Tag: statistics

JMIR Form Res. 2024 May 24;8:e51977. doi: 10.2196/51977.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that social interaction has an inverse association with the development of neurodegenerative diseases. PREDICT-Parkinson Disease (PREDICT-PD) is an online UK cohort study that stratifies participants for risk of future Parkinson disease (PD).

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the methodological approach and feasibility of assessing the digital social characteristics of people at risk of developing PD and their social capital within the PREDICT-PD platform, making hypotheses about the relationship between web-based social engagement and potential predictive risk indicators of PD.

METHODS: A web-based application was built to enable social interaction through the PREDICT-PD portal. Feedback from existing members of the cohort was sought and informed the design of the pilot. Dedicated staff used weekly engagement activities, consisting of PD-related research, facts, and queries, to stimulate discussion. Data were collected by the hosting platform. We examined the pattern of connections generated over time through the cumulative number of posts and replies and ego networks using social network analysis. We used network metrics to describe the bonding, bridging, and linking of social capital among participants on the platform. Relevant demographic data and Parkinson risk scores (expressed as an odd 1:x) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Regression analysis was conducted to estimate the relationship between risk scores (after log transformation) and network measures.

RESULTS: Overall, 219 participants took part in a 4-month pilot forum embedded in the study website. In it, 200 people (n=80, 40% male and n=113, 57% female) connected in a large group, where most pairs of users could reach one another either directly or indirectly through other users. A total of 59% (20/34) of discussions were spontaneously started by participants. Participation was asynchronous, with some individuals acting as “brokers” between groups of discussions. As more participants joined the forum and connected to one another through online posts, distinct groups of connected users started to emerge. This pilot showed that a forum application within the cohort web platform was feasible and acceptable and fostered digital social interaction. Matching participants’ web-based social engagement with previously collected data at individual level in the PREDICT-PD study was feasible, showing potential for future analyses correlating online network characteristics with the risk of PD over time, as well as testing digital social engagement as an intervention to modify the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: The results from the pilot suggest that an online forum can serve as an intervention to enhance social connectedness and investigate whether patterns of online engagement can impact the risk of developing PD through long-term follow-up. This highlights the potential of leveraging online platforms to study the role of social capital in moderating PD risk and underscores the feasibility of such approaches in future research or interventions.

PMID:38788211 | DOI:10.2196/51977

West Afr J Med. 2024 Mar 29;41(3):317-321.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is still the leading male cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigeria, and other low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Early diagnosis is essential to ensuring prompt treatment and reducing morbidity and mortality. Reducing the waiting times for diagnosis and treatment is therefore important.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study prostate cancer management waiting times, to serve as a baseline in improving the quality of cancer care in the Nigerian populace.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a ten-year retrospective study of waiting times of all histologically-confirmed prostate cancer patients seen at Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Statistical analysis was done SPSS version 26. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: however, 73 patients with complete data were analysed. The mean age of the patients was 71.48±8.16 years. The median duration of symptoms before presentation was 6 months. The mean total prostate-specific antigen was 82.08±54.9ng/mL. The mean duration between the first visit to the definitive diagnosis was 6.53±11.68 months with a median of 1 month. The median duration from visit to treatment was 3 months with a mean of 9.71±13.4 months. There were no associations between occupation, highest educational level, financial constraints, and the different waiting times studied (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The waiting times for prostate cancer management were unduly prolonged in this study; patient-related factors did not influence this wait.

INTRODUCTION: Le cancer de la prostate est toujours le principal cancer chez les hommes et la principale cause de décès par cancer au Nigéria et dans d’autres pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire (PFR) en Afrique subsaharienne. Un diagnostic précoce est essentiel pour garantir un traitement rapide et réduire la morbidité et la mortalité. Il est donc important de réduire les délais d’attente pour le diagnostic et le traitement.

OBJECTIFS: Étudier les délais d’attente dans la prise en charge du cancer de la prostate, afin de servir de référence pour améliorer la qualité des soins contre le cancer dans la population nigériane.

PATIENTS ET MÉTHODES: Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective de dix ans sur les délais d’attente de tous les patients atteints de cancer de la prostate confirmé histologiquement et traités à l’hôpital universitaire fédéral Alex-Ekwueme, à Abakaliki, dans l’État d’Ebonyi, au Nigéria. L’analyse statistique a été réalisée avec la version 26 du logiciel SPSS. Une valeur de P inférieure à 0,05 a été considérée comme statistiquement significative.

