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The article describes the Paper Authoring Tool (PAT), funded by the periodical "Addiction," and designed to write-up randomized control trials. Widely available to any researcher, it generates a Word file and a machine-readable version of the paper to support automated evidence synthesis in the form of a JSON-LD file.

Background: There are multiple issues that arise when researchers focus on and only report "statistical significance" of study findings. An important element that is often not included in reports is a discussion of clinical relevance. Objectives: The authors address issues related to significance, the use of effect sizes, confidence or credible intervals, and the inclusion of clinical relevance in reports of research findings. Methods: Measures of magnitude, precision, and relevance such as effect sizes, confidence intervals (CIs), and clinically relevant effects are described in detail. In addition, recommendations for reporting and evaluating effect sizes and CIs are included. Example scenarios are presented to illustrate the interplay of statistical significance and clinical relevance. Results: There are several issues that may arise when significance is the focus of clinical research reporting. One issue is the lack of attention to nonsignificant findings in published works although findings show clinical relevance. Another issue is that significance is interpreted as clinical relevance. As well, clinically relevant results from small-sample studies are often not considered for publication, and thus, findings might not be available for meta-analysis. Discussion: Findings in research reports should address effect sizes and clinical relevance and significance. Failure to publish clinically relevant effects and CIs may preclude the inclusion of clinically relevant studies in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, thereby limiting the advancement of evidence-based practice. Several accessible resources for researchers to generate, report, and evaluate measures of magnitude, precision, and relevance are included in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE Consent processes are critical for clinical care and research and may benefit from incorporating digital strategies. We compared an electronic informed consent (eIC) option to paper consent across four outcomes: (1) technology burden, (2) protocol comprehension, (3) participant agency (ability to self-advocate), and (4) completion of required document fields. METHODS We assessed participant experience with eIC processes compared with traditional paper-based consenting using surveys and compared completeness of required fields, over 3 years (2019-2021). Participants who consented to a clinical trial at a large academic cancer center via paper or eIC were invited to either pre-COVID-19 pandemic survey 1 (technology burden) or intrapandemic survey 2 (comprehension and agency). Consent document completeness was assessed via electronic health records. RESULTS On survey 1, 83% of participants (n = 777) indicated eIC was easy or very easy to use; discomfort with technology overall was not correlated with discomfort using eIC. For survey 2, eIC (n = 262) and paper consenters (n = 193) had similar comprehension scores. All participants responded favorably to at least five of six agency statements; however, eIC generated a higher proportion of positive free-text comments (P < .05), with themes such as thoroughness of the discussion and consenter professionalism. eIC use yielded no completeness errors across 235 consents versus 6.4% for paper (P < .001). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that eIC when compared with paper (1) did not increase technology burden, (2) supported comparable comprehension, (3) upheld key elements of participant agency, and (4) increased completion of mandatory consent fields. The results support a broader call for organizations to offer eIC for clinical research discussions to enhance the overall participant experience and increase the completeness of the consent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, PET was regarded as a luxurious way of performing myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, with excellent image quality and diagnostic capabilities that hardly justified the additional cost and procedural effort. Quantitative perfusion PET was considered a major improvement over standard qualitative imaging, because it allows the measurement of parameters not otherwise available, but for many years its use was confined to academic and research settings. In recent years, however, several factors have contributed to the renewal of interest in quantitative perfusion PET, which has become a much more readily accessible technique due to progress in hardware and the availability of dedicated and user-friendly platforms and programs. In spite of this evolution and of the growing evidence that quantitative perfusion PET can play a role in the clinical setting, there are not yet clear indications for its clinical use. Therefore, the Cardiovascular Committee of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, starting from the experience of its members, decided to examine the current literature on quantitative perfusion PET to (1) evaluate the rationale for its clinical use, (2) identify the main methodological requirements, (3) identify the remaining technical difficulties, (4) define the most reliable interpretation criteria, and finally (5) tentatively delineate currently acceptable and possibly appropriate clinical indications. The present position paper must be considered as a starting point aiming to promote a wider use of quantitative perfusion PET and to encourage the conception and execution of the studies needed to definitely establish its role in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary This paper aims to do two things: First, we want to show the reader how to critique a published research paper. The second aim is to take the reader through the various stages of critiquing using a guide., In the paper, we explain at each stage the research terms that can deter the novice critic from reading and understanding the findings in research., From this we hope the reader will have developed an ability to do their own critiquing, so that they are better informed about the quality of research that influences nursing practice., Abstract In this paper we have taken a previously published paper on the effectiveness of clinical supervision and undertaken a systematic critique of the merits of this quantitative research using a recognized critiquing framework compiled by Coughlan et al. (2007). Our purpose was twofold: First, we wanted to demonstrate the various stages of critiquing a paper in order that the reader might make an informed judgment of the quality and relevance of the research. The reader/critic is then able to decide whether to use this research in their own practice. Second, we wanted to assist the reader to develop their own critical, analytical skills through methodically appraising the merits of published research. Nursing as an evidence-based profession requires nurses at both pre- and post-registration level to be able to understand, synthesize and critique research, this being a fundamental part of many nursing curricula. These have become core skills to acquire because implementing up-to-date evidence is the cornerstone of contemporary nursing practice. We have provided in this paper a template for critiquing, which is based on our combined experiences as academics specifically in teaching at the bachelor, master's and doctoral levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic recording of vital sign observations (e-Obs) has become increasingly prevalent in hospital care. The evidence of clinical impact for these systems is mixed. Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the effect of e-Obs versus paper documentation (paper) on length of stay (time between trauma unit admission and "fit to discharge") for trauma patients. Methods: A single-center, randomized stepped-wedge study of e-Obs against paper was conducted in two 26-bed trauma wards at a medium-sized UK teaching hospital. Randomization of the phased intervention order to 12 study areas was computer generated. The primary outcome was length of stay. Results: A total of 1232 patient episodes were randomized (paper: 628, e-Obs: 604). There were 37 deaths in hospital: 21 in the paper arm and 16 in the e-Obs arm. For discharged patients, the median length of stay was 5.4 (range: 0.2-79.0) days on the paper arm and 5.6 (range: 0.1-236.7) days on the e-Obs arm. Competing risks regression analysis for time to discharge showed no difference between the treatment arms (subhazard ratio: 1.05; 95% CI 0.82-1.35; P=.68). A greater proportion of patient episodes contained an Early Warning Score (EWS) ≥3 using the e-Obs system than using paper (subhazard ratio: 1.63; 95% CI 1.28-2.09; P<.001). However, there was no difference in the time to the subsequent observation, "escalation time" (hazard ratio 1.05; 95% CI 0.80-1.38; P=.70). Conclusions: The phased introduction of an e-Obs documentation system was not associated with a change in length of stay. A greater proportion of patient episodes contained an EWS≥3 using the e-Obs system, but this was not associated with a change in "escalation time." Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN91040762; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN91040762 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/72prakGTU) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women in Africa are experiencing a rising burden of endometrial cancer. Research and investment to improve treatment and outcomes are critically needed. We systematically reviewed and characterized endometrial cancer-related research within a clinically relevant context to help organize and assess existing endometrial cancer research in Africa. Methods: According to PRISMA guidelines, we searched online databases for published endometrial cancer articles from African countries from January 1, 2011, to July 20, 2021. Based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria, independent reviewers documented the study design, country/region, human development index, focus of research, type of interventions performed, and histologic and molecular type to illustrate the breadth of research coverage in each region. Results: A total of 18 research articles were included. With an average Human Development Index (HDI) in Africa of 0.536, the average HDI of the represented countries in this study was 0.709. The majority (88.9%) of prospective endometrial cancer research articles in Africa were from North Africa, with Egypt encompassing 83.3% of the papers. Most of these studies focused on endometrial cancer diagnosis. Research on the treatment of endometrial cancer is still emerging (33% of papers). Of all included articles, only 11.1% represented Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority population of black Africans reside. Conclusions: Endometrial cancer research in Africa is extremely limited, with the majority being concentrated in African countries with higher HDIs. As the incidence of endometrial cancer rises in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a pressing need for more prospective clinical research to tackle the growing disease burden and improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has produced an unprecedented amount of scientific research, with over 100,000 articles on the SARS-COV2 virus or the associated pandemic published within the first year. To effectively disseminate such a large volume of research, some academic journal publishers altered their review criteria, and many articles were made available before undergoing a traditional review process. However, with this rapid influx of information, multiple COVID-19 articles have been retracted or withdrawn. Some researchers have expressed concern that these retractions call into question the validity of an expedited review process and the overall quality of the larger body of COVID-19 research. We examined 68 removed articles and determined that many of the articles were removed for unknown reasons (n = 22) or as duplications (n = 12); 24 papers were retracted for more significant reasons (data integrity, plagiarism, reporting or analysis, and IRB or privacy issues). The majority of removed papers were from the USA (n = 23) and China (n = 19). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles in wound healing have become an active research field with substantial value and potential. Nevertheless, there are few bibliometric studies in this field. We aimed to visualise the research hot spots and trends of extracellular vesicles in wound healing using a bibliometric analysis to help understand the future development of basic and clinical research. The articles and reviews regarding extracellular vesicles in the wound healing were selected from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewers, CiteSpace and R package "bibliometric" were used to conduct this bibliometric analysis. A total of 1225 articles from 56 countries led by China and the United States were included. The number of publications related to extracellular vesicles increased year by year. Shanghai Jiaotong University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Sun Yat‐sen University and Central South University are the main research institutions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is the most popular journal in this field, while Stem Cell Research & Therapy is the most frequently cited journal. These papers come from 7546 authors, among which Zhang Wei has published the most papers and Zhang Bin has the most cocited papers. The research on the treatment strategy of extracellular vesicles in the process of wound healing is the main topic in this field. "exosomes", "miRNA", "angiogenesis", "regenerative medicine", "inflammation" and "diabetic wound" are the main key words of emerging research hotspots. This is the first bibliometric study, which comprehensively summarises the research trend and development of extracellular vesicles and exocrine bodies in wound healing. These informations determine the latest research frontiers and hot directions, and provide reference for the study of extracellular vesicles and exosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Involvement in research activities is complex in pediatric nursing and allied health professionals (AHPs). It is important to understand which individual factors are associated with it to inform policy makers in promoting research. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to describe the level of participation in research activities over the last ten years of nurses and AHPs working in a tertiary pediatric hospital. A large sample of nurses and AHPs working in an Italian academic tertiary pediatric hospital completed an online self-report questionnaire between June and December 2018. Three multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to predict participation in research projects, speaking at conferences, and writing scientific articles. Results: Overall, data from 921 health professionals were analyzed (response rate = 66%), of which about 21% (n = 196) reported participating in a research project, while 33% (n = 297) had attended a scientific conference as a speaker, and 11% (n = 94) had written at least one scientific paper. Having a Master or a Regional Advanced Course, working as an AHP or a ward manager, as well as regularly reading scientific journals and participation in an internal hospital research group or attendance in a specific course about research in the hospital, significantly predicted participation in research projects, speaking at conferences and writing scientific papers. It is important to foster research interest and competencies among health professionals to improve participation in research projects, speaking at conferences, and writing scientific papers. Conclusions: Overall, we found a good level of attendance at conferences as speakers (33%), a moderate level of participation in research (21%), and low levels for writing scientific papers (11%). Our study highlighted the need to support participation in research activities among nurses and AHPs. Policymakers should identify strategies to promote research among nurses and AHPs, such as protected rewarded time for research, specific education, strengthened collaboration with academics, and financial support. Moreover, hospital managers should promote the development of research culture among health professionals, to improve their research competencies and evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire has been a commonly applied measure of physical activity in research among persons with multiple sclerosis over the past decade. This paper provides a comprehensive description of its application and inclusion in research on physical activity in multiple sclerosis. Method: This comprehensive, narrative review included papers that were published between 1985 and 2017, written in English, involved participants with multiple sclerosis as a primary population, measured physical activity, and cited one of the two original Godin papers. Results and Conclusion: There is a broad scope of research that has included the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire in persons with multiple sclerosis. Overall, 8 papers evaluated its psychometric properties, 21 evaluated patterns of physical activity, 24 evaluated correlates or determinants of physical activity, 28 evaluated outcomes or consequences of physical activity, and 15 evaluated physical activity interventions. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire is a valid self-report measure of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis, and further is an appropriate, simple, and effective tool for describing patterns of physical activity, examining correlates and outcomes of physical activity, and provides a sensitive outcome for measuring change in physical activity after an intervention. There is increasing interest in physical activity and its benefits in multiple sclerosis. The study of physical activity requires appropriate and standardized measures. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire is a common self-report measure of physical activity for persons with multiple sclerosis. Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire scores are reliable measures of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis. The Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire further is an appropriate, simple, and effective tool for describing patterns of physical activity, examining correlates and outcomes of physical activity participation, and is an advantageous primary outcome for measuring change in physical activity in response to an intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents highlights of clinical papers related to equine veterinary medicine. A study by Safia Barazkai and colleagues describe oesophageal incompetence, observed endoscopically, following prosthetic laryngoplasty. C. Fielding and colleagues offers a retrospective study on the epidemiological and clinical features of equine coronavirus infection. A retrospective case-controlled study by led by Deanna Gazzerro focuses on the short-term complications after colic surgery.

