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CA: a Cancer Journal For Clinicians May 2016Answer questions and earn CME/CNE The American Cancer Society Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline was developed to assist primary care clinicians and other... (Review)
Review
Answer questions and earn CME/CNE The American Cancer Society Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline was developed to assist primary care clinicians and other health practitioners with the care of head and neck cancer survivors, including monitoring for recurrence, screening for second primary cancers, assessment and management of long-term and late effects, health promotion, and care coordination. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed through April 2015, and a multidisciplinary expert workgroup with expertise in primary care, dentistry, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, clinical psychology, speech-language pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, the patient perspective, and nursing was assembled. While the guideline is based on a systematic review of the current literature, most evidence is not sufficient to warrant a strong recommendation. Therefore, recommendations should be viewed as consensus-based management strategies for assisting patients with physical and psychosocial effects of head and neck cancer and its treatment. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:203-239. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Topics: Accessory Nerve Diseases; Aftercare; American Cancer Society; Anxiety; Bursitis; Deglutition Disorders; Dental Care; Dental Caries; Depression; Disease Management; Dystonia; Fatigue; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Health Promotion; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Lymphedema; Neck Muscles; Osteonecrosis; Periodontitis; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Respiratory Aspiration; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Sleep Wake Disorders; Stress, Psychological; Survivors; Taste Disorders; Trismus; Vestibular Neuronitis; Voice Disorders; Xerostomia
PubMed: 27002678
DOI: 10.3322/caac.21343 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Feb 2019The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze and summarize the current knowledge regarding the use of yoga to manage and prevent stress and burnout in healthcare... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze and summarize the current knowledge regarding the use of yoga to manage and prevent stress and burnout in healthcare workers. In February 2017, a literature search was conducted using the databases Medline (PubMed) and Scopus. Studies that addressed this topic were included. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies were clinical trials that analyzed yoga interventions and evaluated effectiveness by gauging stress levels, sleep quality and quality of life. A study on Chinese nurses showed statistical improvement in stress levels following a six-month yoga program (χ2 = 16.449; < 0.001). A population of medical students showed improvement in self-regulation values after an 11-week yoga program (from 3.49 to 3.58; = 0.04) and in self-compassion values (from 2.88 to 3.25; = 0.04). Four of the included articles were observational studies: They described the factors that cause stress in the work environment and highlighted that healthcare workers believe it is possible to benefit from improved physical, emotional and mental health related to yoga activity. According to the literature, yoga appears to be effective in the management of stress in healthcare workers, but it is necessary to implement methodologically relevant studies to attribute significance to such evidence.
PubMed: 30813641
DOI: 10.3390/jcm8030284 -
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Sep 2019Given the recent rise in adolescent mental health issues, many researchers have turned to school-based mental health programs as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Given the recent rise in adolescent mental health issues, many researchers have turned to school-based mental health programs as a way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among large groups of adolescents. The purpose of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to identify and evaluate the efficacy of school-based programming aimed at reducing internalizing mental health problems of adolescents. A total of 42 articles, including a total of 7310 adolescents, ages 11-18, met inclusion for the meta-analyses. Meta-analyses were completed for each of the three mental health outcomes (stress, depression, and anxiety) and meta-regression was used to determine the influence of type of program, program dose, sex, race, and age on program effectiveness. Overall, stress interventions did not reduce stress symptoms, although targeted interventions showed greater reductions in stress than universal programs. Overall, anxiety interventions significantly reduced anxiety symptoms, however higher doses may be necessary for universal programs. Lastly, depression interventions significantly reduced depressive symptoms, but this reduction was moderated by a combination of program type, dose, race, and age group. Although, school-based programs aimed at decreasing anxiety and depression were effective, these effects are not long-lasting. Interventions aimed at reducing stress were not effective, however very few programs targeted or included stress as an outcome variable. Implications for practice, policy and research are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Child; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Primary Prevention; Program Evaluation; School Health Services; Stress, Psychological; Students
PubMed: 31346924
DOI: 10.1007/s10964-019-01085-0 -
BMC Health Services Research Dec 2017Nurses leaving their jobs and the profession are an issue of international concern, with supply-demand gaps for nurses reported to be widening. There is a large body of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Nurses leaving their jobs and the profession are an issue of international concern, with supply-demand gaps for nurses reported to be widening. There is a large body of existing literature, much of which is already in review form. In order to advance the usefulness of the literature for nurse and human resource managers, we undertook an overview (review of systematic reviews). The aim of the overview was to identify high quality evidence of the determinants and consequences of turnover in adult nursing.
