To determine the global prevalence of nursing burnout syndrome and time trends for the last 10 years.
The prevalence of burnout syndrome varied greatly in different regions in the last 10 years, so the average prevalence and time trends of nursing burnout syndrome for the last 10 years were not completely clear.
A meta-analysis conducted in the PRISMA guidelines.
CINAHL, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched for trials on the prevalence of nursing burnout syndrome from 2012 to 2022 systematically. Hoy's quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The global prevalence of nursing burnout syndrome was estimated, and subgroup analysis was used to explore what caused heterogeneity. Time trends for the last 10 years were evaluated by meta-regression using Stata 11.0.
Ninety-four studies reporting the prevalence of nursing burnout were included. The global prevalence of nursing burnout was 30.0% [95% CI: 26.0%–34.0%]. Subgroup analysis indicated that the specialty (p < .001) and the region (p < .001) and the year (p < .001) were sources of the high heterogeneity. Meta-regression indicated that it tended to increase gradually for the last 10 years (t = 3.71, p = .006). The trends increased in Europe (t = 4.23, p = .006), Africa (t = 3.75, p = .006) and obstetrics (t = 3.66, p = .015). However, no statistical significance was found in ICU (t = −.14, p = .893), oncology (t = −0.44, p = .691) and emergency department (t = −0.30, p = .783).
A significant number of nurses were found to have moderate-high levels of burnout syndrome for the last 10 years. The meta-analysis also indicated an increased trend over time. Therefore, more attention to the prevalence of nursing burnout syndrome is urgently required.
High prevalence of nursing burnout may attract more attention from the public. This analysis may serve as an impetus for relevant policy to change nurses' working conditions and reduce the occurrence of burnout.
To examine the prevalence and risk factors of pre-frailty and frailty in maintenance haemodialysis patients in China.
A cross-sectional study.
From January to July 2017, using the convenience sampling method, a total of 503 maintenance haemodialysis patients from six hospitals in Lianyungang, China, were recruited for this study. The participants' socio-demographic, lifestyle factors and health information were assessed using a general information questionnaire. Frailty was evaluated based on the Fried frailty phenotype. Multi-categorical logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with pre-frailty and frailty in this population, including age, sex, living alone, employment, educational level, body mass index, per capita monthly household income, smoking status, exercise status, primary diagnosis, dialysis age, frequency of dialysis, vascular access, congestive heart failure, other cardiac diseases, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral blood diseases, pain, albumin level and haemoglobin level.
Among the 503 participants with an average age of 53.02 years (standard deviation 14.99), 178 had pre-frailty (35.3%) and were mostly young and middle-aged. The prevalence of pre-frailty among participants <60 years old was more than 40%. Regression analysis showed that lack of exercise, dialysis age ≤12 months, congestive heart failure and other cardiac diseases were positively associated with pre-frailty. Two hundred and eighteen participants were frail (43.3%), most of whom were aged ≥60. The prevalence of frailty in participants ≥60 was 71.4%. Regression analysis showed that advanced age, being female, obesity, low per capita monthly household income, lack of exercise, diabetes as the primary disease, dialysis age ≤12 months, congestive heart failure, other cardiac diseases, pain and low albumin level, were positively associated with frailty. In addition, more than half of the participants hardly exercised (64.6%), while lack of exercise was a risk factor for pre-frailty and frailty. A third of the participants had pain (33.4%), while pain was an independent risk factor for pre-frailty and frailty in these participants.
Pre-frailty and frailty are common in patients with maintenance haemodialysis. Most of the elderly maintenance haemodialysis patients are frail, and most of the young and middle-aged patients are pre-frail. Clinicians should actively screen the pre-frailty and frailty among patients with maintenance haemodialysis, especially those with dialysis age ≤12 months. Many factors affect pre-frailty and frailty in this population. Tailored intervention measures should be designed and implemented based on these factors, giving priority to exercise guidance and pain management for patients to help them prevent or reverse pre-frailty and frailty.
The study aimed to understand the psychospiritual experiences and support needs of ethnically diverse healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A qualitative study using focus groups conducted remotely on Microsoft Teams.