Objectives To characterise the literature on public involvement in health research published between 1995 and 2009. Methods Papers were identified from three systematic reviews, one narrative review and two bibliographies. The analysis identified journals where papers were published; countries of lead authors; types of public involved; health topic areas; and stages of research involving the public. Papers were also classified as to whether they were literature reviews or empirical studies; focused on participatory/action research; were qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method. The number of papers published per year was also examined. Findings Of the 683 papers identified, 297 were of USA origin and 223 were of UK origin. Of the 417 empirical papers: (i) participatory/action research approach was dominant, together with qualitative data collection methods; (ii) the stage of research the public was most involved was question identification; (iii) indigenous groups were most commonly involved; (iv) mental health was the most common health topic. Published studies peaked in 2006. Conclusions The present study identifies publication patterns in public involvement in health research and provides evidence to suggest that researchers increasingly are 'walking the walk' with respect to public involvement, with empirical studies consistently out-numbering literature reviews from 1998. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Globally, biobanks have become an essential tool for the protection and development of human genetic resources, and their development has played a very pivotal role in promoting basic research in life sciences and clinical diagnosis and treatment of major diseases. High-quality and standardized biobanks have become essential for basic research, translational clinical medicine research, and the implementation of precision medicine strategies. Recently, China has established some national or regional alliance-level biobanks; however, the issue of sharing mechanisms has always been a long-term factor restricting the full utilization of biological resources. There are a few examples of colleges and universities coordinating resources to promote the construction of school-level biobanks. [Methods] Herein, the focus is on constructing biobanks in medical colleges and universities in China, analyzing the difficulties and bottlenecks in sharing, and corresponding optimization policy references are proposed. The research methods employed are literature review, typical case analysis, survey questionnaire, and in-depth interviews, among others, to conduct multichannel and all-around research on the problem. [Results] Based on the literature survey, this paper summarizes the problems hindering biobank sharing into internal construction systems, external institutional management, and ethical issues, such as imperfect sample quality standardization and information access, informed consent, benefit sharing, and other specific issues. Through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and in-depth interviews, the results reveal that insufficient willingness to share, incomplete information disclosure, unclear benefit-sharing mechanism, lack of standardization of sample and information quality, and ethical concerns are the prominent problems hindering sharing. The relatively successful mechanism of the international and domestic representative biobanks in promoting sharing includes the formulation and implementation of unified biobank construction standards and norms, establishment of public and open information platforms, standardization of sharing rules and processes, benefit-sharing and distribution mechanism, and full implementation of scientific and reasonable ethical principles. [Conclusion] By referring to international and domestic successful cases while considering the advantages and foundations of medical colleges and universities, this paper proposes the following suggestions for biobank construction in medical colleges and universities. First, it is crucial to strengthen the top-level design and to create a "centralized and disaggregated" biological sample storage platform and network-sharing platform. Second, it is necessary to continuously strengthen the scientific construction of biological sample banks, promote the standardization of biological sample bank technology, boost the strength of professional management teams, and pay great attention to the disciplinary construction of biobanks. Third, strengthening the construction of the ethical governance system and ensuring reasonable informed consent and data security are important measures to promote effective data sharing while ensuring data privacy. Last, drawing on agreements signed by both parties for sample and data sharing, it is essential to establish the life cycle of research result data, constantly improve the sharing management mechanism, and innovate the benefit-sharing model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: The aims of the review are to synthesise current evidence about advanced nurse practitioner clinical autonomy and consider how this may inform clinical practice and research. Background: Clinical autonomy is one of the cornerstones of advanced nursing practice globally, yet there is limited synthesis of clinical autonomy in the literature. Design This is a narrative literature review. Data sources The databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EBSCO host, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and MEDLINE were searched for publications between 2005 and 2020 inclusive. Review methods: A systematic approach was used to analyse the literature reviewed. Two reviewers undertook quality appraisal. Results: Nineteen articles were selected. Four major themes emerged: (1) 'ANP Stepping Up'—moving into and accepting advanced nursing practice roles and clinical responsibilities; (2) 'ANP Living It'—ANPs' ability to act independently including an understanding of task mastery and self‐determination; (3) 'ANP Bounce‐back ability'—depicted in challenges that threaten their ability to practice clinically autonomously; (4) 'ANP Setting in Motion'—indirect care activities and service‐level improvements. Conclusion: A clearer understanding of advanced nurse practitioner clinical autonomy could help develop more in‐depth knowledge. Research of advanced nurse practitioners' clinical autonomy would improve full utilisation in clinical practice. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Advanced nurse practitioners can encounter challenges that threaten their ability to practice clinically autonomously due to a lack of understanding from other healthcare professional about their roles.Without clarity about the levels of clinical autonomy of advanced nurse practitioners in clinical practice, service‐level impact will be undermined.Research related to the levels of clinical autonomy of the advanced nurse practitioner is sparse. What this paper adds? Advanced nurse practitioners must take responsibility for 'stepping up', but this requires collaboration to demonstrate their advancing clinical responsibilities and in expanding their scope of practice to enhance healthcare provision.The literature identified 'living it' as enabling advanced nurse practitioners clinical autonomy within their working environments, which requires professional support.Advanced nurse practitioner clinical autonomy involves the need for 'bounce‐back abilities' and 'setting in motion', which consists of developing self‐determination skills, leading and driving quality initiatives and service‐level improvements. The implications of this paper The importance of clearly articulating advanced nurse practitioner clinical autonomy in clinical practice is essential to healthcare reform transformation to support full utilisation of the role in clinical practice.The narrative review highlights a gap in knowledge related to the perceptions of advanced nurse practitioner clinical autonomy.This narrative literature review identified that the advanced nurse practitioner actual clinical autonomy in practice requires further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although current efforts are made to diminish the incidence and burden of disease, cancer is still widely identified late at stage. This study aims to conduct a systematic review mapping the existent and emerging clinical research on artificial intelligence (AI) in the treatment of cancer and to underpin its integration challenges and opportunities in the European Union (EU) health sector. Methods A systematic literature review (SLR) evaluating global clinical trials (CTs; published between 2010 and 2020 or forthcoming) was concluded. Additionally, a horizon scanning (HS) exercise focusing on emerging trends (published between 2017 and 2020) was conducted. Results Forty-four CTs were identified and analyzed. Selected CTs were divided into three research areas: (i) potential of AI combined with imaging techniques, (ii) AI's applicability in robotic surgery interventions and (iii) AI's potential in clinical decision making. Twenty-one studies presented an interventional nature, nine papers were observational and 14 articles did not explicitly mention the type of study performed. The papers presented an increased heterogeneity in sample size, type of tumour, type of study and reporting of results. In addition, a shift in research is observed and only a small fraction of studies were completed in the EU. These findings could be further linked to the current socio-economic, political, scientific, technological and environmental state of the EU in regard to AI innovation. Conclusion To overcome the challenges threatening the EU's integration of such technology in the healthcare field, new strategies taking into account the EU's socio-economic and political environment are deemed necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ethical and legal challenges encountered during the GATEKEEPER Project and how these challenges informed the development of a comprehensive framework for future Large-Scale Pilot (LSP) projects. GATEKEEPER is a LSP Project with 48 partners conducting 30 implementation studies across Europe with 50,000 target participants grouped into 9 Reference Use Cases. The project underscored the complexity of obtaining ethical approval across various jurisdictions with divergent regulations and procedures. Through a detailed analysis of the issues faced and the strategies employed to navigate these challenges, this study proposes an ethical and legal framework. This framework, derived from a comparative analysis of ethical application forms and regulations, aims to streamline the ethical approval process for future LSP research projects. By addressing the hurdles encountered in GATEKEEPER, the proposed framework offers a roadmap for more efficient and effective project management, ensuring smoother implementation of similar projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep and diet are essential for maintaining physical and mental health. These two factors are closely intertwined and affect each other in both timing and quality. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are often accompanied by different sleep problems. In modern society, an increasing number of studies are being conducted on the relationship between eating disorders and sleep. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of this field and highlight influential papers as well as the main research domains in this area, a scientometric approach was used to review 727 publications from 1971 to 2023. All documents were retrieved from Scopus through the following string "TITLE-ABS (("sleep" OR "insomnia") AND ("anorexia nervosa" OR "bulimia nervosa" OR "binge eating" OR "eating disorder*") AND NOT "obes*") AND (LIMIT-TO (LANGUAGE, "English"))". A document co-citation analysis was applied to map the relationship between relevant articles and their cited references as well as the gaps in the literature. Nine publications on sleep and eating disorders were frequently cited, with an article by Vetrugno and colleagues on nocturnal eating being the most impactful in the network. The results also indicated a total of seven major thematic research clusters. The qualitative inspection of clusters strongly highlights the reciprocal influence of disordered eating and sleeping patterns. Researchers have modelled this reciprocal influence by taking into account the role played by pharmacological (e.g., zolpidem, topiramate), hormonal (e.g., ghrelin), and psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) factors, pharmacological triggers, and treatments for eating disorders and sleep problems. The use of scientometric perspectives provides valuable insights into the field related to sleep and eating disorders, which can guide future research directions and foster a more comprehensive understanding of this important area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Structured observation can be valuable to complement self or parent reports used for diagnostic information or risk assessment, although this method is hardly used and understudied in residential forensic settings. To fill this void an observation checklist for residential social workers working in juvenile justice institutions was developed, along with an instruction manual and a training program. Findings: In the first two sections, this paper describes how an intensive collaboration between residential social workers, clinicians, researchers, and educators resulted in the development (1) and implementation (2) of an observation checklist for residential social workers. The observation checklist captures six concepts: Proactive and Reactive aggression, Hyperactivity, Impulsivity, Signs of depressed mood, and Lack of reciprocity. In a third, final section, this paper provides a preliminary evaluation of the inter-rater reliability of the six observation checklist concepts (3). Acceptable completion rates of the observation checklist by residential social workers were obtained and the training program resulted in reported improved professional expertise of residential social workers. Moreover, preliminary psychometric evaluation demonstrated acceptable to excellent inter-rater reliability, when expressed as percentage of agreement. Applications: In conclusion, this novel observation checklist offers a promising opportunity to collect information that can be used for diagnostic purposes. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: the worldwide number of dementia cases is increasing, and this is a trend that is expected to continue as a growing proportion of the population ages. However, conducting research with persons suffering from dementia can be fraught due to fears surrounding research risks in vulnerable populations. This can make seeking approval for studies difficult. As research directly involving persons with dementia is key for the development of evidence-based best practice, the development of a coherent ethical strategy to perform such research feasibly and effectively is of paramount importance. Objective: this paper aims to review and synthesise ethical challenges in performing research with persons who have dementia. Methods: in undertaking a systematic review of the current research literature, we will identify the central issues and arguments characterising research that concerns the ethical dimensions of research participation in the dementia population. Data were analysed using both inductive and deductive content analysis. Ethical considerations in research involving persons with dementia primarily concern the representation of the interests of the person with dementia and protection of their vulnerabilities and rights. Results: a total of 2,894 results were returned from initial searches, following deduplication. In total, 2,458 were excluded at title review, and following abstract review 158 papers remained; 29 papers were included for analysis after full paper review and data extraction. Papers ranged between 1995 and 2013. Conclusion: this review has highlighted a lack of consensus in current research and guidelines addressing these concerns; a clear stance on ethical governance of studies is important for future research and best evidence-based practice in dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advances in health equity rely on representation of diverse groups in population health research samples. Despite progress in the diversification of research samples, continued expansion to include systematically excluded groups is needed to address health inequities. One such group that is infrequently represented in population health research are adults with intellectual disability. Individuals with intellectual disability experience pervasive health disparities. Representation in population health research is crucial to determine the root causes of inequity, understand the health of diverse populations, and address health disparities. The purpose of this paper was to develop recommendations for researchers to increase the accessibility of university health research and to support the inclusion of adults with intellectual disability as participants in health research. Methods: A comprehensive literature review, consultation with the university ethics review board, and review of United States federal regulations was completed to identify barriers to research participation for individuals with intellectual disability. A collaborative stakeholder working group developed recommendations and products to increase the accessibility of university research for participants with intellectual disability. Results: Eleven key barriers to research participation were identified including gaps in researchers' knowledge, lack of trust, accessibility and communication challenges, and systematic exclusion among others. Together the stakeholder working group compiled seven general recommendations for university health researchers to guide inclusion efforts. Recommendations included: 1) address the knowledge gap, 2) build community partnerships, 3) use plain language, 4) simplify consent and assent processes, 5) establish research capacity to consent, 6) offer universal supports and accommodations, and 7) practice accessible dissemination. In addition, four products were created as part of the stakeholder working group to be shared with researchers to support the inclusion of participants with intellectual disability. 1) Supports I Need Checklist, 2) Plain language glossary of health and research terms, 3) Understanding Consent and Assent in Plain Language, 4) Easy-Read Paper Template. Conclusion: Community members and individuals with intellectual disability want to be included in research and are eager to engage as research participants. It is the responsibility of the researcher to open the door to university health research. The recommendations discussed in this paper could increase accessibility for a broader range of research participants and, in particular, promote the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disability to advance health equity in population health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) varies globally, with higher rates and burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. CP is a lifelong condition with no cure, presenting diverse challenges such as motor impairment, epilepsy, and mental health disorders. Research progress has been made but more is needed, especially given consumer demands for faster advancements and improvements in the scientific evidence base for interventions. This paper explores three strategies to accelerate CP research: consumer engagement, global clinical trial networks, and adaptive designs. Consumer engagement involving individuals with lived experience enhances research outcomes. Global clinical trial networks provide efficiency through larger and more diverse participant pools. Adaptive designs, unlike traditional randomized controlled trials, allow real-time modifications based on interim analyses, potentially answering complex questions more efficiently. The establishment of a CP Global Clinical Trials Network, integrating consumer engagement, global collaboration, and adaptive designs, marks a paradigm shift. The Network aims to address consumer-set research priorities. While challenges like ethical considerations and capacity building exist, the potential benefits for