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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, offering an expanding suite of capabilities that go beyond the traditional focus on prediction and classification. Generative AI (GenAI) and agentic AI could create transformative practices to support real-world evidence (RWE) generation for health research by streamlining studies, accelerating insights and improving decision-making. However, there is no published overview available describing the range of applications in RWE generation. This review aims to describe where and how genAI and agentic AI are applied across the domains of healthcare research tasks for RWE generation. Additionally, to map applications by tasks and methods across the product lifecycle continuum, and to identify emerging gaps and opportunities.
This Living Scoping Review (LSR) will include studies reporting an application and/or evaluation of genAI or agentic AI applied to one or more RWE generation research tasks. Searches will be conducted in Embase, MEDLINE and additional sources (eg, grey literature). Citations will be independently screened by two human senior reviewers for a substantive training dataset and a commercially available screening algorithm (Robot Screener) will complete screening with a human reviewer. The LSR will include reports of studies (primary or reviews) describing and/or evaluating the application of any genAI model for RWE generation in healthcare, in English, published from 1 January 2025 to the date of search. Data will be extracted from all studies included in the LSR by one independent senior reviewer using a piloted template, with 10% quality check by a second senior reviewer. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarise the applications of genAI per RWE research task, and the results of genAI evaluations. Thematic analysis will be used to describe genAI application patterns, trends, gaps and opportunities. The LSR protocol and reports will be updated annually, and findings will be published on a publicly available website (eg, ISPE—the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology).
Ethical approval is not required due to use of previously published data. Planned dissemination includes peer-reviewed publication, presentation and short summaries.
Maternal dietary practices are vital for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, comprehensive information about optimal dietary practices among pregnant women is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of optimal dietary practices and its associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, African Journals Online and Cochrane Library were searched for studies published in English before 25 March 2024.
Observational studies reporting the prevalence of optimal dietary practices and/or associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia were included.
Data were independently extracted by two reviewers, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional research. Review Manager V.5.4.1 and STATA V.14 software were used for data synthesis and statistical analysis. A random-effects and/or fixed-effects model was employed to calculate pooled ORs and 95% CIs to determine the correlation between dependent and independent factors. We checked heterogeneity using the I² statistic and conducted subgroup analysis to explore the source of heterogeneity among the included studies. Funnel plots and Egger’s regression test were used to determine publication bias.
A total of 22 studies with 10 915 participants were included in the review. The pooled prevalence of optimal dietary practice was 35.83% (95% CI 28.35 to 43.32). The overall study’s quality was high, and we detected significant publication bias (Egger’s test, p value=0.001). Monthly income ≥5000 ETB/90 US$) (pooled OR (OR=2.56, 95% CI 1.12 to 5.88), formal education (OR=2.74; 95% CI 1.22 to 6.16), good dietary knowledge (OR=4.1; 95% CI 3.19 to 5.25), ownership of radio/television (OR: 5.64, 95% CI 2.05 to 15.52), favourable attitude (OR=3.90, 95% CI 3.05 to 4.99) and food security (OR: 4.48; 95% CI 3.03 to 6.61), urban residency (OR=6.25, 95% CI 4.06 to 9.63), family size
Only one in three pregnant women in Ethiopia practises optimal dietary behaviours. Several modifiable individual and sociodemographic factors influence dietary practices. Interventions focusing on improving nutrition knowledge, enhancing attitudes, expanding access to media-based nutrition information and strengthening antenatal nutrition education, particularly for rural and less educated women, may improve dietary practices and pregnancy outcomes.
CRD42024542652.
Population ageing is a global phenomenon that has resulted in an increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes. Frailty, sarcopenia and neurocognitive disorders are among the most prevalent conditions affecting older adults and have a direct effect on their quality of life, and can impact the burden and budgets of health systems. Recently, the oral microbiome has gained attention as it may be a factor that potentially influences the onset and progression of these syndromes. However, this is still a new line of research that has not been deeply explored. This scoping review protocol aims to explore how the oral microbiome may be associated with the onset of prevalent geriatric syndromes, frailty, sarcopenia and neurocognitive disorders, providing a picture of the current evidence and potential gaps for future research.
The scoping review will follow the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and will be reported accordit to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines (PRISMA-ScR). Searches will be conducted in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, LILACS and Epistemonikos from inception to December 2025. Independent reviewers will perform the study selection and data extraction. A descriptive analysis of information will be conducted, highlighting oral microorganisms associated with these syndromes and emerging trends in the evidence. Original research studies in any language will be included. We will include randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case–control studies and other relevant designs if they investigate the oral microbiome and its relation to geriatric syndromes in adults aged 65 or older, regardless of geographic location or setting.
