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PubMed2026

Artificial Intelligence Cannot Replace Peer Reviewers but May Help Editors Triage: A Comparative Analysis of a Large Language Model and Human Reviewer Recommendations at the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

BACKGROUND: The peer review system faces increasing strain from rising manuscript volumes, reviewer fatigue, and well-documented interreviewer disagreement. Large language models (LLMs) have shown potential to support the peer review process, but their ability to replicate editorial decisions at high-impact medical journals and their utility as manuscript screening tools remain unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the agreement between an LLM and the final editorial decision on manuscripts submitted to the American Journal of Sports Medicine and to evaluate the potential of LLMs as a manuscript screening tool. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional agreement study. METHODS: Fifty-four manuscripts randomly selected from submissions to the American Journal of Sports Medicine (September 2024-October 2024) were reviewed by a locally deployed LLM (Ministral 3 14B; Mistral AI) using a standardized prompt. The artificial intelligence (AI) produced a categorical recommendation (reject, cascade, revision, or accept) and a numerical score (0-100) for each manuscript. Agreement with the final editorial decision was assessed by Cohen kappa (4-category model) for pooled human reviewers (n = 139 reviews) and the AI (n = 54). Screening performance was evaluated by positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: Pooled human reviewers demonstrated fair agreement with the final decision (κ = 0.181 [P < .001]; 42.4% agreement), while the AI demonstrated slight, nonsignificant agreement (κ = 0.126 [P = .099]; 37.0% agreement). The AI recommended revision for 61.1% of manuscripts, of which 72.7% were ultimately rejected or cascaded, demonstrating systematic "revision bias." When the AI recommended rejection, 54.5% of those manuscripts were ultimately rejected and 27.3% were cascaded; when the AI recommended cascade, 50% were rejected and 50% were cascaded. However, when the AI recommended rejection or cascade (n = 21), 90.5% received a final decision of rejection or cascade (PPV, 90.5%; specificity, 81.8%). Manuscripts with an AI score <70 were rejected or cascaded 88.0% of the time (PPV, 88.0%). CONCLUSION: AI cannot replicate the nuanced judgment of human peer reviewers at a high-impact sports medicine journal. When AI recommended rejection or cascade, 90.5% of manuscripts received that final decision (descriptive PPV, 90.5%; 95% CI, 71.1%-97.3%), suggesting potential utility as an exploratory first-pass screening tool warranting further validation in larger cohorts. However, AI could not reliably distinguish manuscripts destined for outright rejection from those that would be cascaded to a sister journal-an important limitation for editorial triage applications.

