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Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery :... Aug 2016To determine the impact of pediatric hearing loss (HL) on quality of life (QOL). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of pediatric hearing loss (HL) on quality of life (QOL).
DATA SOURCES
A qualified medical librarian conducted a literature search for relevant publications that evaluate QOL in school-aged children with HL.
REVIEW METHODS
Studies were assessed independently by 2 reviewers for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis.
RESULTS
From 979 abstracts, 69 were identified as relevant; ultimately, 40 articles were included in the systematic review. This review revealed that children with HL generally report a lower QOL than their normal-hearing peers and that QOL improves after interventions. The extent of these differences is variable among studies and depends on the QOL measure. Four studies using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) had sufficient data for inclusion in a meta-analysis. After studies were pooled, statistically and clinically significant differences in PedsQL scores were found between children with normal hearing and those with HL, specifically in the social and school domains. Statistically significant differences were also noted in total scores for children with unilateral HL and in the physical domain for children with bilateral HL as compared with those having normal hearing; however, these differences were not clinically meaningful.
CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis reveals that decreased QOL in children with HL is detected in distinct domains of the PedsQL. These domains-school activities and social interactions-are especially important for development and learning. Future work should focus on these aspects of QOL when assessing HL in the pediatric population.
Topics: Child; Hearing Loss; Humans; Quality of Life
PubMed: 27118820
DOI: 10.1177/0194599816640485 -
Neurological Sciences : Official... Jan 2022The current COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly catalysed a shift towards remote assessment in neuropsychological practice (tele-neuropsychology, t-NPs). Although the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The current COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly catalysed a shift towards remote assessment in neuropsychological practice (tele-neuropsychology, t-NPs). Although the validity of t-NPs diagnostics is gaining recognition worldwide, little is known about its implementation in Italy. The present review by the Italian working group on tele-neuropsychology (TELA) aims at describing the availability, psychometric properties, and feasibility of t-NPs tools currently available in Italy.
METHODS
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. This work was pre-registered on the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42021239687). Observational studies reporting telephone-, videoconference- or web-based assessment of cognition/behaviour in Italian both healthy participants (HPs) and patients were included. Bias assessment was performed through ad hoc scales.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies were included from an initial N = 895 (4 databases searched). Studies were subdivided into those focused on psychometric properties and those characterized by a predominant applied nature. The majority of studies addressed either adult/elderly HPs or neurological/internal patients. Multi-domain screening tools for cognition, behaviour, mood/anxiety and quality of life were the most represented. Findings regarding validity, reliability, sensitivity, specificity and clinical usability were reported for cognitive screenings - the telephone- and videoconference-based Mini-Mental State Examination and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status.
DISCUSSION
Positive albeit preliminary evidence regarding psychometric properties and feasibility in both clinical and non-clinical populations of Italian t-NPs brief screening tools are herewith provided. Further studies exploring clinical usability of t-NPs and psychometric properties/feasibility of tests for the in-depth assessment of specific cognitive domains are necessary.
Topics: Aged; COVID-19; Humans; Pandemics; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34751849
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-021-05719-9 -
Pancreas Apr 2018Little is known about quality of life (QOL) of patients with pancreatic cancer and their caregivers compared with adults with other cancers. This systematic review... (Review)
Review
Little is known about quality of life (QOL) of patients with pancreatic cancer and their caregivers compared with adults with other cancers. This systematic review summarizes the available evidence base, identifies its limitations, and recommends directions for research and clinical application. A systematic review was conducted of research on QOL in adults with pancreatic cancer and their caregivers. Quality of life was examined in the following specific domains: psychological, physical, social, sexual, spiritual, and general. Of the 7130 articles reviewed, 36 studies met criteria for inclusion. Compared with healthy adults or population norms, adults with pancreatic cancer had worse QOL across all domains. Compared with patients with other cancer types, patients with pancreatic cancer evidenced worse psychological QOL. Physical and social QOL were either similar or more compromised than in patients with other cancers. Limited data preclude conclusions about sexual, spiritual, and caregiver QOL. Patients with pancreatic cancer evidence decrements in multiple QOL domains, with particular strain on psychological well-being. Methodological limitations of available studies restrict definitive conclusions. Future research with well-defined samples, appropriate statistical analyses, and longitudinal designs is needed. Findings from this review support the merits of distress screening, integration of mental health professionals into medical teams, and attention to caregiver burden.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Caregivers; Female; Humans; Male; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 29521939
DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001025 -
Pediatrics Apr 2021The death of a child is devastating, and complicated grief adversely impacts parental physical and psychosocial well-being. Most research currently is centered on...
