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Tag: Health Services & Management

  • Students reported mixed satisfaction in primary care training units

    What the study found

    The study found that students in the final semesters of medical training reported mixed satisfaction with conditions in primary health care units during community service preparation. Overall, the stage was rated 8.68 out of 10, but some community, unit, and academic conditions were viewed unfavorably.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that improving primary care has a significant impact on both medical education and the community. They also suggest that the satisfaction findings point to areas in need of improvement.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers carried out a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study at the University of Sonora from February 2023 to January 2024. They used a questionnaire based on the Official Mexican Standard and the university's internal guidelines, and 85 of 104 eligible students participated.

    What worked and what didn't

    Students reported unfavorable views in community reception, including respectful treatment, community safety, and safe access. They also reported dissatisfaction with some health unit conditions such as infrastructure, safety, furniture, and available materials, while academic conditions were generally described as satisfactory.

    What to keep in mind

    The summary does not describe long-term outcomes or compare these students with other groups. The findings are limited to one university and the students who participated in this survey.

    • 85 of 104 eligible students took part in the survey.
    • The overall stage was rated 8.68 on a 1–10 scale.
    • Unfavorable community perceptions included respectful treatment, safety, and safe access.
    • Students reported dissatisfaction with infrastructure, safety, furniture, and materials in some health units.
    • Academic conditions were described as satisfactory overall.

  • European residents trust professionals most for health app advice

    What the study found

    In this multilingual survey of European residents, most respondents reported using one or more health apps. The most trusted recommendation sources were health professionals, pharmacists, and government or health authorities, but family and friends were used more often than professional sources.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that there is public support for government-led review and rating schemes to guide consumer choice. They also suggest that making trustworthy, easy-to-find information available at the point of download, and supporting health care professionals in recommending high-quality apps, could help bridge the gap between trusted and used sources.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers ran a cross-sectional online survey from December 7, 2022, to February 16, 2023, in 26 languages. It targeted residents of the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine and asked about app use, sources of advice used and trusted, and views on government review and rating.

    What worked and what didn't

    Among 1228 fully completed responses from 33 countries, 1110 respondents reported using at least one health app. COVID-19 apps and activity apps were most commonly used, while disease management, diagnostic, and treatment apps were least used. Health professionals were the most trusted source, and 86.3% of respondents supported government review and rating of health apps.

    What to keep in mind

    The survey included only fully completed responses, so the findings reflect that sample rather than all residents in the region. The abstract does not provide details on response rate, and the subgroup findings are limited to the specific trust comparisons reported.

    • Most respondents reported using one or more health apps.
    • Health professionals were the most trusted source of app recommendations.
    • Family and friends were used more often than professional sources when choosing apps.
    • 86.3% of respondents supported government review and rating of health apps.
    • COVID-19 apps and activity apps were the most commonly used app types.

  • Public chatbots gave unsafe medical advice in many responses

    What the study found

    The study found that publicly available large language models, or LLMs, sometimes gave problematic and unsafe answers to patient medical questions. The rate of problematic responses differed across chatbots, and the authors report that some responses had the potential to cause serious patient harm.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that millions of patients may be using LLM chatbots for medical advice, so the safety of these tools matters for patient care. The study suggests that further work is needed to improve the clinical safety of these chatbots.

    What the researchers tested

    A physician-led red-teaming study compared four publicly available chatbots: Claude, Gemini, GPT-4o, and Llama-3.0/3.1-70B. The researchers evaluated 888 responses to 222 patient-posed advice-seeking medical questions using a new dataset called HealthAdvice and an evaluation framework for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

    What worked and what didn't

    The study found statistically significant differences between chatbots. Problematic responses ranged from 21.6% for Claude to 43.2% for Llama, while unsafe responses ranged from 5% for Claude to 13% for GPT-4o and Llama.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the fact that the study used a new dataset and focused on primary care topics in internal medicine, women's health, and pediatrics. The summary provided here is limited to the title and abstract only.

