Conectar
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has 20 Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and 28 Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) that work with NHS organisations and universities to translate cutting-edge research into new interventions. As mandated by NIHR, all BRCs/CRFs have an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy which details how they will implement EDI through their practices, research and organisational systems. This UK-based study aimed to conduct a pilot qualitative analysis of EDI strategies to compare all 20 NIHR BRCs/CRFs, identify common priorities and improve inclusion across research infrastructures. The analysis was presented at the first in-person seminar for NIHR EDI professionals (Birmingham, October 2024).
Qualitative content analysis of publicly available EDI strategy documents.
48 research infrastructures (20 BRCs and 28 CRFs).
EDI strategies were collated into NVivo and Microsoft Excel where inductive coding and content analysis was executed for objectives, action plans and success measures. Both quantitative and qualitative content analyses were conducted to analyse the prevalence of categories and similarities or differences between them. Logic models were developed to map the process of implementing EDI for each main category generated.
The most common main category across objectives was ‘Cultural change in workplaces’ for BRCs and ‘Leadership, governance and policy’ for CRFs. For action plans, codes for ‘Collaborations and Networks’ and ‘Research development and delivery’ were most prevalent for BRCs—for CRFs, it was ‘Workforce culture change’ and ‘Research development and delivery’. Success measures for both BRCs and CRFs most often related to ‘Summary reports, feedback, audits and monitoring’. Differences between BRCs and CRFs reflected their organisational roles and strategic maturity, with BRCs tending to have more comprehensive, measurable strategies.
This study provides the first systematic analysis of EDI strategies across all NIHR BRCs and CRFs, offering a comprehensive mapping of how EDI priorities are articulated and operationalised across objectives, action plans and success measures. While both infrastructures align with NIHR’s inclusion goals, BRCs generally showed more strategic maturity than CRFs. As the analysis was based solely on publicly available strategy documents, it could not determine the extent to which any strategy had been implemented in practice. Future research is needed to examine implementation and impact. The contribution of this work lies in demonstrating systematically and for the first time the ways in which EDI commitments are framed across NIHR infrastructures and their varying levels of depth and maturity. Our findings support the development of more measurable EDI frameworks and highlight opportunities to strengthen inclusion across NIHR-funded research infrastructures.
To provide a nationwide epidemiological assessment of upper limb amputations (ULAs) in Germany, including incidence trends, underlying aetiologies, amputation levels and revision patterns, with a comparative analysis between 2019 and 2023.
Nationwide retrospective cross-sectional analysis of routinely collected inpatient hospital data.
All acute-care hospitals in Germany reporting to the national Diagnosis-Related Groups and Operation and Procedure Classification System (OPS) from 2019 to 2023.
All patients undergoing ULA procedures (OPS 5-862 and 5-863) or revision procedures (OPS 5-866) within the study period. No exclusion criteria were applied.
Primary measures were annual incidence of ULAs, the distribution of amputation levels and underlying medical aetiologies. Secondary measures included the incidence of revision procedures and revision aetiologies stratified by anatomical level.
A total of 5427 ULAs were performed in 2023, representing a 7.3% decrease compared with 2019 (5,852). Distal amputations remained most frequent, though proximal amputations increased proportionally over time. Above-wrist amputations were predominantly associated with malignancy (40.3%) and vascular disease (23.7%), whereas distal amputations were mainly trauma-related (43.6%). Infection-related distal amputations increased from 23.4% in 2019 to 30.4% in 2023. Revision procedures occurred in 32.4% of proximal amputations and 6.1% of distal amputations in 2023. Infection was the most common indication for distal revisions (53.3%), while infection and neuroma formation each accounted for 29.4% of proximal revisions.
This nationwide analysis provides a comprehensive epidemiological overview of ULAs in Germany, demonstrating stable overall incidence but clear level-specific differences in underlying aetiologies. Proximal amputations were mainly associated with malignant and vascular disease, whereas trauma predominated at distal levels. High rates of infection-related and neuroma-related revisions, particularly after proximal amputations, highlight the complexity of surgical management and the need for level-specific perioperative and follow-up strategies.
