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PubMed2026

Sex-stratified mortality trends in preterm birth complications in Sierra Leone: progress, persistence, and equity implications.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth complications remain a leading cause of neonatal mortality in Sierra Leone, despite recent health system gains. Evidence on long-term sex-specific disparities in mortality due to preterm birth complications is limited, constraining equitable neonatal care planning. OBJECTIVE: To examine two‑decade trends in sex‑stratified mortality from preterm birth complications using standardized equity indicators. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal analysis of sex-disaggregated mortality estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates (GHE), accessed through the WHO Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT), Built-in Database Edition (Version 6.0). Mortality rates per 100,000 population were extracted for 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021. Inequality was assessed using absolute difference (D), relative ratio (R), population attributable risk (PAR), and population attributable fraction (PAF). RESULTS: Mortality declined substantially between 2001 and 2021 for both males (85.1-49.3 per 100,000) and females (71.2-39.9 per 100,000). Male mortality remained consistently higher across all years, with relative ratios indicating approximately 20-25% excess mortality among male neonates. Absolute inequalities narrowed modestly over time, whereas relative inequalities remained largely unchanged. PAR and PAF remained close to zero throughout the study period. Wider uncertainty intervals in earlier years reflected limited empirical data availability. CONCLUSION: Although preterm mortality declined over two decades, a persistent male disadvantage remained in Sierra Leone. These findings highlight the importance of integrating sex-disaggregated equity monitoring into neonatal policies and programmes. Future research should evaluate strategies to reduce the persistent excess mortality among male neonates while sustaining overall improvements in neonatal survival and progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3.2.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Access to maternity services for women asylum seekers and refugees: A transnational document analysis of international, European regional, and United Kingdom governance.

Women asylum seekers and refugees face persistent barriers to maternity care (antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care) across high-income countries, yet the upstream governance shaping access remains under-examined. Although legally distinct, both groups share protection-seeking experiences and are addressed jointly in governance documents. This study examined and synthesised how international (macro), European regional (meso), and United Kingdom (UK, micro) governance documents frame and operationalise maternity service access. Sixty-four documents were analysed using the READ framework. Inductive analysis of macro and meso documents identified six access dimensions: universal coverage; cultural and linguistic adaptation; rights-based approaches; multi-agency collaboration; data, monitoring and accountability; and quality of care. These dimensions structured assessment of UK governance, with jurisdictions rated strong, moderate or weak. Alignment was fragmented: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland exempted asylum seekers from charging, whereas England retained charging provisions. Multi-agency collaboration was consistently articulated, yet none of the 35 UK government documents focused on maternity access for this population, and none required outcome monitoring disaggregated by asylum or refugee status. UK governance appears coordinated in form but fragmented in substance. UK-wide minimum standards and routine recording of these data, with safeguards against immigration-related use, could strengthen coherence and accountability and improve visibility of inequities.

Refugees↗

PubMed2026

Investing in Canada's nursing workforce: a comprehensive review to inform policy innovations and directions.

BACKGROUND: Health systems worldwide face persistent health workers challenges including nursing shortages, workforce strain, and inequities. In Canada, these challenges have prompted renewed national and provincial reforms to strengthen recruitment, retention, leadership, and sustainability. This paper compares nursing workforce policy directions across Canada, and international jurisdictions to inform policy and planning. METHODS: A cross-country comparative analysis of policies building on a comprehensive national funded review that included an umbrella review of 69 systematic reviews, a comparative policy review of nursing workforce strategies in five jurisdictions, and validation through national horizon-scanning and policy dialogues (n >100). Evidence was analyzed across system, organizational, and individual levels. RESULTS: At the system level, international jurisdictions demonstrate comprehensive, legislated approaches integrating data, governance, and multi-year funding have advanced key nursing strategies. In Canada, the advances show the importance of strategies to have national and provincial/territorial alignment emphasizing leadership, flexibility, and inclusion as key levers. Organizational and individual-level reforms such as mentorship, leadership development, and wellness initiatives are expanding but remain variably evaluated. Experts identified national workforce data strategies and policy integration with embedded evaluation as key enablers to inform scalability and sustainability of implemented strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Canada's nursing workforce reforms are advancing toward coordinated, equity-driven, and evidence-informed strategies. Continued investment in evaluation, leadership, and national integrated data systems along with integrating nursing workforce planning within broader intersectoral planning will consolidate these gains and position Canada as an international leader in sustainable nursing workforce policy.

