Category: Statistics

Med Pr. 2026 Jul 3:224513. doi: 10.13075/mp.5893.01657. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Contemporary healthcare facility management operates under conditions of increasing instability, requiring high leadership competencies from executives. Crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the key importance of skills in coping with pressure and stress, as well as efficient work reorganization (adaptive capabilities). The study utilized the Healthcare Leadership Alliance (HLA) model to assess these competencies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A computer-assisted web interview survey was conducted among 71 representatives of healthcare management staff in Poland. An original questionnaire based on the 5 domains of the HLA model was used. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test and Spearman’s rank correlation.

RESULTS: In the self-assessment according to the Dreyfus model, the competent level prevailed (nearly 50%), and team management was the highest-rated area. Significant deficits were identified regarding the reorganization of one’s own and the team’s work (difficulties reported by 1/3 of respondents) and the identification of stress in employees (deficiencies perceived by 25% of managers). Women more frequently indicated the mobilizing effect of stress (p = 0.048), while men rated their active listening skills higher (p = 0.02). Higher self-assessment correlated with better internal communication (p = 0.006) and operational continuity planning (p = 0.002). Contract-based managers were significantly more capable of planning business continuity (p = 0.009). Data-driven management is significantly more frequent in inpatient care than in outpatient care (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: The identified deficits in the ability to cope with stress and data analytics limit managers; ability to adapt effectively to the volatile and unpredictable environment described by the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity – VUCA and brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible – BANI concepts. It is necessary to modify management training programs by integrating psychological knowledge (coping with pressure) with the practical application of data in management, which will enable the building of sustainable organizational resilience in healthcare facilities. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(3).

PMID:42422888 | DOI:10.13075/mp.5893.01657

Front Mol Biosci. 2026 Jun 24;13:1878152. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2026.1878152. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib is an approved first-line therapy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, beyond the identification of common EGFR mutations, additional pathological or molecular factors that predict treatment response, survival outcomes, or toxicity remain limited.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from a registry of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations treated with first-line osimertinib between March 2017 and December 2024. Variant allele frequency (VAF) was evaluated as a potential predictive factor for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS: Among 147 eligible patients, the mean OS was 25.5 months and the mean PFS was 21.4 months. Patients with VAF ≥30% exhibited improved outcomes compared to those with VAF <30%, with mean OS of 31.4 months versus 19.7 months (p = 0.022), and mean PFS of 25.0 months versus 18.2 months (p = 0.234). Similar trends were observed across EGFR exon 19 deletion and exon 21 L858R subgroups (p = 0.056). When comparing toxicity profiles, the overall AE rates were similar between high-VAF and low-VAF patients. However, several statistically significant differences were noted: diarrhea (21.3% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.005) and dyspnea (16.4% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.0085) were more frequent in the high-VAF group, while anemia (9.2% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.03) and creatinine elevation (5.7% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.01) occurred more commonly in the low-VAF group.

CONCLUSION: Higher EGFR VAF was significantly associated with improved overall survival in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with first-line osimertinib and showed a numerical trend toward longer progression-free survival. Similar patterns were observed across key molecular subgroups. Additionally, this study is the first to report potential VAF-related differences in adverse event patterns, suggesting that VAF may have relevance not only for efficacy but also for toxicity characterization. These findings support the potential role of VAF as a prognostic biomarker in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and warrant further prospective validation.

PMID:42422880 | PMC:PMC13342395 | DOI:10.3389/fmolb.2026.1878152

Atmos Pollut Res. 2026 May;17(5):102904. doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2026.102904. Epub 2026 Apr 19.

ABSTRACT

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established regulatory frameworks (Pre-Tier 2, Tier 2, and Tier 3) to address vehicle emissions. Simultaneously, a technological shift from port fuel injection (PFI) to gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines (began in 2007), has been underway. GDI has greater fuel efficiency, but potentially produces more secondary organic aerosol (SOA) under Tier 2 emissions than Tier 3. This study examined light-duty vehicle fleet transitions in New York State from 2013-2025, specifically the shift between engine technology and fleet turnover across emission tiers. Registration data from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles were analyzed and vehicles classified into Pre-Tier 2, Tier 2, and Tier 3 based on Model Year, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and regulatory phase-in schedules. Manufacturer-reported statistics and VIN were used to categorize vehicles. New vehicles sold after 2007 had to meet Tier 2 standards, but only 53% of the total fleet were Tier 2 vehicles in 2013 suggesting lag time in fleet-wide penetration. Similarly, penetration of Tier 3 vehicles (introduced in 2017) was slower than expected. By 2025 only 36% of the fleet consisted of Tier 3 vehicles, and ~6% were plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles. Meanwhile, GDI technology adoption increased rapidly and grew from 5% in 2013 to 36% in 2025. The slow fleet turnover highlights substantial lag between regulatory implementation and fleet composition changes. This lag resulted in continuing higher emissions and SOA formation indicating that air quality benefits from Tier 3 implementation will take longer to be realized.