To determine the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib (RUX) and fostamatinib (FOS) compared with standard of care (SOC) in patients requiring hospital admission for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Adaptive multiarm, multistage, randomised, open-label trial (three arm, two stage).
Five hospitals in England between October 2020 and September 2022.
Hospitalised patients (≥18 years) with COVID-19 pneumonia defined by a modified WHO COVID-19 severity grade of 3 or 4.
Participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive RUX (10 mg two times per day for 7 days then 5 mg two times per day for 7 days), FOS (150 mg two times per day for 7 days then 100 mg two times per day for 7 days) or SOC.
Primary outcome was development of severe COVID-19 pneumonia (modified WHO severity grade≥5) within 14 days of randomisation. Secondary outcomes included mortality, invasive and non-invasive ventilation, venous thromboembolism, duration of hospital stay, readmissions, inflammatory markers and serious adverse events (SAEs).
At stage 1, 181 patients were randomised, with 4 assessed as ineligible post randomisation. FOS was stopped early for futility with 16 participants (27.6%, n=58) developing severe COVID-19 pneumonia compared with 15 (25.0%, n=60) in the SOC arm (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) compared with SOC: 1.12; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.58; p=0.608). RUX progressed to stage 2 but the trial was stopped early due to slow recruitment. At the final analysis, 10 participants (16.1%, n=62) developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia in the RUX arm compared with 15 (24.6%, n=61) in the SOC arm (aOR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.25 to 1.57; p=0.161). Four (7.4%) participants in the FOS arm, none in the RUX arm and three (5.5%) in the SOC arm died within 14 days of randomisation. Infections were the most frequently reported SAE and were numerically higher in the FOS (10, 17.2%) and RUX (10, 16.1%) arms compared with SOC (7, 11.5%). Two unexpected serious adverse reactions occurred in the RUX arm only.
We found no evidence that FOS was superior to SOC for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients requiring hospital admission. Due to early stopping, the trial was underpowered to establish RUX’s effect in this population. Further study is needed.
NCT04581954; EUDRA-CT:
To explore the experiences of and reasons for midwives leaving practice.
A qualitative approach applying a social constructivism interpretative framework.
Twenty participants were selected for interviews based on reasons for leaving midwifery practice between October 2022 and April 2023. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes, and results were checked for trustworthiness through a third coder, community engagement and member checking with two participants.
One overarching theme with six subthemes characterised the experience of leaving midwifery practice. All participants reported the overarching theme: Caring for myself and my close community became incompatible with the work of midwifery. Five subthemes reflected negative aspects of midwifery work: value incongruence; racism in midwifery; not feeling respected/valued (+compensation); high workload leading to low quality of care; negative practice climate and psychosocial safety climate. The theme of strong professional commitment and identity weighed into their decision to leave. Negative experiences working in birth centres were prominent across themes.
Participants reported leaving the profession of midwifery when they reached an unsustainable balance between the demands of work life and personal life. The decision to leave midwifery was emotional; participants maintained a strong connection to midwifery. The leaving process supports a theoretical premise for midwifery turnover behaviour. The work life of midwives is a complex composite of challenges that are reflective of identified problems with maternity care in the United States.
Midwives are not leaving practice because they want to leave midwifery but because they are unable to meet non-work-related caring demands. Family-friendly policies, such as flexible schedules and leave policies, could help retain the midwifery workforce.
Based on recommendations from representatives of historically marginalised groups within the midwifery community, we offered participants to be interviewed by a midwife of colour.
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.
Effective prevention of maternal-fetal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in highly endemic settings depends on targeting vaccination efforts to key priority groups, including pregnant women. However, the extent of HBV vaccination and determinants of uptake in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have not been systematically examined. This systematic review aims to estimate HBV vaccination among pregnant women in SSA and identify the broader factors influencing uptake.
