used secondary data. The primary research areas of focus were infectious diseases (15/77, 19%), noncommunicable diseases (23/77, 30%), child health (11/77, 14%), and mental health (9/77, 12%). This scoping review highlights remarkable progress in leveraging BDA, AI, ML, and DL within Bangladesh's health care system. The observed surge in studies over the last 5 years underscores the increasing significance of AI and related technologies in health care research. Notably, most (65/77, 84%) studies focused on ML models, unveiling opportunities for advancements in predictive modeling. This review encapsulates the current state of technological integration and propels us into a promising era for the future of digital Bangladesh.

Public views on open data health research in Switzerland: Implications for research and policy

Abstract Background The increasing volume of publicly available data offers health researchers opportunities to explore public sentiment through open data research on issues such as vaccination hesitancy and fake news propagation. To ensure ethical conduct and maintain public trust, assessing public perceptions of open data research in healthcare is crucial. Methods We conducted 10 focus groups across the German, French, and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland. We presented participants with real-world examples of open data research in healthcare and guided discussions using a semi-structured format. The topic areas were: (1) using Twitter data to assess public opinion on gene-editing technology, (2) assessment of health policy documents, (3) using Twitter data to predict individual health status and (4) using YouTube data to assess public sentiment on health policies. We assessed our findings using a thematic analysis approach. Results Gathering insights from 75 citizens, four major themes emerged: (1) Expectations towards actors and open data research, such as using research findings for societal benefit, and ensuring transparency in data use through informed consent; (2) Supportive measures including communication strategies to raise awareness and inform the public about the use of publicly available data for health research; (3) Concerns about data reuse for purposes beyond the study’s objectives, especially for financial gain, and about data validity and privacy, particularly for sensitive health data; and (4) Mitigative measures to minimize harm, such as through the involvement of external oversight committees. Conclusions Our findings indicate public support for open data research in healthcare, provided that specific expectations are met. Developing a guiding framework for legitimate open data research in healthcare is a valuable next step, with a focus on enhancing public awareness through communication campaigns and providing oversight measures to foster public trust. Key messages • Open data research in healthcare relies on public data use without explicit consent, which can disconnect the research community from society. • We found that public support for open data research in healthcare is generally present, however it is also conditional on communication and policy efforts addressing their concerns.

Opportunities for nursing and midwifery research in Bulgaria

Abstract Background The training of nurses and midwives today is at university level and follows established standards. The 2009 Global Standards for the basic nursing and midwifery education of the World Health Organization requires that the curricula should include basic knowledge and skills for scientific research to implement evidence-based health care. In Bulgaria, scientific research among nurses and midwives began in 2000 and has seen more serious development in the last 5 years. Methods A content analysis of normative documents was carried out, to regulate the conduct of scientific studies and the curricula for the two specialties. Results In all documents on the activities of graduate nurses and midwives, activities related to conducting scientific studies are regulated. No mandatory discipline for these competencies is included in the basic education. In Bulgaria, there is a bachelor’s and master’s program only in Health Care Management, in which sociology, statistics, and research methodology are studied. From 2000 to 2016 nurses and midwives defended doctoral dissertations in a program for medical doctors. The first doctoral program for nurses and midwives is from 2016. There are no legal norms for stimulating and provide conducting clinical research, and to ensure evidence-based practice by nurses and midwives. Conclusions The normative regulation of scientific activity among nurses and midwives in Bulgaria corresponds to international and European requirements, but the opportunities for training are limited. The responsibility of nurses and midwives to modern society is to ensure high quality in health care provided by: a. providing opportunities for clinical studies; b. implementation of evidence-based health care and practice; c. developing programs for training for research in health care. Key messages • In Bulgaria, there is a legal norms for conducting nursing research, but not for evidence-based practice. • There is a need for more opportunities to train and encourage clinical nursing research.

The global research landscape and future trends in healthcare Total Quality Management

Total Quality Management (TQM) is instrumental in augmenting the quality and efficacy of healthcare service delivery, but a comprehensive evaluation of present and evolving TQM research trends within healthcare research articles is notably absent. This study provides an insightful view into the prevailing international scenarios and upcoming research frontiers in healthcare TQM research field, utilizing bibliometric mapping through VOSviewer. Drawing data from 360 publications in the Web of Science core citation database, it delineates a steady growth in the field over the last 30 years. Research outputs span 51 countries and regions, with notable contributions from the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Italy. The top five research institutions and numerous authors predominantly hail from the United States. Key keywords in near years encompass healthcare safety, healthcare quality assurance, quality indicators, and the application of Six Sigma management principles. This exploration serves as a pivotal reference for understanding the global research landscape and future trends in healthcare TQM, particularly in guaranteeing quality and safety. Future scientific endeavors will build upon these focus areas, exploring and connecting research gaps in more specialized fields.

