Tag: pubmed

BMC Nurs. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12912-026-05041-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Given the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the field of health and treatment, including nursing, it is necessary to draw students’ attention to this issue from the time of their education. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between attitudes towards artificial intelligence and moral sensitivity in nursing students.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on nursing students from the 2nd to 8th semester of nursing at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Participants were enrolled in the study through a census method. Demographic and ethical sensitivity questionnaires and attitudes towards artificial intelligence were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS-24 software.

RESULTS: Out of 155 participants, 61.29% had moderate moral sensitivity based on the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ), and 38.06% had low moral sensitivity. Regarding the Attitude toward Artificial Intelligence Questionnaire, 76.12% held a relatively favorable attitude and 19.36% a favorable one. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between attitudes toward AI and moral sensitivity (*r* = 0.185, *p* = 0.012).

CONCLUSION: Given the weak yet statistically significant relationship between attitudes toward AI and moral sensitivity, integrating AI ethics education and targeted educational workshops into undergraduate nursing curricula may help strengthen students’ preparedness for ethical AI use. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the study’s cross-sectional design and single-center setting.

PMID:42471693 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-026-05041-9

BMC Nurs. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12912-026-05053-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more common in healthcare, nursing students need to be both mentally and emotionally ready to use it. But feeling anxious about technology might hold them back. This study looked at whether there is a link between AI Readiness and technology anxiety among nursing students.

METHODS: We carried out a descriptive-correlational study with 297 nursing students at Qom University of Medical Sciences during the 2024-2025 academic year. We used census sampling, meaning we invited all eligible students to take part. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Abbreviated Technology Anxiety Scale (ATAS), and the Medical AI Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, and multiple linear regression to identify predictors of AI Readiness.

RESULTS: The mean scores were 3.76 ± 0.54 for technology anxiety and 3.68 ± 0.61 for AI Readiness, indicating moderate-to-high levels. A strong inverse correlation was found between AI Readiness and technology anxiety (r = – 0.648, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that AI Readiness was a significant negative predictor of technology anxiety (B = – 0.32, p < 0.001), explaining 42% of the variance (R² = 0.420). No significant differences were observed based on gender, age, or marital status. Students in higher academic years reported lower technology anxiety (r = – 0.121, p = 0.026), and master’s students demonstrated significantly higher AI Readiness compared to bachelor’s students (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION: These findings show that nursing students who feel more prepared for AI tend to be less anxious about technology. Adding AI training more consistently throughout the nursing curriculum and building digital skills may help reduce fear and make it easier for students to use AI tools in the future. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to better understand causal relationships and to identify effective educational strategies.

PMID:42471688 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-026-05053-5

BMC Nurs. 2026 Jul 19. doi: 10.1186/s12912-026-05070-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Sub-Saharan Africa, nursing professionals operate under intense occupational pressure characterized by high patient loads and an acute deficit of ergonomic support. These systemic constraints amplify the impact of mechanical low back pain (LBP) on work ability, the functional equilibrium between a clinician’s health status and their professional obligations. Guided by the biopsychosocial model, this study investigated the associations of physical activity (PA), pain intensity (PI), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with work ability among nurses experiencing mechanical LBP within a Nigerian tertiary clinical setting.

METHODS: A hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 188 clinical nurses at a federal referral hospital in Gombe, Nigeria. Eligible participants were nurses who had experienced a diagnosis of mechanical LBP persisting for at least three months. Validated instruments were deployed: the Work Ability Index (WAI) captured the dependent variable, while the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the RAND-36 Health Survey quantified the independent variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis (alpha = 0.05).

