The Clinical Times
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Clinical & Research · page 30

New research and findings from open-access journals and the U.S. research agencies.

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Guided group reflection versus SNAPPS in enhancing clinical reasoning in final-year MBBS students at a public-sector teaching hospital in Pakistan: a quasi-experimental study

Objectives (1) To compare the effectiveness of guided group reflection (GGR) versus SNAPPS (Summarise history and physical examination, Narrow differentials, Analyse the differentials, Probe the preceptor, Plan of patient management, Self-directed learning), as a teaching intervention in improving clinical reasoning (CR) skills of final-year MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) students. (2) To determine which teaching intervention is more effective in improving specific components of CR (data acquisition, problem presentation, hypothesis generation, illness script comparison and…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Infection prevention and control measures for Ebola and Marburg disease: a series of rapid reviews

Objectives An evidence synthesis informed the 2023 WHO infection prevention and control (IPC) guideline for Ebola disease (EBOD) and Marburg disease (MARD). Design A series of rapid reviews addressed 14 key questions (KQs) related to IPC measures for EBOD and MARD across three themes: (1) transmission/exposure, (2) personal protective equipment (PPE) and (3) decontamination/disinfection. Data sources Databases (Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CENTRAL, Global Index Medicus) were searched from inception to May 2024, in addition to searches in MEDLINE and bio/medRxiv servers…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Prevalence of suspected scoliosis based on angle of torso rotation in children and adolescents in Heqing County at different periods: a large-sample mixed-methods study

Objectives To analyse changes in the prevalence of suspected scoliosis among children and adolescents in Heqing County, South-West China, over different periods and to identify risk factors for its progression. Design A mixed-methods study, including a cross-sectional survey and longitudinal follow-up. Setting Single-centre study. An angle of torso rotation (ATR) ≥5° was defined as a positive screening result and progression was defined as an increase in ATR ≥2°. Participants In November 2021, 22 740 students aged 6–18 years were screened; in May 2023, 28 009 students aged 6–18 years…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Healthcare professionals understanding and current practice in sarcopenia screening and diagnosis in the UK: a qualitative study

Objectives To explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) understanding and current practice in the screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia to help with the development of a standardised sarcopenia screening tool that can be implemented within the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK. Design A qualitative study using semistructured interviews that were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis steps. Setting The interviews were conducted online. Participants Ten HCPs (consultants, physiotherapists, community matrons, dieticians and community falls specialists) within acute…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MINE): a single-centre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint controlled trial protocol in China

Introduction Drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is a common and disabling focal epilepsy syndrome for which surgery offers the best chance of seizure freedom. Traditional open surgery (eg, anterior temporal lobectomy or selective amygdalohippocampectomy) is effective but may be associated with perioperative morbidity and neurocognitive sequelae. Magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) is a minimally invasive alternative with encouraging observational outcomes but high-quality comparative evidence versus open surgery remains limited. The MINE…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Transanal irrigation for the management of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS): protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, crossover randomised controlled trial

Introduction Advances in surgical techniques and neoadjuvant care for rectal cancer have increased sphincter preservation, allowing restoration of bowel continuity through low anterior resection (LAR). However, up to 75% of patients experience low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), which is bowel dysfunction characterised by faecal incontinence, frequency, urgency and clustering of bowel movements, significantly impairing quality of life (QoL). Current management is largely empirical, using lifestyle or pharmacological strategies with variable success. Transanal irrigation (TAI) is a…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Mapping the use of interactive voice response (IVR) in healthcare in Africa: a scoping review protocol

Introduction Africa faces a substantial health burden characterised by a dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases compounded by persistent health system and infrastructure constraints. Digital health interventions offer scalable opportunities to strengthen healthcare delivery. Interactive voice response (IVR), an automated telephone-based technology, shows promise across African health settings; however, existing evidence is dispersed across isolated studies and demonstrates variability in outcomes and implementation approaches. This scoping review maps existing evidence on…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Shared decision making in pain care: a systematic review study protocol of decision aids

