Category: Statistics

Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2026 Mar 11:1-7. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2026.2638072. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objectives. This study evaluated radiation protection knowledge among oral and dental healthcare professionals in Turkey, focusing on medical imaging technicians (MITs), dentists and dental assistants (DAs). Methods. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 236 participants using the validated Turkish version of the healthcare professional knowledge of radiation protection (Tr-HPKRP) scale. Knowledge was assessed across three domains: radiation physics and principles; radiation protection; and safe use of ionizing radiation. Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied for group comparisons. Results. MITs achieved significantly higher scores than dentists and DAs across all domains (p < 0.01). Structured education through academic programs or formal in-service training was positively associated with knowledge (p < 0.01), while reliance on informal sources such as media or colleagues showed no effect (p > 0.05). Professional experience was not correlated with knowledge (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Substantial knowledge gaps exist among dentists and DAs compared with MITs. Integrating standardized and regularly updated radiation safety training into undergraduate curricula and continuing professional development is essential to improve compliance with best practices and ensure patient and practitioner safety in dental diagnostic imaging.

PMID:41812078 | DOI:10.1080/10803548.2026.2638072

Acad Med. 2026 Mar 11:wvag058. doi: 10.1093/acamed/wvag058. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study investigates current remediation practices in US internal medicine (IM) clerkships, focusing on how clerkship directors (CDs) identify, diagnose, remediate, and reassess struggling students, and explores strategies for improving remediation processes in undergraduate medical education.

METHOD: Study data derive from an annually recurring, nationally representative survey of IM core CDs at 140 fully and provisionally Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited schools fielded from September to December 2023. One section included 16 questions on identification of struggling learners and remediation strategies for IM clerkship students. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Free-text responses were analyzed using qualitative inductive content analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 118 of 140 CDs (84%) responded to the survey section that informed this study. These CDs reported that students most frequently had deficiencies in test-taking (72 [61%]), differential diagnosis generation (70 [59%]), oral presentations (67 [57%]), and time management (61 [52%]). Deficiencies were identified in multiple ways, most frequently through faculty communication (76 [64%]), shelf examination performance (74 [63%]), and narrative evaluations (70 [59%]), but only 26 CDs (22%) thought that struggling students were identified early enough to initiate remediation during clerkship. The most commonly reported remediation method was retaking a failed examination without other remediation (80 of 117 [68%]). The CDs called for centralized remediation processes to improve resource allocation and better tools, including sharing information about learners’ past performance, to improve early identification and support for struggling students.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevailing clerkship remediation model is conducted episodically and in silos, which has contributed to persistent challenges, including delayed identification of struggling learners, limited sharing of learners’ educational needs across clerkships, and inadequate resources for CDs. A programmatic and collaborative remediation model should be embedded centrally in the school’s overall educational program and conducted longitudinally to support all students’ continuous growth.

PMID:41812056 | DOI:10.1093/acamed/wvag058

Cancer Nurs. 2026 Mar 10. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001553. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Screening and early diagnosis for cervical cancer are essential to reducing morbidity and mortality; however, participation in cancer screening remains inadequate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effect of motivational interviewing based on the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior) model on women’s cervical cancer health beliefs and participation in screening.

INTERVENTIONS/METHODS: The study was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial and conducted between February 12 and November 12, 2024. The sample consisted of 68 women aged 30-65. The intervention group received COM-B model-based motivational interviewing in 4 sessions, including 1 face-to-face meeting and 3 telephone calls.

RESULTS: The median scores of the “Health Motivation” and “Barriers to Pap Smear Tests” subscales of the “Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test” changed statistically significantly over time from pretest to posttest. Following the intervention, women in the intervention group had higher participation in cervical cancer screening compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary study, the COM-B model-based motivational interviewing program increased perceived health motivation and participation in cervical cancer screening while reducing perceived barriers to Pap smear tests.

IMPLICATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses could adopt a motivational interviewing approach to increase women’s participation in cervical cancer screening. The COM-B model may also serve as an effective framework for promoting changes in cancer screening behaviors. Future large-scale implementation studies are recommended to assess feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and broader applicability of this approach.

PMID:41812047 | DOI:10.1097/NCC.0000000000001553

Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2026 Dec;17(1):2633970. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2026.2633970. Epub 2026 Mar 11.

