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Did the COVID-19 pandemic affect levels of burnout, anxiety and depression among doctors and nurses in Bangladesh? A cross-sectional survey study

Por: Hutchings · H. A. · Rahman · M. · Carter · K. · Islam · S. · O'Neill · C. · Roberts · S. · John · A. · Fegan · G. · Dave · U. · Hawkes · N. · Ahmed · F. · Hasan · M. · Azad · A. K. · Rahman · M. M. · Kibria · M. G. · Rahman · M. M. · Mia · T. · Akhter · M. · Williams · J. G.
Introduction

COVID-19 has caused severe disruption to clinical services in Bangladesh but the extent of this, and the impact on healthcare professionals is unclear. We aimed to assess the perceived levels of anxiety, depression and burnout among doctors and nurses during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We undertook an online survey using RedCap, directed at doctors and nurses across four institutions in Bangladesh (The Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute & Hospital (SRNGIH), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital (MMCH) and M Abdur Rahim Medical College (MARMC) Hospital). We collected information on demographics, awareness of well-being services, COVID-19-related workload, as well as anxiety, depression and burnout using two validated questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Results

Of the 3000 participants approached, we received responses from 2705 (90.2%). There was a statistically significant difference in anxiety, depression and burnout scores across institutions (p

Conclusion

We identified a high prevalence of perceived anxiety, depression and burnout among doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was worse in staff engaged in COVID-19-related activities. These findings could help healthcare organisations to plan for future similar events.

Codesigning enhanced models of care for Northern Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with type 2 diabetes: study protocol

Por: Kirkham · R. · Puszka · S. · Titmuss · A. · Freeman · N. · Weaver · E. · Morris · J. · Mack · S. · O'Donnell · V. · Boffa · J. · Dowler · J. · Ellis · E. · Corpus · S. · Graham · S. · Scott · L. · Sinha · A. K. · Connors · C. · Shaw · J. E. · Azzopardi · P. · Brown · A. · Davis · E. · Wicklow
Introduction

Premature onset of type 2 diabetes and excess mortality are critical issues internationally, particularly in Indigenous populations. There is an urgent need for developmentally appropriate and culturally safe models of care. We describe the methods for the codesign, implementation and evaluation of enhanced models of care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth living with type 2 diabetes across Northern Australia.

Methods and analysis

Our mixed-methods approach is informed by the principles of codesign. Across eight sites in four regions, the project brings together the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 10–25) with type 2 diabetes, their families and communities, and health professionals providing diabetes care through a structured yet flexible codesign process. Participants will help identify and collaborate in the development of a range of multifaceted improvements to current models of care. These may include addressing needs identified in our formative work such as the development of screening and management guidelines, referral pathways, peer support networks, diabetes information resources and training for health professionals in youth type 2 diabetes management. The codesign process will adopt a range of methods including qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, art-based methods and healthcare systems assessments. A developmental evaluation approach will be used to create and refine the components and principles of enhanced models of care. We anticipate that this codesign study will produce new theoretical insights and practice frameworks, resources and approaches for age-appropriate, culturally safe models of care.

Ethics and dissemination

The study design was developed in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous researchers, health professionals and health service managers and has received ethical approval across all sites. A range of outputs will be produced to disseminate findings to participants, other stakeholders and the scholarly community using creative and traditional formats.

Cyberbullying and cyber-victimisation among higher secondary school adolescents in an urban city of Nepal: a cross-sectional study

Por: Kunwar · S. · Sharma · S. · Marasini · S. · Joshi · A. · Adhikari · A. · Ranjit · A. · Byanju Shrestha · I. · Shrestha · A. · Shrestha · A. K. · Karmacharya · B. M.
Objective

To assess the prevalence and factors associated with cyberbullying and cyber-victimisation among high school adolescents of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nepal.

Participants

We used convenient sampling to enrol 450 adolescents aged 16–19 years from four distinct higher secondary schools in Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Outcome measures

We administered the Cyberbullying and an Online Aggression Survey to determine the prevalence of cyberbullying and cyber-victimisation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the ORs and 95% CIs. Data were analysed using STATA V.13.

