Category: Statistics

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2026 Feb 23:1-14. doi: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00427. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The human voice is a complex acoustic signal shaped by multiple anatomical and environmental factors. It serves as a primary medium for communication, allowing individuals to express emotions, intentions, and identity. These features can change due to aging, lifestyle habits, health conditions, and several sociocultural factors. Given the impact of voice disorders on daily life and psychological well-being, accurate assessment tools are essential for early detection and intervention. Given the natural variability of the human voice and the need for appropriate assessment tools, normative studies centered on young populations are necessary, as most existing studies focus on older populations more prone to vocal health problems. The aim of this study was to establish normative acoustic data for 23 acoustic parameters including the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) in young adult, native Spanish speakers, analyzed separately by gender.

METHOD: A total of 194 participants (82 men, 112 women) aged 18 to 25 years were recruited, who reported no prior history of voice disorders. Recordings of sustained vowels and connected speech were analyzed using Voxplot, a clinical tool based on Praat. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and gender differences were explored through t tests.

RESULTS: Normative values were obtained for 23 acoustic parameters in young Spanish-speaking adults. Several measures showed significant gender differences, particularly those related to fundamental frequency and spectral characteristics. Additionally, preliminary threshold values for mild dysphonia were calculated.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides normative acoustic data for young adult speakers and exploratory threshold values for parameters that may be obtained through Voxplot. The preliminary thresholds values may serve as reference points for early detection of vocal alterations. However, future studies should include groups with vocal pathologies in order to establish cutoff points.

PMID:41730148 | DOI:10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00427

Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2026 Feb 23;60:e20250323. doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0323en. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the scientific literature on the effectiveness of educational interventions aimed at acquiring cultural competencies in nurses and nursing students.

METHOD: Searches were conducted in the following databases PubMed, Lilacs, Esmerald, Scopus, and Scielo, focusing on the study of educational interventions related to cultural competencies. The PRISMA methodology was used, critical reading was performed with the CASPe tool, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan.

RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included, 11 of which were educational interventions. These significantly improved cultural competencies, especially in knowledge, communication skills, and self-awareness. Qualitatively, a positive impact was evidenced, and quantitatively, the effect on knowledge was statistically significant (P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis reveals a significantly positive effect, in a generalized way, of educational interventions on cultural competence in nurses and students. Continuous learning and innovative educational practices are necessary to maintain and reinforce knowledge. Further studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods are needed to improve both educational initiatives and cultural competence training.

PMID:41730134 | DOI:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0323en

Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2026 Feb 23;60:e20250253. doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0253en. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Aim to explore the associations and sex differences between online health information seeking behaviours (OHISBs) and self-reported health among university students.

METHODS: Cross-sectional, analytical study carried out in the 5,408 university students from Xinyang Normal University, who responded questionnaire in Wenjunxing as valid participants. t-tests and binary logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS.

RESULTS: Sex differences in OHISBs were found. Females most liked food nutrition and diet-related OHI (p < 0.001), while males most liked physical exercise OHI (p < 0.001). For specific OHISBs, finding information about hospitals or doctors (OR = 1.785, [CI95% = 1.212-2.628], p < 0.01), and online reservation of health care projects (OR = 2.491, [CI95% = 1.056-5.876], p < 0.05) had significant impacts on females’ self-reported health, and finding information about hospitals or doctors (OR = 2.171, [CI95% = 1.035-4.551], p < 0.05) had a significant impact on males’ self-reported health.

CONCLUSION: Findings of sex-differentiated online health seeking and the benefits of proactive search indicate that effective digital interventions for students must combine gender-specific strategies with behavioral empowerment.

PMID:41730133 | DOI:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0253en

Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2026 Feb 23;60:e20240411. doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2024-0411en. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the social representations of ageism among undergraduate nursing students.

METHOD: Exploratory and descriptive study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data was collected via Google Forms, investigating the sociodemographic profile of nursing undergraduates in the state of São Paulo and their perceptions of ageism. Quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis, while the evocations were processed using the software openEvoc, based on the Theory of Social Representations (Moscovici, 2003) and analyzed according to Bardin (2015).

RESULTS: A total of 242 students participated, with an average age of 23.8 years; 78.9% (n = 191) were female, 74.0% (n = 179) attended public universities, and 40.1% (n = 97) were in their 3rd year of undergraduate studies. On the whole, 1200 evocations were listed, organized into four categories: “Experience,” “Longevity as a Process,” “Stereotypes,” and “Public Policies.”

