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BMJ Open Sep 2023Co-production is promoted as an effective way of improving the quality of health and social care but the diversity of measures used in individual studies makes their... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Co-production is promoted as an effective way of improving the quality of health and social care but the diversity of measures used in individual studies makes their outcomes difficult to interpret.
OBJECTIVE
The objective is to explore how empirical studies in health and social care have described the outcomes of co-production projects and how those outcomes were measured.
DESIGN AND METHODS
A scoping review forms the basis for this systematic review. Search terms for the concepts (co-produc* OR coproduc* OR co-design* OR codesign*) and contexts (health OR 'public service* OR "public sector") were used in: CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCOHost), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials (Wiley), MEDLINE (EBSCOHost), PsycINFO (ProQuest), PubMed (legacy) and Scopus (Elsevier). There was no date limit. Papers describing the process, original data and outcomes of co-production were included. Protocols, reviews and theoretical, conceptual and psychometric papers were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was followed. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool underpinned the quality of included papers.
RESULTS
43 empirical studies were included. They were conducted in 12 countries, with the UK representing >50% of all papers. No paper was excluded due to the Mixed Methods Quality Appraisal screening and 60% of included papers were mixed methods studies. The extensive use of self-developed study-specific measures hampered comparisons and cumulative knowledge-building. Overall, the studies reported positive outcomes. Co-production was reported to be positively experienced and provided important learning.
CONCLUSIONS
The lack of common approaches to measuring co-production is more problematic than the plurality of measurements itself. Co-production should be measured from three perspectives: outputs of co-production processes, the experiences of participating in co-production processes and outcomes of co-production. Both self-developed study-specific measures and established measures should be used. The maturity of this research field would benefit from the development and use of reporting guidelines.
Topics: Humans; Social Support; Empirical Research; Knowledge; Learning; MEDLINE
PubMed: 37739472
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073808 -
Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and... Sep 2022To synthesize the literature to identify self-report measures used to assess maternal self-efficacy (MSE) among mothers of infants 0 to 1 year of age. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize the literature to identify self-report measures used to assess maternal self-efficacy (MSE) among mothers of infants 0 to 1 year of age.
DATA SOURCES
OVID (MEDLINE), CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Google Scholar.
STUDY SELECTION
We searched for research articles that included self-report measurement of MSE and were published from January 2000 to September 2021. We selected this time frame to focus on a contemporary context and to build on an earlier systematic review of self-report measures of self-efficacy in parents that captured a subset of MSE measures across a broader time period (1970-2016).
DATA EXTRACTION
We extracted measures of MSE with descriptive details, including level of self-efficacy assessed (e.g., global, domain-specific, task-specific), concept(s) assessed, reliability, eligible age ranges, instrument origins, development, use, and translations.
DATA SYNTHESIS
In many studies of MSE, researchers used measures not specifically designed for self-efficacy and instead used measures for closely related concepts such as confidence or competence. We identified only four measures that were used to assess MSE among mothers of infants. Among these, we found variation in the level of self-efficacy being measured and the intended age range. Importantly, we also found that measures of MSE were primarily validated for use within Western and/or English-speaking cultures/countries.
CONCLUSION
We identified four instruments to measure MSE in mothers of infants, and each has strengths and weaknesses. Future researchers should focus on clear conceptual and operational alignment between MSE and its measurement; the development of an English, task-specific MSE measure; and further development and testing of measures of MSE outside of Western and/or English-speaking cultures/countries.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Mothers; Reproducibility of Results; Self Efficacy; Self Report
PubMed: 35724766
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2022.05.003 -
The Journal of Sexual Medicine Mar 2021Penile length measurement techniques vary widely in published studies leading to inaccurate and nonstandardized measurements.
BACKGROUND
Penile length measurement techniques vary widely in published studies leading to inaccurate and nonstandardized measurements.
AIM
To review the methodology used to report data in studies evaluating penile length and provide a detailed recommendation in conducting future high-quality research.
METHODS
The MEDLINE database was searched for randomized clinical trials and open-label prospective or retrospective studies.
OUTCOMES
The panel reviewed the modality of data reporting on these specific areas: patients' age and assessment, patient position, type of measurement instrument used, penile length technique description, examination conditions, and actual examiner.
