bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceived barriers to the process of COVID-19 control among frontline healthcare workers in South Korea: a qualitative study
Authors: Kwon Sijoung , Kang Bee-Ah , You Myoungsoon , Lee Heeyoung 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore barriers to disease control perceived by frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) working in community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.DesignA qualitative study was conducted using semistructured focus group interviews. All interviews were conducted in Korean on Zoom between October and November 2020, audio-recorded and transcribed for reflexive thematic analysis.SettingAll participants were working in Gyeonggi-do, the most populous province in South Korea. The province had the second-highest COVID-19 infection rates at the time of the interview.ParticipantsParticipants serving as HCWs in Gyeonggi Province were eligible to participate in the study. A total of 20 HCWs comprised of public health doctors and professional epidemiologists agreed to participate in the study.ResultsFour themes were generated. Each theme described how these barriers affected a disease control process: (1) ‘uncooperative public and unprepared community health centre’ delayed the investigation of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases; (2) ‘uncoordinated disease control system’ impeded the collection and analysis of digital data; (3) ‘the gap between responsibilities and capabilities’ hindered the classification of close and casual contacts; and (4) ‘conflicts with persons who have different interests and priorities’ hampered epidemiological decision-making.ConclusionsOur study found that frontline HCWs experienced various challenges disrupting their work performance to control COVID-19. We provide several recommendations, such as providing HCWs with systematic interview skill training, strengthening patient information security systems, providing sufficient resources, securing a regular workforce, collecting the field experiences of HCWs, implementing task-shifting, and having regular stakeholder meetings. These strategies may promote work capacity among the frontline HCWs and subsequently strengthen emergency preparedness.
Sexually transmitted infections among patients attending a sexual assault centre: a cohort study from Oslo, Norway
Authors: Skjælaaen Katarina , Nesvold Helle , Brekke Mette , Sare Miriam , Landaas Elisabeth Toverud , Mdala Ibrahimu , Olsen Anne Olaug , Vallersnes Odd Martin 
Published: December 2022

ObjectivesWe estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) among patients after sexual assault, assess the possible value of azithromycin prophylaxis, and identify risk factors for assault-related STI and for not presenting at follow-up.DesignProspective observational cohort study.SettingSexual assault centre in Oslo, Norway.Participants645 patients, 602 (93.3%) women and 43 (6.7%) men, attending the centre from May 2017 to July 2019.Outcome measuresMicrobiological testing at the primary examination and at follow-up consultations after 2, 5 and 12 weeks. Estimated relative risk for assault-related STI and for not presenting at follow-up.ResultsAt primary examination, the prevalence of genital chlamydia was 8.4%,Mycoplasma genitalium6.4% and gonorrhoea 0.6%. In addition, the prevalence of bacterial STI diagnosed at follow-up and possibly from the assault was 3.0% in total: 2.5% forM. genitalium,1.4% for genital chlamydia and 0.2% for gonorrhoea. This prevalence did not change when azithromycin was no longer recommended from January 2018. There were no new cases of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV or syphilis. We found no specific risk factors for assault-related STI. Patients with previous contact with child welfare service less often presented to follow-up (relative risk (RR) 2.0 (95% CI 1.1 to 3.5)), as did patients with a history of sex work (RR 3.6 (1.2 to 11.0)) or substance abuse (RR 1.7 (1.1 to 2.7)).ConclusionsMost bacterial STIs were diagnosed at the primary examination, hence not influenced by prophylaxis. There was no increase in bacterial STI diagnosed at follow-up when azithromycin prophylaxis was not routinely recommended, supporting a strategy of starting treatment only when infection is diagnosed or when the patient is considered at high risk. Sex work, substance abuse and previous contact with child welfare services were associated with not presenting to follow-up.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03132389).
What are health professionals’ perceptions and attitudes regarding children with early childhood caries and their families? A qualitative research protocol to assess oral health stigma in the medical setting
Authors: Lienhart Guillemette , Thivichon-Prince Beatrice , Farge Pierre , Schott-Pethelaz Anne-Marie , Chaneliere Marc 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionDental caries is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in children. The disease management of caries relies on both a preventive individual approach (fluoridation, risk evaluation) and the surgical treatment of established carious lesions. Similar to other non-communicable diseases (obesity, mental diseases, etc), health professionals’ negative perceptions of patients have been shown to affect the quality of disease management. Regarding dental caries in children, some data have indicated the presence of discriminating beliefs and behaviours towards these children and their families in the medical setting. However, oral health stigma related to dental care remains a largely unexplored issue.Methods and analysisThis study presents an exploratory research protocol focusing on the perceptions and attitudes of health professionals towards children with early childhood caries (ECC) and their parents. Semistructured interviews will be conducted among medical and dental health professionals, and verbatim quotations obtained from audio transcriptions will be analysed to identify health professionals’ perceptions of ECC and the influence of these perceptions on clinical care for these children.Ethics and disseminationThe research ethics committee of the Department of Family Medicine at University Lyon 1 approved this protocol. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings.Trial registration numberNCT05284279.