CONCLUSION: Positive perceptions of ageism prevailed, although negative and stereotypical terms were still recurrent. These findings reinforce the need for pedagogical strategies addressing ageism in nursing education, to promote more critical and positive attitudes towards older people.

PMID:41730130 | DOI:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2024-0411en

Cogn Sci. 2026 Jan;50(2):e70178. doi: 10.1111/cogs.70178.

ABSTRACT

In adults, cognitive fatigue enhances statistical language learning-the ability to detect repeating hidden patterns in continuous speech, and a core component of implicit language acquisition. This supports the cognitive cost hypothesis, which proposes that the adult cognitive architecture, especially executive functions (EFs), constrains effortless language learning. In contrast, articulatory suppression impairs statistical language learning, suggesting the involvement of lower-level auditory-motor mechanisms in acquiring new linguistic knowledge from speech streams. This study examined whether the effects of cognitive fatigue and articulatory suppression on statistical language learning depend on individuals’ cognitive resources (CRs). Specifically, we tested whether individual differences in late-developing EFs (1) are associated with statistical language learning ability and (2) modulate the effects of cognitive fatigue and articulatory suppression. Fifty Dutch-speaking first-year university students participated in a multisession statistical-learning experiment. EFs were assessed using three tasks measuring working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. Cognitive fatigue was induced using a time-loaded dual N-back task at participants’ maximum speed prior to speech exposure. Articulatory suppression was induced by instructing participants to whisper continuously while listening to the speech stream. Learning was assessed using a post-exposure two-alternative forced-choice recognition task, where participants selected between a pseudoword from the stream and a foil. Based on a factor and cluster analysis of EF scores, participants were grouped into high and low CR groups. In line with the cognitive cost hypothesis, the high CR group performed less well in statistical language learning than the low CR group but benefited from cognitive fatigue. Articulatory suppression impaired statistical learning in the low CR group only, suggesting they rely more on auditory-motor mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that cognitive functioning impacts statistical language learning, suggesting that the ability to acquire new linguistic knowledge from speech streams depends on the interaction between higher-level cognitive and lower-level auditory-motor mechanisms.

PMID:41730120 | DOI:10.1111/cogs.70178

Personal Ment Health. 2026 Feb;20(1):e70067. doi: 10.1002/pmh.70067.

ABSTRACT

Many features of personality psychopathology are shared among patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), yet the impact of these shared features is not fully understood, and the impact of having more personality psychopathology features during adolescent onset of AN, especially among adolescents admitted to an inpatient eating disorder unit, has not been explored. This study evaluated how personality psychopathology, utilizing a measure of borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptom severity, has a potential predictive value in understanding risk of readmission for an eating disorder over time. A total of 256 adolescents were admitted for medical stability to an inpatient unit for the first time. Adolescents completed the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-11 (BPFSC-11) within the first 14 days of admission; demographic variables, anxiety and mood comorbidities, and readmission status were obtained through chart review. Higher scores on the BPFSC-11 were significantly associated with being readmitted within 1 year of discharge from the inpatient unit. These findings highlight how personality psychopathology features at onset of severe AN in adolescence could indicate a higher risk for recovery complications, including repeated inpatient admission. These findings may underscore the role of supplementary therapeutic interventions alongside family-based therapy, including dialectical behavior therapy.

PMID:41725590 | DOI:10.1002/pmh.70067

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2025 Sep 3;169:D8610.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: In the Netherlands, a growing group of young people requests medical assistance in dying based on psychiatric suffering (MAID-PS). This study examined trends, characteristics and outcomes of such requests at ExpertisecentrumEuthanasie (EE) between 2012 and 2021.

DESIGN: Retrospective quantitative file study.

METHOD: All young applicants (< 24 years, N = 352, 73.4% female) who requested MAID-PS at EE between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2021, were included in the study.

RESULTS: Of N=397 applications, 47.3% were withdrawn (N=188) and 44.8% were rejected (N=178). Among N=353 unique applicants, 12 (3.0%) died by MAID and 17 (4.3%) by suicide during the application process. Deceased applicants often had multiple psychiatric diagnoses, a history of suicide attempts, and an extensive treatment history.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate a growing group of young applicants with severe psychological suffering and high risk of suicide. More insight into persistent death wishes and effective suicide prevention is needed.

PMID:41725582

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2026 Mar;35(3):e70341. doi: 10.1002/pds.70341.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To characterize the frequency, causes, and severity of opioid medication recalls using United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Reports.