The study took place across 10 National Health Service Trusts in England: 5 were Acute Hospital Trusts and 5 were Community and Mental Health Trusts.
Fifty-five participants were recruited to the study across 16 focus group meetings. Participants were all National Health Service staff from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Psychospiritual concerns were central to participants’ understanding of themselves and their work in the National Health Service. Participants felt there was limited recognition of spirituality within the health service. They described close links between their spirituality and their ethnicities and felt that the psychospiritual support offered within the healthcare setting was not reflective of diverse ethnic and spiritual needs. Improved psychospiritual care was viewed as an opportunity to connect more deeply with other colleagues, rather than using the more individualistic interventions on offer. Participants requested greater compassion and care from leadership teams. Participants described both positive and negative changes in their spirituality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Culturally sensitive psychospiritual support is a key aspect of healthcare staff’s well-being, despite identified gaps in this area. Aside from affecting physical, psychological, social and financial aspects of healthcare staff’s lives, the pandemic has also had a significant impact on the ways that people experience spirituality.
A meta-analysis investigation to measure the influence of the usage of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (POP) compared with non-usage for stented distal hypospadias repair (SDHR). A comprehensive literature inspection till February 2023 was applied and 1067 interrelated investigations were reviewed. The 10 chosen investigations enclosed 1398 individuals with SDHR in the chosen investigations starting point, 812 of them were using POP, and 586 were not using POP. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compute the value of the effect of the usage of POP compared with non-usage for SDHR by the dichotomous and continuous approaches and a fixed or random model. No significant difference was found between individuals using POP and not using POP in posthypospadias repair problem (PRP) (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.42–2.34, P = .97) with moderate heterogeneity (I 2 = 69%), posthypospadias repair infection problem (PRIP) (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.30–1.06, P = .08) with no heterogeneity (I 2 = 15%), and overall composite posthypospadias repair wound healing associated problem (OCPRWHAP) (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.61–2.63, P = .53) with moderate heterogeneity (I 2 = 59%) for SDHR. No significant difference was found between individuals using POP and not using POP in PRP, PRIP, and OCPRWHAP for SDHR. However, cautilised of the small sample sizes of several chosen investigations for this meta-analysis, care must be exercised when dealing with its values, for example, the low P-value of the PRIP.
Trauma or lesion resection often causes complex wounds with deep soft tissue defects in extremities. Simply covering with a skin flap will leave a deep dead space resulting in infection, non-healing wounds, and poor long-term outcomes. Thus, effectively reconstructing complex wounds with dead space leaves a clinical challenge. This manuscript presents our experience using chimeric medial sural artery perforator (cMSAP) flap, to reconstruct complex soft tissue defects of the extremities, thereby exploring broader analysis and indications for future reference. Between March 2016 and May 11, 2022, patients (8 males and 3 females) with a mean age of 41 years (range from 26 to 55 years) underwent reconstructive surgery with the cMSAP flap. The cMSAP flap consists of an MSAP skin paddle and a medial sural muscle paddle. The size of the MSAP skin paddle ranged between 9 × 5 cm and 20 × 6 cm, and the size of the medial sural muscle paddle ranged between 2 × 2 cm and 14 × 4 cm. Primary closure of the donor site was achieved in all cases. Of the 11 patients, the cMSAP flap survived in 10 cases. The vascular compromise occurred in one special case and was treated with surgical procedures. The mean follow-up duration was 16.5 months (range of 5–25 months). Most patients present satisfactory cosmetic and functional results. The free cMSAP flap is a good option for reconstructing complex soft tissue defects with deep dead space in extremities. The skin flap can cover the skin defect, and the muscle flap can fill the dead space against infection. In addition, three types of cMSAP flaps can be used in a broader range of complex wounds. This procedure can achieve an individualised and three-dimensional reconstruction of the defects and minimise the donor site morbidities.
We aimed to summarise the prevalence of atypical pathogens in patients with severe pneumonia to understand the prevalence of severe pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens, improve clinical decision-making and guide antibiotic use.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched through November 2022.
