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IntroductionTeenage parenthood presents multifaceted implications, affecting adolescent parents, their children, and extended families. Despite a decrease in teenage pregnancy rates across Europe, the phenomenon continues to present significant challenges, impacting not only the adolescent parents but also their offspring and extended families.MethodsA comprehensive literature review was conducted. Key factors influencing teenage pregnancies, including socioeconomic background, family structure, and access to sex education and contraception, were examined. This review was supplemented by expert opinions from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP).ResultsThe triad of mother, father, and child presents individual distinct healthcare needs and vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of specialized support and healthcare. This paper explores the psychological, social, and educational repercussions of teenage parenthood on both parents and their children, including higher risks of postpartum depression, school dropout, and repeat pregnancies. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role that paediatricians and primary care providers play in supporting these young families.DiscussionThe position paper advocates for comprehensive care for adolescent parents and their children. It recommends preventive measures such as proper sex education and access to contraception to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancies. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for specialized healthcare and support for teenage parents to address their unique challenges and improve outcomes for both parents and their children.

A variety of terms, such as "antiepileptic," "anticonvulsant," and "antiseizure" have been historically applied to medications for the treatment of seizure disorders. Terminology is important because using terms that do not accurately reflect the action of specific treatments may result in a misunderstanding of their effects and inappropriate use. The present International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) position paper used a Delphi approach to develop recommendations on English‐language terminology applicable to pharmacological agents currently approved for treating seizure disorders. There was consensus that these medications should be collectively named "antiseizure medications". This term accurately reflects their primarily symptomatic effect against seizures and reduces the possibility of health care practitioners, patients, or caregivers having undue expectations or an incorrect understanding of the real action of these medications. The term "antiseizure" to describe these agents does not exclude the possibility of beneficial effects on the course of the disease and comorbidities that result from the downstream effects of seizures, whenever these beneficial effects can be explained solely by the suppression of seizure activity. It is acknowledged that other treatments, mostly under development, can exert direct favorable actions on the underlying disease or its progression, by having "antiepileptogenic" or "disease‐modifying" effects. A more‐refined terminology to describe precisely these actions needs to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing examination table paper (ETP) use may help curb carbon emissions from health care. Six participants applied Glo Germ (DMA International) to their hands before a common physical examination (abdominal, cardiorespiratory, hip and knee) both with and without ETP. After each exam, UV light was shined on the exam table and photographs were taken. The number of hand touches on ETP-covered areas and uncovered areas were tallied and compared using t tests. Despite covering more surface area, participants touched areas without ETP significantly more than ETP-covered areas (P <.05). Despite its continued use, patients do not have much hand contact with ETP during common clinical examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the release of a white paper by the International Federation of Dental Hygienists (IFDH), summarizing findings from 5 global surveys on oral health conducted between 2019 and 2023. Topics discussed include toothpaste and electric toothbrush recommendations, oral-systemic links, sustainable dentistry, and oral hygiene instruction practices, revealing gaps between evidence-based knowledge and clinical decision making among dental hygienists.

Introduction: Over the last decade, the emergence and spread of personalized medicine (PM) have defined a substantial revolution in healthcare. In principle, healthcare system sustainability is challenged by the investments required for research and development, as well as the adoption of PM techniques in routine clinical care. The "Integrating China in the International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (IC2PerMed) EU-funded project aims to integrate China into the "International Consortium for Personalized Medicine" (ICPerMed). IC2PerMed aims to align the EU and China's research agendas in this field to enable a swift development of approaches in the EU and China with strong leverage upon EU-Chinese collaborations. Methods: Within this project, we first mapped relevant policies on PM in both the EU and China, and then we involved European and Chinese experts in PM in workshops and Delphi surveys in order to identify relevant priorities for the implementation of PM in sustainable healthcare. Results: As a result of this process, we identified nine overarching priorities, each addressing specific aspects of the sustainability of healthcare systems and PM implementation, with the main goal of supporting policymakers in integrating PM approaches in the EU and China. Discussion/conclusion: The implementation of PM in health systems is appealing in terms of improved accuracy in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of disease, as well as reduction of the side effects resulting from inefficient use of drugs. Research, development, and implementation of needed techniques require time and resources that can slow the adoption of PM in healthcare systems. The nine priorities we identified address some of the most critical points, trying to lay the foundations for a comprehensive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perioperative nurses must provide culturally competent care to all surgical patients, and understanding gender identity and gender diversity may be the first step to creating an inclusive perioperative practice for transgender and gender diverse patients. In the nurse--patient relationship, limited exposure to and knowledge of diverse populations may negatively affect the health of this important demographic. When nurses are unaware of how care can be affected by explicit (conscious) or implicit (unconscious) bias, they may use transphobic stereotyping behaviours or act with microaggressions, like using excessive protective attire. Such care may invalidate gender identity and impede trust. In contrast, nurses practising gender-affirming care validate the patient's gender identity and life experiences, which supports autonomy and creates trust. The aim of this paper is to provide perioperative nurses with a deeper understanding of factors that may affect gender diverse patient's perioperative outcomes. In addition, understanding the social determinants of health affecting this demographic may result in better health outcomes. As such, the holistic care of the transgender and gender diverse patient is the optimal goal, with clinicians employing a non-judgemental, sensitive and compassionate attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progressive improvement of the living conditions and medical care of the population in industrialized countries has led to improvement in healthcare interventions, including rehabilitation. From this perspective, Telerehabilitation (TR) plays an important role. TR consists of the application of telemedicine to rehabilitation to offer remote rehabilitation services to the population unable to reach healthcare. TR integrates therapy-recovery-assistance, with continuity of treatments, aimed at neurological and psychological recovery, involving the patient in a family environment, with an active role also of the caregivers. This leads to reduced healthcare costs and improves the continuity of specialist care, as well as showing efficacy for the treatment of cognitive disorders, and leading to advantages for patients and their families, such as avoiding travel, reducing associated costs, improving the frequency, continuity, and comfort of performing the rehabilitation in its own spaces, times and arrangements. The aim of this consensus paper is to investigate the current evidence on the use and effectiveness of TR in the cognitive field, trying to also suggest some recommendations and future perspectives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first consensus paper among multiple expert researchers that comprehensively examines TR in different neurological diseases. Our results supported the efficacy and feasibility of TR with good adherence and no adverse events among patients. Our consensus summarizes the current evidence for the application of cognitive TR in neurological populations, highlighting the potential of this tool, but also the limitations that need to be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, survival of children with chronic diseases has significantly improved and a large proportion of them now are entering into adulthood. Transition of Care (ToC) of such patients with having childhood onset of chronic diseases to the adult health care system is well organized in developed countries, although it is an emerging concept in India. In situations