Tag: pubmed

PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Mar 4;4(3):e0001751. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001751. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

The Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (QCN) aims to work through learning, action, leadership and accountability. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of QCN in these four areas at the global level and in four QCN countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malawi and Uganda. This mixed method evaluation comprised 2-4 iterative rounds of data collection between 2019-2022, involving stakeholder interviews, hospital observations, QCN members survey, and document review. Qualitative data was analysed using a coding framework developed from underlying theories on network effectiveness, behaviour change, and QCN proposed theory of change. Survey data capturing respondents’ perception of QCN was analysed with descriptive statistics. The QCN global level, led by the WHO secretariat, was effective in bringing together network countries’ governments and global actors via providing online and in-person platforms for communication and learning. In-country, various interventions were delivered in ‘learning districts’, however often separately by different partners in different locations, and pandemic-disrupted. Governance structures for quality of care were set-up, some preceding QCN, and were found to be stronger and better (though often externally) resourced at national than local levels. Awareness of operational plans and network activities differed between countries, was lower at local than national levels, but increased from 2019 to 2022. Engagement with, and value of, QCN was perceived to be higher in Uganda and Bangladesh than in Malawi or Ethiopia. Capacity building efforts were implemented in all countries-yet often dependent on implementing partners and donors. QCN stakeholders agreed 15 core monitoring indicators though data collection was challenging, especially for indicators requiring new or parallel systems. Accountability initiatives remained nascent in 2022. Global and national leadership elements of QCN have been most effective to date, with action, learning and accountability more challenging, partner or donor dependent, remaining to be scaled-up, and pandemic-disrupted.

PMID:38437217 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001751

PLoS One. 2024 Mar 4;19(3):e0299192. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299192. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated a heightened susceptibility to cataract and glaucoma among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, while it remains uncertain whether RA is causally associated with cataract and glaucoma. A two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to investigate the causal associations between RA, cataract and glaucoma in European and East Asian populations.

METHODS: In the European population, genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for cataract (372,386 individuals) and glaucoma (377,277 individuals) were obtained from the FinnGen consortium (R9), while RA summary data were derived from a meta-analysis of GWAS encompassing 97173 samples. In the East Asian population, summary data for cataract (212453 individuals), glaucoma (212453 individuals), and RA (22515 individuals) were sourced from the IEU Open GWAS project. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW, random-effects) method served as the primary analysis, complemented by MR‒Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode and simple mode methods. Additionally, various sensitivity tests, including Cochran’s Q test, MR‒Egger intercept, MR pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier test and leave-one-out test were performed to detect the heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy and stability of the analysis results.

RESULTS: Following stringent screening, the number of selected instrumental variables ranged from 8 to 56. The IVW results revealed that RA had an increased risk of cataract (OR = 1.041, 95% CI = 1.019-1.064; P = 2.08×10-4) and glaucoma (OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.003-1.057; P = 2.94×10-2) in European populations, and RA displayed a positive association with cataract (OR = 1.021, 95% CI = 1.004-1.039; P = 1.64×10-2) in East Asian populations. Other methods also supported those results by IVW, and sensitivity tests showed that our analysis results were credible and stable.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a positive causality between RA and the increased risk of cataract and glaucoma, which provides guidance for the early prevention of cataracts and glaucoma in patients with RA and furnishes evidence for the impact of RA-induced inflammation on ophthalmic diseases.

