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Disability and Rehabilitation Jun 2024Cognitive communication impairments resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI) impact a person's ability to return to and maintain employment. This study reviews the... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Cognitive communication impairments resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI) impact a person's ability to return to and maintain employment. This study reviews the assessment of cognitive communication skills for return to work after injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A scoping review was conducted. Key search terms included brain injury, cognitive communication, work and their synonyms. Studies were included if participants had an ABI diagnosis, were at least 16 years old, mentioned vocational rehabilitation or return to work, and cognition or cognitive communication.
RESULTS
A total of 692 studies were identified through database searches with an additional 18 articles found through handsearching. Fourteen articles were included in the final review. Measures, most included in studies target discrete skills when aligned to the Model of Cognitive Communication Competence. The Individual and Contextual Domains of the model were not well represented and there were limited measures able to capture self or other reported data.
CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of cognitive communication skills for returning to work following ABI requires an individualised and contextualised approach. This study highlights a gap between key clinical models and measures reported in the current literature. Further research into clinical practice is required.
PubMed: 38847488
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2356683 -
Advances in Ophthalmology Practice and... 2024The convergence of smartphone technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the landscape of ophthalmic care, offering unprecedented opportunities for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The convergence of smartphone technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the landscape of ophthalmic care, offering unprecedented opportunities for diagnosis, monitoring, and management of ocular conditions. Nevertheless, there is a lack of systematic studies on discussing the integration of smartphone and AI in this field.
MAIN TEXT
This review includes 52 studies, and explores the integration of smartphones and AI in ophthalmology, delineating its collective impact on screening methodologies, disease detection, telemedicine initiatives, and patient management. The collective findings from the curated studies indicate promising performance of the smartphone-based AI screening for various ocular diseases which encompass major retinal diseases, glaucoma, cataract, visual impairment in children and ocular surface diseases. Moreover, the utilization of smartphone-based imaging modalities, coupled with AI algorithms, is able to provide timely, efficient and cost-effective screening for ocular pathologies. This modality can also facilitate patient self-monitoring, remote patient monitoring and enhancing accessibility to eye care services, particularly in underserved regions. Challenges involving data privacy, algorithm validation, regulatory frameworks and issues of trust are still need to be addressed. Furthermore, evaluation on real-world implementation is imperative as well, and real-world prospective studies are currently lacking.
CONCLUSIONS
Smartphone ocular imaging merged with AI enables earlier, precise diagnoses, personalized treatments, and enhanced service accessibility in eye care. Collaboration is crucial to navigate ethical and data security challenges while responsibly leveraging these innovations, promising a potential revolution in care access and global eye health equity.
PubMed: 38846624
DOI: 10.1016/j.aopr.2024.03.003 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are at risk for a range of developmental disabilities that challenge cognition, executive functioning, self-regulation,...
BACKGROUND
Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are at risk for a range of developmental disabilities that challenge cognition, executive functioning, self-regulation, communication, social-emotional functioning, and motor skills. Ongoing developmental surveillance is therefore key to maximizing neurodevelopmental outcome opportunities. It is crucial that the measures used cover the spectrum of neurodevelopmental domains relevant to capturing possible predictors and malleable factors of child development.
OBJECTIVES
This work aimed to synthesize the literature on neurodevelopmental measures and the corresponding developmental domains assessed in children aged 1-8 years with complex CHD.
METHODS
PubMed was searched for terms relating to psycho-social, cognitive and linguistic-communicative outcomes in children with CHD. 1,380 papers with a focus on complex CHD that reported neurodevelopmental assessments were identified; ultimately, data from 78 articles that used standardized neurodevelopmental assessment tools were extracted.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine (50%) of these excluded children with syndromes, and 9 (12%) excluded children with disorders of intellectual development. 10% of the studies were longitudinal. The neurodevelopmental domains addressed by the methods used were: 53% cognition, 16% psychosocial functioning, 18% language/communication/speech production, and 13% motor development-associated constructs.
CONCLUSIONS
Data on social communication, expressive and receptive language, speech motor, and motor function are underrepresented. There is a lack of research into everyday use of language and into measures assessing language and communication early in life. Overall, longitudinal studies are required that include communication measures and their interrelations with other developmental domains.
PubMed: 38846331
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1340495 -
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Jun 2024Children living in poverty are at an increased risk for maltreatment. Social safety net (SSN) programs with anti-poverty objectives may reduce child maltreatment through... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Children living in poverty are at an increased risk for maltreatment. Social safety net (SSN) programs with anti-poverty objectives may reduce child maltreatment through pathways such as reduced food insecurity, lessened caregiver stress, and improved caregiving behaviors and ability to meet children's basic needs. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of evidence on the ability of SSN programs to reduce child maltreatment in the United States (US).