where the systems for ToC are not in place, such cases are fraught with unsatisfactory health outcomes. With proper ToC in place, these patients are likely to receive uninterrupted care by the adult care physicians and hence reach their full potential. This document highlights the need, rationale and way forward for ToC of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) across the country. It also describes the standard operating procedures to develop the ToC at a hospital level for clinicians and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although child-centred care is increasingly referred to within the nursing literature, a clear definition of child-centred care and clarity around the concept is yet to be achieved. The objectives of this review were to examine the following: (1) What constitutes the concept of child-centred care in healthcare? (2) How has the concept of child-centred care developed? (3) What is the applicability of child-centred care and what are its limitations? (4) How does the concept of child-centred care benefit and inform children's healthcare? In total, 2984 papers were imported for screening, and, following the removal of duplicates and screening, 21 papers were included in the scoping review. The findings suggest that child-centred care is an emerging, ambiguous poorly defined concept; no clear consensus exists about what constitutes child-centred care. Although it seems antithetical to argue against child-centred care, little robust evidence was identified that demonstrates the impact and benefit of child-centred care. If child-centred care is to be a sustainable, convincing model to guide practice and compete with other models of care, it needs to establish robust evidence of its effectiveness, the impact on children and their families, as well as the wider impacts on the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: International electives are often considered a valuable learning opportunity for medical students. Yet, as travelling to lower and middle income countries (LMICs) becomes more common, ethical considerations of such practices emerge. We conducted a scoping review to assess the extent to which five ethical themes were addressed in existing literature about electives, with the aim of investigating the ethical impacts of medical student electives on local resources, patients and clinicians in LMICs. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Global Health and Embase databases using the search terms "(ethics) AND (medical electives)". Thematic content analysis was undertaken using a combination of deductive and inductive themes. The deductive themes included: exceeding clinical competence, use of limited local resources, respect for patients and local culture, collaboration with local community/colleagues, and one-sided benefits in partnership. In addition, we also allowed for emerging themes within the data, and conducted a narrative synthesis of the results. Results: A total of 37 papers discussed ethical issues relating to medical student international electives to LMICs. More publications were written from the medical student perspective (n = 14), than by the host-institution (n = 5), with nearly half written from third-party perspectives (n = 18). Negative impacts on local host students and impact upon patient care were identified as additional ethical considerations. Conclusions: Our review demonstrated that while there is a degree of awareness in the existing literature of the potential negative impacts of medical electives to local LMIC students' access to medical education and patient care, continued work is needed to ensure equitable partnerships. We recommend that these ethical themes should be further explored in pre-departure elective teaching courses and post-elective debriefs to increase medical students' awareness of the impact of their presence on host communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Following years of sustained pressure on the UK health service, there is recognition amongst health professionals and stakeholders that current models of healthcare are likely to be inadequate going forward. Therefore, a fundamental review of existing social models of healthcare is needed to ascertain current thinking in this area, and whether there is a need to change perspective on current thinking. Method Through a systematic research review, this paper seeks to address how previous literature has conceptualized a social model of healthcare and, how implementation of the models has been evaluated. Analysis and data were extracted from 222 publications and explored the country of origin, methodological approach, and the health and social care contexts which they were set. Results The publications predominantly drawn from the USA, UK, Australia, Canada and Europe identified five themes namely: the lack of a clear and unified definition of a social model of health and wellbeing; the need to understand context; the need for cultural change; improved integration and collaboration towards a holistic and person-centred approach; measuring and evaluating the performance of a social model of health. Conclusion The review identified a need for a clear definition of a social model of health and wellbeing. Furthermore, consideration is needed on how a model integrates with current models and whether it will act as a descriptive framework or, will be developed into an operational model. The review highlights the importance of engagement with users and partner organizations in the co-creation of a model of healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of digital health solutions in strengthening health systems and improving health care services. Topics discussed include the global challenge of health inequities with billions of people facing preventable diseases and premature deaths due to the lack of health care access, the interoperability of existing health data which is needed to implement digital solutions, and the periodical's calls for papers about digital health solutions.

Background: The recent crises of bushfires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the southeast coast of Australia were unprecedented in their extent and intensity. Few studies have investigated responses to cumulative disasters in First Nations communities, despite acknowledgement that these crises disproportionately impact First Nations people. This study was conducted by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers in partnership with Waminda, South Coast Women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO). It investigated the collective experiences of people affected by cumulative disasters to identify the practices that support healing, and recovery for Aboriginal communities. The study addresses a knowledge gap of how Waminda, designs, manages and delivers responses to address complex health and social issues in the context of cumulative disasters. Methods: Underpinned by practice theory this study employed Indigenous-informed, narrative inquiry. Culturally-appropriate, multiple interpretive methods were used to collect data including: observations; yarns with Aboriginal community members, yarns with Waminda practitioners, management and board members; interviews-to-the-double, visual images and documentation. The data were collated and analysed using the phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The paper articulates a suite of culturally safe and place-based practices that enhance social, emotional and spiritual well-being following cumulative disasters. These practice bundles include: adopting a Country-centred conception of local communities; being community-led; viewing care as a collective, relational, sociomaterial accomplishment and having fluid boundaries. These practice bundles 'hang together' through organising practices including the Waminda Model of Care, staff wellbeing framework and emergency management plan which orient action and manage risks. The paper demonstrates the need for disaster responses to be community-led and culturally situated. ACCHOs are shown to play a crucial role, and their local responses to immediate community needs are grounded in contextual knowledge and use existing resources rather than relying on mainstream system-wide interventions. Conclusions: The paper suggests crafting responses that focus on assisting communities (re)gain their sense of belonging, hope for the future, control over their lives and their capacities to care for and to be cared for by Country, are key to both enhancing healing, health and well-being and harnessing the strengths of communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The field of digital mental health has followed an exponential growth trajectory in recent years. While the evidence base has increased significantly, its adoption within health and care services has been slowed by several challenges, including a lack of knowledge from researchers regarding how to navigate the pathway for mandatory regulatory approval. This paper details the steps that a team must take to achieve the required approvals to carry out a research study using a novel digital mental health intervention. We used a randomised controlled trial of a digital mental health intervention called STOP (Successful Treatment of Paranoia) as a worked example. Methods: The methods section explains the two main objectives that are required to achieve regulatory approval (MHRA Notification of No Objection) and the detailed steps involved within each, as carried out for the STOP trial. First, the existing safety of digital mental health interventions must be demonstrated. This can refer to literature reviews, any feasibility/pilot safety data, and requires a risk management plan. Second, a detailed plan to further evaluate the safety of the digital mental