    • Four public chatbots were tested: Claude, Gemini, GPT-4o, and Llama-3.0/3.1-70B.
    • The study evaluated 888 responses to 222 patient-posed medical questions.
    • Problematic response rates ranged from 21.6% to 43.2% across systems.
    • Unsafe response rates ranged from 5% to 13% across systems.
    • The authors say some responses had the potential to lead to serious patient harm.

  • SIMG had marginal usability and low uptake among pregnant women

    What the study found

    The study found that the SIMG, a web-based telehealth system for pregnancy monitoring, had marginal usability and suboptimal uptake in this pilot sample. Most participants, however, said they would be willing to use it in a future pregnancy.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors suggest that telehealth tools like SIMG may help support prenatal care by helping identify warning signs earlier and extending access to care. They also conclude that successful use depends on improving usability, engagement, and confidence in digital health tools.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers piloted the Integrated Pregnancy Monitoring System, or SIMG, a web-based application that uses expert systems, decision trees, and risk calculators for remote pregnancy follow-up. They contacted 111 pregnant participants from the REBRACO study, asked them to complete the System Usability Scale and a telephone interview, and analyzed uptake and usability with descriptive statistics and regression analyses.

    What worked and what didn't

    Among the 54 participants included in the analysis, the mean System Usability Scale score was 67.5 out of 100, which the authors classify as marginal usability. Uptake was 47.1%, and only 52.9% of participants used the tool more than once; 40.7% scored above 70, which indicates acceptable usability, and nearly 88% said they would use it in future pregnancies. The regression analysis found no significant differences in usability scores by participant characteristics.

    What to keep in mind

    The study was a small cross-sectional pilot with substantial nonresponse and incomplete data, so the findings are limited to this sample. The abstract also notes likely barriers such as limited time, lack of internet access, and technologic illiteracy, but it does not provide a formal measurement of those barriers.

    • SIMG, a web-based telehealth tool for pregnancy monitoring, showed marginal usability in this pilot study.
    • Uptake was suboptimal: 47.1% of invited participants registered and logged in at least once.
    • Only 52.9% of participants used the tool more than once.
    • Nearly 88% of respondents said they would use SIMG in a future pregnancy.
    • No significant differences in usability scores were found based on participant characteristics.

  • Poland and Lebanon differed in access, communication, and autonomy

    What the study found

    The study found clear differences between the two healthcare settings. Lebanese participants rated service accessibility higher, while Poland showed higher decision-making autonomy; communication was rated similarly in both countries, with different emphasis in each setting.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that both healthcare systems have distinct strengths and improvement opportunities. The study suggests that Lebanon’s private system may support efficiency and patient interaction, while Poland’s public system may promote patient autonomy and care uniformity.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers carried out a mixed-method cross-sectional study at two hospitals, one in Lebanon and one in Poland, from October 2023 to March 2024. They used structured surveys with 88 respondents total: 44 patients and 44 doctors. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics in R, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti.

    What worked and what didn't

    Service accessibility was rated higher in Lebanon, with fewer barriers to healthcare access reported there. Communication scores were comparable, but Lebanon emphasized provider-patient interpersonal dynamics while Poland emphasized staff information transparency. Poland showed significantly higher decision autonomy, reflecting greater patient engagement in healthcare decisions.

    What to keep in mind

    The abstract describes only two hospitals and a total of 88 respondents, so the findings are limited to this study setting. The available summary does not provide additional limitations beyond the study’s comparative scope.

    • Lebanese participants rated service accessibility higher than participants in Poland.
    • Communication was rated similarly in both settings, but the emphasis differed.
    • Poland showed significantly higher decision-making autonomy.
    • The study compared one hospital in Lebanon and one in Poland.
    • The authors say each system has strengths and areas for improvement.

  • DRP is described as a district-level training programme

    What the study found

    The article describes the District Resident Programme, or DRP, as a training programme introduced by the National Medical Council in 2020 for MD/MS postgraduate students. It says the programme is meant to familiarize students with district health services and the planning, implementation, monitoring, and assessment of national health programmes at the district level.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors state that the programme is intended to help postgraduate students learn how district health systems work. They also indicate that the programme is meant to support understanding of national health programme outcomes at the district level.

