Diabetes-related foot disease research in Aotearoa New Zealand: a bibliometric analysis (1970-2020).

BACKGROUND: The aim of this bibliometric study was to examine trends in the quality and quantity of published diabetes-related foot disease (DRFD) research in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) over the past five decades. METHOD: In July 2021, the Scopus® database was searched for DRFD-related publications (1970-2020) using predetermined search and inclusion criteria. Bibliometric data were extracted from Scopus® and Journal Citation Reports. Retrieved bibliometric indicators were analysed in Biblioshiny, an R Statistical Software interface and reported using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Forty-seven DRFD-related articles were identified. The annual number of publications showed a significant upward trend increasing from one in 1988 to a peak of six in 2018 (P < 0.001). The majority of identified articles (n = 31, 66%) were published in the last decade (2011-2020). Basic/clinical research accounted for 87% (n = 41) of publications and 14 (30%) investigated the screening and/or prevention of DRFD. The average citation per article was 20.23 (range: 0-209) and the median impact factor was 4.31 (range, 1.82-79.32). Over a third of articles (36%) had an international authorship network. Funding was reported in 15 (32%) articles; 12 (26%) were supported by public national grants vs. three (6%) reporting industry-sponsorship. CONCLUSION: DRFD articles authored by NZ researchers have increased over the past five decades. Despite NZ researchers having increased their global impact through collaborative networks, most of the research was classified as low-level evidence, with limited focus on Indigenous Maori and limited financial support and funding. Increased funding for interventional research is required to enable a higher level of evidence-based and practice-changing research to occur. With rates of diabetes-related amputations higher in Maori future research must focus on reducing inequalities in diabetes-related outcomes for Maori by specifically targeting the prevention and screening of DRFD in primary care settings in NZ.

Effect of an intercalated research degree on general practice careers: a matched cohort study.

INTRODUCTION Intercalated degrees are one of the most focused undergraduate research training activities offered to medical students worldwide. The effect of intercalating on actual career choices has not been previously investigated. AIM To examine the effect of obtaining an intercalated research degree on choosing general practice as a career. METHODS This was a retrospective, matched cohort study of intercalating students at the University of Otago, New Zealand (1995-2008). Medical students who completed the intercalated Bachelor of Medical Sciences with Honours, BMedSc(Hons), degree were retrospectively identified. Gender- and graduation year-matched controls were identified from a publicly available graduate database in a 1:1 ratio. MEDLINE® and Google Scholar-indexed publications resulting from BMedSc(Hons) projects were determined using standardised search criteria. Speciality choice was obtained from online lists of registered doctors. RESULTS Over the 14-year period, 99 (3.9%) students completed an intercalated degree with a publication rate of 36.4%. Of these, 42 (42.4%) were female and over two-thirds (68.7%) of projects were laboratory-based. The median follow-up period after graduation was 14 years (range 7.7-21.7 years). The congruence between students' BMedSc(Hons) research subject area and clinical speciality was 9.1%. Sixteen (16.2%) intercalating students chose general practice as a career, whereas 83 (83.8%) chose 19 different hospital-based specialties. Compared to controls, students who completed an intercalated degree were significantly less likely to pursue a career in general practice (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval=0.18 - 0.77; P=0.007). DISCUSSION The present study findings suggest that completing an intercalated degree is associated with lower odds of pursuing a career in general practice. Future research should explore reasons for this observation to help develop strategies to promote primary care and general practice careers among medical graduates, including those interested in research careers.

Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Implementation of Evidence-based Practice in Oman: A Multi-institutional, Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Little attention has been paid to the study of evidence-based practice (EBP) among nurses in Oman. Our aim was to explore knowledge, practice, and attitudes towards EBP among nurses working in Oman. METHODS: This multi-institutional cross-sectional study utilized the self-reported EBP Questionnaire with a random sample of 262 nurses working in three different health care settings in Al Dakhliyah governorate, Oman (local hospitals, primary health centers and polyclinics, and schools). RESULTS: A total of 202 nurses (response rate: 77.1%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 32.4±4.7 years. Most respondents were females (92.5%), Omani (79.1%), and holders of a diploma in nursing (73.5%) with a mean clinical experience of 10.9±4.2 years. Attitudes towards EBP showed the highest mean score of 5.5±1.2 followed by knowledge (4.9±0.8) and practice (4.7±1.2). Significant positive correlations were identified between the total years of nursing experience and knowledge (r s = 0.145, n = 198, p = 0.041), practice (r s = 0.172, n = 198, p = 0.015), and attitudes (r s = 0.158, n = 197, p = 0.026) mean scores. No significant difference in EBP scores was found among the three clinical settings. CONCLUSION: Although attitudes towards EBP were positive, knowledge and implementation of EBP were low. This study serves as a baseline assessment for future evaluations and provides a basis for the implementation of strategies to promote EBP utilization among nurses in three different health care settings in Oman.

Publication rates of, and attitudes toward, summer research projects: 10-year experience from a single institution in New Zealand.

