Mohammad Idrees

This letter offers a critical appraisal of Riaz et al.’s study (Explor Digit Health Technol. 2026;4:101179. DOI: 10.37349/edht.2026.101179) on psychiatrists’ knowledge, perceptions, and willingness toward digital psychiatry in Pakistan. The mixed-methods design identifies critical gaps in competencies (e.g., 68.5% telepsychiatry familiarity vs. 32.5% VR) and barriers like infrastructure deficits (44.5%). However, methodological issues per STROBE guidelines such as absent response rates, convenience sampling bias, and incomplete bias mitigation limit representativeness. An adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores it 7/10, indicating moderate bias of risk from selection and non-response. Additional concerns include under-explored cultural factors. Recommendations propose a tailored LMIC digital health adoption framework emphasizing infrastructure, training, and policy to address Pakistan’s > 75% mental health treatment gap.

By Mohammad Idrees, Anfal Khan & 3 more. This letter critiques Yalcin et al's case report on a rare hand bone tumour, emphasising the need for advanced preoperative imaging, longer follow-up and deeper discussion of Epstein-Barr virus association.

The Letter to the Editor responds to Sridhar et al.’s study (Acad Med Surg, 2025) reporting a 62.6% prevalence of diabetic foot changes among adults with diabetes in Tavarekere slum, Bangalore. The study highlights a critical public health issue in underprivileged communities, identifying dry skin, cracks, and older age as significant risk factors. We commend the authors for addressing this gap but suggest further exploration of cultural practices, such as barefoot walking, which increases foot injury risk. To enhance implementation of the study’s call for routine foot examinations, we propose training community health workers for cost-effective screenings and education, supported by evidence from community-based interventions in India. Integrating these strategies into national diabetes programs could improve scalability and reduce complications. Future research should evaluate subsidized footwear and community-level interventions to mitigate diabetic foot morbidity, enhancing quality of life in resource-limited settings.