PMID:38437213 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0299192

PLoS One. 2024 Mar 4;19(3):e0294116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294116. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

The 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) is a reliable and valid questionnaire for evaluating adherence in patients with asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. Validity has not been determined in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to establish criterion validity and reliability of the MARS-5 in persons with MS (PwMS). Our prospective study included PwMS on dimethyl fumarate (DMF). PwMS self-completed the MARS-5 on the same day before baseline and follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3 and 9 months after treatment initiation and were graded as highly and medium adherent upon the 24-cut-off score, established by receiver operator curve analysis. Health outcomes were represented by relapse occurrence from the 1st DMF dispense till follow-up brain MRI and radiological progression (new T2 MRI lesions and quantitative analysis) between baseline and follow-up MRI. Criterion validity was established by association with the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC), new T2 MRI lesions, and Beliefs in Medicines questionnaire (BMQ). The reliability evaluation included internal consistency and the test-retest method. We included 40 PwMS (age 37.6 ± 9.9 years, 75% women), 34 were treatment-naive. No relapses were seen during the follow-up period but quantitative MRI analysis showed new T2 lesions in 6 PwMS. The mean (SD) MARS-5 score was 23.1 (2.5), with 24 PwMS graded as highly adherent. The higher MARS-5 score was associated with higher PDC (b = 0.027, P<0.001, 95% CI: (0.0134-0.0403)) and lower medication concerns (b = -1.25, P<0.001, 95% CI: (-1.93-(-0,579)). Lower adherence was associated with increased number (P = 0.00148) and total volume of new T2 MRI lesions (P = 0.00149). The questionnaire showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.72) and moderate test-retest reliability (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.33-0.79). The MARS-5 was found to be valid and reliable for estimating medication adherence and predicting medication concerns in persons with MS.

PMID:38437197 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0294116

J Med Internet Res. 2024 Mar 4;26:e53001. doi: 10.2196/53001.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is the most prevalent mental health condition in older adults. However, not all evidence-based treatments are easily accessible. Web-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (wCBT) facilitated by laypersons is a viable treatment alternative.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a novel wCBT program, Empower@Home, supported by trained lay coaches, against a waitlist attention control. Empower@Home is among the very few existing wCBT programs specifically designed for older adults. The primary objective was to assess the efficacy of the intervention compared with attention control. The secondary objective was to evaluate the program’s impact on secondary psychosocial outcomes and explore potential change mechanisms.

METHODS: Older adults (N=70) were recruited via web-based research registries, social media advertisements, and community agency referrals and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group in a 1:1 allocation ratio. The intervention group received access to Empower@Home, which included 9 web-delivered self-help lessons and weekly telephone coaching sessions by a trained layperson over 10 weeks. The control group received weekly friendly phone calls and depressive symptom monitoring. The primary clinical outcome was the severity of depressive symptoms assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The secondary clinical outcomes included anxiety, anger, social isolation, insomnia, pain intensity, and quality of life. Linear mixed modeling was used to determine the treatment effects on depression, and 2-tailed t tests were used to assess within-group changes and between-group differences.

RESULTS: Most participants in the intervention group completed all 9 sessions (31/35, 89%). The usability and acceptability ratings were excellent. The intervention group had a large within-group change in depressive symptoms (Cohen d=1.22; P<.001), whereas the attention control group experienced a medium change (Cohen d=0.57; P<.001). The between-group effect size was significant, favoring the intervention group over the control group (Cohen d=0.72; P<.001). In the linear mixed model, the group-by-time interaction was statistically significant (b=-0.68, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.35; P<.001). The treatment effects were mediated by improvements in cognitive behavioral therapy skills acquisition; behavioral activation; and satisfaction with the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Furthermore, the intervention group showed significant within-group improvements in secondary psychosocial outcomes, including anxiety (P=.001), anger (P<.001), social isolation (P=.02), insomnia (P=.007), and pain (P=.03). By contrast, the control group did not experience significant changes in these outcome domains. However, the between-group differences in secondary outcomes were not statistically significant, owing to the small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS: Empower@Home, a wCBT program supported by lay coaches, was more efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms than friendly telephone calls and depression symptom monitoring. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of the intervention in community and practice settings using nonclinician staff already present in these real-world settings as coaches.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05593276; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05593276.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/44210.

