Category: Statistics

Rwanda J Med Health Sci. 2021 Dec 30;4(3):341-346. doi: 10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.3. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is still a health problem worldwide, its prevalence and incidence are associated with various factors like age, sex, social status, dietary patterns and oral hygiene habits.

METHODOLOGY: A Secondary data collected from outreaches done by UR CMHS, School of Dentistry at Kimironko II Primary School was analyzed. This secondary data had been obtained using structured questionnaires with close ended questions. Clinical examination had also been done to gather information. SPSS statistical software package version 22 was used to analyse data from Community outreach done at Kimironko Primary School in August 2019.

RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries of 42.4% was found among children aged 6-12 years old of Kimironko II Primary School. The researchers found the following to be statistically significantly associated with prevalence of dental caries: gender (p=0.042), dental visits (p=0.001), and use of chew sticks or miswaks (p=0.041). Females were 1.4 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 1.462; 95% CI: 1.16-2.017; p=0.021) and children who did not use toothpick were 2 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 2.149; 95%CI: 1.251-4.395; p=0.036), whereas visiting a dental practitioner was protective against dental caries (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.251-0.516; p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Dental caries is prevalent among children of Kimironko II Primary School. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken to protect those found to be exposed.

PMID:40667405 | PMC:PMC12257230 | DOI:10.4314/rjmhs.v4i3.3

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1604916. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1604916. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to explore the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality. Specifically, it investigates the extent to which this relationship is mediated by a sequential process involving health literacy and life satisfaction.

METHODS: Data on physical exercise, sleep quality, health literacy, and life satisfaction were collected from a sample of 12,646 college students (study participants) using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and AMOS software, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis.

RESULTS: Correlation analyses revealed a weak positive correlation between physical exercise and sleep quality (r = 0.290), a significant positive correlation between physical exercise and health literacy (r = 0.203, p < 0.01), and a significant positive correlation between physical exercise and life satisfaction (r = 0.374, p < 0.01). Conversely, sleep quality exhibited a significant negative correlation with health literacy (r = -0.091, p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with life satisfaction (r = -0.228, p < 0.01). Health literacy and life satisfaction were significantly positively correlated (r = 0.352, p < 0.01). Regression analysis indicated that physical exercise did not directly and significantly predict sleep quality (β = -0.010). This study exhibits a complete mediation effect. However, mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of physical exercise on sleep quality through health literacy (95% CI: [-0.022, -0.013]) and life satisfaction (95% CI: [-0.024, -0.015]). Furthermore, a significant chain-mediating effect was observed, wherein physical exercise influenced sleep quality sequentially through health literacy and life satisfaction (95% CI: [-0.018, -0.013]). The non-significant direct effect of physical exercise on sleep quality and the significant indirect impact suggest that the relationship between physical exercise and sleep quality is primarily mediated through health literacy and life satisfaction. These findings highlight the crucial role of health literacy and life satisfaction as mediators in this relationship.

CONCLUSION: While physical exercise did not exert a direct and significant effect on sleep quality in this study, the significant mediating roles of health literacy and life satisfaction suggest potential avenues for intervention. Specifically, these findings imply that multifaceted approaches, encompassing strategies to promote physical activity, enhance health literacy, and improve life satisfaction, may improve sleep quality among college students.

PMID:40667398 | PMC:PMC12262059 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1604916

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1577912. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577912. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The persistent challenges in geometry performance among secondary school students in Nigeria demand innovative teaching methods that extend beyond conventional strategies.

OBJECTIVE: This pretest and post-test quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of brainstorming as an instructional approach to improve students’ geometry performance.

METHODS: The research involved 140 students from two coeducational public secondary schools, with 73 students assigned to an experimental group taught using the brainstorming strategy. In comparison, 67 students were placed in a control group that received instruction through the conventional method. Data were collected using the Geometry Performance Test (GPT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.83 obtained using the test-retest method. The data generated were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to address the research questions and test the study’s hypotheses.

RESULTS: The results indicated that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in posttest scores, F _{(1, 137)} = 227.124, p < 0.001, with a mean score of 66.99 (SD = 9.17) compared to 46.76 (SD = 6.18) in the control group. No significant gender difference was observed in performance gains, F _{(1, 34)} = 1.609, p = 0.213, suggesting that brainstorming is an effective teaching strategy without gender bias.

