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Monash Bioethics Review Apr 2024Research on gender and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) beyond women's biological susceptibility is limited. A gender and equity lens in AMR research is necessary to...
Research on gender and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) beyond women's biological susceptibility is limited. A gender and equity lens in AMR research is necessary to promote gender equality and support the effectiveness, uptake, and sustainability of real-world AMR solutions. We argue that it is an ethical and social justice imperative to include gender and related intersectional issues in AMR research and implementation. An intersectional exploration of the interplay between people's diverse identities and experiences, including their gender, socio-economic status, race, disability, age, and sexuality, may help us understand how these factors reinforce AMR risk and vulnerability and ensure that interventions to reduce the risk of AMR do not impact unevenly. This paper reports on the findings of a systematic scoping review on the interlinkages between AMR, gender and other socio-behavioural characteristics to identify priority knowledge gaps in human and animal health in LMICs. The review focused on peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2017 and 2022. Three overarching themes were gendered division of caregiving roles and responsibilities, gender power relations in decision-making, and interactions between gender norms and health-seeking behaviours. Research that fails to account for gender and its intersections with other lines of disadvantage, such as race, class and ability, risks being irrelevant and will have little impact on the continued and dangerous spread of AMR. We provide recommendations for integrating an intersectional gender lens in AMR research, policy and practice.
PubMed: 38676854
DOI: 10.1007/s40592-024-00194-2 -
BMC Medicine Apr 2024Various studies have demonstrated gender disparities in workplace settings and the need for further intervention. This study identifies and examines evidence from... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Various studies have demonstrated gender disparities in workplace settings and the need for further intervention. This study identifies and examines evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interventions examining gender equity in workplace or volunteer settings. An additional aim was to determine whether interventions considered intersection of gender and other variables, including PROGRESS-Plus equity variables (e.g., race/ethnicity).
METHODS
Scoping review conducted using the JBI guide. Literature was searched in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, ERIC, Index to Legal Periodicals and Books, PAIS Index, Policy Index File, and the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database from inception to May 9, 2022, with an updated search on October 17, 2022. Results were reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension to scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR), Sex and Gender Equity in Research (SAGER) guidance, Strengthening the Integration of Intersectionality Theory in Health Inequality Analysis (SIITHIA) checklist, and Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP) version 2 checklist. All employment or volunteer sectors settings were included. Included interventions were designed to promote workplace gender equity that targeted: (a) individuals, (b) organizations, or (c) systems. Any comparator was eligible. Outcomes measures included any gender equity related outcome, whether it was measuring intervention effectiveness (as defined by included studies) or implementation. Data analyses were descriptive in nature. As recommended in the JBI guide to scoping reviews, only high-level content analysis was conducted to categorize the interventions, which were reported using a previously published framework.
RESULTS
We screened 8855 citations, 803 grey literature sources, and 663 full-text articles, resulting in 24 unique RCTs and one companion report that met inclusion criteria. Most studies (91.7%) failed to report how they established sex or gender. Twenty-three of 24 (95.8%) studies reported at least one PROGRESS-Plus variable: typically sex or gender or occupation. Two RCTs (8.3%) identified a non-binary gender identity. None of the RCTs reported on relationships between gender and other characteristics (e.g., disability, age, etc.). We identified 24 gender equity promoting interventions in the workplace that were evaluated and categorized into one or more of the following themes: (i) quantifying gender impacts; (ii) behavioural or systemic changes; (iii) career flexibility; (iv) increased visibility, recognition, and representation; (v) creating opportunities for development, mentorship, and sponsorship; and (vi) financial support. Of these interventions, 20/24 (83.3%) had positive conclusion statements for their primary outcomes (e.g., improved academic productivity, increased self-esteem) across heterogeneous outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a paucity of literature on interventions to promote workplace gender equity. While some interventions elicited positive conclusions across a variety of outcomes, standardized outcome measures considering specific contexts and cultures are required. Few PROGRESS-Plus items were reported. Non-binary gender identities and issues related to intersectionality were not adequately considered. Future research should provide consistent and contemporary definitions of gender and sex.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Open Science Framework https://osf.io/x8yae .