RESULTS
Overall, 70 studies investigating penile length were selected; among these, 72.85% included at least 50 patients: 16 prospective studies, 5 randomized clinical trials, and 49 retrospective cross-sectional studies. Amongst all studies, 90% reported to measure penile length by health care practitioners in clinical settings. Penile length was assessed in all 70 studies, whereas penile girth was measured in 57.14% of patients. A semi-rigid ruler was the most commonly used measurement aid to assess penile length/girth in 62.86% of studies. Penile measurements were reportedly obtained: (i) stretched state, 60%; (ii) flaccid state only, 52.68%; and (iii) during erection, 27.43%. All studies investigating the penile length in an erect state were simultaneously assessing penile length in the flaccid state. About 90% of studies investigated penile length in adults, whereas 10% were conducted in adolescents.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
The use of shared methodology to assess penile length in both adults and adolescents allows more accurate and standardized measurements.
STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS
A systematic review of the published literature allowed proper data interpretation in order to provide accurate recommendations. Main limitations of the study relied on a relatively limited number of databases for the identification of potentially eligible studies.
CONCLUSION
The methodology used in studies measuring penile length should be precise and standardized in order to provide accurate data to both clinicians and researchers. Cakir OO, Pozzi E, Castiglione F, et al. Penile Length Measurement: Methodological Challenges and Recommendations, a Systematic Review. J Sex Med 2021;18:433-439.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Male; Penile Erection; Penis; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 33648901
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.11.012 -
Brain and Behavior Jun 2023Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating/neurodegenerative disease associated with change in cognitive function (CF) over time. This systematic review aims to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating/neurodegenerative disease associated with change in cognitive function (CF) over time. This systematic review aims to describe the instruments used to measure change in CF over time in people with MS (PwMS).
METHODS
PubMed, OVID, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched in English until May 2021. Articles were included if they had at least 100 participants and at least a 1-year interval between baseline and last follow-up measurement of CF. Results were quantitatively synthesized, presented in tables and risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
Fifty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria (41,623 PwMS and 1105 controls). An intervention (drug/rehabilitation) was assessed in 22 articles. In the studies that used a test battery, Visual and verbal learning and memory were the most frequently measured domains, but when studies that used test battery or a single test are combined, Information processing speed was the most measured. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was the most frequently used test as a single test and in a test battery combined. Most studied assessed "change in CF" as cognitive decline defined as 1 or more tests measured as ≥ 1.5 SD from the study control or normative mean in a test battery at baseline and follow-up. Meta-analysis of change in SDMT scores with seven articles indicated a nonstatistically significant -0.03 (95% CI -0.14, 0.09) decrease in mean SDMT score per year.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the slow rate of measured change in cognition in PwMS and emphasizes the lack of a gold standard test and consistency in measuring cognitive change at the population level. More sensitive testing utilizing multiple domains and longer follow-up may define subgroups where CF change follows different trajectories thus allowing targeted interventions to directly support those where CF is at greatest risk of becoming a clinically meaningful issue.
Topics: Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Cognition Disorders; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 37062948
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3009 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jun 2023eHealth literacy describes the ability to locate, comprehend, evaluate, and apply web-based health information to a health problem. In studies of eHealth literacy,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
eHealth literacy describes the ability to locate, comprehend, evaluate, and apply web-based health information to a health problem. In studies of eHealth literacy, researchers have primarily assessed participants' perceived eHealth literacy using a short self-report instrument, for which ample research has shown little to no association with actual performed eHealth-related skills. Performance-based measures of eHealth literacy may be more effective at assessing actual eHealth skills, yet such measures seem to be scarcer in the literature.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this study was to identify tools that currently exist to measure eHealth literacy based on objective performance. A secondary purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence of performance-based measurement of eHealth literacy in the literature compared with subjective measurement.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature, aligning with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist, in 3 stages: conducting the search, screening articles, and extracting data into a summary table. The summary table includes terminology for eHealth literacy, description of participants, instrument design, health topics used, and a brief note on the evidence of validity for each performance-based measurement tool. A total of 1444 unique articles retrieved from 6 relevant databases (MEDLINE; PsycINFO; CINAHL; Library and Information Science Abstracts [LISA]; Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts [LISTA]; and Education Resources Information Center [ERIC]) were considered for inclusion, of which 313 (21.68%) included a measure of eHealth literacy.
RESULTS
Among the 313 articles that included a measure of eHealth literacy, we identified 33 (10.5%) that reported on 29 unique performance-based eHealth literacy measurement tools. The types of tools ranged from having participants answer health-related questions using the internet, having participants engage in simulated internet tasks, and having participants evaluate website quality to quizzing participants on their knowledge of health and the web-based health information-seeking process. In addition, among the 313 articles, we identified 280 (89.5%) that measured eHealth literacy using only a self-rating tool.
CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first research synthesis looking specifically at performance-based measures of eHealth literacy and may direct researchers toward existing performance-based measurement tools to be applied in future projects. We discuss some of the key benefits and drawbacks of different approaches to performance-based measurement of eHealth literacy. Researchers with an interest in gauging participants' actual eHealth literacy (as opposed to perceived eHealth literacy) should make efforts to incorporate tools such as those identified in this systematic scoping review.
Topics: Humans; Health Literacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telemedicine; Self Report; Checklist
PubMed: 37266975
DOI: 10.2196/44602 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Jul 2022Drooling, or sialorrhea, is a common condition in patients with cerebral palsy, rare diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal of this review was to identify... (Review)
Review
Drooling, or sialorrhea, is a common condition in patients with cerebral palsy, rare diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal of this review was to identify the different properties of sialorrhea outcome measures in children. Four databases were analysed in search of sialorrhea measurement tools, and the review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist was used for quality appraisal of the outcome measures. The initial search yielded 891 articles, 430 of which were duplicates. Thus, 461 full-text articles were evaluated. Among these, 21 met the inclusion criteria, reporting 19 different outcome measures that encompassed both quantitative measures and parent/proxy questionnaires. Conclusions: Among the outcome measures found through this review, the 5-min Drooling Quotient can objectively discriminate sialorrhea frequency in patients with developmental disabilities. The Drooling Impact Scale can be used to evaluate changes after treatment. The modified drooling questionnaire can measure sialorrhea severity and its social acceptability. To date, the tests proposed in this review are the only tools displaying adequate measurement properties. The acquisition of new data about reliability, validity, and responsiveness of these tests will confirm our findings. What is Known: • Although sialorrhea is a recognized problem in children with disabilities, especially those with cerebral palsy (CP), there is a lack of confidence among physicians in measuring sialorrhea. What is New: • Few sialorrhea measures are available for clinicians that may guide decision-making and at the same time have strong evidence to provide confidence in the results. • A combination of both quantitative measures and parent/proxy questionnaires might provide an adequate measurement of sialorrhea in children.
Topics: Cerebral Palsy; Child; Humans; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Reproducibility of Results; Sialorrhea; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35441248
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04460-5 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Jul 2022Knowledge of patient's health literacy (HL) in the emergency department (ED) can facilitate care delivery and reduce poor health outcomes. This systematic review... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Knowledge of patient's health literacy (HL) in the emergency department (ED) can facilitate care delivery and reduce poor health outcomes. This systematic review investigates HL measurement instruments used in the ED and their psychometric properties, accuracy in detecting limited HL, and feasibility.
METHODS
We searched in five biomedical databases for studies published between 1990 and January 2021, evaluating HL measurement instruments tested in the ED on internal consistency, criterion validity, diagnostic accuracy, or feasibility. Reviewers screened studies for relevance and assessed methodologic quality with published criteria. Data were synthesized around study and instrument characteristics and outcomes of interest.
RESULTS
Of the 2,376 references screened, seven met our inclusion criteria. Studied instruments varied in objective (n = 5) and subjective (n = 6) measurement of HL skills, and in HL constructs measured. The Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS) and the Subjective Numeracy Scale demonstrate acceptable and good internal consistency across studies. None of the instruments perform consistently well on criterion validity. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Revised and the Newest Vital Sign, both objective tests with short administration times, demonstrate good accuracy in one study with high risk of bias. The BHLS, a short subjective measure, shows moderate accuracy across studies including one with low risk of bias.
CONCLUSIONS
Several short instruments seem valid in measuring HL and accurate in detecting limited HL among ED patients, each with its practical advantages and disadvantages and specific measurement of HL. Additional research is necessary to develop a robust evidence base supporting these instruments.
Topics: Adult; Delivery of Health Care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Health Literacy; Humans; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34919316
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14428 -
BMJ Open Sep 2022Physical literacy (PL) is a comprehensive concept covering motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding of individuals' physical activity... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Physical literacy (PL) is a comprehensive concept covering motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding of individuals' physical activity throughout life. PL has three overlapping domains, such as: an affective, a physical and a cognitive domain. So far, PL has not been measured in the adults and no complete measurement has been developed to date.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this scoping review was to review existing self-reported instruments measuring different elements of domains of PL.