Inclusive, needs-based research for addressing Health Literacy in Parents with immigrant backgrounds

Abstract Research indicates that parental health literacy is associated with child health outcomes. A 2021 study by the Norwegian Public Health Department found that certain immigrant groups struggle with health literacy due to language barriers, cultural differences in understanding of health and illness, and unfamiliarity with the Norwegian health system and services. To reduce differences in health literacy and better support parents with immigrant backgrounds to make health promoting choices for their children, and navigate the Norwegian health and social systems effectively, we need knowledge about their resources, challenges, and needs. This knowledge makes it possible to design strategies to promote parental health literacy and make health services more responsive to the needs of the population. Optimising health literacy amongst parents with immigrant backgrounds (OPAL) is a research collaboration between Oslo Metropolitan University and the Bjerke City District, one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse districts in Oslo. Applying the Optimising Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia) process, parents health professionals, and researchers work systematically together to develop knowledge of parents’ health literacy, identify priority areas for research, design and implement effective solutions in primary health care. In this presentation, we will describe how OPAL is rooted in the strategic priorities of the city district, how the project applies methods for needs identification and involves users and stakeholders at all stages. We will share experiences from planning and conducting inclusive data collection, preliminary results and describe how results will be used in development of targeted health literacy actions.

Hospital design and planning in the line of foresight of health needs

Abstract The health needs of the population are increasingly difficult to plan and predict. Technological progress, artificial intelligence, new medicines, but also ecological disasters, humanitarian crises, energy crisis and other challenges (as a Covid 19 pandemic) represent the image of our time. New design of hospitals should be able to respond to the challenges of the future: comprehensive provision of health services taking into account the patient’s needs, working conditions taking into account the hospital staff, energy efficiency and construction in accordance with high standards and reduction of CO2 emissions (green hospitals), to ensure alternative sources of electricity and water supply bearing in mind potential emergencies. The big challenge of long-term construction in which advanced technologies and new procedures cannot simply fit into a rigid building structure that is several decades old (example Serbia), so it is necessary to apply precise planning and efficient and high-quality construction in the next generation hospitals, taking into account current modern equipment and that which will appear in the future. Designing hospitals involves anticipating future healthcare challenges, technological advancements, demographic shifts, and changes in patient expectations. Hospitals emphasis on patient-centered design principles, creating environments that prioritize comfort, privacy, and dignity for patients and their families, accessibility and inclusivity, infection control and prevention, sustainability and resilience. Modern hospitals should create collaborative spaces for interdisciplinary teamwork and communication among healthcare providers, research and innovation units, but also community engagement and health promotion activities. Future hospital design requires strong multidisciplinary and cross-sectional cooperation, in which priority is given to architects dedicated to this field and their cooperation with public health and health management experts.

Addressing Semantic Variability in Clinical Outcome Reporting Using Large Language Models

Background/Objectives: Clinical trials frequently employ diverse terminologies and definitions to describe similar outcomes, leading to ambiguity and inconsistency in data interpretation. Addressing the variability in clinical outcome reports and integrating semantically similar outcomes is important in healthcare and clinical research. Variability in outcome reporting not only hinders the comparability of clinical trial results but also poses significant challenges in evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. Methods: This study investigates variability reduction in outcome measures reporting using rule-based and large language-based models. It aims to mitigate the challenges associated with variability in outcome reporting by comparing these two models. The first approach, which is rule-based, will leverage well-known ontologies, and the second approach exploits sentence-bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (SBERT) to identify semantically similar outcomes along with Generative Pre-training Transformer (GPT) to refine the results. Results: The results show that the relatively low percentages of outcomes are linked to established rule-based ontologies. Analysis of outcomes by word count highlighted the absence of ontological linkage for three-word outcomes, which indicates potential gaps in semantic representation. Conclusions: Employing large language models (LLMs), this study demonstrates its ability to identify similar outcomes, even with more than three words, suggesting a crucial role in outcome harmonization efforts, potentially reducing redundancy and enhancing data interoperability.