health intervention is needed. As part of this we describe the STOP study's development of a framework for categorising adverse events and based on this framework, a tool to collect adverse event data. Results: We present literature review results, safety-related feasibility study findings and the full risk management plan for STOP, which addressed 26 possible hazards, and included the 6-point scales developed to quantify the probability and severity of typical risks involved when a psychiatric population receives a digital intervention without the direct support of a therapist. We also present an Adverse Event Category Framework for Digital Therapeutic Devices and the Adverse Events Checklist—which assesses 15 different categories of adverse events—that was constructed from this and used in the STOP trial. Conclusions: The example shared in this paper serves as a guide for academics and professionals working in the field of digital mental health. It provides insights into the safety assessment requirements of regulatory bodies when a clinical investigation of a digital mental health intervention is proposed. Methods, scales and tools that could easily be adapted for use in other similar research are presented, with the expectation that these will assist other researchers in the field seeking regulatory approval for digital mental health products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the decrease in the number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan due to the coronavirus disease 2019, a resurgence is remarkable from 2022. However, Japan's medical support system for foreign patients, especially residents, is inadequate, with language barriers potentially causing health disparities. Comprehensive interpretation and translation services are challenging, but "plain Japanese" may be a viable alternative for foreign patients with basic Japanese language skills. This study explores the application and obstacles of plain Japanese in the medical sector. Methods: A literature review was performed across these databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Springer Link and Ichushi-Web (Japanese medical literature). The search covered themes related to healthcare, care for foreign patients, and scholarly articles, and was conducted in July 2023. Results: The study incorporated five papers. Each paper emphasized the language barriers foreign residents in Japan face when accessing healthcare, highlighting the critical role and necessity of plain Japanese in medical environments. Most of the reports focused on the challenges of delivering medical care to foreign patients and the training of healthcare professionals in using plain Japanese for communication. Conclusion: The knowledge and application of plain Japanese among healthcare professionals are inadequate, and literature also remains scarce. With the increasing number of foreign residents in Japan, the establishment of a healthcare system that effectively uses plain Japanese is essential. However, plain Japanese may not be the optimal linguistic assistance in certain situations, thus it is imperative to encourage more research and reports on healthcare services using plain Japanese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's multilevel medical education system generates tremendous physician human capital heterogeneity. This paper attempts to take advantage of the differences level of doctors' human capital to reveal the relationship between healthcare service mismatch and doctors' human capital using the DRGs data of a province in China. This paper found that: first, a higher level of physician human capital (PHC) in hospitals significantly increases the mismatch of medical services; second, there is a complementary effect between doctors' human capital and medical care accessibility, which significantly increases the degree of healthcare service mismatch, and these conclusions still hold after controlling the endogeneity and a series of robustness tests. Third, the mismatch effect is more significant in surgery than that of in internal medicine departments and the mismatch effect is stronger in county hospitals than that of provincial hospitals. Therefore, both patients' great confidence in superior medical services and the heterogeneity of PHC contribute to the mismatch of medical services in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telephone triage services are becoming increasingly commonplace in modern healthcare. Despite this widespread adoption, health researchers and practitioners seeking to understand evidence-based best practice face several challenges. Firstly, the few systematic reviews available yield small sample sizes, suggesting a small amount of research. Secondly, the rapid pace of development of telephone triage technologies means that there may be temporal validity issues with the available research, given some of this research is relatively old. Thirdly, researchers use different terminologies to describe telephone triage, meaning evidence may be more difficult to find than if consistent terminology was used. This bibliometric analysis therefore is aimed at providing a macroscopic overview of telephone triage, to understand the scale and scope of the available evidence (i.e., where, when, and by whom research is conducted), for interested researchers and practitioners. Additionally, it is aimed at quantifying the prevalence of terms used to describe telephone triage, to recommend consistent terminology for future use, and to improve accessibility of research. To address these aims, literature searches using three different key terms: "telephone triage," "remote triage," and "teletriage" were conducted in Scopus and PubMed. Corresponding bibliometric data was visualised and analysed using VOSviewer. This bibliometric review identified 784 papers since the term "telephone triage" first appears in 1980, confirming a paucity of literature in the field. An overview of telephone triage research up to 2021 is provided, which should serve as a useful foundation for future research and application of evidence-based practice. Gaps in telephone triage research are identified, and the use of consistent terminology is encouraged, with the aim of supporting telephone triage researchers in determining research priorities and improving the impact of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare industry is confronted with the challenge to offer an increasing variety of healthcare services while in the meantime controlling rapidly increasing healthcare costs. Mass customization has been proven to be an effective strategy to fulfill customers' individual specific needs with high efficiency and low cost in the manufacturing industry. This paper investigates the theoretical feasibility and practical applicability of adopting mass customization as a conceptual framework for designing a healthcare service delivery system. The nature of healthcare delivery systems and their evolution are discussed relative to those of manufacturing systems. Recent research in personalized medicine, consumer-driven healthcare, consumer healthcare informatics, and integrated healthcare delivery is reviewed as enabling technologies towards mass customization of healthcare services. By synthesizing these scattered efforts in different streams of literature, this paper concludes that mass customization can contribute to the redesign of healthcare service systems, and delineates a roadmap for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A survey of six of the highest impact psychiatric journal articles (2001), revealed the underrepresentation of non-Western countries. The current study looked at the new trends in the representation of psychiatric literature. We aimed to quantify the articles from High-Income Countries (HIC) and compare it with the rest of the world (RoW) in 11 high impact journals. Materials and Methods: A survey of the country of origin of research data and authors in published literature of 11 psychiatric journals: six of the same journals previously surveyed and five new journals from 2014 to 2016. Results: Out of the total of 5278 articles, the maximum number of 2093 (39.65 %) were from the other Euro-American countries (OEAC), followed by 1546 (29.29 %) from the United States of America (USA), and 727 (13.77 %) from the United Kingdom (UK), and 754 (14.28 %) were from rest of the world (RoW). The highest was in the Journal of Neurology, Neuro-Surgery and Psychiatry 131 (17.37 %), followed by the British Journal of Psychiatry, 85 (11.27 %) and Molecular Psychiatry; 65 (8.62 %). A comparison between the previous six journals and the current survey showed that RoW publications have increased from 6 % to 13.84 % over 15 years. Out of the additional five journals surveyed, a total of 327 papers were from RoW and the Journal of Neurology, Neuro-Surgery and Psychiatry had the highest representation of RoW literature: 131 (40 %). It was more than double of publications by the Lancet Psychiatry and Molecular Psychiatry. Biological Psychiatry had 46 (14.06 %) papers followed by the World Psychiatry which carried 25 (7.64 %). Conclusion: An overall increase in the number of articles from RoW is evident. It is a welcome trend; however, a significant underrepresentation is still evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Clinically, the therapeutic strategy of PD could only alleviate the symptoms. Nursing plays a crucial role in providing patient education, symptom management, and psychosocial support. This study aims to analyze the current state and prospects of research in the field of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its associated nursing care through bibliometric methods to explore the trends that May guide its future development. Methods: Literature related to Parkinson’s disease