New research and findings from open-access journals and the U.S. research agencies.
This cohort study examines whether adoption of statewide cost-growth benchmark programs is associated with changes in per capita total medical expenditures growth.
This cohort study reports a secondary analysis of the BALANCE randomized clinical trial assessing whether procalcitonin levels are associated with survival among patients receiving 7 vs 14 days of antibiotics for bloodstream infections.
Objectives To identify clinical checklists of multicomponent non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention and treatment of delirium used in non-intensive care unit inpatient healthcare settings, their content and reported implementation. Design Rapid review. Data sources Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from 1 January 1999 to 31 March 2022 and updated on 16 January 2025. A comprehensive grey literature search, including websites of guideline development groups and international delirium organisations, was conducted on 26 and 27 February 2024…
Introduction The way men are socialised into their masculine roles has been shown to contribute to male-perpetrated sexual violence (SV) against women students in higher education institutions (HEIs). Global North studies further emphasise men’s poor mental health and its intersection with the construction of masculinities as one of the risk factors for male-perpetrated SV against women. The purpose of this scoping review is to map out the literature on male college/university students’ poor mental health and links to their perpetration of SV against women students in Africa. Methods and…
Background Breastfeeding may be associated with lower future risk of maternal type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, existing evidence is inconsistent and derived largely from studies in high-income countries. We assess the association of breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration with incident T2D among Chinese women. Research design and methods The prospective China Kadoorie Biobank recruited 512 724 adults from 10 localities across China between 2004 and 2008. During 11.8 years’ follow-up, 12 011 cases of incident T2D were recorded among 283 855 female participants without prior diabetes. Cox…
Objectives To assess the representativeness of participants recruited through indirect methods into a cohort of healthcare professionals in the absence of comprehensive and up-to-date national registers. Design Comparisons of socio-demographic and socio-professional characteristics from multiple national data sources with those of a large indirectly recruited healthcare workforce cohort. Setting National healthcare workforce research conducted in Switzerland as a case study, with lessons applicable to other high-income countries lacking comprehensive registers. Participants Healthcare…
Background Somatic symptoms frequently occur in haemodialysis patients, whereas depression and anxiety are also common but are often under-recognised issues. This study aims to examine the associations among depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms in haemodialysis patients. These symptoms may be linked together under a general distress construct in haemodialysis patients. Methods We surveyed 1085 dialysis patients between 1 March 2018 and 28 February 2023 at 17 dialysis facilities in Northeast Ohio with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder and…
Objective To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of parents of children born moderate to late preterm (32 to <37 weeks’ gestation) regarding their children’s neurodevelopment. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting This study was conducted from March to June 2025 at the Second People’s Hospital of Changzhou. Participants Parents of children born moderate to late preterm were surveyed in the outpatient clinic when their children were at preschool age. Interventions No. Primary and secondary outcome measures KAP scores were assessed using a questionnaire, and differences…
Objectives To explore the impact of stroke on young survivors. Design Qualitative study design using semistructured interviews that underwent thematic analysis. Setting Participants were recruited globally, with the majority of data collection occurring in the UK. All participant interviews were conducted online. Participants This study is the first to explore the poststroke impact of young stroke survivors across three key stakeholder groups: young stroke survivors (n=22), young stroke caregivers (n=5) and stroke healthcare professionals (n=9). Results Following 36 participant interviews…
Introduction Opioid use continues to cause harm and fatalities worldwide, despite ongoing preventive efforts. Early administration of the antidote naloxone can reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses. Naloxone distribution programmes have increased survival across regions; however, additional efforts are needed to reduce opioid overdose mortality. One approach is to expand naloxone availability within communities. Methods and analysis The feasibility trial RESPONDER (REgion Skåne Preventing Overdose deaths through Naloxone Distribution with Emergency Runners) introduces a unique…
Introduction Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare but serious infantile cholangiopathy requiring timely diagnosis and surgical intervention. However, current screening methods are limited by their postnatal initiation. By contrast, antenatal imaging is increasingly considered promising due to growing evidence of a prenatal onset of BA, although high-quality diagnostic evidence remains scarce. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of antenatal biliary imaging features for the detection of BA. Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, prospective cohort diagnostic accuracy study…
Introduction Paediatric clinical education presents unique challenges for nursing students owing to the clinical complexity and emotional sensitivity of caring for ill children and their families. This high-stakes period profoundly influences students’ professional identity. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of nursing students during their paediatric practicum through a descriptive phenomenological lens. Methods and analysis This study will be conducted using a qualitative design with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data will be collected through in-depth…