This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, African Journals Online and Google Scholar in November 2025. We will include published observational studies that assess HBV vaccination among pregnant women in SSA countries from database inception to October 2025. A meta-analysis will be conducted using random-effects models to pool estimates of HBV vaccination and multivariable-adjusted ORs for vaccination-associated factors. Statistical heterogeneity will be assessed using the I² statistic.
Ethical approval is not required as this review will not involve primary data collection. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at regional and international public health conferences, and, where applicable, shared with policymakers and health authorities in SSA.
This protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, registration number CRD420251120357.
by Sarah L. Brown, Barry J. McDonnell, David McRae, Paul Angel, Imtiaz Khan, Rhiannon Phillips, Britt Hallingberg, Delyth H. James
Using visualisation to conceptualise a chronic condition can encourage accurate illness beliefs and support treatment adherence. Hi-BP is a digital visual intervention to support adherence to antihypertensive medication, co-produced with patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of Hi-BP and explore the preliminary direction of effects on illness and treatment beliefs, medication adherence and blood pressure (BP). A two-phased mixed-methods non-randomised feasibility study was conducted from April 2021 to March 2022 in eight community pharmacies across one Health Board in South-East Wales, UK. Hi-BP was delivered as a single researcher-led consultation to 69 patients in Phase 1 and by pharmacists to three patients in Phase 2. Feasibility was determined using predefined criteria, with acceptability explored qualitatively using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative outcome measures (illness perceptions, medication beliefs, medication-adherence, prescription dispensing and collection data, BP) were recorded at baseline and immediately post-intervention.Follow-up outcome measures were collected at two-weeks (medication-adherence) and three-months (all baseline measures). Hi-BP met feasibility criteria for pharmacist recruitment in both phases, and patient recruitment in Phase 1, but not Phase 2. Hi-BP was acceptable to the sub-sample of 15 patient participants interviewed in Phase 1; insufficient data were available to determine patient acceptability at Phase 2. Hi-BP was acceptable to pharmacists in Phase 1 and partially acceptable at Phase 2, due to competing demands on time for intervention delivery. All outcome measures were considered feasible for use, though a ceiling effect was noted for medication adherence. A potentially positive directional effect was found for illness perceptions (X2(2)=10.83,n=54,p=0.004), medication beliefs (BMQ-Necessity (X2(2)=11.71,n=54,p=0.003) and BP (Systolic BP Z=-3.91,n=51,p=2(2)= 2.4,n=45,p=0.299). In the Community Pharmacy setting, Hi-BP was well-accepted and has the potential for significant reductions in BP; however, further research is needed to explore pharmacist capacity to support implementation.More knowledge and resources are required to strengthen ‘leadership and governance’ (L+G) as a central building block to further develop emergency care (EC) systems in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).
This scoping review aimed to examine and map the impact of individual, collective or institutional L+G on the development of EC systems (prehospital and facility-based) in LMICs.
English language publications from January 2005 to April 2024 that linked any L+G action with the development and capacity of everyday EC in LMICs, specifically excluding disaster responses.
Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Web of Science (Clarivate), Central (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Global Health (Ovid) and select grey literature.
Data from all eligible papers were jointly extracted using a piloted tool developed from the literature and WHO’s EC Systems Framework. L+G descriptors included level (from clinical to national) and components (informed by Siddiqi et al’s LMIC health system ‘good governance’ framework and a synthesis of EC policy documents). Impact of L+G on EC systems and key lessons were extracted from each publication.
From an initial 9713 items, 129 papers were included for final analysis and divided by EC component: prehospital (n=35), facility-based (n=53) and ‘whole of EC system’ (n=41). Qualitative and descriptive papers were most common, and 72 out of a possible 131 LMICs were represented. Findings were heterogeneous across all building blocks of EC systems and for different components of leadership and/or governance. Cross-cutting L+G themes were identified that demonstrated consistent impact across all EC systems development: government recognition, vision and human rights framing; coalition-building for effective partnerships and trained, empowered EC clinicians demonstrating emotionally intelligent, transformational leadership.
