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MedCity News · Jun 30, 2026

How Payers Can Use AI to Improve the Healthcare Financial Experience

[Sponsored] Zelis CEO Amanda Eisel discussed how AI can create value when it is applied to measurable outcomes: simplifying claims workflows, reducing administrative burden, strengthening payment integrity, improving the payments experience, and empowering members to navigate their healthcare financial journey with confidence. The post How Payers Can Use AI to Improve the Healthcare Financial Experience appeared first on MedCity News .

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

CHAMPION study protocol: children whose mothers are involved in the criminal justice system in Dorset & Hampshire, UK - developing health and social care outcome indicators

Introduction Each year, approximately 17 000 children will have a mother who is imprisoned in England and Wales. The impact of maternal vs paternal imprisonment is very different; the negative health consequences on children are likely to be much greater if a mother is imprisoned. The number of children affected by non-custodial justice involvement is likely to be far greater given the higher number of women under probation supervision. However, no official statistics or estimates are collected for this population. The purpose of the CHAMPION (children whose mothers are involved in the…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Organizational learning models in continuing health education: a scoping review protocol

Background Citizens depend on high-quality healthcare; however, significant disparities in quality persist among healthcare organisations. Healthcare services are complex organisations, making it essential to employ knowledge management as a strategic resource. This develops competent professionals capable of performing tasks effectively, thereby directly impacting the quality of care. Within this framework, organisational learning (OL) emerges as a key concept, referring to an institution’s ability to continuously reshape its knowledge over time without losing its organisational memory, thus…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards routine vaccination among COVID-19-positive individuals in Lebanon in the post-pandemic period: a case-control study

Objectives To evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices towards routine vaccination in the Lebanese population in the post-COVID-19 period, and to examine differences between COVID-19 vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. The study also aimed to identify sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with vaccination status, and to explore changes in vaccination practices before and after the pandemic. Design Unmatched case-control study. Setting Community-based survey conducted across all regions of Lebanon between July and October 2023. Participants A total of 730 adults were…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Protocol for the economic evaluation of integrated longitudinal public health interventions in a cluster randomised controlled trial setting: the healthy life trajectories initiative

Introduction In 2021, globally, cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) accounted for 35% of the 1.73 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to non-communicable diseases. The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI), a four-country randomised controlled trial based on the developmental origins of health and disease(DOHaD) concept, evaluates whether integrated longitudinal public health interventions started prepregnancy reduce the risk of childhood adiposity and, consequently, the development of CMDs in the offspring. This paper presents the protocol for the economic evaluation…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Collaborative development of a digital intervention to support opioid tapering after surgery in primary care: an experience-based co-design study with patients and clinicians

Objectives To co-design a digital intervention (eTAPER) to support safe and timely opioid tapering after surgery in primary care, integrating behavioural theory and stakeholder perspectives. Design Qualitative co-design study using two online co-design workshops and one in-person stakeholder engagement event guided by the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology and mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Qualitative data were collected during the two online co-design workshops, while the in-person stakeholder engagement event was used to sense-check and validate the findings from…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Safety evaluation of CD3xCD20 bispecific antibodies: a pharmacovigilance study using FDA adverse event reporting system

Objectives To characterise post-marketing adverse event (AE) reporting patterns associated with CD3 x CD20 bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) using multi-method disproportionality analysis and to identify potential safety signals warranting further investigation. Design Retrospective pharmacovigilance study using disproportionality analysis with multiple complementary methods. Setting Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database. Participants A total of 2237 AE reports associated with CD3 x CD20 BsAbs (1135 for epcoritamab, 673 for glofitamab and 429 for mosunetuzumab) were…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Teaching AI ethics in medical schools: a scoping review protocol on the ethical-technical balance in curricular frameworks

Introduction The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in healthcare, ranging from diagnostic tools to clinical decision support systems, is transforming medical practice and education. However, without deliberate integration of ethics, there is a risk that medical education will reproduce a technosolutionist orientation by privileging efficiency and data-driven outputs over patient autonomy, justice and professional integrity. While AI-related courses are increasingly being introduced into medical curricula, ethical considerations often remain peripheral, with most…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Dengue Reduction through Education Awareness and Monitoring in Schools (DREAMS) initiative in Puducherry, India: protocol for a hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation study

Background Dengue continues to be a global public health challenge despite sustained control efforts. Dengue control strategies rely primarily on effective Aedes mosquito control. Sustaining community participation in mosquito control requires innovative efforts, especially in achieving consistent behavioural change. Schools offer a strategic entry point, with children being both learners and influencers. This leads to a ripple effect of intervention impacting beyond the classroom. While behaviour change strategies for dengue prevention exist, there is sparsity of studies addressing the…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Perceptions of intimate partner violence among men and women in southern India: a qualitative study

Objective This study aims to explore the perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its potential consequences among adults (both married and unmarried) and adolescents in peri-urban India. Design A qualitative study design using thematic analysis was applied to 7 focus group discussions (FGDs) (n=56) and 33 in-depth interviews (IDIs) among adults (aged 19–48 years) and adolescents (aged 15–18 years). Interview guides for the FGDs and IDIs explored the perceptions of gender-based violence with a focus on IPV, risk factors and circumstances that justify IPV, triggers and consequences of…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Determinants of high annual sickness absence in older workers: a prospective cohort study in England (Health and Employment After Fifty study)