PMID:42422862 | PMC:PMC13345421 | DOI:10.1016/j.apr.2026.102904

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 24;13:1884234. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1884234. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Social media has become an important component of healthcare practice, offering opportunities for communication, education, and professional engagement while introducing risks related to patient confidentiality, professional conduct, and institutional reputation. Evidence on social media practices and e-professionalism among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess social media practices, risk perceptions, and policy awareness among dental practitioners and trainees in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with variations in awareness and behavior.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 326 dental practitioners and trainees across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire assessed social media use, risk perception using five Likert-scale items, and awareness of institutional and international guidelines. Responses were measured using a 5-point Likert agreement scale. The risk perception scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.73). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS: Instagram was the most commonly used platform (70.6%), and one-third of participants reported daily professional use. Risk perception was generally low, with a mean composite score of 2.88 (SD = 0.44); only 2.5% of participants had high risk perception. Awareness of guidelines was limited, with 38.0% reporting awareness of WHO guidelines, 25.2% UNESCO guidelines, and 35.9% Ministry of Health policies. Only 20.6% reported having a workplace social media policy, and 4.6% had received formal training. Although age and years of professional experience were associated with policy awareness in bivariate analyses (p < 0.001), only years of professional experience remained independently associated with policy awareness after adjustment. Practitioners with ≥5 years of experience were significantly less likely to have low policy awareness (AOR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22-0.76; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION: Social media use is widespread among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia; however, awareness of formal guidelines and institutional policies remains limited. Greater professional experience was associated with higher policy awareness, suggesting that early-career practitioners may benefit from targeted training. Strengthening education on e-professionalism and implementing clear institutional policies are essential to support the safe and ethical use of social media in dental practice.

PMID:42422858 | PMC:PMC13341825 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1884234

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 24;13:1830356. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1830356. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Advances in digital health technologies have transformed how individuals with chronic diseases seek and use health information. Patients increasingly rely on online sources, including search engines, social media, and messaging applications, to understand symptoms and manage chronic conditions. However, these digital environments can also expose users to misinformation or conflicting advice. Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools and mobile health (mHealth) services have emerged to assist patients in identifying symptoms, verifying health information, and supporting timely health decisions. Despite these developments, limited conceptual work has examined how individuals with chronic diseases integrate such tools into their health information-seeking and decision-making processes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and empirically illustrate a model explaining how individuals with chronic diseases seek and verify digital health information using AI-enabled tools and how these processes influence trust and health-related decision-making.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension. Participants were recruited through chronic disease support groups on Facebook and WhatsApp. The survey assessed digital health information-seeking behavior, verification practices, trust in AI-enabled physician chatbots and national mHealth services, and their role in health-related decision-making. Descriptive statistics and visualization analyses were conducted using R.

RESULTS: Health information seeking occurred across multiple digital platforms, with considerable overlap between messaging applications, social media, and web-based sources. Participants reported using AI physician chatbots and national mHealth services mainly to verify health information encountered online. Trust in AI diagnostic support tools was moderate, indicating cautious but active engagement. Most participants used these tools to support clinical consultations rather than replace professional medical advice.

CONCLUSION: Verification behavior and trust play key roles in how individuals with chronic diseases engage with digital health information. AI-enabled mHealth tools may function as complementary decision-support resources that help patients verify information and interpret symptoms while supporting informed health decisions alongside traditional healthcare services.