ABSTRACT

Background: Torture, banned under international treaties such as the UN Convention Against Torture, remains a widespread violation with profound health consequences. The Istanbul Protocol (IP) sets global standards for the medical documentation of torture highlighting the important role of healthcare providers. A limitation of existing research on torture’s health impacts is that studies are largely cross-sectional and reliant on self-reported clinical data. Norway’s detailed healthcare registry data offers a robust opportunity to conduct longitudinal, population-based studies, advancing our understanding of torture’s long-term effects on refugees and its public health implications.Objectives: This study has two main aims: (1) to examine the frequency of torture-related diagnostic codes and the factors associated with their use in primary and specialized care among adult Syrian refugees resettled in Norway, and (2) to link self-report data on torture exposure in adult refugees from Syria with data on HCSU over a 6-year follow-up to explore group differences in utilization patterns.Methods: Study participants include the RBMI cohort (N = 14,350), comprised of all adult refugees from Syria resettled in Norway in 2015-2017; and the REFUGE cohort – a subsample of the RBMI cohort – comprised of those in the RBMI cohort who participated in a nationwide survey study in 2018. Aim 1 will be addressed using data (2015-2024) from the Norwegian Registry for Primary Health Care (KPR) and the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR), which contain information on all contacts with primary- and specialized healthcare services throughout Norway (e.g. date of contact, diagnostic code given). To address aim 2, we will link 2018 survey data on torture exposure to the abovementioned registry data on HCSU. In addition to descriptive statistics, multivariable, two-part hurdle regression models will be used to analyse data since we expect zero inflation and overdispersion of the outcomes (HCSU).Stage of study: This manuscript reports Stage 1 of a Registered Report; analyses will be conducted after in-principle acceptance.

PMID:41812026 | DOI:10.1080/20008066.2026.2633970

Oncol Nurs Forum. 2026 Feb 25;53(2):e26535281. doi: 10.1188/26.ONF.e26535281.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess racial and ethnic differences in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening and shared decision-making (SDM) and examine whether SDM modifies screening rates by race and ethnicity.

SAMPLE & SETTING: Data from the 2021-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed, including 10,778 men aged 55-69 years eligible for PSA screening.

METHODS & VARIABLES: Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed racial and ethnic differences in PSA screening and estimated SDM (eSDM) use. Multiple logistic regression models evaluated the impact of eSDM on PSA screening rates, including an interaction term for race and ethnicity and eSDM.

RESULTS: Among the sample, 46% reported undergoing PSA screening in the past year. eSDM was a significant predictor of PSA screening. After adjusting for eSDM and covariates, racial disparities in screening rates were no longer significant. Only Asian American men showed a significantly lower likelihood of screening following SDM exposure compared to White men.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING: SDM can reduce racial and ethnic disparities in PSA screening. In addition, factors like healthcare access significantly influence screening rates, requiring targeted investigation. The results call for further investigation to culturally optimize SDM.

PMID:41812019 | DOI:10.1188/26.ONF.e26535281

Oncol Nurs Forum. 2026 Feb 25;53(2):e26535282.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of live and robotic cat-assisted therapies on chemotherapy-induced symptoms and happiness levels in patients with cancer.

SAMPLE & SETTING: 45 patients were randomly assigned to live cat therapy, robotic cat therapy, or control groups in a university hospital.

METHODS & VARIABLES: Data were collected between June 1 and September 1, 2023. Patients in therapy groups interacted with a live or robotic cat for 20 minutes twice weekly for three months.

RESULTS: Although the live cat therapy group had higher median happiness scores than the robotic cat therapy group, differences in happiness and symptom scores between groups were not statistically significant. Both therapies alleviated chemotherapy-induced symptoms and enhanced emotional well-being, with robotic cat therapy showing slightly greater overall effectiveness.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Robotic pet therapy offers a feasible alternative where live animal-assisted therapy is impractical. Integrating these therapies into oncology nursing can enhance symptom management and psychological support, promoting holistic, patient-centered care.

PMID:41812016

Minerva Dent Oral Sci. 2026 Mar 11. doi: 10.23736/S2724-6329.25.05196-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the orthodontic space closure rate between power chains and nickel-titanium coil springs.

METHODS: In this interventional, split-mouth quasi-experimental study, the participants were allocated into two groups: Space closure by nickel titanium (NiTi) spring and elastomeric chain. The canine retraction rate was measured to the nearest 0.1mm with a Boley’s gauge, using the mesial wing of the premolar bracket and the distal wing of the canine bracket as reference points. Each measurement was taken three times, and the average value was used for analysis to enhance accuracy. Blinded operators conducted measurements. The paired t-test was used to test the hypothesis and evaluate the difference in canine retraction rates between NiTi and Power Chain groups. The p-value was considered to be statistically significant at less than 0.05.

RESULTS: This study included 60 participants (24 females and 36 males). The mean age was 16±2.97 years (12-22 years). The sample consisted of 60 upper first premolar extraction cases on both sides. The mean canine retraction rate over 3-week intervals revealed statistically significant differences between these groups (P=0.026). The rate at 84 days proved to be significantly different (P=0.0001) between the power chain and NiTi group; the rate at 147 days showed a significant difference when the NiTi group was compared with the power chain group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: At all the follow-ups, the canine retraction was higher using NiTi springs than elastomeric chains.