Objectives To quantify contributions of health- and employment-related risk factors to high annual sickness absence (HASA) among a population-based cohort of older workers in England. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting 24 general practices geographically dispersed across England. Participants Men and women initially aged 50–64 years recruited as part of the Health and Employment After Fifty study. Primary and secondary outcome measures HASA, defined as a total of more than 20 days sickness absence over a 12-month interval. Results 4726 men and women were analysed, providing data on 15…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Circulating tumour DNA in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing curative-intent LIver MEtastases Surgery in France: a prospective, multicentre GERCOR G-118 CLIMES PRODIGE 77 cohort study protocol

Introduction Curative-intent resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (CRLM), combined with perioperative chemotherapy, is the standard of treatment for selected patients. However, accurately predicting which patients will benefit from this strategy remains challenging. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive biomarker for detecting minimal residual disease and predicting prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of ctDNA in patients with CRC undergoing surgery for CRLM. Methods and analysis CRC patients undergoing LIver…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Effect of home-based cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life, health behaviours and cardiac anxiety in patients with coronary artery disease: findings from a single-blinded randomised controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a contextually developed home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) programme on heart-related quality of life (QoL), cardiac health behaviours (CHB) and cardiac anxiety (CA) among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Lahore, Pakistan. Design Single-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT). Setting Cardiology department of a public tertiary-care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants 120 patients aged 18–65 years diagnosed with coronary artery disease who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention or medical management were…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Pairwise and three-country comparisons of high and low COVID-19 vaccination rates in 12 African countries: a mixed-method study protocol

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant disparities in vaccine uptake across sub-Saharan Africa, yet research exploring the regional and country-specific factors influencing these rates remains limited. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted regional and global public health interventions to improve vaccination uptake and strengthen pandemic preparedness. This study aims to fill a critical knowledge gap by assessing the factors influencing vaccination rates across sub-Saharan Africa at the operational, systemic and socio-political levels. Methods…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Healthcare service user-reported quality of care in Malawi: a national multifacility cross-sectional study

Objective Improving healthcare service user-reported quality of care is one of the three core objectives of the Malawian government’s health sector strategic plan. As such, a robust understanding of service user-reported quality is crucial to inform the development of patient-centred services. This study aimed to explore how service users in Malawi evaluate the quality of the healthcare they receive across services and facilities and to investigate the association between individual and health service characteristics and reported quality of care. Design A national multifacility cross-sectional…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with severe asthma receiving tezepelumab after marketing approval in Spain (T-ROSS II study): an observational study protocol

Background Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease characterised by airway inflammation, reversible airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness. Most patients with severe asthma (SA) remain uncontrolled despite the availability of multiple therapies, representing a significant global health burden. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine that plays a central role in asthma initiation via both allergic and non-allergic mechanisms as well as in the persistence of airway inflammation in patients with asthma, acting upstream in the inflammatory…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Differential impact of smoking on intracerebral haemorrhage based on cerebral microbleed status: a case-control study

Objectives While smoking is a well-established risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases, its association with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are markers of haemorrhage-prone small vessel disease, but ICH can also occur without detectable CMBs. Therefore, we investigated the association between smoking and ICH according to CMB status. Design Single-centre retrospective case-control study. Setting A tertiary stroke centre in Osaka, Japan (2017–2021). Participants 487 patients with ICH as their first stroke (female sex 41.5%) and 322…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Occupational burns among migrant workers in South Korea: a qualitative study of challenges and coping strategies

Objective Burns are a global public health concern, and migrant workers face a disproportionately high risk for occupational burns. We traced their trajectory from injury occurrence through treatment to return to work, to identify key public health issues along this pathway. Design, setting and participants This qualitative study involved repeated semi-structured interviews with seven migrant workers in South Korea who had experienced occupational burns. Participants had diverse nationalities, occupations and legal statuses. Interpreters were employed when needed. Thematic analysis was used to…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Lascufloxacin switch therapy versus ampicillin/sulbactam for older patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Japan (STEP study): a study protocol for a multicentre open-label randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

Introduction Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults in Japan. Prolonged hospitalisation accelerates functional decline, promotes the progression of frailty and increases the need for long-term care. An early switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics helps achieve clinical outcomes comparable to those of continued intravenous therapy while shortening hospital stays. For older adults with frailty, avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation may help prevent further deterioration of functional status. Demonstrating non-inferiority of oral…

BMJ Open · Jun 30, 2026

Ophthalmic self-medication among adult ophthalmic patients attending a tertiary eye care centre in Northwest Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study assessing prevalence, associated factors and lived experience

Objective To determine the prevalence and associated factors of ophthalmic self-medication (OSM) and explore the lived experiences of adult patients with ophthalmic problems attending the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia. Design An institution-based mixed-methods study comprising a cross-sectional quantitative component and a phenomenological qualitative component. Setting This study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest…

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