Yoxas/statistical_literacy huggingface dataset:
Non-pharmacological interventions play a crucial role in the management of non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). One prime example is Tuina, a traditional Chinese manual therapy that incorporates pressing, kneading and rubbing techniques to alleviate physical discomfort and enhance overall well-being. It serves as a widely used technique in China and other East Asian countries. However, the effectiveness and safety of Tuina for managing NSCLBP have not been substantiated through rigorous clinical research. We sought to carry out a randomised controlled trial with an open-label design, blinded assessors and parallel arms to assess the effectiveness and safety of Tuina as a treatment for NSCLBP. The trial aims to provide high-quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Tuina in improving outcomes for patients with NSCLBP. A total of 150 patients aged 18-60 years with NSCLBP will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Both groups will receive standard health education. In addition, the treatment group will receive Tuina therapy, while the control group will participate in core stability exercises. Each group will undergo a total of 18 interventions over 6 weeks, with the interventions administered three times per week. The primary outcome measure is the patient's pain intensity, assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale, at week 6 following randomisation. Secondary outcomes encompass disability (measured by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire), quality of life (assessed using the EuroQoL-5 dimensions questionnaire), adverse emotions (evaluated with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), biomechanical outcomes, socioeconomic indicators (medication use, healthcare utilisation and absenteeism), patient satisfaction, treatment adherence and other relevant factors.The statistical analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance will be used to compare the clinical data across different time points within both groups. The study protocol has received approval from the Ethics Committee of Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2023-1366-133-01). All study participants will be required to give written informed consent. The findings of the study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication and presented at scientific conferences. Additionally, the participants will receive copies of the results. ChiCTR2300076257.
Non-remunerated blood donation is the main approach for various medical institutions to get the source of blood supply, but the blood supply shortage is still a problem in today's society. Social media has become the main approach of information acquisition for youth groups nowadays, and the information on social media will have an impact on people's behavioral decisions. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the correlation between social media exposure to relevant information about blood donation and the willingness of youths to donate blood. We collected data from 455 questionnaires through an online questionnaire and structural equation modeling was constructed for validation. Data were analyzed for reliability, validity, and demographic differences using IBM-SPSS 26.0, and IBM-SPSS-AMOS 26.0 was used for model fit analysis and path analysis. The results of the study showed that there was a positive correlation between social media exposure to relevant blood donation information and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.262, p < 0.001), altruism (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (β = 0.170, p < 0.001). While there was also a positive correlation between attitude toward blood donation and self-efficacy (β = 0.560, p < 0.001), there was no positive correlation between it and willingness to donate blood (β = -0.180, p = 0.786). There was also a positive correlation between altruism and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.150, p < 0.05) and attitude toward blood donation (β = 0.150, p < 0.001). Similarly, there was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and willingness to donate blood (β = 0.371, p < 0.001). Exposure to more information related to blood donation on social media can increase the willingness of the youth population to donate blood, while exposure to information related to altruism and self-efficacy on social media can also enhance young people's attitudes toward blood donation, while further strengthening their willingness to donate.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors suffer from impaired physical and psychological functioning and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that persist after active treatment ends. Sustaining rehabilitation benefits, promoting a healthy lifestyle and facilitating self-management at home require a multifaceted aftercare programme. We aim to investigate the effect of a 12-week digital lifestyle intervention on HRQoL and lifestyle-related outcomes in NSCLC survivors after completion of inpatient rehabilitation. QUAlity of life in LUng CAncer Survivors (QUALUCA) is a multicentre randomised controlled trial that follows a hybrid type 1 design. We randomly allocate participants in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group (digital lifestyle intervention) or the control group (standard care) using block randomisation stratified by tumour stage and study site. Four accredited Swiss inpatient rehabilitation centres recruit participants. Key inclusion criteria are a diagnosis of NSCLC, an estimated life expectancy of ≥6 months and access to a smartphone or tablet. The 12-week intervention comprises physical activity, nutrition and breathing/relaxation, delivered through a mobile application (app). The primary outcome is the change in HRQoL from baseline (1 week after rehabilitation) to follow-up (3 months after baseline), assessed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Secondary outcomes include body mass index, self-reported physical activity, exercise capacity, risk of low protein intake, appetite, psychological distress, cancer-related fatigue, enablement and self-rated health. Explanatory outcomes in the intervention group include app usability, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention, experiences and satisfaction with the intervention, and app usage data. We aim to enrol 88 participants. For the main statistical analysis, we will use analysis of covariance, adjusted for baseline measures, stratification variables, age and sex. The Ethics Committees of the Canton of Zurich (lead), the Canton of Bern and Northwest and Central Switzerland approved the study (2023-00245). We will disseminate study results to researchers, health professionals, study participants and relevant organisations, and through publications in international peer-reviewed journals. NCT05819346.
