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International Journal of Environmental... May 2024In recent years, weight gain and reduced physical activity in the general population have contributed to the development of obesity and other health problems; on the... (Review)
Review
The Influence of Behavioral Sciences on Adherence to Physical Activity and Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
In recent years, weight gain and reduced physical activity in the general population have contributed to the development of obesity and other health problems; on the other hand, studies in behavioral sciences have been used to modify behaviors for a healthier life, so the objective of this study was to identify the evidence of interventions in behavioral sciences on adherence to physical activity and weight loss in obese patients. This systematic review study is based on a search of the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane. Studies assessed the evidence from intervention studies that assessed the influence of intervention studies of behavioral sciences on public health. The articles were published between 2013 and 2023. The systematic search of the databases identified 2951 articles. The review analyzed 10 studies. Behavioral science interventions presented evidence through strategies such as multicomponent interventions, lottery and financial incentives, message framing, message framing with financial incentive and physical activity, and psychological satisfaction, demonstrating results in weight loss and maintenance and increased physical activity. This study presents scientific evidence through healthy behavior change methodologies, and future studies can explore these strategies in conjunction with public health technologies in the search for public-private partnerships to promote physical activity in adults.
Topics: Humans; Exercise; Obesity; Weight Loss; Overweight; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Behavioral Sciences
PubMed: 38791844
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050630 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024With the increasing number of people with chronic diseases and disabilities, the number of family members as caregivers have also been growing. Despite the attention... (Review)
Review
With the increasing number of people with chronic diseases and disabilities, the number of family members as caregivers have also been growing. Despite the attention paid to caregiving in recent years, little is known about caregiving among young people, particularly its global prevalence. The lack of information has important implications for health policy and management, resulting in the inability to form appropriate evidence-based policies and managerial decision making. This study aims to derive an estimate of the prevalence of caregiving among young people through a systematic review of the current literature. The results of this study revealed a prevalence of caregiving among younger adolescents of between 1.1% (1.06-1.14%) and 12.0% (11.02-12.98%). However, the assessment of caregiving varies across studies, and all were conducted in developed countries. These results provide information on the burden of caregiving in young people and reveal the lack of global information, calling for more research on and attention to this specific population.
Topics: Humans; Caregivers; Adolescent; Prevalence; Young Adult
PubMed: 38791835
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050621 -
International Journal of Environmental... Apr 2024: Participation in targeted screening reduces lung cancer mortality by 30-60%, but screening is not universally available. Therefore, the study aimed to synthesize the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
: Participation in targeted screening reduces lung cancer mortality by 30-60%, but screening is not universally available. Therefore, the study aimed to synthesize the evidence and identify facilitators and barriers to lung cancer screening participation globally. : Two reviewers screened primary studies using qualitative methods published up to February 2023. We used two-phase synthesis consistent with a meta-study methodology to create an interpretation of lung cancer screening decisions grounded in primary studies, carried out a thematic analysis of group themes as specific facilitators and barriers, systematically compared investigations for similarities and differences, and performed meta-synthesis to generate an expanded theory of lung cancer screening participation. We used the Social Ecological Model to organize and interpret the themes: individual, interpersonal, social/cultural, and organizational/structural levels. : Fifty-two articles met the final inclusion criteria. Themes identified as facilitating lung cancer screening included prioritizing patient education, quality of communication, and quality of provider-initiated encounter/coordination of care (individual patient and provider level), quality of the patient-provider relationship (interpersonal group), perception of a life's value and purpose (cultural status), quality of tools designed, and care coordination (and organizational level). Themes coded as barriers included low awareness, fear of cancer diagnosis, low perceived benefit, high perceived risk of low-dose computerized tomography, concern about cancer itself, practical obstacle, futility, stigma, lack of family support, COVID-19 fear, disruptions in cancer care due to COVID-19, inadequate knowledge of care providers, shared decision, and inadequate time (individual level), patient misunderstanding, poor rapport, provider recommendation, lack of established relationship, and confusing decision aid tools (interpersonal group), distrust in the service, fatalistic beliefs, and perception of aging (cultural level), and lack of institutional policy, lack of care coordinators, inadequate infrastructure, absence of insurance coverage, and costs (and organizational status). : This study identified critical barriers, facilitators, and implications to lung cancer screening participation. Therefore, we employed strategies for a new digital medicine (artificial intelligence) screening method to balance the cost-benefit, "workdays" lost in case of disease, and family hardship, which is essential to improve lung cancer screening uptake.