and nursing care was systematically searched by the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2023. Quantitative analysis of cooperative networks was conducted using bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Results: The analysis covered 2,649 publications in the field of PD and nursing care, authored by 12,576 researchers from 3,869 institutions across 94 countries. The number of articles has steadily increased over the past 20 years. In this research field, the United States and the United Kingdom emerged as leading countries, and Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen was positioned as an international hub. Movement Disorders was identified as the journal with the highest output and with the most co-citation. Prof. Bastiaan R. Bloem published the most papers in the area, and Prof. Per Odin had the highest average citation. The major fields of these publications are clinical neurology, geriatrics & gerontology, multidisciplinary sciences, and health care sciences & services. Hot topics in the field predominantly revolve around Parkinson’s disease, quality of life, and dementia. Conclusion: Research in Parkinson’s disease and nursing care is experiencing a period of rapid growth, with continuous expansion in research scope and depth of investigation. One of the trends identified is the increasing focus on quality of life and the management of dementia in PD patients, reflecting the importance of these areas in research. The study further suggests that future advancements in the field May rely significantly on strengthening international collaborations and addressing global disparities in resource distribution, particularly by promoting research inclusivity and cooperation among low-resource countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization Astana Declaration of 2018 sees primary healthcare as key to universal health coverage and gives further support to the goal of building sustainable models of community palliative care. Yet evaluating the benefits of such models continues to pose methodological and conceptual challenges. Objective: To explore evaluation issues associated with a community-based palliative care approach in Kerala, India. Design: An illuminative case study using a rapid evaluation methodology. Methodology: Qualitative interviews, documentary analysis and observations of home care and community organising. Results: We appraise a community palliative care programme in Kerala, India, using three linked 'canvases' of enquiry: (1) 'complex' multi-factorial community-based interventions and implications for evaluation; (2) 'axiological' orientations that foreground values in any evaluation process and (3) the status of evaluative evidence in postcolonial contexts. Three values underpinning the care process were significant: heterogeneity, voice and decentralisation. We identify 'objects of interest' related to first-, second- and third-order outcomes: (1) individuals and organisations; (2) unintended targets outside the core domain and (3) indirect, distal effects within and outside the domain. Conclusion: We show how evaluation of palliative care in complex community circumstances can be successfully accomplished when attending to the significance of community care values. Plain language summary: Where are the values in evaluating palliative care? Learning from community-based palliative care provision The evaluation of any intervention or service will inevitably involve a series of decisions on what we measure, what criteria we use to judge whether the intervention has been successful (or not), what type of data we actually collect and what methods we use to do this. When evaluating a range of palliative care interventions, we suggest that these decisions have often been taken in a concealed way and tend to favour relatively narrow quantitative measures linked to end outcomes. Our paper reports on the evaluation of a community-based palliative care intervention on Kerala, India. In it, we suggest that such complex work requires a broader approach to evaluation that: makes the values being used to assess success explicit; draws on a range of data types; is interested in delivery processes; and places the voices of participants at the heart of the assessment. The paper concludes with some broader observations on how these principles might be applied more widely within palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia has a major impact on individuals, their families and caregivers, and wider society. Some individuals experience a faster decline of their function and health compared to others. The objective of this systematic review was to determine prognostic factors, measurable in primary care, for poor outcome in people living with dementia. Methods: Cohort studies set in the community or primary care, and examining prognostic factors for care home admission, cognitive decline, or palliative care were included. Databases were searched from inception to 17th June 2022. Identified papers were screened, the risk of bias assessed using Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool, and data extracted by 2 reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus or a 3rd reviewer. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, informed by GRADE, taking into consideration strength of association, risk of bias and precision of evidence. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) and stakeholder input was obtained to prioritise factors for further investigation. Results: Searches identified 24,283 potentially relevant titles. After screening, 46 papers were included, 21 examined care home admission investigating 94 factors, 26 investigated cognitive decline as an outcome examining 60 factors, and 1 researched palliative care assessing 13 factors. 11 prognostic factors (older age, less deprived, living alone, white race, urban residence, worse baseline cognition, taking dementia medication, depression, psychosis, wandering, and caregiver's desire for admission) were associated with an increased risk of care home admission and 4 prognostic factors (longer duration of dementia, agitation/aggression, psychosis, and hypercholesterolaemia) were associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline. PPIE and other stakeholders recommended further investigation of 22 additional potential prognostic factors. Conclusions: Identifying evidence for prognostic factors in dementia is challenging. Whilst several factors highlighted as of relevance by our stakeholder groups need further investigation, inequalities may exist in care home admission and there is evidence that several prognostic factors measurable in primary care could alert clinicians to risk of a faster progression. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42019111775. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe the challenges of collecting data in the Māori population for automatic detection of schizophrenia using natural language processing (NLP). Existing psychometric tools for detecting are wide ranging and do not meet the health needs of indigenous persons considered at risk of developing psychosis and/or schizophrenia. Automated methods using NLP have been developed to detect psychosis and schizophrenia but lack cultural nuance in their designs. Research incorporating the cultural aspects relevant to indigenous communities is lacking in the design of existing automatic prediction tools and one of the main reasons is the scarcity of data from indigenous populations. This paper explores the current design of the New Zealand health care system and its potential impacts on access and inequities in the Māori population and details the methodology used to collect speech samples of Māori at risk of developing psychosis and schizophrenia. The paper also describes the major obstacles faced during speech data collection, key findings, and probable solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The European health data space promises an efficient environment for research and policy-making. However, this data space is dependent on high data quality. The implementation of electronic medical record systems has a positive impact on data quality, but improvements are not consistent across empirical studies. This study aims to analyze differences in the changes of data quality and to discuss these against distinct stages of the electronic medical record's adoption process. Methods: Paper-based and electronic medical records from three surgical departments were compared, assessing changes in data quality after the implementation of an electronic medical record system. Data quality was operationalized as completeness of documentation. Ten information that must be documented in both record types (e.g. vital signs) were coded as 1 if they were documented, otherwise as 0. Chi-Square-Tests were used to compare percentage completeness of these ten information and t-tests to compare mean completeness per record type. Results: A total of N = 659 records were analyzed. Overall, the average completeness improved in the electronic medical record, with a change from 6.02 (SD = 1.88) to 7.2 (SD = 1.77). At the information level, eight information improved, one deteriorated and one remained unchanged. At the level of departments, changes in data quality show expected differences. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that improvements in data quality could depend on the process how the electronic medical record is adopted in the affected department. Research is needed to further improve data quality through implementing new electronical medical record systems or updating existing ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal and child health (MCH) remains a significant public health concern globally despite previous efforts made to improve MCH services. Initiatives such as antenatal care, postnatal care services exclusive breastfeeding, child vaccination and supplements have been rolled out to improve MCH outcomes. However, inadequate maternal healthcare, socioeconomic factors, obstetric haemorrhaging, complications of hypertension during pregnancy, lack of maternal information, poor universal health coverage and uptake of MCH services exacerbate maternal mortality and child mortality rates, especially in resource-constrained areas in many sub-Saharan African countries including South Africa. Objective: This study aimed to review mobile health (mHealth) interventions deployed to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Methods: The study adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses model to search and retrieve relevant literature from reputable, prominent electronic databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, etc.). A total of 26 papers were selected and analyzed. Results: The findings revealed several mHealth interventions such as MomConnect, Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action, NurseConnect, ChildConnect, CommCare, Road to Health Application and Philani Mobile Video Intervention for Exclusive Breastfeeding have been utilized by healthcare workers and women to improve access to MCH services. However, inadequate digital infrastructure, digital divide, resistance to change, inadequate funding, language barriers, short message service and data costs, lack of digital skills and support, compatibility, scalability and interoperability issues, legislative and policy compliance, lack of mHealth awareness, data security and privacy concerns hinder uptake and utilisation of mHealth interventions. There is a need to scale up and sustain mHealth interventions and update existing regulatory framework, policies and strategies. Conclusion: mHealth interventions offer unprecedented opportunities to improve access to maternal information and substantially improve maternal and child health services. Stakeholder engagement and the development of sustainable funding strategies are important for successfully implementing and scaling mHealth projects while addressing existing and emerging key issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative initiatives emerge in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They are often place-based, context-dependent, and are not easily adapted for use in other contexts. It raises the question of their transferability. This concept has been studied in the field of public health. To explore the conditions surrounding the transfer of disability interventions, this study aims to determine the advances related to the transferability of complex interventions in public health. A review was conducted. Data were analyzed according to the concepts and terms used to describe the terminology related to transferability and the processes used to manage, assess, and report transferability. Fourteen papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The analysis shows that different terms and concepts are used. Numerous tools or frameworks have been developed to structure the identification of transferability factors or adaptations and usually require the involvement of stakeholders. Considering context is central. Finally, we identified a lack of reporting. This review provides a structured and operational framework for various concepts, including transferability as a form of knowledge generation, and implementation/adaptation as proactive actions. It emphasizes that a holistic approach to assessing transferability involves shifting the focus from transferability factors to understanding mechanisms of change and their interactions with the context. The review highlights the pivotal role of stakeholders in generating knowledge, capturing diverse contexts, and prioritizing information. Ultimately, this work will serve as a valuable foundation for guiding methodological developments on transferability in the field of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, effective and efficient healthcare is critical to the wellbeing and standard of living of any society. Unfortunately, several distant communities far from the national grid do not have access to reliable power supply, owing to economic, environmental, and technical challenges. Furthermore, unreliable, unavailable, and uneconomical power supply to these communities contributes significantly to the delivery of substandard or absence of qualitative healthcare services, resulting in higher mortality rates and associated difficulty in attracting qualified healthcare workers to the affected communities. Given these circumstances, this paper aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the status of renewable energy available to rural healthcare clinics around the globe, emphasizing its potential, analysis, procedures, modeling techniques, and case studies. In this light, several renewable energy modeling techniques were reviewed to examine the optimum power supply to the referenced healthcare centers in remote communities. To this end, analytical techniques and standard indices for reliable power supply to the isolated healthcare centers are suggested. Specifically, different battery storage systems that are suitable for rural healthcare systems are examined, and the most economical and realistic procedure for the maintenance of microgrid power systems for sustainable healthcare delivery is defined. Finally, this paper will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and experts in rural power supply to remote healthcare centers globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabies remains a significant public health issue in Ghana, predominantly affecting rural communities with limited access to health care and veterinary services. The disease is primarily transmitted through bites from infected domestic dogs and leads to many deaths worldwide each year. Despite various interventions, Ghana continues to struggle with rabies control and prevention. This narrative paper focuses on rabies control in Ghana, examining stakeholders' interventions, challenges faced, and opportunities available. Methods: The paper reviews existing rabies control measures in Ghana, including dog vaccination efforts and One Health strategies. It also discusses the limitations of these interventions, such as minimal vaccination coverage, weak surveillance, and inadequate intersectoral coordination. Results: Ghana has implemented dog vaccination campaigns, but coverage remains minimal. Additionally, weak disease surveillance, cultural perceptions, and inadequate coordination across sectors have hampered the country's ability to control rabies effectively. Conclusion: Adopting One Health principles, which integrate human, animal, and environmental health efforts, is emphasized as a critical strategy to eliminate rabies in Ghana by 2030. By addressing these challenges and leveraging available opportunities, Ghana can strengthen its rabies control programs and work toward a rabies‐free future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing hospitals using multicriteria methods facilitates a thorough assessment of performance across multiple dimensions, supports informed decision-making, promotes accountability, and drives continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. This paper aims to apply multicriteria methods to assess hospitals in Slovakia in the pre-crisis (2019), crisis (2021), and post-crisis (2023) periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment is conducted using four multicriteria methods, i.e., a ranking method, scoring method, normed variable method, and TOPSIS method, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). The research sample comprises a group of hospitals classified under the sector (SK) NACE 86.1—Hospital activities. Seven indicators (financial and non-financial) were entered into the analysis. The results show that the agreement among the employed multicriteria evaluation methods was statistically significant. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that Slovak hospital rankings based on the selected criteria vary over time. The perfect quality of the NMDS models, as indicated by stress values below 0.025, shows that NMDS analysis provides a highly accurate and reliable representation of hospital comparisons. By combining multicriteria methods with NMDS, we harness the strengths of each approach to improve decision-making and achieve greater insights into intricate datasets. A comprehensive assessment of hospitals allows for the identification of the system's strengths and weaknesses, which can be utilized to formulate new improvement strategies. As an additional benefit, this paper includes a bibliometric analysis, offering a systematic evaluation and synthesis of existing research on multicriteria evaluation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite disproportionate rates of mental ill-health compared with non-Indigenous populations, few programs have been tailored to the unique health, social, and cultural needs and preferences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. This paper describes the process of culturally adapting the US-based Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Project to suit the needs, preferences, culture, and circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males aged 16–25 years in the Northern Territory, Australia. YBMen is an evidence-based social media-based education and support program designed to promote mental health, expand understandings of gender and cultural identities, and enhance social support in college-aged Black men. Methods: Our adaptation followed an Extended Stages of Cultural Adaptation model. First, we established a rationale for