Results

The 30-day prevalence of cyberbullying and cyber-victimisation was 14.4% and 19.8%, and the over-the-lifetime prevalence was 24.2% and 42.2%, respectively. Posting mean or hurtful comments online was the most common form of both cyberbullying and cyber-victimisation. Compared with females, males were more likely to be involved in cyberbullying (adjusted OR (AOR)=13.52; 95% CI: 6.04 to 30.25; p value

Conclusion

The study recommends the implementation of cyber-safety educational programmes, and counselling services including the rational use of internet and periodic screening for cyberbullying in educational institutions. The enforcement of strong anti-bullying policies and regulations could be helpful to combat the health-related consequences of cyberbullying.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of insulin therapy among patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Por: Almheiri · A. · Binjab · E. A. · Albloushi · M. M. · Alshamsi · M. T. · Khansaheb · H. H. · Zidan · M. · Hassoun · A. A. K.
Objectives

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin regarding insulin therapy.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Setting

This study was conducted at the Dubai Diabetes Center from 1 December 2018 to 1 March 2020.

Participants

Face-to-face interviews were conducted for 350 participants with type 2 diabetes at the Dubai Diabetes Center. Interviews followed the structured format of a questionnaire designed to obtain demographic details and score participants on knowledge, attitude and practices. We included patients aged >18 years and receiving insulin therapy. Patients with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women with gestational diabetes, those aged

Results

The median age of participants was 61 years (first quartile, 53 years; third quartile, 67 years); 35.7% were male individuals and 64.3% were female individuals. The median percentage scores for knowledge, attitude and practices were 62.5% (62.5%, 75%), 85.7% (71.4%, 100%) and 77.7% (66.6%, 88.8%), respectively. Highly educated participants had a high level of knowledge. Significant negative correlations were found between the percentage knowledge scores and participants’ age and between the participants’ percentage attitude scores and haemoglobin A1C levels; Spearman’s correlations were –0.182 (p

Conclusion

Patients with type 2 diabetes receiving insulin therapy and attending the Dubai Diabetes Center had adequate knowledge, a positive attitude and correct practice regarding insulin therapy. However, knowledge of specific facts did not always translate into correct behaviours and practices.

Utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services and associated factors among mothers of children younger than 2 years in Gondar Zuria District, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based, cross-sectional study

Por: Belew · A. K. · Worku · N. · Gelaye · K. A. · Gonete · K. A. · Tamir Hunegnaw · M. · Muhammad · E. A. · Astale · T. · Mitike · G. · Abebe · Z.
Objective

The study aimed to assess the utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services and the associated factors among mothers of children under 2 years old in Gondar Zuria District, northwest Ethiopia.

Design

Community-based, cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study was conducted in Gondar Zuria District, Central Gondar Zone. Data collection was conducted from 10 March to 5 April 2022.

Participants

576 mother–child pairs, recruited via a multistage, stratified random sampling technique.

Outcome measures and analysis

Utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services was the outcome of the study. Data were entered into Epi Info V.7 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.24.0 for further analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with utilisation of growth monitoring services. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant for the outcome variable.

Results

The utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services among children aged 0–23 months was 26.6% (95% CI 22.9, 30.2). Health centre delivery (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.56; 95% CI 1.02, 2.68), postnatal care visits (AOR=3.13; 95% CI 1.99, 4.90), regular growth monitoring and promotion sessions (AOR=6.53; 95% CI 2.43, 9.34), and wealth status (AOR=5.98; 95% CI 3.09, 10.58) were significantly associated with utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services.

Conclusion

Less than one in three children aged 0–23 months saw utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services in the study setting. Birthplace, postnatal care follow-up, regular growth promotion and monitoring sessions, and wealth status were associated with utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services. Enhancing skilled birth delivery, promoting postnatal care follow-up and expanding the availability of growth monitoring and promotion outreach sites could be useful to improve the utilisation of growth monitoring and promotion services.

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection: a test-negative case-control study with additional population controls in Norway

Por: Sarjomaa · M. · Zhang · C. · Tveten · Y. · Kersten · H. · Reiso · H. · Eikeland · R. · Kongerud · J. · Berg · K. K. · Thilesen · C. · Nordbo · S. A. · Aaberge · I. S. · Vandenbroucke · J. · Pearce · N. · Fell · A. K. M.
Objectives

This study aims to assess risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by combined design; first comparing positive cases to negative controls as determined by PCR testing and then comparing these two groups to an additional prepandemic population control group.