    What the researchers tested

    Based on the available abstract, the article appears to be a descriptive research piece rather than a study testing an intervention. It defines the DRP and describes its stated purpose and the kind of district hospital involved: a functional public sector or government-funded hospital with at least 50 beds and the designated specialty facilities and staff.

    What worked and what didn't

    The abstract does not report measured outcomes, comparisons, or performance data. It only states the programme's intended training focus and the district hospital criteria used for the programme.

    What to keep in mind

    The available summary does not describe results, participant experiences, or limitations. It also does not say whether the programme was evaluated or whether the authors judged it to be an opportunity or a mismatch.

    • The article describes the District Resident Programme, introduced in 2020 by the National Medical Council.
    • DRP is for MD/MS postgraduate students from government, private, and deemed medical colleges.
    • The stated aim is to familiarize students with district health services and national health programme management.
    • A qualifying district hospital is described as a public sector or government-funded hospital with at least 50 beds.
    • The abstract does not report outcomes, evaluation results, or limitations.

  • Chinese nursing students showed moderate AI literacy

    What the study found

    The study found that Chinese nursing students had moderate but uneven artificial intelligence literacy, and the ethics dimension was the least developed. The authors also identified frequency of AI use, attitudes toward AI, interest in AI, and digital literacy as key factors linked to AI literacy.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that AI literacy is important for nursing students to navigate healthcare complexity and support safe patient care. They suggest that targeted interventions, such as AI ethics workshops and digital literacy curricula, are needed to strengthen ethical competencies and digital readiness in AI-integrated healthcare settings.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study from April 1 to April 20, 2025, at a public higher education institution with a Master of Science in Nursing program. They surveyed 423 nursing students using anonymous, self-administered online questionnaires and analyzed the data with descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression adjusted for relevant covariates.

    What worked and what didn't

    The mean AI literacy scale score was 59.67 (SD = 8.52), indicating moderate literacy overall. Operational usage performed better than ethics, which was the weakest domain; the study also reported significant associations between overall AI literacy and frequency of AI use, attitudes toward AI, and digital literacy, along with dimension-specific associations for awareness, usage, evaluation, and ethics.

    What to keep in mind

    This was a cross-sectional study, so it shows associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships. The sample came from one public higher education institution and was selected by convenience sampling, which limits how broadly the findings can be generalized. The abstract does not describe additional limitations.

    • Nursing students showed moderate but uneven AI literacy overall.
    • AI ethics was the least developed literacy domain.
    • Frequency of AI use, attitudes toward AI, interest in AI, and digital literacy were linked to AI literacy.
    • The study surveyed 423 nursing students at one public higher education institution in China.
    • The authors suggest AI ethics workshops and digital literacy curricula.

  • NABH digital health standards align with major global frameworks

    What the study found

    The study found that the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers digital health standards for India align well with major international digital health frameworks in core areas such as leadership, governance, clinical and patient safety, and information and data management. It also found gaps in newer areas including AI governance, advanced cybersecurity, interoperability, equity, and patient-generated health data.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that their mapped findings offer external policy guidance for future revisions of the Indian standards. They suggest that adding light-weight requirements or tiered "Digital Plus" badges could help make implementation more future-proof as the digital health ecosystem matures.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. They searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and grey literature up to 26 July 2025, included sources on national or international maturity models or accreditation standards for healthcare provider organizations, and compared them with the NABH digital health standards using a crosswalk matrix and thematic gap map.

    What worked and what didn't

    Thirty-eight sources were included, covering reviews, official reports or standards, and primary studies. The NABH standards, organized into eight chapters, showed strong alignment with frameworks such as HIMSS EMRAM, NHS England's WGLL, WHO-PAHO IS4H, JCI, and Australian models in core domains, but had absent or minimal coverage for explicit AI governance, advanced cybersecurity maturity aligned with NIST CSF 2.0, granular interoperability assessment, a dedicated health-equity lens, and systematic integration of patient-generated health data.