METHODS
Reviews were identified which were published between 1990 and January 2015 in English using electronic databases (the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, CINAHL plus and SCOPUS) and forward searching. All stages of the review were conducted in parallel by two reviewers. Reviews were quality appraised using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews and their findings narratively synthesised.
RESULTS
Nine reviews were included. We found that the current evidence is incomplete and has a number of important limitations. However, a body of moderate quality review evidence does exist giving a picture of multiple determinants of turnover in adult nursing, with - at the individual level - nurse stress and dissatisfaction being important factors and -at the organisational level - managerial style and supervisory support factors holding most weight. The consequences of turnover are only described in economic terms, but are considered significant.
CONCLUSIONS
In making a quality assessment of the review as well as considering the quality of the included primary studies and specificity in the outcomes they measure, the overview found that the evidence is not as definitive as previously presented from individual reviews. Further research is required, of rigorous research design, whether quantitative or qualitative, particularly against the outcome of actual turnover as opposed to intention to leave.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO Registration 17 March 2015: CRD42015017613 .
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Intention; Interpersonal Relations; Job Satisfaction; Leadership; Male; Motivation; Nursing Staff; Organizational Culture; Personnel Turnover; Power, Psychological; Review Literature as Topic; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; Workload
PubMed: 29246221
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-017-2707-0 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2020Resilience can be defined as maintaining or regaining mental health during or after significant adversities such as a potentially traumatising event, challenging life... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Resilience can be defined as maintaining or regaining mental health during or after significant adversities such as a potentially traumatising event, challenging life circumstances, a critical life transition or physical illness. Healthcare students, such as medical, nursing, psychology and social work students, are exposed to various study- and work-related stressors, the latter particularly during later phases of health professional education. They are at increased risk of developing symptoms of burnout or mental disorders. This population may benefit from resilience-promoting training programmes.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of interventions to foster resilience in healthcare students, that is, students in training for health professions delivering direct medical care (e.g. medical, nursing, midwifery or paramedic students), and those in training for allied health professions, as distinct from medical care (e.g. psychology, physical therapy or social work students).
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 11 other databases and three trial registries from 1990 to June 2019. We checked reference lists and contacted researchers in the field. We updated this search in four key databases in June 2020, but we have not yet incorporated these results.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any form of psychological intervention to foster resilience, hardiness or post-traumatic growth versus no intervention, waiting list, usual care, and active or attention control, in adults (18 years and older), who are healthcare students. Primary outcomes were resilience, anxiety, depression, stress or stress perception, and well-being or quality of life. Secondary outcomes were resilience factors.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently selected studies, extracted data, assessed risks of bias, and rated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach (at post-test only).