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Gender Equity; Canada; Workplace; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38581003
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03346-7 -
International Journal of Clinical... Jun 2024To describe the efficacy of atropine in controlling salivary flow in patients with sialorrhea or drooling. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To describe the efficacy of atropine in controlling salivary flow in patients with sialorrhea or drooling.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We included randomized controlled studies, quasi-randomized trials, case reports, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses assessing the use of atropine in patients with sialorrhea or drooling. The endpoints were reduction in salivary flow rate, amount of saliva secreted, reduction in clinical symptoms of sialorrhea, death rattle intensity, or reduction in drooling intensity as measured by an objective scale such as the drooling intensity scale.
RESULTS
A total of 56 studies with 2,378 patients were included in the systematic review. The underlying disease states included brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, clozapine- and perphenazine-induced sialorrhea, Parkinson's disease, and terminal illness. The routes of atropine administration included sublingual, intravenous, subcutaneous, oral tablet or solution, and direct injection of atropine into parotid glands or at the base of the tongue. The generalized estimated equation regression models showed that sublingual administration is superior to oral and subcutaneous routes.
CONCLUSION
Atropine is efficacious in managing sialorrhea in most disease states. Sublingual administration of atropine is superior to other routes of administration in reducing salivary flow in patients with sialorrhea.
Topics: Sialorrhea; Humans; Atropine; Treatment Outcome; Salivation
PubMed: 38577753
DOI: 10.5414/CP204538 -
Australian and New Zealand Journal of... Apr 2024We aimed to evaluate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in research focusing on cancer experiences using an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quality... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in research focusing on cancer experiences using an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quality appraisal tool (the QAT).
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' experiences associated with cancer, recently published elsewhere. We then appraised articles for the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research, community consultation, and involvement.
RESULTS
91 articles were appraised. A lack of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research and consultation was reported in the majority of articles, only 10 (11%) demonstrated success across seven (50%) or more questions of the QAT.
CONCLUSIONS
This review underscores the need for anti-racist research and publication practices that actively engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and researchers. This approach is vital to enhance cancer outcomes within these communities.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
To advance and prioritise appropriate involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in cancer research, the onus must be on 'systems owners,' including academic journals and institutions, to require and report genuine engagement as standard practice. Researchers will produce higher-calibre research with a strengths-based focus, advancing the cause of equitable research.
Topics: Humans; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Neoplasms; Australia; Health Services, Indigenous; Biomedical Research; Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
PubMed: 38574430
DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100142 -
Current Pharmaceutical Design 2024The prognosis for primary brain tumors, like other CNS tumors, can vary greatly based on several factors, such as treatment history, age and gender at diagnosis, ethnic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prognosis for primary brain tumors, like other CNS tumors, can vary greatly based on several factors, such as treatment history, age and gender at diagnosis, ethnic background, and treatment plan.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic review approach was used to gather relevant data from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and other sources.
RESULTS
The survival rate of primary brain tumors and other CNS tumors appears to be correlated with several variables, including treatment history, gender, age at evaluation, race/ethnicity, and treatment regimen; this emphasizes the importance of routinely updating epidemiological data on primary brain tumors to advance biological understanding.
CONCLUSION
This study draws attention to the variations in the median survival times of the various kinds of primary brain tumors, with oligodendroglioma having the longest median survival time (199 months, or approximately 16.6 years) and glioblastoma having the shortest (8 months).