Non-suicidal self-injury is a widespread mental health concern among adolescents. This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-esteem, depression, and self-injury among adolescents using a longitudinal research design. The Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), and Adolescent Self-Injury Scale (ASIS) were used to follow up 1,265 junior middle school students on three occasions with six-month intervals. At all three time points, there were significant gender differences in self-esteem, depression, and self-injury. Self-esteem was negatively correlated with depression and self-injury at all three time points, while depression and self-injury were significantly positively correlated. Cross-lagged analysis revealed that self-esteem at Time 1 (T1) did not significantly predict self-injury at Time 2 (T2), but self-esteem (T2) significantly predicted self-injury at Time 3 (T3; β = -0.079, p < 0.05). Similarly, self-injury (T1) significantly predicted self-esteem (T2; β = -0.140, p < 0.001), and self-injury (T2) significantly predicted self-esteem (T3; β = -0.071, p < 0.01). Horizontal and longitudinal mediating analysis showed that depression served as a complete mediator in both the pathway from self-esteem to self-injury and from self-injury to self-esteem. Cross-lagged analysis showed that self-esteem (T1) significantly predicts depression (T2; β = -0.070, p < 0.05), which in turn predict self-injury (T3; β = 0.126, p < 0.001). Similarly, self-injury (T1) predicted depression (T2; β = 0.055, p < 0.05), which further predicted self-esteem (T3; β = -0.218, p < 0.001). The self-esteem, depression, and self-injury of adolescents are closely related; self-esteem and self-injury predict each other; self-esteem indirectly affects self-injury through depression; and self-injury indirectly affects self-esteem through depression. Based on the relationship of bi-directional prediction of self-esteem and self-injury mediated by depression, this study proposes a theoretical model of depression-mediated self-esteem and self-injury cycle.
Non-technical skills (NTS) assessment tools are widely used to provide formative and summative assessment for healthcare professionals and there are now many of them. This study has examined three different tools designed for similar settings and gathered evidence to test their validity and usability. Three NTS assessment tools designed for use in the UK were used by three experienced faculty to review standardized videos of simulated cardiac arrest scenarios: ANTS (Anesthetists' Non-Technical Skills), Oxford NOTECHS (Oxford NOn-TECHnical Skills) and OSCAR (Observational Skill based Clinical Assessment tool for Resuscitation). Internal consistency, interrater reliability and quantitative and qualitative analysis of usability were analyzed for each tool. Internal consistency and interrater reliability (IRR) varied considerably for the three tools across NTS categories and elements. Intraclass correlation scores of three expert raters ranged from poor (task management in ANTS [0.26] and situation awareness (SA) in Oxford NOTECHS [0.34]) to very good (problem solving in Oxford NOTECHS [0.81] and cooperation [0.84] and SA [0.87] in OSCAR). Furthermore, different statistical tests of IRR produced different results for each tool. Quantitative and qualitative examination of usability also revealed challenges in using each tool. The lack of standardization of NTS assessment tools and training in their use is unhelpful for healthcare educators and students. Educators require ongoing support in the use of NTS assessment tools for the evaluation of individual healthcare professionals or healthcare teams. Summative or high-stakes examinations using NTS assessment tools should be undertaken with at least two assessors to provide consensus scoring. In light of the renewed focus on simulation as an educational tool to support and enhance training recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19, it is even more important that assessment of these vital skills is standardized, simplified and supported with adequate training.
