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BMC Palliative Care Jan 2018The Scottish Government set out its 5-year vision to improve palliative care in its Strategic Framework for Action 2016-2021. This includes a commitment to strengthening... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The Scottish Government set out its 5-year vision to improve palliative care in its Strategic Framework for Action 2016-2021. This includes a commitment to strengthening research and evidence based knowledge exchange across Scotland. A comprehensive scoping review of Scottish palliative care research was considered an important first step. The aim of the review was to quantify and map palliative care research in Scotland over the ten-year period preceding the new strategy (2006-15).
METHODS
A systematic scoping review was undertaken. Palliative care research involving at least one co-author from a Scottish institution was eligible for inclusion. Five databases were searched with relevant MeSH terms and keywords; additional papers authored by members of the Scottish Palliative and End of Life Care Research Forum were added.
RESULTS
In total, 1919 papers were screened, 496 underwent full text review and 308 were retained in the final set. 73% were descriptive studies and 10% were interventions or feasibility studies. The top three areas of research focus were services and settings; experiences and/or needs; and physical symptoms. 58 papers were concerned with palliative care for people with conditions other than cancer - nearly one fifth of all papers published. Few studies focused on ehealth, health economics, out-of-hours and public health. Nearly half of all papers described unfunded research or did not acknowledge a funder (46%).
CONCLUSIONS
There was a steady increase in Scottish palliative care research during the decade under review. Research output was strong compared with that reported in an earlier Scottish review (1990-2005) and a similar review of Irish palliative care research (2002-2012). A large amount of descriptive evidence exists on living and dying with chronic progressive illness in Scotland; intervention studies now need to be prioritised. Areas highlighted for future research include palliative interventions for people with non-malignant illness and multi-morbidity; physical and psychological symptom assessment and management; interventions to support carers; and bereavement support. Knowledge exchange activities are required to disseminate research findings to research users and a follow-up review to examine future research progress is recommended.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Publishing; Research; Scotland; Terminal Care
PubMed: 29373964
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-017-0266-0 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Oct 2022Visual analysis and data delivery in the form of visualizations are of great importance in health care, as such forms of presentation can reduce errors and improve care... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Visual analysis and data delivery in the form of visualizations are of great importance in health care, as such forms of presentation can reduce errors and improve care and can also help provide new insights into long-term disease progression. Information visualization and visual analytics also address the complexity of long-term, time-oriented patient data by reducing inherent complexity and facilitating a focus on underlying and hidden patterns.
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to provide an overview of visualization techniques for time-oriented data in health care, supporting the comparison of patients. We systematically collected literature and report on the visualization techniques supporting the comparison of time-based data sets of single patients with those of multiple patients or their cohorts and summarized the use of these techniques.
METHODS
This scoping review used the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. After all collected articles were screened by 16 reviewers according to the criteria, 6 reviewers extracted the set of variables under investigation. The characteristics of these variables were based on existing taxonomies or identified through open coding.
RESULTS
Of the 249 screened articles, we identified 22 (8.8%) that fit all criteria and reviewed them in depth. We collected and synthesized findings from these articles for medical aspects such as medical context, medical objective, and medical data type, as well as for the core investigated aspects of visualization techniques, interaction techniques, and supported tasks. The extracted articles were published between 2003 and 2019 and were mostly situated in clinical research. These systems used a wide range of visualization techniques, most frequently showing changes over time. Timelines and temporal line charts occurred 8 times each, followed by histograms with 7 occurrences and scatterplots with 5 occurrences. We report on the findings quantitatively through visual summarization, as well as qualitatively.
CONCLUSIONS
The articles under review in general mitigated complexity through visualization and supported diverse medical objectives. We identified 3 distinct patient entities: single patients, multiple patients, and cohorts. Cohorts were typically visualized in condensed form, either through prior data aggregation or through visual summarization, whereas visualization of individual patients often contained finer details. All the systems provided mechanisms for viewing and comparing patient data. However, explicitly comparing a single patient with multiple patients or a cohort was supported only by a few systems. These systems mainly use basic visualization techniques, with some using novel visualizations tailored to a specific task. Overall, we found the visual comparison of measurements between single and multiple patients or cohorts to be underdeveloped, and we argue for further research in a systematic review, as well as the usefulness of a design space.