consumers, clinicians, researchers, and funding bodies are substantial. This paper underscores the urgency of transforming CP research methodologies for quicker translation of novel treatments into clinical practice to improve quality of life for those with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiota, regarded as the second genome of the human body, has become a key modulator of cancer treatment. It is an emerging topic in precision medicine, and many studies have reported that the variability in most diseases and individuals is related to gut microbiota characteristics. Numerous clinical studies on cancer treatment have demonstrated a correlation between therapeutic responses to immunotherapeutic cancer drugs and gut immunity or the microbiome. In this paper, we present the current clinical research on herbal medicines and gut microbiota and explore the possibility of integrative cancer treatment with herbal medicines and immunotherapeutic cancer drugs. We identified six clinical trials enrolled in the Clinical Research Information Service and five clinical studies on gut microbiota and herbal medicines in MEDLINE via PubMed. Generally, clinical studies have used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the gut microbiota. Study findings have suggested that the gut microbiota can be used as a biomarker to predict the pharmacological effects of herbal medicines. Gut microbiota modifications by herbal medicines may inhibit tumor progression. Herbal medicines are metabolized to active substances through interactions with the microbiome and control the dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Further research on the possibility of individualized precision medicine by analyzing the gut microbiota after administering herbal medicine is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper provides a review of statistical methods for tumor-agnostic clinical trials. In particular, the review focuses on basket trials and provides methodological insights into various Bayesian approaches. The key concept of borrowing information through Bayesian hierarchical models is emphasized, and some novel trial designs are introduced. The review is expected to provide oncology and biostatistics researchers with more exposure to powerful Bayesian methods for the design and analysis of tumor-agnostic clinical trials. Basket trials allow simultaneous evaluation of a single therapy across multiple cancer types or subtypes of the same cancer. Since the same treatment is tested across all baskets, it may be desirable to borrow information across them to improve the statistical precision and power in estimating and detecting the treatment effects in different baskets. We review recent developments in Bayesian methods for the design and analysis of basket trials, focusing on the mechanism of information borrowing. We explain the common components of these methods, such as a prior model for the treatment effects that embodies an assumption of exchangeability. We also discuss the distinct features of these methods that lead to different degrees of borrowing. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate the impact of information borrowing on the operating characteristics of these methods and discuss its broader implications for drug development. Examples of basket trials are presented in both phase I and phase II settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To review how the Apgar score is used in published clinical research as well as who uses it, and how this may have changed between 1989–90 and 2018–19. Pubmed search for English publications using MeSH Terms "apgar score" OR "apgar" AND "score" AND "humans" for epochs 1989–90 & 2018–19. The location and specialty of first author, primary purpose and how the Apgar score was used was recorded. There was a 61% increase in number of publications in 2018–19 compared to 1989–90, from all regions except North America. The most common purpose for using the Apgar was to assess newborn status after pregnancy/delivery interventions. There were 50 different definitions of a significant score. Definition of significance was influenced by specialty in 2018–19 and by study purpose in both epochs. Most studies using the Apgar score are focused on the mother. There is no consistent definition of a significant score. Development of any future newborn assessment tools should account for the multiple purposes for which the Apgar score is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monitoring and managing data returns in multi-centre randomised controlled trials is an important aspect of trial management. Maintaining consistently high data return rates has various benefits for trials, including enhancing oversight, improving reliability of central monitoring techniques and helping prepare for database lock and trial analyses. Despite this, there is little evidence to support best practice, and current standard methods may not be optimal.Methods: We report novel methods from the Trial of Imaging and Schedule in Seminoma Testis (TRISST), a UK-based, multi-centre, phase III trial using paper Case Report Forms to collect data over a 6-year follow-up period for 669 patients. Using an automated database report which summarises the data return rate overall and per centre, we developed a Microsoft Excel-based tool to allow observation of per-centre trends in data return rate over time. The tool allowed us to distinguish between forms that can and cannot be completed retrospectively, to inform understanding of issues at individual centres. We reviewed these statistics at regular trials unit team meetings. We notified centres whose data return rate appeared to be falling, even if they had not yet crossed the pre-defined acceptability threshold of an 80% data return rate. We developed a set method for agreeing targets for gradual improvement with centres having persistent data return problems. We formalised a detailed escalation policy to manage centres who failed to meet agreed targets. We conducted a post-hoc, descriptive analysis of the effectiveness of the new processes.Results: The new processes were used from April 2015 to September 2016. By May 2016, data return rates were higher than they had been at any time previously, and there were no centres with return rates below 80%, which had never been the case before. In total, 10 centres out of 35 were contacted regarding falling data return rates. Six out of these 10 showed improved rates within 6-8 weeks, and the remainder within 4 months.Conclusions: Our results constitute preliminary effectiveness evidence for novel methods in monitoring and managing data return rates in randomised controlled trials. We encourage other researchers to work on generating better evidence-based methods in this area, whether through more robust evaluation of our methods or of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We are very pleased to introduce a special issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders on child and adolescent feeding and eating disorders and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Method: Contributions focused on five main themes: (1) the definition and assessment of ARFID; (2) the clinical phenomenology of ARFID; (3) similarities and differences between ARFID and anorexia nervosa (AN); (4) novel treatments for ARFID; and (5) new ideas for improving treatment outcomes in AN. Results: These papers highlight the importance of clear operationalization and measurement of the ARFID diagnostic criteria. ARFID phenotypes bear both similarities and important differences in clinical profile, course, and outcome from AN. Findings suggest the utility of adapting existing treatments for restrictive eating disorders to apply to ARFID and engender clinical creativity to move beyond existing treatments and develop novel interventions that address the heterogeneity of ARFID. Furthermore, burgeoning understanding of ARFID offers the potential that novel treatments for ARFID may also be applied to improve outcomes for AN. Discussion: This collection of papers features child and adolescent feeding and eating disorder patient groups that have been understudied and we hope that this catalyzes clinical research in these important presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To provide a practical example of how a novel methodology and paradigm was applied to a mixed methods study exploring the healthcare experiences of Australian adults who frequently use emergency department services. Design: Discussion Paper. Data sources: We explored published literature discussing philosophical and methodological issues related to mixed methods research. Literature searches were performed between July 2019 and February 2021. Implications for nursing: Phenomenology is a powerful methodology to explore the lived experience of research participants, but it is not without limitations. Mixed methods phenomenology allows nurse researchers to bring further clarity to their research phenomena, however, including phenomenology in mixed methods studies may be seen to be philosophically incompatible. The philosophical metaparadigm of dialectical pluralism provides nurse researchers with a new coherent methodological and philosophical framework for combining participants' descriptions of lived experience with a variety of data collection methods. It is effective when working with transdisciplinary research teams, and stakeholders representing diverse values and disciplines. Conclusion: Complex healthcare environments require sophisticated, flexible research approaches. This paper presents mixed methods phenomenological research combined with the metaparadigm of dialectical pluralism providing a methodological framework that can support multifaceted nursing research. Impact: The combination of mixed methods phenomenology and dialectical pluralism represents a novel solution for nurse researchers to articulate a research methodology and philosophical paradigm