Sports Medicine↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of peer recovery support services for substance use disorders: A systematic review of healthcare utilization, behavioral health, and engagement outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Peer recovery support services (PRS) delivered by individuals with lived experience of substance use, are increasingly incorporated into substance use disorder (SUD) care systems to improve care engagement, reduce acute care use, and support recovery. However, existing systematic reviews have focused on substance use outcomes, with limited attention to healthcare utilization, psychosocial functioning, and outcomes across settings, and populations. METHODS: This systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023469279), synthesized peer-reviewed studies from 2003 to 2026 evaluating PRS for individuals with alcohol or drug-related SUD. Using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, the review included 53 studies primarily conducted in high-income countries that reported quantitative outcomes across substance use, healthcare utilization, behavioral health, and treatment engagement. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and ROBINS-E tools. RESULTS: Overall, evidence was most favorable for selected treatment-linkage and engagement outcomes, whereas findings for substance use, emergency department use, hospitalization, overdose, and mortality were inconsistent. Uncontrolled longitudinal studies frequently reported improvements in depression and anxiety, but no randomized trials evaluated these outcomes, limiting causal inference. Exploratory cross-study patterns suggested that sustained navigation, practical assistance, and repeated peer contact were more often present in programs reporting favorable outcomes; however, these components were not independently evaluated. Substantial heterogeneity, frequent multicomponent interventions, high risk of bias in many nonrandomized studies, and limited long-term and economic data constrain conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the promise of PRS while underscoring the need for more rigorous comparative studies, cost-effectiveness data, and further research in low- and middle-income countries.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Implementation of a Face-To-Face Vs Virtual Peer-Integrated Collaborative Care Intervention for Mental Health Treatment of Physical Trauma Survivors: A Qualitative Study of Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of a peer-integrated enhancement of integrated clinical care intervention to address the mental health needs of 450 patients undergoing treatment for a physical injury. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected by 7 clinician investigators of a randomized controlled trial acting as participant observers in a trauma care setting of a major U.S. metropolitan hospital and analyzed in collaboration with an external mixed methods specialist. RESULTS: The pandemic created or exacerbated several implementation barriers, including increased risk of infection, homelessness, hospitalizations and comorbid conditions such as fentanyl overdoses that increased demand on emergency department and Trauma Center services, imposition of safety measures to reduce risk of infection in clinical settings, transition from face-to-face to virtual interactions with study patients, shortages of specialty mental health providers, suspension of recruitment of patients into the study, scheduling calls with patients, and an increased workload for the study clinical interventionists. Peer specialists perceived the transition to virtual interactions with patients reduced their effectiveness; however, this was not reflected in assessments of patient satisfaction with services received and may have inadvertently increased adoption by Trauma Center staff. Reduction in reach of the intervention to target population was temporary. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing barriers and created new barriers to successfully implementing evidence-based practices in trauma care settings, resulting in an attenuation of their effectiveness. However, the shift from face-to-face to virtual services delivery may have actually led to improved implementation outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03569878. Registered June 15, 2018.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Mechanisms of impact of mental health peer support in high-, middle- and low-income settings: mediation analysis of the UPSIDES randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: While there is growing evidence for the effectiveness of peer support (PS) in improving psychosocial outcomes among individuals with severe mental health conditions, the mechanisms through which these effects occur remain insufficiently understood. This study examines whether social inclusion, hope and empowerment mediate the relationship between PS, personal recovery and health and social functioning. METHODS: Data were collected from 565 adults with severe mental health conditions who participated in the multicentre UPSIDES randomised controlled trial across six sites in Germany, Uganda, Tanzania, India and Israel. Participants in the intervention group received structured PS from trained peer workers over a 6- to 8-month period. Standardised, self-report measures of social inclusion, hope, empowerment and personal recovery, as well as clinician-rated health and social functioning, were administered at baseline, 4 months, end of intervention (8 months) and 12-month follow-up. Cross-lagged panel modelling was used to explore longitudinal associations and mediating pathways. RESULTS: The cross-lagged models showed strong autoregressive effects across all variables, indicating high temporal stability. There were no significant direct effects of PS on recovery or health and social functioning. However, mediation analysis identified significant indirect effects of PS on personal recovery via social inclusion (β = 0.114, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.049, 0.194], P < 0.05) and hope (β = 0.037, 95% CI [0.001, 0.086], P < 0.05). Similar indirect effects were observed for health and social functioning (via social inclusion: β = -0.035, 95% CI [-0.064, -0.013]; via hope: β = -0.026, 95% CI [-0.052, -0.006]; both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that PS affects recovery-related outcomes primarily through intermediate mechanisms of enhanced hope and social inclusion. These results support theoretical models positing indirect pathways of change in PS interventions and highlight the value of targeting social and psychological domains when designing and implementing PS in mental health services. Individuals with lower baseline levels of hope and social inclusion may particularly benefit from PS.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A systematic review of the impact of Mental Health First Aid on medical, nursing and allied healthcare professional students.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professional (HCP) students are at high risk of mental health problems, but stigma and fear of career repercussions often deter them from seeking help. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a globally disseminated course teaching the public to identify and respond to people experiencing mental health problems. MHFA training may address some of the challenges faced by HCP students, by improving mental health knowledge and by enhancing well-being and peer support. AIMS: To systematically review the available literature regarding the impact of MHFA training on HCP students' mental health literacy, confidence and intentions to provide help, stigma, peer support and self-care. METHOD: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews ID: CRD42024589509), five databases were searched. Primary studies evaluating the above outcome measures in HCP students were included. Two authors independently screened references and extracted data. Quality was assessed using the Modified Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. A narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Of 2367 records screened, 26 met inclusion criteria. Confidence in supporting others and mental health literacy showed the most consistent improvements following MHFA training, whereas evidence for changes in stigma was mixed. Peer support, self-care and student well-being were infrequently examined, although qualitative data suggested that MHFA had improved openness to help-seeking. CONCLUSIONS: MHFA shows promise in enhancing mental health literacy, confidence and intentions, and in reducing stigma, particularly when supplemented with experiential learning. HCP students may benefit from tailoring of such courses to their specific needs, fostering a culture of peer support, enhancing well-being and introducing basic concepts in mental health.

MHFA↗

PubMed2026

Linking women leaving jail to medications for opioid use disorder: Costs to implement pre-release telehealth and peer navigation services.