Non-technical skills (NTS) including communication, teamwork, leadership, situational awareness, and decision making, are essential for enhancing surgical safety. Often perceived as tangential soft skills, NTS are many times not included in formal medical education curricula or continuing medical professional development. We aimed to explore exposure of interprofessional teams in North-Central Nigeria to NTS and ascertain perceived facilitators and barriers to interprofessional training in these skills to enhance surgical safety and inform design of a relevant contextualized curriculum. Six health facilities characterised by high surgical volumes in Nigeria's North-Central geopolitical zone were purposively identified. Federal, state, and private university teaching hospitals, non-teaching public and private hospitals, and a not-for-profit health facility were included. A nineteen-item, web-based, cross-sectional survey was distributed to 71 surgical providers, operating room nurses, and anaesthesia providers by snowball sampling through interprofessional surgical team leads from August to November 2021. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test, proportions, and constant comparative methods for free text responses. Respondents included 17 anaesthesia providers, 21 perioperative nurses, and 29 surgeons and surgical trainees, with a 95.7% survey completion rate. Over 96% had never heard of any NTS for surgery framework useful for variable resource contexts and only 8% had ever received any form of NTS training. Interprofessional teams identified communication and teamwork as the most deficient personal skills (38, 57%), and as the most needed for surgical team improvement (45, 67%). There was a very high demand for NTS training by all surgical team members (64, 96%). The main motivations for training were expectations of resultant improved patient safety and improved interprofessional team dynamics. Week-long, hybrid training courses (with combined in-person and online components) were the preferred format for delivery of NTS education. Factors that would facilitate attendance included a desire for patient safety and self-improvement, while barriers to attendance were conflicts of time, and training costs. Interprofessional surgical teams in the Nigerian context have a high degree of interest in NTS training, and believe it can improve team dynamics, personal performance, and ultimately patient safety. Implementation of NTS training programs should emphasize interprofessional communication and teamworking.
Nonadherence to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is a prevalent issue in India, contributing to suboptimal seizure control, higher morbidity and mortality, increased hospitalization rates, and a substantial effect on the overall quality of life for individuals with epilepsy. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of medication adherence among individuals with epilepsy in India and to identify factors associated with nonadherence. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar for studies on AED adherence in India. Quality assessment employed Newcastle Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. Pooled prevalence was ascertained using a random-effects model in R software (version 4.2.2), with a 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity was estimated with the I2 statistic, and publication bias was appraised via a funnel plot. Subgroup analyses, based on study region and adherence measurement tool, were done to investigate heterogeneity. Nine cross-sectional studies with 1772 participants were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of adherence to AEDs in India stood at 49.9% (95% CI: 39.8%-60.1%). Subgroup analyses showed comparable adherence rates in the South (50.9%) and North (46.5%) regions of India. However, adherence rates varied substantially based on the measurement tool: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4 (MMAS-4) reported 71.3%, MMAS-8 indicated 45.9%, and Morisky Green Levine (MGL) adherence scale exhibited 42.0%. Factors contributing to non-adherence to antiepileptic therapies involved poor socioeconomic status, lower education levels, polytherapy, drug-related side effects, and substance abuse. Almost half of persons with epilepsy in India were non-adherent to their AEDs. This underscores the importance for healthcare professionals to pay greater attention to improving the adherence rate to AEDs within the healthcare service.
Noncommunicable diseases and obesity are between the major health threat due to consumption of unhealthy foods and limited time spent on physical activities, a situation of particular concern among children. Since children spend most of their time at school, this study intends to investigate the effect of a school intervention program, which combines recreational football and nutrition education, on body composition, physical fitness, physical activity, blood pressure and heart rate, eating behaviours, nutritional knowledge, and psychological status in elementary school children. A total of 67 children, between 7 and 10 years old, were allocated into three groups: the Football Group (FG) which held 2 weekly sessions of 60 min of recreational football, the Nutrition and Football Group (NFG) which held 2 sessions per week of 60 min of recreational football plus 60 min of nutritional education and the Control Group (CG) which maintained its usual curriculum. The intervention lasted 12 weeks. All measurements were collected before and after the intervention. Intervention groups significantly (p < 0.05) improved BMI Z-score, rest heart rate, horizontal jump and shuttle test, physical activity level, and psychosocial health. The NFG group significantly decreased (p < 0.05) waist-to-height ratio and blood pressure, and significantly increased (p < 0.05) nutritional knowledge, fruit, and fish consumption. While FG significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the percentage of fat mass and significantly increased (p < 0.05) muscle mass and performance in the 20 m sprint. The results have shown to improve nutritional status, explosive strength, aerobic and neuromuscular fitness, as well as increase the level of physical activity. The nutritional education sessions contributed to increase nutritional knowledge and to improve the consumption of healthy food groups in a ludic-educational way. The "Football and Nutrition for Health" program was able to induce short-term improvements in several health markers, highlighting the role of the school curriculum in children's health.