adaptation that included assessing the appropriateness of YBMen's core components for the target population. We then investigated important and appropriate models to underpin the adapted program and conducted a non-linear, iterative process of gathering information from key sources, including young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, to inform program curriculum and delivery. Results: To maintain program fidelity, we retained the core curriculum components of mental health, healthy masculinities, and social connection and kept the small cohort, private social media group delivery but developed two models: 'online only' (the original online delivery format) and 'hybrid in-person/online' (combining online delivery with weekly in-person group sessions). Adaptations made included using an overarching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing framework and socio-cultural strengths-based approach; inclusion of modules on health and wellbeing, positive Indigenous masculinities, and respectful relationships; use of Indigenous designs and colours; and prominent placement of images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male sportspeople, musicians, activists, and local role models. Conclusions: This process resulted in a culturally responsive mental health, masculinities, and social support health promotion program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. Next steps will involve pilot testing to investigate the adapted program's acceptability and feasibility and inform further refinement. Keywords: Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Indigenous, Australia, male, cultural adaptation, social media, mental health, masculinities, social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide a description and evaluation of a graduate-level Health Services Research Methods course offered at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. This three-credit, round-table discussion-style course introduces students to fundamental concepts in healthcare study design and teaches them how to design and critique example studies for a variety of commonly encountered study designs. The course is assessed through essay-style examinations, development of a research proposal, and low-stakes weekly assignments. Twenty-seven students have completed the course in the past five years. Feedback from student course surveys was almost unanimously positive, with few meaningful suggestions for improvement. The description and evaluation of a graduate-level Health Services Research Methods course at one institution indicates that students had a largely favorable experience with the course. Considerations for future revisions to the course are discussed alongside other lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal Brain Sciences on recent advances in the pathophysiology and therapeutic approaches in epilepsy. The document highlights the global impact of epilepsy, with over 65 million people affected worldwide. It emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the biochemical, structural, physiological, and molecular changes in epileptic brains to develop novel therapeutic targets and treatment options. The special issue includes twelve papers, including research articles, review articles, and a systematic review, covering topics such as drug-resistant epilepsy, neuroinflammation, post-traumatic epilepsy, surgical treatments, status epilepticus, self-limited focal epilepsy, transition readiness, epilepsy networks, and interictal spikes. The articles aim to expand our understanding of epilepsy and contribute to the development of new treatment approaches. [Extracted from the article]

This paper develops a queueing system model to analyze the operations of a hierarchical healthcare system consisting of general hospitals (GHs) and community healthcare centers (CHCs). GHs typically provide a higher level of health care service than CHCs, and thus are preferred choices for many patients' healthcare service needs. Consequently, GHs are often heavily congested and patients often incur excessive waiting time. In contrast, CHCs are often idle and resources are underutilized. To help balance the utilization of resources in GHs and CHCs, a congestion-based information guidance policy is proposed in this paper to inform patients in the GH service queue about the anticipated delay. Upon being informed the delay for GH service, patients may balk, remain in queue for GH service, or switch to receive service at CHCs. This policy is thus expected to relieve the congestion at GHs and promote CHC usage. To study the effects of the proposed policy, a hierarchical healthcare system is modeled as a queueing system with strategic patients. Stationary performance measures of the system are analytically characterized using a Markov chain model. Stochastic and numerical analyses provide insights on how to design information guidance policy that would help improve overall health care service quality under different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal Applied Sciences that focuses on eHealth innovative approaches and applications. It covers various topics including COVID-19 classification, AI in medical imaging, cyber security in healthcare, and the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for coding diagnoses. The papers provide insights into the latest developments in eHealth and address issues such as data privacy, cyber security, and the challenges of implementing new technologies in healthcare. The document acknowledges the contributions of the authors and reviewers and expresses gratitude for their support. [Extracted from the article]

This editorial discusses the need for innovative healthcare solutions to meet the complex needs of the growing elderly population. It emphasizes the importance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and the Internet of Things in the healthcare sector. The document provides a summary of research papers submitted to the topic, including studies on video-based ambient assisted living technologies and evaluating individuals' processing speed. The research papers explore advancements in cross-disciplinary studies in fields such as ambient assistive technology, immersive technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, signal processing, healthcare solutions, and medicine. The papers contribute to the understanding of cognitive processing, motor functioning, and brain rehabilitation, and highlight the potential of artificial intelligence-driven applications in healthcare. [Extracted from the article]

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are playing a crucial role in transforming healthcare by enhancing the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of medical care, research, and operations. These algorithms enable healthcare providers to offer more accurate diagnoses, predict outcomes, and customize treatments to individual patient needs. AI also improves operational efficiency by automating routine tasks and optimizing resource management. However, there are challenges to adopting AI in healthcare, such as data privacy concerns and potential biases in algorithms. Collaboration among stakeholders is necessary to ensure ethical use of AI and its positive impact on the field. AI also has applications in medical research, preventive medicine, and public health. It is important to recognize that AI should augment, not replace, the expertise and compassionate care provided by healthcare professionals. The ethical implications and societal impact of AI in healthcare must be carefully considered, guided by fairness, transparency, and accountability principles. Several research papers in this special issue explore the application of AI algorithms in various aspects of healthcare, such as gait analysis for Parkinson's disease diagnosis, human activity recognition, heart disease prediction, compliance assessment with clinical protocols, epidemic management, neurological complications identification, fall prevention, leukemia diagnosis, and genetic clinical pathways. These studies demonstrate the potential of AI in improving medical diagnostics, patient monitoring, and personalized care. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in the context of limited resources will require prioritising the most vulnerable and ensuring health policies and services are responsive to their needs. One way of addressing this is through the engagement of marginalised voices in the priority setting process. Public engagement approaches that enable group level deliberation as well as individual level preference capturing might be valuable in this regard, but there are limited examples of their practical application, and gaps in understanding their outcomes, especially with rural populations. Objective: To address this gap, we implemented a modified priority setting tool (Choosing All Together—CHAT) that enables individuals and groups to make trade‐offs to demonstrate the type of health services packages that may be acceptable to a rural population. The paper presents the findings from the individual choices as compared to the group choices, as well as the differences among the individual choices using this tool. Methods: Participants worked in groups and as individuals to allocate stickers representing the available budget to different health topics and interventions using the CHAT tool. The allocations were recorded at each stage of the study. We calculated the median and interquartile range across study participants for the topic totals. To examine differences in individual choices, we performed Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: The results show that individual interests were mostly aligned with societal ones, and there were no statistically significant differences between the individual and group choices. However, there were some statistically significant differences between individual priorities based on demographic characteristics like age. Discussion: The study demonstrates that giving individuals greater control and agency in designing health services packages can increase their participation in the priority setting process, align individual and community priorities, and potentially enhance the legitimacy and acceptability of priority setting. Methods that enable group level deliberation and individual level priority setting may be necessary to reconcile plurality. The paper also highlights the importance of capturing the details of public engagement processes and transparently reporting on these details to ensure valuable outcomes. Public Contribution: The facilitator of the CHAT groups was a member from the community and underwent training from the research team. The fieldworkers were also from the community and were trained and paid to capture the data. The participants were all members of the rural community‐ the study represents their priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of chemsex has emerged as an essential public health issue in recent years. This systematic review aimed to investigate currently available harm reduction strategies and to evaluate the efficacy of the corresponding interventions. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature related to harm and risk reduction strategies and the effectiveness of chemsex interventions. Between January 2024 and May 2024, the articles were retrieved from the electronic databases Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, Cochrane, Dialnet, CUIDEN, and SciELO. The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number CRD42024508953). The inclusion criteria were as follows: (I) original studies published in peer-reviewed journals, (II) studies exploring harm reduction interventions for chemsex, and (III) studies reflecting the efficacy of harm reduction interventions for chemsex. Two reviewers independently selected articles by title, abstract, and full paper review and extracted data. Two authors described the selected studies and assessed their methodological quality. Results: The systematic review comprised six scientific papers that met the selection criteria and were obtained from five countries. Although a limited number of studies were included, it was observed that they presented a medium–high methodological quality. Programs evaluated interventions to reduce harm from chemsex, such as a web-based intervention that improved self-efficacy to refuse risky behaviors and accept HIV testing. The studies suggested that peer-led programs can be effective, especially with facilitators who have experienced chemsex dependence. Conclusion: Harm reduction strategies in chemsex are effective and should be promoted by health professionals. Interventions should be accessible, personalized, and non-judgmental to provide appropriate care and support, ensuring a comprehensive and effective public health response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global impact of drug shortages on healthcare systems is a concerning issue that needs urgent attention. These shortages not only jeopardize patient care, public health, and healthcare delivery but also pose distinct challenges for pediatric populations due to their specific medication requirements and vulnerabilities. It is imperative to address this issue to safeguard the health and wellbeing of this specific age group. This review Gaimed to conduct a systematic analysis of strategies for addressing drug shortages in pediatric care from 2014 to 2024. The search included five databases: PubMed, Reaxys, Embase, Scopus, and Science Direct, using the keywords "drug shortage" and "pediatric". The final protocol was developed following the guidelines outlined in the " The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews". In total, 234 publications were identified. After screening the search results and applying inclusion and exclusion measures, a total of 27 original research papers were included. The primary finding indicates that a comprehensive approach rooted in risk management can significantly mitigate drug shortages in pediatric settings. This approach should address underlying causes such as manufacturer and delivery challenges and focus on prevention through enhanced forecasting and vigilant shortage monitoring. The most prevalent response involved seeking alternative treatment options. It is imperative to implement institutional and national guidelines, foster communication, and provider education, and minimize waste to effectively mitigate drug shortages in pediatric settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics face a higher risk of health disparities because of under-representation in the healthcare workforce. Despite the existence of established protection of ethnic groups through political modifications and legal structures, implementation requires deeper enforcement and consistent training to ensure adequate compliance and acceptance. The lack of ethnic representation contributes to the critical importance of multiculturalism in both healthcare delivery and medical education. This paper employs a narrative literature review to address the persistent absence of diversity and cultural competence. This review method allows for a comprehensive and integrative approach to synthesizing current research and identifying gaps, trends, and critical insights pertinent to the research question. The Contact Hypothesis, the Acculturation Theory, and Pluralism were discussed to provide theoretical support for implementing an inclusive environment. Key findings suggest a continuous decline in an inclusive environment towards diverse populations, which leads to increased discrimination, poor communication, and suboptimal patient care. Critical practices to combat health disparities include consistent and comprehensive diversity training with focus on cultural competence and sensitivity that decreases known and unknown biases. Additionally, organizations must establish guidelines promoting equity and inclusion with patient-centered care practices focusing on positive interactions and outcomes. The impact on industries and workplace challenges was also discussed to highlight business strategies that build cohesive teams with employees trained in intercultural competency and high emotional intelligence. A greater understanding of identity dimensions is detected to provide a comprehensive approach to alleviating discriminatory practices. Staff are culturally competent to manage diverse linguistic needs of the patient population at better rates. Such capability is critical for precise diagnoses, accurate treatment adherence, and applicable patient education. Through a comprehensive literature review and specific notations on improving the overall competitive advantage in organizations, this paper not only identifies the challenges but also presents solutions. By promoting multiculturalism within healthcare to address equity and inclusion concerns, organizations can significantly enhance patient care and satisfaction for diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Medical information retrieval is becoming more crucial as a way to support decision-making and improve access to knowledge and information for doctors and other specialists in the field. By the incorporation of medical domain knowledge for relevance evaluation, integrating the medical knowledge bases has the potential to enhance information retrieval performance. The system uses various search algorithms and techniques to provide accurate and comprehensive results to medical professionals and researchers. Medical information retrieval systems are particularly useful for healthcare providers who need to stay up-to-date with the latest medical research, guidelines, and treatment options. The purpose was to study the use of medical information systems to improve the quality of medical care for patients with diabetes. Materials and methods. To assess the relevance of research using information systems in the SCOPUS database, an analytical query was formulated: ALL (“Diabetes”) AND (ALL (“Constant monitoring of glucose”) OR ALL (“Coefficient of variability of glucose”) OR ALL (“Time in the given target range”) OR ALL (“Time above range”) OR ALL (“Time below range”) OR ALL (“Insulin pump”). A search query on this topic found 17,532 scientific papers from 1974 to 2023. Results. The largest number of literary sources on the researched topic falls on 2014–2023. During this period, 10,531 works were published. In 2014, 728 papers were published, and in 2023 — 1,499 papers, which confirms the constant growth of interest and relevance in improving medical care for patients with diabetes worldwide. Since the statistics show a steady annual increase in the number of patients with diabetes, the search for effective methods of control and treatment of this nosology is extremely urgent. Conclusions. The implementation of medical information systems in diabetology has significant potential and can significantly improve the control and management of the disease, increase not only the duration, but also the quality of life of patients and optimize the work of medical personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue in the journal Electronics, which focuses on emerging e-Health applications and medical information systems. The issue includes several research papers on various topics related to healthcare technology. Some of the topics covered include the use of machine learning and radar technology for COPD detection, an AI-based tool for detecting cognitive impairment, and a machine learning approach for preventing keratoconus. The papers highlight the potential of these technologies in improving healthcare delivery and offer insights into their advantages, limitations, and future developments. The authors express their gratitude to the contributors and reviewers of the special issue. [Extracted from the article]

