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Design, delivery and effectiveness of health practitioner regulation systems: an integrative review.Human Resources For Health Sep 2023Health practitioner regulation (HPR) systems are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in supporting health workforce availability, accessibility,...
BACKGROUND
Health practitioner regulation (HPR) systems are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in supporting health workforce availability, accessibility, quality, and sustainability, while promoting patient safety. This review aimed to identify evidence on the design, delivery and effectiveness of HPR to inform policy decisions.
METHODS
We conducted an integrative analysis of literature published between 2010 and 2021. Fourteen databases were systematically searched, with data extracted and synthesized based on a modified Donabedian framework.
FINDINGS
This large-scale review synthesized evidence from a range of academic (n = 410) and grey literature (n = 426) relevant to HPR. We identified key themes and findings for a series of HPR topics organized according to our structures-processes-outcomes conceptual framework. Governance reforms in HPR are shifting towards multi-profession regulators, enhanced accountability, and risk-based approaches; however, comparisons between HPR models were complicated by a lack of a standardized HPR typology. HPR can support government workforce strategies, despite persisting challenges in cross-border recognition of qualifications and portability of registration. Scope of practice reform adapted to modern health systems can improve access and quality. Alternatives to statutory registration for lower-risk health occupations can improve services and protect the public, while standardized evaluation frameworks can aid regulatory strengthening. Knowledge gaps remain around the outcomes and effectiveness of HPR processes, including continuing professional development models, national licensing examinations, accreditation of health practitioner education programs, mandatory reporting obligations, remediation programs, and statutory registration of traditional and complementary medicine practitioners.
CONCLUSION
We identified key themes, issues, and evidence gaps valuable for governments, regulators, and health system leaders. We also identified evidence base limitations that warrant caution when interpreting and generalizing the results across jurisdictions and professions. Themes and findings reflect interests and concerns in high-income Anglophone countries where most literature originated. Most studies were descriptive, resulting in a low certainty of evidence. To inform regulatory design and reform, research funders and governments should prioritize evidence on regulatory outcomes, including innovative approaches we identified in our review. Additionally, a systematic approach is needed to track and evaluate the impact of regulatory interventions and innovations on achieving health workforce and health systems goals.
Topics: Humans; Government Programs; Government; Accreditation; Databases, Factual; Health Education
PubMed: 37667368
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-023-00848-y -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Mar 2024Systematic reviews suggest that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and pet-robot interventions (PRI) achieve a reduction in mental health variables such as depressive... (Meta-Analysis)
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.
METHODS
Our study is a systematic review. We searched three databases of scientific articles: SCOPUS, Web of Science and PubMed. We included studies that their population was older adults, aged 65 years or older, with or without a clinical condition, clinical diagnosis based on mental examination/test or documentation from medical records, accredited by the facilities' staff. We included trials in which the comparator was a passive intervention or an active intervention. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2) to assess the risk of bias for each study. Our study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023393740).
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies were included in this systematic review. However, only 19 trials were included in the meta-analysis. At the overall risk of bias level, 78.9% of the studies were at high risk of bias (n = 15). We found that AAT (g= -0.72; 95%CI -1.13 to -0.31; p = 0.001) has a moderate and statistically significant effect as an intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. However, the PRIs do not show a significant effect on reducing depressive symptoms in older adults. In addition, a sub-analysis based on dog-assisted therapy (g= -0.65; 95%CI -1.21 to -0.08; p = 0.025), a specific type of AAT, showed a modest effect on reducing depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study concluded that AAT and DAT had a moderate and statistically significant effect as interventions to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults. On the other hand, PRI did not show a significant effect in reducing depressive symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dogs; Aged; Depression; Robotics; Animal Assisted Therapy; Mental Health
PubMed: 38232905
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103023 -
American Journal of Physical Medicine &... Apr 2024This review aimed to compare the effectiveness of resistance exercise with that of other exercises in functional improvement and pain control in patients with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This review aimed to compare the effectiveness of resistance exercise with that of other exercises in functional improvement and pain control in patients with fibromyalgia.
DESIGN
PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published from their inception until March 2023. The following medical search heading terms were used: "resistance OR strength OR strengthening" AND "fibromyalgia." The analysis was performed using the statistical package Review Manager, version 5.4.1.