Risk of death, thromboembolic events, and bleeding in elderly patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Clinical Complexity who are not taking oral anticoagulation

Abstract Background Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) often exhibit Clinical Complexity (CC), defined as ≥2 features, i.e. patients aged ≥75 years plus a body mass index (BMI) < 23/kg/m2 and/or bleeding history and/or chronic kidney disease. No data are available about the clinical course of patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and CC who are not taking oral anticoagulation (OAC). Purpose To assess the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic events in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and CC who are not taking OAC. Methods Retrospective study with a health care research network (TriNetX). Based on the ICD-10-CM codes entered between 2011-2022 from 85 health care organizations mainly located in the United States, AF patients ≥75 years with CC were categorized into two groups based on the use of OAC during the last year before the study period. The primary outcomes were the one-year risk of death, major cardiovascular events ([MACE]: heart failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction), and major bleeding (central nervous system, gastrointestinal, internal bleeding, and hypovolemic shock). Secondary outcomes were each component of the primary outcome and catheter ablation. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs following propensity score matching 1:1. Results Overall, we identified 271,402 AF CC patients not on OAC (80.1±6.8 years, 46.5% females) and 87,101 AF CC patients on OAC (79.8±6.5 years, 47.6% females). Before PSM, AF CC patients not on OAC showed no significant differences in cardiovascular and bleeding risk factors but were less treated with pharmacological treatment than AF CC patients on OAC. After PSM, no significant differences were found between the two groups, but AF CC not on OAC were at higher risk of all-cause death (HR 1.54, 95%CI 1.50-1.57), MACE (HR 1.13, 95%CI 1.11-1.16), and major bleeding (HR 1.34, 95%CI 1.31-1.38), when compared to AF CC on OAC. AF CC patients not on OAC were associated with a higher risk of each component of the primary outcome and with a lower use of catheter ablation procedures (HR 0.48, 95%CI 0.43-0.54) (Table 1). The risk of the composite outcomes was the highest in those with all the three CC components. A progressive increase in OAC prescription was observed during the follow-up period, with increasing of NOACs and lower use of warfarin being observed. There was a clear temporal relationship between increasing OAC prescription and incidence of bleeding in CC patients (Figure 1) Conclusions AF CC patients not on OAC have a high risk of all-cause death, thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Over time, increasing NOAC use was associated with more bleeding in CC patients. New antithrombotic approaches aimed at reducing thrombotic risk without increasing bleeding risk are needed in these patients.Figure 1 OAC new prescriptions

Trends and patterns in pulmonary arterial hypertension-associated hospital admissions among methamphetamine users: a decade-long study

BackgroundPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic, progressive form of pulmonary hypertension in which increased arterial pressure causes remodeling of the arterial system and is associated with heart failure. Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has recently become a focus in PAH research, but the recent trends and demographics of this cohort of patients are not known. The study aimed to analyze the overall trends and demographics of PAH patients with and without concurrent methamphetamine usage.MethodsThe study used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) from 2008 to 2020 to calculate nationally weighted estimates for both conditions by ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes. We used several statistical measures, including descriptive statistics with design-based chi-square and t-tests, trend analysis with Cochran-Armitage test, generalized linear models, and other data preprocessing measures.ResultsA significant increase was evident in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and concurrent methamphetamine use (9.2-fold). Most of the hospitalized patients were males (59.16%), aged 41–64 (45.77%), White (68.64%), from the West (53.09%), with Medicaid (50.48%), and with median income <$25,000. The rate of increase over the period was higher for males (11.8-fold), race (not sure which race; please check and modify), aged 41–64 (11.3-fold), and in the South (15.1-fold). An overall adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) for PAH hospitalizations among concurrent methamphetamine users was 32.19 (CI = 31.19–33.22) compared to non-users. With respective reference categories, the significantly higher PR was evident for males, patients aged 41–64, White, with Medicare, median income <$25,000, all regions compared to Northeast, length of hospital stays, and conditions, including chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and peripheral vascular disorders.ConclusionThis study reveals a national overall and demographic-specific trend of increasing PAH with concurrent methamphetamine usage and associated factors. The findings may help to understand the current patterns and identify the vulnerable sociodemographic cohorts for further research and to take appropriate policy measures.

