Action mechanisms of therapeutic alliance in stepped and digital interventions remain unclear.

(a) To compare the development of therapeutic alliance between psychosocial treatment as usual (PTAU) and a stepped digital intervention designed to prevent distress in cancer patients; (b) to analyse the level of agreement between patients’ and therapists’ therapeutic alliance ratings; and (c) to explore variables associated with therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention.

A multicentre randomised controlled trial with 184 newly diagnosed breast cancer women was conducted. Patients were assigned to digital intervention or PTAU. Therapeutic alliance was assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months after inclusion using the working alliance inventory for patients and therapists. Age, usability (system usability scale), satisfaction (visual analogue scale), type and amount of patient–therapist communication were analysed as associated variables.

Patients and therapists established high therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention, although significantly lower compared with PTAU. The development of patients’ therapeutic alliance did not differ between interventions, unlike that of the therapists. No agreement was found between patients’ and therapists’ therapeutic alliance ratings. Patients’ therapeutic alliance was associated with usability and satisfaction with app, whereas therapists’ therapeutic alliance was associated with satisfaction with monitoring platform.

A stepped digital intervention for cancer patients could develop and maintain strong therapeutic alliance. Neither the type nor amount of communication affected patients’ therapeutic alliance, suggesting that flexible and available digital communication fosters a sense of care and connection. The association between usability and satisfaction with digital tools highlights their importance as key therapeutic alliance components in digital settings.

Pain is a frequent symptom in cancer patients (CP), and its multidimensional assessment is essential for a comprehensive approach and to establish clinical prognoses. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) is an internationally recognized tool for the multidimensional assessment of pain, both in clinical and research settings. However, no studies have been reported in Latin America that determine its psychometric properties in CP and chronic pain.

To determine the psychometric properties of the SF-MPQ in adult Mexican cancer patients with chronic pain.

An instrumental design was used with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 cancer patients treated at the pain clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Analyses were conducted to evaluate factorial structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]), reliability (internal consistency), measurement invariance, and criterion validity (concurrent and divergent).

CFA verified a 9-item structure divided into 2 factors: (1) Affective-Nociceptive and (2) Neuropathic. A global Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .82 and a global McDonald’s Omega index of .82 were identified. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance (ΔCFI ≤ .01; ΔRMSEA ≤ .015) were confirmed regarding the sex variable. Finally, the SF-MPQ showed a positive correlation with the Numerical Rating Scale (rho = .436, p< .01) and a negative correlation with the EORTC-QLQ C30 (rho = −.396, p< .01).

The Mexican version of the SF-MPQ presented adequate psychometric properties and fit indices, making it a valid and reliable instrument for use in clinical and research settings in Mexico. Its use is recommended for the comprehensive assessment of pain in oncology in Mexico, as it allows for the understanding of pain characteristics beyond intensity, guiding the establishment of clinical prognoses.

This study aims to outline Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) trends and outcomes in Mexican healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Observational study of case series.

Sixteen public hospitals and private academic healthcare institutions across eight states in Mexico from January 2016 to December 2022.

CDI patients.

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of CDI patients were obtained from clinical records. Cases were classified as community or healthcare-associated infections, with incidence rates calculated as cases per 10,000 patient days. Risk factors for 30-day all-cause mortality were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.

We identified 2,356 CDI cases: 2,118 (90%) were healthcare-associated, and 232 (10%) were community-associated. Common comorbidities included hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Previous high use of proton-pump inhibitors, steroids, and antibiotics was observed. Recurrent infection occurred in 112 (5%) patients, and 30-day mortality in 371 (16%). Risk factors associated with death were a high Charlson score, prior use of steroids, concomitant use of antibiotics, leukopenia, leukocytosis, elevated serum creatine, hypoalbuminemia, septic shock or abdominal sepsis, and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection. The healthcare-associated CDI incidence remained stable at 4.78 cases per 10,000 patient days during the pre-and pandemic periods. However, the incidence was higher in public hospitals.

Our study underscores the need for routine epidemiology surveillance and standardized CDI classification protocols in Mexican institutions. Though CDI rates in our country align with those in some European countries, disparities between public and private healthcare sectors emphasize the importance of targeted interventions.