Design and setting

Test-negative design (TND), multicentre case–control study with additional population controls in South-Eastern Norway.

Participants

Adults who underwent SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing between February and December 2020. PCR-positive cases, PCR-negative controls and additional age-matched population controls.

Primary outcome measures

The associations between various risk factors based on self- reported questionnaire and SARS-CoV-2 infection comparing PCR-positive cases and PCR-negative controls. Using subgroup analysis, the risk factors for both PCR-positive and PCR-negative participants were compared with a population control group.

Results

In total, 400 PCR-positive cases, 719 PCR-negative controls and 14 509 population controls were included. Male sex was associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection only in the TND study (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.6), but not when PCR-positive cases were compared with population controls (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.9. to 1.5). Some factors were positively (asthma, wood heating) or negatively (hypertension) associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection when PCR-positive cases were compared with population controls, but lacked convincing association in the TND study. Smoking was negatively associated with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in both analyses (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8 and OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8).

Conclusions

Male sex was a possible risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection only in the TND study, whereas smoking was negatively associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in both the TND study and when using population controls. Several factors were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection when PCR-positive cases were compared with population controls, but not in the TND study, highlighting the strength of combining case–control study designs during the pandemic.

Detection of CTLA-4 level and humeral immune response after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in certain Iraqi provinces participants

by Laith A. I. K. Al-Kaif, Hussain Al-Ameri, Wael Rasheed Obaead Alfatlawi, Ammar Eesa Mahdi, Younis A. K. Al-Khafaji, Mohammad Abd-Kadhum Al-Saadi, Alaa H. Al-Charrakh, Raheem T. Al-Mammori, Mohammed Ahmed Akkaif

Background

Evaluating immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination is paramount to understanding vaccine effectiveness and optimizing public health interventions. This study seeks to elucidate individuals’ immune status after administering a second dose of diverse COVID-19 vaccines. By analyzing immune responses through serological markers, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the uniformity of vaccine performance.

Methods

A total of 80 participants were enrolled in this study, with demographic and COVID-19 infection-related data collected for categorization. Serum samples were acquired within a specified timeframe, and SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG rapid tests were conducted. Moreover, CTLA-4 levels were measured through ELISA assays, allowing us to assess the immune responses comprehensively. The participants were divided into eight groups based on various factors, facilitating a multifaceted analysis.

Results

The outcomes of our investigation demonstrated consistent immune responses across the diverse types of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Iraq. Statistical analysis revealed no significant distinctions among the vaccine categories. In contrast, significant differences were observed in CTLA-4 among the control group (non-infected/non-vaccinated, infected/non-vaccinated) and infected/Pfizer, non-infected/Pfizer, and infected/Sinopharm, non-infected/sinopharm (P = 0.001, Conclusions

In conclusion, our study’s results underscore the lack of discriminatory variations between different COVID-19 vaccine types utilized in Iraq. The uniform immune responses observed signify the equitable efficacy and performance of these vaccines. Despite minor quantitative discrepancies, these variations do not hold statistical significance, reaffirming the notion that the various vaccines serve a similar purpose in conferring protection against COVID-19.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with Pilates-based exercises in the treatment of chronic low back pain in outpatient rehabilitation service in Brazil: double-blind randomised controlled trial protocol

Por: da Silva · A. A. C. · Gomes · S. R. A. · do Nascimento · R. M. · Fonseca · A. K. · Pegado · R. · Souza · C. G. · Macedo · L. d. B.
Introduction

Chronic low back pain may be associated with pathoanatomical, neurophysiological, physical, psychological and social factors; thus, treatments to reduce symptoms are important to improve the quality of life of this population. We aimed to evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with Pilates-based exercises compared with sham stimulation on pain, quality of life and disability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Methods and analysis

This is a protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial with participants, outcome assessor and statistician blinded. We will include 36 individuals with a history of non-specific chronic low back pain for more than 12 weeks and minimum pain intensity of 3 points on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Individuals will be randomised into two groups: (1) active tDCS combined with Pilates-based exercises and (2) sham tDCS combined with Pilates-based exercises. Three weekly sessions of the protocol will be provided for 4 weeks, and individuals will be submitted to three assessments: the first (T0) will be performed before the intervention protocol, the second (T1) immediately after the intervention protocol and the third (T2) will be a follow-up 1 month after the end of the intervention. We will assess pain, disability, central sensitisation, quality of life, pressure pain threshold, global impression of change, adverse events and medication use. The Numerical Pain Rating Scale and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire will be used at T1 to assess pain and disability, respectively, as primary outcome measures.