Topics: Humans; Lung Neoplasms; COVID-19; Early Detection of Cancer; Qualitative Research; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38791759
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050534 -
Cost Effectiveness and Resource... May 2024There is some evidence that differentiated service delivery (DSD) models, which use a client-centered approach to simplify and increase access to care, improve clinical... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There is some evidence that differentiated service delivery (DSD) models, which use a client-centered approach to simplify and increase access to care, improve clinical outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high HIV prevalence countries. Integrating economic strengthening tools (e.g., microcredit, cash transfers, food assistance) within DSD models can help address the poverty-related barriers to HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART). Yet there is minimal evidence of the cost-effectiveness of these types of multilevel care delivery models, which potentially prohibits their wider implementation.
METHODS
Using a qualitative systematic review, this article synthesizes the literature surrounding the cost-effectiveness of differentiated service delivery models that employ economic strengthening initiatives to improve HIV treatment adherence in low- and middle-income countries. We searched three academic databases for randomized controlled trials and observational studies published from January 2000 through March 2024 in Sub-Saharan Africa. The quality of each study was scored using a validated appraisal system.
RESULTS
Eighty-nine full texts were reviewed and 3 met all eligibility criteria. Two of the three included articles were specific to adolescents living with HIV. Economic strengthening opportunities varied by care model, and included developmental savings accounts, microenterprise workshops, and cash and non-cash conditional incentives. The main drivers of programmatic and per-patient costs were ART medications, CD4 cell count testing, and economic strengthening activities.
CONCLUSION
All economic evaluations in this review found that including economic strengthening as part of comprehensive differentiated service delivery was cost-effective at a willingness to pay threshold of at least 2 times the national per capita gross domestic product. Two of the three studies in this review focused on adolescents, suggesting that these types of care models may be especially cost-effective for youth entering adulthood. All studies were from the provider perspective, indicating that additional evidence is needed to inform the potential cost-savings of DSD and economic strengthening interventions to patients and society. Randomized trials testing the effectiveness of DSD models that integrate economic strengthening should place greater emphasis on costing these types of programs to inform the potential for bringing these types of multilevel interventions to scale.
PubMed: 38790050
DOI: 10.1186/s12962-024-00557-w -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty May 2024West Nile virus (WNV), the most widely distributed flavivirus causing encephalitis globally, is a vector-borne pathogen of global importance. The changing climate is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
West Nile virus (WNV), the most widely distributed flavivirus causing encephalitis globally, is a vector-borne pathogen of global importance. The changing climate is poised to reshape the landscape of various infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne ones like WNV. Understanding the anticipated geographical and range shifts in disease transmission due to climate change, alongside effective adaptation strategies, is critical for mitigating future public health impacts. This scoping review aims to consolidate evidence on the impact of climate change on WNV and to identify a spectrum of applicable adaptation strategies.
MAIN BODY
We systematically analyzed research articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Our criteria included English-language research articles published between 2007 and 2023, focusing on the impacts of climate change on WNV and related adaptation strategies. We extracted data concerning study objectives, populations, geographical focus, and specific findings. Literature was categorized into two primary themes: 1) climate-WNV associations, and 2) climate change impacts on WNV transmission, providing a clear understanding. Out of 2168 articles reviewed, 120 met our criteria. Most evidence originated from North America (59.2%) and Europe (28.3%), with a primary focus on human cases (31.7%). Studies on climate-WNV correlations (n = 83) highlighted temperature (67.5%) as a pivotal climate factor. In the analysis of climate change impacts on WNV (n = 37), most evidence suggested that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, with the extent of the impact depending on local and regional conditions. Although few studies directly addressed the implementation of adaptation strategies for climate-induced disease transmission, the proposed strategies (n = 49) fell into six categories: 1) surveillance and monitoring (38.8%), 2) predictive modeling (18.4%), 3) cross-disciplinary collaboration (16.3%), 4) environmental management (12.2%), 5) public education (8.2%), and 6) health system readiness (6.1%). Additionally, we developed an accessible online platform to summarize the evidence on climate change impacts on WNV transmission ( https://2xzl2o-neaop.shinyapps.io/WNVScopingReview/ ).