RESULTS: Bivariate analysis demonstrated significant positive correlations between work ability and both PA (r = 0.435, p = 0.002) and HRQoL (r = 0.388, p = 0.001), alongside a significant inverse correlation with PI (r = -0.312, p = 0.001). The multiple linear regression model was statistically significant, F(3, 184) = 12.525, p = 0.001, accounting for 21.5% of the total variance (R² = 0.215, Adjusted R² = 0.198). Notably, physical activity emerged as the most robust independent indicator in the model (beta = 0.412, t = 3.14, p = 0.002), displaying a substantially greater association with functional work ability than the subjective intensity of clinical pain symptoms.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that physical activity, subjective pain intensity, and health-related quality of life are concurrent factors significantly associated with the work ability of Nigerian clinical nurses managing mechanical low back pain. The empirical findings indicate that higher physical activity levels and lower pain intensities are both independently linked to optimal work ability scores within this cohort. Consequently, occupational health strategies in resource-constrained Nigerian medical environments should consider a comprehensive approach that couples traditional pain management with structured, low-cost institutional physical activity and exercise rehabilitation programs to support the functional capacity of the healthcare workforce.

PMID:42471682 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-026-05070-4

BMC Womens Health. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12905-026-04687-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: De novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may reduce patient satisfaction following a pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery and may necessitate additional anti-incontinence surgery in the future. The aim of this study is to evaluate physical examination tests that can predict de novo SUI after POP surgery.

METHODS: A total of 30 patients diagnosed with stage 3-4 POP who underwent POP surgery were included in this study. The results of the Q-tip test, reduced stress test, and urodynamic stress urinary incontinence test, which were performed before the surgery, and stress test results for SUI at 3 and 6 months after the surgery were recorded. The physical examination tests were compared and occult SUI and de novo SUI rates were determined.

RESULTS: Occult SUI detection rates were found to be 46.7% for the Q-tip test, 20% for the reduced stress test, and 3.3% for the urodynamic test. The rates of de novo SUI were determined as 3.3% and 10%, respectively, at the 3rd and 6th months postoperatively. The presence of gravida, parity, and the number of living children increased the detection rate of occult SUI by the Q-tip test at statistically significant level. It was also determined that the high number of abortions statistically increased the risk of de novo SUI at 6 months postoperatively and occult SUI did not significantly affect the risk of de novo SUI.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that less invasive and cost-effective physical examination tests may be considered in the preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing POP surgery; however, these results should be interpreted cautiously.

PMID:42471676 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-026-04687-6

BMC Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12886-026-05109-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rotational stability is a critical determinant of the refractive performance of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs), as even small degrees of postoperative rotation may compromise astigmatic correction. This study aimed to compare the rotational stability of two toric IOLs with different designs.

METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was conducted including eyes that underwent cataract surgery with implantation of either a monofocal toric Ankoris IOL or a TECNIS ZCT toric IOL. Postoperative IOL rotation was evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery. Rotational stability was assessed using the absolute value of rotation, regardless of direction. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of eyes with clinically significant rotation (> 10°) and the need for surgical repositioning. Statistical analyses were performed according to data distribution.

RESULTS: A total of 61 eyes were included, with 31 eyes in the Ankoris group and 30 eyes in the TECNIS ZCT group. At 1 month postoperatively, the Ankoris group showed a significantly greater absolute rotation compared with the TECNIS ZCT group (median 4° [IQR 3-8] vs. 3° [IQR 2-3], p = 0.047). Both IOLs demonstrated a tendency toward progressive stabilization over time; however, the TECNIS ZCT lens exhibited lower rotational variability at all evaluated time points. The proportion of eyes with rotation greater than 10° was low in both groups, with no statistically significant difference. Surgical repositioning was required in two eyes (6.5%) in the Ankoris group and in none of the TECNIS ZCT group (p = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS: Both toric IOLs demonstrated clinically acceptable rotational stability during the first postoperative month. Among eyes demonstrating measurable postoperative rotation, the TECNIS ZCT lens exhibited lower rotational magnitude and less variability compared with the Ankoris lens, which may be clinically relevant when selecting toric IOLs for astigmatism correction.

PMID:42471673 | DOI:10.1186/s12886-026-05109-9

BMC Public Health. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-28495-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents and the number of cases of bariatric surgery among children and adolescents is increasing; the discussion on weight loss among children and adolescents is becoming polarized.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among a sample of Chinese children and adolescents and the perceptions and attitudes of a subset of Chinese residents towards obesity, weight loss, and MBS for weight loss in children and adolescents.