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PubMed2026

Access to palliative care in rural settings: A mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Rural populations experience persistent inequities in access to palliative care. Existing evidence often describes individual barriers separately, with less attention to how access breaks down across the care pathway or how different service configurations shape access. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise evidence on access to palliative care in rural settings and examine how access barriers, service models, and implementation conditions interact across the care pathway. METHODS: A mixed-methods systematic review using a convergent integrated approach searched nine databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CNKI, WanFang, SinoMed) from inception to 15 March 2026, supplemented by hand-searching. Eligible studies were primary qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies on access to palliative care for adults in rural or non-urban settings. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were mapped to the Levesque access framework, analysed using the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and integrated through mixed-methods synthesis, with additional coding of service models. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included, of which 26 were conducted in high-income countries and eight in low- and middle-income countries. Service configurations included specialist or hospice-oriented care, generalist or primary-care-oriented care, mixed specialist-generalist models, home-based and caregiver-centred care, nurse-coordinated services, telehealth-supported care, and community or implementation-oriented approaches. Access broke down cumulatively across four interdependent stages: recognition, entry, reach, and use and continuity, with affordability constraining every stage. Recognition was limited by low awareness, poor service visibility, and delayed identification of need. Entry was shaped by stigma, trust, family expectations, and unclear referral processes. Reach was constrained by distance, transport, workforce shortages, limited specialist capacity, and weak infrastructure. Use and continuity were affected by fragmented coordination, weak transitions, unstable follow-up, and reliance on family caregivers. Access problems varied across service configurations. Evidence on service innovations was methodologically less certain, and the overall evidence base remained concentrated in high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Access to palliative care in rural settings is best understood as a pathway and service-configuration problem rather than simply a deficit in service availability. Improving access requires earlier recognition, clearer referral routes, stronger specialist-generalist and nursing links, better support for family caregivers, and greater attention to affordability, continuity, and rural settings with limited resources. REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD420261340783.

Health Services Accessibility↗

PubMed2026

Public health, public protest: The role of health burdens and healthcare access in protest mobilisation.

Health and politics are intertwined, yet few studies have examined the association between health and protest. This study examined whether population health burdens were associated with protest incidence and whether healthcare access modified these associations. Analysis was based on an unbalanced 2004-2023 country-year panel, combining protest counts from ACLED with rates for 22 GBD causes. Mixed-effects negative-binomial models estimated incidence-rate ratios (IRRs) with interactions for healthcare access (±1 SD). Two-way fixed-effects Poisson models were estimated as a benchmark to distinguish cross-national associations from within-country dynamics. Health burdens were systematically, but heterogeneously, associated with protest. Rates for several non-communicable burdens were associated with protest, notably musculoskeletal disorders (IRR 1.72, 95% CI 1.37-2.15), neoplasms (1.24, 1.06-1.44), substance-use disorders (1.32, 1.12-1.56) and HIV/AIDS and other STIs (1.24, 1.12-1.38). Higher healthcare access generally attenuated health-protest associations. Fixed-effects models confirmed several associations (e.g. HIV/AIDS, neoplasms) but revealed that others (e.g. maternal/neonatal disorders, enteric infections) were driven primarily by cross-national differences. Population health burdens were associated with cross-national variation in protest mobilisation. Chronic, non-communicable burdens were associated with heightened protest, whereas poverty-linked and early-life burdens were associated with lower mobilisation. Healthcare access was associated with attenuation of these relationships.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Trends in demographic and health survey publications based on a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program, launched in 1984, provides high-quality population health data that underpins a vast body of global health research. However, the scale and growth patterns of DHS-based publications remain underexplored, particularly as donor funding uncertainties threaten program sustainability. OBJECTIVE: We examine temporal trends in DHS-based research output from 1984 to 2025, quantifying growth patterns and publication delays to inform understanding of the program's global research expansion. METHODS: A systematic bibliometric review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Dimensions, Wiley, and CINAHL. Eligible peer-reviewed articles using DHS data between 1984 and 2025 were identified. Annual publication counts were analyzed, segmented regression identified growth inflection points, and timeliness was assessed by calculating lag between survey completion and publication. RESULTS: Over 10,000 DHS-based publications were identified. Annual output rose from isolated studies in the 1980s to several hundred annually by the 2010s. Segmentation analysis revealed two rapid growth phases: a 56-publications/year increase from 2004-2012, and a 71-publications/year increase from 2012 to 2024. Despite this growth, median lag from survey completion to publication remained approximately 5 years, with only a modest recent improvement (Kendall's τ =  -0.623, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DHS data have fueled exponential growth in global health research over four decades, confirming their vital role in evidence generation. However, persistent publication delays highlight the need to shorten the pathway from data collection to dissemination through strengthened research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. Sustained funding is essential to maintain this critical evidence source.

