bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How do patient and practitioner characteristics influence empathy in healthcare? Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: White Cleo Laura , Khunti Kamlesh , Gillies Clare , Meissner Karin , Palipana Dinesh , Nockels Keith , Harrell Cathy , Howick Jeremy 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionEmpathy is a core component of high-quality care yet is expressed and received in different ways depending on the characteristics (including gender, race, socioeconomic status and disability) of both practitioners and patients. However, the evidence exploring how these characteristics or their overlap (‘intersectionality’) influence empathy has not been synthesised.Methods and analysisWe will systematically review and meta-analyse studies exploring the influence of healthcare practitioners and patient characteristics on empathy in healthcare. MEDLINE, EMBASE (via Scopus), Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects will be searched from database inception to present. Reference chasing will be used to identify additional studies. Studies that report empathy levels using either (1) the patient-reported Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure or (2) the practitioner or student-reported Jefferson Scale of Empathy. This will include validated versions or translations of both scales.Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts and extract data using Rayyan. Discrepancies will be resolved in discussion with a third author if necessary. Two independent authors will evaluate the risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools.Continuous data will be analysed based on the mean, SD, sample size and 95% CIs. Sensitivity analyses will be used to explore the potential impact of risk of bias and use of imputed data. We will explore differences between countries, demographic characteristics, disciplines and lengths of time in practice experience, as well as differences over time (comparing more recent with older studies). We will also explore differences between patient-reported and practitioner-reported empathy.We will report our findings following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and flowchart.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required for this review as primary data will not be collected. The review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024604677.
Developing a platform to investigate the heterogeneity of outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Baxter Kathryn , Booth J , Hawarden A , Wood N , Fisher A , Bhagat N , Morrison J , Cullimore V , Newhouse R , Yagel I , Shah A , Yap J , Woodman H , Olaoye T , Do V , MacDonald M , Long E , WIbmer L , Fotopoulou C , Edmondson Richard 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundThe geographical variation in treatment patterns for patients with ovarian cancer is profound, long-standing and worrying. Although these variations were highlighted in a recent UK registry audit, granular data to provide explanations for these variations have been lacking.MethodsA consortium of six UK centres was generated to curate and submit data for all patients treated at their centre for a 2-year period. Descriptive statistics were combined with Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis to confirm the findings from the national registry audit and identify possible drivers of the heterogeneity previously described.ResultsRecords for 1117 patients treated in six centres in 2018 and 2019 were collated. Although there were differences in the clinical characteristics of patients between centres, these were not enough to account for the significant variation in survival outcomes between centres (p<0.001). Treatment rates varied between centres with between 30% and 76% of patients receiving combination therapy but in Cox models ‘treatment centre’ remained a predictor of 1 year survival independent of patient, tumour factors and treatment choice.ConclusionVariations in outcome seen between UK centres are not related solely to casemix but rather to the approach and ethos of each centre towards advanced ovarian cancer treatment options. Although important, differences in treatment patterns do not completely explain the variations seen and further work is required to understand the drivers of difference seen.
All Wales Ovarian Cancer Prehabilitation Project (AWOCPP)
Authors: McMullan Josh Courtney , Smith Catherine , Jones Rosalind , Butterworth Caryl , Davies Christine , Long Helen , Pottle Jacqueline , Jarrom Claire , Peevor Richard , Jones Rachel , Gupta Preeti , Hanna Louise , Hudson Emma , Jones Sadie 
Published: February 2025

Over 50% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced disease (stage 3+) in Wales when treatment typically involves chemotherapy, combined with cytoreductive surgery. Postoperative morbidity is common resulting in prolonged hospital stays and delays in returning to chemotherapy. Patients with advanced ovarian cancer commonly have modifiable risk factors that can be targeted for improvement with personalised prehabilitation. Multimodal personalised prehabilitation has been shown to have a positive impact on perioperative outcomes and length of stay (LOS).Quality improvement methods were used to implement a multimodal prehabilitation programme for all patients with advanced ovarian cancer planned for surgery in Wales. A unique approach to determining an individual patient’s modifiable risk factors was devised that enabled a personalised prehabilitation programme to be created including exercise, smoking cessation, medical and nutritional optimisation and emotional support. Data were collected to enable future health economic evaluation of the programme in anticipation of national role out as standard of care. To evaluate if the prehabilitation intervention was impacting the quality of care, the following outcome measures were assessed: LOS, postoperative complications and surgery to chemotherapy interval (SCI). These measures were compared with a historical Welsh data set from 2018 to 2019 when access to prehabilitation was not available.Following the implementation of prehabilitation for ovarian cancer, the median LOS reduced from 6 to 5 days (p=0.29). There was a reduction in postoperative complications: from 16.9% to 12.7% (Grade 2), 4.4% to 1.8% (Grade 3), 0.6% to 0% (Grade 4+5). The median SCI following prehabilitation was 43.5 days (range 27–91) compared with 40 days (range 15–182 (p=0.65)).Prehabilitation has had a positive impact on the treatment pathways for advanced ovarian cancer in Wales. Means of improving patient engagement and establishing cost-effective delivery need to be developed to make this intervention standard of care.