RESULTS
This study reviewed 11 randomized controlled trials involving 530 patients. In comparison with no intervention, resistance exercise reduced the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score, pain score, tender points, and depression and improved physical function. Compared with flexibility exercise, resistance exercise reduced the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score. Compared with aerobic exercise, resistance exercise shows similar effects on pain control, reduction of tender points, and improvement of physical function.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with other exercises, resistance exercise demonstrated a more favorable effect on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score, and the effects on pain control, tender points, physical function, and depression were comparable. Thus, resistance exercise exhibits comparable or superior effects when compared with other interventions and more precise research is needed to confirm this conclusion.
TO CLAIM CME CREDITS
Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.
CME OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Appraise the effectiveness and role of resistance exercise as a treatment option for patients with fibromyalgia; (2) Differentiate the comparative effectiveness of resistance exercise in relation to other forms of exercise for patients with fibromyalgia; and (3) Identify demographic factors commonly associated with fibromyalgia.
LEVEL
Advanced.
ACCREDITATION
The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Topics: Humans; Fibromyalgia; Resistance Training; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Exercise; Pain
PubMed: 37535560
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002318 -
BMC Medical Education Jun 2024Few published articles provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence on the topic of evaluating competency-based medical education (CBME) curricula. The... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Few published articles provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence on the topic of evaluating competency-based medical education (CBME) curricula. The purpose of this review is therefore to synthesize the available evidence on the evaluation practices for competency-based curricula employed in schools and programs for undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals.
METHOD
This systematized review was conducted following the systematic reviews approach with minor modifications to synthesize the findings of published studies that examined the evaluation of CBME undergraduate and postgraduate programs for health professionals.
RESULTS
Thirty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria and reported evaluation practices in CBME curricula from various countries and regions worldwide, such as Canada, China, Turkey, and West Africa. 57% of the evaluated programs were at the postgraduate level, and 71% were in the field of medicine. The results revealed variation in reporting evaluation practices, with numerous studies failing to clarify evaluations' objectives, approaches, tools, and standards as well as how evaluations were reported and communicated. It was noted that questionnaires were the primary tool employed for evaluating programs, often combined with interviews or focus groups. Furthermore, the utilized evaluation standards considered the well-known competencies framework, specialized association guidelines, and accreditation criteria.
CONCLUSION
This review calls attention to the importance of ensuring that reports of evaluation experiences include certain essential elements of evaluation to better inform theory and practice.
Topics: Competency-Based Education; Humans; Curriculum; Clinical Competence; Program Evaluation; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Education, Medical
PubMed: 38831271
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05609-6 -
American Journal of Physical Medicine &... Feb 2024The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in reducing pain, improving functionality, joint range of motion, quality of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in reducing pain, improving functionality, joint range of motion, quality of life, fatigue, and health status self-perception in people with myofascial pain syndrome.
METHODS
PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and SPORTDiscus were systematically searched for only randomized clinical trials published up to June 2, 2022. The main outcome variables were pain, as reported on the visual analog scale and pressure pain threshold, and functionality. A quantitative analysis was conducted using the inverse variance method and the random effects model.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies were included ( N = 595 participants in the extracorporeal shockwave therapy group). The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for relieving pain was superior for the extracorporeal shockwave therapy group compared with the control group on the visual analog scale (MD = -1.7 cm; 95% confidence interval = -2.2 to -1.1) and pressure pain threshold (mean difference = 1.1 kg/cm 2 ; 95% confidence interval = 0.4 to 1.7) and functionality (standardized mean difference = -0.8; 95% confidence interval = -1.6 to -0.04) with high heterogeneity. However, no differences were found between extracorporeal shockwave therapy and other interventions as dry needling, exercises, infiltrations, and lasers interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is effective in relieving pain and improving functionality in patients with myofascial pain syndrome compared with control and ultrasound therapy.
TO CLAIM CME CREDITS
Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.
TO CLAIM CME CREDITS
Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.
CME OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Determine the effectiveness of radial and focal extracorporeal shockwaves on pain perception, the pressure pain threshold, and functionality in people with myofascial pain syndrome; (2) Describe the intervention protocol of extracorporeal shockwave therapy to improve pain perception in people with myofascial pain syndrome; and (3) Describe the advantages and disadvantages of extracorporeal shockwave therapy versus other intervention such as dry needling.
LEVEL
Advanced.
ACCREDITATION
The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
LEVEL
Advanced.
