FreshRSS

🔒
❌ Acerca de FreshRSS
Hay nuevos artículos disponibles. Pincha para refrescar la página.
AnteayerTus fuentes RSS

Investigation on the knowledge-attitude-practice of medical students in controlling emerging infectious diseases: A case study of COVID-19

by Yizhe Yang, Ruifeng Liang, Yan Luo, Doudou Zhu, Yi Liu, Yuyan Guo, Jiafen Zhang, Qiao Niu

Objective

Investigate the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) of students from Medical College towards emerging infectious diseases, and assess their impact, can provide a scientific basis and practical guidance for enhancing medico’s prevention and control capabilities.

Methods

A total of 2,395 participants from various grades and majors at Medical University were randomly selected using a stratified cluster sampling method. This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 25 and May 31, 2020, using a self-administered questionnaire developed on the Wenjuanxing platform to assess COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among medical students.

Results

A total of 2,245 participants (aged 16–28 years) were included in the study, coming from five medical disciplines: Clinical Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Nursing, Clinical Pharmacy, Health Inspection and Quarantine. The average scores for the COVID-19 epidemiological knowledge and the control measures for the epidemic were 4.92 ± 1.03 and 4.50 ± 0.78, respectively. Among them, the scores of epidemiological knowledge exhibited significant differences in sex, nation, type of dwelling place, major, grade, annual per capita household income, and age. The scores of preventive knowledge significantly differed by sex, major, grade, physical condition, and age. Further, behavioral data indicated that 96.0% of the students thought the pandemic had severely affected their daily life, while >90% maintained consistent mask usage and >80% insisted on health-protective practices. Practice scores finally varied significantly by sex, family structure, and ethnicity.

Conclusions

Altogether, medical students possess certain basic knowledge in controlling emerging infectious diseases, but some still generally suffer from insufficient cognitive depth and anxiety. Colleges can systematically enhance students’ rational cognitive level which include offering specialized courses as well as promoting cutting-edge research achievements, and through standardized operations stabilize their psychological states.

Does preoperative prehabilitation improve lower limb motor function in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture? A protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Por: Wan · K. · Zhang · Q. · Xu · Y. · Li · L. · Ma · B. · Lei · X. · Mi · Y. · Jiang · J. · Shang · H. · Qiao · H. · Wang · B.
Introduction

Postoperative rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial for functional recovery. Prehabilitation, performed before surgery, is considered to optimise the patient’s condition and improve postoperative outcomes. However, the evidence supporting the effectiveness of standardised prehabilitation protocols remains insufficient, particularly in comparison to conventional home rehabilitation programmes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a 2-week standardised preoperative prehabilitation programme versus home rehabilitation training on perioperative functional outcomes and medium-term to long-term recovery in ACLR patients through a randomised controlled trial, providing evidence-based guidance for optimising rehabilitation pathways.

Methods and analysis

This study is a single-centre, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental group (receiving 2 weeks of standardised preoperative rehabilitation) or the control group (receiving 2 weeks of home-based rehabilitation training). Both groups will undergo 12 weeks of standardised rehabilitation postoperatively. The outcome measures include International Knee Documentation Committee Score (IKDC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Visual Analogue Scale, muscle strength, joint range of motion, anterior cruciate ligament-Return to Sport after Injury Index and Tegner score. The assessment time points are as follows: baseline (T0), 1–3 days preoperatively (T1), postoperative day 1 (T2), 30 days (T3), 90 days (T4), 180 days (T5) and 360 days (T6). All assessments will be performed at fixed time intervals within the same department of rehabilitation medicine, with the testing order randomised. The primary outcome (IKDC) will be analysed using a linear mixed model (LMM), including time, group and their interaction as fixed effects, with individuals as random effects. Secondary outcomes will be analysed using LMM, repeated measures analysis of variance or ² tests. Missing data will be handled using the multiple imputation method, under the assumption that data are missing completely at random and effect sizes will be evaluated using Cohen’s d (α=0.05).

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University (Number: 2025012). All participants will provide written informed consent after reviewing documentation containing comprehensive details regarding the study procedures, risks and benefits, enabling informed decision-making about participation. The findings generated from this research will be disseminated via publication in an open-access, peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2500097293.