Ethics approval is not required.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with pre-diabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (UDD) in Cambodia.
This analysis used data from the WHO World Health Survey Plus, which was collected using a cross-sectional design with a GIS-based, three-stage sampling approach. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify key associated factors, based on a significance level of p
Data were collected from all 25 provinces in Cambodia between 12 March 2023 and 31 May 2023.
4427 individuals aged 18 years or older, residing in the selected household for at least 6 months in the past year.
Pre-diabetes (Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.7%–6.4%) and UDD (HbA1c≥6.5%), without prior knowledge of having type 2 diabetes (T2D).
The weighted prevalences of pre-diabetes and UDD were 26.4% (95% CI 24.0% to 29.0%) and 9.3% (95% CI 7.9% to 11.0%). Pre-diabetes prevalence was higher in urban areas compared with rural areas (adjusted OR, aOR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.4), males (aOR=1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), individuals aged 40–49 (aOR=1.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.4), individuals aged 50+ years group (aOR=2.9, 95% CI 2.3 to 3.6) compared with the 18–39 years group, overweight individuals (aOR=1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0), obese (aOR=2.1, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.0) and those with elevated total triglycerides (aOR=1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.5). Similar risk factors were identified for UDD, with the addition of hypertension (aOR=1.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.0) and high waist circumference (aOR=2.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.7).
The high prevalence of pre-diabetes and UDD in Cambodia is a pressing public health concern. Urgent and intensive interventions are needed to effectively prevent and manage T2D, particularly among urban residents, older persons and individuals with metabolic risk factors.
by Andrea Valdivia-Gago, Patricia J. García, Sherilee L. Harper, Angela Soria, Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo
Peru issued multiple COVID-19 policies for the Amazon, yet how they worked in practice for Indigenous Peoples remains under-documented. We conducted a sequential multi-method qualitative study, reviewing 20 national and regional policy documents (Mar–Dec 2020) and interviewing 12 implementers, regional and local officials from the health sector (n = 8) and the Ministry of Culture (n = 4), plus one central-level culture representative, in Loreto and Junin. Triangulating top-down policy review with bottom-up practitioner accounts across two contrasting regions strengthened validity. Policies frequently lacked explicit intercultural guidance, clear monitoring indicators, and dedicated budgets. Implementers described budget misalignment, omission of specific health networks, delayed supplies, and connectivity barriers that fostered dissatisfaction and a perception that services prioritized data collection over care. Effects were most acute in remote and low-connectivity settings; Indigenous federations’ participation in Loreto sometimes mitigated challenges, while in Junin travel-fund constraints limited participation. Pandemic preparedness must institutionalize intercultural approaches and secure sustainable funding with clear accountability. Co-design with Indigenous organizations, ring-fenced implementation budgets, practical communication strategies, and routine monitoring are essential to protect Indigenous Peoples in future health emergencies.
Commentary on: Farghaly Abdelaliem et al The influence of supportive work environment on work-related stress and conflict management style among emergency care nurses: A descriptive correlational study. Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing. 2024;21(1).
Implications for practice and research Organisations should foster supportive work environments for nurses to enable conflict management, mitigate burnout and turnover, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Future research should implement strategies to reduce work-related stress, addressing stressors and their impact on nurse well-being and patient outcomes.
Nurses and midwives, constituting over 50% of the global healthcare workforce, are crucial for high-quality care.
To estimate the frequency of antidiabetic prescriptions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Spain and describe changes in prescription patterns between 2018–2022 and 2023-2024.
Observational study.
Patients from primary care centres newly diagnosed with T2DM in 2018–2022 and 2023–2024.
In each period, the prescription frequency of an antidiabetic medication at the diagnosis of T2DM was calculated and subsequently subdivided into monotherapy and combination therapy. The prescription frequency of the most common antidiabetic drugs was also calculated. Calculations were made for the entire group of subjects and stratified by sex and age (under 60 years and 60 years or older). Comparison of the frequencies between the two periods was performed using the chi-square test.
In 2018–2022 and 2023–2024, 78.4% and 88.9% of patients, respectively, were prescribed an antidiabetic medication. The prescription frequencies for monotherapy and combination therapy were 66.1% and 33.9% in the first period and 57.4% and 42.6% in the second. The prescription frequencies for metformin as monotherapy and combination therapy were 57.4% and 27.8% in the first period and 46.6% and 39.8% in the second. Prescribing metformin with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and/or glucagon-like peptide receptor 1 agonists (GLP1a) was the most frequent combination therapy: 12.8% in 2018–2022 and 29.5% in 2023–2024. With a few exceptions, the prescribing pattern was similar by sex and age. The difference between the prescribing distributions in the two periods is significant.