METHODS: Cross-sectional survey among a subset of Chinese residents, collected from August 5, 2022 to October 30, 2022. Participants were a subset of Chinese population, including adults, children, and adolescents.

RESULTS: A total of 3015 questionnaires were returned. Children and adolescents with overweight and obesity accounted for 16.6% and 9.4%. Gender, education, occupation and age were associated with the perceptions and attitudes of Chinese residents toward obesity and weight loss in children and adolescents; age, occupation and BMI were associated with the perceptions and attitudes toward MBS in children and adolescents. There are 10.8% of the respondents thought MBS was the most suitable method for children and adolescents, and 34.7% were unwilling to have MBS for their children. The percentage of respondents who thought it was appropriate for children and adolescents to undergo bariatric surgery at the age of 12-18 was 18.6%; 60.96% said they did not know enough about the surgery; most were aware that the effects of the surgery included weight loss (84.78%), improved self-confidence/ improved self-image (78.97%), improved disease (e.g., reduced drug use) (70.3%) and better performance in interpersonal interactions (51.70%).

CONCLUSIONS: A subset of Chinese residents are not fully aware of the harm of obesity among children and adolescents and its related complications. They have insufficient knowledge and trust in MBS and underestimate the benefits of the procedure. More health education is still required in these areas.

PMID:42471668 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-28495-7

Perioper Med (Lond). 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s13741-025-00641-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures significantly impact the physiological and psychological well-being of elderly patients. Post-operative delirium (POD) is a common complication after hip fractures in this population, severely affecting treatment outcomes and recovery. Effective pain management during the peri-operative period is crucial for reducing POD, yet the best analgesic approach remains debated.

METHODS: A retrospective study (from January 2015 to December 2020) included 198 elderly hip fracture patients who received preoperative (PO-) or intraoperative (IO-) fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) with 50 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine. Over the first 3 days (assessed every 24 h), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]), pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), and systemic inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) were evaluated. Postoperative delirium (POD) incidence was daily assessed via the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) for 72 h by a trained surgeon. Statistical analyses included intergroup comparisons of MMSE/VAS scores and inflammatory markers; cumulative POD incidence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Normally distributed data were compared via independent-samples t-test, and categorical data (expressed as percentages) via chi-square (χ²) test.

RESULTS: Patients were allocated to two groups: PO-FICB (n = 100) and IO-FICB (n = 98). Postoperatively, the PO-FICB group had significantly higher MMSE scores on days 1-3 (27.85 ± 1.923, 27.49 ± 2.807, 27.23 ± 1.698 vs. 25.80 ± 1.864, 25.73 ± 2.197, 22.57 ± 2.128; all P < 0.01) and lower levels of inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α; all P < 0.05). VAS pain scores were lower in the PO-FICB group (1.58 ± 0.702, 2.26 ± 0.647, 2.40 ± 0.492 vs. 2.70 ± 0.659, 3.02 ± 0.853, 2.33 ± 0.620), with significant differences on days 1-2 (P < 0.0001) but not day 3 (P = 0.068). POD incidence was significantly lower in the PO-FICB group (5% [5/100]) than in the IO-FICB group (15.3% [15/98]; P = 0.0168). No severe complications or mortality were observed during 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Compared with IO-FICB, PO-FICB may confer more targeted analgesia and is associated with a lower incidence of POD in elderly hip fracture patients. These associations might relate to PO-FICB’s potential early effects of inhibiting inflammation and exerting putative neuroprotective-like actions, which are consistent with current multimodal perioperative management strategies and geriatric neuroprotective concepts. This finding provides preliminary support for considering PO-FICB as a viable option in perioperative regional anesthesia selection for this patient population.

PMID:42471661 | DOI:10.1186/s13741-025-00641-6

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09340-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: For a face to be aesthetically pleasant, it has to be well proportioned in all the three spatial planes. In addition to sagittal and vertical dimensions, transverse width of the face too needs to be addressed to ensure proper esthetics. Malocclusion in transverse dimension may not be limited to the dental arches but, it can also be associated with underlying skeletal abnormalities. So, this study aims to investigate the relation between dental arch widths, cephalic and facial indices.