Northern Ireland ovarian cancer prehabilitation project
Authors: McMullan Josh Courtney , Lee Davinia , Ranaghan Lisa , Gowan Nicola , McWilliams Lisa , McGreevy Bernie , O'Hagan Danielle , Nugent Brenda , Dobbs Stephen 
Published: February 2025

Patients with ovarian cancer are often diagnosed late, in advanced stages (stages III–IV) and are often deconditioned due to disease burden. Frailty is reported in up to 60% of gynaecological oncology patients and many report malnutrition, anxiety and depression. As surgery is the mainstay of treatment for ovarian cancer, with maximum surgical effort being a priority, patients are at increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality.Multimodal prehabilitation aims to improve the functional capacity of surgical patients. Prehabilitation commonly includes physical, nutritional, medical optimisation, smoking cessation and emotional well-being interventions. Many surgical specialties have well established evidence for the use of prehabilitation showing a reduction in length of stay and perioperative complications. There is, however, limited evidence for the use of prehabilitation in the surgically vulnerable group of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.This project aimed to introduce a multimodal prehabilitation pathway for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. All patients with advanced ovarian cancer were included, regardless of the treatment modality decided at the regional gynaecological oncology multidisciplinary team meeting. The pathway included exercise, nutritional and psychological interventions. The outcome measures included the Rockwood Frailty Score, 6 min Walk Test (6MWT), 30 s Chair to Stand test, grip strength and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status as a measure of functional capacity. Nutritional intervention outcomes included the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score, Body mass index and mid-arm circumference. The psychological intervention outcomes included a holistic needs assessment, the distress thermometer and EQ-5D-5L quality of life status.Of the 75 patients enrolled, 45 (60%) completed the project. In patients who completed the project improved 6MWT and 30-CST was observed in 67% and 44%, respectively, while 67% of patients with moderate to extreme anxiety/depression scores reported lowering from baseline level and 71% of patients with medium to high-risk MUST scores baseline weight was maintained or increased.
Improving the quality and reliability of clinical reviews of psychotropic PRN medicines in a large English mental health Trust
Authors: Innes James , Ugochukwu Uju , Trenholm Julie , Boswell Leo 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundPsychotropic medicines are commonly prescribed as when required (PRN) prescriptions for inpatients for anxiety, insomnia or as part of a strategy to de-escalate situations that may lead to violence and aggression. While these medicines can provide benefit, safeguards need to be in place to ensure they are regularly reviewed and not overused.Aim and methodologyTo (1) establish baseline practice around the clinical review of psychotropic PRN medicines for inpatients and (2) improve clinical practice around the clinical review of PRN medicines from baseline and the end of the improvement programme.Centrally coordinated, locally driven, improvement programme taking place over a 5-month period between February and June 2024. The programme employed a learning system approach to enable doctors to test change ideas and share areas of good practice as they sought to understand the problem, test different approaches and focus on holding the gains.Findings21 wards participated and at an aggregate level achieved both aims with the recording of clinical reviews in the notes increasing from 89% to 90% and the quality of what was recorded in the notes increasing from 51% to 72%. There were signs of increased adjustments to psychotropic PRN medicines during the programme and in some wards decreased rates of psychotropic PRN administration to patients. However, while overall levels of psychotropic PRN medicine administration benchmarked lower than those reported in other studies, there were significant differences in clinical reviews, prescription and administration rates between a group of wards that fully engaged and partially engaged in the improvement programme.ConclusionsEmploying a learning system approach helped create a context suitable for improvement and led to improvements in the review of psychotropic PRN medicines. Exploring the variation between wards in fully engaged and partially engaged groups of wards could be a next step for the Trust.
