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Organ preservation strategies for rectal cancer following neoadjuvant treatment require intensive endoscopic monitoring to detect early luminal recurrence. This is termed 'Watch and Wait' (WAW). Standard protocols commonly mandate flexible sigmoidoscopy every 3–4 months for 2 years. Digital proctoscopy with the LumenEye device has been shown to be a safe alternative that can be performed in an outpatient setting without the need for sedation and with less staffing requirements. The study objective is to evaluate the economic implications of using digital proctoscopy compared with flexible sigmoidoscopy for patients with rectal cancer managed under a WAW protocol.
The study was conducted in a secondary care National Health Service (NHS) setting. A cost comparison analysis was performed over a 2 year time horizon (seven procedures per patient). 177 procedures on rectal cancer patients undergoing WAW with digital proctoscopy between August 2023 and November 2024 were included. The control group, that is, flexible sigmoidoscopy was modelled. The base case was flexible sigmoidoscopy without sedation. Scenarios using sedation were also evaluated. Costs were categorised into fixed and variable costs. A one-way sensitivity analysis, probabilistic sensitivity analysis and What-If scenarios were also performed.
The primary outcome was the minimum cost difference between the two procedures. The secondary outcome measure was the robustness of the cost differences. Over 2 years, the total cost per patient was £768.92 (95% CI £656.6 to £900.7) for digital proctoscopy compared with £1,588.15 (95% CI £1458.1 to £1725.2) for flexible sigmoidoscopy without sedation. The absolute minimum cost saving per patient is £820.23 (95% CI £648.7 to £985.1). Cost savings increased to £848.94 (95% CI £677.20 to £1013.83) to £935.62 (95% CI £761.02 to £1103.08) when sedation was used in flexible sigmoidoscopy procedures. Personnel costs during the procedure and recovery phase were the dominant cost drivers for flexible sigmoidoscopy. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis and What-If scenarios confirmed the robustness of the findings, with flexible sigmoidoscopy remaining more costly.
Digital proctoscopy with the LumenEye device is a cost-saving alternative to flexible sigmoidoscopy for patients with rectal cancer on a WAW protocol. Our findings support the integration of digital proctoscopy into WAW pathways as a cost-efficient alternative within resource-constrained healthcare systems. Endoscopy service pressures are also likely to be alleviated.
Body mass index (BMI) confers a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and may influence cancer diagnostic pathways. We investigated variations in diagnostic pathways by BMI category among patients with symptomatic CRC.
Retrospective cohort study using linked cancer registry, primary, and secondary care data.
England
5571 patients with symptomatic CRC diagnosed in England between 2011 and 2015.
Route to CRC diagnosis (emergency presentation and fast-track referrals among patients with new-onset red flag symptoms), presenting symptoms and pre-diagnostic endoscopy use.
Red-flag symptoms (change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding) were more frequently recorded among patients with rectal cancer with obesity and overweight versus normal weight (65.2% and 65.5% vs 56.8%, respectively). Among colon cancer patients endoscopy during the year pre-diagnosis was used in a greater proportion of patients with obesity versus normal weight (72.8% vs 64.4%, p
Patients with CRC with higher BMI are more likely to be referred urgently and less likely to experience emergency cancer diagnosis than normal weight patients.
This study aims to evaluate global trends in maternal and child health-related indicators in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) eras, examine whether these associations differ across regions and income groups and assess their impact on life expectancy (LE) at birth.
We conducted a country-level panel analysis using data from 2000 to 2023 obtained from the Global Health Observatory and the World Development Indicator database. All WHO Member States with available data were included. Data on under-five mortality rate (U5MR), maternal mortality ratio (MMR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR), skilled birth attendance, ratio of nurses and midwives, total fertility rate (TFR), LE, prevalence of anaemia and hypertension in women aged 15–49 years, diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine coverage, gross domestic product and government health expenditure as a percentage of GDP were collected, cleaned and prepared for analysis. Missing values (
Trends in LE and maternal and child health indicators and maternal and child-related factors associated with LE.
