Category: Statistics

Work. 2025 Jun 9:10519815251346421. doi: 10.1177/10519815251346421. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundPrivacy is one of the most important principles that should be protected during nursing interventions. It is also very important for maintaining a professional stance in professional life.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the privacy awareness levels of nurses and nursing students and the factors affecting them.MethodThe sample of the study consisted of 157 nurses and 342 nursing students. Data were collected using Personal Information Form and Privacy Awareness Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn test and multiple linear regression analysis.ResultsThe mean privacy awareness score of the nurses was 50.20 ± 4.71 and that of the students was 49.94 ± 4.88, and no significant difference was found between nurses and students in terms of privacy awareness levels (p < 0.05). Privacy awareness towards oneself was higher in female nurses and privacy awareness towards others was higher in nurses in their 30 s and married women. Total privacy awareness was highest in nurses aged 30-39 years, followed by nurses aged 20 and 40 years. The level of behavior to protect the privacy of others was higher in second-year students than in third-year students.ConclusıonsIn order to keep the privacy awareness of nurses high, appropriate physical conditions, educational opportunities, evaluation of requests and wishes by the institution, and emphasizing that students have the same moral responsibility as nurses in all professional course practices are necessary.

PMID:40485351 | DOI:10.1177/10519815251346421

Head Neck. 2025 Jul;47(7):1807-1815. doi: 10.1002/hed.28092. Epub 2025 Jan 31.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Time from surgery to initiation of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) of less than 6 weeks was recently instituted as the first quality metric within head and neck cancer care.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective single institution cohort study to investigate predictors of PORT delay and the impact of PORT delay on survival.

RESULTS: PORT delay rate was 73.2%, with a median time to treatment initiation of 51 days. Outside radiation facility treatment was independently associated with increased likelihood of PORT delay (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.03-3.74, p = 0.043). PORT delay and location of radiation treatment did not impact OS or PFS.

CONCLUSIONS: In this single institution study, most patients experienced PORT delay. Patients that were treated at outside radiation facilities were more likely to experience delay. However, PORT delay did not result in statistically significant difference in OS and PFS which contrasts with the current literature.

PMID:40485334 | DOI:10.1002/hed.28092

Biom J. 2025 Jun;67(3):e70062. doi: 10.1002/bimj.70062.

ABSTRACT

Outlying studies are prevalent in meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy studies and may lead to misleading inferences and decision-making unless their negative effect is appropriately dealt with. Statistical methods for detecting and down-weighting the impact of such studies have recently gained the attention of many researchers. However, these methods dichotomize each study in the meta-analysis as outlying or non-outlying and focus on examining the effect of outlying studies on the summary sensitivity and specificity only. We developed and evaluated a robust and flexible random-effects bivariate finite mixture model for meta-analyzing diagnostic test accuracy studies. The proposed model accounts for both the within- and across-study heterogeneity in diagnostic test results, generates the probability that each study in a meta-analysis is outlying instead of dichotomizing the status of the studies, and allows assessing the impact of outlying studies on the pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, and between-study heterogeneity. Our simulation study and real-life data examples demonstrated that the proposed model was robust to the existence of outlying studies, produced precise point and interval estimates of the pooled sensitivity and specificity, and yielded similar results to the standard models when there were no outliers. Extensive simulations demonstrated relatively better bias and confidence interval width, but comparable root mean squared error and lesser coverage probability of the proposed model. Practitioners can use our proposed model as a stand-alone model to conduct a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies or as an alternative sensitivity analysis model when outlying studies are present in a meta-analysis.

