bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interprofessional education interventions in undergraduate students of musculoskeletal healthcare professions: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Ismail Fatima , Myburgh Cornelius , Downing Charlene 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionEnhancing interprofessional education (IPE) fosters collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals specializing in musculoskeletal (MSK) care. This approach presents a valuable opportunity to address the pressing MSK disease burden in developing countries, with high prevalence rates and limited resources. While an abundance of literature on the various elements of IPE among healthcare students and professionals exists, shared contexts of practice of South African MSK disciplines are not currently developed through IPE at higher education level, establishing a need for South African formalised curricular IPE interventions with an explicit focus on undergraduate students of MSK healthcare professions.Methods and analysisThe intended scoping review protocol is guided by the framework set out by Arksey and O’Malley, where the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews will guide the process of reporting. English sources (qualitative and quantitative methodological studies, conference papers and proceedings, systematic reviews, grey literature, unpublished materials, theses and dissertations) from the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, ERIC and ProQuest with no date restriction will be included. A researcher, an independent reviewer and research librarian will search and extract data from abstracts and full texts for this scoping review, where any arising disagreements will be resolved by discussion. Reference lists of relevant literature will be scrutinised. Relevant literature will be recorded on a referencing software and deduplicated. The data collection will take place between May and October 2023. The findings will be reported narratively with the use of tables.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review does not require ethical approval as all literature used already exists in the public domain with no involvement of human participants. The findings from this planned review will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at higher education conferences. This scoping review protocol was registered on Open Science Framework with the registrationosf.io/c27n4.
Impacts of income inequality and the mediation role of reporting delays on COVID-19 deaths during 2020 and 2021 in Hong Kong: an observational study
Authors: Yuan Hsiang-Yu , Wong Wing Hei , Khairunnasa Fatema , Ho Hung Chak , Chung Gary Ka-Ki 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveTo estimate the impacts of demographic factors and income disparities on the case fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, taking into account the influence of reporting delays (ie, the duration between symptom onset and case confirmation).DesignRetrospective observational longitudinal study.ParticipantsA total of 7406 symptomatic patients with residence information reported between 23 January 2020 and 2 October 2021.Main outcome measuresThe study examined the disparity in COVID-19 deaths associated with the factors such as age (≥65 vs 0–64 years old groups), gender and the income level of districts (low income vs non-low income). The severe reporting delay (>10 days) was considered as the mediator for mediation analysis. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed.ResultsWe found that CFR was 3.07% in the low-income region, twofold higher than 1.34% in the other regions. Although the severe reporting delay was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of about 1.9, its mediation effect was only weakly present for age, but not for gender or income level. Hence, high CFR in Hong Kong was largely attributed to the direct effects of the elderly (HR 25.967; 95% CI 14.254 to 47.306) and low income (HR 1.558; 95% CI 1.122 to 2.164).ConclusionThe disparity in COVID-19 deaths between income regions is not due to reporting delays, but rather to health inequities in Hong Kong. These risks may persist after the discontinuation of test-and-trace measures and extend to other high-threat respiratory pathogens. Urgent actions are required to identify vulnerable groups in low-income regions and understand the underlying causes of health inequities.
Telephone-based telepsychiatry consultations: a qualitative exploration of psychiatrists’ experiences in Oman
Authors: Al-Mahrouqi Tamadhir , Al-Alawi Kamila , Al-Sabahi Fatema , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Al-Sinawi Hamed , Al-Balushi Naser , Al-Shekaili Muna , Al-Alawi Mohammed 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesThe utilisation of tele-mental health services has the potential to address challenges in mental health services within the Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, the adoption of tele-mental health in Oman remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of psychiatrists with telephone consultations, offering valuable insights to advance the field of telepsychiatry.DesignThis is a qualitative exploratory study. The analysis of the data involved the application of manifest content analysis.SettingThe semi-structured interviews were conducted with the psychiatrists at Al Masarra Hospital.ParticipantsA total of 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted.ResultsThe study reveals that psychiatrists encounter communication challenges in telephone consultations, such as the absence of visual cues, confirming patient identity, conducting comprehensive assessments and effectively communicating with younger patients who may lack developed social skills or patients with specific health conditions. Infrastructure limitations, such as outdated medical records, lack of electronic prescriptions and limited availability of child/adolescent psychiatric medications, further restrict the effectiveness of telepsychiatry consultations. In contrast, telephone appointments offer convenience and flexibility for psychiatrists, allowing them to manage non-clinical responsibilities and provide focused consultations tailored to individual needs. In addition, it benefits patients by improving appointment adherence, diminishing stigma and financial savings compared with in-person consultations.ConclusionsTele-mental health has emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing mental healthcare services in Oman. Addressing psychiatrists’ challenges is crucial to further developing and strengthening these services.
