Background: Delaying surgery following neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) may permit continuing tumor cell death and regression over time. This exploratory pilot study examines the influence of extending the time interval from completion of CCRT to surgery on achieving a pathological complete response (pCR) across a rectal cancer cohort. Methods: This pilot analysis reviewed data from 64 patients with Stage II–III rectal cancer who completed neoadjuvant protocols were reviewed. Patients were stratified based on the real-world resting interval between CCRT completion and total mesorectal excision (TME) into Shorter Interval group (<8 weeks, n = 10) and an Extended Interval group (≥ 8 weeks, n = 54). Univariate logistic regression analyzed the impact of resting intervals, alongside clinical stage, tumor grade, and histology on pCR and overall response rates (ORR). Primary outcome included analyzing if a prolonged interval between the completion of CCRT and radical surgery yields superior tumor regression without escalating surgical morbidity, Secondary outcomes included factors influencing pCR. Results: Surgery executed ≥8weeks weeks post-CCRT demonstrated a prevailing, non-significant trend toward significantly higher odds of achieving a pCR compared to shorter intervals (OR = 3.250, 95% CI: 0.369–28.650, P=0.289).
Blood Supplement Tablets (TTD) are one of the efforts to prevent anemia in adolescent girls. TTD consumption compliance can be affected by a variety of factors, including the support of teachers, family, and peers. Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between teacher support, family support, and peer support with TTD consumption compliance in adolescent girls in Jambi City in 2026.Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach. A sample of 100 young women was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out univariate and bivariate using the Chi-Square test, with a significance level of α=0.05. The magnitude of the relationship was presented using the Prevalence Ratio (PR) and 95% CI.Results: As many as 65.0% of respondents did not comply with the consumption of TTD. Teacher support was not good at 57.0%, family support was not good at 56.0%, and peer support was not good at 53.0%. There was a significant relationship between teacher support and TTD consumption compliance (p=0.001; PR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.28–2.62), family support (p=0.018; PR=1.43; 95% CI: 1.04–1.98), and peer support (p=0.020; PR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.04–1.93).Conclusion: Teacher, family, and peer support was significantly related to TTD consumption compliance in adolescent girls in Jambi City. Strengthening social support through schools, families, and peer groups is needed to increase TTD consumption compliance.
Background: Childhood immunization coverage in Nigeria remains below the 90% target despite free vaccines. Evidence on participatory community engagement for routine immunization in South-East Nigeria is limited. Objectives: To (1) determine caregivers' knowledge of childhood immunization and baseline immunization utilization; (2) identify community-related factors influencing utilization; (3) implement community-based interventions developed with community stakeholders; and (4) determine changes in knowledge and utilization after the interventions. Methods: A Participatory Action Research design with baseline assessment, participatory planning and implementation, and post-intervention evaluation was used in six communities across six Local Government Areas (two per senatorial zone) of Anambra State. Three hundred and sixty-one caregivers of children aged 0–12 months were sampled by multistage sampling at each assessment (sample size computed for a two-proportion comparison, 95% confidence, 80% power, inflated by 10% for attrition). Data were collected with a structured questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha 0.798 in pilot testing) and child immunization records. Interventions were health education, SMS reminders, telephone calls and supportive supervision. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (p < 0.05). Results: At baseline, 34.9% of caregivers had good knowledge and 30.5% had high utilization.
Purpose: The study thus evaluates condom knowledge among the FSWs in Kitui Town with regards to their knowledge on condom effectiveness, use and HIV/STI prevention. Methodology: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Using simple random sampling from an estimated accessible population of about 400, a target sample of 196 was calculated via Fisher’s formula, with 187 participants included in the final analysis; data were collected via structured questionnaires and analysed in SPSS version 26 using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Findings: The analysis of the knowledge data reveals a population with high awareness of the primary function of condoms but significant gaps in critical technical and practical knowledge necessary for their effective use. The highest mean score (Mean=4.28, SD=0.82) was for the statement that condoms prevent HIV transmission, with a overwhelming 90.4% of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: This indicates that the fundamental message of condoms as an HIV prevention tool has been successfully communicated to this population, which is a positive finding for public health campaigns. In conclusion, this study establishes that female sex workers in Kitui Town are not unaware of HIV risks nor are they unprepared; they possess high general knowledge and predominantly carry condoms. The central conclusion, however, is that there exists a profound and dangerous disconnect between this knowledge and their consistent protective behavior, a gap primarily driven by structural and interpersonal factors.
Purpose: This paper develops a conceptual framework and validation protocol for a machine learning based early warning system to detect patient deterioration across a regional referral network of approximately 8,000 staff. Methodology: The study is conceptual and methodological. Drawing on the early warning and machine learning literature, it specifies data sources, feature engineering, three candidate models, and a tiered alerting workflow, together with a TRIPOD+AI and PROBAST aligned protocol covering retrospective derivation, silent-mode testing, staged implementation, fairness auditing, and implementation evaluation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and RE-AIM. The framework is scoped to a network of the scale represented by Vandalia Health and its CAMC Health System campuses in West Virginia. Findings: Rule-based scores such as NEWS2 offer limited sensitivity and specificity relative to machine learning tools, but most evidence comes from large academic centers and integrated systems. The framework shows how such a system can be sized for a multi-campus referral network, routing escalating risk to nurses, rapid response teams, and physicians while limiting alarm fatigue. No empirical patient-level outcomes are reported. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: For theory, the paper integrates technical model design, fairness evaluation, and implementation science into a single development framework. For practice, it provides a literature-grounded blueprint and evaluation protocol that mid-sized referral networks can use to plan deployment. For policy, it supports pre-specified, transparent validation and subgroup performance auditing before clinical prediction models are deployed.