Topics: Humans; Brain Neoplasms; Survival Rate; Prognosis; Data Analysis; Glioblastoma
PubMed: 38571355
DOI: 10.2174/0113816128306113240328050608 -
Digital Health 2024Many clinical trials fail because of poor recruitment and enrollment which can directly impact the success of biomedical and clinical research outcomes. Options to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Many clinical trials fail because of poor recruitment and enrollment which can directly impact the success of biomedical and clinical research outcomes. Options to leverage digital technology for improving clinical trial management are expansive, with potential benefits for improving access to clinical trials, encouraging trial diversity and inclusion, and potential cost-savings through enhanced efficiency.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review has two key aims: (1) identify and describe the digital technologies applied in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment and (2) evaluate evidence of these technologies addressing the recruitment and enrollment of racial and ethnic minority groups.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-disciplinary review of articles from PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library, published in English between January 2012 and July 2022, using MeSH terms and keywords for digital health, clinical trials, and recruitment and enrollment. Articles unrelated to technology in the recruitment/enrollment process or those discussing recruitment/enrollment without technology aspects were excluded.
RESULTS
The review returned 614 results, with 21 articles (four reviews and 17 original research articles) deemed suitable for inclusion after screening and full-text review. To address the first objective, various digital technologies were identified and characterized, which included articles with more than one technology subcategory including (a) multimedia presentations (19%, = 4); (b) mobile applications (14%, = 3); (c) social media platforms (29%, = 6); (d) machine learning and computer algorithms (19%, = 4); (e) e-consenting (24%, = 5); (f) blockchain (5%, = 1); (g) web-based programs (24%, = 5); and (h) virtual messaging (24%, = 5). Additionally, subthemes, including specific diseases or conditions addressed, privacy and regulatory concerns, cost/benefit analyses, and ethnic and minority recruitment considerations, were identified and discussed. Limited research was found to support a particular technology's effectiveness in racial and ethnic minority recruitment and enrollment.
CONCLUSION
Results from this review illustrate that several types of technology are currently being explored and utilized in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment stages. However, evidence supporting the use of digital technologies is varied and requires further research and evaluation to identify the most valuable opportunities for encouraging diversity in clinical trial recruitment and enrollment practices.
PubMed: 38559578
DOI: 10.1177/20552076241242390 -
Cureus Feb 2024The field of forensic anthropology is characterised by its ongoing development and growth. Forensic anatomy is a burgeoning discipline that focuses on the analysis and... (Review)
Review
The field of forensic anthropology is characterised by its ongoing development and growth. Forensic anatomy is a burgeoning discipline that focuses on the analysis and identification of both preserved and unpreserved human body parts, both in deceased individuals and the living. This subject plays a crucial role in establishing the four key factors of forensic anthropology, namely sex, age, race, and height. The objective of this research endeavour was to evaluate the significance of anatomical information in the process of forensic age estimation. The researchers established the inclusion criteria in accordance with the globally recognised Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome(PICOS) framework, as advised by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The research included many methodologies in order to ascertain the age. Upon conducting a comprehensive review of the existing literature pertaining to anatomical knowledge in the field of forensic age estimate, we have identified many notable applications. These include the utilisation of various anatomical features such as the dental pulp chamber, fingerprints, acetabulum, sternal end of the fourth rib, as well as hand and wrist bones for the purpose of age estimation. It is important for anatomists and other forensic scientists to engage in collaborative efforts to facilitate the exchange of ideas and ensure thorough investigations. This cooperation is particularly crucial in areas where anatomical sciences play a significant role in forensic science and investigation. Nevertheless, in order to mitigate the potential for estimating error, it is still advisable to use a multi-factorial evaluation approach that involves examining many body areas.
PubMed: 38550461
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55080 -
The Australian Journal of Rural Health Jun 2024To systematically review evaluated local, community or peer-delivered well-being and employment interventions delivered within regional, rural and remote Australia. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review evaluated local, community or peer-delivered well-being and employment interventions delivered within regional, rural and remote Australia.
DESIGN
Searches within nine databases retrieved peer-reviewed and grey literature from an initial pool of 3186 papers published between 2012 and 2022. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the well-being or employment (or both) articles.
FINDINGS
A total of 19 items met the inclusion criteria, which included two quantitative, 12 qualitative and five mixed-methods evaluations. Intervention cohorts included Indigenous Australians, youth, older people, workers and the general community. The average methodological rating was 83%. The overall level of evidence for the interventions was low due to mostly descriptive studies.