MAIN RESULTS
We included 30 RCTs, of which 24 were set in high-income countries and six in (upper- to lower-) middle-income countries. Twenty-two studies focused solely on healthcare students (1315 participants; number randomised not specified for two studies), including both students in health professions delivering direct medical care and those in allied health professions, such as psychology and physical therapy. Half of the studies were conducted in a university or school setting, including nursing/midwifery students or medical students. Eight studies investigated mixed samples (1365 participants), with healthcare students and participants outside of a health professional study field. Participants mainly included women (63.3% to 67.3% in mixed samples) from young adulthood (mean age range, if reported: 19.5 to 26.83 years; 19.35 to 38.14 years in mixed samples). Seventeen of the studies investigated group interventions of high training intensity (11 studies; > 12 hours/sessions), that were delivered face-to-face (17 studies). Of the included studies, eight compared a resilience training based on mindfulness versus unspecific comparators (e.g. wait-list). The studies were funded by different sources (e.g. universities, foundations), or a combination of various sources (four studies). Seven studies did not specify a potential funder, and three studies received no funding support. Risk of bias was high or unclear, with main flaws in performance, detection, attrition and reporting bias domains. At post-intervention, very-low certainty evidence indicated that, compared to controls, healthcare students receiving resilience training may report higher levels of resilience (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07 to 0.78; 9 studies, 561 participants), lower levels of anxiety (SMD -0.45, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.06; 7 studies, 362 participants), and lower levels of stress or stress perception (SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.09; 7 studies, 420 participants). Effect sizes varied between small and moderate. There was little or no evidence of any effect of resilience training on depression (SMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.52 to 0.11; 6 studies, 332 participants; very-low certainty evidence) or well-being or quality of life (SMD 0.15, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.43; 4 studies, 251 participants; very-low certainty evidence). Adverse effects were measured in four studies, but data were only reported for three of them. None of the three studies reported any adverse events occurring during the study (very-low certainty of evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
For healthcare students, there is very-low certainty evidence for the effect of resilience training on resilience, anxiety, and stress or stress perception at post-intervention. The heterogeneous interventions, the paucity of short-, medium- or long-term data, and the geographical distribution restricted to high-income countries limit the generalisability of results. Conclusions should therefore be drawn cautiously. Since the findings suggest positive effects of resilience training for healthcare students with very-low certainty evidence, high-quality replications and improved study designs (e.g. a consensus on the definition of resilience, the assessment of individual stressor exposure, more attention controls, and longer follow-up periods) are clearly needed.
Topics: Adult; Allied Health Occupations; Allied Health Personnel; Anxiety; Bias; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Resilience, Psychological; Stress, Psychological; Students, Health Occupations; Waiting Lists; Young Adult
PubMed: 32691879
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013684 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jul 2017Stress, depression, and anxiety among working populations can result in reduced work performance and increased absenteeism. Although there is evidence that these common... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Stress, depression, and anxiety among working populations can result in reduced work performance and increased absenteeism. Although there is evidence that these common mental health problems are preventable and treatable in the workplace, uptake of psychological treatments among the working population is low. One way to address this may be the delivery of occupational digital mental health interventions. While there is convincing evidence for delivering digital psychological interventions within a health and community context, there is no systematic review or meta-analysis of these interventions in an occupational setting.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the effectiveness of occupational digital mental health interventions in enhancing employee psychological well-being and increasing work effectiveness and to identify intervention features associated with the highest rates of engagement and adherence.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Cochrane guidelines. Papers published from January 2000 to May 2016 were searched in the PsychINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, Science Direct, and the Cochrane databases, as well as the databases of the researchers and relevant websites. Unpublished data was sought using the Conference Proceedings Citation Index and the Clinical Trials and International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) research registers. A meta-analysis was conducted by applying a random-effects model to assess the pooled effect size for psychological well-being and the work effectiveness outcomes. A positive deviance approach was used to identify those intervention features associated with the highest rates of engagement and adherence.
RESULTS
In total, 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the search criteria. Occupational digital mental health interventions had a statistically significant effect post intervention on both psychological well-being (g=0.37, 95% CI 0.23-0.50) and work effectiveness (g=0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.41) compared with the control condition. No statistically significant differences were found on either outcome between studies using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches (as defined by the authors) compared with other psychological approaches, offering guidance compared with self-guidance, or recruiting from a targeted workplace population compared with a universal workplace population. In-depth analysis of the interventions identified by the positive deviance approach suggests that interventions that offer guidance are delivered over a shorter time frame (6 to 7 weeks), utilize secondary modalities for delivering the interventions and engaging users (ie, emails and text messages [short message service, SMS]), and use elements of persuasive technology (ie, self-monitoring and tailoring), which may achieve greater engagement and adherence.