Maternal and child health improved substantially, with faster progress during the MDG era (2000–2015) compared with the SDG era (2015–2023). The MMR declined by 130.30 (100 in MDG vs 30.30 in SDG) deaths per 100 000 live births overall, from 327.60 (95% UI: 308.80–348.60) in 2000 to 197.30 (95% UI: 174.50–234.00) in 2023. Similarly, U5MR declined by 39.95 (28 in the MDG vs 11.95 in the SDG era) deaths, from 76.67 (95% UI: 75.70–77.86) to 36.72 (95% UI: 34.66–41.09) deaths per 1000 live births. The NMR decreased by 13.38 per 1000 live births, from 30.71 (95% UI: 29.91–31.58) to 17.33 (95% UI: 16.25–19.41) deaths, and LE increased by 6.6 years, from 66.77 (95% UI: 66.23–67.18) to 73.33 (95% UI: 72.73–73.93) globally. Fixed-effects regression results showed that higher U5MR (β=–0.0697, 95% CI –0.080 to –0.060, p
Despite progress in maternal and child health, gaps remain, particularly in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Strengthening and retaining the health workforce, expanding access to immunisation and family planning services and improving early detection and management of hypertension and anaemia among women are critical to sustaining gains and accelerating improvements in LE.
To translate, culturally adapt and validate the first Spanish version of the Person-centred Practice Inventory-Care (PCPI-C) instrument.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation.
Two-phase research design: (1) the PCPI-C's translation and cultural adaptation from English to Spanish following the ‘Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures-Principles Guide of Good Practice’ tool; and (2) a cross-sectional quantitative survey to assess the Spanish version's psychometric properties.
A sample of 200 patients participated to obtain the PCPI-C's Spanish version. No significant issues arose during the translation process or the consulting sessions. No item exhibited an inadequate value following adjustment via the weighted kappa index (−scale-level content validity average of 0.95 for clarity and 0.97 for relevance). Psychometric evaluation revealed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha from 0.67 to 0.84) and strong construct validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a five-dimensional structure consistent with the domain Person-Centred Processes. Fit indices improved after model refinements, achieving CFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.05 and RMSEA = 0.07. This study's observed psychometric properties confirm that the PCPI-C's Spanish version retains the original instrument's theoretical integrity, while showing strong reliability and validity in the new context.
The PCPI-C's Spanish translation was psychometrically valid when tested with Spanish patients, thus providing a culturally appropriate, psychometrically sound tool to evaluate Spanish-speaking patients' perception of person-centred care.
This study provides a validated instrument that allows for the assessment of person-centred practice in Spanish-speaking clinical environments. It enables healthcare professionals to measure patients' perceptions, track the implementation of person-centred principles and supports international comparative studies, contributing to the development of more ethical and responsive models of care.
Patients participated in cognitive consultations and completed the survey for psychometric testing, ensuring that the translated items were understandable, culturally appropriate and reflective of their experiences of person-centred care.
To explore the roles and training of advanced practice nurses specialised in acute pain management, as reported in the current literature.
Scoping review.
We searched PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL in December 2023 to identify relevant studies published from 1996.
Relevant literature was identified, screened, and analysed using a structured scoping review process. Two reviewers independently selected and extracted data from eligible studies, with a third reviewer resolving any disagreements.
A total of 1682 records were screened, and 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four main themes emerged: job titles, roles, training, and barriers. The review revealed substantial variation in job titles and role descriptions across clinical settings and geographic regions, with more comprehensive role definitions found in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Training pathways, including postgraduate qualifications and certification, varied significantly and many low- and middle-income countries lacked structured training frameworks. Barriers identified included regulatory limitations, insufficient educational infrastructure and lack of legal authority to practice.
This review highlights significant international variation in the definition, training and regulation of advanced practice nurses in acute pain management. There is an urgent need to develop global standards, including unified competencies and certification pathways, to ensure consistent and effective care.
Standardising competencies and training will support role recognition, improve consistency in clinical practice and promote high-quality care for individuals experiencing acute pain.
This review addresses the global inconsistency in role definition and training of advanced practice nurses in acute pain management. Findings may inform educators, health professionals, policymakers and regulators, particularly in resource-limited settings.
This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).
No patient or public contribution.
