Transition from child to adult health services for young people with cerebral palsy in Ireland; implications from a mixed-methods study [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] by Owen Hensey, Amanda Breen, Aisling Walsh, Mary Owens, Claire Kerr, Sebastian Koppe, Grace Lavelle, Meriel Norris, Michael Walsh, Jennifer M. Ryan, Thilo Kroll, Jennifer Fortune

“…Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was conducted. Data were collected from people with cerebral palsy aged 16–22 years, parents, and health professionals using surveys and semi-structured interviews, which were both informed by a framework of nine key transition practices. …”
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Investigation of an extensive outbreak of HIV infection among children in Sindh, Pakistan: protocol for a matched case–control study by Victoria Simms, Rashida Ferrand, Baseer Achakzai, Iqbal Azam, Amna R Siddiqui, Apsara Ali Nathwani, Syed H Abidi, Syed Faisal Mahmood, Sobiya Sawani, Abdul M Kazi, Aneeta Hotwani, Sikander Ali Memon, Jamila Soomro, Saqib Ali Shaikh, Quaid Saeed, Palwasha Khan, Fatima Mir

“…Following written informed consent from the guardian, a structured questionnaire will be administered to collect data on sociodemographic indices and exposure to risk factors for parenteral, vertical and sexual (only among those aged above 10 years) HIV transmission. …”
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Optimising Paediatric Transition to Intensive Care for Adults (OPTICAL): study protocol for a mixed method study by Padmanabhan Ramnarayan, Louise Rose, Julie Taylor, Christina Pagel, Jo Wray, Sarah E Seaton, Kate Oulton, Sonya Crowe, Rum Thomas, Qi Huang, Paul R Mouncey, Katherine Malbon, Anjalika Mallick, Charmaine Kohn, Sue Ben Abraham, Clare Windsor

“…To do this, we will: (1) link and analyse UK national data (years 2017–2024) on paediatric and adult ICU admissions, hospital inpatient, outpatient and emergency care visits and survival status, to determine the clinical characteristics and healthcare resource utilisation from teenage years to early adulthood of people admitted to an ICU as a young person (admission aged 14 and 15), and how these relate to ICU admissions after age 16; (2) conduct semistructured interviews, online forums and surveys with TYA patients, carers and health professionals to understand their experience of transition in ICU services; and (3) synthesise these strands of evidence and use a structured process of stakeholder engagement to propose potential targeted improvements as appropriate.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee on 1 August 2024 (research ethics committee number 24/EE/0108), and the Health Research Authority Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) on 7 October 2024 (CAG number 24/CAG/0068). …”
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Vulvovaginal candidiasis: knowledge, practices and occurrence among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in a teaching hospital, Ghana by Florence Shine Edziah, Florence Shine Edziah, Princess Ruhama Acheampong, Philip Apraku Tawiah, Cedric Dzidzor Amengor, Godsway Edem Kpene, Grace Otobea Amponsah, Priscilla Appiah Baffoe, Georgina Korankye, John Gameli Deku

“…This study assessed the knowledge, practices and occurrence of Vulvovaginal candidiasis among pregnant women accessing antenatal care at a teaching hospital in Ghana.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 336 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at the Ho Teaching Hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge of the infection and practices on vaginal hygiene. …”
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The experience of immersive virtual reality in patients with heart failure during cardiac rehabilitation: a qualitative study by Valentina Micheluzzi, Valentina Micheluzzi, Gavino Casu, Gavino Casu, Francesco Burrai, Antonella Canu, Antonio Sircana, Pierluigi Merella, Pierluigi Merella, Angelo Laconi, Angelo Laconi, Andrea Chelo, Andrea Chelo, Piero Cozzula, Michela Piredda, Ercole Vellone, Ercole Vellone

“…The intervention group experienced iVR in natural settings, while the control group received standard care. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in person after the intervention group’s eighth rehabilitation session. …”
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Strengthening neonatal care through ward assistants: a Kenyan case study in enhancing infection prevention and control practices by Michuki Maina, Nancy Odinga, Vincent Kagonya, Gloria Ngaiza, Sebastian Fuller, Onesmus Onyango, Caroline Waithira, Dorothy Oluoch, David Gathara, Peter Mwangi, Loise Mwangi, Penina Musyoka, Lucy Kinyua, Lydia Thuranira, Virginia Njoroge, Ngina Mwangi, Zainab Kioni, Mike English, Edna Mutua

“…Methods This study employed a mixed methods approach in four public neonatal units in Kenya to assess the impact of deploying ward assistants on IPC practices. Data collection included structured and unstructured observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with healthcare workers and caregivers. …”
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Experiences and perceptions of Chinese patients enrolled in a clinical trial assessing tuina and manual therapies for knee osteoarthritis: a nested qualitative study by Luping Liu, Lingyun Zhang, Sina Li, Meiling Cai, Siyu Han, Zhiwen Weng, Qianji Chen, Yixuan Gao, Xiaoming Yang, Yang Zhang, Duoduo Li, Changxin Liu, Ya’nan Sun, Xiyou Wang, Changhe Yu