English language studies enrolled consecutive cases of patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia, with complete aetiological analysis.
We conducted literature retrieval on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Legionella in patients with severe pneumonia. After double arcsine transformation of the data, a random-effects model was used for meta-analyses to calculate the pooled prevalence of each pathogen. Meta-regression analysis was also used to explore whether the region, different diagnostic method, study population, pneumonia categories or sample size were potential sources of heterogeneity.
We included 75 eligible studies with 18 379 cases of severe pneumonia. The overall prevalence of atypical pneumonia is 8.1% (95% CI 6.3% to 10.1%) In patients with severe pneumonia, the pooled estimated prevalence of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Legionella was 1.8% (95% CI 1.0% to 2.9%), 2.8% (95% CI 1.7% to 4.3%) and 4.0% (95% CI 2.8% to 5.3%), respectively. We noted significant heterogeneity in all pooled assessments. Meta-regression showed that the pneumonia category potentially influenced the prevalence rate of Chlamydia. The mean age and the diagnostic method of pathogens were likely moderators for the prevalence of Mycoplasma and Legionella, and contribute to the heterogeneity of their prevalence.
In severe pneumonia, atypical pathogens are notable causes, especially Legionella. The diagnostic method, regional difference, sample size and other factors contribute to the heterogeneity of prevalence. The estimated prevalence and relative heterogeneity factors can help with microbiological screening, clinical treatment and future research planning.
CRD42022373950.
Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been used in antithrombotic therapy in patients with cancer, and their efficacy and safety have been evaluated in several meta-analyses. Although a large body of findings has accumulated to support the benefit of NOACs for the treatment and prevention of cancer-associated thromboembolism, there is no convincing evidence because of inconsistent results across studies and questionable data quality. Its efficacy and safety remain controversial, especially with regard to the risk of bleeding.
We will search PubMed, Embase and Web of science, Cochrane Library on 19 April 2022 (searches will be updated until complete) to identify systematic reviews, meta-analyses and pooled analyses of the efficacy and safety of NOACs for the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism. The quality of eligible systematic evaluations will be measured by A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews. For each outcome, if a random effects model is not used, we will extract the data and estimate a 95% CI using the random effects model approach. For each random effects estimate, a 95% prediction interval is calculated. Heterogeneity between studies will be quantified using the I2 metric. In addition, if an assessment contains at least three articles, we will reanalyse the assessment using Egger’s asymmetry test to detect and visualise possible publication bias in the articles.
No formal ethical approval is required since we will use publicly available data. We will disseminate the findings of the umbrella review through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.
CRD42022342053.
To assess the experiences and perceived impacts of the Aging, Community and Health Research Unit-Community Partnership Program (ACHRU-CPP) from the perspectives of older adults with diabetes and other chronic conditions. The ACHRU-CPP is a complex 6-month self-management evidence-based intervention for community-living older adults aged 65 years or older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and at least one other chronic condition. It includes home and phone visits, care coordination, system navigation support, caregiver support and group wellness sessions delivered by a nurse, dietitian or nutritionist, and community programme coordinator.
Qualitative descriptive design embedded within a randomised controlled trial was used.
Six trial sites offering primary care services from three Canadian provinces (ie, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island) were included.
The sample was 45 community-living older adults aged 65 years or older with diabetes and at least one other chronic condition.
Participants completed semistructured postintervention interviews by phone in English or French. The analytical process followed Braun and Clarke’s experiential thematic analysis framework. Patient partners informed study design and interpretation.
The mean age of older adults was 71.7 years, and the mean length of time living with diabetes was 18.8 years. Older adults reported positive experiences with the ACHRU-CPP that supported diabetes self-management, such as improved knowledge in managing diabetes and other chronic conditions, enhanced physical activity and function, improved eating habits, and opportunities for socialisation. They reported being connected to community resources by the intervention team to address social determinants of health and support self-management.
Older adults perceived that a 6-month person-centred intervention collaboratively delivered by a team of health and social care providers helped support chronic disease self-management. There is a need for providers to help older adults connect with available health and social services in the community.
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03664583; Results.
Primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, and the number of patients with PACG rises every year. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge about the clinical characteristics, therapeutic options and profile of patients with PACG in China. Hence, we design the China Glaucoma Treatment Pattern Study –Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Ch-GTP). The objective of this paper is to describe the design and methodology of Ch-GTP. The aim of this study is to characterise the profile and trend associated with initial PACG treatment for the last 10 years in China.
Ch-GTP is a national multicentre retrospective observational study that will randomly sample from 50 hospitals throughout China. Over 7000 patient records hospitalised for initial PACG treatment from 2011 to 2020 will be selected randomly. The data from electronic medical records will be uploaded to an encrypted online platform that will receive and collate data from all collaborating hospitals. Data abstraction and monitoring will be performed in a standardised manner by trained statisticians to ensure consistency. Systematic data cleaning will also be conducted by statisticians to ensure data integrity before final data storage. The outcomes will include four broad categories: (1) demographics, (2) clinical characteristics, (3) therapeutic strategies and procedures and (4) early outcomes at discharge. The demographic characteristics and early outcomes will be summarised using descriptive statistics. Comparative analyses of characteristics and treatment pattern changing trends for different regions and years will be used to test for significant differences (t-test or Mann-Whitney U test).
The collaborating hospitals obtained local approval based on a standard ethics application from internal ethics committees or acknowledged an existent ethics approval of the leading institution with approval from internal ethics committees. Due to the retrospective nature, written informed consent from patients was waived by the ethics committee. The results will be published in academic journals and presented at national and international academic conferences.
ChiCTR2100054643.
by Diana Tang, Yvonne Tran, Catherine McMahon, Jessica Turner, Janaki Amin, Kompal Sinha, Mohammad Nure Alam, Viviana Wuthrich, Kerry A. Sherman, Patrick Garcia, Rebecca Mitchell, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Greg Leigh, Shermin Lim, Giriraj Singh Shekhawat, Frances Rapport, Melanie Ferguson, Bamini Gopinath
BackgroundOften considered an “invisible disability”, hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases and the third leading cause for years lived with disability worldwide. Hearing loss has substantial impacts on communication, psychological wellbeing, social connectedness, cognition, quality of life, and economic independence. The Hearing impairment in Adults: a Longitudinal Outcomes Study (HALOS) aims to evaluate the: (1) impacts of hearing devices (hearing aids and/or cochlear implants), (2) differences in timing of these interventions and in long-term outcomes between hearing aid and cochlear implant users, and (3) cost-effectiveness of early intervention for adult-onset hearing loss among hearing device users.
Materials and methodsHALOS is a mixed-methods study collecting cross-sectional and longitudinal data on health and social outcomes from 908 hearing aid and/or cochlear implant users aged ≥40 years, recruited from hearing service providers across Australia. The quantitative component will involve an online survey at baseline (time of recruitment), 24-months, and 48-months and will collect audiological, health, psychosocial, functional and employment outcomes using validated instruments. The qualitative component will be conducted in a subset of participants at baseline and involve semi-structured interviews to understand the patient journey and perspectives on the Australian hearing service model.
EthicsThis study has been approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: 11262) and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (ID: LNR/22/SAC/88).Dissemination of results: Study findings will be disseminated to participants via a one-page summary, and to the public through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.
Trial registrationAustralia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR) registration number: ACTRN12622000752763.
by Yu Zheng, Pou Kuan Tang, Guohua Lin, Jiayu Liu, Hao Hu, Anise Man Sze Wu, Carolina Oi Lam Ung
IntroductionBurnout in healthcare providers (HPs) might lead to negative consequences at personal, patient-care and healthcare system levels especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of burnout and the contributing variables, and to explore how, from health workforce management perspective, HPs’ experiences related to carrying out COVID-19 duties would be associated with their burnout.
MethodsA cross-sectional, open online survey, informed by physical and psychological attributes reportedly related to burnout, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), was completed by HPs in Macau, China during October and December 2021. Factors associated with burnout were analysed using multiple logistic regressions.
