Conectar
This study evaluated the associations between achieving treatment goals and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on advanced treatment.
Retrospective cohort analyses of deidentified data from an established registry.
US-based single-centre registry between 2003 and 2024.
Data from patients with RA in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study registry were analysed using multivariable regression analyses. Patients were classified into four groups based on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores at baseline and 1 year (consistently at/not at target, gain or lose target). Patients who were consistently at target were further classified into remission, very low disease activity (LDA) and LDA subgroups.
PROs (Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) overall, pain, fatigue scores) and HCRU (surgery rates, durable medical equipment (DME) use) were assessed over 2 years.
The primary endpoint compared MDHAQ PROs and surgery and DME HCRU among the four primary groups. The secondary endpoint assessed the association between maintaining LDA and achieving remission at follow-up with PROs and HCRU.
Among 637 patients with CDAI data, 257 (40%) had LDA at baseline; 57 (22%) lost target at 1 year. Of 380 (60%) patients with CDAI >10 at baseline, 115 (30%) attained LDA. Patients not attaining LDA had higher surgery risk, DME use and MDHAQ scores. Of 200 (31%) patients with LDA at baseline and 1 year, 89 (45%) achieved remission, 79 (40%) very LDA and 32 (16%) LDA. Remission was associated with reduced DME use (adjusted OR (AOR) 5.4 (95% CI 1.9 to 15.4) at year 1 and AOR 4.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 11.1) at year 2) and improved MDHAQ scores compared with LDA (overall unadjusted mean 0.07 vs 0.5 at year 1 and 0.09 vs 0.4 at year 2; p
Achieving and maintaining LDA is challenging for patients with RA but leads to better functional outcomes and reduced DME use. Patients who achieve remission have further improvements.
by Weifeng Wang, Xianli Meng, Yan Zhao, Wei Gong, Xiaochen Jiang, Wenjuan Cao, Xueling Qiu, Chenxi Sun, Fan Sun, Yuchen Wang, Lu Tang
BackgroundTo alleviate pain in burn patients during dressing changes, it is necessary to identify an effective analgesic method. Conventional opioid analgesics have many limitations. Nitrous oxide is a fast-acting, safe and reversible inhaled analgesic gas. This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nitrous oxide in the treatment of pain during dressing changes in burn patients.
MethodThe protocol was developed according to the PRISMA-P checklist and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024550197). A systematic search will be performed in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library to identify clinical trials comparing nitrous oxide inhalation with standard care in pain management during dressing changes in burn wounds. The search of all databases will be conducted on October 15, 2025.Our search scope will include studies published between each database creation and search date.Two researchers will independently screen studies, extract data, and evaluate study quality using the Risk of Bias2 tool. Primary outcomes will include pain, anxiety, side effects, among others.R statistical software (version 4.3.1) and R studio will be used to perform meta-analyses.Effect size will be expressed by 95% confidence interval (Cl) of weighted mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses will be performed to explore sources of heterogeneity and assess the robustness of the results.Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plot and Egger test. We will use the Grading of Recommendation, Evaluation, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the quality of the evidence.
DiscussionOperative pain has always been a difficult problem for burn patients. This study will evaluate the analgesic effect of nitrous oxide on dressing change in burn patients through comprehensive search and rigorous methods, and provide evidence support for clinical decision-making.
Invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring is critical for perioperative and critically ill patients, yet traditional radial artery cannulation near the wrist joint is prone to catheter dysfunction (eg, kinking, occlusion) due to positional changes, compromising accuracy and patient safety. This trial hypothesises that modifying the cannulation site to 1.5–2.5 cm proximal to the radial styloid process may enhance catheter stability.
This is a prospective, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, analyst-blinded trial. A total of 486 participants (243 per group) will be enrolled at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Eligible patients (18–75 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–III, requiring elective surgery with radial artery cannulation) will be randomised 1:1 to the modified group (1.5–2.5 cm proximal to the radial styloid process) or the conventional group (traditional site). The primary outcome is the incidence of arterial catheter dysfunction (defined by criteria such as blood sampling difficulty, position-dependent waveform or improved waveform post-square wave test). Secondary outcomes include frequency of catheter dysfunction, damping abnormality rate, first-puncture success rate, number of arterial punctures, arterial cannulation time, complication incidence and blood pressure measurement differences.
This study protocol (V.4.0) was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China on 2 September 2025. The first participant was recruited on 15 September 2025, with an estimated completion date of 31 December 2025. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
To classify the unmet integrated care needs of older adults with multimorbidity and to explore the factors associated with different categories of unmet integrated care needs among the target population.
