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Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD Apr 2023Acculturation, or the dual process of cultural change that takes place due to the interaction between two or more cultural identities, may contribute to the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Acculturation, or the dual process of cultural change that takes place due to the interaction between two or more cultural identities, may contribute to the susceptibility of developing an eating disorder (ED). We conducted a systematic review exploring the relationship between acculturation-related constructs and ED pathology.
METHODS
We searched the PsychINFO and Pubmed/Medline databases up to December 2022. Inclusion criteria were: (1) having a measure of acculturation or related constructs; (2) having a measure of ED symptoms; and (3) experiencing cultural change to a different culture with Western ideals. 22 articles were included in the review. Outcome data were synthesized by narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
There was variability in the definition and measure of acculturation in the literature. Overall, acculturation, culture change, acculturative stress, and intergenerational conflict were associated with ED behavioral and/or cognitive symptoms. However, the nature of the specific associations differed depending on the specific acculturation constructs and ED cognitions and behaviors measured. Furthermore, cultural factors (e.g., in-group vs. out-group preferences, generational status, ethnic group, gender) impacted the relationship between acculturation and ED pathology.
DISCUSSION
Overall, this review highlights the need for more precise definitions of the different domains of acculturation and a more nuanced understanding of the specific relationship between various acculturation domains and specific ED cognitions and behaviors. Most of the studies were conducted in undergraduate women and in Hispanic/Latino samples, limiting generalizability of results.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level V, Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.
Topics: Humans; Female; Acculturation; Stress, Psychological; Ethnicity; Feeding and Eating Disorders
PubMed: 37076614
DOI: 10.1007/s40519-023-01563-2 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2021Poor housing is an important determinant of poor health. One key aspect of housing quality is lighting. Light is important for visual performance and safety, and also... (Review)
Review
Poor housing is an important determinant of poor health. One key aspect of housing quality is lighting. Light is important for visual performance and safety, and also plays a vital role in regulating human physiological functions. This review aims to synthesise existing evidence on the relationship between lighting in the home and health and recommends areas for future research. Three databases were searched for relevant literature using pre-defined inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Extracted data were qualitatively synthesised according to type of lighting (natural light, artificial light and light at night) and stratified by broad health domains (physical, mental and sleep health). Of the 4043 records retrieved, 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity in light exposure metrics used and specific health outcome assessed by the studies. Lighting in the home can negatively affect health but the current evidence base is limited to a small number of studies in different domains of light and health. Further research surrounding specific health outcomes is required to better inform housing quality assessments and lighting practises in the home.
Topics: Housing; Humans; Lighting; Sleep
PubMed: 33445763
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020609 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jul 2023eHealth monitoring technologies offer opportunities to more objectively assess symptoms when they appear in daily life. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
eHealth monitoring technologies offer opportunities to more objectively assess symptoms when they appear in daily life. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood with an episodic course, requiring close follow-up of pediatric asthma control to identify disease deterioration, prevent exacerbations, and enhance quality of life. eHealth technologies in pediatric asthma care show promising results regarding feasibility, acceptability, and asthma-related health outcomes. However, broad systematic evaluations of eHealth technologies in pediatric asthma are lacking.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this scoping review was to identify the types and applications of eHealth technologies for monitoring and treatment in pediatric asthma and explore which monitoring domains show the most relevance or potential for future research.
METHODS
A scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A systematic and comprehensive search was performed on English papers that investigated the development, validation, or application of eHealth technologies for home monitoring or treatment of pediatric asthma in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, IEEE, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and ACM Digital Library. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. Data were presented by a descriptive analysis of characteristics and a narrative report for each eHealth domain.
RESULTS
The review included 370 manuscripts. The following 10 monitoring domains were identified: air quality, airway inflammation markers, lung function, physical activity, sleep, audiovisual, other physiological measurements, questionnaires, medication monitoring, and digital environment (ie, digital platforms, applications, websites, and software tools to monitor or support monitoring). Rising numbers of studies were seen, and the numbers accelerated in the last few years throughout most domains, especially medication monitoring and digital environment. Limited studies (35/370, 9.5%) of multiparameter monitoring strategies, using three or more domains, were found. The number of monitoring validation studies remained stable, while development and intervention studies increased. Intervention outcomes seemed to indicate the noninferiority and potential superiority of eHealth monitoring in pediatric asthma.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic scoping review provides a unique overview of eHealth pediatric asthma monitoring studies, and it revealed that eHealth research takes place throughout different monitoring domains using different approaches. The outcomes of the review showed the potency for efficacy of most monitoring domains (especially the domains of medication monitoring, lung function, and digital environment). Future studies could focus on modifying potentially relevant hospital-based diagnostics for the home setting to investigate potential beneficial effects and focus on combining home-monitoring domains to facilitate multiparameter decision-making and personalized clinical decision support.