ResultsAmong the 498 valid responses, the participants included doctors (37.5%), nurses (27.1%), medical laboratory technologist (11.4%) and pharmacy professionals (10.8%), with the majority being female (66.1%), aged between 25-44years (66.0%), and participated in the COVID-19 duties (82.9%). High levels of burnout (personal (60.4%), work-related (50.6%) and client-related (31.5%)), anxiety (60.6%), and depression (63.4%) were identified. Anxiety and depression remained significantly and positively associated with all types of burnout after controlling for the strong effects of demographic and work factors (e.g. working in the public sector or hospital, or having COVID-19 duties). HPs participated in COVID-19 duties were more vulnerable to burnout than their counterparts and were mostly dissatisfied with the accessibility of psychological support at workplace (62.6%), workforce distribution for COVID-19 duties (50.0%), ability to rest and recover (46.2%), and remuneration (44.7%), all of which were associated with the occurrence of burnout.
ConclusionsPersonal, professional and health management factors were found attributable to the burnout experienced by HPs during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring actions from individual and organizational level. Longitudinal studies are needed to monitor the trend of burnout and to inform effective strategies of this occupational phenomenon.
Micronutrient deficiencies are common in low-income and middle-income countries and are usually related to inadequate food intake, poor diet quality and low bioavailability. Copper, selenium and zinc are essential minerals in several enzymatic reactions and their deficiencies are associated with worse prognosis in pregnancy, compromising maternal health as well as her offspring. Thus, the objective of the present systematic review will be to describe the prevalence of copper, selenium and zinc deficiencies in women of childbearing age.
The search will be performed by independent reviewers. The bases used will be PubMed/MEDLINE, Science direct, Lilacs, Adolec, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, IMSEAR, PAHOS, WPRIM, IMEMR, AIM for grey literature OpenGrey and OVID. National data will be searched in BDTD. A first search will be performed and a second search will be performed just before submission. Risk of bias assessment will be performed using the Joanna Briggs group prevalence study checklist. Combinable studies will be performed meta-analysis. Heterogeneity will be tested using Cochran’s Q test and quantified by the inconsistency test (I²). In the presence of high heterogeneity, meta-analysis will be performed using the random effects model with Stata metaprop. Summary prevalence will be generated for each outcome, presented in Forest plot figures.
This systematic review will be solely based on published and retrievable literature, no ethics approval will be obtained. Our dissemination strategy will involve the presentation in scientific meetings, as well as the publication of article(s), posters and presentations in congresses.
CRD42020165352.
The present study aimed to develop and validate nomograms to predict the survival of patients with breast invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) to aid objective decision-making.
Prognostic factors were identified using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses and used to construct nomograms to predict overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) at 3 and 5 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis, calibration curves, the area under the curve (AUC) and the concordance index (C-index) evaluated the nomograms’ performance. Decision curve analysis (DCA), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to compare the nomograms with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system.
Patient data were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. This database holds data related to the incidence of cancer acquired from 18 population-based cancer registries in the US.
We ruled out 1893 patients and allowed the incorporation of 1340 patients into the present study.
The C-index of the AJCC8 stage was lower than that of the OS nomogram (0.670 vs 0.766) and the OS nomograms had higher AUCs than the AJCC8 stage (3 years: 0.839 vs 0.735, 5 years: 0.787 vs 0.658). On calibration plots, the predicted and actual outcomes agreed well, and DCA revealed that the nomograms had better clinical utility compared with the conventional prognosis tool. In the training cohort, the NRI for OS was 0.227, and for BCSS was 0.182, while the IDI for OS was 0.070, and for BCSS was 0.078 (both p
The nomograms showed excellent discrimination and clinical utility to predict OS and BCSS at 3 and 5 years, and could identify high-risk patients, thus providing IMPC patients with personalised treatment strategies.