Ethics and dissemination

This trial was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov website and ethically approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (report number: 5.411.244) before data collection. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed medical journal and on institution websites.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05467566).

Cold, dark and malnourished: a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between energy poverty and household burden of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa

Por: Dake · F. A. A. · Christian · A. K.
Objective

Energy poverty contributes to the general well-being of households; however, there is representational paucity on its role in household nutrition across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examined the influence of different domains of energy poverty and a Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) on household burden of malnutrition in SSA.

Setting

Secondary data from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 18 SSA countries were analysed.

Design

A cross-sectional design was used to examine the relationship between household energy poverty and household burden of malnutrition.

Methods

Different dimensions of household energy poverty and an MEPI were computed from the sources of energy used for cooking, lighting, entertainment and accessing information by households. Household burden of malnutrition was coded as a binary categorical dependent variable using indicators of undernutrition, overnutrition and anaemia among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and children under five years in the household.

Results

More than nine in ten households were energy poor in terms of cooking fuel and about three in four were energy poor in terms of lighting. Considering the various domains of energy poverty, lack of electricity for lighting, using biofuels, not owning a refrigerator/freezer, not owning a television/radio and not owning a mobile phone were associated with increased odds of a household experiencing undernutrition. Similarly, deprivation in these domains was associated with a lower likelihood of households experiencing overnutrition, the only exception being using biofuels. Overall, households that were most energy poor on the MEPI were more likely to be undernourished and double and triple burden malnutrition households but less likely to suffer from overnutrition.

Conclusion

These results highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of the relationship between energy poverty and household burden of malnutrition and provides guidance for appropriate interventions to address energy poverty and malnutrition in SSA.

Exploring the challenges of public health nurses in the management of infertility in Northern Ghana: a qualitative descriptive study

Por: Kuug · A. K. · Sindiwe · J. · Jardien-Baboo · S.
Objective

To explore the challenges public health nurses (PNHs) face in managing infertility in rural settings of the Talensi and Nabdam districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Design

The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design approach where PHNs who worked in rural settings were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data.

Setting

Primary healthcare setting in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Participants

The study participants were 15 PHNs working in primary health centres with a mean age of 36.9 years (SD=6.40).

Results

This study revealed that couples with infertility issues face challenges in seeking care for their condition. The challenges expressed by the participants that affect individual and couples’ access to infertility care were (1) lack of material and human resources, (2) lack of specialists and guides for infertility treatment and (3) inadequate and inconsiderate communication.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence of the challenges experienced by PHNs in managing infertility among couples. Adequate measures are therefore required to ameliorate these challenges to improve care provision for couples with infertility.

Hospital variations in failure to rescue after abdominal surgery: a nationwide, retrospective observational study

Por: Augestad · K. M. · Skyrud · K. D. · Lindahl · A. K. · Helgeland · J.
Objectives

This study aims to determine hospital variation and intensive care unit characteristics associated with failure to rescue after abdominal surgery in Norway.

Design

A nationwide retrospective observational study.

Setting

All 52 hospitals in Norway performing elective and acute abdominal surgery.

Participants

All 598 736 patients undergoing emergency and elective abdominal surgery from 2011 to 2021.

Primary outcome measure

Primary outcome was failure to rescue within 30 days (FTR30), defined as in-hospital or out-of-hospital death within 30 days of a surgical patient who developed at least one complication within 30 days of the surgery (FTR30). Other outcome variables were surgical complications and hospital FTR30 variation. Statistical analysis was conducted separately for general surgery and abdominal surgery.