A cross-sectional survey using the statistical method of latent profile analysis.
From July 2022 to March 2023, 397 older adults with multimorbidity, aged 60 years or older, were recruited from one primary healthcare setting and from four secondary and tertiary hospitals to participate in face-to-face questionnaire surveys. The questionnaire used in this study to assess unmet integrated care needs among older adults with multimorbidity was self-designed through a series of steps, including a scoping review, expert consultation and cognitive interviews. Latent profile analysis was applied to uncover distinct profiles of unmet integrated care needs, and multinomial logistic regression was employed to explore whether the profiles were further distinguished by participants' sociodemographic and health-related covariates. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS v.29.0 and Mplus v.8.0.
The optimal solution was a four-profile model, characterised by high unmet integration needs, high unmet system integration needs, low unmet system integration needs and low unmet integration needs, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression results indicated that profile differences were associated with place of residence, number of coresidents and the presence or absence of complex multimorbidity.
The integrated care needs of older adults with multimorbidity have not yet been fully met. Classifying and characterising unmet integrated care needs profiles is a crucial step in the rational allocation of integrated care resources.
This study was reported based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) for cross-sectional studies.
All participants were older adults with multimorbidity, and they were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time.
To map evidence of the existing virtual reality-based dementia educational programmes and the effects of these educational programmes on dementia formal and informal caregivers.
A scoping review.
A comprehensive search of nine databases was conducted to find studies from the inception of the databases to October 2023. Two authors independently screened the titles and abstracts related to the eligibility criteria. Full texts of potentially relevant studies were read by one author and checked by a second. Data extraction and synthesis using NVivo 12 were undertaken by one author and checked by two other authors.
Nineteen studies published between 2002 and 2022. The four randomised controlled studies and five qualitative studies were of moderate to good methodological quality. The 10 quasi-experimental studies were of weak to moderate quality. Fifteen virtual reality-based educational programmes had a positive influence on formal and informal caregivers, including improving caregivers' perceptions changing attitudes towards people with dementia, while the nursing competence of formal caregivers did not improve in short term. Educational programmes that covered dementia-related information and care strategies better improved the knowledge level of dementia formal and informal caregivers.
The qualitative and quantitative studies of moderate to good quality included in this study support the idea that virtual reality-based dementia educational programmes may be a safe and effective way and have potential benefits for improving knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and nursing competence.
This scoping review will provide an emerging teaching model for formal and informal caregivers of people with dementia and help them better understand the types and the influence of virtual reality-based dementia educational programmes.
PRISMA-ScR.
Not required as this review in accordance with the aim to map existing literature from the dementia formal and informal caregivers' perspective.
by Deye Ge, Liyan Wu, Jingrong Yang, Jingxian Sun, Jinying Wang, Jingxin Wang, Huihui Song, Ran Wei, Zecheng Xu, Binbin Zhao, Rongfei Sun, Yifei Wang
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved intravenous edaravone for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2017, followed by the approval of the oral formulation in 2022. This study aims to utilize the FDA#39;s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to investigate the spectrum and timing of adverse events (AEs) associated with edaravone administration, employing repeatability analysis, the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) approach, Weibull distribution, and stratification methods. The investigation focuses on data collected from the first quarter of 2017 through the fourth quarter of 2024, aiming to identify adverse event signals and their temporal patterns related to both intravenous and oral edaravone administration. In total, 3,262 records of edaravone-related adverse reactions were identified; among these, 1,534 incidents were associated with intravenous administration, while 453 incidents pertained to oral administration. The analysis revealed distinct adverse reaction profiles for the two routes of administration. Notably, the spectrum of adverse reactions resulting from oral administration predominantly involved the respiratory system, digestive system, and skin damage. In contrast, intravenous administration was more frequently linked to complications associated with invasive procedures and local tissue damage. Furthermore, the timing of adverse reactions exhibited significant variability between the two routes. Weibull distribution analysis indicated that the median onset time for adverse reactions following intravenous administration was 35 days, whereas for oral administration, it was 27 days. Both analytical approaches identified early failure signals, suggesting that the risk of adverse events diminishes over time.To compare the effectiveness of multifactorial and exercise programs in preventing falls among older adults, with a specific focus on evaluating the individual and combined contributions of their key intervention components.
This study was a systematic review and component network meta-analysis. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to February 2025 for randomized controlled trials, focusing on four primary outcomes: fallers, recurrent fallers, injurious fallers, and fractured fallers. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane tool, and additive component network meta-analysis compared intervention group and component efficacy.