Bibliometrics↗

PubMed2026

Integration of ear and hearing care services in low- and middle-income health systems: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis.

Hearing loss is a global public health burden and mostly affects those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). One approach to address ongoing challenges is the World Health Organization's recommendation for the integration of ear and hearing care (EHC) services into healthcare packages. However, little is known about EHC integration approaches, particularly in LMICs additionally, these approaches have not been investigated through a health systems lens. This qualitative review aimed to describe the various approaches to the EHC service integration in LMICs and to identify enabling and constraining factors. We reviewed 17 studies, with a focus on LMICs, using adaptations of the Valentijn integration and World Health Organization EHC frameworks, following the PRISMA guidelines. Our investigation showed that most integration approaches were at micro or individual level. Enabling factors for integration of EHC services were training, mentorship, collaboration, technology, inclusion of EHC in healthcare packages and investment in EHC services. Barriers were challenges with training, facilities and equipment, policy implementation and resourcing of EHC services. We further described factors influencing healthcare seeking behaviour and the use of integrated EHC services, such as access and ability to pay, referral systems and communication and awareness. This study describes the complex nature of EHC integration and ways to support integration. Key considerations are the level of integration, training to address workforce issues and factors influencing service utilisation as we work towards health system strengthening.

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↗

PubMed2026

Associations between smart infusion pump-electronic health record interoperability and healthcare outcomes: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This study synthesized available evidence on the associations between smart infusion pump-electronic health record (EHR) interoperability and healthcare outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus databases identified 901 records, which were imported into Rayyan® for duplicate removal, independent screening by three reviewers, and resolution of discrepancies. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, data-driven, and reported associations between smart infusion pump-EHR interoperability and healthcare outcomes. Studies focused solely on technical validation or interoperability prototypes were excluded. A backward citation search identified additional studies. Two reviewers independently extracted and cross-validated study characteristics using standardized templates. Methodological quality was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. RESULTS: Twenty records of 14 full-text studies and 6 conference proceedings were included. Most records reported positive associations between smart infusion pump-EHR interoperability and outcomes related to safety (e.g., medication administration errors, safety-reported events, pump alerts, and compliance with interoperability and drug library), operational efficiency (e.g., programming and documentation time and technical issues), financial performance (e.g., charges captured, and cost avoided), and user experience domains. Most studies used observational designs, reflecting real-world interoperability implementations, where controlling confounding factors is challenging. Limited reporting of baseline characteristics, pump type, and sample sizes limited comparability across studies. CONCLUSIONS: Smart infusion pump-EHR interoperability was associated with improvements in patient safety, efficiency, charge capture, and user experience, with variable findings across studies. Future research should use rigorous methodologies and standardized measures, examine relationships across outcome domains, assess limitations of pump-EHR interoperability, and evaluate underexplored outcomes, including team communication, cognitive workload, and AI-enabled pumps. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Interoperability should be viewed as a component of a broader sociotechnical system, in which technology, user, workflow, clinical content, and organizational practices collectively determine overall effectiveness.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Association between cumulative social disadvantage, as measured by the social determinants of health score, and epilepsy: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) shape access to care, health behaviors, and long-term outcomes, yet their cumulative relationship with epilepsy has not been well quantified. This study examined whether a composite SDoH score was associated with epilepsy in adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018. The SDoH score ranged from 0 to 8 and summarized eight unfavorable social conditions. Epilepsy was identified using medication-based ascertainment. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association between SDoH score and epilepsy. Restricted cubic spline, subgroup, sensitivity, and receiver operating characteristic analyses were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 13,119 participants were included, of whom 114 had epilepsy. Participants with epilepsy had a higher mean SDoH score than those without epilepsy (3.41 ± 0.24 vs. 2.35 ± 0.06, P < 0.001). In the fully adjusted model, each 1-point increase in SDoH score was associated with 31% higher odds of epilepsy (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.16-1.48). Compared with the low-score group (0-2), the adjusted odds ratios were 2.09 (95% CI 1.06-4.15) for scores of 3-5 and 2.67 (95% CI 1.34-5.33) for scores of 6-8. Spline analysis showed a significant overall association without evidence of nonlinearity. Adding SDoH components to demographic variables improved model discrimination (AUC 0.731 vs. 0.589, P for difference <0.001). CONCLUSION: Greater cumulative social disadvantage, as reflected by the SDoH score, was associated with higher odds of epilepsy.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Socioeconomic differences in the effectiveness of oral health programs for dental caries prevention in Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The meta-analysis systematically summarized evidence on how socioeconomic status (SES), access to dental care, and oral health programs (OHP) affect caries prevalence and severity among children and adults in Europe. METHODS: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Embase) were systematically screened from 1947-2026, supplemented by cross-referencing and manual searches, without language restrictions. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were done in duplicate. Methodological quality was assessed using the NHLBI Study Quality Assessment Tools according to study design. Certainty of evidence was graded using GRADE Profiler 3.6. Mean differences (MD) were calculated for changes in DMFT, and odds ratios (OR) for the presence of dental caries in individuals using fixed-or random-effects models. RESULTS: Electronic searching identified 1800 articles; 23 studies were included in the review (>169,000 participants) and 14 in the meta-analyses (>88,000). Nine studies evaluated the effectiveness of OHP stratified by SES, and ten examined OHP in low-SES populations. Among low-SES individuals, participation in OHP was associated with a significantly lower increase in DMFT (MD[95% CI]=-0.63[-0.94;-0.31];very low certainty) and significantly lower odds of having dental caries (OR[95% CI]=0.61[0.52;0.73];very low) compared with non-participation. Among program participants, individuals with low SES showed a significantly greater increase in DMFT than those with high SES (MD[95% CI]=0.79[0.30;1.21];very low) and had significantly higher odds of having dental caries (OR[95% CI]= 2.88[1.97;4.22];very low). CONCLUSION: Participation in OHP may be associated with reducing dental caries in European populations, but benefits are unequally distributed and increase with higher SES. However, this conclusion is based on a limited number of well-conducted trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of climate change on pediatric health outcomes.

Climate change has become one of the most critical health issues globally in the twenty-first century with children bearing the disproportionate burden of the burden since they are more vulnerable than adults because of their physiological, behavioral, and developmental capacities. It is a systematic review that rates the evidence of the relationship between climatic exposures such as heat, air-pollution, and extreme weather events and pediatric health outcomes. The number of peer-reviewed studies involved was 23 published in 2000-2025, which represented different geographic areas and study designs and assessed acute and chronic health outcomes. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the ROBINS-I tool were used to evaluate the methodological quality, and the majority of the studies had low to moderate risks of bias. The narrative synthesis shows that there are always links between air pollutants especially PM2.5, NO2 and O3 and respiratory morbidity, prevalence of asthma and hospitalization of children. Amplified temperatures as well as heat waves were associated with increased cases of heat illness, dehydration, and febrile state in infants and young children. There were elevated cases of diarrheal and vector-related infections, especially in low-resource settings, which were linked to extreme weather events especially floods. Although the overall results were similar, significant differences in the regions and methods were found, and low-income countries show little evidence. In addition, exposures as analyzed in most studies were usually considered individually, which may have underestimated the cumulative or compound climate risks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