Scoping review identifying interventions that have been tested to optimise the experience of people from ethnic minority groups receiving systemic anticancer therapy (SACT)
Authors: McLean Jurga , Chambers Pinkie , Steventon Luke , Cruickshank Susanne , Nabhani-Gebara Shereen 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundDisparities have been identified in many aspects of the cancer care pathway for people from minority ethnic groups (MEGs). Adherence to systemic anticancer therapies (SACTs) has been shown to impact morbidity and mortality, and therefore, inequitable experiences can have a detrimental effect on outcomes.ObjectivesTo identify interventions that focused on improving the experiences and clinical outcomes in people from MEG receiving SACT treatments.MethodsA scoping review was conducted according to Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework to map the available literature. A comprehensive search was performed using three electronic databases (Medline, Embase and CINAHL). Standard scoping review methodology following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was used. Studies were included that assessed interventions to improve MEG patients’ experience with SACT. Study types included in the review were evaluation studies, randomised/non-randomised controlled trials and all observational studies. Exclusion criteria were applied to studies including opinion pieces, literature and systematic reviews, non-English studies, conference abstracts and studies that were not describing an intervention. Independent duplicate screening, study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were undertaken. Results of the studies were synthesised using a published equity framework.ResultsSearches yielded 1356 articles. Nine studies were included after exclusion criteria were applied. Studies described six digital, two in-person and one hybrid intervention employing different research methodologies, ranging from randomised controlled trials (RCTs), feasibility studies and mixed methods studies. The majority of interventions in this study were delivered remotely, using digital platforms such as websites, recorded educational training materials as well as social media. These interventions were conducted in the USA and primarily targeted patients with early breast cancer from African American backgrounds.ConclusionsThis scoping review showed that there has been a very small number of studies investigating interventions to optimise SACT treatment experiences in people from MEG. We found evidence of interventions incorporating the equity domains that reported improved patient engagement and experience. This new knowledge will help to implement future SACT interventions, addressing health inequities across the cancer continuum.
Findings from a social media listening study on Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease: a content analysis
Authors: Zhi Nan , Zhang Yongtian , Cao Wenwei , Xiao Jinwen , Li Jianping , Li Haixia , Xie Xinyi , Ren Rujing , Geng Jieli , Wang Gang 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundSocial media listening is a new approach for gathering insights from social media platforms about users’ experiences. This approach has not been applied to analyse discussions about Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in China.AimsWe aimed to leverage multisource Chinese data to gain deeper insights into the current state of the daily management of Chinese patients with AD and the burdens faced by their caregivers.MethodsWe searched nine mainstream public online platforms in China from September 2010 to March 2024. Natural language processing tools were used to identify patients and caregivers, and categorise patients by disease stage for further analysis. We analysed the current state of patient daily management, including diagnosis and treatment, choice of treatment scenarios, patient safety and caregiver concerns.ResultsA total of 1211 patients with AD (66% female, 82% aged 60–90) and 756 caregivers for patients with AD were identified from 107 556 online sources. Most patients were derived from online consultation platforms (43%), followed by bulletin board system platforms (24%). Among the patients categorised into specific disease stages (n=382), 42% were in the moderate stage. The most frequent diagnostic tools included medical history (97%) and symptoms (84%). Treatment options for patients with AD primarily included cholinesterase inhibitors, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists and antipsychotics. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis of patients who experienced wandering (n=92) indicated a higher incidence of wandering during the moderate stage of the disease. Most caregivers were family members, with their primary concerns focusing on disease management and treatment (90%), followed by daily life care (37%) and psychosocial support (25%).ConclusionsOnline platform data provide a broad spectrum of real-world insights into individuals affected by AD in China. This study enhances our understanding of the experiences of patients with AD and their caregivers, providing guidance for developing personalised interventions, providing advice for caregivers and improving care for patients with AD.
TESTATE STI project: an online chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling strategy for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and trans people in Catalonia (Spain)
Authors: Martínez-Riveros Héctor , Gonzalez Soler Victoria , Díaz Yesika , Montoro-Fernandez Marcos , Fernandez-Rivas Gema , Pericas Carles , Palma David , Villar Marta , Adell Héctor , Gonzalez Quiles Héctor , Cortés Javier Sotomayor , Gomez Silvia , Ramirez Marinero Aida , Romano-de Gea Pol , Muntada Esteve , Casabona Jordi , Agusti Cristina 
Published: February 2025

ObjectivesTESTATE STI is an online offer of self-sampling kits (SSKs) for the detection ofChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender people (TG) in Catalonia. The aims of this study are: 1) to develop and evaluate the effectiveness, satisfaction and willingness of a pilot online intervention that includes the offer of SSKs for CT/NG screening with online consultation of subsequent results and (2) to analyse its potential as an effective strategy to encourage diagnosis, linkage to treatment and to describe contact notification by participants with a positive diagnosis.MethodsThe distribution of SSKs, which included a urine collection tube, a pharyngeal and a rectal swab, was conducted through two recruitment strategies: autonomously via social media and GBMSM or TG leisure spaces, or accompanied by community-based organisations. Participants completed a socio-demographic, biobehavioural and satisfaction survey.ResultsA total of 386 kits were tested in the laboratory. The estimated positivity rate for having at least one STI was 20.7%. TESTATE STI indicates that approximately 90.0% of positive participants were extragenital. 81.0% of positive cases were linked to the health system, and 96.9% of those were treated. We estimate that five kits must be performed to detect a positive CT/NG with the TESTATE STI intervention. Almost all participants (98.8%) would recommend taking the chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-sampling with TESTATE STI.ConclusionThe TESTATE STI project concluded that the deployment of SSKs for the detection of CT/NG is a viable and feasible strategy for GBMSM and TG in Catalonia. TESTATE STI is an effective strategy for encouraging diagnosis, treatment linkage and contact notification. Implementing TESTATE STI would increase access to confidential testing and promote early STI detection.