Introduction Shared decision making (SDM) in healthcare is an ethical imperative and essential to patient-centred care. SDM is particularly useful when several preference-sensitive treatment options exist and in the setting of chronic conditions or longitudinal management. Chronic pain management embodies these characteristics, yet SDM often remains insufficient in this population. Decision aids are designed to facilitate SDM by helping patients and clinicians understand treatment options, clarify patient values, and guide collaborative decision processes. Despite their importance, the use of…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Acute kidney injury-epidemiology in intensive care unit patients 2: study protocol for a prospective international multicentre cohort study

Introduction Reports on the epidemiology and outcomes of acute kidney injury in the critically ill provide variable estimates based on differences in populations and underlying exposures. Current and generalisable incidence data are needed along with information on long-term patient and kidney outcomes. The acute kidney injury-epidemiology in intensive care unit patients 2 (AKI-EPI 2) study aims to describe the occurrence and associated outcomes of AKI in critically ill patients worldwide. In addition, in selected centres, it aims to further describe the influence of AKI on long-term kidney…

BMJ Open · Jul 9, 2026

Pedagogical strategies for enhancing critical thinking in nursing students using large language models: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Introduction Large language models (LLMs) are rapidly normalising in nursing education. However, evidence regarding their impact on critical thinking—a cornerstone of safe clinical practice—remains inconsistent. Current syntheses have largely focused on student satisfaction and general utility, leaving the specific instructional mechanisms that cultivate this competency unexplored. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to identify effective pedagogical strategies for fostering critical thinking, providing evidence-based guidance to safeguard clinical competency in an artificial…

JAMA Network Open · Jul 9, 2026

Error in Article Information

In the Original Investigation titled “Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children With Congenital Heart Disease,” published June 1, 2026, there was an error in the Article Information section. The Funding/Support section should have read: “This project was supported by the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative (CNOC), the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4), and the Children’s Heart Foundation through their support for integrated registry initiatives as a part of Cardiac Networks United.” This article has been corrected.

JAMA Network Open · Jul 9, 2026

Errors in Table 3

In the Original Investigation titled “Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions and Parent Caregiving Experiences for Children With Medical Complexity,” published June 11, 2026, there were errors in Table 3. For the subtheme titled, “Emotional-rational entanglement,” the second quote should have been attributed to a “39-year-old father of 7-year-old child with Goldenhar syndrome,” and the third quote should have been attributed to a “37-year-old mother of 4-year-old twins born prematurely.” In the abbreviations footnote, CMC should have been spelled out as “children with medical complexity.” This…

ACC (Cardiology) · Jul 8, 2026

Lower Ambient Temperature Associated With Greater SCA Risk at Marathon Races in Japan

Runners participating in Japanese marathon races largely held in autumn and winter had a greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) when the ambient temperature was lower at race start, while no significant relationship between ambient air pollutants and SCA risk was identified, according to a study published June 30 in JACC: Advances.

BMJ Open · Jul 8, 2026

Barriers and facilitators in hospital-based physiotherapy services in Iran: a qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework

Background Hospital-based physiotherapy can play an important role in the multidisciplinary treatment of hospitalised patients by optimising their functional mobility as part of the patient’s overall functional health condition. Considering that hospital-based physiotherapy services are structured differently among countries, providing hospital-based physiotherapy services may also face different barriers and facilitators. Objective This study aimed to explore the potential barriers and facilitators in providing hospital-based physiotherapy services in Iran. Design Based on the Theoretical…

BMJ Open · Jul 8, 2026

Implementing One Health governance approaches to mitigate antimicrobial resistance across institutional, social, economic and political contexts: a scoping review

Objectives Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat across human, animal and environmental health. The One Health approach emphasises multisectoral collaboration and is critical in addressing AMR. While One Health governance has gained recognition from international organisations, there remains limited understanding of how it can be effectively implemented across institutional, social, economic and political contexts. This scoping review aims to explore the design and implementation of One Health governance across contexts. Design Scoping review Data sources We searched PubMed…

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