Curative care expenditure across different comorbidity states of chronic hepatitis B: a prevalence study in Sichuan Province, China

Por: Qiaoying · W. · Lanming · F. · Yang · L. · Jia · L. · Qun · S. · Yuelin · Z.
Objective

The study aims to calculate the curative care expenditure (CCE) from different comorbidity states of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), to provide a reference for the relevant government departments to optimise health insurance protection measures for this disease.

Design

A prevalence-based retrospective study.

Setting

This study included 1600 medical institutions, covering general hospitals, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, specialised hospitals and maternal and child health hospitals.

Participants

The cohort included 238,617 CHB outpatients and 4312 inpatients.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

CCE for CHB was estimated based on System of Health Accounts 2011.

Results

The total CCE of CHB in Sichuan Province in 2019 was USD 85.49 million. The majority of CCE was spent by outpatient services (USD 67.16 million), the main source of financing schemes was household out-of-pocket payment (75.71%). Conversely, the CCE for inpatient services (USD 18.33 million) was mainly financed by public financing schemes (46.38%). More than 70% of the CCE flowed to general hospitals, and less than 20% flowed to primary healthcare institutions. The CCE varied significantly across different comorbidity groups. The CCE for patients with no additional comorbidities and those in the low comorbidity group was mainly spent by patients aged 30–39 years and those aged 40–49 years, respectively. The CCE in the high comorbidity group was mainly spent by patients aged 50–54 years.

Conclusion

The present study shows that a high proportion of the CCE allotted to CHB is financed by household out-of-pocket payment. This situation poses a heavy medical burden not only on individuals, but also on society. Therefore, the financing structure needs to be optimised urgently. Potential policy directions may improve the outpatient mutual aid protection mechanism.

Application and Efficacy Evaluation of a Modified Ostomy Appliance in Managing Peristomal Irritant Contact Dermatitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

Irritant contact dermatitis is a common peristomal skin complication. Due to the continuous irritation from intestinal fluids and faeces, the healing of this dermatitis is slow and the condition severely impairs patients' quality of life. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a modified insertable ostomy appliance in promoting healing and improving patient outcomes. A randomised controlled trial was conducted from January 2022 to December 2024 in a tertiary hospital. The enrolled patients, all diagnosed with irritant contact dermatitis, were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group wore the conventional two-piece ostomy appliance, while the experimental group wore the modified insertable ostomy appliance. Outcomes were assessed on Days 3, 7, 14 and 28. The primary outcome was the healing rate (Discoloration, Erosion and Tissue overgrowth [DET] score ≤ 2) at Day 28. Secondary outcomes included the DET score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score, Stoma Quality of Life questionnaire (Stoma-QOL) score and the incidence of appliance leakage. A total of 89 eligible participants completed the trial. The experimental group showed a significantly higher 28-day healing rate (73.3% vs. 29.5%, p < 0.001), lower DET scores (Day 28: 2.0 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001), reduced VAS scores (Day 28: 1.5 vs. 2.0, p < 0.001), higher Stoma-QOL scores (Day 28: 55.67 vs. 51.64, p < 0.001) and lower leakage rate (13.3% vs. 93.2%, p < 0.001). The modified ostomy appliance significantly improves healing, reduces pain and enhances quality of life, representing a novel solution for clinical practice.

Interventions for endometriosis-related pain and infertility: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Por: Qiao · X. · Zhong · Y. · Cao · Q. · Huang · X. · Li · F. · Wang · R. · Liu · D. · Huang · W.
Introduction

Endometriosis, a chronic oestrogen-dependent disorder, presents significant clinical challenges including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and infertility. While numerous interventions exist, evidence guiding the choice among surgical, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies is fragmented. This protocol outlines a systematic review and network meta-analysis designed to comprehensively evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of all available treatments for endometriosis-associated pain and infertility.

Methods

We will systematically search PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Randomised controlled trials evaluating any intervention for endometriosis will be identified through a two-stage independent screening process by two reviewers. Primary outcomes are overall pain reduction and live birth rate. Secondary outcomes include clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, endometriosis recurrence, relief of other endometriosis-related symptoms, adverse events, quality of life and obstetrical outcomes. Data will be synthesised using pairwise and network meta-analyses.

