Category: Statistics

Nurs Sci Q. 2025 Dec 8:8943184251388292. doi: 10.1177/08943184251388292. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of moral development, spiritual intelligence, and critical thinking of nurses, and to see if there is a relationship between these constructs for them. A descriptive correlational design was used, with a sample of 102 nurses in Iran. The descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were done on the survey results using SPSS (Version 24). The moral development level scores of the nurses were 34 ± 2.17, which is considered average, critical thinking was 25 ± 1.23, which is considered relatively high, and spiritual intelligence scores were 41 ± 2.75, which is considered relatively low. Both spiritual intelligence and critical thinking were positively correlated with the nurses’ moral development (R = 0.76, R = 0.48, respectively). The conclusion of the paper is that more attention needs to be paid to raise the level of critical thinking, spiritual intelligence, and moral development in nurses.

PMID:41355780 | DOI:10.1177/08943184251388292

Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2025 Dec 8:1-8. doi: 10.1080/15569527.2025.2598573. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The global incidence of skin cancer is rising, emphasizing the need for early detection tools. Artificial intelligence (AI) models, including multimodal systems like ChatGPT-4o, can analyze visual data to assist clinicians in diagnosis. This study evaluated ChatGPT-4o’s diagnostic accuracy in detecting melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers from macroscopic and dermoscopic images.

METHODS: Ninety patients with histopathologically confirmed lesions were included. For each patient, macroscopic images were first uploaded to ChatGPT-4o, followed by combined upload of macroscopic and dermoscopic images. ChatGPT-4o was instructed to provide a preliminary diagnosis and three differential diagnoses for each lesion. Accuracy was assessed at four levels: Level 1: preliminary diagnosis using macroscopic images; Level 2: preliminary diagnosis using macroscopic and dermoscopic images; Level 3: three differential diagnoses using macroscopic images; Level 4: three differential diagnoses using macroscopic and dermoscopic images.

RESULTS: Overall Level 1 accuracy was 73.3%, with Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 accuracies of 66.6%, 75%, and 76.6%, respectively. Dermoscopic images improved accuracy for squamous cell carcinoma (72.7% vs 81.8%, p = 1.00), reduced overall and basal cell carcinoma accuracy (73.3% vs 66.6%, p = 0.180 and 79.6% vs 67.8%, p = 0.065, respectively), and did not affect malignant melanoma (84.6% vs 84.6%) or lentigo maligna (0% vs 0%). Statistical analysis revealed that the addition of dermoscopic images did not significantly influence diagnostic accuracy, either overall or within individual diagnostic categories. The model recommended biopsy for all lesions, suggesting potential as a supportive diagnostic tool.

CONCLUSION: ChatGPT-4o showed variable diagnostic accuracy for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Dermoscopic images reduced performance for certain diagnostic categories. These misclassifications highlight the potential for unnecessary interventions and patient anxiety underscoring that AI-based systems should serve as supportive aids rather than standalone diagnostic tools.

PMID:41355746 | DOI:10.1080/15569527.2025.2598573

Pediatr Int. 2025 Jan-Dec;67(1):e70285. doi: 10.1111/ped.70285.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) requires technical expertise, making quality assurance (QA) a major challenge. We evaluated POCUS utilization and quality in the pediatric emergency department of the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD).

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients aged <18 years who underwent POCUS or radiology-performed ultrasound (RADUS) between June 2023 and May 2024. We mainly evaluated POCUS metrics-image storage, documentation, protocol-specific appropriate storage, and diagnostic delays-and compared them across provider categories and scanning protocols. Diagnostic delay cases were additionally reviewed.

RESULTS: Of 2004 patients, 1683 underwent POCUS and 384 RADUS. For POCUS, the rates of overall image storage, documentation, protocol-specific appropriate image storage, and diagnostic delay were 97.4%, 83.6%, 90.8%, and 0.4%, respectively. Documentation rates were significantly lower among nondedicated physicians than among pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians and fellows (both p < 0.01); their protocol-specific appropriate image storage rate was also significantly lower than that of PEM fellows (p = 0.03). Across scanning protocols, the rates of documentation and protocol-specific appropriate image storage differed significantly (both p < 0.01). Among six diagnostic delays, two resulted from acquisition errors, two from interpretation errors, and two from early scans in the disease course; four of these six delays involved the abdominal emergency screening protocol.

CONCLUSION: This study identified challenges in POCUS implementation at NCCHD, including quality gaps among nondedicated physicians, the need for clearer follow-up in early presentations, and the importance of protocol design aligned with clinical indications. Sharing QA practices may help refine POCUS strategies for diverse pediatric emergency settings.