Sex-specific Impact of the first COVID-19 Lockdown on Age Structure and Case Acuity at Admission in a Patient Population in southwestern Germany: a retrospective comparative Study in Neuroradiology
Authors: Reder Sebastian R , Herrlich Natalie , Grauhan Nils F , Othman Ahmed E , Müller-Eschner Matthias , Brockmann Carolin , Brockmann Marc A 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesA hard lockdown was presumed to lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases, resulting in higher acuity at admission. This should be elaborated based on the estimated acuity of the cases, changes in findings during hospitalisation, age structure and biological sex.DesignRetrospective monocentric cross-sectional study.SettingGerman Neuroradiology Department at a .ParticipantsIn 2019, n=1158 patients were admitted in contrast to n=884 during the first hard lockdown in 2020 (11th–13th week).Main outcome measuresThree radiologists evaluated the initial case acuity, classified them into three groups (not acute, subacute and acute), and evaluated if there was a relevant clinical deterioration. The data analysis was conducted using non-parametric methods and multivariate regression analysis.ResultsA 24% decrease in the number of examinations from 2019 to 2020 (p=0.025) was revealed. In women, the case acuity increased by 21% during the lockdown period (p=0.002). A 30% decrease in acute cases in men was observable (in women 5% decrease). Not acute cases decreased in both women and men (47%; 24%), while the subacute cases remained stable in men (0%) and decreased in women (28%). Regression analysis revealed the higher the age, the higher the acuity (p<0.001 in both sexes), particularly among women admitted during the lockdown period (p=0.006).ConclusionThe lockdown led to a decrease in neuroradiological consultations, with delays in seeking medical care. In women, the number of most severe cases remained stable, whereas the mean case acuity and age increased. This could be due to greater pandemic-related anxiety among women, however, with severe symptoms they were seeking for medical help. In contrast in men, the absolute number of most severe cases decreased, whereas the mean acuity and age remained nearly unaffected. This could be attributable to a reduced willingness to seek for medical consultation.
Association between sleep quality and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients at a rural tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Oseni Tijani Idris Ahmad , Udonwa Ndifreke Ekpo , Oku Afiong Oboko , Makinde Moyosore Taiwo , Archibong Felix 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesRestorative sleep is critical in preventing hypertension and other chronic diseases. Limited research has explored the relationship between sleep quality and hypertension in Africa. This study investigated the association between sleep quality and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients in Southern Nigeria.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA rural tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria, April to June 2023.Participants250 systematically selected hypertensive adults. Participants completed a validated semistructured interviewer-administered questionnaire to assess their sleep patterns, including sleep duration, self-reported trouble sleeping and a history of clinical diagnosis of sleep disorders. Sleep patterns were categorised as restorative (healthy) or non-restorative (unhealthy). The blood pressure of respondents was checked and categorised as controlled (<140/90 mm Hg) or uncontrolled (≥140/90 mm Hg). Data were analysed descriptively using SPSS V.24.0Outcome measuresQuality of sleep and blood pressure control.ResultsRespondents had a mean age of 51.5±10.0 years, with the majority being female (156, 62.4%), married (135, 54.0%) and belonging to the Esan tribe (125, 50.0%). The prevalence of restorative sleep was 36%, while the blood pressure control rate was 23.6%. An association was found between restorative sleep and blood pressure control (adjusted OR =4.38; 95% CI=2.37–8.10; p<0.0001). Respondents aged ≥60 years had 3.5 times higher odds of experiencing non-restorative sleep than those aged ≤40 years (aOR=3.46; 95% CI=1.37–8.74; p=0.009).ConclusionThe study found an association between poor quality sleep and poor blood pressure control. Incorporating sleep assessments and interventions into comprehensive hypertension management strategies could be explored as a possible approach to improve sleep quality and enhance blood pressure control.Trial registration numberPACTR202301917477205.
National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: a study protocol
Authors: Lopes Constantino , Joao Josefina Clarinha , Lowbridge Christopher , Martins Nelson , dos Santos Rofina Isabel Gusmão , da Silva Endang , Dias Joana , Ramalingam Sureshbabu , Amaral Salvador , Oakley Tessa , Ico Lourenco da Costa , Sarmento Nevio , Yan Jennifer , Francis Joshua Reginald 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionTimor-Leste has one of the world’s highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.Methods and analysisA national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.Ethics and disseminationResearch ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Saúde, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.Trial registration numberACTRN12623000718640.