Spinal cord injury and risk of overall and type specific cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a growing concern among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This meta-analysis aims to explore the risk of overall CVD and specific types of cardiovascular events among SCI patients. This meta-analysis is registered on PROSPERO (CRD CRD42024537888). The data sources comprised PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and reference lists of the included studies. The literature collection span is from database establishment until April 17, 2024. This meta-analysis encompassed observational studies investigating the association between SCI and the risk of overall types of CVD or specific CVD types. Risk of bias was evaluated utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Scale. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were aggregated using a random-effects model. Our initial search generated 5357 relevant records form these international databases. This meta-analysis encompassed 9 observational studies involving 2,282,691 individuals, comprising 193,045 patients with SCI and 2,209,646 controls. We observed a 1.56-fold [OR = 1.56, 95% CI (1.43, 1.70), I2 = 91.3%, P < 0.001] rise in the risk of overall types of CVD among SCI patients, with a 1.82-fold increase in males and a 1.76-fold increase in females. SCI patients without comorbidities exhibited a 2.10-fold elevated risk of overall CVD types, while those with comorbidities had a 1.48-fold increased risk. Concerning specific CVD types, SCI patients showed a 1.58-fold [OR = 1.57, 95% CI (1.22, 2.03), I2 = 92.4%] higher risk of myocardial infarction, a 1.52-fold [OR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.07, 2.16), I2 = 88.7%] increase in atrial fibrillation, a 1.64-fold [OR = 1.64, 95% CI (1.22, 2.20), I2 = 95.5%] elevation in heart failure risk, and 2.38-fold [OR = 2.38, 95% CI (1.29, 4.40), I2 = 92.5%] increments in stroke risk. But there was no statistically significant difference in the risk of hypertension [OR = 1.54, 95% CI (0.98, 2.42), I2 = 96.6%]. The risk of overall CVD in SCI patients surpassed that of the non-SCI control group, with elevated risks of specific cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke. Clinicians should prioritize awareness of CVD risks in SCI patients.

Revised Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC 2.0): cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of the Malay version

BackgroundSurveys on Patient Safety Culture™ Hospital Survey (HSOPSC) developed by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has been adopted worldwide. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) version 2.0 was released in 2019, but there have been no publications to date of its translation and validation for use in Malaysia. This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the revised HSOPSC 2.0 into the Malay language and determine its psychometric properties including the content, face, and construct validity, and reliability analyses.MethodsThis study was conducted from April – June 2023 and divided into three stages: translation and cultural adaptation; content and face validation; and construct validation using confirmatory factor analysis and reliability testing among 319 healthcare personnel from a public university hospital in Malaysia.ResultsThe translated instrument demonstrated excellent content validity (I-CVI = 0.80 ~ 1.0, SCVI-average = 0.96) and face validity (I-FVI = 0.80 ~ 1.0, SFVI-average = 0.98). Reliability testing was acceptable (Cronbach’s α = 0.60 ~ 0.80) but indicated that reverse-coded items were poorly perceived. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a satisfactory model fit for the translated instrument (RMSEA = 0.08, GFI = 0.80, CFI = 0.80, and χ2/df = 2.96). Six items had very low factor loadings (< 0.40), with two constructs “Staffing and Work Pace” and “Response to Error” having AVE < 0.4, but acceptable CR ≥ 0.6. No items were removed from the questionnaire despite low factor loadings following a consensus from an expert panel.ConclusionThe Malay version of the HSOPSC 2.0 containing ten domains and 32 items demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties following expert consensus, with acceptable reliability and construct validity for measuring patient safety culture. Given factor loadings smaller than 0.40 in six items, broader validation is suggested to support the use of the translated instrument in the Malaysian healthcare setting.

Eco-friendly treatment: a win-win for patients, health systems, and the planet. Rapid scoping review

Abstract Background As the fifth-largest CO2 emitter globally, the healthcare industry must act to mitigate its environmental impact. This includes de-implementing low-value care and adopting eco-friendly innovative treatment alternatives. Our study aims to explore existing research on the environmental effects of these actions and the outcome measures utilized. Methods We conducted a rapid scoping review following a pre-published protocol, searching Ovid MEDLINE® and Scopus (Elsevier) from January 2015 to June 19, 2023. Initially, dual abstract and full-text screening was performed, followed by a single review. Data extraction was cross-checked by a second reviewer. Findings were narratively described using summary statistics. Results We analyzed 182 articles, primarily life cycle assessments and modeling studies (92 out of 182), with only one study being a randomized controlled trial. The research covered various healthcare practices, including consultation methods/telemedicine (32%), surgical and medical device usage (26%), medication (25%), surgical procedures (19%), as well as diagnostic tests, screening, and imaging (13%). The main sustainability strategies mentioned were ‘Rethink’ (99%) and ‘Reduce’ (81%), with ‘Reuse’ (32%), ‘Recycle’ (19%), and ‘Refuse’ (10%) being less utilized. Environmental outcomes reported included global warming (88%), resource consumption (27%), and chemical hazards (23%). Most studies were conducted in Europe (48%), followed by the USA (37%), with 75% published after 2020. Conclusions The environmental impact of healthcare is a pivotal area for public health action and fortunately, it is also emerging as a significant research field. Utilizing methodological approaches less common in evidence-based healthcare research underscores the necessity for innovative interdisciplinary collaboration and capacity building. The most pressing research gap lies in the impact of de-implementation strategies (“refuse”) targeting low-value care practices. Key messages • Measuring the environmental impact of healthcare demands the development of novel cross-disciplinary research methods and collaborations. • De-implementing low-value care represents a future win-win scenario for patients, the financial viability of healthcare systems, and global environmental sustainability.