reflecting the complexity embedded in everyday nursing practice. This methodology offers a unique approach to exploration of challenging clinical and patient scenarios with multifaceted elements, and overcomes theories of philosophical incompatibilities between divergent methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the journey taken by experienced psychotherapists as they embark on doctoral research, highlighting the adjustments involved in moving from being a clinician to becoming a researcher. Having touched on the complex relationship between psychotherapy and research as a whole, including how badly this has affected the development of a robust evidence base for many approaches, the paper describes the development of a post-qualifying research programme for those grafting research skills onto their clinical roles. The paper then considers how the kind of research undertaken by psychodynamic psychotherapists has shifted from being primarily focussed on single case studies – so remaining closer to the clinical writing of the past – to including both more general social science research methodologies and more precise psychoanalytic methodologies, capable of exploring in depth the processes at work in the therapeutic encounter. The main focus of the paper is on the impact on the students of undertaking their first research project. At the beginning of this process nearly all students underestimated just how much of a shift in their thinking it would involve, and the paper captures some of the key issues and powerful moments reported after their first year. They speak of the humbling impact of conducting a structured literature review and of the complexity of finding a truly researchable question and viable design, as well as the appreciation of the difference between clinical illustration and evidence. They speak of the impact of thinking about the ethical issues involved in research, and of the need to interrogate their design in order to minimise bias. One of the interesting – and to them surprising – effects is that the shift to research-mindedness feeds back into their clinical identities, in a way that is both challenging and invigorating, overall boosting their confidence as practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Care for the sick, including spiritual support is sometimes called holistic medicine. The term bio-psycho-social-spiritual model is sometimes used to describe this type of therapeutic approach patient-oriented medicine. This report indicates the importance of taking into account the spiritual aspect of life due to its beneficial impact on the coping resources activated and the patient's well-being. Existential and spiritual issues are on the verge of new clinical and research interest in medicine, especially in gerontology, oncology, and palliative care. Clinicians focus not only on symptom control but also on spiritual and existential issues such as spirituality, hope, and meaning. This paper reviews the topic of spirituality in the context of illness and end-of-life care trying to define spirituality within the context of health resources of the subject. Spirituality is perceived in two of its main components: faith/religious beliefs and spiritual well-being. Especially this second construct is reviewed and described as a health resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven decision-making in modern healthcare underpins innovation and predictive analytics in public health and clinical research. Synthetic data has shown promise in finance and economics to improve risk assessment, portfolio optimization, and algorithmic trading. However, higher stakes, potential liabilities, and healthcare practitioner distrust make clinical use of synthetic data difficult. This paper explores the potential benefits and limitations of synthetic data in the healthcare analytics context. We begin with real-world healthcare applications of synthetic data that informs government policy, enhance data privacy, and augment datasets for predictive analytics. We then preview future applications of synthetic data in the emergent field of digital twin technology. We explore the issues of data quality and data bias in synthetic data, which can limit applicability across different applications in the clinical context, and privacy concerns stemming from data misuse and risk of re-identification. Finally, we evaluate the role of regulatory agencies in promoting transparency and accountability and propose strategies for risk mitigation such as Differential Privacy (DP) and a dataset chain of custody to maintain data integrity, traceability, and accountability. Synthetic data can improve healthcare, but measures to protect patient well-being and maintain ethical standards are key to promote responsible use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer, as the second leading cause of death worldwide, has become an ongoing public health challenge and its treatment has received much attention, with immunotherapy becoming a hot research topic in recent years. The interferon gene stimulating factor (STING)-mediated signaling pathway has a "double-edged sword" role in cancer, which plays different roles in different types and stages of tumors. In this paper, we discuss the current research status, cooperation, and hotspots of STING signaling pathway in cancer from 2008–2022 using CiteSpace software based on the literature of cancer and STING signaling pathway. In addition, we predicted future research trends in this field by analysis, and the results showed that the STING signaling pathway is rapidly increasing in cancer research, and its role in tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy has become a new hot spot in current research and will continue to receive high attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the case of traumatic brain injury, this paper explores 1) challenges to academic and ethical integrity when in the role of clinician-researcher, and 2) potential strategies to enhance ethical qualitative research involving people with possible physical and/or emotional trauma and temporary or permanent cognitive disruption. When undertaking qualitative research with patients, families, and/or health professionals, a researcher's clinical background may stimulate insightful and relevant research questions, interviews, and/or field observations of care to inform meaningful and translatable practice improvements. However, there may be tension between clinician versus researcher values, and these priorities affect what the clinician sees and interprets in the field. A clinician's ingrained values and professional socialisation can make it difficult to hold their professional assumptions about various phenomena at bay. The principles of human research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence, and respect, along with methodological clarity, can provide a rigorous foundation for discussion of ethical research in traumatic brain injury. This paper discusses challenges and strategies through: 1) examining clinical assumptions; 2) determining capacity for consent; 3) considering dependent or unequal power relationships; 4) determining the scope for field observations; 5) responding to unprofessional practice; 6) discriminating between research interviews and clinical conversations; and 7) critically reflecting on research data. Implications for clinical research are evident: seeing past one's own construct of understanding is challenging for clinician-researchers aiming to illuminate both patient and family experiences of care, and nuanced clinical skills. Careful ethical and methodological planning can protect participants while illuminating elements of specialist practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target paper proposes six solutions to increase the reliability of infant research, with expected benefits for robustness and replicability. In this commentary, I highlight that signal detection theory can help the framing of reliability issues, and that reliability does not address the core problem of internal validity. The relative merits and challenges of the six solutions are reviewed. A seventh solution is proposed to address the validity issue that remained overlooked. The lack of general theories about the infant mind is probably the biggest obstacle to progress in the field. Instead of whether questions, asking how questions should be at the forefront of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphones and wearables are widely recognised as the foundation for novel Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) for the clinical assessment of Parkinson's disease. Yet, only limited progress has been made towards their regulatory acceptability as effective drug development tools. A key barrier in achieving this goal relates to the influence of a wide range of sources of variability (SoVs) introduced by measurement processes incorporating DHTs, on their ability to detect relevant changes to PD. This paper introduces a conceptual framework to assist clinical research teams investigating a specific Concept of Interest within a particular Context of Use, to identify, characterise, and when possible, mitigate the influence of SoVs. We illustrate how this conceptual framework can be applied in practice through specific examples, including two data-driven case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although medication abortion has become more common in high-income countries, the procedure has not yet met early expectations for widening access to abortion. High-quality evidence can serve as a catalyst for changes in policy and practice. To direct research priorities, it is important to understand where quality evidence is concentrated and where gaps remain. High-income countries have developed a body of evidence that may have implications for the future of medication abortion. This literature review assesses the characteristics and quality of published studies