CONCLUSIONS
This review provides evidence that occupational digital mental health interventions can improve workers' psychological well-being and increase work effectiveness. It identifies intervention characteristics that may increase engagement. Recommendations are made for future research, practice, and intervention development.
Topics: Humans; Internet; Mental Health; Occupational Health; Workplace
PubMed: 28747293
DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7583 -
Beyond the Pain: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Latest Advancements in Fibromyalgia Treatment.Cureus Oct 2023Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. The etiology of fibromyalgia remains elusive,... (Review)
Review
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain disorder that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. The etiology of fibromyalgia remains elusive, necessitating effective treatment options. This review aims to provide an overview of current treatment options for fibromyalgia and highlight recent updates in managing the condition. The methodology employed in this systematic review comprised the following key steps. We conducted a comprehensive search across various databases to identify pertinent studies published between 2000 and 2023. Inclusion criteria were defined to specifically target studies involving adult individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia, with a focus on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for managing the condition. The review encompassed a range of study types, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews. To ensure the quality of the selected studies, we employed appropriate assessment tools, and data extraction and synthesis adhered to established guidelines. This rigorous approach allowed for a robust analysis of the literature on fibromyalgia management. In the course of our review, it became evident that a spectrum of treatment approaches holds significant promise in the management of fibromyalgia. Specifically, pharmacological interventions, including selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, anticonvulsants, cannabinoids, tropisetron, and sodium oxybate, have exhibited substantial potential in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms. Concurrently, non-pharmacological strategies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise regimens, and complementary and alternative therapies, have yielded positive outcomes in improving the condition's management. Recent developments in the field have introduced innovative pharmacological agents like milnacipran and pregabalin, in addition to non-pharmacological interventions like mindfulness-based stress reduction and aquatic exercise, expanding the array of options available to enhance fibromyalgia care and alleviating patient symptoms. Fibromyalgia necessitates a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, encompassing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Recent updates in fibromyalgia management offer additional options to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with fibromyalgia. Healthcare professionals should remain informed about these advancements to provide evidence-based care, addressing the complex symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and enhancing patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38034135
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48032 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2020In conditions of intensive therapy, where the patients treated are in a critical condition, alarms are omnipresent. Nurses, as they spend most of their time with...
BACKGROUND
In conditions of intensive therapy, where the patients treated are in a critical condition, alarms are omnipresent. Nurses, as they spend most of their time with patients, monitoring their condition 24 h, are particularly exposed to so-called alarm fatigue. The purpose of this study is to review the literature available on the perception of clinical alarms by nursing personnel and its impact on work in the ICU environment.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was carried out according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol. The content of electronic databases was searched through, i.e., PubMed, OVID, EBSCO, ProQuest Nursery, and Cochrane Library. The keywords used in the search included: "intensive care unit," "nurse," "alarm fatigue," "workload," and "clinical alarm." The review also covered studies carried out among nurses employed at an adult intensive care unit. Finally, seven publications were taken into consideration. Data were analyzed both descriptively and quantitatively, calculating a weighted average for specific synthetized data.
RESULTS
In the analyzed studies, 389 nurses were tested, working in different intensive care units. Two studies were based on a quality model, while the other five described the problem of alarms in terms of quantity, based on the HTF (Healthcare Technology Foundation) questionnaire. Intensive care nurses think that alarms are burdensome and too frequent, interfering with caring for patients and causing reduced trust in alarm systems. They feel overburdened with an excessive amount of duties and a continuous wave of alarms. Having to operate modern equipment, which is becoming more and more advanced, takes time that nurses would prefer to dedicate to their patients. There is no clear system for managing the alarms of monitoring devices.