ACCREDITATION
The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Topics: Humans; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Fibromyalgia; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Pain; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37205742
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002286 -
Nurse Education in Practice Aug 2023The clinical learning environment offers meaningful learning opportunities for nursing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practice on actual or simulated... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The clinical learning environment offers meaningful learning opportunities for nursing students to apply theoretical knowledge to practice on actual or simulated patients. A previous systematic review assessed the quality of several instruments that evaluated the quality of clinical learning environments. This updated systematic review aimed to identify: any additional instruments that have been researched in the last 5 years, ii) the psychometric properties of available instruments and iii) the estimated comparable psychometric properties of the available instruments.
DATA SOURCES
Medline, CINAHL and Cochrane databases REVIEW METHODS: Databases were searched from January 2016 to January 2023. Studies were included if they: a) validated instruments evaluating the experience and quality of clinical learning environments; b) assessed the pre-licensure nursing student experience; c) were published in English; and d) were published after April 2016. Two independent reviewers conducted title and abstract screening, full text screening, data extraction and methodological quality assessment. Any disagreements were resolved by consensus. A summary of the findings was tabulated using the same format as the initial review.
RESULTS
An additional 18 studies were found, which used seven different clinical learning environment evaluation instruments. Internal consistency and structural validity were the most frequently reported psychometric properties. In almost all studies, methodology for these properties were of sufficient quality according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) tool evaluation. Other properties were inconsistently reported, with differing qualities in the methodology. Clinical Learning Environment, Supervision and Nurse Teacher (CLES + T) remains the most translated and validated instrument across several countries.
CONCLUSIONS
Instruments developed and validated using a systematic, transparent and high-quality methodology assist in accurately assessing the skills, attitudes and decision-making abilities of the preregistration level nursing student. These tools can be used in clinical placement accreditation and quality improvement of nursing education. The methodology for evaluation of the psychometric properties of instruments should be clearly described.
Topics: Humans; Education, Nursing; Learning; Students, Nursing; Clinical Competence; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 37536179
DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103732 -
Cureus Dec 2023Cardiovascular medicine and practice in recent times have evolved as complex procedures are performed to manage difficult cases. The majority of these interventions are... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular medicine and practice in recent times have evolved as complex procedures are performed to manage difficult cases. The majority of these interventions are done percutaneously in order to minimize patient risk. Additionally, training specialist in handling these interventions require a lot of exposure to them; as such, patients are at higher risk of errors and complications from trainees before attaining expertise. In order to avoid these possible risks to patients and ensure their safety, using simulation commonly in cardiovascular specialist education is a possible trend in the future. This article aims to review randomized controlled trials that were performed in cardiology and vascular medicine regarding the use of simulating models to transfer skills to trainees. This study is a systematic review that includes publications dated from 2010 from any country and only in English. The search involved several combinations of search terms from medical subject headings (MeSH). Keywords in the title, abstract, and text for the population, intervention, control, and outcomes were first done in a pilot search to establish the sensitivity of the search strategy. Studies were searched in PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and Hirani. Data were presented in the PRISMA flowchart and tabular form. A total of 389 studies were obtained from five databases using the search strategies. Eighty-nine studies were excluded for duplication. The total number of studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria was 269, and they were excluded based on abstract and title screening. Another 18 studies were excluded based on full-text screening. In this study, 13 articles were selected ranging from 2011 to 2022. The majority of the outcomes of the study demonstrated that simulation tutoring complements traditional methods of training. Countries of publication were the United States of America, Canada, Italy, Korea, California, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and France. Procedures simulated include coronary angiography, transseptal catheterization, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation, diagnostic angiograms, coiled carotid terminus aneurysms in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage, middle cerebral artery embolectomies, renal artery angioplasty/stenting, endovascular aneurysm repair, transvenous pacing wire, intra-aortic balloon pump, and pericardiocentesis. Despite the accredited drawback of availability and cost noted with simulation-based education, there is evidence that it offers many advantages compared to traditional teaching methods. From this study, simulation-based teaching has been shown to effectively transfer skills to trainees especially when used as an adjunct to the apprenticeship method. As a result, we recommend that virtual reality education should be integrated with real-life teaching in modern cardiovascular modules as this will help ensure early skill transfer while maintaining patient safety.
PubMed: 38098737
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50414 -
Neurourology and Urodynamics Jun 2024Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent and very bothersome. To support the best possible allocation of health care resources and to avoid unnecessary... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent and very bothersome. To support the best possible allocation of health care resources and to avoid unnecessary expenditures, it is important to understand and quantify the wide-ranging health care costs affecting people suffering from LUTS. We aimed at creating a foundation for exploring the cost of LUTS.