DISCUSSION
Interventions that appeared effective in improving well-being tended to focus on addressing social connectedness and self-determination. Unexpected employment outcomes were evident across many of the studies, which highlighted the reciprocity between well-being and employment.
CONCLUSION
This review highlights promising interventions for improving well-being by focusing on social connectedness and self-determination. Further empirical evidence is encouraged to explore the reciprocal relationship between well-being and employment, emphasising the significance of social connectedness and self-determination in this context.
Topics: Humans; Australia; Employment; Rural Population; Peer Group; Female; Male; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
PubMed: 38544339
DOI: 10.1111/ajr.13113 -
Preventive Medicine May 2024Models simulating the potential impacts of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have been used globally to guide vaccination policies and programs. We sought to understand... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Models simulating the potential impacts of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have been used globally to guide vaccination policies and programs. We sought to understand how and why marginalized populations have been incorporated into HPV vaccine simulation models.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Embase to identify studies using simulation models of HPV vaccination incorporating one or more marginalized population through stratification or subgroup analysis. We extracted data on study characteristics and described these overall and by included marginalized groups.
RESULTS
We identified 36 studies that met inclusion criteria, which modeled vaccination in 21 countries. Models included men who have sex with men (MSM; k = 16), stratification by HIV status (k = 9), race/ethnicity (k = 6), poverty (k = 5), rurality (k = 4), and female sex workers (k = 1). When evaluating for a marginalized group (k = 10), HPV vaccination was generally found to be cost-effective, including for MSM, individuals living with HIV, and rural populations. In studies evaluating equity in cancer prevention (k = 9), HPV vaccination generally advanced equity, but this was sensitive to differences in HPV vaccine uptake and use of absolute or relative measures of inequities. Only one study assessed the impact of an intervention promoting HPV vaccine uptake.
DISCUSSION
Incorporating marginalized populations into decision models can provide valuable insights to guide decision making and improve equity in cancer prevention. More research is needed to understand the equity impact of HPV vaccination on cancer outcomes among marginalized groups. Research should emphasize implementation - including identifying and evaluating specific interventions to increase HPV vaccine uptake.
PubMed: 38522627
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107941 -
Journal of Sport Rehabilitation Mar 2024Concussion evaluations include a multifaceted approach; however, individual differences can influence test score interpretations and validity. Social determinants of...
CONTEXT
Concussion evaluations include a multifaceted approach; however, individual differences can influence test score interpretations and validity. Social determinants of health (SDoH) differentially affect disease risk and outcomes based upon social and environmental characteristics. Efforts to better define, diagnose, manage, and treat concussion have increased, but minimal efforts have focused on examining SDoH that may affect concussion recovery.
OBJECTIVE
This review examined previous research that examined the effect of SDoH on concussion recovery of athletes.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and SPORTDiscus databases were used to search the terms "concussion" AND "recovery," "youth, adolescent, teen and/or adult," and "social determinants of health" and variations of these terms. The evidence level for each study was evaluated using the 2011 Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Guide.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
Seven thousand nine hundred and twenty-one articles were identified and screened for inclusion. Five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Using the Downs and Black Quality Index, the studies included in this review were deemed high quality.
CONCLUSION
Though limited literature exists, there is preliminary evidence to suggest that SDoH (specifically, economic stability, education access and quality, and social and community context) may have an impact on the clinical recovery from concussion. The dimensions evaluated varied between studies and the results were inconsistent. No single factor consistently affected clinical recovery; however, private insurance and race appear to have an association with the speed of recovery. Unfortunately, the potential intersection of these variables and other preinjury factors limits the ability to make clear recommendations. While most of the studies in this review are retrospective in nature, future efforts should focus on training clinicians to prospectively evaluate the effect of SDoH on concussion recovery and injury outcomes. Funding and registration for this systematic review were not obtained nor required.
PubMed: 38508176
DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2023-0068