METHOD
We reviewed Education Research Complete, Cochrane, Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. The reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Studies were coded using a thematic framework, which was based on the three domains of PL. The eligibility criteria were as follows: (1) age groups between 18 and 60 years; (2) meta-analyses, reviews or quantitative studies focusing on the measurement of at least one of the three domains of PL and (3) instrument that was self-reported. We finalised search on 1 August 2021 RESULTS: In total, 67 articles were identified as studies describing instruments reflecting the three domains of PL. Following full-text reading, 21 articles that met our inclusion criteria were included. Several instruments of relevance to PL are available for assessing motivation, confidence and the physical domain. However, few instruments exist that measure elements of the cognitive domain.
CONCLUSION
This review showed that a range of existing and validated instruments exists, covering two out of the three domains of PL, namely affective and physical domains. However, for the knowledge domain no valid measurement tools could be found. This scoping review has identified gaps in the research (namely the cognitive domain) and also a gap in the research as no measures that consider the inter-relatedness of the three domains (holistic nature of the concept).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Durable Medical Equipment; Exercise; Humans; Literacy; Middle Aged; Motivation; Self Report; Young Adult
PubMed: 36123090
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058351 -
BMC Public Health Nov 2023Compassion is closely linked to psychological well-being, and several assessment tools have been developed and studied to assess the level of compassion in different... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Compassion is closely linked to psychological well-being, and several assessment tools have been developed and studied to assess the level of compassion in different populations and for more precise measurement. There is currently a scarcity of comprehensive knowledge about compassion-related assessment tools, and our research provides an overview of these tools.
AIMS
To identify scales used to measure compassion from different flows, and to assess their measurement properties and quality.
METHODS
Focusing on compassion assessment tools, the authors conducted a thorough search of 10 Chinese and English databases from their establishment until August 14, 2022. Data extracted included the author, year, country, objectives, target population, as well as the primary evaluation content. Using the COSMIN checklist, the methodological quality and measurement properties of the included studies were appraised. This scoping review was registered with the Open Science Framework and followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist.
RESULTS
There were 15,965 papers searched, and 36 compassion-related measurement tools were identified in this study. None of the 36 studies provided possessed all nine psychometric properties, as outlined by the COSMIN criteria. On the basis of a systematic evaluation of quality, measurement qualities were ranked. The results for internal consistency and content validity were relatively favorable, whereas the results for structural validity were variable and the results for the remaining attributes were either uncertain or negative. A Venn diagram was used to illustrate the overlapping groups of compassion measurement tools based on the three-way flow of compassion. An overview of the reference instrument and theoretical basis for the included studies was provided, and half of them did not contain any theoretical or scale-based evidence.
CONCLUSION
In this study, 36 compassion-related measuring instruments were identified, and the methodological quality and measurement properties of the included studies were acceptable. The included measurements were consistent with flows of compassion. A further focus of further research should be on developing theories in the compassion domain and developing instruments for measuring compassion that are multidimensional, multi-populations, and culturally relevant.
Topics: Humans; Self Report; Empathy; Checklist; Psychometrics; Psychological Well-Being; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 37996796
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17178-2 -
Clinical Autonomic Research : Official... Aug 2021Hyperhidrosis (i.e. excessive sweating) is diagnosed from patient medical history and physical examination. In addition, focal sweat measurements can substantiate the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Hyperhidrosis (i.e. excessive sweating) is diagnosed from patient medical history and physical examination. In addition, focal sweat measurements can substantiate the hyperhidrosis diagnosis. Likewise, the impact of living with hyperhidrosis can be assessed with patient-reported outcome measures. However, no consensus exists on how to diagnose hyperhidrosis, how to quantify the disease, or how to measure the impact hyperhidrosis has on patients. Therefore, the objective of this review was to summarize the literature on diagnostic criteria, focal sweat measurement methods, and patient-reported outcome measures of hyperhidrosis.
METHODS
A literature search of Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed was conducted. Studies that included and aimed at developing or validating hyperhidrosis diagnostic criteria, focal sweat measurement methods, or patient-reported outcome measures for individuals with hyperhidrosis were eligible for inclusion. The methodological quality of diagnostic accuracy studies about focal sweat measurement methods was determined using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2.
RESULTS
Overall, 33 studies were included. We identified two sets of hyperhidrosis diagnostic criteria, one scale for assessment of severity of hyperhidrosis sweating, four focal sweat measurement methods, and 15 patient-reported outcome measures.
CONCLUSION
The algorithm for diagnosing hyperhidrosis and focal sweat measurement methods needs validation in large cohorts. Most patient-reported outcome measures for hyperhidrosis are not adequately validated. A potential solution is to develop a core outcome set that can standardize outcomes reported in clinical trials.
Topics: Humans; Hyperhidrosis; Sweat; Sweating
PubMed: 33772671
DOI: 10.1007/s10286-021-00794-6