CONTEXT
The death of a child is devastating, and complicated grief adversely impacts parental physical and psychosocial well-being. Most research currently is centered on bereaved mothers, and the experiences of fathers remains underexplored.
OBJECTIVE
We systematically reviewed the literature to characterize the grief and bereavement experiences of fathers after the death of a child.
DATA SOURCES
We searched Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
STUDY SELECTION
Inclusion criteria encompassed English language articles published between 2007 and 2019 that evaluated the grief and bereavement experiences of fathers after the death of their child. We excluded studies describing paternal bereavement after the death of a child aged older than 21 years, stillbirth, miscarriage, or studies that did not specify age of death.
DATA EXTRACTION
Extracted domains included study design, demographics, findings, and quality assessment.
RESULTS
We screened 1848 deduplicated titles and abstracts and 139 full articles, yielding 21 articles for inclusion in this analysis. Fathers often avoided discussing their grief with others, returned to work earlier, and used goal-oriented tasks as coping strategies. Intense grief reactions and posttraumatic psychological sequelae diminished over time in mothers yet persisted in fathers.
LIMITATIONS
Included studies were primarily descriptive in nature, without ability to ascertain causality. Limited paternal data exists in the literature compared with maternal data.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite evolving gender roles, many fathers navigate loss through stoicism, self-isolation, and hard work. For some fathers, these coping mechanisms may be inadequate for navigating grief.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Bereavement; Death; Fathers; Grief; Health Status; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Work
PubMed: 33648950
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-040386 -
PloS One 2023Fear of falling (FoF) is a major concern among older adults and is associated with negative outcomes, such as decreased quality of life and increased risk of falls.... (Review)
Review
Fear of falling (FoF) is a major concern among older adults and is associated with negative outcomes, such as decreased quality of life and increased risk of falls. Despite several systematic reviews conducted on various specific domains of FoF and its related interventions, the research area has only been minimally covered by scoping reviews, and a comprehensive scoping review mapping the range and scope of the research area is still lacking. This review aims to provide such a comprehensive investigation of the existing literature and identify main topics, gaps in the literature, and potential opportunities for bridging different strains of research. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Following the screening process, 969 titles and abstracts were chosen for the review. Pre-processing steps included stop word removal, stemming, and term frequency-inverse document frequency vectorization. Using the Non-negative Matrix Factorization algorithm, we identified seven main topics and created a conceptual mapping of FoF research. The analysis also revealed that most studies focused on physical health-related factors, particularly balance and gait, with less attention paid to cognitive, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Moreover, more research could be done on demographic factors beyond gender and age with an interdisciplinary collaboration with social sciences. The review highlights the need for more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of FoF and calls for more research on less studied areas.
Topics: Accidental Falls; Fear; Quality of Life; Natural Language Processing
PubMed: 37906616
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293554 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... May 2017In the literature, there is limited research about the changed meaning of food, the eating and the eating experience during treatment in patients with head and neck... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
In the literature, there is limited research about the changed meaning of food, the eating and the eating experience during treatment in patients with head and neck cancer. This systematic review includes findings from a qualitative research synthesis to gain a deeper understanding of the influence and experiences of dysphagia, dysgeusia, oral mucositis and xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients (HNC) and suggests recommendations for care practice.
METHOD
A systematic review and meta-synthesis techniques were adopted to identify, appraise and synthesize the relevant literature regarding the experience of nutritional symptoms of HNC patients conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Several electronic databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library databases were searched.
RESULTS
A systematic search yielded 121 papers, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria. A thematic account of shared nutritional symptom experiences reported across studies is highlighted and presented. Eight major themes covering three key supportive care domains were identified: impact of symptoms (symptoms during treatment, symptoms working together, affecting daily living activities and physical changes, symptoms and food changes), changing social networks and support (social life restrictions, support of peers), nutritional concerns and strategies (coping strategies, professional support).
CONCLUSIONS
Dysphagia, dysgeusia, oral mucositis and xerostomia negatively affected the patients' quality of life throughout the period of treatment. The patients' nutritional symptom experiences do not occur in isolation. Therefore, acknowledging the patients' eating difficulties and challenges can guarantee appropriate management and support to best manage symptoms in a timely manner.