Topics: Humans; Child; Quality of Life; Telemedicine; Asthma; Software; Sleep
PubMed: 37477966
DOI: 10.2196/45896 -
BMC Public Health Sep 2017Understanding the relationship between increasing educational attainment and mortality reduction has important policy and public health implications. This systematic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Understanding the relationship between increasing educational attainment and mortality reduction has important policy and public health implications. This systematic review of the literature establishes a taxonomy to facilitate evaluation of the association between educational attainment and early mortality.
METHODS
Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed and hand searches of references for English-language primary data analyses using education as an independent variable and mortality as a dependent variable. Initial searches were undertaken in February 2015 and updated in April 2016.
RESULTS
One thousand, seven hundred and eleven unique articles were identified, 418 manuscripts were screened and 262 eligible studies were included in the review. After an iterative review process, the literature was divided into four study domains: (1) all-cause mortality (n = 68, 26.0%), (2) outcome-specific mortality (n = 89, 34.0%), (3) explanatory pathways (n = 51, 19.5%), and (4) trends over time (n = 54, 20.6%). These four domains comprise a novel taxonomy that can be implemented to better quantify the relationship between education and mortality.
CONCLUSIONS
We propose an organizational taxonomy for the education-mortality literature based upon study characteristics that will allow for a more in-depth understanding of this association. Our review suggests that studies that include mediators or subgroups can explain part, but not all, of the relationship between education and early mortality.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration # CRD42015017182 .
Topics: Classification; Educational Status; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Mortality
PubMed: 28923038
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4754-1 -
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Jul 2023Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that manifests in symptoms that compromise health-related quality... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that manifests in symptoms that compromise health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HRQOL focuses on a person's overall, subjective evaluation of health status primarily in the physical and mental domains. Exercise training is a form of rehabilitation for managing MS-related outcomes that might influence HRQOL. Reviews on exercise training are available, but we are unaware of a recent comprehensive review and meta-analysis of exercise effects for improving physical and mental domains of HRQOL. This analysis provides an updated review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining interventions consisting of aerobic, resistance and combined exercise training for improving HRQOL in persons with MS. This systematic review 1) assessed the overall strength of evidence for exercise interventions on HRQOL, 2) evaluated the relative effect of exercise interventions on physical and mental domains of HRQOL, and 3) determined moderators of exercise intervention effects on HRQOL.
METHODS
Seven databases were searched for RCTs evaluating physical and/or mental domains of HRQOL with adults diagnosed with MS and undergoing an intervention of aerobic, resistance or combined exercise training compared with a non-exercise comparator. Data extraction included participant and intervention characteristics, and pre- and post-intervention HRQOL outcome data. Effect sizes (ESs) were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and a multilevel random-effects model was used to generate an aggregated SMD that compared exercise with non-exercise control conditions.
RESULTS
Twelve RCTs met the inclusion criteria and yielded 23 ESs to be analyzed. Participants (N = 593; 308 intervention vs. 285 control conditions) had a mean (±standard deviation) age of 42.4 (6.5) years and 80% (18.3%) were female. Results generated a medium effect of exercise for improving overall HRQOL (ES=0.64, p = 0.0001) with high heterogeneity (Q=58.8, I=86.7%). Exercise training yielded a large effect on the physical domain (k = 12, ES=0.82, p<0.0009) and a medium effect on the mental domain (k = 11, ES=0.41, p<0.0001). Moderator analyses identified exercise modality, supervision level, intervention delivery and length, HRQOL tool, and number of participants with relapsing-remitting MS as significant influences of ES for HRQOL.