Systematic review exploring the burden of sexually transmissible infections and bloodborne viruses in refugees and asylum seekers: insights to inform policy and practice
Authors: Shiferaw Wondimeneh , Martin Beatris Mario , Dean Judith Ann , Koh Kenneth , Mills Deborah , Lau Colleen , Furuya-Kanamori Luis 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundIn 2022, the number of refugees and asylum seekers (RAS) have reached an all-time high of 40.7 million globally. The surge in RAS, coupled with their limited access to healthcare (at their home and destination countries), has led to the risk of transmitting/acquiring sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and bloodborne viruses (BBVs). This situation threatens the health of RAS and poses a public health challenge to destination countries, potentially placing a burden on healthcare systems and resources. Healthcare recommendations for screening programmes for RAS vary between countries, leading to disparities in STI/BBV screening practices on arrival. These disparities can impact early detection and treatment of STIs/BBVs, increasing the risk of onward transmission and long-term negative sequelae. Therefore, this systematic review aims to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with STIs/BBVs among RAS.MethodsSix databases (ie, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CINAHL) were searched for observational studies reporting STIs/BBVs prevalence and/or risk factors among RAS. The inverse variance heterogeneity model with double arcsine transformation was applied to prevalence meta-analysis of STIs/BBVs by region of origin of RAS. Narrative data synthesis was undertaken to summarise risk factors associated with STIs/BBVs.ResultsA total of 21 studies (n=504 432 RAS) were included. Most studies were conducted among RAS arriving in Europe (n=14), followed by North America (n=5) and Australia (n=2). The highest prevalence of HIV (1.55%; 95% CI 0.53 to 3.04), syphilis (1.29%; 95% CI 0.59 to 2.24) and hepatitis B (6.50%; 95% CI 2.29 to 12.46) were observed among RAS from sub-Saharan Africa. The highest prevalence of hepatitis C was found in RAS from Southeast Asia (3.96%; 95% CI 2.74 to 5.38) and North Africa (3.59%; 95% CI 1.33 to 6.79). The highest prevalence of chlamydia was reported among RAS from the Middle East (1.48%; 95% CI 0.00 to 4.73) and Eastern Europe (1.40%; 95% CI 0.38 to 4.96). History of STIs, torture, blood transfusion and African origin were identified as factors associated with increased prevalence of STIs/BBVs.ConclusionsThis study underscores the regional disparities in the burden of STIs/BBVs among RAS. These findings highlight the importance of targeted screening for STIs/BBVs based on the country/region of origin and individual risk factors, and implementation of mitigation measures (eg, improving healthcare access and raising awareness) tailored to their unique needs. Such measures are crucial for reducing the impact of STIs/BBVs in both RAS and host countries.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024546750.
High-intensity femtosecond laser irradiation experiments on polymer targets doped with gold nanorods
Authors: Kedves Miklós Á. , Aladi Márk 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
High-intensity femtosecond laser irradiation experiments have been carried out on polymer targets doped with gold nanorods in order to study the occurrence of resonant plasmon field enhancement in the course of ion acceleration. The motivation is the exploitation of the resonant plasmonic effect for increasing the nuclear fusion rate in suitable targets, pursued by the Nanoplasmonic Laser Induced Fusion Experiment project in Hungary. Various aspects of the interactions have been investigated experimentally using the laser laboratory facilities of the Wigner as well as the ELI-ALPS research centers. Different target compositions and structures have been studied and numerous diagnostic techniques have been applied to detect the interaction products. A brief summary of the experimental procedures is presented, with special attention to the laser pulse temporal contrast as an important parameter. Besides, references to some recent results are given and future plans are discussed.