Towards a framework for patient-centred care coordination: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Khanna Aishwarya , Fix Gemmae M , Anderson Ekaterina , Bolton Rendelle E , Bokhour Barbara G , Foster Marva , Smith Jason G , Vimalananda Varsha G 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionPatient-centred care and care coordination are each key priority areas for delivering high quality healthcare. However, the intersection between these two concepts is poorly characterised. We theorise that greater advancements in healthcare quality could be realised when care is organised in a way that aligns with patients’ preferences, needs and values across every level of the healthcare system. There is currently no published review that describes the intersection of patient-centred care and care coordination. We will undertake a scoping review that will be foundational to the development of a conceptual framework for patient-centred care coordination that integrates and synthesises the overlap between these two concepts and describe how it manifests across levels of the healthcare system.Methods and analysisA multidisciplinary team of reviewers will conduct a scoping review of published and grey literature to identify and synthesise key concepts at the intersection of patient-centred care and care coordination, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidance for scoping reviews. Databases we will use in our search include PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Social Sciences Abstracts, Nursing and Allied Health Premium, Health and Medical Collection, and PsycINFO. Articles will be included that are English-language; published during or after 2001; describe a theory, conceptual model, theoretical framework or definition that addresses both patient-centred care and care coordination. Articles will be excluded if they do not address the intersection of patient-centred care and care coordination; discuss a patient-centred medical home without discussion on patient-centred care concepts; or discuss a paediatric, inpatient or palliative care setting. A data extraction template will facilitate qualitative thematic analysis and findings will be synthesised into a conceptual framework.Ethics and disseminationThis work does not require ethics approval. A preliminary framework will be presented to a group of patient stakeholders for refinement before dissemination through a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.
Body surface gastric mapping to determine gastric motility patterns associated with delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Gastric Electric Mapping after Pancreatoduodenectomy study protocol
Authors: Mentor Keno , Lembo Jade , Carswell Samantha , Jones Mike , Pandanaboyana Sanjay 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionDelayed gastric emptying (DGE) is frequent after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Although often associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula, the precise pathogenesis in patients with no underlying complications remains unclear. There is evidence to suggest that, after surgery, aberrant electrical pathways are formed in the stomach which could contribute to the development of DGE.Gastric Alimetry is a novel technology which measures the electrical activity of the stomach non-invasively using an array of electrodes applied to the skin of the abdomen. This technique, termed body surface gastric mapping (BSGM), has been validated in normal controls and in patients with functional dyspepsia syndromes. This study will investigate the efficacy and feasibility of using BSGM to assess gastric motility in patients who undergo PD.Methods and analysisThis prospective cohort study will be conducted at a single large volume hepatobiliary unit in the UK. 50 patients who are planned to undergo PD will be included. BSGM measurement will be performed at four timepoints viz: preoperatively, day 4 postoperatively, at discharge and 6 months postoperatively. Key parameters of BSGM measurement, including wave amplitude, frequency and directional vector, will be measured at each timepoint and compared between different patient subgroups. Symptoms will be self-reported by patients during the recording using an iPad application designed for this purpose. Quality of life and patient experience will be assessed using standardised questionnaires at the end of the follow-up period.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol has been approved by the research ethics committees of Newcastle University and the Health Research Authority (HRA) of the UK (ethical approval IRAS ID 305302). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberThis study will automatically be registered with the ISRCTN registry by the HRA as part of the ethics approval process.
Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines and levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibody in the Bruneian population: Protocol for a national longitudinal study
Authors: Ghani Hazim , Ahmad Liyana , Sharif Hanisah , Wong Justin , Bagol Saifuddien , Alikhan Mohammad Fathi , Taib Surita , Tan Chee Wah , Zhu Feng , Ong Xin Mei , Shim Chin Yee , Wang Yan , Chan Si Yee , Wei Yuan , Idris Fazean , Naing Lin , Wang Lin-Fa , Cunningham Anne Catherine 
Published: December 2022

IntroductionNeutralising antibodies (NAbs) have been shown to be correlative of immune protection against SARS-CoV-2. We report the protocol for a national longitudinal study to assess and compare the level of NAbs generated in response to COVID-19 vaccines in Brunei Darussalam in adults 2–6 weeks post primary series (BBIBP-CorV, AZD1222, or mRNA-1273 vaccines) and their subsequent follow-up after administration of a third (booster-1) dose (BBIBP-CorV, mRNA-1273, or BNT162b2).Methods and analysisParticipant data will be extracted and processed from the national electronic health record system (Bru-HIMS) and the national mobile health application (BruHealth) into a research data platform. Eligible adults who have received their primary or booster vaccine will be invited using a stratified random sampling strategy based on age, gender and vaccine type (baseline target population, n=3000; 2–6 weeks post last dose). Blood serum will be isolated, and NAb levels assessed using the cPass surrogate virus neutralisation test. Baseline participants will then be screened for eligibility for subsequent longitudinal analysis. Those who have received a third dose will be followed up at 1, 3, 6, 9 and up to 12 months. NAb levels will be evaluated across the participant population according to vaccine platform/booster type, time since the last dose and correlated with demographic data. The study period is from December 2021 to January 2023 and aims to evaluate how NAb levels wane following a third vaccine dose across different vaccine platforms and determine the impact and rate of breakthrough infections.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Medical and Ethical Research Committee of Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam. Individual NAb test results will be shared with each participant by text message. The findings from this study will help policy-makers in Brunei develop future vaccination strategies and establish regulations across multiple agencies.