Synthetic data for privacy-preserving clinical risk prediction

Synthetic data promise privacy-preserving data sharing for healthcare research and development. Compared with other privacy-enhancing approaches—such as federated learning—analyses performed on synthetic data can be applied downstream without modification, such that synthetic data can act in place of real data for a wide range of use cases. However, the role that synthetic data might play in all aspects of clinical model development remains unknown. In this work, we used state-of-the-art generators explicitly designed for privacy preservation to create a synthetic version of ever-smokers in the UK Biobank before building prognostic models for lung cancer under several data release assumptions. We demonstrate that synthetic data can be effectively used throughout the medical prognostic modeling pipeline even without eventual access to the real data. Furthermore, we show the implications of different data release approaches on how synthetic biobank data could be deployed within the healthcare system.

“Using dried blood spots beyond newborn screening – is Hong Kong ready?”: navigating the intersection of innovation readiness, privacy concerns, and Chinese parenting culture

BackgroundNewborn screening programmes offer an opportunity to obtain dried blood spots (DBS) cards that contain a wealth of biological information that can be stored for long periods and have potential benefits for research and quality assurance. However, the storage and secondary uses of DBS cards pose numerous ethical, clinical, and social challenges. Empirical research exploring public attitudes is central to public policy planning as it can indicate whether or not there is broad public support, define public concerns, and ascertain the circumstances required to alleviate concerns and ensure support. This study aims to describe the clinical experience and attitudes towards newborn screening and investigate the perceptions and expectations of Hong Kong parents and healthcare providers regarding the retention of DBS cards and their usage for research.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured in-person interviews with 20 parents and healthcare providers in Hong Kong. Thematic analysis was conducted.ResultsAwareness of the significant research value of secondary uses of dried blood spot cards is low. Parents and healthcare providers support the storage and secondary uses of DBS cards with some concerns, including privacy and confidentiality breaches, the risk of discrimination or stigmatisation based on genetic information, and their inability to oversee the use of their child’s biospecimen. Parents, however, prioritise their child’s health over privacy concerns and support identifiable storage using pseudonymity to gain more information about their children's health.ConclusionChild information takes precedence over potential concerns over privacy, underscoring the significance of engaging patients and the public in shaping public policy related to biobanking and healthcare research, in line with cultural and social values.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Young Adults From 1990 to 2021: A Population-Based Study.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in young adults demands greater attention, given its poor prognosis; however, there has been a paucity of epidemiological data. The objective of this study is to estimate the temporal trends and distribution characteristics of the disease burden in 204 countries or territories between 1990 and 2021. The data, including incidence, mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates were sourced from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021. From 1990 to 2021, there was a significant decline in the global incidence (estimated annual percentage change=-1.05), mortality (estimated annual percentage change=-0.92), and DALY (estimated annual percentage change=-1.00) rates of ICH in young adults. In 2021, the highest incidence, mortality, and DALY rates were observed in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania. Globally, high systolic blood pressure, smoking, and ambient particulate matter pollution were identified as the primary contributors to the largest proportion of DALYs associated with ICH in young adults. The health inequality of ICH in young adults has been reduced over the past 3 decades. There is a considerable degree of heterogeneity in the global burden of ICH in young adults. A decline in the incidence, mortality, prevalence, and DALY rates has been observed from 1990 to 2021, however, the number of absolute cases has increased. These results will enable health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers to refine the implementation of cost-effective policies, the allocation of health care resources, and the management of patients to further mitigate the burden of ICH in young adults.