Ethics and dissemination

This systematic review of published literature does not require ethical approval. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. The findings aim to establish a robust evidence base for clinical decision-making and to inform future research priorities in endometriosis management.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD420251051917.

Life Space in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Concept Analysis

ABSTRACT

Aim

To clarify the concept of life space in community-dwelling older adults to provide a clear and standardised conceptual basis for further research.

Methods

Rogers' evolutionary approach was used to identify surrogate terms, related terms, attributes, antecedents and consequences.

Data Sources

Literature from 1936 to 2025 was searched from PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, Cochrane databases, Scopus, Web of Science and CNKI.

Results

A total of 46 articles were included for further analysis and synthesis. The attributes of life space in community-dwelling older adults were dynamic variability, multidimensionality and interaction between intrinsic abilities and external environmental demands. Antecedents were classified into four categories, namely, individual, physical, psychological and social factors. Life space can bring positive consequences, promoting walking, assessing the risk of falling, predicting cognitive decline, facilitating rehabilitation and improving quality of life, as well as negative consequences, causing diminished subjective well-being, heightened loneliness, increased risks of hospital readmission and mortality.

Conclusions

Life space, as a spatial indicator of a person's range of mobility, reflects older adults' physical range of motion, the frequency of activity, their need for assistance and the level of social participation. Older adults with adequate life space in the community are more likely to engage in outdoor activities. In contrast, restricted life space can lead to adverse outcomes.

Impact

Surrogate terms, related terms, attributes, antecedents and consequences identified by the concept analysis approach will contribute to a greater understanding of life space. These analytical findings establish an essential conceptual framework for future research while offering evidence-based theoretical guidance to improve life space in community-dwelling older adults, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and quality of life.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Intersectional associations between minority stressors, resilience and substance misuse in the United States sexual minority populations: a cross-sectional MAIHDA analysis of the generation study

Por: Zhang · C. · Kniffen · W. · Qiao · S. · Liu · Y.
Objectives

Our study aims to investigate the associations between sexual minority stressors, resilience factors and substance misuse outcomes, using an intersectional framework to examine heterogeneities across sexual minority populations (SMPs) in the United States of America (USA). We hypothesised that stressors would be positively associated with substance use, and that resilience factors would be negatively associated, with these associations varying across intersectional strata.

Design

The current study employed a secondary data analysis strategy to analyse cross-sectional data using Bayesian hierarchical modelling and Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA).

Setting

Data were obtained from the Generation Study Wave 1 (data collected from 2016 to 2018), a nationally representative cohort of SMPs in the USA.

Participants

The study included 1518 participants aged 18–59. Combinations of education, birth sex, sexual orientation, income and race/ethnicity defined intersectional strata. Participants were selected based on self-reported demographic and behavioural data.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Primary outcomes were the risks of alcohol use and drug use, measured using validated scales (AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test)). Explanatory variables included resilience factors (social support, life satisfaction, social well-being and community connectedness) and sexual minority stressors (everyday discrimination, perceived stigma, healthcare stereotype threat and internalised homophobia).

Results

In descriptive analyses, group differences on psychosocial scales were small to modest, with higher everyday discrimination in lower-income and Black participants. In Bayesian regressions, everyday discrimination was the strongest positive correlate of both alcohol and drug use, whereas perceived stigma was inversely associated. In MAIHDA models, demographic factors were associated with higher AUDIT among males and those with college-or-more education, and with higher DUDIT among low-income participants; relative to bisexual participants, gay (AUDIT) and lesbian (DUDIT) groups had lower scores. The strata-level variance component was small in null models and approached zero after adjusting for demographics and psychosocial factors, indicating that disparities are primarily driven by differential exposure to these factors rather than unexplained heterogeneity between strata.

Conclusions

While minority stressors and resilience factors are salient predictors of substance use among SMPs, their effects are consistent across diverse intersectional identities. The application of MAIHDA demonstrates that substance use disparities are better explained by the main effects of demographics and psychosocial experiences than by the unique combination of identities. This highlights the importance of universal interventions in reducing discrimination and enhancing resilience across the entire SMP population.

Predictive Model for Hypoglycaemia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients During the Peri‐Colonoscopy Period: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT

Aims

To identify factors influencing hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergoing colonoscopy and to construct a predictive model for assessing hypoglycaemia risk.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data on 598 T2DM patients who underwent colonoscopy and randomised them into a developmental cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. We used multivariate logistic regression to develop a predictive model for hypoglycaemia during colonoscopy and identify independent predictors in pre- and post-colonoscopy hypoglycaemia groups.

