From the international tobacco control arena to the local context: a qualitative study on the tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship legislative environment in Sudan and the challenges characterising it

Objectives
The aim of the study was to assess the Sudanese tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) legislative environment and the challenges characterising it. We formulated three research questions: What is the TAPS policy context in Sudan? What circumstances led to the development of the current legislative text? Finally, what was the involvement of the different actors in these events?

Design
We conducted a qualitative analysis using the Health Policy Triangle model to frame the collection and extraction of publicly available information from academic literature search engines, news media databases or websites of national and international organisations, as published by February 2021. The thematic framework approach was employed to code and analyse the textual data and the generated themes were used to map connections across the data and to explore relationships among the generated subthemes and themes.

Setting
Sudan.

Data
Using a combination of the keywords “Sudan” and “tobacco advertising” (or “tobacco marketing” or “tobacco promotion”), we collected publicly available documents in the English language. We included 29 documents in the analysis.

Results
Three themes underpin the Sudanese legislative environment on TAPS: (1) limited and outdated TAPS data, (2) stakeholder involvement and tobacco industry interference and (3) TAPS legislation not aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat recommendations.

Conclusions
Findings from this qualitative analysis suggest that recommendations to move forward in Sudan should include the systematic and periodic collection of TAPS surveillance data, addressing any remaining legislative content loopholes and protecting policy-making from tobacco industry interference. In addition, best practices from other low-income and middle-income countries with good TAPS monitoring systems, such as Egypt, Bangladesh and Indonesia, or with protective provisions against tobacco industry interference, such as Thailand and the Philippines, could be considered for adaptation and implementation.

Leggi
Giugno 2023

Protocol for evaluating quality and safety for the public through home care nursing in Italy: a multicentre cross-sectional descriptive observational study (AIDOMUS-IT)

Introduction
Considering the increasing complexity of care and workload for home care nurses due to the ageing of the population, it is crucial to describe the work environment and the community care setting. The aim of this study protocol is to map the characteristics and identify gaps of home care in the community to design future interventions aimed at ensuring quality and safety.

Methods and analysis
This is a national cross-sectional descriptive observational study using the survey method. Nurses from all participating community care centres will be recruited through convenience sampling by the coordinators of each centre, who will act as facilitators for this study. All community care recipients and their informal carers during the study period will be invited to complete a survey.
To map the characteristics and identify gaps of home care in the community, three sources of data will be collected: (1) organisational characteristics, professional satisfaction, intention to leave and burn-out; (2) experience of care recipients and their informal carers and (3) improper access to the emergency department, readmission to hospital, comorbidities, services offered and users’ level of autonomy, and main and secondary diagnoses.
Considering the total Italian nursing population of approximately 450 000 registered nurses, a sample size of 1% of this population, equal to approximately 4600 nurses, was hypothesised.
This study started in July 2022 and is planned to end in December 2023.
Data will be analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Ethics and dissemination
This study protocol was approved by the Liguria Regional Ethics Committee in November 2022. Informed consent will be obtained from participants and confidentiality will be ensured. Data collected for this study will be kept anonymised in a protected database.
The results of the study will be disseminated mainly through conferences, publications and meetings with government representatives.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

What proportion of clinical prediction models make it to clinical practice? Protocol for a two-track follow-up study of prediction model development publications

Introduction
It is known that only a limited proportion of developed clinical prediction models (CPMs) are implemented and/or used in clinical practice. This may result in a large amount of research waste, even when considering that some CPMs may demonstrate poor performance. Cross-sectional estimates of the numbers of CPMs that have been developed, validated, evaluated for impact or utilized in practice, have been made in specific medical fields, but studies across multiple fields and studies following up the fate of CPMs are lacking.

Methods and analysis
We have conducted a systematic search for prediction model studies published between January 1995 and December 2020 using the Pubmed and Embase databases, applying a validated search strategy. Taking random samples for every calendar year, abstracts and articles were screened until a target of 100 CPM development studies were identified. Next, we will perform a forward citation search of the resulting CPM development article cohort to identify articles on external validation, impact assessment or implementation of those CPMs. We will also invite the authors of the development studies to complete an online survey to track implementation and clinical utilization of the CPMs.
We will conduct a descriptive synthesis of the included studies, using data from the forward citation search and online survey to quantify the proportion of developed models that are validated, assessed for their impact, implemented and/or used in patient care. We will conduct time-to-event analysis using Kaplan-Meier plots.