METHODS
This systematic review was conducted using PRISMA protocol. Among studies published between 1996-2022, the initial search returned 1,873 articles, and 27 papers were included in the final analysis. Abstracts were identified primarily on June 24, 2022, and extraction and synthesis of data was conducted in 2022-2023.
RESULTS
Of the 27 papers assessed, 16 studies found that SSN programs were protective against child maltreatment. Three of the reviewed studies found no effect of safety net programs, four studies presented mixed findings, and four studies found adverse impacts in terms of child maltreatment outcomes. When restricting to high-quality studies only, 10 out of 12 found protective impacts and none found adverse impacts on child maltreatment.
DISCUSSION
SSNs are associated with protective effects against child maltreatment. Expansion of SSN programs would likely have positive benefits beyond poverty-related objectives, including reducing incidence of child maltreatment.
PubMed: 38844145
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.05.019 -
Physical Therapy in Sport : Official... Jun 2024The aim of this review is to synthesise qualitative studies examining adolescents' experience with pain and injury arising from sports participation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to synthesise qualitative studies examining adolescents' experience with pain and injury arising from sports participation.
METHODS
This review was registered on Open Science Framework prior to data extraction. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus was conducted. Studies were appraised using the CASP (critical appraisal skills programme) checklist. Data was synthesised using a meta aggregation.
STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA
Inclusion criteria included studies related to adolescents aged 14-19yrs with sports related pain/injury, employed a qualitative design, full text publications in English.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies of 216 participants were included. Studies investigated severe knee injuries, concussion, or other musculoskeletal injuries. Synthesised findings show that, regardless of injury type, adolescents experience a mix of positive (motivation to rehab and return to sport, optimism) and negative emotions (fear of re-injury, isolation, depressive responses) throughout recovery. Common coping strategies were to ignore symptoms, modify activity levels, or seek support.
CONCLUSION
Sports-related pain and injury has a multifaceted effect on the adolescent athlete. There is a pervasive fear of re-injury and social isolation, but the desire to return to sports is facilitated through motivation and support. Peer motivation effects the willingness of the adolescent to persist with rehabilitation.
PubMed: 38843686
DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2024.05.003 -
Aging & Mental Health Jun 2024This systematic review aims to advance the understanding of the complicated effects of segregation on older adults' cognition and provide guidance for future research.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review aims to advance the understanding of the complicated effects of segregation on older adults' cognition and provide guidance for future research.
METHOD
A systematic review using the Social Determinants of Health framework to examine the relationship between segregation and cognition across the selected literature.
RESULTS
Eight papers met the criteria for inclusion. All selected studies examined the influence of living in a segregated area on older adults' cognition, covering older adults from different racial/ethnic groups. The association between segregation and cognition was found in different directions across different racial/ethnic groups. The effects can be varied depending on race/ethnicity, level of education, neighborhood socioeconomic status, or social context.
CONCLUSION
This review identified existing gaps in understanding the relationship between segregation and cognition. Future studies should carefully adopt the segregation measures, acknowledge the varying segregation experience among different racial/ethnic groups, and consider more social determinant factors in research.
PubMed: 38840518
DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2360016 -
PloS One 2024Primary and review studies show that supported employment interventions showed promise in assisting people with severe mental illness (SMI) in achieving successful...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Primary and review studies show that supported employment interventions showed promise in assisting people with severe mental illness (SMI) in achieving successful employment and health-related outcomes. This umbrella review synthesises evidence from across review studies on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, to identify key findings and implementation challenges in relation to five key outcomes: (1) employment, (2) quality of life, (3) social functioning, (4) clinical/service utilisation, and (5) economic outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic search of eleven databases and registers (CINAHL, Cochrane, EmCare, JBI EBP, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and Prospero and Campbell) was conducted to identify meta-analyses and systematic reviews on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, peer reviewed and published in English. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed using standardised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. A mixed-methods synthesis approach was employed to integrate both quantitative and qualitative evidence.
RESULTS
The synthesis of 26 review studies primarily focused on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model among various supported employment interventions. Overall, combining supported employment with targeted interventions such as neurocognitive therapy and job-related social skill training showed a positive effect on employment (including job retention) and non-employment outcomes (e.g., health, quality of life, social functioning) relative to standard forms of supported employment for people with SMI. Contextual factors (intervention fidelity, settings, systemic barriers) were important considerations for intervention implementation and effectiveness.