Community Mobilisation for Human Sample Collection in Sensitive Communities: Experiences from Granular Mapping of Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Ekiti State, South West, Nigeria

Community mobilisation is a vital process for raising awareness and increasing participation in healthcare interventions, research, and programmes that require human sample collection and mass management. In this report, we present the community mobilisation approach undertaken for the implementation of the operational mapping and assessment of granular schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The mobilisation was conducted in 177 communities/wards of the 16 local government areas. A total of 15,340 urine and stool samples were collected in 34 days. The efficacy and success of the strategy were evaluated through the following three performance metrics: community compliance rate, the participant response rate at the community level, and the overall compliance response rate of the four most sensitive LGAs. Community compliance was 93.7% as sample collection was denied in nine communities and two other communities demanded the return of the collected samples despite our mobilisation effort because of cultural bias and myths that connect the collection of stool and urine samples to ritual activities in the local context. The participant response rate at the community level was 86.7%. Three of the four sensitive LGAs (based on previous assessment programmes) demonstrated satisfactory compliance rates of 100%, while a response rate of 64.0% was computed for one of the LGAs. We believe our approach contributed to effective community mobilisation and awareness and that the developed model has the potential to improve participation rates in large healthcare assessments and intervention programmes.

Telehealth Postpandemic: A Model for Michigan and Beyond.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine and telehealth saw a groundswell of growth, only to be shackled in the aftermath of the Public Health Emergency. A Think Tank, funded by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, was held at Michigan State University in August 2024. This paper serves as an introduction to a series of articles focusing on the evolution and future of telehealth in a postpandemic world. It highlights key themes including patient equity, technology, clinical opportunities, research, and education, using Michigan as a model for national adaptation. The paper aims to ignite further discussion and innovation within the telehealth community.

Framing the Multi-Centre Qualitative Research Design as a Novel Methodology for Nursing and Healthcare Research: Reflections and A Methodological Discussion.

To discuss the multi-centre qualitative methodology as a unique design, articulate its guiding paradigm/theoretical perspectives, and highlight its methodological and methodical issues. A secondary objective is to generate further scholarly discourse regarding the multi-centre approach within the broader qualitative research tradition. Methodological discussion. Rather than an emphasis on only experiences, the multi-centre approach is presented as a unique design which also focuses on uncovering why a phenomenon or problem exists and perceptions regarding the phenomenon/problem. With its focus on capturing multiple subjective realities, the multi-centre qualitative design is arguably underpinned by pragmatist constructivism which offers a robust framework for researching phenomenon in a way that is both theoretically informed and practically relevant. Methodologically, the multi-centre qualitative research design emphasises a problem-centred enquiry, collaborative approach and rigorous study protocols, systematic site selection, contextual immersion and sensitivity and methodical flexibility. With the rapidly evolving nursing and global health landscape, the multi-centre design lends itself to exploring and capturing perceptions on a larger scale compared to single site studies. Careful planning, availability of adequate resources, rigorous protocols and quality assurance plans are critical to ensuring its success. The multi-centre approach offers the possibility of undertaking the same study across multiple settings/locations which has the potential to improve representation and strengthen transferability. This methodological discussion offers clarity regarding the use of the multi-centre approach and offering strategies for its subsequent uptake in nursing and healthcare research. Not applicable. No patient or public contribution.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway-Beliefs About Compassion Predict Care and Motivation to Help Among Healthcare Professionals.

To develop and preliminarily validate a measure of beliefs about compassion in health care and assess whether and which beliefs may predict compassion. Pre-registered cross-sectional online survey study with a repeated-measures vignette component. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analyses were performed on a split sample of 890 healthcare professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Links with fears of compassion for others, burnout, trait compassion, compassion competency and ability and self-efficacy were used to assess convergent and divergent validity. Linear mixed model regression analyses were used to assess relationships between beliefs and compassion. In writing this report, we adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Four-factor structure featuring three negative (compassion as harmful, not useful, draining) and one positive (compassion is important) type of beliefs was established. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit and subscales indicated good measures of validity. Internal consistency was achieved for the subset of beliefs (harmful, not useful). Regression analyses indicated negative effects of the belief that compassion is draining on caring, motivation to help and compassion overall; negative effects of the belief that compassion is not useful on the motivation to help and a positive effect of the belief that compassion is important on caring and compassion overall. There was no effect of beliefs that compassion is harmful on compassion measures. This report extends prior qualitative studies of beliefs about compassion in a large healthcare sample, offering a way to measure these potentially malleable factors that might be targeted in education, interventions and future research. The study was designed in consultation with healthcare and compassion research professionals, including substantial input from Indigenous Māori healthcare professionals.