AIMS: Telehealth and peer navigation are feasible strategies for connecting women in the criminal-legal system with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), yet implementation costs are not well understood. This study conducted a microcosting analysis of two interventions for women leaving jail in Kentucky: pre-release, PreTreatment Telehealth with a MOUD provider (TH-Only) and PreTreatment Telehealth combined with peer navigation (TH+PN) through the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). METHODS: From the provider perspective, we estimated total start-up costs, total intervention costs, and average cost per participant. Women participating in the clinical trial were randomly assigned to TH-Only (n=299) or TH+PN (n=301). Start-up costs were incurred primarily in 2019 - 2020; intervention costs represent expenses in 2021 - 2023. Cost data were collected from study and agency financial records and interviews with research staff and analyzed using Microsoft Excel (version 16.90.2). RESULTS: Start-up costs were $36,320, comprising planning, meetings, travel, and supplies. The total cost of TH-Only was $60,767, representing 259 telehealth sessions with an average duration of 47 minutes. Total cost of TH+PN was $472,148 based on 270 telehealth sessions (48 minutes), 268 peer navigation (PN) sessions (30 minutes), and 12 weeks of PN support post-release per participant. Average cost per TH-Only participant was $235 and per TH+PN participant was $1,760. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth may be a relatively low-cost approach for jails lacking on-site MOUD services. Although more costly, combining telehealth with PN may add value by supporting service continuity and facilitating linkage to treatment during the jail to community transition.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The environmental impact of diagnosis and therapy in obstructive sleep Apnea: A systematic review.

Healthcare contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet the environmental impact of sleep medicine, particularly the diagnosis and therapy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), remains poorly characterized. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (2015-2025) for studies on OSA care reporting environmental metrics (carbon footprint, energy use, resource consumption) or healthcare resource utilization. Supplementary searches identified additional non-peer-reviewed sustainability-focused studies that have been presented at conferences. Of 19 primary peer-reviewed studies on OSA care and utilization, only one reported environmental metrics (telemedicine CO2 savings related to reduction in travel-related emissions). Supplementary sources revealed that OSA care has a measurable carbon footprint driven by disposable equipment, device electricity, and travel and that OSA diagnostics create significant solid waste with opportunities for waste reduction through the use of reusable equipment. This review shows that while the environmental impact of sleep medicine has been rarely studied to this date, available evidence suggests significant opportunities for sustainability through virtual care, home testing, and equipment optimization. Future research should incorporate environmental impact into the assessment of clinical pathways.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

Proteomic serum profiles before and after lipoprotein apheresis in patients with peripheral artery disease with ulceration.

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of lipoprotein apheresis (LA) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has been primarily attributed to its anti-atherosclerotic effects through the adsorption of lipoproteins. However, the other potential effects of LA remain unknown. We evaluated changes in serum profiles before and after LA using a comprehensive analysis to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Ten patients with leg ulcers were included from the LETS-PAD study, in which patients with lipoprotein-controlled PAD underwent LA. Serum samples collected at baseline and 1 month after LA were analyzed for proteomic changes. RESULTS: Six patients exhibited ulcer epithelialization and skin perfusion pressure improvement. Proteomic analysis identified 2033 proteins. Fifty-five proteins showed significant differences. B-cell lymphoma protein-2 associated X (BAX) and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) were downregulated. CONCLUSION: Serum BAX and CXCL10 levels significantly decreased after LA, which may be involved in the ulcer epithelialization mechanism of LA, which potentially acts through angiogenesis promotion.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Impact of Chatbot Type and Normative Messaging on Chatbot Usage Intention Based on the Health Technology Acceptance Model: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Digital health tools, such as health chatbots, may improve access to scalable health support, but adoption remains inconsistent. Existing models do not fully integrate technology acceptance factors with health motivation factors relevant to digital health use. OBJECTIVE: This study proposed and tested the health technology acceptance model and examined whether normative message framing and chatbot type were associated with health motivation, technology acceptance, and intention to use a health chatbot. METHODS: In October 2025, we conducted a 4 × 2 between-participants online experiment with 1000 US adults recruited from a nationally representative YouGov panel. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 conditions varying norm message type (self-oriented, peer-oriented, expert-oriented, or family-oriented) and chatbot type (AI-powered or rule-based) in a cancer prevention and genetic risk information scenario. Outcomes included descriptive norms, injunctive norms, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, trust, privacy concerns, and usage intention. Data were analyzed using a multivariate ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Peer-oriented and family-oriented messages produced higher usage intention than expert-oriented messages, and peer-oriented messages also increased descriptive norms, injunctive norms, self-efficacy, and trust. AI-powered chatbots were associated with higher usage intention (P=.02) and greater trust (P=.008) than rule-based chatbots. In regression analyses, the model explained 50.8% of the variance in usage intention. Usage intention was positively associated with descriptive norms (β=0.087; P=.003), injunctive norms (β=0.078; P=.009), perceived susceptibility (β=0.051; P=.03), perceived benefits (β=0.253; P<.001), and trust (β=0.33; P<.001), and negatively associated with perceived severity (β=-0.047; P=.049) and privacy concerns (β=-0.11; P<.001). Perceived ease of use and self-efficacy were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The health technology acceptance model was a useful framework for explaining the intention to use a health chatbot by combining technology acceptance and health motivation constructs. Both social design features and chatbot design features shaped adoption-related beliefs, with peer-oriented and family-oriented framing and AI-powered chatbots showing particular promise. Trust and privacy concerns remained central determinants of intended use.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