DISCUSSION
Significant overlap of primary studies across 26 review studies exposed considerable variations in interpretation and conclusions drawn by authors, raising questions about their reliability. High volume of overlap reporting from the USA on IPS interventions in review studies is likely to have biased perceptions of effectiveness. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting individuals with SMI in obtaining and maintaining employment. Tailoring strategies based on individual needs and circumstances appears crucial to address the complexity of mental health recovery. We propose creating centralised registries or databases to monitor primary studies included in reviews, thus avoiding redundancy.
OTHER
This umbrella study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023431191).
Topics: Humans; Employment, Supported; Mental Disorders; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38838025
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304527 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2024Mental health problems contribute significantly to the overall disease burden worldwide and are major causes of disability, suicide, and ischaemic heart disease. People... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mental health problems contribute significantly to the overall disease burden worldwide and are major causes of disability, suicide, and ischaemic heart disease. People with bipolar disorder report lower levels of physical activity than the general population, and are at greater risk of chronic health conditions including cardiovascular disease and obesity. These contribute to poor health outcomes. Physical activity has the potential to improve quality of life and physical and mental well-being.
OBJECTIVES
To identify the factors that influence participation in physical activity for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder from the perspectives of service users, carers, service providers, and practitioners to help inform the design and implementation of interventions that promote physical activity.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and eight other databases to March 2021. We also contacted experts in the field, searched the grey literature, and carried out reference checking and citation searching to identify additional studies. There were no language restrictions.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included qualitative studies and mixed-methods studies with an identifiable qualitative component. We included studies that focused on the experiences and attitudes of service users, carers, service providers, and healthcare professionals towards physical activity for bipolar disorder.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We extracted data using a data extraction form designed for this review. We assessed methodological limitations using a list of predefined questions. We used the "best fit" framework synthesis based on a revised version of the Health Belief Model to analyse and present the evidence. We assessed methodological limitations using the CASP Qualitative Checklist. We used the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) guidance to assess our confidence in each finding. We examined each finding to identify factors to inform the practice of health and care professionals and the design and development of physical activity interventions for people with bipolar disorder.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 12 studies involving a total of 592 participants (422 participants who contributed qualitative data to an online survey, 170 participants in qualitative research studies). Most studies explored the views and experiences of physical activity of people with experience of bipolar disorder. A number of studies also reported on personal experiences of physical activity components of lifestyle interventions. One study included views from family carers and clinicians. The majority of studies were from high-income countries, with only one study conducted in a middle-income country. Most participants were described as stable and had been living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder for a number of years. We downgraded our confidence in several of the findings from high confidence to moderate or low confidence, as some findings were based on only small amounts of data, and the findings were based on studies from only a few countries, questioning the relevance of these findings to other settings. We also had very few perspectives of family members, other carers, or health professionals supporting people with bipolar disorder. The studies did not include any findings from service providers about their perspectives on supporting this aspect of care. There were a number of factors that limited people's ability to undertake physical activity. Shame and stigma about one's physical appearance and mental health diagnosis were discussed. Some people felt their sporting skills/competencies had been lost when they left school. Those who had been able to maintain exercise through the transition into adulthood appeared to be more likely to include physical activity in their regular routine. Physical health limits and comorbid health conditions limited activity. This included bipolar medication, being overweight, smoking, alcohol use, poor diet and sleep, and these barriers were linked to negative coping skills. Practical problems included affordability, accessibility, transport links, and the weather. Workplace or health schemes that offered discounts were viewed positively. The lack of opportunity for exercise within inpatient mental health settings was a problem. Facilitating factors included being psychologically stable and ready to adopt new lifestyle behaviours. There were positive benefits of being active outdoors and connecting with nature. Achieving balance, rhythm, and routine helped to support mood management. Fitting physical activity into a regular routine despite fluctuating mood or motivation appeared to be beneficial if practised at the right intensity and pace. Over- or under-exercising could be counterproductive and accelerate depressive or manic moods. Physical activity also helped to provide a structure to people's daily routines and could lead to other positive lifestyle benefits. Monitoring physical or other activities could be an effective way to identify potential triggers or early warning signs. Technology was helpful for some. People who had researched bipolar disorder and had developed a better understanding of the condition showed greater confidence in managing their care or providing care to others. Social support from friends/family or health professionals was an enabling factor, as was finding the right type of exercise, which for many people was walking. Other benefits included making social connections, weight loss, improved quality of life, and better mood regulation. Few people had been told of the benefits of physical activity. Better education and training of health professionals could support a more holistic approach to physical and mental well-being. Involving mental health professionals in the multidisciplinary delivery of physical activity interventions could be beneficial and improve care. Clear guidelines could help people to initiate and incorporate lifestyle changes.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is very little research focusing on factors that influence participation in physical activity in bipolar disorder. The studies we identified suggest that men and women with bipolar disorder face a range of obstacles and challenges to being active. The evidence also suggests that there are effective ways to promote managed physical activity. The research highlighted the important role that health and care settings, and professionals, can play in assessing individuals' physical health needs and how healthy lifestyles may be promoted. Based on these findings, we have provided a summary of key elements to consider for developing physical activity interventions for bipolar disorder.