“…The interviews were conducted by two researchers who have extensive experience interviewing KOA patients, and data were gathered through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews to ensure a high level of information power. …”
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Effects of timely case conferencing between general practitioners and specialist palliative care services on symptom burden in patients with advanced chronic disease: results of th... by Tina Mallon, Josefine Schulze, Nadine Pohontsch, Thomas Asendorf, Jan Weber, Silke Böttcher, Uta Sekanina, Franziska Schade, Nils Schneider, Judith Dams, Michael Freitag, Christiane Müller, Friedemann Nauck, Tim Friede, Martin Scherer, Gabriella Marx

“…Methods The cluster-randomised controlled trial compared a structured palliative care nurse visit followed by an interprofessional case conference to usual care. …”
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Factors associated with the dietary total antioxidant capacity of pregnant Brazilian women by Roberta Rejane Santos de Carvalho, Poliana Cristina de Almeida Fonseca Viola, Sandra Patrícia Crispim, Ana Karina Teixeira da Cunha França, Anderson Marliere Navarro, Bruno Feres de Souza, Franciane Rocha de Faria, Naiara Sperandio, Nathalia Pizato, Mariana de Souza Macedo, Renata Junqueira Pereira, Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini, Carolina Abreu de Carvalho, Anderson Marliere Navarro, Carolina Abreu de Carvalho, Danielle Góes da Silva, Franciane Rocha de Faria, Naiara Sperandio, Jorge Gustavo Velásquez Meléndez, Míriam do Carmo Rodrigues Barbosa, Nathalia Pizato, Mariana de Souza Macedo, Renata Junqueira Pereira, Sandra Patrícia Crispim, Silvia Eloiza Priore, Sylvia do Carmo Castro Franceschini

“…Methods: A cross-sectional study with 2,232 pregnant women aged 18 years old or older, in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, from eleven cities in the five Brazilian regions. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to assess socioeconomic, demographic, and health data, and a 24-hour dietary recall (R24h) was used to assess food consumption and analyze the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), estimated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. …”
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Patients’ acceptability and implementation outcomes of a case management approach to encourage participation in colorectal cancer screening for people with schizophrenia: a qualita... by Tempei Miyaji, Yosuke Uchitomi, Hiroyuki Okada, Masatoshi Inagaki, Maiko Fujimori, Taichi Shimazu, Masaki Fujiwara, Masafumi Kodama, Ryuhei So, Takanori Matsushita, Yusaku Yoshimura, Shigeo Horii, Hirokazu Takahashi, Naoki Nakaya, Shiro Hinotsu, Keita Harada, Norihito Yamada, Yuto Yamada, Tsuyoshi Etoh

“…In addition, three out of six providers were included.Data collection and analysis Using a structured interview, the case manager asked participants about patient acceptability and the helpful components of the intervention. …”
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Parental predictors of childhood vaccination adherence in border areas of Southern Vietnam: a first look at minority communities by An Dai Tran, Charuai Suwanbamrung, Muhammad Haroon Stanikzai, Nirachon Chutipattana, Shamarina Shohaimin, Patthanasak Khammaneechan, Le Minh Luan, Tran Phu Dien, Truong Thanh Nam, Phan Thanh Tung, Cua Ngoc Le

“…A total of 449 ethnic minority parents with children under five years old participated. Data were gathered through face-to-face household interviews using a structured questionnaire, complemented by direct observation of the children’s vaccination cards to verify adherence. …”
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Effects of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health services access in the Asia-Pacific region: a qualitative study of expert and policymaker perspectives by Manar Marzouk, Sze Tung Lam, Anna Durrance-Bagale, Michiko Nagashima-Hayashi, Pearlyn Neo, Mengieng Ung, Ayshath Zaseela, Zeenathnisa Mougammadou Aribou, Sunanda Agarwal, Natasha Howard

“…We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 28 purposively sampled SRH experts in 12 Asia-Pacific countries (e.g. …”
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Outpatient Virtual Care Among People Living With and Beyond Cancer From Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds in Australia: A Protocol for a Realist Evaluation by Prince Peprah, Sagda Osman, Rebecca Mitchell, Ashfaq Chauhan, Ramya Walsan, Maryam Sina, Bronwyn Newman, Nadine El‐Kabbout, Jan Mumford, Emilie Francis‐Auton, Elizabeth Manias, Virginia Mumford, Kate Churruca, Michelle Moscova, Natalie Taylor, Craig Nelson, Alexander Cardenas, Robyn Clay‐Williams, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Reema Harrison