Results

The 30-day postoperative complication rate was 30.7 (183 560 of 598 736 surgeries). Of general surgical complications (n=25 775), circulatory collapse (n=6127, 23%), cardiac arrhythmia (n=5646, 21%) and surgical infections (n=4334, 16 %) were most common and 1507 (5.8 %) patients were reoperated within 30 days. One thousand seven hundred and forty patients had FTR30 (6.7 %). The severity of complications was strongly associated with FTR30. In multivariate analysis of general surgery, adjusted for patient characteristics, only the year of surgery was associated with FTR30, with an estimated linear trend of –0.31 percentage units per year (95% CI (–0.48 to –0.15)). The driving distance from local hospitals to the nearest referral intensive care unit was not associated with FTR30. Over the last decade, FTR30 rates have varied significantly among similar hospitals.

Conclusions

Hospital factors cannot explain Norwegian hospitals’ significant FTR variance when adjusting for patient characteristics. The national FTR30 measure has dropped around 30% without a corresponding fall in surgical complications. No association was seen between rural hospital location and FTR30. Policy-makers must address microsystem issues causing high FTR30 in hospitals.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors among patients with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialised hospitals in the Northwest Ethiopia: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Por: Tamene · F. B. · Sema · F. D. · Mihiretie · E. A. · Siyum · T. S. · Sendekie · A. K.
Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated factors among patients with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

Design and setting

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 patients with schizophrenia who were followed at comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia from 1 June to 30 August 2022.

Participants

All adult patients with schizophrenia who had regular follow-up in the outpatient departments of the selected hospitals were study participants.

Main outcome measures

The main outcome of this study was HRQoL which was measured using the WHO Quality of Life Scale–Bref Version. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi-data version 4.6.1 and SPSS version 24, respectively. Linear regression was used to assess the association between quality of life and independent variables. Variables with a p value

Results

The mean score of the overall Quality of Life Scale–Brief Version was 22.42±3.60. No formal education (ß=–1.53; 95% CI: –2.80 to –0.27), duration of treatment (ß = –3.08; 95% CI: –4.71 to –1.45), comorbidity (ß=–1.14; 95% CI: –1.99 to –0.29), substance use (ß=–0.89; 95% CI: –1.56 to –0.23), extrapyramidal side effects (ß=–2.02; 95% CI: –2.90 to –1.14), non-adherence (ß=–0.83; 95% CI: –1.44 to –0.23), and antipsychotic polypharmacy (ß=–1.77; CI: –2.57 to –0.96) were negatively associated with quality of life.

Conclusion and recommendation

In this study, the social domain was recorded as having the lowest mean score, which may indicate that patients with schizophrenia could need better psychosocial support. Patients with a longer duration of treatment, who had comorbid illnesses, were substance users, developed EPS, were non-adherent to medications and were on antipsychotic polypharmacy, needs critical follow-up to improve HRQoL.

Mapping the scientific literature on obstetrical and perinatal health among sexual and gender minoritised (SGM) childbearing people and their infants: a scoping review protocol

Por: Huang · A. K. · Soled · K. R. S. · Chen · L. · Schulte · A. R. · Hall · M.-F. E. · McLaughlin · C. · Srinivasan · S. · Jahan · A. B. · Mita · C. · Charlton · B. M.
Introduction

Sexual and gender minoritised (SGM) populations are disproportionately impacted by multilevel risk factors for obstetrical and perinatal outcomes, including structural (eg, stigma, discrimination, access to care) and individual risk factors (eg, partner violence, poor mental health, substance use). Emerging evidence shows SGM childbearing people have worse obstetrical outcomes and their infants have worse perinatal outcomes, when compared with their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts; this emerging evidence necessitates a comprehensive examination of existing literature on obstetrical and perinatal health among SGM people. The goal of this scoping review is to comprehensively map the extent, range and nature of scientific literature on obstetrical and perinatal physical health outcomes among SGM populations and their infants. We aim to summarise findings from existing literature, potentially informing clinical guidelines on perinatal care, as well as highlighting knowledge gaps and providing directions for future research.