Topics: Humans; Bias; Bipolar Disorder; Caregivers; Exercise; Health Personnel; Qualitative Research; Quality of Life; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Meta-Analysis as Topic
PubMed: 38837220
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013557.pub2 -
Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and... 2024Ethnic minority groups in high income countries in North America, Europe, and elsewhere are disproportionately affected by T2DM with a higher risk of mortality and...
OBJECTIVE
Ethnic minority groups in high income countries in North America, Europe, and elsewhere are disproportionately affected by T2DM with a higher risk of mortality and morbidity. The use of community health workers and peer supporters offer a way of ensuring the benefits of self-management support observed in the general population are shared by those in minoritized communities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The major databases were searched for existing qualitative evidence of participants' experiences and perspectives of self-management support for type 2 diabetes delivered by community health workers and peer supporters (CHWPs) in ethnically minoritized populations. The data were analysed using Sekhon's Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.
RESULTS
The results are described within five domains of the framework of acceptability collapsed from seven for reasons of clarity and concision: described participants' satisfaction with CHWPs delivering the intervention including the open, trusting relationships that developed in contrast to those with clinical providers. In considering and , participants reflected on the impact of health, transport, and the responsibilities of work and childcare on their attendance, alongside a lack of resources necessary to maintain healthy diets and active lifestyles. In relation to participants appreciated the greater understanding of the specific cultural needs and challenges exhibited by CHWPs. The evidence related to indicated that participants responded positively to the practical and applied content, the range of teaching materials, and interactive practical sessions. Finally, in examining the impact of participants described how they changed a range of health-related behaviours, had more confidence in dealing with their condition and interacting with senior clinicians and benefitted from the social support of fellow participants and CHWPs.
CONCLUSION
Many of the same barriers around attendance and engagement with usual self-management support interventions delivered to general populations were observed, including lack of time and resource. However, the insight of CHWPs, their culturally-sensitive and specific strategies for self-management and their development of trusting relationships presented considerable advantages.
PubMed: 38836261
DOI: 10.3389/fcdhc.2024.1306199 -
Psychology Research and Behavior... 2024Speech disorders profoundly impact the overall quality of life by impeding social operations and hindering effective communication. This study addresses the gap in... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Speech disorders profoundly impact the overall quality of life by impeding social operations and hindering effective communication. This study addresses the gap in systematic reviews concerning machine learning-based assistive technology for individuals with speech disorders. The overarching purpose is to offer a comprehensive overview of the field through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and provide valuable insights into the landscape of ML-based solutions and related studies.
METHODS
The research employs a systematic approach, utilizing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology. The study extensively examines the existing literature on machine learning-based assistive technology for speech disorders. Specific attention is given to ML techniques, characteristics of exploited datasets in the training phase, speaker languages, feature extraction techniques, and the features employed by ML algorithms.
ORIGINALITY
This study contributes to the existing literature by systematically exploring the machine learning landscape in assistive technology for speech disorders. The originality lies in the focused investigation of ML-speech recognition for impaired speech disorder users over ten years (2014-2023). The emphasis on systematic research questions related to ML techniques, dataset characteristics, languages, feature extraction techniques, and feature sets adds a unique and comprehensive perspective to the current discourse.
FINDINGS
The systematic literature review identifies significant trends and critical studies published between 2014 and 2023. In the analysis of the 65 papers from prestigious journals, support vector machines and neural networks (CNN, DNN) were the most utilized ML technique (20%, 16.92%), with the most studied disease being Dysarthria (35/65, 54% studies). Furthermore, an upsurge in using neural network-based architectures, mainly CNN and DNN, was observed after 2018. Almost half of the included studies were published between 2021 and 2022).
PubMed: 38835654
DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S460283