“…Phase 2 will use semi‐structured realist interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders and retroductive, theory‐driven realist analysis to test and refine the initial program theory. …”
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Association between the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes among mothers in eastern Ethiopia, 2023 by Tamirat Getachew, Abera Kenay Tura, Merga Dheresa, Shamble Niguse, Bikila Balis, Lemma Demissie Regassa, Addis Eyeberu

“…Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 882 randomly selected mothers from February 1, 2023 to November 1, 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires adapted from previous literature. …”
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Redefining respite for family caregivers: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic by Rebecca L. Utz, Hannah L. Mundinger, Amber Thompson, Gail L. Towsley, Gail L. Towsley, Kara B. Dassel, Kara B. Dassel, Alex Terrill, Alycia A. Bristol

“…This study aimed to understand how caregivers accessed and achieved respite when respite services were not readily available, and how their experiences during and following the unprecedented global public health crisis have influenced and informed the way that caregivers achieve the needed and desired respite.MethodsThis study integrates several sources of qualitative and descriptive data collected via electronic surveys and semi-structured interviews with family caregivers and respite providers over the past several years (from 2019 to 2024).ResultsThe following themes were identified: (a) disruption and loss of formal respite services resulted in caregiver isolation, as well as acute and protracted stress, (b) personal networks and shared caregiving arrangements provide opportunities for informal respite, (c) respite is associated improved caregiver wellbeing, but caregivers often are hesitant to use respite (d) daily activities and routines can provide a form of respite for caregivers, (e) family caregivers showed resilience and adaptability in the face of COVID-19 challenges, revealing the potential benefit of taking “short breaks” throughout the day to achieve a feeling of respite.Discussion and conclusionsThese qualitative, descriptive insights provide a blueprint for a reimagined definition of caregiver respite, where respite is conceptualized as an outcome or benefit that caregivers seek and can create on their own, rather than only defining respite as a formal service provided to caregivers by outside organizations. …”
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A qualitative study on the experience of family members of patients with mild to moderate disturbance of consciousness in NICU undergoing physical restraint (NICU轻中度意识障碍患者实施身体约束时家属... by YIN Zhaomin (殷召敏), WANG Fang (王芳)

“…Methods Using the method of qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 family members of patients with mild to moderate disturbance of consciousness in NICU during physical restraint. …”
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Socio-demographic factors, housing characteristics, and clinical symptoms associated with falciparum malaria in two rapidly urbanizing areas in the Ashanti region of Ghana by Stephen Opoku Afriyie, Kwasi Baako Antwi, Abdul-Hakim Mutala, Dawood Ackom Abbas, Kofi Agyapong Addo, Austine Tweneboah, Thomas Kwame Addison, Eric Osei, Cristian Koepfli, Kingsley Badu

“…Five µL of venous blood was obtained from suspected malaria patients and tested for malaria using rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Data on socio-demographic factors, clinical symptoms, and housing characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. …”
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Humanizing processes after harm part 1: patient safety incident investigations, litigation and the experiences of those affected by Lauren Ramsey, Laura Sheard, Justin Waring, Siobhan McHugh, Ruth Simms-Ellis, Ruth Simms-Ellis, Gemma Louch, Katherine Ludwin, Jane K. O’Hara

“…Nonetheless, there remains little UK-based evidence exploring how this relates to the experiences of those affected over time, including the factors influencing decisions to litigate.AimsWe aimed to explore the experiences of patients, families, staff and legal representatives affected by safety incidents over time, and the factors influencing decisions to litigate.MethodsParticipants were purposively recruited via (i) communication from four NHS hospital Trusts or an independent national investigator in England, (ii) relevant charitable organizations, (iii) social media, and (iv) word of mouth to take part in a qualitative semi-structured interview study. Data were analyzed using an inductive reflexive thematic approach.Findings42 people with personal or professional experience of safety incident investigations participated, comprising patients and families (n = 18), healthcare staff (n = 7), legal staff (n = 1), and investigators (n = 16). …”
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Frequency and factors associated with the utilization (curative and preventive) of oral health care services among pregnant women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo by Patrick Marob-Ndjock Sekele, Erick Ntambwe Kamangu, Harry-César Ntumba Kayembe, Fatiha Chandad, Jacques Ileboso Bolenge, Stephanie Mikalo Mbambi, Jean-Paul Isouradi-Bourley Sekele, Em Kazadi Kalala, Fidele Bushabu Nyimi, Pierre Zalagile Akilimali

“…The study population comprised pregnant women aged at least 18 or over attending antenatal care (ANC), selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. …”
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Shaping national rare diseases definition in Saudi Arabia: outcome from health ecosystem multisectoral workshop by Ghada Mohammed Abozaid, Ghada Mohammed Abozaid, Hussain Abdulrahman Al-Omar, Abdulaziz Alrabiah, Hiba Alomary, Amy Jayne McKnight

“…Using the Vevox® platform, participants engaged in structured activities comprising a demographic survey and 10 interactive voting sessions. …”
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