Objective Women with premenstrual disorder (PMD) display heightened sensitivity to hormonal changes and may be at risk for psychiatric disorders during other hormonally dynamic periods such as pregnancy and postpartum. While PMD has been linked to perinatal depression, associations with the full spectrum of perinatal psychiatric disorders (PNPDs), including anxiety and psychosis, remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether a history of PMD is associated with increased risk of a first-onset PNPD. Design Nationwide register-based cohort study from 2003 to 2020. Setting…
Objectives To assess public and healthcare professional knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and behaviours regarding spatial computing technologies, virtual reality (fully immersive computer-generated environments), augmented reality (digital overlays on the physical world) and mixed reality (spatially anchored holograms) in healthcare, with a focus on perceived benefits for self-care and barriers to adoption in primary care and community settings. Design Cross-sectional online survey. Setting UK-wide, web-based survey conducted between January 2025 and August 2025. Participants…
Objective To explore healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences of diagnosing cellulitis, identify unmet diagnostic needs and determine the desirable characteristics of an ideal diagnostic test. Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews, analysed thematically. Setting Community and secondary care services across the UK from January 2023 to September 2023. Participants 25 UK-based HCPs (eg. nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, general practitioners and hospital physicians) with recent experience of managing cellulitis. Inclusion required recent involvement in cellulitis care; no…
Background Flexible bronchoscopy frequently provokes airway reflexes that impair patient comfort and procedural quality. Remimazolam provides effective sedation but often requires adjunctive opioids to suppress coughing and movement. Oliceridine is a G-protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonist that may provide effective pain relief while minimising respiratory and haemodynamic side effects. However, the optimal dose of oliceridine combined with remimazolam for bronchoscopy remains unknown. Methods and analysis This is a prospective, single-centre, sex-stratified, up-and-down sequential…
Introduction Postoperative delirium (POD) is a prevalent perioperative complication among geriatric orthopaedic patients, leading to extended hospitalisation, escalated medical expenditures and persistent cognitive impairment. Although existing studies suggest that dexmedetomidine can reduce the risk of POD, the optimal timing of administration remains undetermined. Methods and analysis This is a prospective, randomised controlled trial. Patients aged ≥65 years undergoing lower limb fracture surgery under neuraxial anaesthesia will be randomised into a preoperative administration group, an…
Objectives This study examines awareness, perceived legitimacy, trust and readiness for the implementation of lifestyle medicine within National Health Service (NHS) prevention pathways among community-dwelling adults and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in England. A secondary objective was to assess how professional training and system factors relate to the provision and intended use of lifestyle medicine services within the NHS. Design Cross-sectional, self-administered online survey. Setting UK; online survey administered in January 2026. Participants Adults aged ≥18 years living in the…
Introduction The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer often disrupt patients’ and their spouses’ established family lives, requiring them to reestablish a sense of balance. This study aims to develop and evaluate a dyadic co-learning intervention derived from the activation-reinforcement-adjustment theory of family resilience for patients with prostate cancer and their spouses. Methods and analysis An experimental study design was employed. Prostate cancer patients and their spouses (n=60 pairs) will be recruited from the outpatient department. Following baseline assessment, participants…
Introduction Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential in modern healthcare. Insertion of a CVC promotes a hypercoagulable environment, in part through activation of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. We have previously shown that blood obtained from newly inserted CVCs demonstrates immediate coagulation activation, with differences between samples collected directly after insertion and after flushing of the catheter. The aim of this randomised trial is to compare early coagulation activation between four commonly used CVCs and to assess whether the different CVCs demonstrate different…
Introduction Palliative care has been identified as one of the most inequitable areas of healthcare. In Switzerland, as globally, disparities in end-of-life care (EOLC) exist along socio-demographic lines, shaping the access to and quality of care received across services by patients and their caregivers. Research has linked these disparities to binary gender differences and other aspects of a person’s social position. The GiveCare project aims to provide a systemic understanding of how aspects of gender and diversity intersect to shape the provision of EOLC in Switzerland and to translate the…
Introduction Cognitive impairment is prevalent among adults with kidney failure treated with haemodialysis (HD). It affects multiple cognitive domains and contributes to suboptimal quality of life and clinical outcomes. Virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive training has shown benefits in various conditions including older adults without kidney failure; however, its feasibility in people receiving HD is unknown. This trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of immersive VR cognitive training in adults undergoing maintenance HD. Methods and analysis The VIRTUAL trial is a…
Introduction Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) and gastric dysplasia are critical precursors in the Correa cascade of gastric carcinogenesis. Although multiple image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) modalities and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted systems have been developed to improve their detection, the comparative diagnostic accuracy of these technologies remains unclear. Direct comparative studies are limited and conventional pairwise meta-analyses do not provide a coherent framework for comparing multiple diagnostic technologies. Methods and analysis This protocol follows the Preferred…
Pediatrics