11 556 articles were screened, with 656 included in the final analysis. References to ethics were present in 530 (80.8%) studies, with 491 (74.8%) involving IRB/ECs/REBs and 126 (19.2%) not referencing ethics. Consent processes were outlined in 201 (30.6%) studies, with 198 (30.2%) reporting that they obtained consent waivers, however, 257 (39.2%) did not mention consent at all. Differences (p<0.001) in ethics-related references were apparent when analysed by continent, publication type, sample size and IF.
The majority of published articles pertaining to COVID-19 research made mention of ethical considerations, however, national and regional variations in research ethics review requirements introduce heterogeneity between studies and raise important questions about the conduct of scientific research during global public emergencies.
Open Science Framework https//osfio/z67wb.
Open Science Framework https//osfio/z67wb.
Prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) has become a prominent issue of public concern among elderly patients. However, no research has involved interventions on PIMs of Chinese elderly patients seeking care at primary healthcare. Pluronic F-68 cell line This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored educational intervention programme for general practitioners (GPs), aiming at reducing the occurrence of PIMs in elderly patients.
This is a parallel group, controlled, cluster-randomised trial, with blinded evaluation of outcomes and data analysis, and un-blinded intervention. Twenty primary community healthcare stations (CHSs) in Dongcheng district in Beijing will be randomised to intervention and control arm with an allocation ratio of 11. GPs in CHSs randomised to the intervention arm will receive a two-component intervention general training of PIMs and distribution of PIMs handbook. GPs in the control arm will assess and manage patients according to the institutions' routine practice. The primary outcome is the change in PIMs patient visit rate.
Ethics committee approval of this study was obtained from Peking University Institution Review Board (IRB00001052-19074). The findings will be published in scientific and conference presentations.
ChiCTR2100047788.
ChiCTR2100047788.
To create a straightforward scoring procedure based on widely available, inexpensive financial data that provides an assessment of the financial health of a hospital.
Methodological study.
Multicentre study.
All hospitals and health systems reporting the required financial metrics in the USA in 2017 were included for a total of 1075 participants.
We examined a list of 232 hospital financial indicators and used existing models and financial literature to select 30 metrics that sufficiently describe hospital operations. In a set of hospital financial data from 2017, we used principal coordinate analysis to assess collinearity among variables and eliminated redundant variables. We isolated 10 unique variables, each assigned a weight equal to the share of its coefficient in a regression onto Moody's Credit Rating, our predefined gold standard. The sum of weighted variables is a single composite score named the Yale Hospital Financial Score (YHFS).
Ability to reproduce both financial trends from a 'gold-standard' metric and known associations with non-fiscal data.
The validity of the YHFS was evaluated by (1) cross-validating it with previously excluded data; (2) comparing it to existing models and (3) replicating known associations with non-fiscal data. Ten per cent of the initial dataset had been reserved for validation and was not used in creating the model; the YHFS predicts 96.7% of the variation in this reserved sample, demonstrating reproducibility. The YHFS predicts 90.5% and 88.8% of the variation in Moody's and Standard and Poor's bond ratings, respectively, supporting its validity. As expected, larger hospitals had higher YHFS scores whereas a greater share of Medicare discharges correlated with lower YHFS scores.
We created a reliable and publicly available composite score of hospital financial stability.
We created a reliable and publicly available composite score of hospital financial stability.
Osteonecrosis (ON) is characterised by the destruction of the normal blood supply to the bone tissue. ON is the main cause of disability in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Studies have reported the existence of many risk factors for SLE complicated by ON, including the use of high-dose glucocorticoids and high disease activity. The correlation between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and ON in SLE has been controversial. We aim to conduct a systematic review of the literature related to SLE, aseptic ON and aPLs, to provide a reference for the clinical screening of high-risk patients and for early prevention.
The following six databases will be searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Wan-Fang Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The database searches will not be restricted by date. Case-control studies, cohort studies or observational studies that compare aPLs between SLE patients with and without ON will be considered eligible. Articles published in English and Chinese will be included. Two researchers will independently perform the processes of study selection, data extraction and study quality assessment. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale will be used to assess the quality of the retrieved studies. A meta-analysis will be performed after screening the studies. Data will be analysed using ORs for dichotomous data.
Ethical approval is not required because this systematic review will use published data. The systematic review will be electronically disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication or conference presentations.
CRD42020209637.
CRD42020209637.
Children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently seen in primary care, yet general practitioners (GPs) often experience challenges distinguishing functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) from organic disorders. We, therefore, aim to evaluate whether a test strategy that includes point-of-care testing (POCT) for faecal calprotectin (FCal) can reduce the referral rate to paediatric specialist care among children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. The study findings will contribute to improving the recommendations on FCal use among children in primary care.
In this pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial, we will randomise general practices into intervention and control groups. The intervention group will use FCal-POCT when indicated, after completing online training about its indication, interpretation and follow-up as well as communicating an FGID diagnosis. The control group will test and treat according to Dutch GP guidelines, which advise against FCal testing in children. GPs will include children aged 4-18 years presenting to primary care with chronic diarrhoea and/or recurrent abdominal pain.Pluronic F-68 cell line
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