AI Health message intervention: The role of message customization and message source in breast cancer screening among women of color.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of breast cancer screening messages with varying levels of customization (generic, targeted, and tailored) and to compare AI-generated versus human-generated messages. METHODS: A between-subjects experimental design with a control condition was employed. Message content followed a standardized structure and varied by level of customization: generic, targeted (demographic-based), and tailored (perceived susceptibility- and barrier-based). Messages were developed by either the authors or GenAI (ChatGPT-4o). A total of 391 participants recruited via Prolific were randomly assigned to five groups (generic, targeted-human, targeted-AI, tailored-human, and tailored-AI). Self-efficacy, behavioral intentions, attitudes, and message believability were measured using different scales. RESULTS: Customized (tailoring and targeting) health messages performed comparably to generic messages in shaping positive health outcomes. GenAI-generated messages also produced outcomes comparable to those of human-generated messages under standardized conditions. Significant negative indirect effects through message believability for the human-tailored condition was found relative to the generic condition. CONCLUSIONS: GenAI may be a useful tool for developing and customizing scalable health messages. Its effectiveness depends not only on customization but also on maintaining message quality, including readability, clarity, coherence, naturalness, and credibility. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: GenAI may support health practitioners in developing customized and scalable breast cancer messages. However, professional review remains necessary to ensure that the message is culturally appropriate, responsive to patient concerns, and suitable for use alongside patient-provider communication.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of Digital Mental Health Screening Alone and With the Online MINDBODYSTRONG CBT-Based Program on Burnout, Depression, Anxiety, Healthy Behaviors, and Suicidal Ideation in at-Risk Nurses at 3- and 6-Months Post-Intervention: An RCT.

BACKGROUND: Burnout and mental distress among nurses are global public health epidemics that adversely affect nurse well-being and healthcare quality. Evidence-based, scalable mental health interventions are urgently needed. AIMS: To evaluate the 3- and 6-month outcomes of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing a psychologically safe, digital mental health screening and referral program alone versus the same screening and referral program combined with the video-based online MINDBODYSTRONG (MBS) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based skills-building program among nurses at risk for mental distress. METHODS: 501 nurses were recruited from professional organizations and healthcare systems across the United States by email and randomized to either mental health screening and referral (standard care) or standard care plus the MBS cognitive behavioral skills-building intervention (the intervention). All study activities were conducted remotely. Follow-up surveys administered at 3- and 6-months assessed anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, burnout, healthy lifestyle beliefs, and healthy lifestyle behaviors using valid and reliable scales. RESULTS: Compared with the screening and referral only group, participants in the intervention group had greater reductions in anxiety and depression and significantly greater increases in healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors at 3 and 6 months post-intervention. After controlling baseline risk, the intervention group had a lower risk of suicidal ideation than the screening and referral group at 3 months (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.717; 95% CI: 0.320-1.606) and 6 months (RRR = 0.329; 95% CI: 0.101-1.072). The intervention group also had a significantly lower risk of burnout at 6 months (RRR: 0.698, 95% CI: 0.528, 0.929, p = 0.012). Nurses who completed more MBS sessions had less suicidal ideation at 6 months and those who completed more MBS skills-building activities had less burnout at 3 and 6 months. LINKING ACTION TO EVIDENCE: Integrating psychologically safe mental health screening combined with the scalable online CBT-based intervention, MBS, can produce sustained improvements in burnout, mental health symptoms, including suicidality, and healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors among nurses experiencing mental distress.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Psychological interventions to improve maternal mental health and resilience during pregnancy in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women experienced increased psychological distress, while access to routine mental health care was often disrupted. Psychological interventions may provide an effective strategy to support maternal mental health under these circumstances. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of psychological interventions for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing distress and enhancing resilience. METHODS: A systematic search of four databases was conducted up to 3 September 2025. Randomised and non-randomised studies evaluating psychological interventions during pregnancy were included. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, psychoeducation, and other psychological approaches delivered through individual, group, digital, or hybrid formats. Most studies reported reductions in depression, anxiety, or stress, and some found improvements in resilience-related factors. However, the methodological quality was modest; with heterogeneous outcome measures and limited follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, psychological interventions adapted for digital or hybrid delivery show promise for improving maternal emotional well-being in times of crises. The findings suggest that accessible and scalable psychological interventions may support maternal mental health during crisis situations when routine care is disrupted. Future research should prioritize larger, methodologically rigorous trials with standardized outcomes, and longer follow-up periods.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Exploring determinants of vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals: a systematic literature review.