Management of long bone fractures and traumatic hip dislocations in paediatric patients: study protocol for a prospective global multicentre observational cohort registry
Authors: Zomar Bryn O , Chen Maio , Schaeffer Emily K , Mulpuri Kishore , Joeris Alexander 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionManagement controversy and clinical equipoise exist in treatments of long bone fractures and traumatic hip dislocation in paediatric patients due to the lack of high-quality clinical evidence. This protocol describes the effort of a large prospective global multicentre cohort study (registry) aiming at providing quality data to assist evidence-based treatment decision-making.Methods and analysisEligible paediatric patients (N=750–1000) with open physes suffering from proximal humerus fractures, distal humerus fractures, proximal radius fractures, forearm shaft fractures, traumatic hip dislocations, femoral neck fractures or tibial shaft fractures will be recruited over a period of 24–36 months. Hospitalisation and treatment details (including materials and implants) will be captured in a cloud-based, searchable database. Outcome measures include radiographic assessments, clinical outcomes (such as range of motion, limb length discrepancies and implant removal), patient-reported outcomes (Patient Reported Outcomes Of Fracture, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-Y)) and adverse events.Aside from descriptive statistics on patient demographics, baseline characteristics, types of fractures and adverse event rates, research questions will be formulated based on data availability and quality. A statistical analysis plan will be prepared before the statistical analysis.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval will be obtained before patients are enrolled at each participating site. Patient enrolment will follow an informed consent process approved by the responsible ethics committee. Peer-reviewed publication is planned to disseminate the study results.Trial registration numberNCT04207892.
Development of a prognostic model for long-term survival of young patients with bladder cancer: a retrospective analysis of the SEER Database
Authors: Guo Liuxiong , Liu Liang , Liu Yixuan , Yang Tao , Wang Gang , Liu Junjiang , Li Suwei , Cai Jianhui 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesThis study aims to present the clinical characteristics of young patients with bladder cancer (YBCa), evaluate related risk factors and construct a nomogram based on data acquired from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database.DesignRetrospective analysis of the SEER Database (2004–2015) for primary YBCa.Setting and participantsData for YBCa (defined as those aged 40 years or younger) were extracted from the SEER Database, which covers approximately 28% of the US population, using the SEER*Stat software (V.8.4.0.1). A total of 1233 YBCa were identified. Patients were randomly assigned to the training and validation sets. The database included clinicopathological features, demographic information and survival outcomes, such as age, gender, race, year of diagnosis, marital status at diagnosis, primary tumour site, histological type, tumour grade, tumour, node, metastases (TNM) staging, treatment regimen for the primary tumour, cause of death and survival time. A nomogram model was developed using univariate and multivariate analyses. The prediction model was validated using the consistency index (C-index), calibration curve and receiver operating characteristic curve.Primary outcome measures3-year, 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS).Results1233 YBCa from 2004 to 2015 were randomly assigned to the training set (n=865) and validation set (n=368). Age, marital status, tumour grade, histological type and TNM staging were included in the nomogram. The C-index of the model was 0.876. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year OS area under the curve values for the training and validation sets were 0.949, 0.923 and 0.856, and 0.919, 0.890 and 0.904, respectively. Calibration plots showed that the nomogram had a robust predictive accuracy.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to establish a precise nomogram predicting the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year OS in YBCa based on multivariate analyses. Our nomogram may serve as a valuable reference for future diagnostics and individualised treatments for YBCa. However, external validation is warranted to assess the accuracy and generalisability of our prognostic model.