Ethics and dissemination
No patient data are involved in the research. Most information will be extracted from published articles. We request written informed consent from the survey respondents. Results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international conferences.

OSF registration
(https://osf.io/nj8s9).

Leggi
Maggio 2023

'Its just a finger isnt it…: patients perspectives of recovery following finger fractures and participation in surgical trials – a qualitative interview study

Objectives
To (1) generate detailed, person-centred data about the experience of finger injury and treatment and (2) understand the patients’ perspectives of research involvement with a view to informing better designed future studies in hand injury.

Design
Qualitative study using semistructured interviews and framework analysis.

Participants
19 participants who were part of the Cohort study of Patients’ Outcomes for Finger Fractures and Joint Injuries study in a single secondary care centre in the UK.

Results
The results of this study showed that although finger injuries are frequently seen as minor by patients and healthcare professionals, their effects on peoples’ lives are possibly greater than first anticipated. The relative importance of hand functioning means that the experience of treatment and recovery varies and is shaped by an individual’s age, job, lifestyle and hobbies. These factors will also inform an individual’s perspective on and willingness to participate in, hand research. Interviewees showed reluctance to accept randomisation in surgical trials. Interviewees would be more likely to participate in a study testing two variants of the same treatment modality (eg, surgery vs surgery), rather than two different modalities, (eg, surgery vs splint). The Patient-Reported Outcome Measure questionnaires that were used in this study were seen as less relevant by these patients. Pain, hand function and cosmetic appearance were considered important, meaningful outcomes.

Conclusions
Patients with finger injuries need more support from healthcare professionals as they may experience more problems than first anticipated. Good communication by clinicians and empathy can help patients engage with the treatment pathway. Perceptions of an ‘insignificant’ injury and/or need for quick functional recovery will influence recruitment to future hand research (both positively and negatively). Accessible information about the functional and clinical consequences of a hand injury will be important in enabling participants to make fully informed decisions about participation.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus: is it gastric cancer?

The incidence of gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, comprising both oesophageal (EAC) and junctional gastric adenocarcinomas, has increased dramatically in Western countries, correlating with a decrease in non-cardia gastric cancer (GC). A better understanding of the origin and pathogenesis of these cancers may allow for improved cancer prevention, detection and treatment. GEJ adenocarcinomas include tumours classified in the past as either oesophageal or gastric in origin. Adenocarcinoma located just above the GEJ (ie, EAC) was for many years viewed as a distinct entity from GC. This view followed the strong association of EAC with Barrett’s Oesophagus (BE), a metaplastic condition of the lower oesophagus which was viewed as a transdifferentiation of normal squamous epithelium to an intestinalised mucosa in the setting of gastric acid reflux. This assumption of a squamous origin of EAC led to (1) an extensive programme of surveillance of BE patients, (2) the inclusion of oesophageal squamous…

Leggi
Maggio 2023

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness: single-cell transcriptomics sheds new light on pancreas biology and disease

Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing and bioinformatics have drastically increased our ability to interrogate the cellular composition of traditionally difficult to study organs, such as the pancreas. With the advent of these technologies and approaches, the field has grown, in just a few years, from profiling pancreas disease states to identifying molecular mechanisms of therapy resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a particularly deadly cancer. Single-cell transcriptomics and related spatial approaches have identified previously undescribed epithelial and stromal cell types and states, how these populations change with disease progression, and potential mechanisms of action which will serve as the basis for designing new therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the recent literature on how single-cell transcriptomic approaches have changed our understanding of pancreas biology and disease progression.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

'The fact that I know I can do it is quite a motivator now: a qualitative study exploring experiences maintaining weight loss 6 months after completing a weight loss programme for knee osteoarthritis

Objective
To explore experiences maintaining weight loss 6 months after completing a multicomponent weight loss programme for knee osteoarthritis.

Design
Qualitative study based on an interpretivist paradigm and a phenomenological approach that was embedded within a randomised controlled trial.

Setting
Semistructured interviews were conducted with participants 6 months after completing a 6-month weight loss programme (ACTRN12618000930280) involving a ketogenic very low calorie diet (VLCD), exercise and physical activity programme, videoconferencing consultations with a dietitian and physiotherapist, and provision of educational and behaviour change resources and meal replacement products. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and data were analysed based on the principles of reflexive thematic analysis.