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Computable biomedical knowledge (CBK) is: "the result of an analytic and/or deliberative process about human health, or affecting human health, that is explicit, and therefore can be represented and reasned upon using logic, formal standards, and mathematical approaches." Representing biomedical knowledge in a machine-interpretable, computable form increases its ability to be discovered, accessed, understood, and deployed. Computable knowledge artifacts can greatly advance the potential for implementation, reproducibility, or extension of the knowledge by users, who may include practitioners, researchers, and learners. Enriching computable knowledge artifacts may help facilitate reuse and translation into practice. Following the examples of 10 Simple Rules papers for scientific code, software, and applications, we present 10 Simple Rules intended to make shared computable knowledge artifacts more useful and reusable. These rules are mainly for researchers and their teams who have decided that sharing their computable knowledge is important, who wish to go beyond simply describing results, algorithms, or models via traditional publication pathways, and who want to both make their research findings more accessible, and to help others use their computable knowledge. These rules are roughly organized into 3 categories: planning, engineering, and documentation. Finally, while many of the following examples are of computable knowledge in biomedical domains, these rules are generalizable to computable knowledge in any research domain. Author summary: Computable biomedical knowledge, including algorithms, models, and evidence, is already impacting—and will likely transform—health research and healthcare delivery. Representing this knowledge in formats that can be discovered and processed by computers increases its potential for use at scale. Similarly, making these algorithms, models, etc. (aka computable knowledge artifacts) understandable and reusable by others can help facilitate reuse and translation into practice. However, as with other types of scientific software or research data, creating artifacts that are usable by and useful to others requires intentionality, and often additional time and effort. We've developed over 100 computable knowledge artifacts in diverse areas of health research and healthcare and we've learned a few things along the way. We've distilled these lessons learned into 10 Simple Rules to help researchers who would like to make their computational research products available and useful to others. Our work centers on knowledge in the biomedical domain, but we believe these 10 Simple Rules are generalizable and valuable as design principles for any researcher wishing to share computational research products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Public health ethics addresses moral dilemmas arising from balancing individual healthcare needs with societal interests. Ethical considerations in public health during pandemics and disasters aim to reduce mortality rates and minimize social injustice through fair principles. Objective: This paper analyzes public health ethics and ethical values in allocating resources during mass casualty incidents. The intersection of public health ethics, applied bioethics, and ethics of social consequences (through non-utilitarian consequentialism) guides addressing serious public health challenges in catastrophic scenarios. The application of the given interaction is significant for professional medical ethics. Methodology: The paper employs inductive, deductive, and normative methods of bioethics and the methodology of ethics of social consequences. Conclusion: The paradigmatic disparity between the bioethics of pandemics and disaster bioethics lies in the fluid application of bioethical principles and the accentuation of utilitarian demands depending on the severity and scale of mass casualty incidents. Applied bioethics in crisis situations respects the approaches of public health ethics and attempts to increase positive social outcomes. The application of (scarce) resource allocation criteria and triage of patients is derived from ethical decisions beneficial to public health and lege artis approaches of medical bioethics. The paper presents professional and ethical criteria for medically inappropriate treatment within the framework of patient triage; we approach crisis ethics from the perspective of maximization of benefit. Age is not an exclusion criterion of acute healthcare provision in crisis situations. Ethics of social consequences as a form of non-utilitarian consequentialism allowing for social consequences bridges public health ethics and applied bioethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street food may be a vehicle of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to humans. Foods contaminated with ARB entail serious problems or challenges in the fields of medical care, animal husbandry, food industry, and public health worldwide. The objectives of this systematic review were to identify and evaluate scientific reports associated with ARB isolated from various street foods. "Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis" (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The bibliographic material covers a period from January 2015 to April 2024. Six electronic scientific databases were searched individually for full-text articles; only those papers that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. Seventeen papers were included in this systematic review. This study highlighted the wide distribution of ARB resistant to β-lactams and other antibiotics, posing significant health risks to consumers. High resistance levels were observed for antibiotics such as ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline, while some antibiotics, such as ceftazidime, clavulanic acid, cefoperazone, cotrimoxazole, doxycycline, doripenem, fosfomycin, vancomycin, and piperacillin-tazobactam, demonstrated 100% susceptibility. The prevalence of ARB in street foods varied between 5.2% and 70.8% among different countries. The multiple resistance of various bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Klebsiella, to multiple classes of antibiotics, as well as environmental factors contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR), emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive approaches and coordinated efforts to confront antimicrobial resistance (AMR) under the "One Health" paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing care to persons with complex problems is inherently difficult due to several factors, including the impacts of proximal determinants of health, treatment response, the natural emergence of comorbidities, and service system capacity to provide timely required services. Providing visibility into the dynamics of patients' engagement can help to optimize care for patients with complex problems. Method: In a previous work, graph machine learning and NLP methods were used to model the products of service system dynamics as atemporal entities, using a data model that collapsed patient encounter events across time. In this paper, the order of events is put back into the data model to provide topological depictions of the dynamics that are embodied in patients' movement across a complex healthcare system. Result: The results show that directed graphs are well suited to the task of depicting the way that the diverse components of the system are functionally coupled—or remain disconnected—by patient journeys. Conclusion: By setting the resolution on the graph topology visualization, important characteristics can be highlighted, including highly prevalent repeating sequences of service events readily interpretable by clinical subject matter experts. Moreover, this methodology provides a first step in addressing the challenge of locating potential operational problems for patients with complex issues engaging with a complex healthcare service system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimizing care for patients with complex problems entails the integration of clinically appropriate problem-specific clinical protocols, and the optimization of service-system-encompassing clinical pathways. However, alignment of service system operations with Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) is far more challenging than the time-bounded alignment of procedures with protocols. This is due to the challenge of identifying longitudinal patterns of service utilization in the cross-continuum data to assess adherence to the CPGs. Method: This paper proposes a new methodology for identifying patients' patterns of service utilization (PSUs) within sparse high-dimensional cross-continuum health datasets using graph community detection. Result: The result has shown that by using iterative graph community detections, and graph metrics combined with input from clinical and operational subject matter experts, it is possible to extract meaningful functionally integrated PSUs. Conclusions: This introduces the possibility of influencing the reorganization of some services to provide better care for patients with complex problems. Additionally, this introduces a novel analytical framework relying on patients' service pathways as a foundation to generate the basic entities required to evaluate conformance of interventions to cohort-specific clinical practice guidelines, which will be further explored in our future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]