PMID:38437013 | DOI:10.2196/53001

JMIR Hum Factors. 2024 Mar 4;11:e47081. doi: 10.2196/47081.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: IT has brought remarkable change in bridging the digital gap in resource-constrained regions and advancing the health care system worldwide. Community-based information systems and mobile apps have been extensively developed and deployed to quantify and support health services delivered by community health workers. The success and failure of a digital health information system depends on whether and how it is used. Ethiopia is scaling up its electronic community health information system (eCHIS) to support the work of health extension workers (HEWs). For successful implementation, more evidence was required about the factors that may affect the willingness of HEWs to use the eCHIS.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess HEWs’ intentions to use the eCHIS for health data management and service provision.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 456 HEWs in 6 pilot districts of the Central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model was used to investigate HEWs’ intention to use the eCHIS. Data were cleaned, entered into Epi-data (version 4.02; EpiData Association), and exported to SPSS (version 26; IBM Corp) for analysis using the AMOS 23 Structural Equation Model. The statistical significance of dependent and independent variables in the model was reported using a 95% CI with a corresponding P value of <.05.

RESULTS: A total of 456 HEWs participated in the study, with a response rate of 99%. The mean age of the study participants was 28 (SD 4.8) years. Our study revealed that about 179 (39.3%; 95% CI 34.7%-43.9%) participants intended to use the eCHIS for community health data generation, use, and service provision. Effort expectancy (β=0.256; P=.007), self-expectancy (β=0.096; P=.04), social influence (β=0.203; P=.02), and hedonic motivation (β=0.217; P=.03) were significantly associated with HEWs’ intention to use the eCHIS.

CONCLUSIONS: HEWs need to be computer literate and understand their role with the eCHIS. Ensuring that the system is easy and enjoyable for them to use is important for implementation and effective health data management.

PMID:38437008 | DOI:10.2196/47081

JMIR Form Res. 2024 Mar 4;8:e53353. doi: 10.2196/53353.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Parents of children with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) often face stigmatization, which has a significant impact on their quality of life and mental health. However, to date, there is a lack of comprehensive, multicenter empirical research on parents of children with CL/P in China, particularly those with large-scale samples.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify major factors that contribute to the perception of stigma experienced by parents of children with CL/P.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 104 parents of children diagnosed with CL/P in 2 hospitals were selected by convenience sampling. Demographics and disease information, the Chinese Perception of Stigma Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Social Anxiety Scale were used in this study. Descriptive statistics, t tests, and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the differences between participants’ demographic information and perception of stigma. Multivariable linear regression was performed to assess associations between demographic factors, social anxiety, depression, and perception of stigma.

RESULTS: The mean scores for the dimensions of perception of stigma, depression, and social anxiety were 22.97 (SD 9.21), 38.34 (SD 8.25), and 22.86 (SD 6.69), respectively. Depression and social anxiety were positively associated with discrimination, while surgery status was a negatively associated variable. Parents with a college education or higher had significantly lower levels of perceived stigma compared to parents with a junior high school education (all P values <.05). These 4 factors explained 40.4% of the total model variance (F₈=9.726; P<.001; R²=0.450; adjusted R²=0.404).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight a concerning trend of diminished quality of life among parents of children with CL/P. Factors such as parents’ education level, surgery status, depression, and social anxiety are shown to influence the level of stigma experienced. Implementing comprehensive nursing care and providing presurgical support are effective strategies for alleviating parents’ social anxiety, reducing perceived stigma, and preventing depression.

PMID:38437002 | DOI:10.2196/53353

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2024 Mar 4. doi: 10.1002/jmri.29295. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) imaging is commonly used in cardiac cine MRI but prone to image artifacts. Ferumoxytol-enhanced (FE) gradient echo (GRE) has been proposed as an alternative. Utilizing the abundance of bSSFP images to develop a computationally efficient network that is applicable to FE GRE cine would benefit future network development.

PURPOSE: To develop a variable-splitting spatiotemporal network (VSNet) for image reconstruction, trained on bSSFP cine images and applicable to FE GRE cine images.

STUDY TYPE: Retrospective and prospective.