CONCLUSION
Alarm fatigue may have serious consequences, both for patients and for nursing personnel. It is necessary to introduce a strategy of alarm management and for measuring the alarm fatigue level.
Topics: Adult; Clinical Alarms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Monitoring, Physiologic; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 33202907
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17228409 -
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ Jul 2017Occupational stress is a major modern health and safety challenges. While the ED is known to be a high-pressure environment, the specific organisational stressors which... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Occupational stress is a major modern health and safety challenges. While the ED is known to be a high-pressure environment, the specific organisational stressors which affect ED staff have not been established.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of literature examining the sources of organisational stress in the ED, their link to adverse health outcomes and interventions designed to address them. A narrative review of contextual factors that may contribute to occupational stress was also performed. All articles written in English, French or Spanish were eligible for conclusion. Study quality was graded using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
Twenty-five full-text articles were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review. Most were of moderate quality, with two low-quality and two high-quality studies, respectively. While high demand and low job control were commonly featured, other studies demonstrated the role of insufficient support at work, effort-reward imbalance and organisational injustice in the development of adverse health and occupational outcomes. We found only one intervention in a peer-reviewed journal evaluating a stress reduction programme in ED staff.
CONCLUSIONS
Our review provides a guide to developing interventions that target the origins of stress in the ED. It suggests that those which reduce demand and increase workers' control over their job, improve managerial support, establish better working relationships and make workers' feel more valued for their efforts could be beneficial. We have detailed examples of successful interventions from other fields which may be applicable to this setting.
Topics: Burnout, Professional; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Occupational Stress; Professional Autonomy; Workload
PubMed: 27729392
DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2016-205827 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Jul 2021No curative therapy for mitochondrial disease (MD) exists, prioritizing supportive treatment for symptom relief. In animal and cell models ketones decrease oxidative... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
No curative therapy for mitochondrial disease (MD) exists, prioritizing supportive treatment for symptom relief. In animal and cell models ketones decrease oxidative stress, increase antioxidants and scavenge free radicals, putting ketogenic diets (KDs) on the list of management options for MD. Furthermore, KDs are well-known, safe and effective treatments for epilepsy, a frequent symptom of MD. This systematic review evaluates efficacy and safety of KD for MD.
METHODS
We searched Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase and Cinahl (November 2020) with search terms linked to MD and KD. From the identified records, we excluded studies on Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex deficiency. From these eligible reports, cases without a genetically confirmed diagnosis and cases without sufficient data on KD and clinical course were excluded. The remaining studies were included in the qualitative analysis.
RESULTS
Only 20 cases (14 pediatric) from the 694 papers identified met the inclusion criteria (one controlled trial (n = 5), 15 case reports). KD led to seizure control in 7 out of 8 cases and improved muscular symptoms in 3 of 10 individuals. In 4 of 20 cases KD reversed the clinical phenotype (e.g. cardiomyopathy, movement disorder). In 5 adults with mitochondrial DNA deletion(s) related myopathy rhabdomyolysis led to cessation of KD. Three individuals with POLG mutations died while being on KD, however, their survival was not different compared to individuals with POLG mutations without KD.
CONCLUSION
Data on efficacy and safety of KD for MD is too scarce for general recommendations. KD should be considered in individuals with MD and therapy refractory epilepsy, while KD is contraindicated in mitochondrial DNA deletion(s) related myopathy. When considering KD for MD the high rate of adverse effects should be taken into account, but also spectacular improvements in individual cases. KD is a highly individual management option in this fragile patient group and requires an experienced team. To increase knowledge on this-individually-promising management option more (prospective) studies using adequate outcome measures are crucial.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Child; Diet, Ketogenic; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Epilepsy; Humans; Mitochondrial Diseases; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34217336
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01927-w