Applying new models such as Theories of Change and Social Network Analysis concepts may assist to illuminate how effective L+G is attained, what are the essential components and how these influence EC systems for better patient-centred outcomes. Further understanding the role of L+G for EC systems has utility for future EC clinician leadership training and policy-maker awareness, to strengthen resilience of overall health systems against likely future shocks.
To explore the views and perspectives of British South Asian (BSA) women and Positive Health Programme (PHP) facilitators on the usefulness and experiences of the PHP intervention for managing postnatal depression (PND) in primary care settings.
Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions of acceptability and implementation. A patient and public involvement group provided their insights and feedback on study topic guides, analysis and outcomes.
We sampled trial participants from the PHP intervention database to ensure variation in geographic setting, age, socioeconomic status and ethnicity. PHP facilitators involved in the trial were also invited to participate in an interview.
Interviews with study participants were conducted at participants’ homes, and community centres, or via phone. Interviews with PHP facilitators were conducted via phone or online. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis and subsequently the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) was applied. Recruitment took place between February 2017 and March 2020.
Thirty interviews were conducted—19 trial participants and 11 PHP facilitators. The PHP intervention was viewed positively, with appreciation of its therapeutic content and components such as childcare and refreshments that facilitated engagement. Participants reported improved confidence and well-being and supported their needs. Participants understood the intervention’s purpose. Both intervention participants and facilitators noted strengthened self-efficacy.
Some participants experienced difficulties balancing childcare and attendance, implying a need for logistical assistance. Stigma about mental health in the BSA community was viewed as persistent, recommending future programmes efforts on strategies to reduce stigma and develop supportive environment.
This study demonstrates the possibility of PHP intervention being integrated into routine care by providing culturally tailored support for BSA women with PND, primarily through family engagement and facilitator support. Future research on scalability, alongside community engagement efforts, will strengthen its acceptability and broader applicability.
Graves’ disease (GD) is the most common form of hyperthyroidism in Sweden with an incidence of 21/100 000 individuals, the majority of whom are women of working age. GD can be overwhelming for the affected patient. A way to improve health outcomes is to better understand patients’ experiences of their illness. We therefore aimed to explore patients’ experiences of GD during the initial phase of the disease.
A qualitative study based on semistructured interviews was conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis, following Graneheim and Lundman’s description of the method.
The study was carried out within specialised care at the secondary level in a Swedish healthcare context.
15 patients (12 women and 3 men; aged 29–74 years) within the first 3 months after GD diagnosis were included in the study.
Being affected by GD means facing a range of new and often incomprehensible symptoms contributing to an experience of change in one’s personality. In contact with healthcare, they experienced challenges such as an overwhelming amount of information, a lack of energy, and feelings of being a burden. These factors were described as having a negative impact on daily life, well-being, and psychological and psychosocial functioning. The participants highlighted the need to be listened to, to receive tailored information, to have continuous contact, and to have fatigue and other symptoms more thoroughly addressed.
The findings indicate that symptoms have a significant impact on patients with GD, influencing their care experience, information processing, decision-making abilities, and daily functioning. The application of person-centred care can be one way to support patients with GD, as it facilitates a collaborative approach and enhances the comprehension of each patient’s needs and resources. By acknowledging the patient’s experiences, situation, and expectations, as well as the comprehensive impact of the disease, and by modifying support strategies, patient well-being and health outcomes may be significantly improved.
To explore the perceptions and experiences of students raising concerns during pre-registration health and/or social care training in England.
Systematic review.
MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO and Education Research Complete were systematically searched for studies published between September 2015 and August 2024. Grey literature searches were conducted using Google Scholar and ETHOS British Library. Reference lists from included studies were hand searched.
Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidance for the conduct of systematic review informed conduct and the convergent integrated approach. Mixed methods appraisal tool was used for quality appraisal.
Eleven studies were included. Synthesis of findings generated three themes: (1) conflicting needs of self and others, (2) navigating the professional workspace and, (3) ‘choice to voice’.