SUBJECTS: 41 patients (26 female, 53 ± 19 y/o) for network training, 31 patients (19 female, 49 ± 17 y/o) and 5 healthy subjects (5 female, 30 ± 7 y/o) for testing.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5T and 3T, bSSFP and GRE.

ASSESSMENT: VSNet was compared to VSNet with total variation loss, compressed sensing and low rank methods for 14× accelerated data. The GRAPPA×2/×3 images served as the reference. Peak signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF) were measured. Qualitative image ranking and scoring were independently performed by three readers. Latent scores were calculated based on scores of each method relative to the reference.

STATISTICS: Linear mixed-effects regression, Tukey method, Fleiss’ Kappa, Bland-Altman analysis, and Bayesian categorical cumulative probit model. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: VSNet achieved significantly higher PSNR (32.7 ± 0.2), SSIM (0.880 ± 0.004), rank (2.14 ± 0.06), and latent scores (-1.72 ± 0.22) compared to other methods (rank >2.90, latent score < -2.63). Fleiss’ Kappa was 0.52 for scoring and 0.61 for ranking. VSNet showed no significantly different LV and RV ESV (P = 0.938) and EF (P = 0.143) measurements, but statistically significant different (2.62 mL) EDV measurements compared to the reference.

CONCLUSION: VSNet produced the highest image quality and the most accurate functional measurements for FE GRE cine images among the tested 14× accelerated reconstruction methods.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

PMID:38436994 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.29295

Span J Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024 Jan-Mar;17(1):46-50. doi: 10.1016/j.sjpmh.2023.06.002. Epub 2023 Sep 27.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, with an estimated prevalence in adulthood of 2.5-3.4%. The Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) is an 18-item self-administered scale that assesses attention deficit and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms of ADHD in adults. This study aims to validate the ADHD-RS in Spanish according to the diagnostic criteria established by the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 441 adult patients (mean age 33.34±11.37 years) was included, 396 subjects were diagnosed with ADHD (mean age 33.17±11.18 years), and 45 were controls (mean age 35.40±12.33 years). The clinical diagnosis of ADHD was established according to the DSM-5 criteria. The ADHD-RS was subsequently administered to all participants. A logistic regression study evaluated the model in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure was performed to assess the adequacy of the data set, and to determine whether factor analysis was applicable, Bartlett’s sphericity test was performed. Principal component analysis was used, using the Varimax orthogonal rotation method, which minimizes the number of variables with high loads on each factor, obtaining two factors and thus, simplifying their interpretation.

RESULTS: The cut-off point that best discriminates the combined presentation of ADHD was 24 points, with a sensitivity of 94.78%, a specificity of 84.79%, a PPV (positive predictive value) of 93.74%, and an NPV (negative predictive value) of 78.33, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85, and a kappa coefficient of 0.86. Regarding inattentive ADHD, the cut-off point that best discriminates was 21 points, with a sensitivity of 92.56%, a specificity of 76.26%, a PPV of 92.01%, an NPV of 78.33%, an AUC of 0.90, and a kappa coefficient of 0.87. Different cut-off values in the two subgroups suggests that a differentiated cut-off point for the inattentive and combined presentations may be an adequate assessment strategy for ADHD in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the ADHD-RS is a valid instrument to evaluate ADHD in adults according to the diagnostic criteria established by the DSM-5. Differentiated cut-off points for the inattentive and combined presentations discriminate more accurately than a single cut-off point.

PMID:38436988 | DOI:10.1016/j.sjpmh.2023.06.002

JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Mar 4. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0077. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Some young people who identify as transgender and seek gender-affirming medical care subsequently reidentify with their sex registered at birth. Evidence regarding the frequency and characteristics of this experience is lacking.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of reidentification and explore associated characteristics in a pediatric gender clinic setting.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study examined all referrals to the Child and Adolescent Health Service Gender Diversity Service at Perth Children’s Hospital between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2020. The Gender Diversity Service is the sole statewide specialist service in Western Australia that provides children and adolescents up to age 18 years with multidisciplinary assessment, information, support, and gender-affirming medical care. All closed referrals for this study were audited between May 1, 2021, and August 8, 2022.