CONCLUSION: These findings show the potential of brainstorming as a powerful tool for improving students’ performance in geometry with equitable effectiveness among male and female secondary students. Thus, we recommended that educators should integrate brainstorming into their mathematics classrooms as a proxy to close performance gaps among male and female students in mathematics and improve students’ performance in mathematics. As this study was conducted in two public secondary schools in Kaduna State, Nigeria, we acknowledge that the findings are context-specific and may not be generalizable without caution.

PMID:40667397 | PMC:PMC12259421 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577912

Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;16:1585437. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585437. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: ‘Apparitions, hauntings, and poltergeists’ are universally reported phenomena with significant psychological and social implications. Despite their prevalence, the scientific study of these anomalous experiences remains fragmented, and misinformation is widespread. To address this gap, a resource titled “Fact Sheet: Ghostly Episodes at a Glance” was developed to provide an evidence-based summary for educational and clinical use.

METHODS: This preliminary study evaluated the Fact Sheet’s content validity through an AI-based verification procedure. Additionally, we assessed its accessibility, utility, and global favorability among four groups: lay percipients, lay non-percipients (information-seekers), clinical practitioners, and amateur paranormal investigators (information-providers).

RESULTS: The Fact Sheet demonstrated strong content validity, accessibility, usefulness, and favorability across all groups. However, participants suggested refinements to enhance readability and contextual depth. Statistical analysis revealed small but significant differences in global favorability scores, with information-providers more strongly endorsing the resource than information-seekers.

CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the importance of scientifically-grounded, accessible resources in educating diverse audiences about anomalous experiences. The study highlights the value of data-driven public education in this domain and offers specific recommendations for improving future iterations of the Fact Sheet to boost engagement and comprehension in both educational and clinical settings.

PMID:40667394 | PMC:PMC12259700 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1585437

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025 Dec;38(1):2529438. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2025.2529438. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Current definitions of second-stage labor arrest rely on arbitrary time limits-at least 2 h for multiparous patients and 3 h for nulliparous patients-yet the utility of these time-based definitions remains limited due to their failure to account for physiologic variability and rest periods. This study evaluates alternative metrics, including total pushes, pushing duration, and pushing force, to better quantify second-stage labor progression. We hypothesized that patients with obesity would require more pushes and spend more time pushing, with an anticipated increase in cumulative force.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of nulliparous term patients with singleton pregnancies at a single tertiary care center. Patients were grouped by BMI at admission (< 35 kg/m² vs. ≥ 35 kg/m²) to evaluate differences in pushing effort and delivery outcomes. The primary outcomes-total number of pushes, cumulative pushing time, and expulsive force-were assessed among patients who achieved a vaginal delivery. Secondary outcomes included labor characteristics, maternal morbidity, and neonatal outcomes. Statistical comparisons between BMI groups were performed using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests.

RESULTS: Among 273 patients, the mean second-stage duration was 82.5 min, involving 54.9 pushes and 11.2 min of active pushing. Patients who exceeded the 90^th percentile for push count (116 overall; 104 for BMI < 35 kg/m² and 141 for BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) were significantly more likely to undergo cesarean delivery. Patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) required, on average, 18 more pushes (p = 0.001) and 2 additional minutes of pushing efforts (p = 0.011) to achieve vaginal delivery. This association remained true after excluding operative and cesarean deliveries. Operative and second-stage cesarean deliveries involved significantly more total pushes compared to spontaneous vaginal deliveries (58 vs. 40.5, p = 0.012), and the rate of operative delivery increased sixfold once the number of pushes exceeded 115.

CONCLUSION: Patients with obesity demonstrated a need for increased effort to achieve vaginal delivery, including a higher number of pushes and a longer pushing duration. These findings support using the 90^th percentile threshold for total pushes (116 overall; 104 for BMI < 35 kg/m² and 141 for BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) as a clinically meaningful benchmark for assessing second-stage labor progression, given the observed rise in operative and cesarean delivery rates beyond this point. Incorporating these objective metrics into labor management may allow for a more individualized and physiologically grounded approach to evaluating second-stage progress.

PMID:40665477 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2025.2529438

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025 Dec;38(1):2531146. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2025.2531146. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on fetal myocardial remodeling and cardiac function applying two-dimensional speckle tracking techniques.

METHODS: This is a case-control study with a 1:1 ratio, including fetuses with normal development and those exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A total of 108 fetuses were included in the study, comprising 54 in the case group and 54 in the control group. A series of parameters, including ventricular size, spherical index, ejection fraction, myocardial strain, fractional change in ventricular area, and short axis shortening rate, were measured using Fetal HQ software with two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Statistical methods were employed to compare the case and control groups, with the aim of assessing the impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on fetal myocardial remodeling and cardiac function.