Results

We identified 112 of 598 (18.7%) T2DM patients who experienced hypoglycaemia during the peri-colonoscopy period: 43 pre-colonoscopy, 61 post-colonoscopy and 8 at both junctures. Ultimately, five predictors—insulin, SGLT2 inhibitors, fasting after colonoscopy, fasting C-peptide and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)—were integrated into the predictive model. The AUC for predicting hypoglycaemia was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.71–0.84) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.74–0.90) in the development and validation cohort, respectively. Variables associated with pre-colonoscopy hypoglycaemia included SGLT2 inhibitors, fasting C-peptide and eGFR, whereas the post-colonoscopy hypoglycaemia group was associated with metformin, duration of diabetes, fasting C-peptide and fasting after the examination.

Conclusion

This study successfully developed and validated a predictive model for assessing hypoglycaemia risk in T2DM patients during peri-colonoscopy.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Early identification of patients at high risk for peri-colonoscopy hypoglycaemia allows nurses to implement personalised preventive strategies. The predictive model enables clinical nurses to deliver tailored interventions based on individual risk factors, potentially reducing hypoglycaemia-related complications and improving patient safety outcomes.

Impact

This study provides nurses with a validated risk prediction tool for identifying high-risk type 2 diabetes patients during colonoscopy, enabling targeted blood glucose monitoring protocols and preventive interventions in clinical practice.

Reporting Method

This study follows the STROBE guidelines for reporting cohort studies.

Patient or Public Contribution

Diabetes patients contributed electronic health record datasets.

Beyond the Feed: A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Parental Experiences in Managing Paediatric Feeding Disorders in Children With Chronic Conditions

ABSTRACT

Aim

To explore the experiences of Singaporean parents managing care for children with underlying chronic medical conditions and Paediatric Feeding Disorders.

Design

Descriptive qualitative.

Methods

Data were collected via semi-structured interviews from 4 July 2024 to 4 October 2024. Fourteen English-speaking Singaporean parents were recruited via purposive sampling at an outpatient paediatric feeding clinic in a public tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-step inductive approach.

Results

Three themes and nine sub-themes were identified. The three themes were: (1) Caregiver's Compass: From Survival to Stability, (2) Navigating Emotional Terrain in Caregiving, (3) Feeding Suck-cess: Systemic, Medical, and Societal Challenges.

Conclusion

The findings reflected the experiences of parents managing Paediatric Feeding Disorders. Parents transitioned from survival-focused to development-focused care, balancing medical guidance with parental instinct while navigating emotional strain, gendered caregiving roles, fragmented healthcare, and cultural conflicts.

Implications for Patient Care

Nurses are vital in supporting parents by recognising their lived experiences and caregiving challenges. By incorporating family-centered interventions, nurses can foster shared-decision making and provide culturally sensitive care. Providing tailored education and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams will enable nurses to empower caregivers with essential knowledge and resources, such as accessible and culturally attuned digital health solutions.

Impact

This study contributes to the limited body of qualitative research on parents of chronically ill children with Paediatric Feeding Disorders in Singapore and underscores the need for culturally sensitive, multidisciplinary support models to address the manifold responsibilities parents face in managing feeding issues. These insights may have broader implications for diverse populations managing similar caregiving complexities, informing family-centered interventions and healthcare policies that better support parents managing chronically ill children.

Reporting Method

COREQ checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.

Development and validation of a depression risk prediction model for middle-aged and elderly adults with sensory impairment: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

by Mengzhen Qin, Mengyuan Qiao, Yuying Dong, Haiyan Wang

Objective

Compared with those without such impairment, middle-aged and older adults with sensory impairment (SI) demonstrate a greater prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms, significantly affecting their mental health. We aimed to develop and validate a depression risk prediction model for middle-aged and elderly individuals with SI.

Methods

Data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were randomly partitioned into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. Within the training set, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify predictor variables, and a risk prediction column‒line graph was subsequently developed, with depression status among middle-aged and elderly individuals with SI as the dependent variable. Predictive performance of the training and validation sets was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis.

