Assessment of GPT-Based Conversational Agents Aimed to Reduce Healthcare Provider Stigma.

This study evaluated GPT-based conversational agents in tasks related to healthcare provider stigma. The main finding was that GPT-4o models, using Role-Playing (RP) and Chain of Thought (CoT) techniques, outperformed other models in tasks such as defining healthcare provider stigma, identifying types of stigma, and explaining its consequences. The Personalized GPT model showed lower performance, particularly in areas related to treatment access, adherence, and stigma risk factors.

Fluctuations in Daily Happiness and Nervousness Based on Depressive and Anxious Symptoms in Adolescents or Young Adults Across 3 Latin American Cities: Experience Sampling Study.

Background: Experience sampling methods (ESMs) have been used in clinical research to collect data on emotional and behavioral states in real-life contexts among different populations. Although the use of ESMs in mental health has increased, it has not been applied to larger samples of young people in disadvantaged urban settings.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the extent to which mood status scores (happiness and nervousness) vary during a week, as a function of having or not having symptoms of depression or anxiety, in a sample of adolescents and young adults in the cities of Buenos Aires, Bogotá, and Lima.

Methodological and reporting quality of machine learning studies on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the quality and transparency of reporting in studies using machine learning (ML) in oncology, focusing on adherence to the Consolidated Reporting Guidelines for Prognostic and Diagnostic Machine Learning Models (CREMLS), TRIPOD-AI (Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis), and PROBAST (Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool). The literature search included primary studies published between February 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, that developed or tested ML models for cancer diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. To reflect the current state of the rapidly evolving landscape of ML applications in oncology, fifteen most recent articles in each category were selected for evaluation.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Mental Health Outcomes in Peruvian Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The FRONTLINE Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted global health, particularly the mental health of healthcare workers in low-resource countries like Peru. To determine the prevalence of depressive, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among health workers in Peru throughout the COVID-19 pandemic between December 2021 and August 2022. Cross-sectional study on health workers (physicians, nurses, midwives, medical technologists, and healthcare technicians) from Peru selected by non-probabilistic sampling adjusted by post-stratification weights and the Raking method.

Psychometric properties of the patient health questionnaire-8 and general anxiety disorder-7 in adolescents and young adults from three Latin American cities: Internal structure, invariance, internal consistency and divergent validity.

Background: Depression and anxiety are the most common mental disorders in the world. Screening tools allow early diagnosis and intervention, preventing disease progression and reducing years lost to disability. Internationally, the most widely used screening instruments for depression and anxiety symptoms are the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale in cancer patients.

Background: Although the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) has been widely studied across various populations, there is still no consensus on its factor structure. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HADS in cancer patients.

Methods: Our study was cross-sectional and non-probabilistic.

Exploring Artificial Intelligence Biases in Predictive Models for Cancer Diagnosis.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released the principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology emphasizing fairness, accountability, oversight, equity, and transparency. However, the extent to which these principles are followed is unknown. The goal of this study was to assess the presence of biases and the quality of studies on AI models according to the ASCO principles and examine their potential impact through citation analysis and subsequent research applications.

Socioeconomic and spatial distribution of depressive symptoms and access to treatment in Peru: A repeated nationwide cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2021.

Background: Globally, evidence indicates that poverty and geographical setting influence the prevalence of depressive symptoms and access to treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic and spatial distribution of depressive symptoms and treatment in Peru.

Methods: We conducted an observational study based on the analysis of secondary data derived from the Peruvian Demographic and Health Surveys for 2014-2021.

Self-Administered Interventions Based on Natural Language Processing Models for Reducing Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The introduction of natural language processing (NLP) technologies has significantly enhanced the potential of self-administered interventions for treating anxiety and depression by improving human-computer interactions. Although these advances, particularly in complex models such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), are highly promising, robust evidence validating the effectiveness of the interventions remains sparse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether self-administered interventions based on NLP models can reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Cost-sharing and associated factors in the Peruvian private health care system.

Background: The costs associated with healthcare are of critical importance to both decision-makers and users, given the limited resources allocated to the health sector. However, the available scientific evidence on healthcare costs in low- and middle-income countries, such as Peru, is scarce. In the Peruvian context, the health system is fragmented, and the private health insurance and its financing models have received less research attention.

In-Person and Teleconsultation Services at a National Hospital in Peru: Time Series Analysis of General and Psychiatric Care Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global reduction in health care accessibility for both infected and noninfected patients, posing a particular burden on those with chronic conditions, including mental health issues. Peru experienced significant devastation from the pandemic, resulting in a collapsed health care system and leading to the world's highest per capita mortality rate as a result of COVID-19. Understanding the trends in health care utilization, particularly in mental health care, is crucial for informing pandemic response efforts and guiding future recovery strategies.

Telehealth in community mental health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru: A qualitative study with key stakeholders.

