Conectar
by Thinh Toan Vu, Jo-Anne Caton, Christina Norman
IntroductionThis study investigated how intersecting identities, including race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and immigration-related characteristics, impact help-seeking for emotions, nerves, or mental health among New York City (NYC) adults. It also identified primary sources of informal and formal support.
MethodsUsing a citywide representative sample of 43,606 non-institutionalized adults, data were collected between May and September 2023. Log-linear regression models assessed main effects and conditional effects (i.e., interactions) of sociodemographic and immigration-related characteristics on mental health help-seeking in the past 12 months. Predicted probabilities from models with significant interaction terms illustrated intersectional impacts. Sensitivity analyses among participants with past 30-day moderate-to-high psychological distress tested robustness of these findings.
ResultsApproximately 46.6% of adults sought any mental health support, with 36.2% seeking informal support and 24.2% seeking formal support. Family/friend (33.1%) and therapist/counselor (16.8%) were the most common informal and formal sources, respectively. Significant interactions for any help-seeking emerged between race and ethnicity with gender (p = 0.003), employment status (p Conclusions
Mental health help-seeking in NYC varies significantly across intersecting social identities, highlighting disparities linked to race and ethnicity, gender, immigration status, and language proficiency. Addressing these disparities requires improving accessibility and cultural relevance of formal mental health services while recognizing and strengthening trusted informal support systems.
Pain remains difficult to manage due to limited efficacy and adverse effects of many existing analgesics, highlighting the need for safer non-opioid treatment strategies. Metformin is a widely prescribed oral antihyperglycaemic agent with emerging preclinical and early clinical evidence suggesting potential analgesic effects. Proposed mechanisms include activation of AMP-activated protein kinase with downstream inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathways implicated in nociceptive sensitisation and chronic pain. This protocol describes a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of metformin for the treatment or prevention of pain in an adult population.
This systematic review will include randomised, double-blind, placebo or active-controlled trials evaluating orally administered metformin for the treatment or prevention of acute or chronic pain in adult human participants. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid MEDLINE ALL), EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception alongside ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and reference list screening. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data and assess risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Outcomes will include pain intensity, pain relief, responder outcomes, functional interference, analgesic use and adverse events. Where appropriate, random-effects meta-analyses will be performed. Certainty of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.
Ethics approval is not required as this study will synthesise published data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presentation in scientific conferences.
CRD420261296816.
To review the literature reporting patient preferences for ambulatory heart rhythm monitoring (AHRM) and what factors affect experience and engagement.
The prevalence of arrhythmia continues to rise and contributes significantly to outpatient care burden. There is limited understanding of patient experience and compliance with monitoring. As innovative technologies are developed and healthcare strategies move towards surveillance and prevention, understanding this is key.
A scoping review was conducted using guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. The review included studies of adults under investigation or surveillance for arrhythmia with a range of devices (Holter monitor, patch device, event recorder, mobile cardiac telemetry, external and implantable loop recorders, wearables and other implantable cardiac devices) in ambulatory care settings worldwide. The final search was conducted on 3 January 2026 across Medline (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid) and Google Scholar. Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, multiple methods and any type of review articles were included.
54 studies were eligible for inclusion from the initial search that identified 1320 articles. Two overarching themes emerged from the quantitative and qualitative data: patient factors and device factors affecting experience and engagement. Patient factors included clinical and demographic factors, education and expectations, experience and preferences and impact on daily life and healthcare. Device factors could be common to several devices, for example, skin irritation or device specific, for example, the nature of activation.
Patient and device factors influence preferences for and experience and engagement with AHRM. While existing literature is incomplete and heterogeneous, it identifies key considerations that should be integrated into the development and testing of novel approaches for arrhythmia surveillance in healthcare contexts.
https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/6K3W8 (Open Science Framework).
Acute, chronic, and hard-to-heal wounds pose a growing challenge due to reduced patient quality-of-life, higher cost and increased hospital admissions. Although there is no gold standard for wound care, there is a trend toward simple, outpatient-compatible treatment options. Acellular dermal fish skin derived from Gadus morhua (Atlantic cod) is a promising alternative. This retrospective study evaluated the surgical procedures and outcomes associated with fish-skin graft transplantation for difficult-to-treat wounds. Forty-four patients (33 male and 11 female; mean age: 72.4 years; mean wound area: 84.5 cm2) were treated with acellular fish skin graft. Wound healing was assessed by photographic documentation, confocal microscopy and clinical evaluation. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a structured questionnaire. A positive effect on wound healing, defined as a reduction in wound size, was observed in 88.6% of cases, with complete wound closure in 45.45% of cases. Most patients reported that the procedure was neither painful nor time-intensive; 95% stated that they would opt for treatment again. Fish skin grafting has also shown beneficial outcomes in complex cases, such as in wounds secondary to pyoderma gangrenosum and wounds with exposed bone. Fish skin graft transplantation represents a safe, well-tolerated and effective option for managing chronic wounds as well as challenging postoperative wounds, such as those at anatomically challenging sites.
To examine practice nurse knowledge, attitudes, and practices about medication abortion in Australia.
Cross-sectional survey.
A national online survey was conducted from July to December 2021. Nurses working in general practice were recruited using convenience sampling. Data collected included demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices in abortion care. Analyses used included descriptive statistics and Poisson regression.
From 489 responses, knowledge about medication abortion, its provision, and efficacy was low. Although many respondents felt it was acceptable to assist in medication abortion, few indicated involvement. Those with advanced qualifications had greater perceived knowledge of abortion counselling. Respondent involvement in medication abortion was more likely if they had worked in general practice for a long time, their primary place of work was outside of general practice, or had advanced nursing qualifications.
Given their role in the community, there is an opportunity to better utilise practice nurses for abortion care. Incorporation of abortion into the nursing curriculum and routine practice, including supportive funding mechanisms for care, is needed.
Low knowledge and a lack of practice nurses providing abortion services adversely impact patient access.
Practice nurse provision of medication abortion has not yet been optimised. While practice nurses reported acceptability to provide abortion care, this could be enhanced with funding, education, and service normalisation. These results will inform policy makers, educators, patients, general practices, and nurses to support patient access to abortion care. Incorporating abortion care into nursing curriculum and practice will support women's access to these services.
CHERRIES guideline.
Professional groups, family planning organisations, industry, and government grant partners supported the study's recruitment.
ACTRN12622000655741
To describe practice nurse long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) knowledge and practices.
Cross-sectional survey.
Between July and December 2021, we conducted an online survey using convenience sampling to recruit Australian nurses who work in primary care, known as practice nurses. We collected data about demographics and knowledge and practices relating to LARC. Analysis used descriptive statistics and Poisson regression.
From 489 eligible responses, most respondents were women and the majority worked in metropolitan practices. Most (90.4%) believed that their advice could influence women's contraceptive choices. Few inserted/removed intrauterine devices (IUDs) (11.2%) or implants (15.9%). Of those that did insert LARC, most did so one to five times in the last month (IUDs 72.2%; implants 73.6%). General practice as a primary place of work was negatively associated with implant provision. Respondents with more general practice experience (≥ 15 years) and/or higher qualifications were more likely to respond correctly to knowledge questions and provide IUDs or implants. Most (62.8%) correctly identified IUD suitability for nulliparous women.
Practice nurses have knowledge gaps and limited practice opportunities for LARC provision.
Practice nurses need supportive funding policies and ongoing education and skills development to enhance patient access to LARC and their choice of provider.
CHERRIES guideline.
Partner organisations assisted with the study's recruitment.
ACTRN12622000655741
FreshRSS 