METHODS: We conducted a 2002-2025 descriptive analysis of recalls involving seven opioids. FDA free-text recall reasons were categorized into five standardized domains (wrong dose/potency, contamination, mispackaging/mislabeling, defective delivery system, and quality assurance deviations) by two independent reviewers, with agreement assessed using Cohen’s κ (95% CI). Recall severity (Class I-III) was compared across drugs using the chi-square test, and temporal trends were evaluated with linear regression.

RESULTS: We identified 286 opioid-related recalls, involving over 350 million units. Fentanyl (26.2% of events; > 30 million units), hydromorphone (20.3%; > 11 million), morphine (19.6%; > 73 million), oxycodone (12.6%; > 188 million), and hydrocodone (13.9%; > 50 million) accounted for most events. Recalls of buprenorphine (7.0%; > 3 million) and methadone (3.2%; > 400 thousand) were less frequent. Quality assurance deviations accounted for most recalls (49.5%), followed by mispackaging/mislabeling (14.4%), wrong dose/potency (13.7%), defective delivery systems (12.3%), and contamination (10.1%). Inter-rater agreement for categorization was high (κ = 0.88 [0.84-0.93]). Class I recalls (risk of death) comprised 35 events (12.2%), concentrated among fentanyl (n = 10), morphine (n = 9), and hydromorphone (n = 9) (χ² = 43.1, df = 12, p < 0.001). Recall frequency increased significantly over time (r = 0.63, p = 0.001). Unit count data were missing for 34 events (11.9%), and production denominators were unavailable.

CONCLUSIONS: Opioid recalls reflect manufacturing or quality assurance problems that may undermine product reliability. More complete recall reporting, including quantitative data, would support efforts to reduce risks associated with pharmaceutical quality failures.

PMID:41725568 | DOI:10.1002/pds.70341

Ann Med. 2026 Dec;58(1):2624215. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2026.2624215. Epub 2026 Feb 23.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although single-agent chemotherapy is the most common approach for treating platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer (PROC), there is growing evidence that combining molecular targeted agents with chemotherapy is beneficial, especially for certain patient groups. However, the most effective combination regimen remains elusive.

OBJECTIVES: This Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to identify the best combination therapy for PROC.

METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from their inception until October 2024. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse events (AEs). Statistical analyses were performed using the GEMTC package (1.0-2) and R 4.2.0. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023428414).

RESULTS: Our analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 3408) demonstrated that chemotherapy combinations with bevacizumab (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.52-0.65), sorafenib (HR = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45-0.93) or adavosertib (HR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.35-0.90) significantly improved OS and PFS versus chemotherapy alone. Notably, adavosertib + gemcitabine was associated with an increased risk of grade 3-4 AEs (relative risk (RR) = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.3-2.7), but these were generally manageable.

CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab-based combinations demonstrate consistent benefits across multiple regimens for PROC. Paclitaxel + bevacizumab emerges as the optimal balance of efficacy and safety. Topotecan + sorafenib could be an alternative for patients who are ineligible for anti-angiogenic therapy.

PMID:41725538 | DOI:10.1080/07853890.2026.2624215

Eur J Dent Educ. 2026 Feb 23. doi: 10.1111/eje.70119. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety is a critical yet underemphasized aspect of dental education. This study compared the perception, knowledge and attitudes toward patient safety among postgraduate dental residents at Tehran University of Medical Sciences who had completed the Infection Control and Patient Safety course and those who had not.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 62 s and third-year postgraduate dental residents during the 2021-2022 academic year. A validated questionnaire, adapted from previous studies, was used to assess participants’ perceptions, knowledge and attitudes. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21, with the Mann-Whitney U test employed for comparisons.

RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the two groups. Residents who completed the course demonstrated higher levels of knowledge, more accurate perceptions and more positive attitudes toward patient safety. Key findings included greater awareness of error reporting systems, stronger support for transparency in error management, and a deeper understanding of the importance of patient safety education. However, both groups showed limited knowledge of national and international statistics on preventable adverse events.

CONCLUSION: The Infection Control and Patient Safety course positively influenced residents’ understanding and attitudes toward patient safety, highlighting the importance of formal education. These findings suggest that integrating patient safety training into dental curricula, particularly at the undergraduate level, could significantly improve the quality of dental care. Further studies with expanded and more diverse populations are recommended to validate these results and explore broader implications.

PMID:41725519 | DOI:10.1111/eje.70119