Results

In total, 5308 middle-aged and older adults with SI were included, with 50.1% (n = 2657) developing depression. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis identified several depression predictors, including sex, education level, place of residence, marital status, self-rated health, life satisfaction, pension insurance status, nighttime sleep duration, functional impairment status, and pain (all P CI = 0.783–0.811) and 0.778 (95% CI = 0.755–0.800), respectively. The Hosmer–Lemeshow values were P = 0.176 and P = 0.606 (P > 0.05), and the calibration curves revealed significant agreement between the model and actual observations. ROC and DCA curves indicated good predictive performance for the column‒line graph.

Conclusion

This study presents a reliable, validated, and acceptable predictive model for depression risk in middle-aged and elderly individuals with SI, and the identified predictors have potential applications in public health policy and clinical practice.

Effects of chitosan oligosaccharide on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, intestinal digestive capacity and morphological structure in growing female minks

by Hongfei Liu, Wenli Li, Gaoqiang Fan, Qiaoyi Chen, Shulei Zhang, Beibei Zhang

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, duodenal digestive enzyme activity, and jejunal morphology in growing female minks. Ninety-six 12-week-old minks were randomly assigned to six groups (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 mg/kg COS), with 8 replicates per treatment and 2 minks per replicate, for an 8-week trial. The results showed that average daily gain (ADG) increased quadratically with increasing COS levels (P P P P P P 

Changed Personal Attitudes Predict Sexual Behaviours Among Men Living With HIV in the Era of U=U: A Half‐Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction

In the era of ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ (U=U), reductions in condom use and increases in casual partnerships may contribute to elevated risks of coinfection with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV super-infections among men living with HIV. These trends may reflect a shift in personal attitudes towards sexual behaviour and HIV risk, yet their influence on actual behaviours remains unclear.

Aim

To investigate how changes in personal attitudes and safe sex self-efficacy influence sexual decision-making.

Design

Two-wave longitudinal study design.

Methods

We conducted a 3-month longitudinal study from March to December 2023 among HIV-positive men (≥ 18 years) initiating ART in Changsha, China. Cross-lagged panel analysis and half-longitudinal mediation analysis were used to examine how changes in personal attitudes influenced sexual behaviours.

Results

427 men living with HIV were included at baseline, and 301 completed the follow-up survey. Sexual behaviours were associated with personal attitudes, namely safe sex fatigue, viral load/transmission beliefs, and sexual sensation seeking. More positive personal attitudes in these domains at baseline predicted lower safe sex self-efficacy over 3 months, while reduced baseline self-efficacy increased the likelihood of engaging in condomless sex and/or multiple sexual partners. All three personal attitude domains had significant indirect effects on sexual behaviours via safe sex self-efficacy.

Conclusion

In the era of U=U, the changed personal attitudes among men living with HIV may lead to the increased likelihood of engaging in condomless sex and/or having multiple sexual partners, and safe sex self-efficacy serves as a mediator in this relationship.

Impact

This study highlights the potential influence of attitudinal changes on sexual behaviours among men living with HIV in the ‘U=U’ era. Findings provide valuable evidence for developing more targeted interventions that address not only behavioural outcomes but also underlying personal attitudes.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Grief, Uncertainty and Community: A Qualitative Study on Parental Experiences of Paediatric Feeding Disorders and Feeding Tube Use in Singapore

ABSTRACT

Aim

To explore the perceptions and experiences of parents caring for children with paediatric feeding disorders requiring feeding tubes (PFD-T).

Study Design

A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted in this study.

Methods

Using purposive sampling, 12 parents were recruited from paediatric inpatient wards and the outpatient paediatric feeding clinic at a tertiary public hospital in Singapore. Data collection was done from July to December 2024. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with the parents (fathers or mothers) until data saturation. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the interview content.

Results

A total of three themes and six subthemes were identified, encapsulating the challenges experienced by parents with caregiving and feeding tube management, as well as the sources of support they had. The themes are: (1) A sense of community, (2) Grieving over the loss of normalcy and (3) Facing the unknown.

Conclusion

Parents in this study felt supported being in a community of other parents with children who have PFD-T. It enabled them to gain valuable information and offered them a space where they felt understood. At the same time, they expressed feelings of guilt and isolation, as the caregiving demands led to limited capacity to cater to or interact with other loved ones. Additional challenges parents faced included transitioning between types of feeding tubes and insufficient support from healthcare professionals.

