Open Access

Background: Mobile text reminder (SMS) system is considered a viable strategy for targeting/facilitating healthy behavioural change including adherence to prescribed physical exercises (PE) and medication (antiretroviral therapy-ART) which should improve the quality of life (Qol) in people living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHA). Thus, the literature was appraised for evidence of SMS effectiveness in improving ART and PE adherence behaviours and QoL in PLWHA. Methods: Eight databases–AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, EMCARE, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed-were searched up to December 2020, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol.This review included only randomised control trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of SMS in improving QoL or PE or ART adherence behaviour or a combination of these variables in PLWHA >18 years. Two independent reviewers determined the eligibility of the studies. Data were extracted and the quality of the study was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) tool. The primary outcomes were ART and PE adherence behaviours while the secondary outcome was QoL. Result: A pooled estimate of effect was not calculated due to the heterogeneity of methods and outcome measures. Therefore, a narrative synthesis of ten studies that met the inclusion criteria (n = 1621 participants at study completion) comprising males/females, aged ≥ 18 years, was done. There was a significant improvement in ART adherence behaviour except in three underpowered studies. Only the SMS interventions that were developed using the Starks 3-steps Adherence model was associated with positive outcome. The only study that evaluated QoL was underpowered and reported no significant change while there were no RCTs on PE. Conclusion: Effects of SMS intervention trends towards a significant improvement in ART adherence behaviour in PLWHA. It is plausible that SMS reminders developed using the broader framework of the interpersonal health behaviour theory(ies) may have positive outcome. Nevertheless, the observed heterogeneity in the methods/outcome measures warrants a cautious interpretation of the findings. There is a lack/paucity of RCTs and therefore no evidence in support of the effectiveness of SMS intervention in improving PE adherence and QoL.

Lack of knowledge regarding antibiotics use has been widely identified as a main reason for inappropriate antibiotics use which leads to antibiotic resistance phenomenon. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pharmacist-initiated educational intervention on promoting appropriate use of antibiotics and reducing self-medication with antibiotics. A pre and post intervention study using two validated self-administered questionnaires was performed in Yogyakarta province. A-two hour session of course and case discussion was delivered as method of intervention. Pharmacy customers attended Gema Cermat program were invited conveniently to complete both of pre- and post-educational questionnaires. Descriptive presentation was conducted to show scores on questions. Knowledge scores were categorized as poor, adequate and high. Of 268 respondents, 34.22% respondents had poor level of knowledge before receiving educational intervention, but this number decreased into 12.21% after post-interventional phase. Another 28.23% respondents had adequate level of knowledge before and then elevated into 38.28% after receiving education about appropriate use of antibiotics. Pre-education, 37.43% participants had a high level of knowledge about antibiotics use and resistance, whereas after education the number became slightly higher (49.25%). A vast majority of respondents (75.24%) became more aware about appropriate antibiotics practice after receiving educational inter- vention. Overall, didactic educational intervention imposed higher knowledge and better practice regarding antibiotics use (p < 0.05). This study showed that using didactical education intervention towards antibiotics use and resistance can be an initial strategy that led to substantial improvement of appropriate antibiotics use. Further systemic interventions to educate people should be performed and evaluated in order to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics.