EXPOSURE: Reidentification with birth-registered sex.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The number of referrals closed due to reported reidentification with birth-registered sex was determined, as well as descriptives and frequencies of patient demographics (age, birth-registered sex), informant source, International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision gender-related diagnoses, pubertal status, any gender-affirming medical treatment received, and whether subsequent re-referrals were received.

RESULTS: Of 552 closed referrals during the study period, a reason for closure could be determined for 548 patients, including 211 birth-registered males (mean [SD] age, 13.88 [2.00] years) and 337 birth-registered females (mean [SD] age, 15.81 [2.22] years). Patients who reidentified with their birth-registered sex comprised 5.3% (29 of 548; 95% CI, 3.6%-7.5%) of all referral closures. Except for 2 patients, reidentification occurred before or during early stages of assessment (93.1%; 95% CI, 77.2%-99.2%). Two patients who reidentified with their birth-registered sex did so following initiation of puberty suppression or gender-affirming hormone treatment (1.0% of 196 patients who initiated any gender-affirming medical treatment; 95% CI, 0.1%-3.6%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings from a pediatric gender clinic audit indicate that a small proportion of patients, and a very small proportion of those who initiated medical gender-affirming treatment, reidentified with their birth-registered sex during the study period. Longitudinal follow-up studies, including qualitative self-report, are required to understand different pathways of gender identity experience.

PMID:38436975 | DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0077

JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Mar 4;7(3):e2354766. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54766.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Medical debt is increasingly common in the US. Little is known regarding its association with population health.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of medical debt with health status, premature death, and mortality at the county level in the US.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the US county level using 2018 medical debt data from the Urban Institute Debt in America project linked with 2018 data on self-reported health status and premature death from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and with 2015 to 2019 mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Data analysis was performed from August 2022 to May 2023.

EXPOSURE: Share of population with any medical debt in collections and median amount of medical debt.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Health status was measured as (1) the mean number of physically and mentally unhealthy days in the past 30 days per 1000 people, (2) the mean number of premature deaths measured as years of life lost before age 75 years per 1000 people, and (3) age-adjusted all-cause and 18 cause-specific mortality rates (eg, malignant cancers, heart disease, and suicide) per 100 000 person-years. Multivariable linear models were fitted to estimate the associations between medical debt and health outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 2943 counties were included in this analysis. The median percentage of the county population aged 65 years or older was 18.3% (IQR, 15.8%-20.9%). Across counties, a median 3.0% (IQR, 1.2%-11.9%) of the population were Black residents, 4.3% (IQR, 2.3%-9.7%) were Hispanic residents, and 84.5% (IQR, 65.7%-93.3%) were White residents. On average, 19.8% (range, 0%-53.6%) of the population had medical debt. After adjusting for county-level sociodemographic characteristics, a 1-percentage point increase in the population with medical debt was associated with 18.3 (95% CI, 16.3-20.2) more physically unhealthy days and 17.9 (95% CI, 16.1-19.8) more mentally unhealthy days per 1000 people during the past month, 1.12 (95% CI, 1.03-1.21) years of life lost per 1000 people, and an increase of 7.51 (95% CI, 6.99-8.04) per 100 000 person-years in age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate. Associations of medical debt and elevated mortality rates were consistent for all leading causes of death, including cancer (1.12 [95% CI, 1.02-1.22]), heart disease (1.39 [95% CI, 1.21-1.57]), and suicide (0.09 [95% CI, 0.06-0.11]) per 100 000 person-years. Similar patterns were observed for associations between the median amount of medical debt and the aforementioned health outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that medical debt is associated with worse health status, more premature deaths, and higher mortality rates at the county level in the US. Therefore, policies increasing access to affordable health care, such as expanding health insurance coverage, may improve population health.

PMID:38436960 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.54766