Trial and Protocol Registration

Ethical approval was obtained from the National Health Group Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB 2024/00064) on 8 May 2024.

Reporting Method

This study followed the reporting guidelines outlined by the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative (COREQ) research checklist.

Public Contribution

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.

Development of a Machine Learning Algorithm‐Based Predictive Model for Physical Activity Levels in Lung Cancer Survivors: A Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Aims

To investigate the physical activity levels of lung cancer survivors, analyse the influencing factors, and construct a predictive model for the physical activity levels of lung cancer survivors based on machine learning algorithms.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used to survey lung cancer survivors across 14 hospitals in eastern, central, and western China. Data on demographic, disease-related, health-related, physical, and psychosocial factors were also collected. Descriptive analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0, and predictors were identified through multiple logistic regression analyses. Four machine learning models—random forest, gradient boosting tree, support vector machine, and logistic regression—were developed and evaluated based on the Area Under the Curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC), accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The best model was used to create an online computational tool using Python 3.11 and Flask 3.0.3. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the TRIPOD guidelines and checklist.

Results

Among the 2231 participants, 670 (30%), 1185 (53.1%), and 376 (16.9%) exhibited low, moderate, and high physical activity levels, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression identified 15 independent influencing factors: residential location, geographical region, religious beliefs, histological type, treatment modality, regional lymph node stage, grip strength, 6-min walking distance, globulin, white blood cells, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea, MDASI score, depression score, and SRAHP score. The random forest model performed best among the four algorithms, achieving AUC-ROC values of 0.86, 0.70, 0.72, and 0.67, respectively, and was used to develop an online predictive tool (URL: http://10.60.32.178:5000).

Conclusion

This study developed a machine learning model to predict physical activity levels in lung cancer survivors, with the random forest model demonstrating the highest accuracy and clinical utility. This tool enables the early identification of low-activity survivors, facilitating timely, personalised rehabilitation and health management.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The development of a predictive model for physical activity levels in lung cancer survivors can help clinical medical staff identify survivors with relatively low physical activity levels as early as possible. Thus, personalised rehabilitation plans can be formulated to optimise quality of life during their survival period.

Impact

Physical activity has been used as a nonpharmacological intervention in cancer patient rehabilitation plans. However, a review of past studies has shown that lung cancer survivors generally have low physical activity levels. In this study, we identified the key factors influencing physical activity among lung cancer survivors through a literature review. We constructed a prediction model for their physical activity levels using machine learning algorithms. Clinical medical staff can use this model to identify patients with low physical activity levels early and to develop personalised intervention plans to improve their quality of life during survival.

Reporting Method

The study adhered to the relevant EQUATOR reporting guidelines, the TRIPOD Checklist for Prediction Model Development and Validation.

Patient or Public Contribution

During the data collection phase, participants were recruited to complete the questionnaires.

The Relationship Between Knowledge, Psychological Flexibility, Anxiety and Healthy Behaviour in Stroke Patients: A Chain Mediation Model

ABSTRACT

Aims

To explore the mediating effects of psychological flexibility and anxiety between knowledge and health behaviour in stroke patients, and to provide a reference for improving the health behaviour of stroke patients.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods

A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 219 stroke patients from a tertiary hospital in China from July to November 2024. Patients were surveyed using an electronic questionnaire containing demographic questions and validated scales for stroke knowledge, psychological flexibility, anxiety and health behaviour. IBM SPSS v26.0 software and PROCESS Process macro were used for data analysis.

Results

The health behaviour score of stroke patients was 54.2 ± 3.8, and health behaviour was positively correlated with stroke knowledge and negatively correlated with psychological flexibility and anxiety. There was a significant chain-mediated effect of psychological flexibility and anxiety in the relationship between stroke knowledge and health behaviour.

Conclusion

Stroke knowledge not only directly predicts health behaviour in stroke patients, but also indirectly influences the health behaviour of patients through the chain mediation of psychological flexibility and anxiety.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study highlights the importance of caregivers focusing on the interactions between patient knowledge, psychological flexibility, anxiety and health behaviour when caring for stroke patients. Comprehensive interventions aimed at enhancing stroke patients' knowledge, improving patients' psychological flexibility and reducing anxiety have the potential to improve patient health behaviour.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients completed questionnaires.