Study of prehospital video telehealth for callers with mental health-related complaints
Authors: Nehme Emily , Magnuson Nicole , Mackay Lindsay , Becker Gareth , Wilson Mark , Smith Karen 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundPatients with mental health-related complaints are a key driver of increasing emergency medical service (EMS) demand; however, they require minimal intervention by EMS personnel. We describe the outcomes of a video telehealth study by mental health nurses (MHNs) in an EMS call-taking centre.MethodsThis was a prospective study of adult (≥18 years) EMS callers with non-urgent mental health concerns in Victoria, Australia who underwent secondary triage between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the influence of video telehealth with voice-only triage by an MHN or secondary triage practitioner on the need for ambulance dispatch. One-week follow-up was conducted with video telehealth patients. Interviews were conducted with MHNs and a cost analysis was performed.ResultsA total of 9588 patients were included of which 738 (7.7%) completed video consultation. The median age of video telehealth patients was 34 years (Q1: 24, Q3: 47), 62% were female and the most common complaint was suicidal or self-harm ideation (50.0%). After multivariable adjustment, video telehealth was associated with reduced odds of emergency ambulance dispatch (OR=0.173, 95% CI 0.144 to 0.209) when compared with voice-only triage by a secondary triage practitioner, but not voice-only triage by an MHN (OR=1.009, 95% CI 0.827 to 1.232). Video triage was associated with increased referrals to alternative services (excluding EDs) when compared with voice-only triage by an MHN (OR=1.321, 95% CI 1.087 to 1.606). Among those responding to 1-week follow-up, 92.8% were satisfied with the telehealth service and MHNs viewed it favourably. The average cost per video telehealth case was half that of a traditional secondary triage.ConclusionThe use of video telehealth by MHNs was associated with fewer emergency ambulance dispatches when compared with voice-only triage by secondary triage practitioners, and increased referrals to alternative services. This cost-effective technology was viewed favourably by patients and MHNs. Expansion of video technology in EMS call taking warrants exploration.
Personalised digital technology for mental health in the armed forces: the potential, the hype and the dangers
Authors: Leightley Daniel , Murphy D 
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a digital technology revolution which included widespread use in remote healthcare settings, remote working and use of technology to support friends and family to stay in touch. The armed forces have also increased its use of digital technology, but not at the same rate, and it is important that they do not fall behind in the revolution. One area where digital technology could be helpful is the treatment and management of mental health conditions. In a civilian setting, digital technology adoption has been found to be acceptable and feasible yet there is little use in the armed forces. In this personal view, we explore the potential use of personalised digital technology for mental health, the hype surrounding it and the dangers.
This paper forms part of the special issue of
BMJ Military Health
dedicated to personalised digital technology for mental health in the armed forces.