To identify urinary catheter (UC)–associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) incidence and risk factors.

A prospective cohort study.

The study was conducted across 623 ICUs of 224 hospitals in 114 cities in 37 African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.

The study included 169,036 patients, hospitalized for 1,166,593 patient days.

Data collection took place from January 1, 2014, to February 12, 2022. We identified CAUTI rates per 1,000 UC days and UC device utilization (DU) ratios stratified by country, by ICU type, by facility ownership type, by World Bank country classification by income level, and by UC type. To estimate CAUTI risk factors, we analyzed 11 variables using multiple logistic regression.

Participant patients acquired 2,010 CAUTIs. The pooled CAUTI rate was 2.83 per 1,000 UC days. The highest CAUTI rate was associated with the use of suprapubic catheters (3.93 CAUTIs per 1,000 UC days); with patients hospitalized in Eastern Europe (14.03) and in Asia (6.28); with patients hospitalized in trauma (7.97), neurologic (6.28), and neurosurgical ICUs (4.95); with patients hospitalized in lower–middle-income countries (3.05); and with patients in public hospitals (5.89).

The following variables were independently associated with CAUTI: Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.01; P < .0001), female sex (aOR, 1.39; P < .0001), length of stay (LOS) before CAUTI-acquisition (aOR, 1.05; P < .0001), UC DU ratio (aOR, 1.09; P < .0001), public facilities (aOR, 2.24; P < .0001), and neurologic ICUs (aOR, 11.49; P < .0001).

CAUTI rates are higher in patients with suprapubic catheters, in middle-income countries, in public hospitals, in trauma and neurologic ICUs, and in Eastern European and Asian facilities.

Based on findings regarding risk factors for CAUTI, focus on reducing LOS and UC utilization is warranted, as well as implementing evidence-based CAUTI-prevention recommendations.

Although several studies have documented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, the long-term effects remain unclear.

To examine longitudinal changes in mental health before and during the consecutive COVID-19 waves in a well-established probability sample.

An online survey was completed by the participants of the COVID-19 add-on study at four time points: pre-COVID-19 period (2014–2015, n = 1823), first COVID-19 wave (April to May 2020, n = 788), second COVID-19 wave (August to October 2020, n = 532) and third COVID-19 wave (March to April 2021, n = 383). Data were collected via a set of validated instruments, and analysed with latent growth models.

During the pandemic, we observed a significant increase in stress levels (standardised β = 0.473, P < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (standardised β = 1.284, P < 0.001). The rate of increase in depressive symptoms (std. covariance = 0.784, P = 0.014), but not in stress levels (std. covariance = 0.057, P = 0.743), was associated with the pre-pandemic mental health status of the participants. Further analysis showed that secondary stressors played a predominant role in the increase in mental health difficulties. The main secondary stressors were loneliness, negative emotionality associated with the perception of COVID-19 disease, lack of resilience, female gender and younger age.

The surge in stress levels and depressive symptoms persisted across all three consecutive COVID-19 waves. This persistence is attributable to the effects of secondary stressors, and particularly to the status of mental health before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal mechanisms underlying the surge in mental health difficulties during the COVID-19 waves, with direct implications for strategies promoting mental health during pandemics.

To identify central-line (CL)–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) incidence and risk factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

From July 1, 1998, to February 12, 2022, we conducted a multinational multicenter prospective cohort study using online standardized surveillance system and unified forms.

The study included 728 ICUs of 286 hospitals in 147 cities in 41 African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.

In total, 278,241 patients followed during 1,815,043 patient days acquired 3,537 CLABSIs.

For the CLABSI rate, we used CL days as the denominator and the number of CLABSIs as the numerator. Using multiple logistic regression, outcomes are shown as adjusted odds ratios (aORs).