Antidiabetic medication prescribing at the diagnosis of T2DM was high. Most prescriptions contained metformin. Monotherapy decreased in 2023–2024 compared with 2018–2022, while combination therapy increased due to increased prescriptions of metformin with SGLT2i and/or GLP1a.
In deprived urban areas of South America, young people face heightened risks of mental disorders. Research suggests an association exists between social media engagement (SME), depression and anxiety.
This study explored the associations of SME with symptoms of depression, anxiety and subjective quality of life among young people from South American deprived urban areas.
Our cross-sectional survey study used an adapted version of the Multidimensional Facebook Intensity Scale to categorise 2399 participants into four SME groups: low, moderate, high and very high. Symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) and quality of life (Manchester Short Assessment) were assessed and compared using F and Tukey tests.
Each step of increased SME was associated with more symptoms of depression and anxiety and poorer quality of life. Statistically significant differences were observed across all groups (p
The findings suggest an association exists between SME, increased mental distress and lower quality of life in young people from deprived South American urban areas. This influence seems to apply across the spectrum of engagement levels, not only to extremes. However, due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, causal relationships cannot be established.
SME should be explored in clinical settings, as lower levels are associated with lower symptom levels and better quality of life. Policies addressing youth SME should be developed and evaluated in the challenging contexts of deprived urban areas.
Women with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) often undergo intensive antibiotic exposure, especially with suppressive therapies. Suppressive therapy is recommended for women with three UTIs in the past year or two in the last 6 months. However, the collateral long-term effects of this have been poorly studied.
To assess whether suppressive therapy for recurrent UTIs increases the incidence and severity of future infections compared with episodic UTI treatment.
Retrospective cohort study.
The study was conducted using data from the Information System for Research in Primary Care database, including 5.8 million people in Catalonia. Two groups of women with recurrent UTIs (≥3 episodes/year) were compared: those on suppressive antibiotic therapy for ≥6 months and those treated episodically. Primary outcomes were hospitalisations due to pyelonephritis, septicaemia, COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia and mortality by these infections, over a 100-month follow-up period.
Among 36 170 women, 2898 (8%) were treated with continuous suppressive therapy. Overall, 6.9% of the population experienced severe infections, with a higher incidence in women on suppressive therapy (12.6%) compared with those without (6.4%), with a HR of 1.50 (95% CI 1.33 to 1.68). Pyelonephritis presented the greatest difference (HR, 1.95 (95% CI 1.64 to 2.33)), followed by septicaemia (HR, 1.34 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.59)) and COVID-19 (HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.50)).
Suppressive antibiotic therapy in women with recurrent UTIs is associated with a higher incidence and severity of future infections. Future research should focus on clarifying causal relationships and identifying the potential mechanisms involved.
Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la trayectoria de cuidados en la vida de mujeres centenarias chilenas, relacionadas con su biografía, así como el contexto social y cultural y las distintas modalidades de desigualdad social. Buscamos caracterizar los hitos y eventos en las trayectorias de cuidados de estas mujeres, vinculando la experiencia individual y familiar. La metodología fue cualitativa y se centró en el análisis en profundidad de cuatro casos, a partir de diversas técnicas de construcción de información: entrevistas en profundidad a cada una de las mujeres; aplicación de calendarios de vida y observación directa. Los resultados posicionan al género, la generación y la clase, como elementos relevantes para comprender la configuración de las trayectorias de cuidados. Asimismo, se destaca la dependencia e interdependencia en las relaciones familiares, así como en las estrategias de cuidados de las mujeres centenarias, en sus experiencias de vida y envejecimiento. El análisis de estas trayectorias permite mostrar al cuidado como un proceso dinámico y cambiante, que se articula en base a elementos de diferenciación social, como el género, la clase y la generación.
Objetivo principal: analizar de manera sistemática la evidencia disponible sobre el efecto de la dieta libre de gluten en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con enfermedad celíaca. Metodología: Para la elaboración de esta revisión sistemática se siguió con la formulación de una pregunta, establecimiento de criterios de inclusión y exclusión, desarrollo de estrategias de búsqueda, la selección de artículos para ser incluidos en la revisión, extracción de datos y síntesis de los datos. Resultados principales: Se observó en todos los estudios incluidos que los síntomas, así como la presencia de anticuerpos específicos, disminuyeron en las personas con Enfermedad Celiaca que se adhirieron a la dieta libre de gluten. Conclusión principal: Respecto al efecto de la dieta libre de gluten en la enfermedad celíaca, se puede decir que los pacientes celíacos tienden a mejorar en los síntomas de esta patología. Sin embargo, algunos pacientes pueden no mostrar una mejoría significativa.