PMID:42422856 | PMC:PMC13341845 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1830356

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 24;13:1871508. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1871508. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Persistent deficits in periarticular muscle strength and functional performance are commonly observed following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, potentially compromising long-term knee joint health. As a key non-pharmacologic rehabilitation strategy, strengthening exercise is widely implemented to address these impairments. However, evidence regarding its effects on knee muscle strength and hop-performance outcomes remains inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically quantify the effects of strengthening exercise on knee muscle strength and hop performance after ACLR using a three-level meta-analytic approach.

METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus were searched through January 6, 2026. Randomized controlled trials examining strengthening-based rehabilitation after ACLR were included. Standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) were calculated from pre-post change scores. Three-level multivariate random-effects meta-analyses were conducted, with moderator analyses examining postoperative time, population type, and assessment time point. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and publication bias was explored via funnel plots and Egger’s regression.

RESULTS: Nine trials were included, contributing a total of 24 effect sizes across outcomes. Strengthening exercise significantly improved knee muscle strength (d = 0.39, 95% CI 0.01-0.77, p = 0.046, I ² = 55.8%). No significant effect was found for hop performance (d = -0.03, 95% CI – 0.54 to 0.48, p = 0.906, I ² = 77.8%). No statistically significant moderation effects of postoperative time, population type, or assessment time point were detected for either outcome.

CONCLUSION: Strength-oriented rehabilitation interventions appear to improve knee muscle strength following ACL reconstruction, whereas no significant overall effect was observed for hop performance. Comprehensive rehabilitation strategies addressing neuromuscular and functional demands may be required to optimize postoperative recovery.

PMID:42422842 | PMC:PMC13341512 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1871508

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 24;13:1743688. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1743688. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a pharmaco-mechanical synergy protocol for blind nasoenteric tube (NET) insertion in frail older adults with chronic wounds.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 21 older chronic wound patients who underwent the protocol-guided blind NET insertion in our Wound and Ulcer Repair Department between October 20, 2021, and May 16, 2025. We assessed procedural success rates, complication rates, nutritional markers, and infection indicators, comparing pre-insertion baseline values with measurements taken 7 days post-insertion.

RESULTS: The overall procedural success rate was 76.2% (16/21). The mean total insertion time was 40 ± 9.2 min, with a mean insertion depth of 101 ± 11.0 cm. The procedure demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with no significant perturbations in vital signs-heart rate, respiration, mean arterial pressure, or oxygen saturation-and no insertion-related complications were observed. Nutritional status improved significantly following intervention: serum total protein and albumin levels showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05), while prealbumin levels exhibited a strong trend toward improvement, approaching statistical significance (p = 0.05). In contrast, infection markers showed no statistically significant changes post-procedure (p > 0.05). Learning curve analysis indicated rapid skill acquisition among nursing staff, with procedural time stabilizing between 30-50 min after an initial learning phase.

CONCLUSION: The pharmaco-mechanical synergy protocol for blind NET insertion in frail older adults with chronic wounds is associated with high success rates and a favorable safety profile. Our findings suggest this approach significantly improves nutritional status independent of underlying inflammatory states and demonstrates a replicable learning curve. Combined with its low-cost nature, this protocol represents a promising strategy for broad clinical dissemination, particularly in resource-conscious healthcare environments.

PMID:42422840 | PMC:PMC13341536 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1743688

Musculoskeletal Care. 2026 Sep;24(3):e70249. doi: 10.1002/msc.70249.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Athlete-specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential for evaluating shoulder function in sports contexts; however, their measurement properties, sport-specific applicability and responsiveness remain inconsistently established. This study aimed to critically appraise the development, psychometric properties and cross-cultural adaptations of athlete-specific shoulder PROMs, with a particular focus on reliability, validity and responsiveness.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus and Scopus up to September 2025, complemented by manual reference screening. Studies were considered eligible if they evaluated at least one psychometric property of PROMs specifically developed to assess shoulder function in athletic populations. Methodological quality was appraised using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist, and overall study quality was rated using the Quality Appraisal for Clinical Measurement Studies tool. Meta-analysis was considered but not feasible due to substantial heterogeneity in study populations, PROMs and statistical indices.

RESULTS: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria: six original PROMs and fourteen cross-cultural adaptations, mostly of the KJOC. Reliability was good-to-excellent (ICC = 0.88-0.97) across PROMs. Construct validity was strongest for the KJOC and FAST, while single-item PROMs (SSV-Sport, SPORTS) showed feasibility but narrower construct coverage and ceiling effects. Responsiveness was best supported for the FAST and SSV-Sport, whereas longitudinal responsiveness was rarely examined in translations.

