Category: Statistics

BMC Nurs. 2025 May 31;24(1):622. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03300-9.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of employing high-fidelity simulation (HFS) in enhancing mental health nursing students’ practice, satisfaction, and self-confidence in contrast to a group of students undergoing traditional nursing education methods.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental pre and post-test, two groups study was conducted from March to June 2024. The study conducted with 75 nursing students from Arab American University Palestine and An-Najah National University. The Educational Practices Questionnaire-Curriculum and Learner Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in learning method were used to assess nursing students’ practice, satisfaction, and self-confidence. Normality of data was confirmed using Shapiro-Wilk test. Statistical t-tests were used to compare between the two groups.

RESULT: The results revealed significant differences in the educational practice, satisfaction, and self-confidence scores between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Specifically, the educational practice scores in the experimental group (M = 73.3 ± SD 5.62) was higher than that in the control group (M = 61.4 ± SD 6.82). Also, the mean of the student’s satisfaction scores in the experimental group (M = 21.8 ± SD 2.35) was higher than that in the control group (M = 18.1 ± SD 4.84). Furthermore, the mean of the student self-confidence scores in the experimental group (M = 35.9 ± SD 3.47) was higher than that in the control group (M = 29.1 ± SD 6.69).

CONCLUSION: The study supports using high-fidelity simulation alongside clinical site experiences to link nursing knowledge and practice. Consequently, mental health nursing students’ benefit from advanced training that maintains their competency, theoretical knowledge, clinical judgment, collaborative functioning, leadership, and communication skills. While high-fidelity simulation enhances learning in mental health nursing education, it should be viewed as a complementary approach rather than a replacement for actual clinical placements.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40450268 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-025-03300-9

BMC Public Health. 2025 May 31;25(1):2014. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23253-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are essential for preventing infectious diseases and promoting public health, particularly among school-aged children. This study assessed the knowledge and practices of WASH among secondary school students in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria, comparing public and private school students.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an observational checklist. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 20 secondary schools, with a total of 400 students participating in the study. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), with descriptive and inferential statistics applied to determine associations between variables at a 5% level of significance.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that while public school students exhibited higher WASH knowledge (87.1%) compared to private school students (54.3%), private school students demonstrated better WASH practices, with 65.5% maintaining good hygiene compared to 55.7% of public-school students (p = 0.043). Significant disparities were observed in handwashing behaviors, toilet use, and drinking water sources. Public school students faced greater challenges due to inadequate sanitation facilities, leading to a higher prevalence of open defecation (55.7%) compared to private school students (6.9%). Despite high awareness of WASH-related diseases, practice gaps remained, particularly in public schools, where limited access to hygiene facilities hindered adherence to proper sanitation practices.

CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve WASH infrastructure, particularly in public schools. Policies should prioritize the provision of adequate toilets, functional handwashing stations, and safe drinking water to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Strengthening hygiene education and implementing behavior change strategies will enhance WASH compliance and reduce the burden of preventable diseases among students.

PMID:40450261 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23253-7

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 May 31;26(1):535. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08756-z.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biomechanical properties of a four-dimensional structure locking osteosynthesis plate that can alter its structure and functionality over time.

METHODS: According to the AO classification (AO-A2) standard, 18 artificial femoral shaft oblique fracture models with the same position and shape were generated and subsequently randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 9). In the experimental group, the four-dimensional locking plate was fixed, and in the control group, the locking plate was fixed. In vitro loading experiments were carried out under three conditions: 1400 N axial compression, 500 N internal and external four-point bending, and 15 N·m torsion. The average compression stiffness, average bending stiffness, average torsional stiffness, and displacement were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: Under vertical loading, the average compression stiffness of the experimental group (558.7 ± 39.1) N/mm was greater than that of the control group (548.8 ± 24.5) N/mm, (P = 0.73); and the average displacement of the fracture end of the experimental group (3.3 ± 0.2) mm was lower than that of the control group (3.4 ± 0.3) mm, (P = 0.47). The differences were not statistically significant. Under four-point bending loading, the average bending stiffness of the experimental group (466.6 ± 85.8) N/mm was lower than that of the control group (542.5 ± 43.2) N/mm, and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). The average displacement of the fracture ends in the experimental group (1.6 ± 0.2)mm was greater than that in the control group (1.2 ± 0.1)mm, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.02). Under torsional loading, the average torsional stiffness of the experimental group (1.0 ± 0.1) N·m/deg was lower than that of the control group (1.1 ± 0.1) N·m/deg, (P = 0.27); and the average angular displacement of the fracture end of the experimental group (15.9 ± 1.3) deg was greater than that of the control group (14.6 ± 1.3) deg, (P = 0.26). There was no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: The anti-compression, anti-bending and anti-torsion properties of four-dimensional locking plates are similar to those of conventional locking plates and can meet the mechanical requirements of internal fracture fixation.