This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and incidence of Intraoperatively Acquired Pressure Injuries (IAPIs) of brain tumours in children, to screen the risk factors and to establish a nomogram model for making prevention strategies against the development of IAPIs. Clinical data of 628 children undergoing brain tumour surgery from August 2019 to August 2021 were extracted from the adverse events and the electronic medical systems. They were randomly divided into a training cohort(n = 471) and a validation cohort(n = 157). The univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors in training cohort; R software was used to construct a nomogram model; the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots were used to judge the predictive performance of the nomogram model; decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess the clinical usefulness of the nomogram model. Age, haemorrhage, use of vasopressor, temperature, operation time and operation position were considered as significant risk factors, and enrolled to construct a nomogram model. The results of AUC showed satisfactory discrimination of the nomogram; the calibration plots indicated favourable consistency between the prediction of the nomogram and actual observations in both the training and validation cohorts; DCA showed better net benefit and threshold probability of the nomogram model. The nomogram model illustrates significant predictive ability, which can provide scientific and individual guidance for preventing development of IAPIs.
To quantify the impact of a home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention (Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF)) on objectively assessed physical activity (PA) of patients with heart failure (HF) and explore the extent by which patient characteristics are associated with a change in PA.
Secondary analysis of randomised controlled trial data.
Five centres in the UK.
247 patients with HF (mean age 70.9±10.3 years; 28% women).
REACH-HF versus usual care (control).
PA was assessed over 7 days via GENEActiv triaxial accelerometer at baseline (pre-randomisation), post-intervention (4 months) and final follow-up (6–12 months). Using HF-specific intensity thresholds, intervention effects (REACH-HF vs control) on average min/day PA (inactivity, light PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA)) over all days, week days and weekend days were examined using linear regression analysis. Multivariable regression was used to explore associations between baseline patient characteristics and change in PA.
Although there was no difference between REACH-HF and control groups in 7-day PA levels post-intervention or at final follow-up, there was evidence of an increase in weekday MVPA (10.9 min/day, 95% CI: –2.94 to 24.69), light PA (26.9 min/day, 95% CI: –0.05 to 53.8) and decreased inactivity (–38.31 min/day, 95% CI: –72.1 to –4.5) in favour of REACH-HF. Baseline factors associated with an increase in PA from baseline to final follow-up were reduced MVPA, increased incremental shuttle walk test distance, increased Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety score and living with a child >18 years (p
While participation in the REACH-HF home-based cardiac rehabilitation intervention did not increase overall weekly activity, patient’s behaviour patterns appeared to change with increased weekday PA levels and reduced inactivity. Baseline PA levels were highly predictive of PA change. Future focus should be on robust behavioural changes, improving overall levels of objectively assessed PA of people with HF.
Previous qualitative and cross-sectional research has identified a strong sense of mental defeat in people with chronic pain who also experience the greatest levels of distress and disability. This study will adopt a longitudinal experience sampling design to examine the within-person link between the sense of mental defeat and distress and disability associated with chronic pain.
We aim to recruit 198 participants (aged 18–65 years) with chronic pain, to complete two waves of experience sampling over 1 week, 6 months apart (time 1 and time 2). During each wave of experience sampling, the participants are asked to complete three short online surveys per day, to provide in-the-moment ratings of mental defeat, pain, medication usage, physical and social activity, stress, mood, self-compassion, and attention using visual analogue scales. Sleep and physical activity will be measured using a daily diary as well as with wrist actigraphy worn continuously by participants throughout each wave. Linear mixed models and Gaussian graphical models will be fit to the data to: (1) examine the within-person, day-to-day association of mental defeat with outcomes (ie, pain, physical/social activity, medication use and sleep), (2) examine the dynamic temporal and contemporaneous networks of mental defeat with all outcomes and the hypothesised mechanisms of outcomes (ie, perceived stress, mood, attention and self-compassion).
The current protocol has been approved by the Health Research Authority and West Midlands—Solihull Research Ethics Committee (Reference Number: 17/WM0053). The study is being conducted in adherence with the Declaration of Helsinki, Warwick Standard Operating Procedures and applicable UK legislation.
To synthesise the evidence regarding older adults' perception of advance care planning in preparation for end-of-life care.
Advance care planning involves continuous communication of end-of-life care goals involving an individual's medical treatment preferences. However, its uptake among older adults remains low.