RÉSULTATS: Un total de 189 patients ont présenté un cancer de la prostate ; cependant, seuls les 73 patients avec des données complètes ont été analysés. L’âge moyen des patients était de 71,48±8,16 ans. La durée médiane des symptômes avant la présentation était de 6 mois. La concentration moyenne d’antigène spécifique de la prostate (PSA) total était de 82,08±54,9 ng/mL. La durée moyenne entre la première visite et le diagnostic définitif était de 6,53±11,68 mois, avec une médiane de 1(1) mois. La durée médiane entre la visite et le traitement était de 3 mois, avec une moyenne de 9,71±13,4 mois. Aucune association n’a été observée entre l’occupation, le plus haut niveau d’éducation, les contraintes financières et les différents délais d’attente étudiés (P>0,05).

CONCLUSION: Les délais d’attente pour la prise en charge du cancer de la prostate étaient anormalement prolongés dans cette étude ; les facteurs liés au patient n’ont pas influencé cette attente.

MOTS-CLÉS: Cancer de la prostate, Délai d’attente, Délai, Diagnostic, Traitement.

PMID:38788158

Epidemiology. 2024 May 24. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001744. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Estimating the instantaneous reproduction number () in near real time is crucial for monitoring and responding to epidemic outbreaks on a daily basis. However, such estimates often suffer from bias due to reporting delays inherent in surveillance systems. We propose a fast and flexible Bayesian methodology to overcome this challenge by estimating while taking into account reporting delays. Furthermore, the method naturally takes into account the uncertainty associated with the nowcasting of cases to get a valid uncertainty estimation of the nowcasted reproduction number. We evaluate the proposed methodology through a simulation study and apply it to COVID-19 incidence data in Belgium.

PMID:38788149 | DOI:10.1097/EDE.0000000000001744

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024 May-Jun;61(3):157-159. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20240404-01. Epub 2024 May 1.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38788142 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20240404-01

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024 May-Jun;61(3):156. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20240418-01. Epub 2024 May 1.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38788141 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20240418-01

Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2024 May 24;0(0):1-33. doi: 10.11607/jomi.10924. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the impact of titanium base supported single implant restorations on peri-implant conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comprising a total of 274 implants that met the inclusion criteria, were chosen for data analysis. A random effects model was employed for the metaanalysis.

RESULTS: Data from this study revealed that the Ti-base group exhibited a slightly but statistically significant increase in peri-implant marginal bone loss (difference in means = 0.088, 95% confidence interval = 0.003 to 0.17, p = 0.041) compared to the one-piece-abutment group. These effects were consistent in the subgroup analysis of regular-threaded implants comparing to the microthreaded subgroup. However, no significant differences were observed between the Ti-base group and the abutment group concerning probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and the risk of prosthetic-related complications.

CONCLUSIONS: The utilization of Ti-base in single-implant supported restoration is associated with a slight increase in peri-implant marginal bone loss, while other periimplant health parameters show no significant correlation. Therefore, to determine the impact of Tibase on peri-implant condition of single implant-supported restoration is insufficient based on the findings of this meta-analysis.

PMID:38788136 | DOI:10.11607/jomi.10924

Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2024 May 24;0(0):1-27. doi: 10.11607/jomi.10506. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of simultaneous implant placements using transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) with and without enamel matrix derivative (EMD) application.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned into two groups: EMD+TSFE Group was defined as (n=13 patients, 20 implants) TSFE with EMD application, and TSFE Group was defined as (n=11 patients, 20 implants) TSFE without EMD application. The patients recalled at 3- (T3) and 12- (T12) months after surgery. The residual bone height (RBH), implant protrusion length (IPL), peri-implant sinus bone level (SBL), endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG), and implant stability (ISQ) were measured. Multivariable regressions were performed for the groups.

RESULTS: The ESBG was 3.72±0.85 mm in the EMD+TSFE group and, was 3.10±0.05 mm in the TSFE group at T3 and there were statistically significant differences. (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in ESBG at T12 between the groups. (p>0.05) ISQ values did not show a statistical difference between the groups at T1 and T3, but in the TSFE+EMD group, it showed a statistical increase at T3 in the intra-group evaluation compared to the TSFE group.

CONCLUSION: In this study, it can be mentioned that the use of EMD in TSFE operations is effective in new bone formation in the apical part of the implant during the early healing period, but in the long term, no significant difference was shown between cases in which EMD was used or not in terms of new bone formation and primary and secondary stabilization. The study was submitted at ClinicalTrials.com; the clinical trial number is ###.