Topics: Humans; Checklist; Delivery of Health Care; Publications
PubMed: 36279164
DOI: 10.2196/38041 -
PloS One 2020We examined the data reported in the studies for comparison of osteopontin (OPN) levels in tuberculosis and healthy participants, and to discuss whether OPN could be... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
We examined the data reported in the studies for comparison of osteopontin (OPN) levels in tuberculosis and healthy participants, and to discuss whether OPN could be extended to disease diagnosis, severity assessment and therapeutic effect monitering.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WanFang databases. The pooled risk estimates were shown in standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for OPN levels. The random effect model was used according to the test of heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression models were performed to identify the possible sources of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
17 retrospective studies with 933 tuberculosis participants and 786 healthy controls were finally included in this article. In the primary meta-analysis, higher serum/plasma OPN levels were found in tuberculosis patients (SMD = 2.58, 95%CI = 2.09~3.08, P<0.001). Besides, pooled results from positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining and imaging-severe tuberculosis group demonstrated higher OPN concentrations (SMD = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.58~1.21, P<0.001; SMD = 1.11, 95%CI = 0.90~1.33, P<0.001; respectively), and OPN levels decreased after two months of standard anti-tuberculosis therapy (SMD = 2.10, 95%CI = 1.36~2.85, P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum/plasma OPN levels may be associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis, while further well-designed studies are needed. Moreover, OPN could be considered as a potential biomarker for tuberculosis surveillance and severity assessment.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteopontin; Publication Bias; Publications; Severity of Illness Index; Sputum; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 33264357
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242702 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Apr 2019Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information into the user's real-world environment. It offers a new approach for treatments and education...
BACKGROUND
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information into the user's real-world environment. It offers a new approach for treatments and education in medicine. AR aids in surgery planning and patient treatment and helps explain complex medical situations to patients and their relatives.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic and bibliographic review offers an overview of the development of apps in AR with a medical use case from March 2012 to June 2017. This work can aid as a guide to the literature and categorizes the publications in the field of AR research.
METHODS
From March 2012 to June 2017, a total of 1309 publications from PubMed and Scopus databases were manually analyzed and categorized based on a predefined taxonomy. Of the total, 340 duplicates were removed and 631 publications were excluded due to incorrect classification or unavailable technical data. The remaining 338 publications were original research studies on AR. An assessment of the maturity of the projects was conducted on these publications by using the technology readiness level. To provide a comprehensive process of inclusion and exclusion, the authors adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.
RESULTS
The results showed an increasing trend in the number of publications on AR in medicine. There were no relevant clinical trials on the effect of AR in medicine. Domains that used display technologies seemed to be researched more than other medical fields. The technology readiness level showed that AR technology is following a rough bell curve from levels 4 to 7. Current AR technology is more often applied to treatment scenarios than training scenarios.
CONCLUSIONS
This work discusses the applicability and future development of augmented- and mixed-reality technologies such as wearable computers and AR devices. It offers an overview of current technology and a base for researchers interested in developing AR apps in medicine. The field of AR is well researched, and there is a positive trend in its application, but its use is still in the early stages in the field of medicine and it is not widely adopted in clinical practice. Clinical studies proving the effectiveness of applied AR technologies are still lacking.
Topics: Augmented Reality; Bibliometrics; Humans; Technology Assessment, Biomedical
PubMed: 31025950
DOI: 10.2196/10967 -
PloS One 2023Heart failure is an important global health problem which is associated with high mortality. Uncontrolled heart failure leads to hospitalization and reduction in quality... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Heart failure is an important global health problem which is associated with high mortality. Uncontrolled heart failure leads to hospitalization and reduction in quality of life. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the treatment outcome such as improved, death, hospitalization, and self-discharges without improvement and associated factors in heart failure patients admitted to south western Ethiopian hospitals.
METHODS
We will use databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, HINARI, Scopus and Google Scholar. The final systematic review and meta-analysis will contain papers that fulfill the eligible criteria. A systematic data extraction check list will be used to extract the data, and STATA version 14 will be used for the analysis. Heterogeneity is evaluated using the I2 tests and the Cochrane Q test statistic. To examine publication bias, a funnel plot, Egger's weighted regression, and Begg's test are utilized. The sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis will be done for studies having heterogeneity. The Joanna Briggs institute meta-analysis of statistics assessment and review instrument (JBI- MAStARI) will be used for quality assessment.