PMID:41811365 | DOI:10.23736/S2724-6329.25.05196-4

Traffic Inj Prev. 2026 Mar 11:1-10. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2026.2629613. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: With the continuous improvement of transportation infrastructure, tunnels, as an important type of road connecting key traffic nodes, have become increasingly prominent in the transportation system, and traffic accidents are frequent with serious consequences. Therefore, this study explores the key causal factors of tunnel exit safety traffic accident risk from multiple dimensions, including human factors, traffic conditions, environmental factors, road characteristics, and safety facilities, in order to prevent traffic injuries.

METHODS: Based on the analysis of 851 academic literature research since 2000, an improved Apriori algorithm combining subjective and objective methods was used to calculate support, confidence, and lift to mine frequent itemsets and strong association rules. By using the distance function method to fuze and modify the subjective and objective weights, an indicator system consisting of 5 primary indicators and 14 secondary indicators was constructed. A judgment matrix was constructed using expert questionnaires and AHP data to achieve accurate identification and importance ranking of various causal factors of traffic accident risk.

RESULTS: In the current field of tunnel traffic accidents and safety research, human factors account for 28.24% of the total, becoming the primary focus of attention; traffic safety facilities and road factors follow closely behind with a proportion of 20.21% and 19.47%, respectively, with a total proportion of over 65%, highlighting their core position in tunnel safety research. It is worth noting that 52.94% of scholars focus their research on traffic safety facilities when exploring strategies to improve tunnel traffic safety. The correlation between the color, location, and frequency of traffic safety facilities shows a high degree of causality, with a confidence interval of 0.5526 ∼ 1 and a maximum lift reaching 5.2308. By improving the Apriori algorithm, the key influencing factors for tunnel exit safety are more accurately identified as the location, frequency, and vehicle speed of traffic safety facilities, with weights of 0.2607, 0.2241, and 0.1840, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Research findings on key influencing factors of tunnel traffic safety revealed that driver-related factors dominated accident causation, followed by traffic facilities and road factors. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant associations among traffic facility parameters (position, frequency, and color). The improved algorithm quantitatively identified facility position, arrangement frequency, and facility color as critical factors influencing tunnel exit safety. These results provided scientifically validated identification of key determinants, establishing an evidence base for tunnel traffic injury prevention and safety enhancement measures.

PMID:41811364 | DOI:10.1080/15389588.2026.2629613

JAMA Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 11. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0073. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Psychiatric classification faces longstanding challenges, including heterogeneous diagnostic categories, high comorbidity rates, limited interrater reliability, and modest clinical utility. Successive revisions of systems such as the DSM since 1980 have done little to resolve these issues. How to move forward?

OBSERVATIONS: This narrative review draws an analogy to biology, which has grappled for centuries with the hard problem of species classification. Following Darwin’s insights that species are not fixed categories, contemporary theorists of classification have moved away from the natural kind view toward understanding species as homeostatic property clusters (HPCs): sets of properties contingently clustered in nature because the presence of some properties favors the presence of others. Probabilistic associations among these properties lead to imperfect aggregations and gray areas between species. This work adapts the HPC view for mental disorders, where probabilistic associations among biopsychosocial mental health properties form statistical aggregations: property clusters. These clusters are just as messy as in biology and usually lack sharp boundaries. Similar to species, diagnostic structures cannot be straightforwardly discovered in this space-they must be superimposed. To advance this view, a research agenda is outlined for mapping out a mental health atlas by identifying properties, their associations, and their dynamics and illustrating this idea using example data.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The HPC view accounts for many robust phenomena in mental health science, turning classification challenges from isolated anomalies into natural consequences of superimposing structure on the landscape of mental health problems. It aligns with major clinical and research frameworks-including Engel’s biopsychosocial model, network and systems approaches, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology, and the Research Domain Criteria project-highlighting its role as a mental health science meta-framework. Doing so, it helps sidestep unproductive debates over the best universal classification system. Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers have different priorities and constraints, and no single classification system will optimally serve all stakeholders.

PMID:41811340 | DOI:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0073

Analyst. 2026 Mar 11. doi: 10.1039/d5an01344e. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To investigate the characteristics of changes in human urinary metabolites of meclofenoxate using metabolomics technology based on an UHPLC-Q Exactive HF Orbitrap mass spectrometer (UHPLC-HRMS) and to search for biomarkers related to drug effects, seventeen healthy college students were selected as experimental subjects, and urine samples were collected from the subjects before and after taking the drug, respectively. The data were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis after format conversion, peak detection, and normalization, and screening of differential metabolites and database search were performed to identify potential biomarkers and conduct metabolic pathway analysis. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) demonstrated significant intergroup differences in the metabolites of urine samples before and after the administration of meclofenoxate and further screened for eight major potential biomarkers (VIP > 1 and P < 0.01). The main metabolic pathways involved histidine metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, etc. The results of the study can help to provide a theoretical basis for the application and diagnosis of meclofenoxate.

PMID:41811313 | DOI:10.1039/d5an01344e