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Psychological Assessment Feb 2023The seven-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale (HADS-D) and the total score of the 14-item HADS (HADS-T) are both used for major depression... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Comparison of the accuracy of the 7-item HADS Depression subscale and 14-item total HADS for screening for major depression: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.
The seven-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Depression subscale (HADS-D) and the total score of the 14-item HADS (HADS-T) are both used for major depression screening. Compared to the HADS-D, the HADS-T includes anxiety items and requires more time to complete. We compared the screening accuracy of the HADS-D and HADS-T for major depression detection. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis and fit bivariate random effects models to assess diagnostic accuracy among participants with both HADS-D and HADS-T scores. We identified optimal cutoffs, estimated sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals, and compared screening accuracy across paired cutoffs via two-stage and individual-level models. We used a 0.05 equivalence margin to assess equivalency in sensitivity and specificity. 20,700 participants (2,285 major depression cases) from 98 studies were included. Cutoffs of ≥7 for the HADS-D (sensitivity 0.79 [0.75, 0.83], specificity 0.78 [0.75, 0.80]) and ≥15 for the HADS-T (sensitivity 0.79 [0.76, 0.82], specificity 0.81 [0.78, 0.83]) minimized the distance to the top-left corner of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Across all sets of paired cutoffs evaluated, differences of sensitivity between HADS-T and HADS-D ranged from -0.05 to 0.01 (0.00 at paired optimal cutoffs), and differences of specificity were within 0.03 for all cutoffs (0.02-0.03). The pattern was similar among outpatients, although the HADS-T was slightly (not nonequivalently) more specific among inpatients. The accuracy of HADS-T was equivalent to the HADS-D for detecting major depression. In most settings, the shorter HADS-D would be preferred. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Topics: Humans; Depressive Disorder, Major; Depression; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Sensitivity and Specificity; Anxiety; Mass Screening
PubMed: 36689386
DOI: 10.1037/pas0001181 -
BMC Geriatrics Jun 2015Population screening might provide a mechanism to enable early detection of dementia. Yet the potential benefits, harms or acceptability of such a large-scale... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Population screening might provide a mechanism to enable early detection of dementia. Yet the potential benefits, harms or acceptability of such a large-scale intervention are not well understood. This research aims to examine the attitudes and preferences of the general public, health care professionals, people with dementia and their carers towards population screening for dementia.
METHODS
A systematic review of the international literature was undertaken. A search of fifteen bibliographic databases was conducted (up to 12 July 2012; no language restriction) using terms related to dementia, screening, specific screening tools, case finding, and attitudes and preferences; genetic screening and biomarkers were excluded. All study designs were included except opinion-based papers. Included papers were doubly quality assessed and thematically analysed using NVivo.
RESULTS
29,910 papers were identified of which 29 met the inclusion criteria. We identified seventeen themes relating to the 3 phases of the screening process (pre-, in- and post-screen) - none emerged as more of a facilitator than a barrier to the acceptance of dementia screening. Seven themes emerged in relation to the patient, carer and general population: existing health state; lifestyle and life view; awareness of dementia; role of clinician; communication; benefit; and role of the family. Ten themes emerged in relation to the clinician and healthcare professional: patient's existing health and comorbidities; awareness of dementia; confidence; duration of patient contact; suitability of screening tool; cost; disclosure; time; treatment and prognosis; and stigma.
CONCLUSIONS
As for all screening programmes, screening for dementia raises complex issues around preference and choice for clinicians and the public, and it is unclear what specific factors promote or reduce screening acceptance the most. Overall, the level of evidence is low, few large scale studies have been undertaken and none were conducted in representative samples, all affecting the generalizability of identified themes across healthcare contexts. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that population screening for dementia may not be acceptable to either the general public or health care professionals, and highlight where focused efforts are needed to gain insights into dementia specific issues.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Dementia; Humans; Mass Screening; Patient Preference
PubMed: 26076729
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-015-0064-6 -
Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung Sep 2022The majority of individuals with clinically significant obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are undiagnosed and untreated. A simple screening tool may support risk... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
The majority of individuals with clinically significant obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are undiagnosed and untreated. A simple screening tool may support risk stratification, identification, and appropriate management of at-risk patients. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated and compared the accuracy and clinical utility of existing screening questionnaires for identifying OSA in different clinical cohorts.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies assessing the diagnostic value of OSA screening questionnaires. We identified prospective studies, validated against polysomnography, and published to December 2020 from online databases. To pool the results, we used random effects bivariate binomial meta-analysis.