DISCUSSION
This protocol is expected to provide adequate evidence on the burden of poor heart failure treatment outcome that includes self-discharge, developing complication and finally leads to death in acute and chronic heart failure patients in Ethiopia. Furthermore, to enrich our estimation, we also intended to assess the associated factors of poor treatment outcome. Therefore, our review will call for government and non-government interventions in reducing the mortality associated with heart failure.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; Heart Failure; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Review Literature as Topic; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38127971
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291686 -
BMC Medical Research Methodology Sep 2015With increasing attention put on the methodology of reporting guidelines, Moher et al. conducted a review of reporting guidelines up to December 2009. Information gaps... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
With increasing attention put on the methodology of reporting guidelines, Moher et al. conducted a review of reporting guidelines up to December 2009. Information gaps appeared on many aspects. Therefore, in 2010, the Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting Guidelines was developed. With more than four years passed and a considerable investment was put into reporting guideline development, a large number of new, updated, and expanded reporting guidelines have become available since January 2010. We aimed to systematically review the reporting guidelines published since January 2010, and investigate the application of the Guidance.
METHODS
We systematically searched databases including the Cochrane Methodology Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, and retrieved EQUATOR and the website (if available) to find reporting guidelines as well as their accompanying documents. We screened the titles and abstracts resulting from searches and extracted data. We focused on the methodology and reporting of the included guidelines, and described information with a series of tables and narrative summaries. Data were summarized descriptively using frequencies, proportions, and medians as appropriate.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight and 32 reporting guidelines were retrieved from databases and EQUATOR network, respectively. Reporting guidelines were designed for a broad spectrum of types of research. A considerable number of reporting guidelines were published and updated in recent years. Methods of initial items were given in 45 (75%) guidelines. Thirty-eight (63%) guidelines reported they have reached consensus, and 35 (58%) described their consensus methods. Only 9 (15%) guidelines followed the Guidance.
CONCLUSIONS
Only few guidelines were developed complying with the Guidance. More attention should be paid to the quality of reporting guidelines.
Topics: Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Medical Writing; Publishing; Research Design; Research Report
PubMed: 26395179
DOI: 10.1186/s12874-015-0069-z -
Journal of the Medical Library... Apr 2021The decisions and processes that may compose a systematic search strategy have not been formally identified and categorized. This study aimed to (1) identify all...
OBJECTIVE
The decisions and processes that may compose a systematic search strategy have not been formally identified and categorized. This study aimed to (1) identify all decisions that could be made and processes that could be used in a systematic search strategy and (2) create a hierarchical framework of those decisions and processes.
METHODS
The literature was searched for documents or guides on conducting a literature search for a systematic review or other evidence synthesis. The decisions or processes for locating studies were extracted from eligible documents and categorized into a structured hierarchical framework. Feedback from experts was sought to revise the framework. The framework was revised iteratively and tested using recently published literature on systematic searching.
RESULTS
Guidance documents were identified from expert organizations and a search of the literature and Internet. Data were extracted from 74 eligible documents to form the initial framework. The framework was revised based on feedback from 9 search experts and further review and testing by the authors. The hierarchical framework consists of 119 decisions or processes sorted into 17 categories and arranged under 5 topics. These topics are "Skill of the searcher," "Selecting information to identify," "Searching the literature electronically," "Other ways to identify studies," and "Updating the systematic review."
CONCLUSIONS
The work identifies and classifies the decisions and processes used in systematic searching. Future work can now focus on assessing and prioritizing research on the best methods for successfully identifying all eligible studies for a systematic review.
Topics: Internet; Publications
PubMed: 34285663
DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2021.1086 -
Association between suicide reporting in the media and suicide: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Mar 2020To examine the association between reporting on suicides, especially deaths of celebrities by suicide, and subsequent suicides in the general population. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between reporting on suicides, especially deaths of celebrities by suicide, and subsequent suicides in the general population.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed/Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar, searched up to September 2019.
REVIEW METHODS
Studies were included if they compared at least one time point before and one time point after media reports on suicide; follow-up was two months or less; the outcome was death by suicide; and the media reports were about non-fictional suicides. Data from studies adopting an interrupted time series design, or single or multiple arm before and after comparisons, were reviewed.