Correlation between ellipsoid zone thickness and the presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Bellis Raymond Matthew , Fei Yang , Le Brandon , Ledesma-Gil Gerardo , Otero-Marquez Oscar , Tong Yuehong , Tai Katy , Rosen Richard B , Lema Gareth M C , Smith Roland Theodore 
Published: March 2024

PurposeSubretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are associated with systemic vascular diseases that compromise ocular perfusion. We demonstrate that SDDs are associated with decreased ellipsoid zone (EZ) thickness, further evidence of hypoxic damage.MethodsPost hoc analysis of a cross-sectional study. 165 AMD subjects (aged 51–100; 61% women). Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was obtained in both eyes. Masked readers assigned subjects to three groups: drusen only, SDD+drusen (SDD+D) and SDD only. EZ thickness was measured subfoveally and 2000 µm nasally, temporally, superiorly and inferiorly from the fovea. Univariate testing was performed using two-tailed t-tests with Bonferroni correction.ResultsThe mean EZ thickness differences between the SDD+D and drusen-only groups were (in μm) 1.10, 0.67, 1.21, 1.10 and 0.50 at the foveal, nasal, temporal, superior and inferior locations, respectively (p=0.08 inferiorly, otherwise p≤0.01); between the SDD-only and drusen-only groups, the differences were 3.48, 2.48, 2.42, 2.08 and 1.42 (p≤0.0002). Differences in EZ thicknesses across all subjects and between groups were not significantly different based on gender, race or age.ConclusionSubjects with SDDs (±drusen) had thinner EZs than those with drusen only, and the inferior EZ was least affected. EZs were thinnest in SDD-only subjects. This thinning gradation is consistent with progressive destruction of highly oxygen-sensitive mitochondria in the EZ from hypoxia. These findings support the reduced ophthalmic perfusion hypothesis for the formation of SDDs secondary to high-risk systemic vasculopathy.
Pilot observational cohort study to determine whether waveform and flow traces from mechanical insufflation–exsufflation (MI-E) can be used to identify laryngeal responses to MI-E and thus optimise treatment algorithms in neuromuscular patients in a tertiary centre: a protocol description
Authors: Mansell Stephanie K , Parry Rhiannon , Shah Amar , Gowing Francesca , Greenfield Charlotte , Bhatt Yogesh , Mandal Swapna 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionPatients with neuromuscular disease often have a weak and ineffective cough due to respiratory muscle weakness. One treatment option is mechanical insufflation–exsufflation (MI-E), also known as cough assist, which is known to increase cough strength. However, some patients have a laryngeal response to MI-E, which can make the treatment ineffective. Currently, the only method for assessing this is via nasal endoscopy while using MI-E. Some MI-E devices have onboard secure data (SD) cards, which allow the visualisation of waveforms. We hypothesise that the waveforms can be used to identify laryngeal responses to the MI-E.Methods and analysisParticipants will complete baseline assessments of spirometry, peak cough flow and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure. A nasal endoscope will be used to visualise the larynx during simultaneous MI-E via a mask with a drilled hole. MI-E will be delivered by an experienced physiotherapist. Four cycles of MI-E at a range of prescriptions will be delivered. MI-E waveforms will be downloaded into Care Orchestrator Essence software (Philips, Murraysville). Data will be collected prospectively and reviewed in a descriptive context, providing trends and potential rationales describing the waveforms in comparison to the nasal endoscope videos.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been reviewed by the East of England-Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee, who have granted a favourable ethical opinion. The study opened to recruitment in January 2022 and aims to publish trial results in June 2024.Trial registration numberNCT05189600.
Association between heated tobacco product use and airway obstruction: a single-centre observational study, Japan
Authors: Odani Satomi , Koyama Shihoko , Miyashiro Isao , Tanigami Hironobu , Ohashi Yoshifumi , Tabuchi Takahiro 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundWhile heated tobacco products (HTPs) may affect pulmonary function, the evidence supporting the utility of screening for HTP use in clinical settings is insufficient. We examined the association between HTP use and airway obstruction after switching from cigarettes.MethodThe study subjects were patients aged ≥20 years undergoing surgery from December 2021 to September 2022 who completed spirometry and reported tobacco (cigarette and HTP) use status during the preoperative assessment. Airway obstruction was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity ratio below the lower limit of normal. Current tobacco use was defined as past-30-day use. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between HTP use and airway obstruction by adjusting for demographic characteristics, lifetime cigarette smoking (pack-year) and duration of smoking cessation.ResultsOverall (N=2850, 55.4% women, mean age 62.4), 4.6% and 10.7% reported current HTP use and cigarette smoking, respectively. 16.8% had airway obstruction. Airway obstruction was more common among current HTP-only users (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR)=2.32), current cigarette-only smokers (APR=2.57) and current dual users (APR=2.82) than never-tobacco users. Among current tobacco users (N=398), the prevalence of airway obstruction was not significantly different between HTP-only users and cigarette-only smokers. Among former cigarette smokers (>30-day cigarette quitters) (N=1077), current HTP users had 1.42 times the increased prevalence of airway obstruction than never-HTP users after adjusting for cigarette pack-year; a stronger association was observed when the analysis was restricted to ≥5-year cigarette quitters (N=772) (APR=1.96, vs never HTP users).ConclusionCurrent HTP use was associated with airway obstruction among patients with cancer who had completely switched from cigarettes even after quitting smoking for a long period. Patients should be routinely screened for HTP use and advised to quit any tobacco.