Ausgangslage: Vor dem Hintergrund der vielfältigen Möglichkeiten des Settings Hochschule, die gesundheitlichen Belange von derzeit 719.203 Beschäftigten und 2,9 Millionen Studierenden zu gestalten und auf diese einzuwirken, bauen immer mehr Hochschulen interne Strukturen zur Gestaltung einer gesundheitsförderlichen Lehr-/ Lernumgebung auf. Besonders die Gesundheit von Studierenden ist in den vergangenen Jahren stärker in den Fokus gerückt, sodass Projekte des Studentischen Gesundheitsmanagements, die die Vermittlung von Gesundheitsförderung an alle Studierende als Aufgabe für den zukünftigen beruflichen Wirkungsbereich beabsichtigen, zunehmend vorangetrieben werden. Bislang gibt es jedoch keine empirischen Untersuchungen, die die MultiplikatorInnenrolle von AbsolventInnen in beruflichen Handlungsfeldern bestätigen. Ziel der Studie: Ziel der Studie war es herauszufinden, ob und zu welchem Anteil die hochschulisch erworbenen Kompetenzen zum BGM bzw. zur BGF in den beruflichen Handlungsfeldern Anwendung finden und ob sich die AbsolventInnen als MultiplikatorInnen eigeninitiativ an der Gestaltung eines gesundheitsförderlichen Settings beteiligen. Methoden: Im Rahmen einer als Querschnittsstudie angelegten AbsolventInnen-Befragung zum beruflichen Verbleib beteiligten sich n = 125 AbsolventInnen aus Studiengängen für Pflege- und Gesundheitsberufe. Die Auswertung und Diskussion der Ergebnisse fokussierte sich auf den Befragungsteil zum Betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagement. Ergebnisse: Die AbsolventInnen setzen insbesondere verhaltens- und verhältnisbezogene Maßnahmen in ihrem Berufsalltag um und fühlen sich durch ihr Studium gut darauf vorbereitet, Aufgaben zur Ausgangsbestimmung, Maßnahmenentwicklung sowie Evaluationen und Wirksamkeitsnachweise in Bereichen des Betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagements bzw. der Betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung zu übernehmen. Der Transfer des gesundheitsförderlichen Wissens und Handelns im Sinne der MultiplikatorInnenrolle zeigt jedoch Handlungsbedarf. Schlussfolgerungen: Es bedarf einer vertiefenden Reflexion und Stärkung des persönlichen Selbstverständnisses und der professionellen Identität der Gesundheits- und Pflegeberufe mit Blick auf die Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung unter Einbezug der kontextspezifischen Rahmenbedingungen der Hochschulen und des Gesundheitswesens.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), an immunogenic tumor, is the most common form of kidney cancer worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) play an important role in the treatment of metastatic RCC. Programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) has already been proposed as a possible prognosticator for ICIs effectiveness. To elucidate the feasible role of ICIs in neoadjuvant settings, we have assessed the most common PD-L1 expression modalities [tumor proportion score (TPS), combined positivity score (CPS) and inflammatory cell (IC) score] in primary tumors (PTs) and venous tumor thrombi (VTT) in first diagnosed, previously untreated RCC patients with accompanying VTT. Methods: Between January 1999 and December 2016, 71 patients with a first diagnosed, untreated, locally advanced RCC (aRCC) (≥ pT3a) underwent surgery in Hanover Medical School (MHH). PD-L1 expression was examined separately in PTs and VTT using the CPS, IC score and TPS. We also considered the age at the time of the initial surgery and gender as probable influencing factors. By using a cutoff value of 1 (1%), PD-L1 expression levels in PTs and VTT were assessed to enable the determination of any frequency differences. Results: Positive scores for PTs were shown by 54 (CPS), 53 (IC score) and 34 (TPS) patients, whereas in VTT, positive scores were evaluated for a total of 50 (CPS), 47 (IC-score) and 36 (TPS) patients. No statistically significant differences were obtained between the PD-L1 expression immunoscores for PTs and VTT. The covariates age at the time of the initial surgery and gender could not be statistically proven to influence the differences in PD-L1 expression between the VTT and PTs. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this research is the largest study to investigate PD-L1 expression in PTs and VTT in 71 cases. It could have relevance for the future development of neoadjuvant immunotherapy options, particularly in aRCC with VTT.

Background The business of clinical research has changed in the past two decades, shifting from industrialised Western countries to so-called emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa. An appraisal of the trends could identify associated factors that may have implications for the local populations and their endemic diseases. Objectives To identify potential reasons why emerging countries have become attractive places for international sponsors to conduct their clinical trials. Methods Using ClinicalTrials.gov, the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, the National Health Research Database and the Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry, trend data on clinical research development were determined for two emerging African markets, Nigeria and South Africa (SA), from 2010 to 2018. Also, health data on the two countries from the fact sheets of health statistics of the World Health Organization were compared, as well as regulatory and ethical conditions. Available data were analysed using descriptive statistics and trend analysis. Results The impact of globalisation is evident from the upward trend in clinical trials in SA before 2010, and the clear downward trend thereafter. One reason for this change could be the alignment of SA’s regulatory and ethical frameworks with the Western world. In contrast, the upward trend is only just beginning in Nigeria, with the introduction of ethical/regulatory frameworks, and supportive institutions making the business of clinical research more attractive on an international level. Although the number of international and local sponsors increased in Nigeria from 2010 to 2018, only the latter increased in SA, with the former decreasing over the same period. Overall, there is a mismatch between country-specific diseases and the drugs being tested, to the extent that leprosy, which is endemic in Nigeria, and tuberculosis in SA were not in the list of top 10 study areas in either country. Conclusions The globalisation trend is evident in the clinical trials business, but cannot be generalised to all emerging countries. Timing and intensity vary from country to country relative to factors that advance the existing profit-orientated business models of the sponsors. Furthermore, various diseases have been localised, which entails a diversely increasing need for research.