CONCLUSIONS
Exercise training is clinically effective for improving overall HRQOL in MS and produces greater improvements in the physical domain of HRQOL than the mental domain. The moderator analysis suggests that supervised, aerobic, and group-delivered exercise training of ≥3 months yields the most influence on HRQOL. Such results may have major implications for MS treatment and care.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Exercise; Quality of Life; Health Status; Exercise Therapy; Multiple Sclerosis
PubMed: 37172366
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104746 -
American Journal of Physical Medicine &... Dec 2017In this systematic literature review, we examined whether and how walking aids (i.e., canes, crutches, walkers, and rollators) enable activity and participation among... (Review)
Review
In this systematic literature review, we examined whether and how walking aids (i.e., canes, crutches, walkers, and rollators) enable activity and participation among adults with physical disabilities. Medline, Embase, all EBM reviews, PsychInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were used to identify studies published since 2008. Quantitative and qualitative designs were included. Data regarding participants, assistive device use, outcome measures, and domains of participation were extracted. Two reviewers independently rated the level of evidence and methodological quality of the studies. Outcomes were categorized per types of walking aids and activity and participation domains. Thirteen studies were included. Two studies involved canes, four pertained to rollators, and seven dealt with multiple types of walking aids. Mobility was the most frequently examined domain of activity and participation. Both negative and positive results were found. Negative outcomes were linked to the physical characteristics of the device, the use, environment, and personal reluctance. When incorporated in daily life, walking aids were found to enable several domains of activity and participation. Whether walking aids facilitate activity and participation may depend on the user's ability to overcome obstacles and integrate them in daily life. More high-quality research is needed to draw conclusions about their effectiveness.
Topics: Canes; Crutches; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Orthopedic Equipment; Quality of Life; Self-Help Devices; Treatment Outcome; Walkers; Walking
PubMed: 29176406
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000836 -
BMJ Open Oct 2015To systematically review the studies of prevalence, patterns and consequences of multimorbidity reported from South Asia. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the studies of prevalence, patterns and consequences of multimorbidity reported from South Asia.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
SETTING
South Asia.
DATA SOURCES
Articles were retrieved from two electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) and from the relevant references lists. Methodical data extraction according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was followed. English-language studies published between 2000 and March 2015 were included.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Studies addressing prevalence, consequences and patterns of multimorbidity in South Asia. Articles documenting presence of two or more chronic conditions were included in the review. The quality and risk of bias were assessed using STROBE criteria.
DATA SELECTION
Two reviewers independently assessed studies for eligibility, extracted data and assessed study quality. Due to heterogeneity in methodologies among reported studies, only narrative synthesis of the results was carried out.
RESULTS
Of 11,132, 61 abstracts were selected and 13 were included for final data synthesis. The number of health conditions analysed per study varied from 7 to 22, with prevalence of multimorbidity from 4.5% to 83%. The leading chronic conditions were hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, cardiac problems and skin diseases. The most frequently reported outcomes were increased healthcare utilisation, lowered physical functioning and quality of life, and psychological distress.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study, a comprehensive mapping of multimorbidity research in South Asia, reveals the insufficient volume of work carried out in this domain. The published studies are inadequate to provide an indication of the magnitude of multimorbidity in these countries. Research into clinical and epidemiological aspects of multimorbidity is warranted to build up scientific evidence in this geographic region. The wide heterogeneity observed in the present review calls for greater methodological rigour while conducting these epidemiological studies.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42013005456.
Topics: Asia; Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Humans; Prevalence; Quality of Life
PubMed: 26446164
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007235 -
The British Journal of Dermatology Feb 2023In 2015, a major achievement in vitiligo research was the development of an internationally agreed upon core outcome domain set for randomized clinical trials (RCTs)....
BACKGROUND
In 2015, a major achievement in vitiligo research was the development of an internationally agreed upon core outcome domain set for randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Three outcomes were identified as being essential: repigmentation, side-effects/harms and maintenance of gained repigmentation. Four items were further recommended for inclusion. The following recommendations then followed: repigmentation should be assessed by measuring the percentage of repigmentation in quartiles (0-25%, 26-50%, 51-79%, 80-100%) and cosmetic acceptability of the results should be assessed using the Vitiligo Noticeability Scale.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of this study was to assess uptake of the core outcome domain set for RCTs in vitiligo. Secondary objectives were to update the systematic review on outcomes reported in vitiligo RCTs, and to assess whether repigmentation and cosmetic acceptability of the results were measured using the above-mentioned recommended scales.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and Systematic Reviews) and ClinicalTrials.gov for vitiligo RCTs between November 2009 and March 2021. Screening and data extraction were independently performed on title and summary by two researchers. All outcomes and outcome measures reported in eligible RCTs were retrieved and collated.