PMID:40485332 | DOI:10.1002/bimj.70062

NeuroRehabilitation. 2025 Jun 9:10538135251344930. doi: 10.1177/10538135251344930. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundPrimary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) carries high mortality and disability risks. Although early mobilization is beneficial, concerns about physiological instability often delay mobilization.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether a structured early mobilization protocol improves functional mobility and reduces adverse events in critically ill ICH patients.MethodThis retrospective pre-post study included 192 patients with ICH (ICH score 0-4) admitted to a dedicated stroke center. In the pre-implementation phase in 2022, patients received standard care. In the post-implementation phase in 2023, a standardized mobility protocol, incorporating time-based stratification, neurological thresholds, and safety criteria to guide activity progression, was introduced. Primary outcomes included the Modified ICU Mobility Scale (MIMS) score at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and the occurrence of adverse events.ResultsThe post-implementation group (99 patients) showed higher MIMS scores at ICU discharge, with a greater proportion achieving out-of-bed sitting during their ICU stay compared to the pre-implementation group (93 patients). Non-serious adverse events in the former decreased significantly; ICU and hospital lengths of stay were shorter but not statistically significant.ConclusionThe structured pathway enabled safer, earlier mobilization and improved ICU functional outcomes. While mobility benefits were observed, caution is warranted in interpreting non-significant trends in length of stay.

PMID:40485320 | DOI:10.1177/10538135251344930

Malar J. 2025 Jun 8;24(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s12936-025-05434-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Installing insecticidal netting on open eaves, windows, and holes in walls of unimproved houses is a potential malaria control tool. It prevents mosquito house-entry, induces lethal and sub-lethal effects on malaria vectors, and may reduce malaria transmission. Therefore, a household epidemiological trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of insecticide-treated screening (ITS) on malaria infection and indoor vectors in Tanzania.

METHODS: In Chalinze district, Tanzania, 421 households were randomized into two arms. In June-July 2021, one group of households’ houses was fitted with ITS (incorporated with deltamethrin and piperonyl butoxide) on eaves, windows, and wall holes, while the second group did not receive screening. After installation, consenting household members (aged ≥ 6 months) were tested for malaria infection using quantitative polymerase chain reaction after the long rainy season (June/July 2022, primary outcome) and the short rainy season (January/February 2022, secondary outcome). Secondary outcomes included indoor total mosquito per trap/night (June-July 2022), adverse effects after one month of ITS installation (August 2021), and chemical bioavailability and retention of ITS samples after one year of field use (June/July 2022). At the end of the trial, the control group received ITS.

RESULTS: Malaria prevalence among residents in the ITS arm was 19.9% (50/251) and 28.3% (65/230) in the control arm after the long rains, however, this difference was not significant [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.67 (95% CI 0.35-1.28), p = 0.227]. Similarly, no protection was seen for ITS after the short rains, [OR 1.27 (95% CI 0.68-2.38), p = 0.452]. However, school-age children in the ITS arm had lower malaria after the long rains [OR 0.11 (95% CI 0.02-0.73), p = 0.022]. No serious adverse effects were reported. The mean number of female Anopheles mosquitoes caught per trap/night was not significantly different between arms [1.7 vs 2.4, crude relative risk: 0.71 (95% CI 0.16-3.09), p = 0.650]. ITS showed reduced chemical bioavailability and retention post-field use. The trial reported high household refusals (17-30%) in both arms in both surveys.

CONCLUSION: The trial was inconclusive because households’ refusal resulted in low power. A large cluster randomized trial of the intervention, preferably with screens treated with longer-lasting insecticides installed in houses, is needed.

TRIAL REGISTRY: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05125133) on October 2021.

PMID:40484966 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-025-05434-2

Harm Reduct J. 2025 Jun 8;22(1):100. doi: 10.1186/s12954-025-01242-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) among male recreational gym users has become a global substance use concern. A substantial black market for these substances exists with possibly extensive counterfeiting. Drug checking services (DCS) are established harm reduction services for people who consume illicit substances. To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a novel specialized DCS for AAS, a pilot study was conducted within a pre-existing DCS in Zurich (Switzerland).