CONCLUSIONS
This review reveals that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, but the literature reflects only a small share of the global WNV dynamics. There is an urgent need for adaptive responses to anticipate and respond to the climate-driven spread of WNV. Nevertheless, studies focusing on these adaptation responses are sparse compared to those examining the impacts of climate change. Further research on the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies for vector-borne diseases, along with more comprehensive evidence synthesis, is needed to inform effective policy responses tailored to local contexts.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Adaptation, Physiological; Climate Change; West Nile Fever; West Nile virus
PubMed: 38790027
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01207-2 -
European Urology May 2024In Europe, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men. Screening may therefore be crucial to lower health care costs, morbidity, and mortality. This... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
In Europe, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men. Screening may therefore be crucial to lower health care costs, morbidity, and mortality. This systematic review aimed to provide a contemporary overview of the costs and benefits of PCa screening programmes.
METHODS
A peer-reviewed literature search was conducted, using the PICO method. A detailed search strategy was developed in four databases based on the following key search terms: "PCa", "screening", and "cost effectiveness". Any type of economic evaluation was included. The search strategy was restricted to European countries, but no restrictions were set on the year of publication.
KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS
A total of 7484 studies were identified initially. Of these, 19 studies described the cost effectiveness of PCa screening in Europe. Among the studies using an initially healthy study population, most focussed on risk- and/or age- and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based screening in addition to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and compared this with no screening. Incremental cost ratios (ICERs) varied from €5872 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) to €372 948/QALY, with a median of €56 487/QALY. Risk-based screening followed by MRI testing seemed to be a more cost-effective strategy than no screening.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
This systematic review indicates that screening programmes incorporating a risk-based approach and MRI have the potential to be cost effective.
PATIENT SUMMARY
In this review, we looked at the cost effectiveness of prostate cancer screening in Europe. We found that a risk-based approach and incorporation of magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to be cost effective. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding cost effectiveness of prostate cancer screening. Therefore, determinants of cost effectiveness require further investigation.
PubMed: 38789306
DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2024.04.036 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Government efforts and reforms in health financing systems in various countries are aimed at achieving universal health coverage. Household spending on healthcare plays... (Review)
Review
Government efforts and reforms in health financing systems in various countries are aimed at achieving universal health coverage. Household spending on healthcare plays a very important role in achieving this goal. The aim of this systematic review was to assess out-of-pocket health expenditure inequalities measured by the FIA across different territories, in the context of achieving UHC by 2030. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify original quantitative and mixed-method studies published in the English language between 2016 and 2022. A total of 336 articles were initially identified, and after the screening process, 15 articles were included in the systematic review, following the removal of duplicates and articles not meeting the inclusion criteria. Despite the overall regressivity, insurance systems have generally improved population coverage and reduced inequality in out-of-pocket health expenditures among the employed population, but regional studies highlight the importance of examining the situation at a micro level. The results of the study provide further evidence supporting the notion that healthcare financing systems relying less on public funding and direct tax financing and more on private payments are associated with a higher prevalence of catastrophic health expenditures and demonstrate a more regressive pattern in terms of healthcare financing, highlighting the need for policy interventions to address these inequities. Governments face significant challenges in achieving universal health coverage due to inequalities experienced by financially vulnerable populations, including high out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceutical goods, informal charges, and regional disparities in healthcare financing administration.