PMID:40450259 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-025-08756-z

BMC Nurs. 2025 May 31;24(1):621. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03292-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nurses play a vital role in patient care, and their perceptions of their work environment are crucial for healthcare quality. A supportive and well-resourced work environment enhances the quality of care and increases employee commitment. The physical environment directly influences nurses’ well-being and efficiency, while a culture that fosters collaboration and communication is essential for improving patient outcomes and ensuring high-quality care. This study aimed to analyse nurses’ assessments of the work environment, organisational culture and work organisation over three decades (1999, 2009 and 2021) to understand their connection to changes in nursing activities over time. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey methodology was adopted. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted via IBM SPSS. These analyses sought to track temporal changes, explore relationships between workforce resources and nursing activities, and investigate the determinants of the perceived nurse-to-patient ratio.

RESULTS: In the work environment domain, the perceived quality of the physical work environment remained stable, although the nurse-to-patient ratio increased insufficiently. Changes in organisational culture yielded improvements in communication and the psychosocial work environment but reductions in the quality of collaboration. With respect to work organisation, a greater standardisation of nursing work emerged over time. The logistic regression analysis indicated that nurses working in regional hospitals and departments with more beds more frequently considered the nurse-to-patient ratio to be insufficient.

CONCLUSIONS: The nurses’ views showed that despite the increased health care workforce, the nurse-to-patient ratio was often seen as insufficient. Although the quality of the physical environment either remained stable or improved, organisational culture shifts indicated less group work and greater multiprofessional cooperation. This study underscores the necessity of a comprehensive approach for evaluating the nurse-to-patient ratio, integrating both quantitative and qualitative measures to effectively gauge and improve the nursing work environment.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40450258 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-025-03292-6

BMC Public Health. 2025 May 31;25(1):2019. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23288-w.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) remains a critical health challenge in southwest China. This study investigates healthcare-seeking delays and patient pathways among RR-TB patients in Yunnan province, employing diagram visualization. Aim to explore the accessibility and challenges of medical services for RR-TB.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among RR-TB patients who were enrolled in the Tuberculosis Management Information System (TBMIS) from 2020 to 2022. Data was collected via a face-to-face questionnaire survey to measure the patient pathways and delays of RR-TB patients at different health facility levels. SPSS statistical software was used for descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and patient pathway analysis. Sankey diagram, box plot and a heat map were used for data visualization.

RESULTS: Sankey diagrams revealed 7 distinct diagnostic pathways, with 49.4% diagnosed after one health facility visit. Over 50% of patients were diagnosed at county level facilities (Level 2), prolonging delays. As the level of health facility increases, the flow of RR-TB patients gradually decreased. Treatment pathways were simple with 4 routes. 92.4% of RR-TB patients enrolled treatment after visiting only one health facility, reflecting shorter treatment delays (median: 5 days). The median total delay was 66 days (Interquartile range: 28 to 155) of RR-TB patients. The diagnostic delay and total delay in lower health facilities was significantly higher than that in higher-levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study visualizes RR-TB healthcare-seeking flows in economically underdeveloped areas of China. Though healthcare access is decent, diagnostic delays are notable, especially at under-resourced facilities. We should pay more attention to and enhance the RR-TB diagnostic capabilities of primary health facilities. While treatment pathways are simple, financial burdens might be a key issue. Reducing these burdens through multi-channel funding and policy support is essential.