Aim: To describe the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders to understand the use of telehealth in community mental health centers (CMHCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lima and Callao, Peru.

Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in four CMHCs in Lima and Callao, Peru. Forty-nine individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between September 2021 and March 2022, considering CMHCs' users and their relatives, health and administrative workers, directors, as well as local and national policymakers.

Internet-based self-administered intervention to reduce anxiety and depression symptomatology and improve well-being in 7 countries: protocol of a randomized control trial.

Background: Online psychological interventions have emerged as a treatment alternative because they are accessible, flexible, personalized, and available to large populations. The number of Internet interventions in Latin America is limited, as are Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) of their effectiveness and a few studies comparing their effectiveness in multiple countries at the same time. We have developed an online intervention, Well-being Online, which will be available to the public free of charge in 7 countries: Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout syndrome in Peruvian health professionals before the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

Introduction: Burnout syndrome (BS) is a prevalent occupational health problem in health professionals. To describe the prevalence and factors associated with BS in Peruvian health professionals.

Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.

Immersive Technologies for Depression Care: Scoping Review.

Background: Depression significantly impacts quality of life, affecting approximately 280 million people worldwide. However, only 16.5% of those affected receive treatment, indicating a substantial treatment gap.

Association between abdominal obesity and depressive symptoms in Peruvian women aged 18-49 years: a sub-analysis of the Demographic and Family Health Survey 2018-2019.

Objective: Abdominal obesity (AO) is characterised by excess adipose tissue. It is a metabolic risk that affects the physical and mental health, particularly in women since they are more prone to mental health problems like depression. This study investigated the association between AO and depressive symptoms in Peruvian women of reproductive age (18-49 years).

Psychometric properties of the GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7): a cross-sectional study of the Peruvian general population.

Background: Anxiety disorders are among the main mental health problems worldwide and are considered one of the most disabling conditions. Therefore, it is essential to have measurement tools that can be used to screen for anxiety symptoms in the general population and thus identify potential cases of people with anxiety symptoms and provide them with timely care. Our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7) in the Peruvian population.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the services provided by the Peruvian health system: an analysis of people with chronic diseases.

During the pandemic, many individuals with chronic or infectious diseases other than COVID-19 were unable to receive the care they needed due to the high demand for respiratory care. Our study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on services provided to people with chronic diseases in Peru from 2016 to 2022. We performed a secondary database analysis of data registered by the comprehensive health insurance (SIS), the intangible solidarity health fund (FISSAL), and private healthcare institutions (EPS), using interrupted time series analysis.

Effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy and pet-robot interventions in reducing depressive symptoms among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Systematic reviews suggest that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and pet-robot interventions (PRI) achieve a reduction in mental health variables such as depressive symptoms. However, these systematic reviews include both randomised and non-randomised studies, which prevents an adequate assessment of the effect of confounding variables.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of AAT and PRI through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in reducing depression in older adults.

Perception of personal protective equipment availability and mental health outcomes in workers from two national hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the first wave of the pandemic, a constant concern of healthcare workers, who are more vulnerable to contagion, is their personal safety. This is directly related to the availability of adequate PPE, which led to a perception of dissatisfaction and inequality with government responses. We aim t o determines whether perception of adequate PPE availability is associated with depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in different types of healthcare workers.

Differences in family functioning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study in Peruvian families.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on family relationships, as several families have lost family members due to COVID-19 pandemic and become physically and emotionally estranged due to lockdown measures and critically economic periods. Our study contrasted two hypotheses: (1) family functioning changed notably before and after the COVID-19 pandemic initiation in terms of cohesion, flexibility, communication and satisfaction; (2) balanced families have a greater capacity to strictly comply with quarantine (., social confinement), compared to unbalanced families.

Paper promises: Peruvian frontline health workers' perspectives on mental health policies during COVID-19.

Governments globally deployed various non-pharmacological public health measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. lockdowns and suspension of transportation, amongst others); some of these measures had an influence on society's mental health.

Experiences of users and family members on the care received at community mental health centers in Lima and Callao during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective.: To understand the experiences of new and continuing users of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) of Lima and Callao, and their relatives, regarding the mental health care they received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods.

Socio-demographic, migratory and health-related determinants of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Peru.

Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with food insecurity (FI) among Venezuelan migrants residing in Peru. Secondarily, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).

Design: A cross-sectional study based on secondary data analysis of the 2022 Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey (ENPOVE-2022, from the Spanish acronym) was conducted.

Psychometric Adaptation of a Brief Scale of Child-to-Parent Violence and Intrafamily Violence in Peruvian Adolescents.

Family violence is a critical public health problem in Latin America. In Peru, family violence continues to be difficult to detect and prevent, with child-to-parent violence (CPV) arising as a key issue. This study aimed to do a psychometric adaptation of a brief scale of evaluation of CPV and intrafamily violence in a sample of Peruvian adolescents.