METHOD
In this systematic literature review, we explored the costs of illness of the LUTS umbrella. We used the online literature review tool Silvi.ai for transparent decision-making and literature management.
RESULTS
A total of 1821 original articles were screened. Forty had explored the cost of illness of a LUTS disease since 2013. The studies were conducted in 18 countries. A number of different study designs were applied, including both retrospective and prospective studies. In total, seven LUTS indications were explored. None of them focused on lifelong LUTS. None of them were conducted in infants or children. Eighty-two percent were conducted in adults and 18% in frail elderly. Most cost of illness studies focused on the cost of hospitalization and use of medicine.
CONCLUSION
We have created the groundwork for understanding the cost of LUTS illness. To fully understand the cost of illness of lifelong LUTS, the main gap in research is to investigate the cost of LUTS in infants and children.
Topics: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Humans; Cost of Illness; Health Care Costs
PubMed: 38270351
DOI: 10.1002/nau.25389 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jan 2024There is a need to standardize training in robotic surgery, including objective assessment for accreditation. This systematic review aimed to identify objective tools...
BACKGROUND
There is a need to standardize training in robotic surgery, including objective assessment for accreditation. This systematic review aimed to identify objective tools for technical skills assessment, providing evaluation statuses to guide research and inform implementation into training curricula.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Ovid Embase/Medline, PubMed and Web of Science were searched. Inclusion criterion: robotic surgery technical skills tools. Exclusion criteria: non-technical, laparoscopy or open skills only. Manual tools and automated performance metrics (APMs) were analysed using Messick's concept of validity and the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) Levels of Evidence and Recommendation (LoR). A bespoke tool analysed artificial intelligence (AI) studies. The Modified Downs-Black checklist was used to assess risk of bias.
RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-seven studies were analysed, identifying: 8 global rating scales, 26 procedure-/task-specific tools, 3 main error-based methods, 10 simulators, 28 studies analysing APMs and 53 AI studies. Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills and the da Vinci Skills Simulator were the most evaluated tools at LoR 1 (OCEBM). Three procedure-specific tools, 3 error-based methods and 1 non-simulator APMs reached LoR 2. AI models estimated outcomes (skill or clinical), demonstrating superior accuracy rates in the laboratory with 60 per cent of methods reporting accuracies over 90 per cent, compared to real surgery ranging from 67 to 100 per cent.
CONCLUSIONS
Manual and automated assessment tools for robotic surgery are not well validated and require further evaluation before use in accreditation processes.PROSPERO: registration ID CRD42022304901.
Topics: Humans; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Artificial Intelligence; Clinical Competence; Robotics; Laparoscopy
PubMed: 37951600
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad331 -
The British Journal of Radiology Dec 2023Technological advancements in computer science have started to bring artificial intelligence (AI) from the bench closer to the bedside. While there is still lots to do... (Review)
Review
Technological advancements in computer science have started to bring artificial intelligence (AI) from the bench closer to the bedside. While there is still lots to do and improve, AI models in medical imaging and radiotherapy are rapidly being developed and increasingly deployed in clinical practice. At the same time, AI governance frameworks are still under development. Clinical practitioners involved with procuring, deploying, and adopting AI tools in the UK should be well-informed about these AI governance frameworks. This scoping review aimed to map out available literature on AI governance in the UK, focusing on medical imaging and radiotherapy. Searches were performed on Google Scholar, Pubmed, and the Cochrane Library, between June and July 2022. Of 4225 initially identified sources, 35 were finally included in this review. A comprehensive conceptual AI governance framework was proposed, guided by the need for rigorous AI validation and evaluation procedures, the accreditation rules and standards, and the fundamental ethical principles of AI. Fairness, transparency, trustworthiness, and explainability should be drivers of all AI models deployed in clinical practice. Appropriate staff education is also mandatory to ensure AI's safe and responsible use. Multidisciplinary teams under robust leadership will facilitate AI adoption, and it is crucial to involve patients, the public, and practitioners in decision-making. Collaborative research should be encouraged to enhance and promote innovation, while caution should be paid to the ongoing auditing of AI tools to ensure safety and clinical effectiveness.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Diagnostic Imaging; Radiation Oncology; Radiography; United Kingdom
PubMed: 37747285
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20221157