How the Social Context and Peer Helping Contribute to Better Alcohol Outcomes Among Sober Living House Residents: Mediation Analyses.

BACKGROUND: Sober Living Houses (SLHs) adopt a social model approach, which emphasizes peer helping. Although SLHs appear to be effective, little is known regarding why. This longitudinal study examined whether higher SLH social model adherence produces better resident outcomes by increasing resident helping. METHODS: Baselines were conducted with 205 residents entering 28 SLHs, with follow-ups through 6 months. Measures included 1-month perceived SLH social model adherence; 2-month help given to and received from SLH residents; and 6-month alcohol use and severity. Analyses were lagged, multivariate mediation models accounting for clustering within SLH. Separate models examined help given and received for each outcome, yielding four model tests. RESULTS: The hypothesized model was unsupported, with all four tests showing nonsignificant indirect effects. However, exploratory post-hoc tests showed significant indirect effects between higher 1-month resident helping and better 6-month alcohol outcomes via higher 1-month SLH social model adherence. Effects held across three of four model tests. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that residences adhering to social model principles do not achieve better outcomes by stimulating helping, but rather that more resident helping may foster a supportive SLH social environment, which itself drives better outcomes. Thus, residences might emphasize both resident helping and social model principles.

Sober living↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of artificial intelligence in nursing simulation education: A systematic review, meta-analysis and bibliometric visualization analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize the roles and core functions of AI in nursing simulation education for nursing students via systematic review, quantitatively evaluate its effects on students' knowledge and skill outcomes through meta-analysis, and map the research landscape and development trends of this field through bibliometric visualization analysis. DESIGN: Systematic review, meta-analysis and bibliometric visualization analysis. DATA SOURCES: Eight electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic Search Complete, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) were employed to search studies from the time of construction to 16 December 2025. REVIEW METHODS: Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were screened. The revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB 2) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists were used for quality assessment. Meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.4, and bibliometric visualization analysis was conducted using VOSviewer 1.6.20 and Bibliometrix (based on R4.4.3). RESULTS: A total of 61 studies were included. AI primarily played two roles in nursing simulation education: peer-type new subject (n = 24) and direct mediator (n = 22). Meta-analysis showed that AI interventions significantly improved nursing students' knowledge (SMD = 1.49, 95% CI [0.55,2.43], p = 0.002) and skills (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI [0.02,1.31], p = 0.04). Bibliometric analysis identified that the United States of America and China were the two main contributing countries in this field, and the key motor themes included generative artificial intelligence, virtual patients, and geriatric care. CONCLUSIONS: AI exerts positive effects on nursing students' knowledge acquisition and skill enhancement in simulation education, with peer-type new subject and direct mediator as the dominant roles. Future research should focus on expanding AI applications in multi-specialty simulation scenarios, activating the data-driven value of machine learning, and strengthening international collaboration and standardization construction, so as to promote the sustainable development of AI-integrated nursing simulation education.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effect of Peer Comparison Feedback and Professional Norms on Vitamin D Testing and Generic Medication Prescribing.