Methods and analysis

We will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review framework and report findings according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. We will conduct a broad systematic search in Medline/PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection. Eligible studies will include peer-reviewed, empirical, English-language publications pertaining to obstetrical and perinatal physical health outcomes of SGM people or their infants. No temporal or geographical limitations will be applied to the search. Studies conducted in all settings will be considered. Records will be managed, screened and extracted by two independent reviewers. Study characteristics, key findings and research gaps will be presented in tables and summarised narratively.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The findings of this scoping review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

Protocol registration

Open Science Framework https://osf.io/6fg4a/.

Laser and radiofrequency for treating genitourinary syndrome of menopause in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Por: Serquiz · N. · Sarmento · A. C. A. · Almeida · N. R. · Nobre · M. L. · Medeiros · K. S. · Oliveira · R. d. · Costa · A. P. F. · Goncalves · A. K.
Introduction

Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) experience more severe symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) than healthy postmenopausal women. As hormonal therapy with oestrogen should be avoided in BCSs, finding an effective and safe therapy to address vaginal symptoms and sexual dysfunction is urgently needed. Physical methods may be promising alternatives for the specificities of this group of women. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of physical methods (laser and radiofrequency) for treating GSM in BCSs.

Methods and analysis

The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov databases will be searched. A search strategy was developed to retrieve clinical trials that evaluate the efficacy and safety of any physical method (laser or radiofrequency) used for GSM in BCSs. No date or language restrictions will be imposed. Two authors will independently select studies by title, abstract and full text to meet the inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted, and the risk of bias will be evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2). Review Manager 5.4.1 will be used for data synthesis. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation will be used to assess the strength of the evidence.

Ethics and dissemination

This study reviews the published data; thus, obtaining ethical approval is unnecessary. The findings of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023387680.

Design and evaluation of a digital health intervention with proactive follow-up by nurses to improve healthcare and outcomes for patients with breast cancer in Mexico: protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Introduction

Nearly 30 000 Mexican women develop breast cancer annually, frequently presenting unmet supportive care needs. In high-income countries, incorporating electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) into cancer care has demonstrated potential for increasing patient-centred care and reducing unmet needs. No such ePRO interventions have been implemented in Mexico. This paper presents the study protocol for designing and evaluating an ePRO digital health application combined with proactive follow-up by nurses.

Methods and analysis

We designed a two-component intervention for women receiving breast cancer treatment: a responsive web application for monitoring ePROs and clinical algorithms guiding proactive follow-up by nurses. We will conduct a pilot test of the intervention with 50 patients with breast cancer for 6 weeks to assess feasibility and adjust the application. We will conduct a parallel arm randomised controlled trial assigning 205 patients each to intervention and control in one of Mexico’s largest public oncology hospitals. The intervention will be provided for 6 months, with additional 3 months of post-intervention observation. The control group will receive usual healthcare and a list of breast cancer information sources. Women diagnosed with stages I, II or III breast cancer who initiate chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy will be invited to participate. The primary study outcome will be supportive care needs; secondary outcomes include global quality of life and breast symptoms. Information on the outcomes will be obtained through web-based self-administered questionnaires collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 9 months.

Ethics and dissemination

The National Research and Ethics Committees of the Mexican Institute of Social Security approved the study (R-2021-785-059). Participants will sign an informed consent form prior to their inclusion. Findings will be disseminated through a policy brief to the local authorities, a webinar for patients, publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT05925257.

Overview of the role of different conservative interventions as first-line treatment in the management of urinary incontinence in women

Por: Rajan · K. · Nambiar · A. K.

Commentary on: Todhunter-Brown A, Hazelton C, Campbell P, Elders A, Hagen S, McClurg D. Conservative interventions for treating urinary incontinence in women: an Overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Sep 2;9(9):CD012337. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012337.pub2.

Implications for practice and research

  • Pelvic floor muscle training is an effective conservative treatment option for managing all types of urinary incontinence (UI) in women in isolation or combined with other measures and should be considered first-line treatment in women with UI.

  • Further research is needed on long-term outcomes of conservative interventions and their impact on quality of life.

  • Context

    Urinary incontinence (UI) is a highly prevalent condition affecting nearly 25% of women, especially in older age groups.1 It is characterised by involuntary leakage of urine and can have a significant impact on quality of life, leading to psychological distress and placing a financial burden...

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