METHODS: The reporting of this pilot study follows an adapted CONSORT statement. Further aims were to characterize AAS use as well as the chemical properties of customer-provided substance samples analysed through the DCS in a Swiss context. Customers could access DCS in Zurich from August 2023 onwards by providing a voluntary user questionnaire and dispense samples of AAS. Primary feasibility outcomes for this study were customer satisfaction metrics with the DCS received (i.e., customer satisfaction score (CSAT); net promoter score (NPS)). The chemical analytical method utilized was gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS: Overall, 52 clients accessed DCS over the pilot period and 71 samples were chemically assessed. Excellent results regarding customer satisfaction metrics towards DCS for AAS were achieved (NPS: 97 (integer); CSAT: 93%). The typical clients were males partaking in recreational sports, between 22 and 40 years old, working, and with a higher education. The main motivation for using AAS was for aesthetic purposes. Patterns of AAS use were complex with frequent extensive concomitant substances use. Most AAS in this sample were acquired from non-medical sources. The sample analysis revealed that over half (52%) of the user-provided samples of AAS were fake.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that the implementation of DCS for AAS was feasible with high acceptance among clients. Those clients may engage in many high-risk behaviors and the use of substances with low chemical properties may expose them to additional unexpected health risks. As a harm reduction tool, DCS for these clients and substances appears to be feasible and it may further serve as monitoring tool for public health purposes. Upon the initial study results, DCS for AAS were continued with close monitoring.

PMID:40484965 | DOI:10.1186/s12954-025-01242-8

Cancer Imaging. 2025 Jun 8;25(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s40644-025-00890-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prediction value of metabolic response using gallium 68 (⁶⁸Ga) labeled fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor (⁶⁸Ga-FAPI) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients receiving (cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin HCl-vincristine[Oncovin]- prednisone) CHOP-like chemotherapy.

METHOD: This single-center prospective study was conducted in our hospital and enrolled participants who was initially diagnosed with NHL and received CHOP-like chemotherapy. ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT was performed before chemotherapy. Metabolic response was assessed by fluorine 18 (¹⁸F) labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET/CT. Quantitative analysis included measurement of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion FAP (TLF). The SUVmax value of the lesion is divided by SUVmean of normal tissue to calculate the target-to-background ratio (TBRblood and TBRmuscle). Depending on the response, participants were categorized as responders and non-responders. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT parameters of responders with that of non-responders. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between clinical characteristics, ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT parameters, and efficacy of chemotherapy. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the accuracy of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT parameters for response prediction.

RESULTS: From October 2022 to May 2023, 18 participants (10 men and 8 women; median age: 56 years [interquartile range: 47-67 years]) with pathologically confirmed diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were recruited in our hospital and enrolled in this study. The mean values of SUVmax, TBRblood, and TBRmuscle were significantly higher in responders than those in non-responders (8.41[Formula: see text]3.90 vs. 3.98[Formula: see text]2.81 P=0.025; 7.93[Formula: see text]3.31 vs. 3.69[Formula: see text]2.36 P=0.035; 7.04[Formula: see text]3.22 vs. 3.09[Formula: see text]1.73 P = 0.025; respectively). The area under the curve (AUC) of SUVmax, TBRblood, and TBRmuscle were statistically significant (0.875, P = 0.025; 0.857, P=0.034; 0.875, P = 0.026, respectively). SUVmax (OR=0.592, P = 0.041) is a significant factor in the prognosis of these participants.

CONCLUSION: Low radiotracer uptake on ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT indicated poor metabolic response of NHL patients received CHOP-like therapy. SUVmax could be used to screen sensitive patients.

PMID:40484962 | DOI:10.1186/s40644-025-00890-0

BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 Jun 8;25(1):813. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12846-y.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to measure the readiness levels of medical artificial intelligence and the perception of openness to organizational change of healthcare professionals working in a university hospital in Istanbul. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the relationships between medical AI readiness and perceptions of organizational change openness, as well as to examine differences based on demographic variables.

METHOD: The research was conducted with 195 healthcare workers. The research is a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative research. The construct validity of the scales was checked using statistical analysis.

RESULT: As a result of the research, it was determined that healthcare workers’ are prepared for the use of medical artificial intelligence in healthcare institutions and perceive organizational change positively. A significant but low-level positive relationship was found between healthcare workers’ level of readiness for medical artificial intelligence and their perception of openness to organizational change. The level of readiness for medical artificial intelligence among healthcare workers’ was found to be high among males, doctors and internal sciences, while the perception of openness to organizational change was found to be high among postgraduate/doctoral graduates, surgical sciences, nurses.

CONCLUSION: The study determined that healthcare workers’ are ready to use medical artificial intelligence and perceive organizational change positively. The study contributes to the formation of the institution’s healthcare policies and practices and to the development, well-being and change of healthcare workers’. It is recommended that employees be made aware of the benefits of using artificial intelligence in healthcare institutions and that necessary training activities be planned.