Background: Research is increasingly being emphasized from an early stage in medical students' careers. Medical student involvement in research and authorship of peer-reviewed manuscripts have been shown to enhance their academic performance-both in the short term and long term. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and motivations of the summer studentship research program at our institution, using Vroom's expectancy theory as a conceptual framework. Methods: We utilized a mixed-methods approach to our study. Two databases (PubMed™ and Google Scholar™) were searched for publication data. In addition, students and supervisors of the program at the University of Otago were invited to provide comments on the program. Qualitative data were analyzed using an inductive, pragmatic approach which involved coding responses and grouping codes into common themes. Results: Between 2007 and 2016, 1,345 projects were completed, of which 326 (24.2%) resulted in a peer-reviewed publication. Students made up 48.1% of the first-authors. Three themes each emerged from the students and the supervisors' survey. Student themes included: motives for undertaking a summer studentship, administrative benefits and barriers, and perceived outcomes of the program. Supervisor themes included: motivations for engaging in the summer studentship program, administrative benefits and barriers, and expectations placed on the student. These themes are consistent with Vroom's expectancy theory where motivation is related to expectancy, instrumentality, and valence. Conclusion: A dedicated program to foster an interest in research by medical students has great value as judged by an overall publication rate of 24.2%. In addition, it provides opportunities to explore areas of interest in depth, acquire research skills, pilot new avenues of research, and create professional networks. Student research program needs to be well founded and well supported including administrative and statistical support.

Dissemination of results from medical student public health research training and factors associated with publication.

PURPOSE: To examine factors associated with successful publications resulting from mandatory public health research training attachment, the Trainee Intern Health Care Evaluation (TIHE) projects, at the University of Otago, Dunedin School of Medicine, New Zealand. METHODS: A total of 227 TIHE projects completed during the period from January 1985 to December 2013 were included in the study. In February 2016, Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched independently by both authors for publications using predefined search criteria. RESULTS: Overall, 25 (11.1%) out of 227 projects resulted in 19 articles, 3 conference presentations/abstracts and 4 cited report abstracts. Nineteen (8.4%) projects resulted in 22 peer-reviewed journal publications, the majority of which were original articles (86.4%). The number of projects commissioned by a client was independently associated with the likelihood of publication, conference abstract or citation of the project report (OR 1.40; P<0.01, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.71). The number of authors and the number of non-student authors were positively associated with publication in higher impact journals, while student first-authored articles were more likely to be published in lower impact journals. Projects completed in more recent years were more likely to be published. CONCLUSIONS: Mandatory medical student research experiences promote tangible research output. These findings may help to influence policy around the introduction of required medical school research and facilitate encouraging academic careers among medical students. Future research could focus on examining how different student-related, supervisor-related and programme-related factors influence publication rates from mandatory medical student research attachments.

Qualitative analysis of Parkinson's disease information on social media: the case of YouTube™.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data pertaining to the usefulness of information presented on social media platforms on chronic neuropsychiatric conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to examine the quality of YouTube™ videos that deliver general information on PD and the availability and design of instructional videos addressing the caregiving role in PD. METHODS: YouTube™ was searched using the keyword "Parkinson's disease" for relevant videos. Videos were assessed for usefulness and accuracy based on pre-defined criteria. Data on video characteristics including total viewership, duration, ratings, and source of videos were collated. Instructional PD videos that addressed the role of caregivers were examined closely for the design and scope of instructional content. RESULTS: A total of 100 videos met the inclusion criteria. Just under a third of videos (28%) was uploaded by trusted academic organisations. Overall, 15% of PD videos were found to be somewhat useful and only 4% were assessed as providing very useful PD information; 3% of surveyed videos were misleading. The mean number of video views (regardless of video source) was not significantly different between the different video ratings (p = 0.86). Although personal videos trended towards being less useful than videos from academic organisations, this association was not statistically significant (p = 0.13). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the usefulness of PD information on the largest video-sharing website, YouTube™. In general, the overall quality of information presented in the videos screened was mediocre. Viewership of accurate vs. misleading information was, however, very similar. Therefore, healthcare providers should direct PD patients and their families to the resources that provide reliable and accurate information.

Publication rates and characteristics of undergraduate medical theses in New Zealand.

AIM: Publication in peer-reviewed journals is widely regarded as the preferred vehicle for research dissemination. In New Zealand, the fate and publication rates of theses produced by medical students is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and characteristics of publications derived from research conducted by Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMedSc(Hons)) students at the three campuses of the University of Otago Medical School, New Zealand. METHODS: A total of 153 BMedSc(Hons) theses accepted at the Otago Medical School during the period of January 1995 to December 2014 were analysed. Using standardised search criteria, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched in October 2015 to examine the number and characteristics of publications. RESULTS: Overall, 50 (32.7%) out of 153 included theses resulted in 81 scientific publications. Ten (12.3%) publications featured in Australasian journals. The majority of publications were original articles (84%), with pathology and molecular biology (19%) being the most common research area. Although they did not reach statistical significance, publications in higher impact factor journals trended towards having a senior first author as opposed to a student first author (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: Although higher than reported figures from previous studies, publication rates of BMedSc(Hons) theses remain lower than expected. To improve our understanding of medical student publishing in New Zealand, formal examination of the factors hindering medical students from publishing their theses is imperative.

Poststroke Anxiety and Depression: Findings from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are the two most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of stroke. In Saudi Arabia, there is a general lack of research into anxiety and depression in stroke patients when compared with physical complications. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in 76 stroke patients from Saudi Arabia using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: In this study, 18.4% and 23.7% of the patients met the HADS criteria for moderate or severe anxiety and depression, respectively. Female gender was the only significant predictive factor associated with both anxiety (P = .03) and depression (P = .04), where longer duration since stroke was only associated with anxiety (P = .02) but not depression (P = .25). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that anxiety and depression are commonplace in Saudi patients with stroke, a finding that has implications for clinical practice and future research.