Topics: Eating; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Life Change Events; Nutritional Status; Quality of Life
PubMed: 28204992
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-017-3618-7 -
Journal of Clinical Nursing Jun 2023The aim of this study was to assess methodological quality of all currently available guidelines and consensus statements for IAD using the Appraisal of Guidelines,... (Review)
Review
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess methodological quality of all currently available guidelines and consensus statements for IAD using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II and the AGREE Recommendation Excellence (AGREE-REX) instruments.
BACKGROUND
Globally, incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a significant health challenge. IAD is a complex healthcare problem that reduces quality of life of patients, increases healthcare costs and prolongs hospital stays. Several guidelines and consensus statements are available for IAD. However, the quality of these guidelines and consensus statements remains unclear.
DESIGN
A systematic review of guidelines and consensus statements.
METHODS
Our study was undertaken using PRISMA guidelines. We searched seven electronic databases. Guidelines and consensus statements had to be published in English, Chinese or German languages. Five independent reviewers assessed the methodological quality of guidelines and consensus statements using the AGREE II and AGREE-REX instruments. Mean with standard deviation (SD) and median with interquartile range (IQR) were calculated for descriptive analyses. We generated bubble plots to describe the assessment results of each domain of each guideline and consensus statement.
RESULTS
We included ten guidelines and consensus statements. The NICE guidelines, obtained the highest scores, fulfilled 86.11%-98.61% of criteria in AGREE II and 76.67%-91.11% for AGREE-REX. In the domains 'Stakeholder Involvement' (4.39 ± 1.64), 'Rigor of Development' (3.38 ± 1.86), 'Applicability' (3.62 ± 1.64), 'Editorial Independence' (3.91 ± 2.56) and 'Values and Preferences' (2.98 ± 1.41), the remaining guidelines and consensus statements showed deficiencies.
CONCLUSIONS
Altogether, this study demonstrated that the currently available guidelines and consensus statements for IAD have room for methodological improvement. NICE guidelines on faecal incontinence and urinary incontinence have better quality. Remaining guidelines and consensus statements showed substantial methodological weaknesses, especially the domains of 'Stakeholder Involvement', 'Rigor of Development', 'Applicability', 'Editorial independence' and 'Values and Preferences'. This study was registered on INPLASY. (Registration number: INPLASY202190078).
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
The currently available guidelines and consensus statements on IAD have room for methodological improvement.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Consensus; Dermatitis
PubMed: 35411654
DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16306 -
Drug and Alcohol Review Nov 2023Consideration of an individual's quality of life (QoL) can benefit assessment and treatment of addictive disorders, however, uncertainty remains over operationalisation... (Review)
Review
ISSUES
Consideration of an individual's quality of life (QoL) can benefit assessment and treatment of addictive disorders, however, uncertainty remains over operationalisation of the construct as an outcome and the appropriateness of existing measures for these populations. This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate QoL and health-related QoL outcome instruments used in addiction-related risk and harm research and map their conceptualised domains.
APPROACH
Three electronic databases and a specialised assessment library were searched on 1 February 2022 for QoL or health-related QoL outcome instruments used with addiction-related risk and harm populations. PRISMA reporting guidance was followed and included outcome instruments were appraised using mixed methods. Psychometric evidence supporting their use was summarised. The COSMIN risk of bias tool was used to assess validation studies.
KEY FINDINGS
A total of 298 articles (330 studies) used 53 outcome instruments and 41 unique domains of QoL. Eleven instruments' psychometric properties were evaluated. No instrument was assessed for any parameter in at least five studies for meta-analytic pooling. Cronbach's alpha (α) internal consistency was the most widely assessed parameter with the AQoLS, WHOQOL-BREF, ALQoL-9, Q-LES-Q-SF, SF-12, DUQoL, QLI and SF-36 displaying promising statistics (α > 0.70).
IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION
Many instruments have been utilised. However, a significant proportion of studies applied a small number of instruments with minimal high-quality validation evidence supporting their use within addiction-related risk and harm. Promising instruments are recommended, however, the paucity of supporting evidence limits confidence in the reliability and validity of QoL measurement in these populations.
Topics: Humans; Behavior, Addictive; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 37439397
DOI: 10.1111/dar.13717 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Jun 2021Impaired physical mobility refers to a limitation in independent and purposeful physical movement of the body or one or more extremities. Physical restrictions result in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Impaired physical mobility refers to a limitation in independent and purposeful physical movement of the body or one or more extremities. Physical restrictions result in negative consequences on an individual's physical and psychosocial functions. Sitting Tai Chi, a derivative form of traditional Tai Chi, has been found to increase the flexibility of all joints involved and enhance the ability to perform physical activity. However, the evidence of sitting Tai Chi on physical and psychosocial health outcomes on individuals with impaired physical mobility is limited.