Comparison of approaches to determine echocardiographic outcomes for children with latent rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Rwebembera Joselyn , Beaton Andrea , Okello Emmy , Engelman Daniel , Fall Ndate , Mirabel Mariana , Nakitto Miriam , Pereira Nunes Maria Carmo , Pulle Jafesi , Sarnacki Rachel , Scheel Amy , Zuhlke Liesl , Grobler Anneke , Steer Andrew Craig , Sable Craig 
Published: December 2022

BackgroundScreening programmes using echocardiography offer opportunity for intervention through identification and treatment of early (latent) rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We aimed to compare two methods for classifying progression or regression of latent RHD: serial review method and blinded, side-by-side review.MethodsA four-member expert panel reviewed 799 enrolment (in 2018) and completion (in 2020) echocardiograms from the GOAL Trial of latent RHD in Uganda to make consensus determination of normal, borderline RHD or definite RHD. Serial interpretations (enrolment and completion echocardiograms read at two different time points, 2 years apart, not beside one another) were compared with blinded side-by-side comparisons (enrolment and completion echocardiograms displayed beside one another in random order on same screen) to determine outcomes according to prespecified definitions of disease progression (worsening), regression (improving) or no change. We calculated inter-rater agreement using Cohen’s kappa.ResultsThere were 799 pairs of echocardiogram assessments included. A higher number, 54 vs 38 (6.8% vs 4.5%), were deemed as progression by serial interpretation compared with side-by-side comparison. There was good inter-rater agreement between the serial interpretation and side-by-side comparison methods (kappa 0.89). Disagreement was most often a result of the difference in classification between borderline RHD and mild definite RHD. Most discrepancies between interpretation methods (46 of 47, 98%) resulted from differences in valvular morphological evaluation, with valves judged to be morphologically similar between enrolment and final echocardiograms when compared side by side but classified differently on serial interpretation.ConclusionsThere was good agreement between the methods of serial and side-by-side interpretation of echocardiograms for change over time, using the World Heart Federation criteria. Side-by-side interpretation has higher specificity for change, with fewer differences in the interpretation of valvular morphology, as compared with serial interpretation.
Dysregulated long non-coding RNA in Sjögren’s disease impacts both interferon and adaptive immune responses
Authors: Joachims Michelle L , Khatri Bhuwan , Li Chuang , Tessneer Kandice L , Ice John A , Stolarczyk Anna M , Means Nicolas , Grundahl Kiely M , Glenn Stuart B , Kelly Jennifer A , Lewis David M , Radfar Lida , Stone Donald U , Guthridge Joel M , James Judith A , Scofield R Hal , Wiley Graham B , Wren Jonathan D , Gaffney Patrick M , Montgomery Courtney G , Sivils Kathy L , Rasmussen Astrid , Farris A Darise , Adrianto Indra , Lessard Christopher J 
Published: December 2022

ObjectiveSjögren’s disease (SjD) is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammatory destruction of exocrine glands. Patients with autoantibodies to Ro/SSA (SjDRo+) exhibit more severe disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a functionally diverse class of non-protein-coding RNAs whose role in autoimmune disease pathology has not been well characterised.MethodsWhole blood RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on SjD cases (n=23 Ro/SSA negative (SjDRo−); n=27 Ro/SSA positive (SjDRo+) and healthy controls (HCs; n=27). Bioinformatics and pathway analyses of differentially expressed (DE) transcripts (log2fold change ≥2 or ≤0.5; padj<0.05) were used to predict lncRNA function.LINC01871was characterised by RNA-seq analyses of HSB-2 cells with CRISPR-targetedLINC01871deletion (LINC01871−/−) and in vitro stimulation assays.ResultsWhole blood RNA-seq revealed autoantibody-specific transcription profiles and disproportionate downregulation of DE transcripts in SjD cases relative to HCs. Sixteen DE lncRNAs exhibited correlated expression with the interferon (IFN)-regulated gene,RSAD2, in SjDRo+(r≥0.65 or ≤−0.6); four antisense lncRNAs exhibited IFN-regulated expression in immune cell lines.LINC01871was upregulated in all SjD cases. RNA-seq and pathway analyses ofLINC01871−/−cells implicated roles in cytotoxic function, differentiation and IFNγ induction.LINC01871was induced by IFNγ in a myeloid cell line and regulated by calcineurin/NFAT pathway and T cell receptor (TCR) signalling in primary human T cells.ConclusionLINC01871influences expression of many immune cell genes and growth factors, is IFNγ inducible, and regulated by calcineurin signalling and TCR ligand engagement. AlteredLINC01871expression may influence the dysregulated T cell inflammatory pathways implicated in SjD.
Benchmarking the cosmological master equations
Authors: Colas Thomas , Grain Julien , Vennin Vincent 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMaster equations are commonly employed in cosmology to model the effect of additional degrees of freedom, treated as an “environment”, onto a given “system”. However, they rely on assumptions that are not necessarily satisfied in cosmology, where the environment may be out of equilibrium and the background is dynamical. In this work, we apply the master-equation program to a model that is exactly solvable, and which consists of two linearly coupled scalar fields evolving on a cosmological background. The light field plays the role of the system and the heavy field is the environment. By comparing the exact solution to the output of the master equation, we can critically assess its performance. We find that the master equation exhibits a set of “spurious” terms that explicitly depend on the initial conditions, and which arise as a consequence of working on a dynamical background. Although they cancel out in the perturbative limit of the theory (i.e. at leading orders in the interaction strength), they spoil resummation. However, when those terms are removed, the master equation performs impressively well to reproduce the power spectra and the amount of the decoherence of the light field, even in the strongly decohered regime. We conclude that master equations are able to perform late-time resummation, even though the system is far from the Markovian limit, provided spurious contributions are suppressed.