PMID:40450248 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23288-w

BMC Public Health. 2025 May 31;25(1):2027. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23275-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The effect of HIV infection on the nutritional status of patients has been widely known for several years, as well as the synergy between the infection and the conditions of poverty in developing countries. However, particular communities like pastoralists in underdeveloped countries live in a unique crossroad where challenges related to HIV prevention and control, and vulnerability to the disease exacerbate each other. Thus information from such range of contexts is valuable in addressing the complicated medical condition resulting from the combination of HIV infection and malnutrition. This study therefore aimed to assess the nutritional status and its associated factors among HIV infected children from pastoral zones of south Ethiopia.

METHODS: Multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 HIV-positive ≤ 15 year children. Data were collected systematically from selected participants by using interviewer administered structured and pre-tested questionnaires. We used Epi-data version 4.1 for data entry and SPSS Version 25for data analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. The goodness of fit (GOF) of the model was checked using Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The p-value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test of this model is p-value greater than 0.05 which confirms that the model is correctly specified.

RESULTS: The magnitude of underweight (weight-for-age z-score ≤ -2) was found to be 50.1%, 95% CI (0.45-0.55).In the multi-variable analysis, the mothers ‘age of15 to 18 years(AOR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.10-3.71), mother’s exposure to mass media(AOR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.05-2.39), household food insecurity(AOR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.18-3.13) and having history of Oropharyngeal disease(AOR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.01-2.39) were significantly associated with being underweight.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence found in this study was high when compared with the local studies. Policies and intervention strategies aimed at improving childhood nutrition and health should address the identified determinant factors.

PMID:40450246 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23275-1

Harm Reduct J. 2025 May 30;22(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s12954-025-01245-5.

ABSTRACT

Harm-reduction strategies are interventions designed to mitigate the adverse effects of substance use, without requiring abstinence. Evidence supports the effectiveness and efficacy of harm reduction as a broad framework for addressing illicit drug use. To ensure the implementation of these measures, Center for Alcohol and Drug Research (KORFOR) was mandated by the Norwegian Directorate of Health in 2016 to annually assess municipalities’ adherence to harm-reduction guidelines. This study aims to present national trends in the distribution of harm-reduction equipment for the prevention of infectious diseases, specifically needles and syringes and smoking foil. We investigated the proportion of distributing municipalities, additional equipment distributed (naloxone, condoms and lubricants, disposable toothbrushes, and cookers, filters, disinfection swabs, sterile water, and ascorbic acid), and the population coverage. Our findings indicate an increased coverage in the distribution of harm-reduction equipment in Norway between 2016 and 2022. This positive trend demonstrates progress in addressing the negative consequences of drug use and aligns with Norwegian national strategies to mitigate drug-related harms. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of these harm-reduction strategies and identify areas for improvement within the Norwegian context, especially related to use of opioid analgesics.

PMID:40448244 | DOI:10.1186/s12954-025-01245-5

Acta Epileptol. 2025 May 30;7(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s42494-025-00222-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of epilepsy, while its effects on comorbidities in epilepsy remain incompletely elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of VNS on comorbidities and quality of life in adult patients with epilepsy.

METHODS: A longitudinal, multicenter cohort study was conducted from 2021 to 2024 among adult patients with epilepsy who underwent VNS implantation. We enrolled 128 participants from 83 hospitals. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years old, diagnosed with epilepsy according to the 2014 International League Against Epilepsy guidelines, and having complete data from at least two follow-up visits. Standard assessment tools, including diagnosis according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10), Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), Generalized Anxiexy Disorde-7 (GAD-7), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) were used to evaluate comorbidities and quality of life. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. The major clinical measurements were changes in the scales above before and after VNS implantation during follow-up. Generalized estimation model was applied to illustrate the effect over time an its relation to seizure control.

RESULTS: A total of 113 participants met the inclusion criteria. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the comorbidity and non-comorbidity groups in terms of gender, seizure onset, age at VNS implantation, seizure types, or the number of antiseizure medications used. Significant improvements were observed from the implantation to the end of follow-up. The PSQI score decreased from 5.43 ± 3.60 to 4.44 ± 3.14 (P < 0.01), indicating better sleep quality. Depressive symptoms (NDDI-E) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7) decreased significantly, with scores dropping from 6.49 ± 4.67 to 4.83 ± 4.37 (P < 0.01) and from 7.15 ± 5.06 to 4.95 ± 3.69 (P < 0.01), respectively. The QOLIE-31 score increased from 54.40 ± 15.70 to 61.33 ± 16.19 (P < 0.01), suggesting improved quality of life. Further analysis indicated that in the early second postoperative follow-up (1 month after implantation), the scales had already improved significantly (P < 0.001 for PSQI and QOLIE-31, P = 0.006 for NDDI-E and GAD-7). We did not find any statistically significant difference between patients with comorbidity and those without on the efficacy of any scales in this study. The efficacy of VNS on the four scales above was related to follow-up time, with a slightly rebound at the last two follow-ups. The NDDI-E as well as the GAD-7 scores were related to better seizure control according to the GEE model. Higher stimulation currents over 1 mA did not improve the efficacy of VNS on the comorbid conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: VNS implantation significantly improved sleep quality, mental health, and overall quality of life in adult patients with epilepsy. Such effects could be observed shortly after the implantation and were mostly long-lasting. Further research is needed to validate its long-term effects.