69 randomized controlled studies were included. In multifactorial interventions, traditional health education could increase fall risk (iRR: 1.10, 95% CI [1.03; 1.67]) and recurrent fall risk (iRR: 1.25, 95% CI [1.06; 1.48]). Medication management can increase recurrent fall risk (iRR: 1.35, 95% CI [1.09; 1.67]) and fracture risk (iRR: 2.11, 95% CI [1.48; 3.00]). Exercise (iRR: 1.24, 95% CI [1.01; 1.53]) increased fracture risk, and environment modification (iRR: 0.56, 95% CI [0.61; 0.79]) reduced it. The additive effect of risk assessment and advice, exercise, and environment modification reduced fall risk. In exercise programs, gait and balance (iRR: 0.58, 95% CI [0.36; 0.93]) can reduce recurrent fall risk. An intervention containing two components (gait and balance + strength and resistance) reduced the risk of falls and fall-related injuries.
Environment modification reduced fracture risk, emphasizing the value of creating safe living spaces. The combination of risk assessment, advice, exercise, and environment modification reduced fall risk, suggesting a holistic approach may be effective in preventing falls. Traditional methods of health education and medication management are in urgent need of updating to synergize with other exercise components and enhance the effectiveness of fall prevention. Prospective clinical trials are needed to optimize combinations of exercise components, particularly integrating gait and balance training with strength and resistance exercises.
The review was registered online in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number (CRD42025643530)
Pressure injury (PI) is common in the ICU and not well captured by single-risk tools such as the Braden scale. We aimed to develop and internally validate a machine-learning model to predict new-onset PI using routinely collected ICU data. This retrospective single-centre cohort included adult ICU patients with length of stay ≥ 48 h (2018–2023). The primary outcome was new-onset PI during ICU stay. Candidate predictors were pre-specified: minimum albumin, maximum lactate, SOFA, APACHE II, first recorded Braden score, age, BMI, a nutrition score and treatment indicators. Missing values were imputed (median/mode). A gradient boosting model (GBM) was evaluated with stratified 3-fold cross-validation; a random forest (RF) served as a benchmark (stratified 70/30 train–test split). Discrimination (AUC) was primary; calibration, Brier score, decision-curve analysis (DCA) and feature importance were secondary. Logistic regression quantified independent associations. Among included ICU stays, 14.6% developed PI. On multivariable analysis, higher lactate, lower albumin, lower Braden scores, older age, CRRT, prone positioning, enteral nutrition and analgesic exposure were associated with increased PI risk, whereas sedatives showed an inverse association. The GBM achieved AUC≈0.69 with acceptable calibration and net clinical benefit across thresholds commonly used in preventive workflows (≈0.10–0.50). Single markers or simple combinations displayed only modest discrimination. A GBM built from routine ICU data provided moderate, well-calibrated discrimination for predicting new-onset PI and demonstrated decision-relevant net benefit. The model can complement Braden-based screening by refining risk stratification and prioritising intensified prevention for patients most likely to benefit. External validation and prospective evaluation are warranted.
by Yu Chen, Xinjie Zhao, Ying Yue, Zhenyi Li, Si Chen
ObjectivesTo investigate factors associated with susceptibility to wild mushroom consumption using machine learning approaches and identify key predictors for targeted intervention development.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 216 Chinese university students employed three machine learning algorithms (Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Extremely Randomized Trees [ExtraTrees]) to predict consumption susceptibility based on demographics, media usage, and cognitive factors. Susceptibility was assessed through scenario-based questions following established frameworks from tobacco research. Model performance was evaluated using AUC with 95% confidence intervals calculated via bootstrap resampling (1,000 iterations). Sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative susceptibility thresholds.
Results65.3% were classified as susceptible to consumption. Logistic Regression achieved highest performance (AUC = 0.776, 95% CI: 0.679–0.862). Risk perception emerged as the strongest predictor (importance = 0.133 ± 0.044), followed by mushroom picking experience (0.101 ± 0.017) and content impression (0.089 ± 0.018). Among the 63 participants (29.2%) who reported using AI models, 75.93% indicated trust levels of ‘fairly trust’ or above.