BACKGROUND: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates suggest that 20% of health care spending is wasteful or even harmful. Previous interventions have had limited success in discouraging low-value care in medical practice. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide randomized controlled trial among primary care physicians (PCPs) in Switzerland (November 2020-December 2021). We randomly assigned PCPs to one of three intervention groups related to low-value care (vitamin D testing, generic prescribing, or a cost intervention) or a control group. This article reports results for the vitamin D testing and generic prescribing interventions compared with the common control group. PCPs in the intervention groups received a personalized information letter combining professional norms and peer comparison feedback about the low-value service (either vitamin D testing or prescribing of nongeneric medications). Primary endpoints were (1) the number of vitamin D tests per 100 patients and (2) the share of generic medications prescribed. We estimated average treatment effects using linear regression and assessed effect heterogeneity with a causal forest. RESULTS: A total of 618 PCPs were randomly assigned to the vitamin D intervention, 597 to the generic prescribing intervention and 601 to the common control group. The intervention reduced average vitamin D testing by 3.66 tests per 100 patients (95% confidence interval [CI], -5.42 to -1.89; P<0.001). The intervention did not increase average generic medication prescribing (mean difference, +0.57 percentage points; 95% CI, -0.68 to +1.81 percentage points; P=0.37). Heterogeneity analysis suggested that reductions in vitamin D testing among physician subgroups ranged from one to seven per 100 patients and that higher baseline generic prescribing rates were associated with increases in generic substitution following the intervention. No increases in low-value care were seen among those physicians with low baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Peer comparison letters emphasizing professional norms reduced vitamin D testing but did not increase generic medication prescribing. (Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation; AEA Randomized Controlled Trials Registry no., AEARCTR-0004747.).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

What Constitutes Effective Support and Provision Within Day Service Centres for People With Intellectual Disabilities? A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research.

BACKGROUND: This review aimed to investigate the effectiveness and quality of support and provision within day service centres for people with intellectual disabilities. METHOD: The International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Scopus and PsycInfo databases were searched in August 2024, and the results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed, English-language, qualitative studies that investigated the effectiveness of day service provision for people with intellectual disabilities in non-residential settings were considered for review. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for qualitative research. Qualitative themes were identified through thematic analysis and synthesised using the ConQual approach. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included and four key themes emerged: 'perceptions of service quality'; 'community-orientation, integration, and empowerment'; 'challenging behaviours and safety'; and 'staff-centred factors and job satisfaction'. Confidence in the evidence was 'very low' for 3/4 themes, while there was 'moderate' confidence in the evidence related to the theme 'perceptions of service quality'. CONCLUSIONS: Day service centres for people with intellectual disabilities may enhance their effectiveness and quality of provision by concentrating on promoting communication, engagement, relationships, social networks and community integration. Addressing the methodological shortcomings and incomplete reporting of related research in future would contribute to improvements in overall confidence in the evidence base. This can then be better used to inform and further enhance day service provision for people with intellectual disabilities.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) has shown potential in neurological, autoimmune, and cardiovascular disorders, but its effects on HD patients remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tVNS in HD patients. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial on patients receiving HD ≥6 months. The tVNS group received stimulation for 1 h during the first 2 h of HD sessions, three times weekly for 8 weeks, while the control group received standard care. The primary outcomes were dialysis efficiency (Single-pool Kt/V, Sp Kt/V) and dialysis-related symptoms (Dialysis Symptom Index, DSI), assessed every 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain and fatigue scores, physical performance, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale, hemoglobin levels, Mini-Mental State Examination, and anxiety and depression scores, measured at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were enrolled in the study, with 32 patients assigned to the tVNS group and 31 patients to the control group. At 8 weeks, the tVNS group showed significant improvements in Sp Kt/V (1.31 ± 0.11 vs. 1.25 ± 0.10, p = 0.02), and DSI (12.09 ± 5.84 vs. 16.26 ± 5.27, p = 0.004), as well as reductions in pain and fatigue, and increases in physical function, comfort, and hemoglobin. However, there were no statistically significant changes observed in cognitive function, anxiety, or depression. CONCLUSIONS: tVNS could improve dialysis efficiency, symptoms, and physical function in HD patients, indicating it may have a role as a complementary therapy.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Health and Physical Activity Outcomes in Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Systematic Review of Emerging Evidence and a Future Research Agenda.

