Readable research linked to original sources
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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
Loading articles data…
Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
26 articles
Newest firstBackgroundComplications of aesthetic surgery performed in private practice pose significant risk to patients and resource burden to healthcare systems. Thorough understanding of this population is important to mitigate future complications. We evaluated demographic and complication patterns among patients presenting to our institution after aesthetic surgery, and the financial liability of their care on the hospit…
Open article record in new tab ↗Ethnic minority and migrant populations experienced disproportionately severe COVID-19 outcomes across Europe, yet the mechanisms underlying these disparities, particularly inequities in healthcare access, remain insufficiently understood at the patient level. This qualitative study examines healthcare-seeking behaviours and access to care among ethnically diverse patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Amsterdam b…
Open article record in new tab ↗ObjectivesTo develop and demonstrate a practical post-hoc, model-agnostic fairness auditing tool that integrates group-level and individual-level fairness assessment for clinical prediction models. Materials and MethodsWe developed EquiLense, a fairness auditing tool that operationalizes three components: group fairness evaluation using established and novel group-level disparity metrics, individual fairness asses…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundIn clinical contexts where disease burden differs across demographic groups, enforcing demographic parity -- equal prediction rates regardless of group -- may reduce screening for the populations that need it most. We demonstrate this using HIV testing prediction as a case study. MethodsUsing the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2024 dataset (N=386,775), we trained four classifiers to p…
Open article record in new tab ↗Wearable devices present transformative opportunities for personalized healthcare through continuous monitoring of digital biomarkers; however, individual variations in device wear time could mask or otherwise impact signal identification. Despite the widespread adoption of wearable devices in research, no comprehensive framework exists for understanding how wear time varies across populations or for addressing we…
Open article record in new tab ↗IntroductionThe eligibility of anti-amyloid disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and their integration into clinical practice in some institutions requires a specific range of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Reliance on this pencil-and-paper psychometric instrument imposes operational burdens and risks perpetuating health disparities due to the tests known educational and cultural biases. This study eva…
BackgroundThe coexistence of cancer and hypertension presents complex clinical challenges, yet limited research has characterized this population using nationally representative data. Understanding demographic patterns, social determinants of health, and environmental health perceptions in this group is essential for developing targeted interventions. MethodsWe analyzed data from the Health Information National Tr…
Open article record in new tab ↗The adoption of artificial intelligence in dermatology promises democratized access to healthcare, but model reliability depends on the quality and comprehensiveness of the data fueling these models. Despite rapid growth in publicly available dermatology images, the field lacks quantitative key performance indicators to measure whether new datasets expand clinical coverage or merely replicate what is already known…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Indigenous adolescents have the highest rates of nicotine vaping and tend to initiate at an earlier age compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite this, no evidence-based intervention currently exists to prevent nicotine and cannabis vaping for Indigenous youth. Methods This study will partner with a long-established community organization and an Indigenous Youth Advisory Board to better unders…
Background: Law 1787 of 2016 established Colombia's medical cannabis framework, intended as a public policy to improve health equity by guaranteeing access and promoting inclusive development. This scoping review analyzes this policy's implementation as a social determinant of health, mapping the literature on the gap between its legislative promise and its real-world impact. Methods: A scoping review was conducte…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundHealth inequalities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often reflect compounding social disadvantages. Intersectionality theory emphasizes that multiple axes of disadvantage can interact to shape health experiences in ways not captured by single-factor analyses (Crenshaw, 1989, 1991). Understanding how poverty and low education combine to affect maternal and reproductive health is essential for…
ObjectiveAs healthcare becomes increasingly digitalized, new challenges and opportunities arise for advancing health equity. In response, a broad range of frameworks and recommendations have emerged to guide equitable innovation. Yet despite this momentum, real world progress remains limited and many digital health organizations (DHOs) struggle to translate health equity principles into concrete, actionable strate…
Open article record in new tab ↗Maternal and neonatal mortality in Bangladesh remains high, particularly in rural areas where access to skilled postnatal care (PNC) is limited. This study assessed urban-rural disparities in PNC utilization using data from the 2022 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. A sample of 4,844 ever-married women aged 15-49 with a recent live birth (3,249 rural; 1,595 urban) was analyzed. Outcomes included received a…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundPersons with disabilities (PWDs) experience persistent disparities in accessing equitable and effective healthcare, despite the existence of global human rights frameworks. Structural, financial, attitudinal, and systemic barriers continue to impede their full inclusion in healthcare systems. Over the past fifteen years, frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRP…
Open article record in new tab ↗ObjectiveThis scoping review maps the current evidence on implementing home-based digital health technologies in rural Canada. It examines available readiness tools and indicators, stakeholder perspectives, barriers, and outcomes to provide evidence-based insights for successful implementation. MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, IEEE Xplore, and Scopus between February and March 2025. Eli…
Open article record in new tab ↗To date, the discourse on bodily autonomy has been narrowly focused on contraception and abortion and needs to be expanded to include experiences of agency during pregnancy and birth. Disrespect and mistreatment are widely reported in low resource countries but very little is known about experiences of perinatal care in high resource countries and how to improve care for minoritized populations. MethodsWe examine…
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are critical clinical events that necessitate prompt intervention. However, their detection remains challenging in primary care settings, especially in resource-limited regions. A lack of disease awareness among both patients and healthcare providers often leads to delayed diagnoses and suboptimal management. To address this issue, we developed…
Open article record in new tab ↗Telemedicine has emerged as a transformative tool for enhancing healthcare accessibility, particularly in underserved and remote areas. This study assesses the effectiveness of telemedicine technologies in improving patient care, disease management, and overall health system performance from the perspective of medical professionals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 247 doctors using a structured and re…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundPharmacies are more accessible than other health care services, providing front-line primary and preventative health care. Recent research has underscored the importance of pharmacy access for reaching underserved and rural populations. However, minimal attention has been given to the spatial and temporal dimensions of access to pharmacy care despite the evidence suggesting that geographic accessibility…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated global health inequities, with low-income countries lagging behind in vaccine coverage. By late 2023, only 36% of Kenyans had received at least one vaccine dose, far below the African Unions 60% target. This study examines spatial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates across Kenya, exploring how socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare infrastructure factors…