PMID:38788135 | DOI:10.11607/jomi.10506

West Afr J Med. 2024 Mar 29;41(3):293-300.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Post-abortion care (PAC) is a crucial component of emergency obstetric care, and many of the primary health care centres (PHC) in the internally displaced person (IDP) camps and host communities in Maiduguri lack it. Improved access to high-quality PACs is essential for meeting the reproductive health needs of the IDPs and reducing the maternal morbidity and mortality that can result from miscarriages. OBJECTIVE: To determine the trend in managing miscarriages in the IDP camps and host communities in Maiduguri and the impact of the volunteer obstetrician scheme (VOS) on PAC.

METHODOLOGY: We conducted a longitudinal study in selected PHCs serving IDP camps and host communities in Maiduguri. The study spanned five (5) years, and we compared the management of miscarriages and PAC services one year before the VOS project, two years during the project and two years after the project. During the two-year VOS project, staff manning the PHCs had supportive supervision with hands-on training on PAC. Chi-square for trend and odd ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used as appropriate to compare the trend in PAC services provided during the study period.

RESULTS: One thousand eight hundred and eight (1808) women presented with miscarriages, and 1562 (86.4%) required uterine evacuation. Medical evacuation with oral misoprostol was offered to 974 (62.4%), and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) was used in 422 (27.0%) of the women who needed uterine evacuation. There was a statistically significant rise in the use of medical evacuation throughout the study period (52.2% before VOS, and 71.4% by the second year of VOS) with ꭓ2=41.64 and P<0.001. In comparison, the use of MVA fell from 38.6% in 2015 to 27.7% in 2019 (ꭓ2=34.74 and P<0.001). Similar rising trends were also observed in postabortion family planning acceptance (ꭓ2=22.27, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The Volunteer Obstetrician Scheme project appears to have improved PAC services, especially medical evacuation and family planning uptake in the PHCs in IDP camps and host communities in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. We recommend task shifting of PAC services and periodic supportive supervision to ensure the quality of care.

PMID:38788122

Work. 2024 May 22. doi: 10.3233/WOR-240118. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The physical condition of workers’ body structure and assigned duties, can contribute to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body structure status, type of work activity, and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among workers in the detergent industry.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 148 industrial workers selected based on inclusion criteria and their medical checkup records. Data collection for the study included a demographic information questionnaire, a body map questionnaire, and an assessment of the workers’ musculoskeletal system conducted by three physiotherapists simultaneously.

RESULTS: 54.1% of the participants had a total body structure score classified as poor or fair. The neck region showed the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (51.4%), followed by the lower back region (35.1%). Significant associations were found between abnormalities in the upper and middle limbs of the body and the prevalence of pain in the right shoulder region (Fisher/F = 9.29, P≤0.05) as well as the intermediate back region (F = 10.28, P≤0.01). Office workers experienced a higher prevalence of neck pain than workers in the product line and technical roles, with a statistically significant Odds Ratio (OR) ranging between 2.7 and 6.6 times. Conversely, industrial workers who operate powered machinery showed a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder (OR = 3.93) and left foot (OR = 4.07). Meanwhile, workers involved in loading and unloading tasks had a higher prevalence of pain in the middle back (OR = 3.61) and right foot (OR = 4.5) compared to office workers.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pain in the right shoulder and middle back may be due to abnormalities in the upper and intermediate body structure. Production line workers reported a higher prevalence of pain in the left shoulder, middle back, and foot compared to office workers.

PMID:38788113 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-240118

Work. 2024 May 18. doi: 10.3233/WOR-230653. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Aircraft software loading tools evolved as enhanced floppy disks and different types of portable data loaders emerged into the modern world. However, there was a lack of academic research centered on the usability of those tools.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the usability of three aircraft software loading tools: floppy disks, Teledyne PMAT, and MBS mini PDL.

METHODS: A total of 20 avionics technicians answered 10 System Usability Scale (SUS) indicators and performed the software loading task. These professionals completed three sets of SUS questionnaires, one set for each software tool.

RESULTS: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) indicated that there were statistical differences in SUS score and completion time. The comparable SUS score and completion time pertained to the following tools: floppy disks & MBS mini PDL and Teledyne PMAT & MBS mini PDL. Pearson correlation analysis noted a significant positive relationship between SUS score & software tool. Moreover, there was a significant negative relationship between SUS score & completion time and software tool & completion time. However, avionics technicians’ years of experience lacked a significant impact on SUS score and completion time. Ultimately, it was recommended to utilize MBS mini PDL. This aircraft loading tool had the most significant impact, highest SUS score, and fastest completion time.

CONCLUSIONS: The researchers presented managerial implications if MBS mini PDL was utilized, including sales increase and overhead cost savings. Finally, this research was the first study that analyzed the usability of the commonly used aircraft software loading tools.

PMID:38788110 | DOI:10.3233/WOR-230653