RESULTS: (1) The end-diastolic longitudinal diameter and area of the right ventricle in the HDP group were statistically significantly smaller than those in the control group (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the longitudinal and transverse diameters and areas of the four-chambered heart, as well as the longitudinal diameter and area of the left ventricle, when comparing the two groups (p > 0.05). (2) In terms of fetal cardiac morphology, the right ventricular segments 2-7 SI in the HDP group were observed to be smaller than those in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Conversely, the differences between the two groups in right ventricular segment 1, right ventricular segments 8-24 SI, left ventricular segments 24 SI and four-chambered cardiac GSI were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). (3) In terms of fetal ventricular systolic function, the HDP group exhibited lower left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output, right ventricular GLS, left and right ventricular FAC, left ventricular FS in segments 10-24, and right ventricular FS in segments 11-16 than the control group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the left ventricular GLS, GCS, and right ventricular free wall St, left ventricular segments 1-9, and right ventricular segments 1-10 and 4-chamber GSI were observed to be lower than those of the control group. The GLS, GCS, and free wall St of the right ventricle, as well as the GLS, GCS, and free wall St of the left ventricle (segments 1-9) and the right ventricle (segments 1-10 and 12-24) were also evaluated.

CONCLUSION: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have been demonstrated to affect fetal myocardial remodeling and contractile function, with a more pronounced impact observed on the right ventricle compared to the left ventricle. Two-dimensional speckle tracking technology offers the potential to provide more detailed information for the quantitative assessment of fetal size, morphology and cardiac function.

PMID:40665473 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2025.2531146

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2533639. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2533639. Epub 2025 Jul 15.

ABSTRACT

Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge, particularly during pandemics when high immunization rates are crucial. While individual psychological antecedents of vaccine hesitancy have been extensively studied, limited empirical evidence exists on how contextual determinants, such as socioeconomic status, political trust, and digital literacy, collectively shape vaccine-related behaviors, particularly in Central European populations. This study explores the key determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Czech adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 48th wave of the Czech national panel survey Život během pandemie [Life During Pandemic], carried out in March 2023. The data were obtained via an online questionnaire administered to a nationally representative sample of Czech adults (n = 1,708). Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and anamnestic variables were examined alongside political attitudes. Psychological antecedents of vaccination were assessed using the 5C model (confidence, complacency, constraints, risk calculation, and collective responsibility), and digital vaccine literacy was measured using seven items covering trust in official sources, trust in social media, and the ability to evaluate and apply vaccine information. Statistical analyses included bivariate tests and multivariable regression models to identify vaccine uptake and intent determinants. Higher trust in constitutional institutions, including the president (OR = 1.55; 95/ CI: 1.38-1.74), government (1.60; 1.38-1.85), Chamber of Deputies (1.73; 1.48-2.02), and Senate (1.47; 1.29-1.69), was significantly associated with higher vaccine uptake. Similarly, positive attitudes toward the integration of Ukrainian refugees into Czech society – across domains such as work (1.63; 1.39-1.90), housing (1.59; 1.36-1.86), school (1.64; 1.41-1.92), language (1.57; 1.34-1.84), and culture (1.74; 1.50-2.03) – were positively associated with uptake. Greater confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness was also a significant predictor (1.51; 1.44-1.58). In contrast, lower education (0.64; 0.56-0.73), lower income (0.91; 0.86-0.95), female sex (0.60; 0.47-0.76), and higher complacency (0.76; 0.73-0.80) were associated with reduced uptake. Respondents with better digital vaccine literacy, particularly those more adept at identifying misinformation, showed significantly greater vaccine confidence (mean score: 3.62 vs. 3.30, p < .001). Beyond psychological antecedents, institutional trust, political orientation, and digital vaccine literacy significantly shape COVID-19 vaccination behaviors. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions that address political and digital influences on vaccine hesitancy, and they highlight the need for future research to examine the causal pathways and longitudinal dynamics underlying these associations, particularly within Central and Eastern European contexts.

PMID:40665470 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2533639

Res Involv Engagem. 2025 Jul 15;11(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s40900-025-00734-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Paediatric intensive care provides specialist expertise and support for critically ill children, often with complex conditions or in life-threatening circumstances. Hospitalisation of a child in a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) can be extremely stressful for both the child and family which makes research in this area challenging. The involvement of patients and families (consumers) in the design and conduct of research in PICU is essential to ensure research is aligned with their priorities and meets their needs. However, the current level of consumer and community involvement (CCI) in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) PICU research is unknown.