RESULTS
31 studies were identified and analysed, and 20 studies at moderate risk of bias were included in the main analyses. The risk of suicide increased by 13% in the period after the media reported a death of a celebrity by suicide (rate ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.18; 14 studies; median follow-up 28 days, range 7-60 days). When the suicide method used by the celebrity was reported, there was an associated 30% increase in deaths by the same method (rate ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.18 to 1.44; 11 studies; median follow-up 28 days, range 14-60 days). For general reporting of suicide, the rate ratio was 1.002 (0.997 to 1.008; five studies; median follow-up 1 day, range 1-8 days) for a one article increase in the number of reports on suicide. Heterogeneity was large and partially explained by celebrity and methodological factors. Enhanced funnel plots suggested some publication bias in the literature.
CONCLUSIONS
Reporting of deaths of celebrities by suicide appears to have made a meaningful impact on total suicides in the general population. The effect was larger for increases by the same method as used by the celebrity. General reporting of suicide did not appear to be associated with suicide although associations for certain types of reporting cannot be excluded. The best available intervention at the population level to deal with the harmful effects of media reports is guidelines for responsible reporting. These guidelines should be more widely implemented and promoted, especially when reporting on deaths of celebrities by suicide.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42019086559.
Topics: Famous Persons; Humans; Interrupted Time Series Analysis; Mass Media; Publication Bias; Suicide
PubMed: 32188637
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m575 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2022Safety barriers are widely accepted in various industries as effective risk management tools to prevent hazardous events and mitigate the consequences caused by these... (Review)
Review
Safety barriers are widely accepted in various industries as effective risk management tools to prevent hazardous events and mitigate the consequences caused by these events. Studies on safety barriers have been increasing in recent decades; therefore, the general idea of this article is to present a systematic review of the field. The purpose of this article is threefold: (1) to map various networks for the barrier-related articles collected from WoS; (2) to summarize the advances of the safety barrier at both the individual level and barrier management level on the basis of six issues, and (3) to propose the research perspectives associated with safety barriers considering the latest theories and methodologies in the field of safety management. Based on the findings and insights obtained from the literature collected by a bibliometric and systematic review, studies on barrier management within the complex socio-technical system are analyzed, and the framework of "risk-barrier capacity" is proposed for future development, in which the challenges stemming from industrial intelligence may be solved through resilience theory. Meanwhile, intelligent technologies are also able to serve as health status monitoring devices for various barrier elements.
Topics: Bibliometrics; Risk Management; Safety Management
PubMed: 35954869
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159512 -
Journal of Alternative and... May 2018The last systematic review of physicochemical research performed on homeopathic preparations was published in 2003. The aim of the study is to update and expand the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The last systematic review of physicochemical research performed on homeopathic preparations was published in 2003. The aim of the study is to update and expand the current state of knowledge in the area of physicochemical properties of homeopathic preparations. In part 1 of the study, we aim to present an overview of the literature with respect to publication quality and methods used. In part 2, we aim to identify the most interesting experimental techniques. With this, we aim to be in a position to generate meaningful hypotheses regarding a possible mode of action of homeopathic preparations.
METHODS
A two-step procedure was adopted: (1) an extensive literature search, followed by a bibliometric and quality analysis on the level of publications and (2) a thorough qualitative analysis of the individual physicochemical investigations found. In this publication, we report on step (1). We searched major scientific databases to find publications reporting physicochemical investigations of homeopathy from its origin to the end of 2015. Publications were assessed using a scoring scheme, the Manuscript Information Score (MIS). Information regarding country of origin of the research and experimental techniques used was extracted.
RESULTS
We identified 183 publications (compared to 44 in the last review), 122 of which had an MIS ≥5. The rate of publication in the field was ∼2 per year from the 1970s until 2000. Afterward, it increased to over 5.5 publications per year. The quality of publications was seen to increase sharply from 2000 onward, whereas before 2000, only 12 (13%) publications were rated as "high quality" (MIS ≥7.5); 44 (48%) publications were rated as "high quality" from 2000 onward. Countries with most publications were Germany (n = 42, 23%), France (n = 29, 16%), India (n = 27, 15%), and Italy (n = 26, 14%). Techniques most frequently used were electrical impedance (26%), analytical methods (20%), spectroscopy (20%), and nuclear magnetic resonance (19%).
CONCLUSIONS
Physicochemical research into homeopathic preparations is increasing both in terms of quantity and quality of the publications.
Topics: Bibliometrics; Homeopathy; Materia Medica
PubMed: 29377709
DOI: 10.1089/acm.2017.0249