PMID:40448234 | DOI:10.1186/s42494-025-00222-6

BMC Psychol. 2025 May 30;13(1):583. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02908-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Taking care of children with Leukemia leads to a burden and decreases their caregivers’ self-efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate whether training spiritual care program impacts the self-efficacy and burden of mothers having children with Leukemia.

METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on sixty-four mothers caring for their children with Leukemia, who were randomly allocated into eighteen blocks of 4 using computerized random allocation, 32 individuals were assigned to the intervention group and 32 to the control group. A training spiritual care program based on the Sound heart model was performed individually through four 30-45-minute face-to-face sessions during four weeks and a four-week follow-up. The setting was the chemotherapy department in Imam Reza educational, specialty and subspecialty clinic, affiliated with the Shiraz University of Medical Science. The data were collected using a demographic information form, the Caregiver self-efficacy questionnaire and the Caregivers Burden Inventory. The data were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. All tests were two-tailed, and the statistical level was considered 0.05.

RESULTS: Before intervention, there was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of self-efficacy and the caregiver burden mean score (p > 0.05). However, after the intervention a significant difference was observed between the two groups in self-efficacy scores [95% CI: -80.37, -57.74] and Caregiver Burden scores [95% CI: 10.34, 20.28] (p < 0.001). Also, the mean scores of caregivers’ burden was decreased, and self-efficacy increased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention in the intervention groups (p < 0.001). At the same time, there were no significant differences in the control groups. Also, there was a significant and reverse correlation between self-efficacy and caregiver burden (r = 0.678, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Spiritual care program based on the Sound heart model improves self-efficacy and decreases caregivers’ burden in mothers of children with Leukemia. The use of this model is recommended for addressing the spiritual needs of mothers with children diagnosed with leukemia and for guiding health professionals in developing spiritual and healing care programs in clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20210410050924N1 Registration date 20,210,504.

PMID:40448233 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-02908-5

Eur J Med Res. 2025 May 31;30(1):431. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-02707-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The ratio between erythrocyte distribution width and serum albumin (RAR) has gained recognition as a novel composite biomarker for inflammatory processes, though its clinical significance in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology requires further exploration. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between RAR and PD.

METHODS: This epidemiologic investigation utilized data from participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2003-2018. Study cohorts comprised PD-diagnosed individuals and matched controls. To elucidate the RAR-PD connection, we implemented three analytical strategies: multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models incorporating sample weights, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling for nonlinear relationships, and stratified analyses across demographic subgroups. Comparative assessment of inflammatory biomarkers’ discriminative performance was performed through ROC curve analysis, contrasting RAR against platelet-albumin ratio (PAR) and neutrophil-albumin ratio (NAR).

RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 31,848 adults (297 PD cases; 31,551 controls) from the NHANES database. Quantitative analysis revealed elevated RAR measurements in PD subjects compared to controls [3.28 (0.04) vs. 3.09 (0.01), P < 0.001]. Following covariate adjustment in weighted regression models, multivariable-adjusted analyses identified RAR as an independent predictor (adjusted OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.06-1.85, P = 0.018). RCS modeling revealed nonlinear RAR-PD associations, peaking at 3.48 (inverted U-shape). Comparative ROC analysis confirmed RAR’s discriminative superiority over PAR and NAR in PD detection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: As demonstrated by the research findings, RAR is strongly and independently associated with PD. RAR may serve as an indicator or screening tool for an increased risk of PD.

PMID:40448230 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-025-02707-z