on medication abortion conducted in the last 10 years in high-income countries and indicates future areas for research to advance policy and practice, and broaden access. Study design: A structured search for literature resulted in 207 included studies. A framework based upon the World Health Organization definition of sub-tasks for medication abortion was developed to categorize research by recognized stages of the medication abortion process. Using an iterative and inductive approach, additional sub-themes were created under each of these categories. Established quality assessment frameworks were drawn upon to gauge the internal and external validity of the included research. Results: Studies in the US and the UK have dominated research on MA in high-income countries. The political and social contexts of these countries will have shaped of this body of research. The past decade of research has focused largely on clinical aspects of medication abortion. Conclusion: Researchers should consider refocusing energies toward testing service delivery approaches demonstrating promise and prioritizing research that has broader generalizability and relevance outside of narrow clinical contexts. Plain English summary: Although medication abortion is more commonly available worldwide, it is not being used as often as people thought it would be, particularly in high income countries. In order to encourage changes in policy and practice that would allow greater use, we need good quality evidence. If we can understand where we do not have enough research and where we have good amounts of research, we can determine where to invest energies in further studies. Many high-income countries have produced research on medication abortion that could influence policy and practice in similarly resourced contexts. I conducted a literature review to be able to understand the type and quality of research on medication abortion conducted in high-income countries in the past 10 years. I conducted the review in an organized way to make sure that the papers reviewed discussed studies that I thought would be important for answering this question. The literature review found 207 papers. Each of these papers were reviewed and organized them by theme. I also used existing methods to determinine the quality of each study. Most of the research came from the US and the UK. Furthermore, most of the research conducted in the past 10 years was focused on clinical studies of medication abortion. In future studies, researchers should focus more on new ways of providing medication abortion to women that offers greater access. Also, the studies should be designed so that the results have meaning for a broader group of people or situations beyond where the study was done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qualitative research methods (QRMs) bear a critical role in psychiatry as they explore the phenomenology of psychiatric illness and its sociocultural dimensions. However, there is limited evidence regarding its use in psychiatric research in India. Aim: This study, under the aegis of mapping qualitative health research in India initiative, attempted to landscape the use of QRMs in psychiatry and elicited expert opinion on its potential, perceived quality, and scope for improvement. Materials and Methods: We reviewed studies using qualitative methodology published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (IJP) and the abstracts presented at the Annual Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS) between 2010 and 2019. Titles and abstracts were screened and shortlisted; full-text articles were checked to identify the relevant ones. In addition, ten experts comprising psychiatry journal reviewers, editors, and conference scientific committee members were interviewed to elicit their views and suggestions. Results: Out of 356 papers published in IJP between 2010 and 2019, only 12 papers used QRMs: five qualitative and seven mixed methods. Out of 2297 abstracts published between 2010 and 2019 in ANCIPS, only 28 had used QRMs, consisting of 20 qualitative and eight mixed methods. The findings reveal that qualitative research is still an understudied domain in Indian psychiatry with a substantial need for rigor and quality. Conclusions: To catalyze the use of qualitative research in Indian psychiatry, continuing medical education programs through workshops or webinar mode need to be imparted. These trainings should aim at building skills on qualitative study design, data collection, analysis, and writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical research in primary care is relatively scarce. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary care. In Norway, almost all 5.4 million inhabitants have access to a general practitioner (GP) through a patient-list system. This gives opportunity for a PBRN with reliable information about the general population. The aim of the current paper is to describe the establishment, organization and function of PraksisNett (the Norwegian Primary Care Research Network). We describe the development, funding and logistics of PraksisNett as a nationwide PBRN. PraksisNett received funding from the Research Council of Norway for an establishment period of five years (2018–2022). It is comprised of two parts; a human infrastructure (employees, including academic GPs) organized as four regional nodes and a coordinating node and an IT infrastructure comprised by the Snow system in conjunction with the Medrave M4 system. The core of the infrastructure is the 92 general practices that are contractually linked to PraksisNett. These include 492 GPs, serving almost 520,000 patients. Practices were recruited during 2019–2020 and comprise a representative mix of rural and urban settings spread throughout all regions of Norway. Norway has established a nationwide PBRN to reduce hurdles for conducting clinical studies in primary care. Improved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaboration. This will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of care. Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are research infrastructures to overcome hurdles associated with conducting studies in primary care Improved infrastructure for clinical studies in primary care is expected to increase the attractiveness for studies on the management of disorders and diseases in primary care and facilitate international research collaboration We describe PraksisNett, a Norwegian PBRN consisting of 92 general practices including 492 GPs, serving almost 520,000 patients An advanced and secure IT infrastructure connects the general practices to PraksisNett and makes it possible to identify and recruit patients in a novel way, as well as reuse clinical data PraksisNett will benefit both patients, GPs and society in terms of improved quality of care This paper may inform and inspire initiatives to establish PBRNs elsewhere [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely acknowledged across the global health sector that research programmes need to be designed and implemented in a way that maximise opportunities for strengthening local capacity. This paper examines how the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Grand Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) funded PRECISE (PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere) Network has been established as a platform to strengthen global capacity for research focused on the improvement of maternal, fetal and newborn health in sub-Saharan Africa. Best practice principles outlined in an ESSENCE on Health Research report have been considered in relation to the PRECISE Network capacity-building activities described in this paper. These activities are described at the individual, programmatic and institutional levels, and successes, challenges and recommendations for future work are outlined. The paper concludes that the PRECISE leadership have an opportunity to review and refresh activity plans for capacity building at this stage in the project to build on achievements to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews translational research in psychiatry, focusing on those programs addressing the problem of the validity of psychiatric diagnoses. In medicine in general, and in psychiatry in particular, the term "translational" is used with different meanings. A conceptual analysis suggests that there are at least seven different types of translational research in psychiatry: T1 ("bench-to-bedside" development of tools and treatments), T2 (application of animal models to human psychiatry), T3 (papers focusing on the mind-brain gap, studying biological, neurobiological and cognitive dysfunctions), T4 (personalised therapies and prediction of treatment responses), T5 ("bedside-to-bench" translation of population data for laboratories), T6 (implementation of treatments at the population level, including accessibility and quality of services), and T7 (improving translational knowledge in residents' trainings and researchers' careers). Concerning the problem of validity of psychiatric diagnoses, new neurocognitive models like the Research Domain Criteria project are considered, in particular the translational program of cross-validation aimed at reducing the gap between neuroimaging data and psychopathological scores derived from rating-scales. It is shown that these programs are useful, filling some of the current research gaps, but it is also stressed that they carry implicit realist and reductionist assumptions. It is finally suggested that the formation of mental symptoms is a complex process involving both neurocognitive and semantic factors, which raises doubts about the possibility of complete translations, without residuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are a key component of the veterinary evidence base. Sample sizes and defined outcome measures are crucial components of RCTs. To describe the sample size and number of outcome measures of