Speaking up and raising concerns as a pre-registration student is a complex, multi-faceted and non-linear social phenomenon. Experiences and perceptions are impacted by the novice student position alongside individual, interpersonal and organisational factors. Open cultures within teams and organisations, leadership, support and feedback may enable students overcome barriers to raising concerns.
Raising concerns may reduce avoidable harm. Pre-registration students offer a ‘fresh pair of eyes’; however, they face barriers related to their student position. Synthesis of speaking-up experiences and perceptions of students in English settings can inform the design of learning environments which equip pre-registration students with the knowledge and skills required to cultivate safety behaviours. These skills contribute positively to safety culture and support learning and improvement in complex systems such as health and social care.
The review followed PRISMA reporting guidelines.
The conceptualisation of this project was informed by engagement events with higher education staff, students and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.
First post-contrAst SubtracTed (FAST) MRI, an abbreviated breast MRI scan, has high sensitivity for sub-centimetre aggressive breast cancer and short acquisition and interpretation times. These attributes promise effective supplemental screening. Until now, FAST MRI research has focused on women above population-risk of breast cancer (high mammographic density or personal history). DYAMOND aims to define the population within the population-risk NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) likely to benefit from FAST MRI. The study population is the 40% of screening clients aged 50–52 who have average mammographic density (BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) B) on their first screening mammogram. DYAMOND will answer whether sufficient numbers of breast cancers, missed by mammography, can be detected by FAST MRI to justify the inclusion of this group in a future randomised controlled trial.
Prospective, multicentre, diagnostic yield, single-arm study with an embedded qualitative sub-study: all recruited participants undergo a FAST MRI. An internal pilot will assess the willingness of sites and screening clients to participate in the study. Screening clients aged 50–52, with a clear first NHSBSP mammogram and BI-RADS B mammographic density (by automated measurement) will be invited to participate (recruitment target: 1000). The primary outcome is the number of additional cancers detected by FAST MRI (missed by screening mammography). A Fleming’s two-stage design will be used as this allows for early stopping after stage 1, to save participants, funding costs and time continuing to the end of the study if the question can be answered earlier.
The NHSBSP Research and Innovation Development Advisory Committee and the Yorkshire and Humber–Sheffield Research Ethics Committee (23/YH/0268, study ID (IRAS): 330059) approved this research protocol. Participation involves a two-stage informed consent process, enabling screening for eligibility through automated mammographic density measurement. Patients with breast cancer helped shape the study design and co-produced participant-facing documents. They will disseminate the results to the public in a clear and meaningful way. Results will be published with open access in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Emergency Departments face increasing pressure due to rising patient demand, complex presentations, and resource constraints, resulting in long waits and extended stays. Nurse-initiated protocols enable nurses to commence investigations and treatments based on clinical guidelines, improving care and efficiency. Despite evidence supporting their effectiveness, few nurse-initiated protocol implementation strategies are grounded in behaviour change theory. This gap may contribute to limited uptake, as many initiatives fail to address the complex factors influencing clinician behaviour.
To develop a behaviour change theory-informed implementation strategy to enhance the uptake of nurse-initiated protocols in the emergency department.
A framework-based intervention design was used.
The Behaviour Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework guided the development of the implementation strategy. Barriers and enablers identified through prior research in 2023 using surveys and focus groups were mapped to relevant intervention functions. Behaviour change techniques were selected based on their potential to address barriers or strengthen enablers. The APEASE criteria (Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Acceptability, Side effects, and Equity) were applied to optimise feasibility.
Nine barriers and ten enablers to nurse-initiated protocols use were identified and categorised using the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity and Motivation) framework and mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Eight intervention functions were selected and mapped to 24 behaviour change techniques and 23 delivery modes. The key implementation strategies are education, clinical champions, documentation changes, audit and feedback, and leadership engagement. Stakeholders confirmed the feasibility of the selected strategies.