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions characterised by pathological behaviours related to food intake, often accompanied by a chronic obsession with weight control. Their prevalence is increasing, with an earlier onset and greater severity among young people. Universal prevention, through multicomponent strategies that tackle modifiable risk factors, has emerged as a promising tool. This paper reports the study protocol designed to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the PRETA (Prevención de los Trastornos de la Alimentación) programme in reducing the risk of eating disorders and related modifiable risk factors among preadolescents in the school setting.
The PRETA programme will be assessed by means of an open, community-based, multicentre, controlled trial using 1:1 matched-pairs cluster randomisation at the school level. Schools in Tenerife (Spain) will be assigned to the PRETA programme or a waitlist control group. Participants include 5th- or 6th-grade students (10–13 years old), their parents and teachers. The PRETA programme is a universal, school-based, multicomponent programme designed to reduce eating-disorder risk and modifiable risk factors. Its main component is an interactive online platform called e-PRETA, complemented by training sessions for families and teachers. e-PRETA includes nine 45-minute sessions addressing risk factors, such as dietary habits, beauty standards, media literacy, self-esteem, emotional regulation and social skills. A total of 1068 children from 12 schools will participate. The primary outcome will be the risk of developing eating disorders (Children’s Eating Attitudes Test-26 item version). Secondary outcome measures are body dissatisfaction (Adapted Contour Drawing Rating Scale), eating disorder traits (Eating Disorder Inventory-2), internalisation of appearance ideals (Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and postintervention (3 months). Additional baseline covariates such as electronic device use, parental feeding attitudes, physical activity, sleep duration and screen time will also be collected. Programme effectiveness will be analysed using generalised mixed models. Cost-effectiveness will be assessed by comparing the incremental costs associated with the implementation of the PRETA programme with its estimated effectiveness.
Ethics approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee for Research with Medicines at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands (CHUC_2021_78). Written informed consent will be obtained from the parents or legal guardians of all participants. Results will be disseminated through scientific publications and conferences.
Surgery represents the cornerstone for the treatment of several benign and malignant oesophageal disorders. Yet synthesising the growing body of evidence from clinical research is becoming increasingly challenging. Evidence mapping with living systematic reviews (SRs) and living meta-analyses offers a structured, continuously updated approach to navigating emerging data. This study aims to provide a real-time, interactive resource to support evidence-based decision-making for oesophageal surgery.
This study follows PRISMA guidelines and uses the EVIglance Studio web application to develop a living evidence map in oesophageal surgery. A systematic literature search will be conducted across the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science and MEDLINE (PubMed) to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and SRs related to oesophageal surgery, without any date or language restrictions. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. Key clinical and surgical outcomes, including morbidity, mortality, quality of life and oncological endpoints, will be extracted. Risk of bias in RCTs will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system will be applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence. If at least three randomised trials address the same research question, a living meta-analysis will be conducted using random-effects models. The evidence map will be updated at least every 6 months.
This study does not involve individual patient data or any private information. Therefore, ethical approval is not required. As it uses only publicly available data, this study design qualifies as exempt from institutional review. The resulting evidence map is designed to support fast and structured access to high-quality surgical data - an approach not yet available in oesophageal surgery. The tool is expected to aid patients, clinicians and researchers alike by improving access to reliable information, supporting clinical decision-making and highlighting gaps in current evidence. On completion, results will be published in an open-access format and made permanently accessible via www.evidencemap.surgery, with continuous updates.
CRD420251022736 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/)
Objetivo. Determinar la validez de contenido de la Escala de Autoeficacia para el Amamantamiento en mujeres puérperas. Metodología. Diseño metodológico de validación, con cinco etapas: 1. Adaptación sociocultural de la escala; 2. Validación de contenido; 3. Prueba piloto; 4. Factibilidad pragmática mediante Ensayo Clínico Aleatorio; 5. Análisis factorial exploratorio. Resultados. Etapa 1-2: Los jueces modificaron en los 14 ítems, la palabra “poder”, por la palabra "Tengo la confianza". Índice de Validez por Ítem (1.7); Criterio de Validez (12%) y el Índice de Validez de Contenido (8.78). Etapa 3-4: Prueba piloto, α=.85. Se encontraron diferencias entre el grupo control y experimental en el re-test (p< .05). Etapa 5: Las subescalas explican el 39.91% de la varianza. Conclusión principal. Instrumento válido y confiable para medir la autoeficacia para el amamantamiento en mujeres puérperas. La intervención educativa y persuasión verbal mejora significativamente el nivel de autoeficacia mediante el componente educativo.