veterinary RCTs either funded by the pharmaceutical industry or not, published in 2011. Methods: A structured search of PubMed identified RCTs examining the efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions. Number of outcome measures, number of animals enrolled per trial, whether a primary outcome was identified, and the presence of a sample size calculation were extracted from the RCTs. The source of funding was identified for each trial and groups compared on the above parameters. Results: Literature searches returned 972 papers; 86 papers comprising 126 individual trials were analysed. The median number of outcomes per trial was 5.0; there were no significant differences across funding groups (p = 0.133). The median number of animals enrolled per trial was 30.0; this was similar across funding groups (p = 0.302). A primary outcome was identified in 40.5% of trials and was significantly more likely to be stated in trials funded by a pharmaceutical company. A very low percentage of trials reported a sample size calculation (14.3%). Conclusions: Failure to report primary outcomes, justify sample sizes and the reporting of multiple outcome measures was a common feature in all of the clinical trials examined in this study. It is possible some of these factors may be affected by the source of funding of the studies, but the influence of funding needs to be explored with a larger number of trials. Some veterinary RCTs provide a weak evidence base and targeted strategies are required to improve the quality of veterinary RCTs to ensure there is reliable evidence on which to base clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurse‐led research and innovation is key to improving health experiences and outcomes and reducing health inequalities. Clinical academic training programmes for nurses to develop research and innovation skills alongside continued development of their clinical practice are becoming increasingly established at national, regional and local levels. Though widely supported, geographical variation in the range and scope of opportunities available remains. It is imperative that clinical academic opportunities for nurses continue to grow to ensure equity of access and opportunity so that the potential of nurse‐led clinical academic research to improve quality of care, health experience and health outcomes can be realised. In this paper, we describe and report on clinical academic internship opportunities available to nurses to share internationally, a range of innovative programmes currently in operation across the UK. Examples of some of the tangible benefits for patients, professional development, clinical teams and NHS organisations resulting from these clinical academic internships are illustrated. Information from local evaluations of internship programmes was collated to report what has worked well alongside 'real‐world' set‐up and sustainability challenges faced in practice. Clinical academic internship schemes are often opportunistically developed, making use of hybrid models of delivery and funding responsive to local needs and available resources. Key enablers of successful clinical academic internship programmes for nurses were support from senior clinical leaders and established relationships with local universities and wider organisations committed to research capacity building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: We examined whether the use of visual abstracts on social media platforms can improve comprehensive social media and conventional metrics such as total altmetric attention score, full text page views and citation counts (study outcomes) through retrospective cohort study. Methods: We included all original research articles (Total 307 articles: N = 69 in visual abstract group and N = 238 in control group) published between July 2018 and January 2019 in the JAMA, BMJ and the NEJM and used negative binomial regression to adjust for article characteristics. Results: Adjusted analysis showed no significant differences between articles with and without visual abstracts in the altmetric attention score (p = 0.37) and in number of page views (p = 0.44). Citations in the Web of Science core collection were found to be statistically significant favouring control group (p = 0.028). We also found no significant differences in altmetric attention score and page views after stratification for article type [randomised controlled trial (RCT) vs. non‐RCT]. Citations counts were found to be borderline significant for RCT (p = 0.04) and non‐significant for non‐RCT. Conclusion: Visual abstracts might not be effective in disseminating scientific research. We should look at other innovative ways to improve the visibility of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Research in palliative care (PC) is often regarded as challenging due to the vulnerability of the population and other peculiarities. We aim to systematically identify barriers to research in PC in the literature. Methods The electronic databases CINAHL, MEDLINE were searched for papers published in the last 25 years. Citations and then abstracts were screened for inclusion. Original papers were included on first-level analysis. On a second level reviews, reports, and position papers were analyzed. Papers containing a direct patient report were specifically analyzed. Barriers were categorized (ethical considerations, financial and time expenses, study design and methodology, human resources and politics) and results quantified. Results Twenty-one original papers and 65 other papers were included. Five studies involved patients directly, five were systematic reviews, three were study experiences, and seven were surveys or workshop reports. Most papers originated from UK, USA, or Norwegian Universities. Ethics and methods were the most often mentioned categories on both levels. Accrual, attrition, and gatekeeping were frequently named barriers. Complex invasive studies or possible side effects hinder patients' participation, as patients are often willing to participate for altruistic motivations. Discussion Barriers to PC research are ethical concerns and methodological challenges. Possible strategies to overcome methodological barriers include international collaborative efforts to include more patients and improve study designs. Ethical barriers indicate the need for patient involvement in the research development process and tailoring research specifically to the PC population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Career pathways for Allied Health clinician researchers in Australia are currently underdeveloped. As these pathways are limited in structure, there are a wide variety of pathways that are 'cobbled together' by Allied Health professionals to combine clinical and research careers. This perspective piece summarises some of these pathways and discusses recommended improvements to create more streamlined career pathways, vital to Australia's research and patient care excellence. What is known about the topic? Allied Health professionals who wish to pursue a dual career as both a clinician and researcher face many barriers, including an unclear career pathway. What does this paper add? This paper outlines the varied career pathways that Allied Health clinician researchers follow, and outlines recommendations for improving the pathway at different stages. What are the implications for practitioners? Supporting improved clinician researcher career pathways in Australia requires input from multiple stakeholders at different stages of the pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dosimetry for preclinical radiotherapy research requires the standardization of dose validation and quality assurance procedures. Except for dose reference measurements, dosimetric quality control of image-guided small animal irradiation platforms is mostly performed with passive detectors (alanine and gafchromic films). This results in the inconvenient task of lengthy post-processing. In this paper, we carried out a dosimetric characterization of an active detection system based on inorganic scintillators in medium-energy X-rays. We implemented a cross-calibration framework based on international dosimetric protocols to assess the energy dependence of the detector. Additionally, we determined relative output factors for very small fields and compared them to other measurement systems (EBT3 film and CMOS sensor). We demonstrated the suitability of the inorganic scintillation system for the development of phantom-based end-to-end tests for dose verification in newly implemented preclinical radiotherapy irradiation techniques. The purpose of the study was to characterize a detection system based on inorganic scintillators and determine its suitability for dosimetry in preclinical radiation research. Dose rate, linearity, and repeatability of the response (among others) were assessed for medium-energy X-ray beam qualities. The response's variation with temperature and beam angle incidence was also evaluated. Absorbed dose quality-dependent calibration coefficients, based on a cross-calibration against air kerma secondary standard ionization chambers, were determined. Relative output factors (ROF) for small, collimated fields (≤10 mm × 10 mm) were measured and compared with Gafchromic film and to a CMOS imaging sensor. Independently of the beam quality, the scintillator signal repeatability was adequate and linear with dose. Compared with EBT3 films and CMOS, ROF was within 5% (except for smaller circular fields). We demonstrated that when the detector is cross-calibrated in the user's beam, it is a useful tool for dosimetry in medium-energy X-rays with small fields delivered by Image-Guided Small Animal Radiotherapy Platforms. It supports the development of procedures for independent "live" dose verification of complex preclinical radiotherapy plans with the possibility to insert the detectors in phantoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]