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aims to assess determinants of vaccine hesitancy (VH) among healthcare professionals, to identify knowledge gaps and inform targeted training programs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus was conducted in February 2024. PRISMA criteria were applied, and methodological quality was assessed using a cross-sectional study evaluation tool. Studies addressing HCWs' VH determinants, including knowledge, attitudes, communication, and organizational factors, were included. RESULTS: Out of 1394 records, 221 articles were included. Reported prevalence of VH among HCWs varied across studies, reflecting differences in professional roles, settings, and vaccines studied. Key determinants included gaps in knowledge, personal beliefs, organizational barriers, and communication skills. The review highlights the importance of evidence-based information, continuing education, and effective communication in addressing VH among HCWs. CONCLUSIONS: Educational and organizational interventions are essential to improve HCWs' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding vaccination. Strengthening vaccine education, fostering effective communication, and addressing organizational challenges can reduce hesitancy and support HCWs in promoting vaccination among patients. Future initiatives should consider the diversity of educational settings, professional roles, and training requirements across healthcare systems.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the psychological and physical health of cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: No prior systematic review has specifically evaluated the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving both psychological and physical outcomes among cancer populations. This study aims to assess MBCT's effects on cancer patients' mental and physical health. METHOD: Following PRISMA guidelines and with PROSPERO registration (CRD42023453581), we systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched up to June 2026. Eligible trials enrolled adults (≥ 18 years) with any cancer type/stage, compared MBCT delivered per standard manual against non-MBCT controls, and reported at least one validated measure of distress, depression, or anxiety; secondary outcomes included fatigue, quality of life, and mindfulness skills. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool; random-effects meta-analyses were performed in Stata 16. RESULTS: 11 RCTs comprising 1122 participants (mean age 54.8 years; 91% female) were included. MBCT produced large, significant reductions in psychological distress (SMD = -0.81, 95% CI-1.27 to-0.40), depression (SMD = -0.95, 95% CI -1.40 to-0.49), and anxiety (SMD = -0.86, 95% CI -1.22 to-0.51). It also markedly decreased fatigue (SMD = -0.83, 95% CI-1.10 to-0.56), improved quality of life (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI 0.22-0.88), and enhanced mindfulness skills (SMD = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis is the first to exclusively synthesize RCT evidence of standardized MBCT in cancer care, demonstrating significant dual benefits for emotional and physical well-being while providing strong support for integrating MBCT into comprehensive oncology rehabilitation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Implementing a novel digital health platform for self-management of postmenopausal osteoporosis: A qualitative study of user experiences, perspectives and implementation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis self-management requires scalable support, and digital health platforms may meet this need. This study aimed to characterise the experiences and perspectives of postmenopausal women who participated in a 12-month randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a digital voice assistant (DVA) delivered osteoporosis self-management intervention, and to assess key implementation outcomes. METHODS: This was a qualitative analysis of interviews with postmenopausal women from the intervention arm (DVA group) of the RCT. The DVA program broadcast education videos, medication reminders, home-based exercise, nutrition advice and monthly quizzes through a DVA device. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed and managed in NVivo through reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the Practical Planning for Implementation and Scale-Up and Proctor's implementation outcome taxonomy frameworks. Evidence weighting summarised participant coverage and code density. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 25 (88%) DVA group participants completed semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified seven themes mapped to Proctor's implementation outcomes. Evidence weighting indicated strong support for the intervention's appropriateness and acceptability, moderate support for its adoption, fidelity, feasibility and sustainability, and limited support for costs. Participants valued clear audiovisual guidance, conversation-based interactions with natural language, and flexible home-based access to self-management. CONCLUSION: Digital health platforms for osteoporosis self-management appear feasible, acceptable and sustainable among postmenopausal women. Findings indicate that these platforms are approaching readiness for evaluation in implementation-focused settings, contingent on streamlined content, reliable delivery modalities, accessible user support, clear privacy regulations and pragmatic pricing models.

Humans↗