Reporting Method

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies was applied to report the results.

Scoping Review of Gamification in Rehabilitation Care of Adults With Chronic Illnesses

imageBackground Gamification uses game-based mechanics, aesthetics, and game thinking to engage people, motivate action, promote learning, and solve problems. However, gaps remain in understanding and implementing gamification in rehabilitation care, necessitating further exploration and clarification of the best evidence for application of gamification. Objective To conduct a scoping review of the use of gamification in rehabilitation care for adults with chronic illnesses, summarizing the scope, forms, elements, guiding theories, effectiveness, and ease of use of gamification. Methods Eight databases in English or Chinese were searched from January 1, 2011 to May 20, 2024 following the standard scoping review framework. Results A total of 24 papers were included. Gamification was applied in the rehabilitation of endocrine, skeletal, circulatory, neurological, and cerebrovascular diseases, primarily using virtual reality and three-dimensional forms. Eight gamification elements were most commonly utilized. Positive outcomes included enhanced rehabilitation knowledge, improved attitudes, better physical function, and increased self-care ability. Most patients found gamified rehabilitation care engaging and easy to use. Discussion The application of gamification in adult chronic disease rehabilitation care shows great promise. However, the lack of theory-driven or longitudinal data in some studies highlights the need for more randomized controlled and longitudinal research to explore the effectiveness of gamified intervention.

Struggles of Fatherhood: A Prospective Study on the Incidence of Paternal Postpartum Depression and Associated Factors

ABSTRACT

Aim

To investigate the incidence and the factors associated with paternal postpartum depression amongst new fathers in Singapore.

Design

A prospective repeated measures study was conducted from September 2023 to March 2024.

Methods

A total of 200 fathers aged 21 years and above who had a neonate born at full term and no serious health events for both mother and neonate were recruited from a local hospital via convenience sampling. Fathers completed questionnaires at the third trimester of pregnancy (baseline) and 1 month postpartum. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify significant factors associated with postpartum depression in fathers.

Results

The incidence of paternal postpartum depression was 5.26% at 1 month post-childbirth, using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Using the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS), 7% of the fathers were identified with high risk of depression and 14.3% of the fathers had moderate depressive symptoms. Paternal postpartum depression at 1 month post-childbirth could be predicted by paternal postpartum depression scores at baseline measured by EPDS and GMDS, as well as by baseline perceived social support and parental self-efficacy at 1 month post-childbirth.

Conclusion

This study found that a considerable number of fathers in Singapore are at risk of postpartum depression. There is an urgent need for the development of more comprehensive tools to measure postpartum depression in fathers that are culturally adapted to the local context.

Implications

Early screening during antenatal visits enables timely intervention and access to support, benefiting the entire family. Nurses could help fathers to be more involved by extending patient education and teaching infant care skills to both parents. When counselling patients, the involvement of extended family members and navigating new roles as caregivers of a new baby and breadwinners are important considerations for new parents.

Impact

This study is the first of its kind to measure the incidence of postpartum depression amongst new fathers in an urban multicultural Asian setting, like Singapore. The study found that the incidence of postpartum depression in fathers were 5.26% when measured using EPDS and 14.3% when measured using GMDS at 1 month postpartum. These findings could inform future family-centred and father-specific interventions to improve the mental health outcomes of new parents.

Reporting Method

This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guideline.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Development of a Deep Learning‐Based Model for Pressure Injury Surface Assessment

ABSTRACT

Aim

To develop a deep learning-based smart assessment model for pressure injury surface.

Design

Exploratory analysis study.

Methods

Pressure injury images from four Guangzhou hospitals were labelled and used to train a neural network model. Evaluation metrics included mean intersection over union (MIoU), pixel accuracy (PA), and accuracy. Model performance was tested by comparing wound number, maximum dimensions and area extent.

Results

From 1063 images, the model achieved 74% IoU, 88% PA and 83% accuracy for wound bed segmentation. Cohen's kappa coefficient for wound number was 0.810. Correlation coefficients were 0.900 for maximum length (mean difference 0.068 cm), 0.814 for maximum width (mean difference 0.108 cm) and 0.930 for regional extent (mean difference 0.527 cm2).