METHODS: The present study was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out in one hundred and thirty-two students meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the Department of Orthodontics, BPKIHS, Nepal. Cranial and facial measurements were performed under natural light. Dental arch widths were measured on study models obtained from the students. The data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for each variable. Correlation between the variables were determined with Pearson’s correlation test with Statistical significance set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Mean age of the students was 22.14 ± 3.81 years, mean cephalic index (CI) and facial index (FI) were 82.93 ± 7.72 and 90.89 ± 7.75 respectively. Brachycephalic head form (65.2%) and leptoprosopic facial form (49.2%) were more prevalent. A significant, weak negative correlation was found between CI and FI. No significant correlation was seen between CI and dental arch widths, but significant and weak negative correlation was found between FI and upper intercanine and upper intermolar width.

CONCLUSIONS: The facial index significantly correlates with the upper intercanine and intermolar widths. No correlation was seen between the facial index and lower dental arch width, between cephalic index and dental arch widths.

PMID:42471656 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09340-0

Genome Biol. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s13059-026-04205-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Realizing the full potential of human genetics requires identifying causal variants and genes underlying association signals. Molecular quantitative trait locus (molQTL) analyses, such as expression QTL (eQTL) and splicing QTL (sQTL), link genetic variants to intermediate molecular phenotypes, but pinpointing causal variants and their regulatory effects remains challenging. Here, we integrate sQTL analysis with deep learning-based splicing effect annotation to identify causal genetic variants and elucidate their functional effects on human phenotypes.

RESULTS: Applying a single-cell GWAS method, scHi-HOST, across 96 lymphoblastoid cell lines with and without influenza A virus (IAV) infection, we identify approximately 43,000 sQTL SNP-junctions pairs associated with 217 genes during infection. Integrating sQTL mapping with AI based splice prediction and statistical fine-mapping, we prioritize 57 likely causal variants that affect cis-acting molecular splicing components, including 5′ donor and 3′ acceptor sites. We experimentally validate one such variant, rs2297616, in PARP2, encoding poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 2. This variant alters the 5′ splice donor site in the second intron of PARP2, generating two protein isoforms differing by 13 amino acids. The derived A allele is associated with the longer protein isoform and increased IAV levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines. CRISPR mediated editing validates the causal effect of this variant on both protein length and IAV infection. Furthermore, these 57 putative causal sQTLs are linked to over 100 GWAS traits, including many variants associated with autoimmune diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work provides a catalog of causal sQTL with direct splicing impacts, providing causal mechanistic insights from genotype to disease susceptibility.

PMID:42471654 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-026-04205-9

BMC Med. 2026 Jul 18. doi: 10.1186/s12916-026-05074-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescent mental distress is a prevalent global public health concern. Aligning with the goals of Healthy People 2030, this study aimed to characterize the sleep duration associated with the lowest prevalence of mental distress among US high school students.

METHODS: This study pooled and examined cross-sectional data from 7 waves of the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2011-2023. All data analyses were sex-stratified. We estimated the prevalence of mental symptoms and suicidal behaviors across sleep duration, and examined both linear and quadratic associations. We also calculated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CIs and compared the prevalence of mental distress indicators among sleep duration categories.

RESULTS: Overall, 24.39% of adolescents reported 8-9 h of sleep (female: 22.51%; male: 26.21%). Compared with 8-9 h, insufficient sleep (< 8 h) was associated with significantly higher odds of all five mental distress indicators among female students: current bad mental health (AOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.61-2.30), feeling sad/hopeless (AOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.40-1.80), suicidal thoughts (AOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.49-1.91), suicide plan (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.25-1.59), and attempted suicide (AOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.20-1.66). Results were similar among male students. Across all five indicators in both sexes, the lowest prevalence was observed at 8-9 h; however, most comparisons at ≥ 10 h were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: The lowest prevalence of mental distress across all indicators and both sexes was observed at 8-9 h of sleep; however, most ≥ 10-hour comparisons were not significant, likely reflecting the small proportion of adolescents in this category.

PMID:42471653 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-026-05074-6