The meta-synthesis was conducted according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative research (ENTREQ) guidelines and thematic synthesis was employed to synthesise the qualitative findings in an inductive manner.
A search was completed on six electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus), for publications from 1 January 2000 to 4 December 2021.
The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation and Confidence (GRADE-CERQual) in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research. Two independent reviewers conducted this process, and disagreements were resolved through discussions.
Fourteen studies were analysed. Four major themes and eleven subthemes emerged from the thematic synthesis: (1) psychosocial preparedness, (2) medical preparedness, (3) psychological barriers towards advance care planning and (4) extrinsic barriers towards advance care planning.
These themes consolidated older adults' views of advance care planning and how engagement in this planning affected their end-of-life preparedness.
This review suggested psychological and extrinsic factors were barriers to the uptake of advance care planning and provided directions for future research to achieve a holistic understanding of the impact of advance care planning on end-of-life preparedness.
Healthcare professionals could maintain close communication with older adults and families periodically to evaluate their readiness to discuss advance care planning to improve their preparedness. Healthcare professionals could also provide psychological support during the discussion of clinical decision-making to enhance readiness and confidence among older adults and their families.
To assess the impact of topical vancomycin (TV) application in decreasing sternal wound infections (SWIs) post cardiac surgery (CS), we lead a meta-analysis. Twenty-three thousand seven hundred and forty five participants had CS at the outset of the investigations, according to a thorough evaluation of the literature done up to November 2022; 8730 of them used TV, while 15 015 were controls. To assess the effectiveness of TV application in lowering SWIs following CS, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed with dichotomous technique with a fixed- or random-effect model. The TV had significantly lower SWIs post CS (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20–0.57; P < .001), and deep SWIs post CS (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11–0.65; P = .004) compared with control as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Yet, there was no significant difference found amongst TV and control in superficial SWIs post CS (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.07–1.30; P = .011). The TV had significantly lower SWIs, and deep SWIs post CS, and no significant difference was found in superficial SWIs post CS compared with control. The low number of included studies in this meta-analysis for superficial SWIs calls for precaution when analysing the outcomes.
The global volume of surgery is growing and the population ageing, and economic pressure is rising. Major surgery is associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. Postoperative reduction in physiological and functional capacity is especially marked in the elderly, multimorbid patient with low fitness level, sarcopenia and malnutrition. Interventions aiming to optimise the patient prior to surgery (prehabilitation) may reduce postoperative complications and consequently reduce health costs.
This is a multicentre, multidisciplinary, prospective, 2-arm parallel-group, randomised, controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment. Primary outcome is the Comprehensive Complications Index at 30 days. Within 3 years, we aim to include 2x233 patients with a proven fitness deficit undergoing major surgery to be randomised using a computer-generated random numbers and a minimisation technique. The study intervention consists of a structured, multimodal, multidisciplinary prehabilitation programme over 2–4 weeks addressing deficits in physical fitness and nutrition, diabetes control, correction of anaemia and smoking cessation versus standard of care.
The PREHABIL trial has been approved by the responsible ethics committee (Kantonale Ethikkomission Bern, project ID 2020-01690). All participants provide written informed consent prior to participation. Participant recruitment began in February 2022 (10 and 8 patients analysed at time of submission), with anticipated completion in 2025. Publication of the results in peer-reviewed scientific journals are expected in late 2025.
The objective of the study is to explore the status quo of foot pruritus and related factors in elderly diabetics and provide a reference for targeted preventive measures. The study involved a survey using a self-designed foot pruritus assessment scale to understand the status quo of foot pruritus among 411 cases of elderly diabetics from 5 communities in Shanghai. The morbidity rate of foot pruritus in elderly diabetics in the community was 20.1%. Good self-management behaviour was the protective factor, while diabetic peripheral neuropathy, hyperlipidemia, and dry skin were risk factors (all P < 0.05). The incidence of foot pruritus in elderly diabetics was high and influenced by several factors. We recommend that self-management behaviour of patients be improved. Additionally, screening and interventions to address hyperlipidemia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and dry skin should be conducted regularly to prevent diabetic foot ulcers.