OBJECTIVES: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) promotes the development of urban environments, policies and services that support the health and participation of older adults. This systematic review examined contemporary evidence concerning associations between WHO AFCC conditions and directly measured health and physical activity outcomes among older residents. METHODS: The registered review adhered to the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and applied the Downs and Black quality criteria for randomised and non-randomised research. RESULTS: Structured Boolean searches of five research repositories identified 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2025 based upon original research conducted in WHO AFCC signatory cities. Although most studies reported positive associations between age-friendly features and domains, such as accessible transport, walkable environments, outdoor infrastructure and self-rated health or physical activity, the strength of evidence was limited by methodological inconsistency, variable study quality and reliance on self-reports. Barriers to evaluation included limited use of longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs, heterogeneous outcome measures, subjective response data and the challenge of establishing appropriate comparison conditions in complex municipal settings. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening evaluation frameworks for AFCC initiatives is essential for evidence-based urban health policy and governance in rapidly ageing societies. A research agenda is proposed to strengthen AFCC evaluation through standardised measurement, community-based and mixed-methods research, and a greater commitment to co-designed assessment frameworks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Systematic review of microorganism disinfection performance by chemical and ultraviolet light water treatment methods.

Safe drinking water is critical for public health, yet microbial contamination remains a significant global challenge. We conducted a systematic review to update World Health Organization guidance on water disinfection technologies by synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from 1997 to 2021 on the performance of free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Following PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed log10 reduction values (LRVs) and contact times (Ct) or fluence (for UV) from laboratory and field studies. We included studies from multiple databases and expert-recommended studies. Results show mean Cts for 2 LRV of non-opportunistic bacteria as 6.0 (free chlorine), 0.4 (chlorine dioxide), and 1.2 (ozone) mg/L*min, and a mean UV fluence of 8.2 mJ/cm² (all bacteria). Viruses required lower Cts, except for UV-resistant adenoviruses, while protozoa required higher Cts or fluences. Opportunistic bacteria required significantly higher Cts than non-opportunistic bacteria for free chlorine and chlorine dioxide. Temperature and pH effects were inconsistent, highlighting data variability and gaps in field studies. These findings support global guidance on water treatment and may be used alongside other context-specific data to understand the roles these technologies play in reducing waterborne exposures. We recommend standardized reporting from performance studies to enable straightforward synthesis of evidence.

Disinfection↗

PubMed2026

Plasma proteomics: considerations for preanalytical variability; a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

BACKGROUND: The plasma proteome (PP) is a dynamic system subject to pathology-associated changes and a focus for novel disease biomarker discovery. Disease-related PP research assumes protein concentrations in test specimens accurately reflect the in vivo milieu. However, measures to maintain the physicochemical integrity of the proteome before assay are often rudimentary, poorly described, or lacking standardisation in published studies. Contrastingly, in laboratory medicine, there is an expectation that errors in the so-called "preanalytical phase" (PAP) that impact patient results are understood, monitored, and mitigated against, while also being well described in research publications. There is therefore scope for good practice from laboratory medicine to inform PP research workflows. This review considers factors in the PAP which may impact the validity of PP results. CONTENT: A systematic review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines, limited to English-language peer-reviewed studies (2014-2024). Candidate studies were imported, screened, and managed using Covidence systematic review software. SUMMARY: 15 eligible studies were reviewed, covering many relevant processes. 11 studies reported statistically significant differences in PP due to factors in the PAP. Temperature and time-to-processing were the most commonly reported factors affecting the PP, with significant effects reported in 8 studies. OUTLOOK: PAP variability can significantly affect results in PP studies. Careful consideration of the effect of each stage of the PAP is needed when working with the PP. In multicenter studies, pre-defined and research question-specific sample processing workflows are essential for reducing PAP variability, which helps ensure the validity of PP studies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Determinants of private health insurance uptake and its association with healthcare utilization in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: a systematic review.

All Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have a multi-payer healthcare system that comprises governmental health coverage (GHC), funded by the government, and private health insurance (PHI), mainly sponsored by employers and purchased by individuals. Both are expected to influence healthcare utilization and contribute to system efficiency and patient well-being. This systematic review explored the determinants of PHI uptake and its association with healthcare service utilization in the presence of GHC in GCC countries. We systematically searched CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2012 and October 2022. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists for both quantitative and qualitative studies, following PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Determinants of PHI uptake were mapped to Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use (BMHSU) and categorized into (1) predisposing factors (sex, age, marital status, and education), (2) enabling factors (employment/income and health system-related factors such as access and perceived service quality), and (3) need factors (health status, including chronic noncommunicable diseases). PHI uptake was positively associated with being male, married, highly educated, employed with a high income, and having chronic diseases. PHI was positively associated with healthcare utilization, particularly routine check-ups, preventive services, and the use of prescribed medicines. In GCC countries, PHI uptake is influenced by sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health status, and perceived service quality. PHI is also associated with higher healthcare utilization, underlining the need for evidence-informed policies that enhance equity and expand coverage.

Humans↗