Caso: ejemplo mujer de 52 años de edad, que vive en zona rural que, a raíz de la realización de una estoma digestivo definitivo, manifiesta rechazo afectivo-sexual. Objetivo: identificar intervenciones basadas en evidencias destinadas restablecer la vida sexual en la persona ostomizada, garantizando su seguridad, aceptación de su nueva realidad corporal y motivación hacia la práctica erótica. Metodología: búsqueda de evidencias siguiendo el modelo PRAXIS. Recomendaciones de buena práctica: (a) Orientar al paciente ostomizado en todos aquellos aspectos relacionados con su estoma para recuperar la autosuficiencia, (b) Ayudar a la persona ostomizada a mejorar su imagen corporal durante el contacto sexual, (c) Implementar aquellas estrategias que la ayuden a retomar la práctica erótica- sexual, (d) Trabajar con su entorno familiar las habilidades positivas de comunicación para favorecer la aceptación de su nueva realidad corporal, (e) Estimular el contacto y visitas con personas que ha pasado por idéntica experiencia. Prácticas de autocuidado: apoyo profesional, compartir temores y experiencia con entorno social y grupos de apoyo, superar la vergüenza, actitud positiva.
Los tumores de células germinativas del ovario constituyen un grupo de tumores de rara presentación, malignos y de rápida evolución, que suelen aparecer en mujeres jóvenes, siendo el disgerminoma un tipo de ellos. El disgerminoma requiere cirugía y biopsia, pues al no secretar hormonas no tiende a causar elevación de los marcadores séricos. Su silente y rápida evolución, muchas veces dificulta su precoz diagnóstico y tratamiento adecuado. El objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido realizar un proceso de atención de enfermería en una paciente diagnosticada con disgerminoma. Se ha llevado a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica sobre el disgerminoma en diferentes bases de datos y páginas web. En conclusión, se busca aportar unos cuidados enfermeros individualizados de mayor calidad a la pa-ciente y un mayor conocimiento de la enfermedad por parte del profesional de enfermería.
Objetivo principal: Actualizar el conocimiento actual existente sobre contaminantes en alimentos y productos elaborados específicamente para la población infantil. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de los artículos disponibles publicados hasta marzo de 2019, en las siguientes bases de datos bibliográficas: PubMed, Scopus y Web of Science. Resultados principales: Son múltiples los contaminantes en los alimentos de consumo infantil, destacando entre ellos los metales pesados, micotoxinas, ftalatos, bisfenol A (BPA), contaminantes orgánicos persistentes (PCBs), contaminantes microbiológicos y metilmercurio, entre otros. Conclusión principal: Se necesitan datos adicionales que analicen la exposición y efec-tos del consumo de dichos contaminantes para la evaluación de riesgos y la distribución de las principales fuentes de contaminación.
Objetivo principal: Evaluar si el uso de catéter venoso central (CVC) impregnado en antimicrobiano es útil para la reducción de la bacteriemia relacionada con el catéter en pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI), e identificar el antimicrobiano más efectivo. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión sistemática en Bases Datos (CINAHL, PUBMED, CUIDEN, EMBASE, LILACS y SCIELO). Incluidos artículos de 2009 a 2017, inglés y español, que fuesen ensayos clínicos aleatorizados e incluyeran pacientes de UCI con CVC impregnado comparado con CVC convencional. Se evaluó la calidad metodológica de los artículos mediante la herramienta CASPE. Resultados principales: De los 8 estudios, 4 mostraron significancia en cuanto al uso de CVC impregnados para la reducción de infecciones relacionadas con el catéter. Dentro de los antimicrobianos usados, la minociclina-rifampicina muestra la mayor efectividad. Conclusión principal: El uso de CVC impregnado, puede ser efectivo en la reducción de infecciones en UCI. Dentro de las limitaciones de este tipo de catéter, a mayor número de luces y tiempo de mantenimiento de CVC, menor efectividad antimicrobiana.
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