ConclusionsIn this exploratory study of Chinese university students from a single institution, cognitive factors, particularly risk perception and identification ability, showed the strongest associations with consumption susceptibility. These preliminary findings suggest that targeted interventions enhancing risk awareness may be relevant for this population, though replication across diverse samples is needed before broader conclusions can be drawn.
by Hang Sun, Haozhi Xu, Junying Li, Xiaoman Xie, Junmei Zhang, Hongjie Dong, Huanhuan Xie, Qi Wang, Guihua Zhao, Kun Yin, Jingyu Yang, Jianwei Zhou, Ruili Wu, Chao Xu
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and lethal cancers globally. methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays a crucial role in tumor initiation and progression by regulating RNA function. STM2457, a highly efficient METTL3 inhibitor, can inhibit METTL3 activity and may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy in cancers. However, the role of STM2457 for GC cells is still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression profile data of GC in TCGA and GEO databases, and further explored the expression involvement of METTL3 in GC cell line, investigated the therapeutic effect of STM2457 targeted inhibition of METTL3 in GC both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results indicated that STM2457 could suppress GC cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting METTL3, and also promoted cell apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle in S phase. In addition, STM2457 could inhibit tumor growth in subcutaneous xenotransplantation mouse model. Our findings suggested that STM2457 had great potential for the treatment of GC and could serve as a foundation for future clinical applications.Open elbow arthrolysis effectively treats post-traumatic elbow stiffness, but severe postoperative pain during early rehabilitation impedes recovery. Continuous brachial plexus blocks, though effective, face limitations such as catheter displacement and infection risks. Liposomal bupivacaine, an ultra-long-acting local anaesthetic, offers prolonged analgesia and may circumvent these challenges. This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of a single-dose liposomal bupivacaine supraclavicular block versus continuous ropivacaine infusion in patients undergoing open elbow arthrolysis.
This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial will enrol 72 adults (ASA I–III，the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification for preoperative risk) scheduled for open elbow release surgery. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to receive either a single supraclavicular block with 10 mL liposomal bupivacaine plus 10 mL 0.5% ropivacaine followed by saline infusion (liposomal bupivacaine group) or continuous catheter infusion with 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine followed by 0.2% ropivacaine infusion (control group). The primary outcome is the weighted area under the curve (AUC) of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores during functional exercises within 72 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include resting NRS scores, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), rehabilitation metrics (range of motion, grip strength), recovery quality (Quality of Recovery -15) and long-term functional outcomes (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores, Quick-DASH scores) at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Non-inferiority will be established if the upper 95% confidence limit of the AUC difference is ≤1.3. Statistical analyses will employ intention-to-treat principles with SPSS V.24.0.
Ethical approval was granted by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Ethics Committee (K2025-213-00). The trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2500103911). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals, contributing evidence on liposomal bupivacaine’s role in perioperative analgesia and rehabilitation for elbow surgery.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR ID provided on acceptance).
To evaluate the relationship between preoperative COVID-19 infection and major postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) risk after major elective surgeries during the Omicron wave.
A multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study.
Four tertiary medical centres in Beijing, China.
All adult patients who underwent major elective surgeries under general anaesthesia from 30 December 2022 to 18 May 2023 were screened for eligibility. A total of 3211 patients were included.
The primary outcome was 30-day major PPC, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome or unexpected postoperative ventilation. The secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay (LOS), reoperation and mortality.
Major PPC occurred in 3.5% of patients with preoperative COVID-19 and 3.3% of those without. Inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted analysis showed no significant association between preoperative COVID-19 within 12 weeks and PPC risk (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95% CI 0.69 to 1.13). However, multivariable analysis revealed that COVID-19 infection within 3 weeks was independently associated with an increased PPC risk (OR, 3.44; 95% CI 1.37 to 8.68). Cardiothoracic surgery (OR, 12.47; 95% CI 8.11 to 19.17) and longer duration of surgery (OR, 1.24 per hour; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.37) were significant risk factors. In the cardiothoracic subgroup, PPC risk was significantly elevated within 7 weeks of infection. No significant differences were observed in LOS, reoperation rates or mortality between patients with and without preoperative COVID-19 infection.
Preoperative COVID-19 infection within 12 weeks was not associated with an increased overall risk of major PPC during the Omicron wave. Although very short infection-to-surgery intervals and cardiothoracic surgery showed exploratory signals of higher risk, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and support an individualised approach to perioperative risk assessment.
ChiCTR2200067250.
To compare the distribution, aetiology, treatment patterns and 2-year outcomes of moderate to severe valvular heart disease (VHD) between men and women in China.
Nationwide, prospective, multicentre cohort study.
46 tertiary hospitals across China, representing a mix of primary and secondary care settings.