Participants
20 people with knee osteoarthritis.

Results
Three themes were developed: (1) successfully maintained weight loss; (2) empowering self-management of weight (understand importance of exercise; increased knowledge about food and nutrition; resources from programme still useful; knee pain as a motivator; confidence in ability to self-regulate weight) and (3) challenges keeping on track (loss of accountability to dietitian and study; old habits and social situations; stressful life events or changes in health).

Conclusion
Participants had overall positive experiences maintaining their weight loss since completing the weight loss programme and were confident in their ability to self-regulate their weight in the future. Findings suggest a programme incorporating dietitian and physiotherapist consultations, a VLCD, and educational and behaviour change resources supports confidence maintaining weight loss in the medium term. Further research is required to explore strategies to overcome barriers like loss of accountability and returning to old eating habits.

Leggi
Maggio 2023

The SEE-IT Trial: emergency medical services Streaming Enabled Evaluation In Trauma: study protocol for an interventional feasibility randomised controlled trial

Introduction
Accurate and timely dispatch of emergency medical services (EMS) is vital due to limited resources and patients’ risk of mortality and morbidity increasing with time. Currently, most UK emergency operations centres (EOCs) rely on audio calls and accurate descriptions of the incident and patients’ injuries from lay 999 callers. If dispatchers in the EOCs could see the scene via live video streaming from the caller’s smartphone, this may enhance their decision making and enable quicker and more accurate dispatch of EMS. The main aim of this feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive RCT to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of using live streaming to improve targeting of EMS.

Methods and analysis
The SEE-IT Trial is a feasibility RCT with a nested process evaluation. The study also has two observational substudies: (1) in an EOC that routinely uses live streaming to assess the acceptability and feasibility of live streaming in a diverse inner-city population and (2) in an EOC that does not currently use live streaming to act as a comparator site regarding the psychological well-being of EOC staff using versus not using live streaming.

Ethics and dissemination
The study was approved by the Health Research Authority on 23 March 2022 (ref: 21/LO/0912), which included NHS Confidentiality Advisory Group approval received on 22 March 2022 (ref: 22/CAG/0003). This manuscript refers to V.0.8 of the protocol (7 November 2022). The trial is registered with the ISRCTN (ISRCTN11449333). The first participant was recruited on 18 June 2022.
The main output of this feasibility trial will be the knowledge gained to help inform the development of a large multicentre RCT to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of the use of live streaming to aid EMS dispatch for trauma incidents.

Trial registration number
ISRCTN11449333.

Leggi
Aprile 2023

Flash glucose monitoring in young people with type 1 diabetes–a qualitative study of young people, parents and health professionals: 'It makes life much easier

Objectives
Flash glucose monitoring for patients with T1 diabetes avoids frequent painful finger-prick testing, thus potentially improving frequency of glucose self-monitoring. Our study aimed to explore experiences of young people using Freestyle Libre sensors and their parents, and to identify benefits and challenges to National Health Service (NHS) staff of its adoption in their care provision.

Participants
Young people with T1 diabetes, their parents and healthcare professionals were interviewed between February and December 2021. Participants were recruited via social media and through NHS diabetes clinic staff.

Design
Semistructured interviews were conducted online and analysed using thematic methods. Staff themes were mapped onto normalisation process theory (NPT) constructs.

Results
Thirty-four participants were interviewed: 10 young people, 14 parents and 10 healthcare professionals. Young people reported that life was much easier since changing to flash glucose monitoring, increasing confidence and independence to manage their condition. Parents’ quality of life improved and they appreciated access to real-time data. Using the NPT concepts to understand how technology was integrated into routine care proved useful; health professionals were very enthusiastic about flash glucose monitoring and coped with the extra data load to facilitate more tailored patient support within and between clinic visits.

Conclusion
This technology empowers young people and their parents to understand their diabetes adherence more completely; to feel more confident about adjusting their own care between clinic appointments; and provides an improved interactive experience in clinic. Healthcare teams appear committed to delivering improving technologies, acknowledging the challenge for them to assimilate new information required to provide expert advice.

Leggi
Aprile 2023