Objetivo principal: determinar si se puede establecer la lactancia materna en mujeres que se hayan realizado cirugía de aumento o reducción mamaria. Metodología: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica y se propusieron como criterios de inclusión que los documentos utilizados estuviesen publicados en español, inglés o portugués y en los últimos 10 años. El criterio de exclusión era descartar estudios realizados en animales. Resultados: se obtuvieron 8 artículos para revisar: 3 eran estudios observacionales y 5 revisiones bibliográficas. En 7 de los 8 artículos se concluyó que establecer la lactancia materna es posible tras una mamoplastia. Conclusión principal: es posible establecer la lactancia materna tras una cirugía de reducción o aumento mamario, aunque puede existir mayor dificultad que en la población general. Por ello, es necesario que los profesionales sanitarios acompañen y ayuden a la mujer durante la lactancia materna.
La terapia ocupacional es una profesión en la que el enfoque centrado en la persona resulta esencial para el éxito del proceso terapéutico. El uso de la narrativa es una herramienta que favorece esta perspectiva ya que pone en valor la importancia de la identidad ocupacional de las personas y la búsqueda de significados. El propósito del presente artículo es reconocer el uso de la narrativa como parte del proceso de terapia ocupacional. A partir del análisis de fuentes bibliográficas profesionales y de fuentes orales se identifica el enfoque narrativo como un componente esencial en el proceso terapéutico que está ligado a los valores inherentes de la profesión. El uso de la narrativa aparece en tres momentos clave del proceso terapéutico: evaluación, plan de intervención y revisión de los resultados lo que resulta de utilidad para comprender la realidad de las personas y orientar eficazmente la intervención terapéutica. Concluimos que la aplicación de este enfoque plantea oportunidades y desafíos para la profesión que pueden constituir una interesante área de investigación.
La terapia ocupacional es una profesión en la que el enfoque centrado en la persona resulta esencial para el éxito del proceso terapéutico. El uso de la narrativa es una herramienta que favorece esta perspectiva ya que pone en valor la importancia de la identidad ocupacional de las personas y la búsqueda de significados. El propósito del presente artículo es reconocer el uso de la narrativa como parte del proceso de terapia ocupacional. A partir del análisis de fuentes bibliográficas profesionales y de fuentes orales se identifica el enfoque narrativo como un componente esencial en el proceso terapéutico que está ligado a los valores inherentes de la profesión. El uso de la narrativa aparece en tres momentos clave del proceso terapéutico: evaluación, plan de intervención y revisión de los resultados lo que resulta de utilidad para comprender la realidad de las personas y orientar eficazmente la intervención terapéutica. Concluimos que la aplicación de este enfoque plantea oportunidades y desafíos para la profesión que pueden constituir una interesante área de investigación.
Objetivos: Caracterizar el estado emocional y la percepción del paso del tiempo en el paciente con enfermedad crónica avanzada, y compararlo con la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria. Metodología: Es un estudio cuantitativo de tipo observacional descriptivo y transversal, mediante el cual profundizamos en el estado emocional del paciente. Basado en la administración de un cuestionario para recoger variables demográficas y clínicas, en el que se integró el Índice de Karnofsky, Escala de percepción subjetiva del tiempo de Bayés, Escala Breve de Introspección del Estado de Ánimo, Escala de Evaluación de Síntomas de Edmonton y Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria. Resultados: Los pacientes con enfermedad crónica avanzada presentaron altos niveles de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva, y una predominancia de los estados de ánimo negativos, existiendo correlación entre las respuestas de los pacientes a la escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria y los estados emocionales identificados mediante la Escala Breve de Introspección del Estado de Ánimo. Respecto al paso del tiempo estos pacientes lo perciben como lento o muy lento, existiendo correlación con la presencia de sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva. Conclusiones: La percepción subjetiva del tiempo y la descripción de los estados de ánimo evaluados mediante la Escala Breve de Introspección del Estado de Ánimo pueden ser una buena herramienta para la detección de malestar emocional.
Rev Enferm;41(2): 126-133, feb. 2018. tab, graf. [Artículo]
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