PMID:40484945 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-025-12846-y

BMC Med. 2025 Jun 9;23(1):338. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04162-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis is associated with lower implantation and higher miscarriage rates. Studies on recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) have shown that endometrial immune cell populations play a crucial role during implantation and early pregnancy. In women with adenomyosis, improved pregnancy outcomes following assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and pre-treatment with GnRH-agonists (GnRH-a) prior to frozen embryo transfer (FET) have been reported. We aimed to compare the endometrial immune cell populations of women with adenomyosis to those of women with RPL and RIF, and to characterise endometrial leucocyte subpopulations within the adenomyosis group before and after GnRH-a.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective study between 2021 and 2024. Women with infertility and adenomyosis undergoing ART underwent one endometrial biopsy 6-9 days after oocyte retrieval and a second biopsy after 3 months of GnRH-a prior to FET. Women in the RPL and RIF groups underwent one endometrial biopsy in the midluteal phase. We performed flow cytometry (FC) to characterise immune cell populations and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to analyse uterine natural killer cells (uNKs) and plasma cells (PC). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparisons between the study groups, and the Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used for paired samples before and after GnRH-a.

RESULTS: Endometrial leucocyte subpopulations at baseline showed no significant differences between the adenomyosis (n = 20), the RPL (n = 40) and RIF (n = 15) group. In the adenomyosis group, following GnRH-a, we observed a significant decrease in the percentage of monocytes, from 77% (IQR 71, 82) to 71% (IQR 65, 75) (adj. p = 0.030). Baseline IHC showed elevated plasma cell concentrations (≥ 5/mm²) in 1/20 adenomyosis patients (5%), 4/40 RPL patients (10%) and 1/15 RIF patients (6.7%) while uNK cells were elevated (≥ 300/mm²) in 8/20 adenomyosis patients (40%), 11/40 RPL patients (27.5%) and 1/15 RIF patients (6.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: Women with infertility and adenomyosis showed a similar endometrial immune profile as women with RPL and RIF. The beneficial effect of GnRH-a prior to FET in women with adenomyosis may be mediated through effects on monocyte subpopulations. Based on the high prevalence of elevated uNK cells in patients with adenomyosis, we suggest testing women with adenomyosis undergoing ART before FET.

PMID:40484943 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04162-3

Malar J. 2025 Jun 8;24(1):181. doi: 10.1186/s12936-025-05288-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear how household structure and practices can contribute to Uganda’s goal of becoming a malaria-free nation by 2040. Effective malaria prevention and control require the implementation of measures such as long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor residual spraying (IRS), treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), maintaining suitable housing structures, and practicing environmental management at the household level. This study examines household structure and practices related to malaria prevalence in children under five years old, as well as prevention and control efforts across five districts in Northern Uganda.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five districts (Gulu, Omoro, Amuru, Pader, and Lamwo) from November 2022 to March 2023 to assess malaria prevalence, prevention practices, and health-seeking behaviours. Data were collected using rapid diagnostic tests for Plasmodium falciparum, observational checklists, and pre-tested questionnaires, with analysis performed using IBM SPSS Statistics.

RESULTS: The survey included 597 households and 4524 individuals, with 25.6% being children under five years of age. Of 1157 children under five, 597 (51.6%) were tested, revealing RDT positive prevalence of 44.1%. Most households had over seven members, with an average of 3.69 people per bed net. While 77.6% of households owned mosquito nets, visual inspection revealed 70.2% were torn, and only 48.7% of individuals slept under a net the night before the survey. IRS coverage was low, with 97.7% of households not sprayed in the last three months. Health-seeking behaviour predominantly involved government health centers. Housing structures, particularly mud/clay walls and grass-thatched roofs, were significantly associated with higher malaria prevalence (p < 0.001). Were their enough untreated nets?

CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of malaria was observed in children under five years old. This was closely linked to the poor use of bed nets, low coverage of IRS, and inadequate housing structures, which primarily consisted of grass-thatched roofs and mud or clay walls. The study highlights the urgent need for improved housing, IRS, and consistent use of insecticide-treated nets to reduce malaria prevalence.

PMID:40484941 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-025-05288-8