PMID:41355727 | DOI:10.1111/ped.70285

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2025 Dec;34(12):e70280. doi: 10.1002/pds.70280.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The ongoing global increase in opioid use necessitates studies examining long-term health impacts. Prospective cohorts frequently rely on self-reported medication use data which may be subject to several types of bias compared to more objective measurements. We evaluated the agreement between two opioid exposure measures in the UK Biobank (UKBB)-self-reported regular use and prescription-based indicators using linked general practitioner (GP) records.

METHODS: Our analysis included 171 813 UKBB participants with linked prescription records. At baseline, participants reported medications taken regularly (weekly, monthly, every 3 months). We assessed agreement between self-reported regular opioid use and opioid prescription records prior to enrollment across various look-back periods and prescription counts. Logistic regressions assessed factors associated with omission and commission.

RESULTS: Agreement was moderate to substantial between self-reported opioid use and prescription records. The strongest agreement was observed for ≥ 3 prescriptions in the past 365 days (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.66). Subgroup analysis showed better agreement for analgesic opioids (Kappa = 0.43-0.63) than for non-analgesic opioids (Kappa = 0.25-0.34). Omission odds were highest with increasing months since the last record and lowest for individuals with chronic pain. Commission odds were highest for individuals with chronic pain and lowest in married/partnered individuals.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis indicates that self-reported regular opioid use in the UKBB could be a valid indicator for identifying individuals with repeated prescriptions for analgesic opioids in the past year, while also capturing opioid use from non-linked sources. However, agreement was low for non-analgesic opioids, suggesting limited utility of self-report for capturing use of these medications.

PMID:41355709 | DOI:10.1002/pds.70280

J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;16:21501319251403839. doi: 10.1177/21501319251403839. Epub 2025 Dec 8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health disparities in the United States (US) are closely linked to income inequality. While many studies have reported associations between income and health, causal evidence remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the causal effect of income-equalizing state policies, such as minimum wage increases, Medicaid expansion, and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) adjustments, on adult self-rated health using a difference-in-differences (DiD) framework.

METHODS: Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2018 to 2023, a 2-way fixed-effects DiD model was employed to compare changes in the proportion of adults reporting fair or poor health between states that implemented income-related policies and those that did not. The covariates included the demographic and economic characteristics of the American Community Survey. Robustness checks included event study analyses, placebo tests, and models with state-specific linear trends.

RESULTS: In baseline difference-in-differences models, policy adoption was linked to a -0.00403 (SE = 0.00141, P = .006) change in the likelihood of reporting fair or poor health, representing a 0.4 percentage-point decrease compared to control states; however, place-study diagnostics showed a significant pre-policy trend violation (F = 47.24, P < .001), which challenged the parallel-trends assumption. After adjusting for state-specific linear time trends, the estimated effects were both statistically and practically null. Placebo models with randomized policy dates produced null estimates, confirming robustness.

CONCLUSIONS: The observed improvements in self-reported health in baseline models were not robust to trend-adjusted specifications and likely reflected the underlying pre-policy trends. These findings underscore the importance of rigorous diagnostic testing in quasi-experimental evaluations of policy effects.

PMID:41355670 | DOI:10.1177/21501319251403839

Pediatr Int. 2025 Jan-Dec;67(1):e70293. doi: 10.1111/ped.70293.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To characterize real-world pharmacotherapy patterns among Japanese children with chronic functional constipation (CFC), with particular attention to changes after the market introduction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 in 2019.

METHODS: This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted using a Japanese health insurance claims database. We identified children aged 0-14 years who had an outpatient claim with a constipation diagnosis and received an initial prescription for laxatives lasting ≥5 days at the same visit between 2012 and 2022. We described baseline characteristics and laxative treatment trajectories throughout a 12-month follow-up. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, age, and institution type.

RESULTS: Among 166,808 eligible children, 64.1% entered the cohort after 2019. Mean age was 4.0 years and 56.6% were female. Magnesium oxide was the most commonly used laxative (31.0%), followed by PEG 4000 (19.9%). Introduction of PEG 4000 in 2019 was accompanied by a decline in prescriptions for other conventional agents. Medication choices varied by age: magnesium oxide was predominant across all age groups; PEG 4000, malt extract, and lactulose were more commonly used in younger children; and traditional Japanese Kampo medicine was favored in older children.

CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium oxide remains the most frequently prescribed laxative for pediatric CFC in Japan, with PEG 4000 now ranking second. The introduction of PEG 4000 in 2019 reduced reliance on other conventional laxatives. These findings may help clinicians tailor pharmacotherapy for childhood constipation.

PMID:41355657 | DOI:10.1111/ped.70293

J Prim Care Community Health. 2025 Jan-Dec;16:21501319251403076. doi: 10.1177/21501319251403076. Epub 2025 Dec 8.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Primary care providers (PCPs) can help fill gaps in access to dermatology care using eConsults to collaborate asynchronously with dermatologists. Many dermatology eConsult programs face challenges with image acquisition, image quality, lack of dermoscopy and complicated, time-consuming workflows that limit primary care acceptance.

METHODS: This quality improvement study used the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. We introduced a dermoscopy-enabled dermatology eConsult device and application (DermLoop) to PCPs at a statewide Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and compared dermatology referrals during the 9-month periods pre-DermLoop versus post-DermLoop.

RESULTS: Sixty-nine PCPs at 16 practice sites submitted 560 DermLoop eConsults for 526 unique patients. After being trained to use DermLoop PCPs (n = 65) submitted a higher proportion of dermatology referral requests as eConsults rather than face-to-face visit (28.6% vs 17.3%, P < .001, r = 0.39). Most DermLoop eConsults (79.8%) allowed patients to avoid a face-to-face visit. DermLoop provided improved image quality and resulted in high PCP-user satisfaction.

CONCLUSION: Broad adoption of DermLoop eConsults helped provide effective dermatology care to Medicaid-insured and uninsured patients who may otherwise have been unable to obtain care.

PMID:41355655 | DOI:10.1177/21501319251403076

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2025;36(4):1445-1462. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2025.a975595.

ABSTRACT

Despite the critical role of well-child visits (WCVs) in preventive care, many Medicaid-enrolled children miss these appointments, leading to gaps in early intervention and immunization. Existing research has largely focused on either quantitative analyses of visit rates and predictors or qualitative insights into patient and provider experiences. This study employs a mixed-methods, community-based approach to examine barriers to WCV attendance among Medicaid-enrolled families in North Dakota who missed all WCVs in 2021. Through administrative data analysis (n=64,364), surveys (n=1,294), and focus groups (n=40), findings reveal structural, economic, and cultural obstacles, including cost concerns, lack of Medicaid transparency, and logistical challenges. Community-informed recommendations emphasize improved Medicaid communication, culturally responsive care, and enhanced appointment accessibility. Addressing these barriers could promote equitable access to WCVs, improve child health outcomes, and reduce disparities in preventive care for underserved populations.

PMID:41355651 | DOI:10.1353/hpu.2025.a975595

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2025;36(4):1389-1411. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2025.a975593.

ABSTRACT

There is a growing population of adults under 65 with disabilities needing to access long-term care (LTC). Rural areas are seeing this population rise while also experiencing growing nursing home closures. Medicaid, the largest payer of LTC, already pays for more LTC in rural areas than in urban areas. Therefore, state Medicaid expansion may increase insurance coverage for newly eligible individuals needing to use rural nursing homes. Using LTC Focus from 2011-2019, this paper conducts a Callaway Sant’Anna Difference-in-Differences analysis to understand the impacts of Medicaid expansion on rural nursing home admission demographics. Results indicated no significant effect of expansion on the percentage of Medicaid-dependent admissions and the percentage of under-65 admissions. Expansion was associated with a decrease in the percentage of admissions accounted for by Black individuals (-0.97** CI: -1.62, -0.33) in the included counties. More research must be conducted to study why the percent of Black admissions declined.

PMID:41355649 | DOI:10.1353/hpu.2025.a975593

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2025;36(4):1317-1343. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2025.a975590.

ABSTRACT

The Pre to 3 Program in Vanderburgh County, Indiana (United States) was designed to affect maternal-infant health in medically underserved populations through community health worker (CHW) led initiatives. This program provides free, hands-on support for infants, parents, and families from the first trimester of pregnancy until the child’s third birthday. The CHW-driven Pre to 3 Program demonstrates improved outcomes in breastfeeding initiation, safe sleep practices, adequate prenatal care, child vaccination rates, food security, housing stability, and employment status. The Vanderburgh County Health Department Pre to 3 Program presents the state of Indiana, and similarly medically underserved counties, the opportunity to improve maternal-infant health through expanded implementation. With increased financial resources, and subsequently more program personnel, there is significant potential for positive impact on the health outcomes of high-risk communities.

PMID:41355646 | DOI:10.1353/hpu.2025.a975590