A total of 13 917 adult patients with moderate-to-severe VHD were enrolled between April and June 2018. Of these, 6296 (45.24%) were women. Inclusion criteria included moderate or severe native valve disease, infective endocarditis or prior valve intervention.
Patients received either conservative therapy or valve interventions, including surgical repair/replacement or transcatheter procedures. Intervention decisions were based on clinical assessment.
2-year all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalisation and major adverse cardiovascular events. Multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify outcome predictors.
The overall intervention rate was 31.72%, with no gender difference (men: 31.26% vs women: 32.27%). Among the 5427 patients with severe symptomatic VHD, 49.11% received interventional therapy. The sex-specific pattern was particularly significant in severe symptomatic multiple valvular heart disease, where women had a higher propensity for intervention (p
The 2-year survival rate was 90.85% with no gender difference (men: 90.41% vs women: 91.38%, p=0.086). Valve intervention improved survival to 97.0%, with no gender disparity (men: 96.92% vs women: 97.01%, p=0.87). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed no significant gender effect (p>0.05).
Significant gender differences exist in VHD aetiology and subtypes in China. Women had more rheumatic VHD, while men had more degenerative and functional VHD. Intervention improved survival, with no gender disparity. Age and VHD subtype influenced intervention rates and prognosis, supporting individualised, sex- and age-stratified management strategies.
Preoperative anxiety is prevalent among neurosurgical patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) technology offers an innovative approach to delivering immersive preoperative education, particularly in familiarising patients with the intensive care unit (ICU) environment. This study aims to evaluate whether a VR-based ICU orientation can reduce perioperative anxiety and improve psychological preparedness in adult neurosurgical patients.
This single-centre randomised controlled trial plans to enrol 108 patients at Xuanwu Hospital. Using a computer-generated random sequence, participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to two groups: a control group receiving standard preoperative guidance, and an experimental group receiving standard guidance plus a VR-based ICU experience tour conducted 1 day before surgery. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of anxiety within 24 hours before discharge from the ICU. Secondary outcome measures include the incidence of depression, cognitive impairment and delirium, duration of delirium, safety events and other clinical outcomes. Data collection points include baseline (T0), 24 hours before surgery (T1), during ICU stay (T2) and 30 days after discharge (T3). All data analyses will be performed using SPSS V.26.0 software and will follow the intention-to-treat principle. This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of a VR-based ICU experience tour in reducing perioperative psychological stress and improving postoperative clinical outcomes.
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University (Approval ID: (2024) NO.152-002). The initial approval was obtained on 4 July 2024, and remains valid through 4 July 2026. All participants will provide written informed consent before any data collection takes place. The research findings are intended to be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
ChiCTR2400093170.
To investigate the association between systolic blood pressure time in target range (SBP-TTR) and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
Analysis of data from a prospective cohort.
This study used data from the Kailuan Study. Participants diagnosed with ASCVD from 11 hospitals affiliated with the Kailuan Group in Tangshan, China were included in the analysis.
We included 6732 participants who developed ASCVD between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2013, and who had two or more blood pressure measurements recorded between the ASCVD diagnosis date and 31 December 2017. All participants were followed up until 31 December 2022.
SBP-TTR was defined as the proportion of time during which SBP remained within the target range, calculated using the linear interpolation method. Participants were stratified into five SBP-TTR categories: 0%, >0% to
When the target SBP range was defined as 120–140 mm Hg, compared with the SBP-TTR=0% group, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality were 0.92 (0.78 to 1.07), 0.82 (0.72 to 0.94), 0.79 (0.68 to 0.92) and 0.76 (0.65 to 0.89) for the SBP-TTR groups of
This study demonstrated a significant inverse association between SBP-TTR and all-cause mortality among patients with ASCVD. The association between maintaining SBP within the 120–140 mm Hg target range and reduced mortality was more evident in younger individuals. These findings suggest that sustained and stable blood pressure control may improve long-term survival in patients with ASCVD.
ChiCTR-TNC-11001489.
Hypertension remains a major public health challenge in rural China, where blood pressure control rates remain low, primarily due to inadequate self-management behaviours among patients. While physician-patient interaction plays a critical role in shaping self-management behaviours, few interventions leveraging this mechanism—particularly those tailored to individual behavioural trajectories—have been implemented in rural primary care. This study aims to design and evaluate the effectiveness of an adaptive, interaction intervention to improve self-management behaviours among patients with hypertension in rural China.
A Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomised Trial (SMART) will be used to develop and evaluate an adaptive intervention based on physician-patient interaction. Two initial strategies will be tested: (1) a standard strategy involving monthly interactive follow-ups and (2) an enhanced strategy incorporating behavioural incentives into the standard protocol. In the first stage, 320 patients were recruited from 16 villages and were randomised to either strategy. After 6 months, patients with adequate improvement will continue their original strategy, while those with suboptimal progress will be re-randomised to either an enhanced intervention with a reminder or a further version with both the reminder and physician feedback. All interventions will be delivered via a Smart Medical Assistant Telephone Robot (SMAT-R) integrated within routine primary care services. The primary outcome is patient self-management behaviour, assessed using the Hypertension Patient’s Self-Management Behaviour Rating Scale; secondary outcomes—including blood pressure, quality of life and acceptability of the intervention—will be collected by trained personnel using standardised procedures and the SMAT-R digital system. Data will be collected at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post-implementation. Marginal structural models will be used to assess the dynamic effects of intervention.
This study aims to inform the development and evaluation of an adaptive, scalable and technology-assisted intervention to improve self-management behaviours among patients with hypertension in rural primary care settings. Using a SMART design, the trial will generate evidence on optimal sequencing and tailoring of strategies based on behavioural responses. The findings are expected to guide sustainable improvements in chronic disease management within primary care systems in low-resource contexts.
This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Forth Hospital and West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University (Gwll2024130). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All the participants provided written consent before participation. Trial results will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, ClinicalTrials.gov, and with healthcare providers and local health authorities, without publication restrictions.
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), a leading cause of neurological disability in neonates, is managed with therapeutic hypothermia, yet systematic data on its aetiology and prognosis are lacking, particularly in China. Herein, our study addresses this gap by establishing a prospective registry in Shenzhen and aims to clinically characterise HIE, identify its risk factors and document its long-term outcomes.
We will recruit 200 neonates with HIE from 10 hospitals in Shenzhen, China, between January 2025 and December 2028. In parallel, clinical data will be collected during hospitalisation, with supplemental referral information obtained from birth hospitals via an online, specialised HIE database. We will include HIE severity, survival status and the incidence of serious complications, such as arrhythmias, pulmonary haemorrhage, neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and disseminated intravascular coagulation, to assess key outcomes of HIE in neonates.
Longitudinal follow-up is scheduled for 18, 24 and 36 months, involving assessments using physical developmental scales, video-electroencephalogram (VEEG) recordings, the Chinese version of the Bayley Infant and Toddler Developmental Scale, Fourth Edition and cranial MRI at 18 months. The primary objectives of this study are to determine survival status, track loss-to-follow-up rates and evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years, with the ultimate goal of enhancing our understanding of HIE risk factors, hypothermia therapy and prognosis to reduce HIE-related morbidity and disability.
This study protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Children’s Hospital (Ethics No. 2024096), and the findings will be disseminated through presentations at national academic conferences and publication in peer-reviewed paediatric journals.
ChiCTR2400094994.
This study investigates how observed workplace ostracism affects nurses' helping behaviour from a bystander's perspective, examining the mediating roles of moral courage and employee resilience to inform strategies for fostering workplace harmony in nursing settings.
A cross-sectional study design was adopted.
A survey of 346 nurses from two Grade III, Level A hospitals in Henan, China, utilised scales measuring workplace ostracism, moral courage, helping behaviour and employee resilience. SPSS Statistics 26.0, Mplus 8.3 and the SPSS macro program Process 4.1 plugin were used to test the associations among variables.
Observed workplace ostracism positively correlated with nurses' helping behaviour, with moral courage partially mediating this relationship. Employee resilience moderated both the link between observed workplace ostracism and moral courage, and the indirect effect of observed workplace ostracism on helping behaviour through moral courage.
Nurses with high levels of resilience demonstrate moral courage when observing workplace ostracism and engage in helping behaviours towards those ostracised.
This study examines how workplace ostracism undermines nursing team cohesion and individual well-being. It highlights that bolstering nurses' resilience and moral courage can alleviate these adverse effects, thereby improving patient care quality. Nursing managers are advised to adopt targeted strategies, such as resilience training, to mitigate workplace ostracism.
This study employs a questionnaire to explore nurses' views of workplace ostracism and helping behaviours, aiming to inform strategies for fostering nursing team harmony and improving care quality.
This study strictly follows the STROBE reporting guidelines to ensure the clarity and credibility of the research findings.
Data were collected from hospital nurses through electronic questionnaires.
FreshRSS 