Normal epileptiform-like variants or benign epileptiform variants are a diagnostic challenge in the interpretation of electroencephalograms, which require the knowledge and extensive experience of those responsible for the electroencephalographic report. They include a heterogeneous group of findings, some quite uncommon, initially related to epilepsy and various neurological conditions. Most of them are currently considered variants with no pathological significance, and their over-interpretation usually leads to misdiagnosis and the establishment of unnecessary treatments. Prevalence data are variable and usually come from selected populations, so they are difficult to extrapolate to a healthy population. Studies with invasive electrodes and recent series link some of these variants with epilepsy. We aim to review the characteristics and prevalence of the main benign epileptiform variants and to update their clinical significance.
Normalisation of medicinal and recreational marijuana use has increased the importance of fully understanding effects of marijuana use on individual-and population-level health, including prenatal exposure effects on child development. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to examine the long-term effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on neuropsychological function in children aged 1-11 years. Primary research publications were searched from Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, CINAHL EbscoHost, Cochrane Library, Global Health and ERIC (1980-2018). Eligible articles documented neuropsychological outcomes in children 1-11 years who had been prenatally exposed to marijuana. Studies of exposure to multiple prenatal drugs were included if results for marijuana exposure were reported separately from other substances. Data abstraction was independently performed by two reviewers using a standardised protocol. The eligible articles (n = 21) on data from seven independent longitudinal studies had high quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Some analyses found associations (P < 0.05) between prenatal marijuana exposure and decreased performance on memory, impulse control, problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, verbal development and visual analysis tests; as well as increased performance on attention and global motion perception tests. Limitations included concurrent use of other substances among study participants, potential under-reporting and publication biases, non-generalisable samples and limited published results preventing direct comparison of analyses. The specific effects of prenatal marijuana exposure remain unclear and warrant further research. The larger number of neuropsychological domains that exhibit decreased versus increased psychological and behavioural functions suggests that exposure to marijuana may be harmful for brain development and function.
North American pit viper envenomation occurs over 4,000 times annually in the United States, with polyvalent Fab antivenom being the primary treatment. Fasciotomy is occasionally performed due to concerns about compartment syndrome. We utilized our direct access to Texas Poison Center Network data to create a new snakebite abstraction form and database on relevant available information between 2004 and 2021 and to identify, describe, and estimate the incidence of fasciotomy following pit viper envenomation in Texas. We searched the Texas Poison Center Network database for cases during 2004-2021 using keywords such as fasciotomy, surgery, compartment pressure, and compartment syndrome. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. Of 16,911 reported envenomations, 0.69 percent involved fasciotomies (n = 117). Most common bite sites were digits/hands and lower extremities. Patients who underwent fasciotomy were typically male, aged 20-59, and 10 years younger than the total snakebite population. Only 6 percent of reported compartment syndrome cases had a compartment pressure measurement. Antivenom was administered in 101 (86.3 percent) cases, 92 (91.1 percent) of which received only Fab antivenom product. Patients with bites from rattlesnakes (47.9 percent) were associated with most fasciotomies. Our findings suggest a potential increase in snakebite exposures, accompanied by a decrease in fasciotomies. Overall, copperheads constituted the majority of snakebites, but most fasciotomies were from rattlesnake envenomations (47.9 percent). In this cohort, compartment syndrome diagnosis and decisions regarding fasciotomy were primarily based on clinical evaluation/surgeon expertise without compartment pressure measurements. Despite the efficacy of antivenom, only 86.3 percent of patients in our study received antivenom. Fasciotomy after North American pit viper envenomation in Texas is uncommon (0.69 percent) and has decreased over time, possibly due to increased antivenom use or surgeon comfort with nonsurgical management.
Not a great deal is known about what study skills are essential for success in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics' disciplines, particularly in information technology (IT) and computer science (CS) programs in the technical and vocational education (TVE) in Taiwanese higher education. Since TVE accounts for more than half of the post-secondary enrolments in the country, and with the increasing demand for IT and CS talents, we studied perceptions of the importance and competency of such skills to identify the students' needs and demographic factors influencing them. A survey was administered to 1398 students in IT and CS programs in Taiwanese TVE universities. General skills were seen as the most important one among the study skills examined, and students felt competent using them. The needs to manage time, perform quantitative/mathematical tasks, and delegate were identified and these needs were affected by institutional quality, gender, and academic achievement. The results might be useful for further investigation in this area and guiding future plan to improve student performance in TVE.