    What to keep in mind

    The summary provided here is based only on the abstract, so detailed limitations are not described. The comparison is limited to the frameworks and sources included in the scoping review, and the authors frame their findings as external policy guidance rather than a full evaluation of implementation outcomes.

    • The NABH digital health standards aligned well with international frameworks in core governance and safety domains.
    • The comparison identified gaps in AI governance, cybersecurity maturity, interoperability, equity, and patient-generated health data.
    • The study used a scoping review with PRISMA-ScR methods and included 38 sources.
    • The authors suggest future NABH revisions could use annexes or tiered Digital Plus badges.
    • The mapped findings are presented as external policy guidance.

  • System mapping reveals PCORnet infrastructure complexity

    What the study found

    The study found that system mapping methods can be used to visualize the PCORnet infrastructure, including the key actors, relationships, and exchanges involved in data activities. The authors present maps intended to make the network easier to understand for people involved in research and collaboration.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors say this matters because visualizing the architecture of a national clinical research network may improve its usefulness for national-scale research. They also conclude that the approach could support collaboration as a learning health system by improving transparency and dialogue with patient partners about the strengths and potential limitations of the infrastructure.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers applied system mapping methods to the PCORnet infrastructure, focusing on data management and sharing activities. They used this approach to characterize the key actors, relationships, and exchanges within the network and to describe commonalities and heterogeneity across clinical research network infrastructures.

    What worked and what didn't

    The mapping methods and maps provided a new tool for visualizing the design and architecture of the PCORnet infrastructure for distributed queries. The abstract does not report quantitative performance results or state that any specific approach did not work.

    What to keep in mind

    The summary provided here is limited to the abstract, so detailed results, limitations, and evaluation data are not described. The paper focuses on infrastructure visualization and does not present outcomes from a clinical study.

    • System mapping was used to visualize the PCORnet infrastructure.
    • The study focused on key actors, relationships, and exchanges in data activities.
    • The authors say the maps may make PCORnet more accessible to investigators, patient partners, and funders.
    • The abstract describes commonalities and heterogeneity across clinical research network infrastructures.
    • No quantitative performance results are reported in the abstract.

  • Leadership and accreditation shaped quality culture in one hospital study

    What the study found

    The study found three main themes: tensions between accreditation and quality culture, leadership as a collective and emotionally demanding task, and accreditation as a process that can produce both practical improvements and emotional reinforcement. The authors also say there is a need to clarify the role of the internal lead and to align accreditation language with clinical and managerial realities.

    Why the authors say this matters

    The authors conclude that leadership development, institutional investment, and redesigned accreditation standards may be needed to better reflect clinical practice and managerial responsibilities. The study suggests that supportive environments matter because organisational change has emotional and cultural effects and should foster shared responsibility, team engagement, and sustainable quality improvement.

    What the researchers tested

    The researchers used a qualitative hermeneutic approach, which means they interpreted interview and observation data to understand meaning in context. They conducted individual and group semi-structured interviews and participant observation with six healthcare professionals responsible for accreditation projects under the Andalusian Agency for Health Quality in a European public hospital. They analysed the data using Ricoeur’s interpretive framework, guided by the PRECEDE model, which is a planning framework for identifying predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors.

    What worked and what didn't

    The study reports that accreditation could generate tangible improvements and emotional reinforcement. It also reports conceptual tension between accreditation and quality culture, and describes leadership work as collective and emotionally demanding. The abstract does not provide detailed examples of which specific practices worked best or which did not.

    What to keep in mind

    This was a small qualitative study with six participants in one European public hospital, so the findings are limited to that setting. The abstract notes one future research direction: examining how gender dynamics influence leadership in accreditation processes.

    • Three themes emerged: tension between accreditation and quality culture, collective emotionally demanding leadership, and accreditation-linked improvements plus emotional reinforcement.
    • The authors say the internal lead’s role should be clarified and accreditation language aligned with clinical and managerial realities.
    • The study used interviews, group interviews, and participant observation with six healthcare professionals.
    • PRECEDE was used to examine predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors in leadership practices.
    • The abstract describes accreditation as producing tangible improvements, but gives no detailed examples.