Conclusion

The model demonstrated exceptional automated estimation capabilities, potentially serving as a crucial tool for informed decision-making in wound assessment.

Implications and Impact

This study promotes precision nursing and equitable resource use. The AI-based assessment model serves clinical work by assisting healthcare professionals in decision-making and facilitating wound assessment resource sharing.

Reporting Method

The STROBE checklist guided study reporting.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients provided image resources for model training.

Prevalence of Frailty and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Older Patients With Breast Cancer: A Prospective Cross‐Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Aims

To evaluate the prevalence of frailty and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in older Chinese breast cancer (BC) patients, which have not been thoroughly reported in this population.

Design

A prospective multi-centre cross-sectional registry study.

Data Sources

Data were collected from Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking University Third Hospital and Beijing Chaoyang District San Huan Cancer Hospital between October 2021 and July 2023.

Methods

BC patients aged over 65 years were enrolled in this study. They completed three assessment scales including the FRAIL scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), to screen for frailty, related factors and QoL. Clinical and pathological data were also collected. Analysis of frailty and prefrailty risk factors was performed via logistic regression. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the mean differences in scores for each QoL domain between patients with different frailty statuses.

Results

A total of 946 patients were enrolled from three hospitals in Beijing between October 2021 and July 2023. Their median age was 69 years and 73.6% of them had early-stage breast cancer. Further, 37.2% of these patients had ≥ 1 comorbidity. The prevalence of frailty was 8.8% and frailty was more common in those with aged ≥ 75 years (22.3%), those with advanced tumours (15.6%), those with anxiety (31.3%) and those with depression (29.3%). More than half (57.2%) of the patients were prefrail. Regression analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.12 [95% CI 1.07–1.17], p < 0.001), an advanced tumour (OR 2.27 [1.33–3.89], p = 0.003), anxiety (OR 2.74 [1.37–5.48], p = 0.004) and depression (OR 3.84 [1.97–7.49], p < 0.001) were significantly associated with frailty. After adjusting for other factors, different frailty states were shown to be independent influencing factors for QoL in both the functional and the symptom domains (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study provides data on the prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in older Chinese patients with BC. Both conditions are closely related to poor QoL. It is helpful for oncologist and clinical care to making intervention and better treatment decisions.

Reporting Method

The study adhered to the STROBE checklist.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

This study provides detailed data on the prevalence of frailty in older Chinese patients with BC and correlative factors. It suggests that clinical care should fully assess patients' frailty before making treatment decisions and provide early intervention for related factors.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients participated in the implementation of the project (including the informed consent and questionnaire process). No other public contribution to this research.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study provides data on the prevalence of frailty in Chinese older BC patients and correlative factors. It indicates that clinicians should fully assess patients' frailty before making treatment decisions and provide early intervention for related factors.

Trial Registration

ChiCTR2200056070

Risk Factors for Peritoneal Dialysis‐Associated Peritonitis Due to Home‐Based Operation Management: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

This study aimed to explore the risk factors related to home-based operation management leading to the occurrence of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP).

Design

An observational research was conducted.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted among patients with maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD) between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022. The patients were grouped according to the occurrence of PDAP. General characteristics and home operational data were collected and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for PDAP associated with home operations. This study complied with the Appendix S1.

Results

Of 458 PD patients included in this study, 82 were in the peritonitis group. Their average age was 53.34 ± 13.62 years, and the average dialysis vintage was 35.57 ± 32.74 months, with males accounting for 54.6%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age; primary disease, such as diabetes mellitus; dialysis vintage; improper storage of dialysis fluid; failure to verify the quality of protective-caps with povidone-iodine; and improper handwashing were risk factors of PDAP. Daytime ambulatory PD mode was significantly negatively associated with PDAP.

Conclusion

Improper storage of dialysis fluid, failure to check the quality of protective-caps and improper handwashing at home are independent risk factors for PDAP caused by home-based operation management. Nurses should strengthen relevant training or retraining to address this.

Implications for the Profession

These findings serve to highlight the key areas for training in PD management and aim to empower patients to effectively conduct self-management practices.

Patient or Public Contribution

We appreciate the patient's understanding and support.

❌