The pooled CLABSI rate was 4.82 CLABSIs per 1,000 CL days, which is significantly higher than that reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC NHSN). We analyzed 11 variables, and the following variables were independently and significantly associated with CLABSI: length of stay (LOS), risk increasing 3% daily (aOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), number of CL days, risk increasing 4% per CL day (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03–1.21; P < .0001), tracheostomy use (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.23–1.88; P < .0001), hospitalization at a publicly owned facility (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.31–4.01; P <.0001) or at a teaching hospital (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.22–3.83; P < .0001), hospitalization in a middle-income country (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.09–2.77; P < .0001). The ICU type with highest risk was adult oncology (aOR, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.11–6.09; P < .0001), followed by pediatric oncology (aOR, 2.51;95% CI, 1.57–3.99; P < .0001), and pediatric (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.81–3.01; P < .0001). The CL type with the highest risk was internal-jugular (aOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.71–3.33; P < .0001), followed by femoral (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.96–2.68; P < .0001). Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was the CL with the lowest CLABSI risk (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02–2.18; P = .04).

The following CLABSI risk factors are unlikely to change: country income level, facility ownership, hospitalization type, and ICU type. These findings suggest a focus on reducing LOS, CL days, and tracheostomy; using PICC instead of internal-jugular or femoral CL; and implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention recommendations.

Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are several times above those of high-income countries. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors (RFs) for VAP cases in ICUs of LMICs.

Prospective cohort study.

This study was conducted across 743 ICUs of 282 hospitals in 144 cities in 42 Asian, African, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.

The study included patients admitted to ICUs across 24 years.

In total, 289,643 patients were followed during 1,951,405 patient days and acquired 8,236 VAPs. We analyzed 10 independent variables. Multiple logistic regression identified the following independent VAP RFs: male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–1.28; P < .0001); longer length of stay (LOS), which increased the risk 7% per day (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07–1.08; P < .0001); mechanical ventilation (MV) utilization ratio (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23–1.31; P < .0001); continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 13.38; 95% CI, 11.57–15.48; P < .0001); tracheostomy connected to a MV, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 8.31; 95% CI, 7.21–9.58; P < .0001); endotracheal tube connected to a MV (aOR, 6.76; 95% CI, 6.34–7.21; P < .0001); surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17–1.29; P < .0001); admission to a public hospital (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.35-1.86; P < .0001); middle-income country (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 15–1.29; P < .0001); admission to an adult-oncology ICU, which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 4.05; 95% CI, 3.22–5.09; P < .0001), admission to a neurologic ICU, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.78–3.45; P < .0001); and admission to a respiratory ICU (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.79–3.07; P < .0001). Admission to a coronary ICU showed the lowest risk (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51–0.77; P < .0001).

Some identified VAP RFs are unlikely to change: sex, hospitalization type, ICU type, facility ownership, and country income level. Based on our results, we recommend focusing on strategies to reduce LOS, to reduce the MV utilization ratio, to limit CPAP use and implementing a set of evidence-based VAP prevention recommendations.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterised by a recurrent course and high comorbidity rates. A lifespan perspective may therefore provide important information regarding health outcomes. The aim of the present study is to examine mental disorders that preceded 12-month MDD diagnosis and the impact of these disorders on depression outcomes.

Data came from 29 cross-sectional community epidemiological surveys of adults in 27 countries (n = 80 190). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess 12-month MDD and lifetime DSM-IV disorders with onset prior to the respondent's age at interview. Disorders were grouped into depressive distress disorders, non-depressive distress disorders, fear disorders and externalising disorders. Depression outcomes included 12-month suicidality, days out of role and impairment in role functioning.

Among respondents with 12-month MDD, 94.9% (s.e. = 0.4) had at least one prior disorder (including previous MDD), and 64.6% (s.e. = 0.9) had at least one prior, non-MDD disorder. Previous non-depressive distress, fear and externalising disorders, but not depressive distress disorders, predicted higher impairment (OR = 1.4–1.6) and suicidality (OR = 1.5–2.5), after adjustment for sociodemographic variables. Further adjustment for MDD characteristics weakened, but did not eliminate, these associations. Associations were largely driven by current comorbidities, but both remitted and current externalising disorders predicted suicidality among respondents with 12-month MDD.

These results illustrate the importance of careful psychiatric history taking regarding current anxiety disorders and lifetime externalising disorders in individuals with MDD.