CONCLUSIONS: The FAST and KJOC exhibit the most consistent and comparatively robust measurement evidence among athlete-specific shoulder PROMs. Single-item scores offer practicality but limited scope, and future validation studies should prioritise responsiveness, interpretability and anchor-based minimal clinically important differences to enhance clinical applicability.

PMID:42420771 | DOI:10.1002/msc.70249

JMIR Med Inform. 2026 Jul 8;14:e84804. doi: 10.2196/84804.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Supraspinatus tendon pathologies are common causes of shoulder pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the reference imaging method but requires expert interpretation. Automated classification may improve diagnostic consistency and support musculoskeletal imaging workflows.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a hierarchical deep learning model to classify supraspinatus tendon status as intact tendons, tendinopathy/partial-thickness tears, or full-thickness tears.

METHODS: A total of 1192 shoulder MRI scans were analyzed. The hierarchical system consisted of a left-right orientation classifier, a full-thickness tear detector (model F), and a classifier for distinguishing intact tendons from tendinopathy/partial-thickness tears (model ITP). A flat 3-class model served as a baseline comparator. Performance was evaluated on both an internal test set and an independent external cohort.

RESULTS: On the internal test set, the hierarchical system achieved a system-level sensitivity of 68.1% for tendinopathy/partial-thickness tears, outperforming the flat baseline (57.4%) while maintaining comparable sensitivity for full-thickness tears (hierarchical vs flat: 94.1% vs 95.1%). On the independent external cohort, the sensitivity for tendinopathy/partial-thickness tears was 45.5% for the hierarchical model and 18.2% for the flat baseline. The hierarchical model also showed a numerically higher balanced accuracy (hierarchical vs flat: 68.1% vs 64.5%), macro F1-score, and macro area under the curve, although its overall accuracy was lower (76.4% vs 79.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: A hierarchical deep learning approach that mirrors clinical diagnostic reasoning may improve the recognition of tendinopathy and partial-thickness tears, a challenging category for nonspecialist readers. Given the overlapping CIs, these findings should be interpreted as indicative of a trend rather than definitive improvement. External validation supports feasibility across different MRI sources, though the predominance of data from a single institution limits generalizability and warrants further prospective evaluation.

PMID:42420768 | DOI:10.2196/84804

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2026 Jul 8. doi: 10.1007/s10554-026-03769-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In this exploratory diagnostic study, although our previous study demonstrated the strong prognostic value of CZT-SPECT-derived stress myocardial blood flow (sMBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA), their diagnostic value and optimal cut-off values for coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) remain unclear.

METHODS: We prospectively recruited 56 INOCA patients referred from cardiovascular medicine to nuclear medicine. Each underwent CZT-SPECT and coronary angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (caIMR) within one week. CMD was defined as caIMR > 25 U. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons of regional coronary physiological parameters.

RESULTS: Based on caIMR, CMD was present in 42 INOCA patients (75%). After correction, regional MFR (LAD: 2.9 ± 0.9 vs. 3.7 ± 0.7, p =0.02; LCX: 2.8 ± 1.0 vs. 4.0 ± 1.5, p = 0.02; RCA: 2.9 ± 1.1 vs. 3.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.04) and global MFR (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8, p < 0.01) were significantly lower in the CMD group, while no significant difference was observed in regional sMBF. Only global sMBF (r=-0.43, p < 0.01) and global MFR (r=-0.32, p = 0.02) showed moderate inverse correlations with caIMR. The optimal diagnostic cut-offs were global sMBF ≤ 3.8 mL/min/g (AUC = 0.68, 95%CI 0.55-0.80, p = 0.02) and global MFR ≤ 2.9 (AUC = 0.80, 95%CI 0.68-0.90, p < 0.01). DeLong test showed no statistically significant difference in diagnostic efficacy between the two parameters (95%CI for AUC difference: -0.06 to 0.30, p = 0.19). Conclusions These preliminary results demonstrate that CZT-SPECT-derived global sMBF and MFR provide modest diagnostic accuracy for identifying CMD in INOCA patients. This non-invasive approach may support identification of CMD and help guide clinical decision-making.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000037112. Registered 27 August 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/.

PMID:42420743 | DOI:10.1007/s10554-026-03769-8