OBJECTIVES
To critically synthesize evidence that evaluates the effects of sitting Tai Chi on health outcomes among individuals with impaired physical mobility and to identify implementation strategies for the sitting Tai Chi intervention.
METHODS
Searches were performed across 11 English and two Chinese databases systematically from inception to January 2020. Randomised controlled trials and non-randomised controlled trials, written in English or Chinese were included. Two independent reviewers screened all eligible studies, appraised risk of bias, and extracted the data. Meta-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4 and narrative syntheses were performed where meta-analysis was inappropriate. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation profiler Guideline Development Tool. This study was registered in PROSPERO.
RESULTS
A total of 1,446 records were generated and 11 studies were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis reported a statistically significant effect size favouring sitting Tai Chi on depressive symptoms (SMD: -1.53, 95% CI: -2.81 to -0.21, 2 studies; very low quality), heart rate (MD: -5.72, 95% CI: -11.16 to -0.29, 2 studies; low quality) and social domain of quality of life (MD: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.66 to 2.19, 3 studies; low quality).
CONCLUSIONS
Sitting Tai Chi was found to have favourable effects on depressive symptoms, heart rate, and social domain of quality of life of individuals with impaired physical mobility. Very low to low quality evidence does not support the effectiveness of sitting Tai Chi on dynamic sitting balance, handgrip strength, and the physical and psychological domains of quality of life. There was limited evidence to suggest the best implementation strategies for the sitting Tai Chi intervention. It is anticipated that more well-designed studies will continue developing high quality evidence in this field.
Topics: Exercise; Hand Strength; Humans; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Quality of Life; Tai Ji
PubMed: 33751992
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103911 -
PharmacoEconomics Apr 2022Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for children (aged ≤ 18 years) present methodological challenges. PROMs can be categorised by their diverse underlying...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for children (aged ≤ 18 years) present methodological challenges. PROMs can be categorised by their diverse underlying conceptual bases, including functional, disability and health (FDH) status; quality of life (QoL); and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Some PROMs are designed to be accompanied by preference weights. PROMs should account for childhood developmental differences by incorporating age-appropriate health/QoL domains, guidance on respondent type(s) and design. This systematic review aims to identify generic multidimensional childhood PROMs and synthesise their characteristics by conceptual basis, target age, measurement considerations, and the preference-based value sets that accompany them.
METHODS
The study protocol was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021230833), and reporting followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We conducted systematic database searches for generic multidimensional childhood PROMs covering the period 2012-2020, which we combined with published PROMs identified by an earlier systematic review that covered the period 1992-2011. A second systematic database search identified preference-based value sets for generic multidimensional PROMs. The PROMs were categorised by conceptual basis (FDH status, QoL and HRQoL) and by target age (namely infants and pre-schoolers aged < 5 years, pre-adolescents aged 5-11, adolescents aged 12-18 and multi-age group coverage). Descriptive statistics assessed how PROM characteristics (domain coverage, respondent type and design) varied by conceptual basis and age categories. Involvement of children in PROM development and testing was assessed to understand content validity. Characteristics of value sets available for the childhood generic multidimensional PROMs were identified and compared.
RESULTS
We identified 89 PROMs, including 110 versions: 52 FDH, 29 QoL, 12 HRQoL, nine QoL-FDH and eight HRQoL-FDH measures; 20 targeted infants and pre-schoolers, 29 pre-adolescents, 24 adolescents and 37 for multiple age groups. Domain coverage demonstrated development trajectories from observable FDH aspects in infancy through to personal independence and relationships during adolescence. PROMs targeting younger children relied more on informant report, were shorter and had fewer ordinal scale points. One-third of PROMs were developed following qualitative research or surveys with children or parents for concept elicitation. There were 21 preference-based value sets developed by 19 studies of ten generic multidimensional childhood PROMs: seven were based on adolescents' stated preferences, seven were from adults from the perspective of or on behalf of the child, and seven were from adults adopting an adult's perspective. Diverse preference elicitation methods were used to elicit values. Practices with respect to anchoring values on the utility scale also varied considerably. The range and distribution of values reflect these differences, resulting in value sets with notably different properties.
CONCLUSION
Identification and categorisation of generic multidimensional childhood PROMs and value sets by this review can aid the development, selection and interpretation of appropriate measures for clinical and population research and cost-effectiveness-based decision-making.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Drugs, Generic; Health Status; Humans; Infant; Parents; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35072935
DOI: 10.1007/s40273-021-01128-0