RESULTS
In total, 174 RCTs were identified: 62 were published between 2009 and 2015, and 112 were published between 2016 and 2021.Thirty-eight different outcomes were reported. Repigmentation was the primary outcome in 89% of trials (150 of 169). Forty-nine different tools were used to measure repigmentation. Side-effects and harms were reported in 78% of trials (136 of 174). Maintenance of gained repigmentation was reported in only 11% of trials (20 of 174) and duration of follow-up varied greatly from 1 to 14 months. Cosmetic acceptability of the results and cessation of disease activity were assessed in only 2% of trials (four of 174). Quality of life of patients with vitiligo was assessed in 13% of trials (22 of 174). Finally, only 11 of 112 RCTs (10%) published between 2016 and 2021 reported all three essential core outcome domains (repigmentation, side-effects and maintenance of gained repigmentation) and none of the trials reported both essential and recommended core outcome domains.
CONCLUSIONS
Efforts are still needed to close the gap between set recommendations and RCT outcome reporting.
Topics: Humans; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Vitiligo
PubMed: 36763863
DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljac074 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Population demography across the globe shows an increasing trend in the aging population due to better healthcare, improved nutrition, advanced health-related... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Population demography across the globe shows an increasing trend in the aging population due to better healthcare, improved nutrition, advanced health-related technology, and decreased fertility rate. Despite these advancements, there remains a knowledge gap in understanding the association between active aging determinants and quality of life (QoL) among older adults, particularly within diverse cultural contexts, which has not been adequately explored in previous research. Therefore, understanding the association between active aging determinants and QoL can help policymakers plan early interventions or programs to assist future older adults in both aging actively and optimizing their quality of life (QoL), as these two factors have a bidirectional relationship.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to review evidence regarding the association between active aging and quality of life (QoL) among older adults and to determine the most widely used study designs and measurement instruments in studies conducted between 2000 and 2020.
METHODS
Relevant studies were identified by a systematic search of four electronic databases and cross-reference lists. Original studies examining the association between active aging and QoL in individuals aged 60 years or older were considered. The quality of the included studies and the direction and consistency of the association between active aging and QoL were assessed.
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most studies reported a positive association between active aging and QoL among older adults. Active aging had a consistent association with various QoL domains including physical environment, health and social services, social environment, economic, personal, and behavioral determinants.
CONCLUSION
Active aging had a positive and consistent association with several QoL domains among older adults, backing the notion that the better the active aging determinants, the better the QoL among older adults. Considering the broader literature, it is necessary to facilitate and encourage the active participation of older adults in physical, social, and economic activities for the maintenance and/or improvement of QoL. Identifying other possible determinants and enhancing the methods to improve those determinants may help improve the QoL among older adults.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Quality of Life; Aging; Birth Rate; Databases, Factual; Early Intervention, Educational
PubMed: 37435519
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1193789 -
Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju Dec 2010This paper discusses the negative effects of shiftwork which are classified into four categories: biological functions, efficiency, social/family domains and health. It... (Review)
Review
This paper discusses the negative effects of shiftwork which are classified into four categories: biological functions, efficiency, social/family domains and health. It presents systematic review of previous studies which indicated at health problems in shiftworkers which can, at least in part, be attributed to disturbation of circadian rhythms imposed by shift/night work. Health problems which are connected with shiftwork are: sleeping problems, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases, carcinoma, problems with reproductive health in women and lower levels of psychological health.The paper also discusses about shiftwork tolerance. The process model of shiftwork and health, made by Smith and his coworkers in 1999, is used as theoretical framework. An accent is put on individual and organisational factors which are important for shiftwork adaptation and tolerance. Significant predictors of shiftwork tolerance are: age, gender, morningness-eveningness, rigidity-flexibility of sleeping habits, family situation, sleep hygiene and food intake. Regarding studies which indicated important aspects of shiftwork organization, such as: number of working shifts and working hours, regularity of shifts, pace and direction of shifts' rotation, recommendations for shiftwork management are given.
Topics: Circadian Rhythm; Health Status; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm; Work Schedule Tolerance
PubMed: 21183438
DOI: 10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2036