Theory-informed, context-specific strategies are essential for implementing nurse-initiated protocols in emergency departments. This approach enables the design of targeted, feasible interventions that directly respond to identified barriers and enablers. Future research should test context-specific implementation strategies, assess their long-term impact on healthcare outcomes, and evaluate their scalability across diverse healthcare settings.
By targeting the behavioural determinants of clinician practice, this study fills a critical gap in implementation science within emergency nursing. This study identified 24 behaviour change techniques across eight intervention functions to support nurse-initiated protocol uptake. Strategies such as education, clinical champions, and audit provide a practical, replicable framework to overcome barriers, enhance autonomy, and reduce care delays. Findings support sustainable implementation in emergency settings, with future research needed on long-term impact and scalability.
There is no EQUATOR guideline available for this study.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
Many cancer treatments can result in reduced fertility, impacting survivors’ opportunities for biological parenthood. Fertility preservation (FP) methods for boys and young men, such as cryopreservation of testicular tissue or sperm, offer hope but are currently underused among young male patients with cancer. Despite guidelines recommending early discussion of fertility implications, many newly diagnosed males do not receive FP counselling or referral to fertility services. Male cancer survivors face a higher likelihood of infertility than their peers, yet focused FP decision-making support is lacking. This study aims to address this gap by developing and evaluating the first dedicated patient decision aid (PtDA) for boys and young male patients with cancer aged 11–25 years old, to help them make informed FP decisions before receiving cancer treatment.
The current study follows a multistage process: developing the PtDA, alpha testing for acceptability with former patients, parents and healthcare professionals, and beta testing in clinical settings to ensure effective integration into routine care. Using a combination of interviews and questionnaire data, this research will assess the PtDA’s acceptability and impact on decision-making.
This study has been prospectively registered on the Research Registry (10273). Ethics approval has been obtained from Leeds Beckett University and the National Health Service/Health Research Authority before undertaking data collection. The final resource will be disseminated widely and made freely available online via our dedicated Cancer, Fertility and Me website, for use in clinical and research practice.
Paediatric major trauma patients with more severe injuries and physiological or biochemical abnormalities as a result of the injury are more likely to require invasive management in the form of an operation/interventional radiology (IR). Adverse psychological outcomes, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and adjustment disorder, are frequently observed in paediatric patients with major trauma. Similarly, it is recognised that children and adolescents who have invasive management are also at an increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes. However, it is not known to what extent major trauma patients requiring invasive management are at risk of adverse psychological outcomes compared with those managed conservatively. This study aims to determine whether paediatric major trauma patients who require an operation/IR have increased odds of having an adverse psychological outcome compared with those who are managed conservatively.
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines will be used to construct this review. The databases Medline (via Ovid), Embase (via Ovid), PsycInfo (via Ebscohost) and Cinahl (via Ebscohost) will be searched from inception to February 2025. Both title and abstract screening and full-text screening will be done by two reviewers, with an adjudicating third reviewer. For randomised controlled trials, the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be employed, while for non-randomised studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale will be used. We will assess bias using contoured funnel plots (with p set at 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10), non-parametric trim-fill analysis, leave-one-out analysis and Galbraith plotting. We will execute formal (Egger) testing for funnel plot asymmetry and also calculate prediction intervals if sufficient study N of 10 is accrued. Certainty and confidence in cumulative evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
Ethical review is not required as no original data will be collected. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and at academic conferences.
CRD42025643459.
Commentary on: Liu JF, Shanmugavadivel D, Ball-Gamble A, Stewart A, Walker D. Public awareness of childhood, teenager and young adult cancer signs and symptoms in Great Britain: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ 2023; 108: 987–93.
Implications for practice and research Clinical staff should have good awareness of childhood cancer symptoms to assist in raising public awareness. Further research is required with adolescents to assess their awareness and knowledge-seeking behaviour.
Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death in children over 1 year and a major cause of acquired disability.
Ordinarily, clinicians will piece together ‘red flag’ symptoms within...
FreshRSS 