PubMed: 38786461
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12101051 -
Implementation Science Communications May 2024Despite the critical need for comprehensive and effective chronic pain care, delivery of such care remains challenging. Group medical visits (GMVs) offer an innovative... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Despite the critical need for comprehensive and effective chronic pain care, delivery of such care remains challenging. Group medical visits (GMVs) offer an innovative and efficient model for providing comprehensive care for patients with chronic pain. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify barriers and facilitators (determinants) to implementing GMVs for adult patients with chronic pain.
METHODS
The review included peer-reviewed studies reporting findings on implementation of GMVs for chronic pain, inclusive of all study designs. Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched. Studies of individual appointments or group therapy were excluded. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to determine risk of bias. Data related to implementation determinants were extracted independently by two reviewers. Data synthesis was guided by the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
RESULTS
Thirty-three articles reporting on 25 studies met criteria for inclusion and included qualitative observational (n = 8), randomized controlled trial (n = 6), quantitative non-randomized (n = 9), quantitative descriptive (n = 3), and mixed methods designs (n = 7). The studies included in this review included a total of 2364 participants. Quality ratings were mixed, with qualitative articles receiving the highest quality ratings. Common multi-level determinants included the relative advantage of GMVs for chronic pain over other available models, the capability and motivation of clinicians, the cost of GMVs to patients and the health system, the need and opportunity of patients, the availability of resources and relational connections supporting recruitment and referral to GMVs within the clinic setting, and financing and policies within the outer setting.
CONCLUSIONS
Multi-level factors determine the implementation of GMVs for chronic pain. Future research is needed to investigate these determinants more thoroughly and to develop and test implementation strategies addressing these determinants to promote the scale-up of GMVs for patients with chronic pain.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021231310 .
PubMed: 38783388
DOI: 10.1186/s43058-024-00595-8 -
Campbell Systematic Reviews Jun 2024This is a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of research on mental health outcomes of abortion. Does abortion increase the risk of adverse mental health... (Review)
Review
This is a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of research on mental health outcomes of abortion. Does abortion increase the risk of adverse mental health outcomes? That is the central question for this review. Our review aims to inform policy and practice by locating, critically appraising, and synthesizing empirical evidence on associations between abortion and subsequent mental health outcomes. Given the controversies surrounding this topic and the complex social, political, legal, and ideological contexts in which research and reviews on abortion are conducted, it is especially important to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis with comprehensive, rigorous, unbiased, and transparent methods. We will include a variety of study designs to enhance understanding of studies' methodological strengths and weaknesses and to identify potential explanations for conflicting results. We will follow open science principles, providing access to our methods, measures, and results, and making data available for re-analysis.
PubMed: 38779333
DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1410 -
F1000Research 2024Health security as a domain has gained tremendous importance in the recent past. Emerging and re-emerging diseases globally, coupled with the derailment of the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Health security as a domain has gained tremendous importance in the recent past. Emerging and re-emerging diseases globally, coupled with the derailment of the determinants of health mainly the socio-political environment, has made health security a cross-cutting entity in diverse fields including International Relations (IR). With the ongoing global polycrisis, the health-related issues which were previously sidelined as a concept of less strategic importance in the IR field, are now contributing to the shift of the world order. This has instilled an increased participation of IR scholars in the discussions and debates on health security concerns. The field of IR contains numerous theoretical lenses through which scholars analyze such situations, policies, and systems of the world.
METHODS
In this paper, we use a scoping review method to inspect how IR theories have been applied in analyzing health security concerns.
RESULTS
We observed that various diverging IR theories have been used to deliberate on states' actions in tackling the recent pandemic and have also been prescriptive about the changing notions of multilateralism and international governing organizations. Realism, liberalism, and securitization were among the most frequently applied IR theories in the context of health security discussions.
CONCLUSIONS
This work provides an impetus to enhance the interaction among interdisciplinary teams leading to evolving solutions that can address issues of global importance in the contemporary world.
Topics: Humans; Diplomacy; Global Health; Internationality; International Cooperation
PubMed: 38779318
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.145568.1