METHODS: This protocol reports a mixed-methods environmental scan employing two phases. Phase 1, a scoping review, will include published, unpublished, and ongoing PICU research, reporting information about study methodology and conduct, and CCI. Quantitative data will be primarily reported using descriptive statistics, and inductive content analysis will be used for qualitative data. Phase 2, semi-structured interviews, will be conducted with purposive sampling of research teams and consumers to gather insights about their experiences of CCI in PICU research, using content analysis to identify key concepts.

DISCUSSION: Environmental scanning is an effective approach to information gathering and has been used in healthcare as an optimal method for studying real-world interventions. Our study will advance understanding of the current state of CCI in PICU research, identifying strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement. With the assessment of the needs of both consumers and the research community, our study will enable the development of strategies for improving CCI and subsequently the quality of PICU research. A multifaceted approach to dissemination of the findings of this environmental scan, informed by consumer advisors, will be used to reach diverse audiences. This may include email distribution, social media, academic journals, conferences or relevant institutional symposiums.

PMID:40665450 | DOI:10.1186/s40900-025-00734-y

Perioper Med (Lond). 2025 Jul 15;14(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s13741-025-00559-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Imrecoxib is a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. As a moderately selective COX-2 inhibitor, it has achieved certain therapeutic effects in postoperative analgesia such as spinal, arthroscopic, and total hip arthroplasty. However, the efficacy of imrecoxib in postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of imrecoxib in postoperative analgesia after TKA.

METHODS: The 120 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group was given one tablet of imrecoxib 4 h after surgery in addition to conventional treatment. Starting from the second day, the dose of imrecoxib was 0.1 g/time, twice a day. The control group only received conventional treatment. The observation indicators included visual analogue scale (VAS) score, joint range of motion (ROM), opioid consumption, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (PCR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and incidence of adverse reactions.

RESULTS: At rest, the VAS pain scores of the experimental group at 24 and 48 h after surgery (3.033 ± 1.154, 2.700 ± 0.988) were lower than those of the control group (2.017 ± 0.128, 1.950 ± 0.589), with statistical differences (P = 0.000 < 0.05, P = 0.000 < 0.05). At movement state, the VAS scores of the experimental group at four postoperative time points (4.050 ± 0.805, 4.633 ± 1.048, 4.517 ± 1.057, 4.233 ± 0.844) were lower than those of the control group (4.433 ± 0.782, 5.067 ± 0.910, 5.800 ± 0.945, 5.167 ± 1.003), with statistical differences (P = 0.013 < 0.05, P = 0.027 < 0.05, P = 0.000, P = 0.000).The joint ROM of the experimental group at 24 h (84.783 ± 7.902) and 48 h (86.403 ± 10.367) was higher than that of the control group (76.725 ± 9.499, 79.802 ± 8.400), with statistical differences (P = 0.000 < 0.05, P = 0.000 < 0.05).The postoperative opioid consumption of the experimental group (0.567 ± 0.692) was significantly lower than that of the control group (2.783 ± 1.156), with a statistical difference (P = 0.000 < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our prospective randomized controlled trial demonstrates that imrecoxib can effectively alleviate postoperative pain after TKA, reduce opioid dosage, and does not cause additional adverse reactions, providing a new option for analgesic treatment after TKA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with the China Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2300072839). Registered date: 20,230,616.

PMID:40665439 | DOI:10.1186/s13741-025-00559-z

BMC Res Notes. 2025 Jul 15;18(1):299. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07388-9.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute or subacute systemic viral disease of cattle that shows variation in the response of cattle to LSD virus infection. To better understand the mechanisms underlying this response diversity in field studies and under carefully controlled artificial infections, we studied the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two resilient versus three susceptible Holstein bulls before an infection challenge and three time points after that.

RESULTS: The host transcriptome profiling revealed that IL1RAP gene expression could be a potential determinant in distinguishing between resilient and susceptible cattle (padj < 0.05). It was significantly shifted from up-regulated prior to infection to down-regulated three days post-infection in the LSD-resilient cattle. Its expression remained up-regulated among the susceptible cattle post-infection compared to pre-infection. The results showed that seven days post-infection may be a critical time point for LSD infection. The Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment test showed a few enriched GO terms and pathways relevant to the LSD and the involvement of the IL1RAP gene. This pilot study, with limited statistical power, is the first to investigate bovine gene expression profiling in response to LSDV.

PMID:40665438 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-025-07388-9