RESULTS
We included 38 studies across three clinical cohorts in the meta-analysis. In the sleep clinic cohort, the Berlin questionnaire's pooled sensitivity for apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥ 5, ≥ 15, and ≥ 30 was 85%, 84%, and 89%, and pooled specificity was 43%, 30%, and 33%, respectively. The STOP questionnaire's pooled sensitivity for AHI ≥ 5, ≥ 15, and ≥ 30 was 90%, 90%, and 95%, and pooled specificity was 31%, 29%, and 21%. The pooled sensitivity of the STOP-Bang questionnaire for AHI ≥ 5, ≥ 15, and ≥ 30 was 92%, 95%, and 96%, and pooled specificity was 35%, 27%, and 28%. In the surgical cohort (AHI ≥ 15), the Berlin and STOP-Bang questionnaires' pooled sensitivity were 76% and 90% and pooled specificity 47% and 27%.
CONCLUSION
Among the identified questionnaires, the STOP-Bang questionnaire had the highest sensitivity to detect OSA but lacked specificity. Subgroup analysis considering other at-risk populations was not possible. Our observations are limited by the low certainty level in available data.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Mass Screening; Polysomnography; Prospective Studies; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34406554
DOI: 10.1007/s11325-021-02450-9 -
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology &... 2016Introduction. The objectives of this systematic review were to evaluate the evidence for different CRC screening tests and to determine the most appropriate ages of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Introduction. The objectives of this systematic review were to evaluate the evidence for different CRC screening tests and to determine the most appropriate ages of initiation and cessation for CRC screening and the most appropriate screening intervals for selected CRC screening tests in people at average risk for CRC. Methods. Electronic databases were searched for studies that addressed the research objectives. Meta-analyses were conducted with clinically homogenous trials. A working group reviewed the evidence to develop conclusions. Results. Thirty RCTs and 29 observational studies were included. Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) prevented CRC and led to the largest reduction in CRC mortality with a smaller but significant reduction in CRC mortality with the use of guaiac fecal occult blood tests (gFOBTs). There was insufficient or low quality evidence to support the use of other screening tests, including colonoscopy, as well as changing the ages of initiation and cessation for CRC screening with gFOBTs in Ontario. Either annual or biennial screening using gFOBT reduces CRC-related mortality. Conclusion. The evidentiary base supports the use of FS or FOBT (either annual or biennial) to screen patients at average risk for CRC. This work will guide the development of the provincial CRC screening program.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Colonoscopy; Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Observational Studies as Topic; Occult Blood; Ontario; Patient Selection; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Sigmoidoscopy; Time Factors
PubMed: 27597935
DOI: 10.1155/2016/2878149 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research May 2021Nearly 90% of deaths due to cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In recent years, many digital health strategies have been implemented in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Nearly 90% of deaths due to cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In recent years, many digital health strategies have been implemented in LMICs to ameliorate patient-, provider-, and health system-level challenges in cervical cancer control. However, there are limited efforts to systematically review the effectiveness and current landscape of digital health strategies for cervical cancer control in LMICs.
OBJECTIVE
We aim to conduct a systematic review of digital health strategies for cervical cancer control in LMICs to assess their effectiveness, describe the range of strategies used, and summarize challenges in their implementation.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted to identify publications describing digital health strategies for cervical cancer control in LMICs from 5 academic databases and Google Scholar. The review excluded digital strategies associated with improving vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus. Titles and abstracts were screened, and full texts were reviewed for eligibility. A structured data extraction template was used to summarize the information from the included studies. The risk of bias and data reporting guidelines for mobile health were assessed for each study. A meta-analysis of effectiveness was planned along with a narrative review of digital health strategies, implementation challenges, and opportunities for future research.
RESULTS
In the 27 included studies, interventions for cervical cancer control focused on secondary prevention (ie, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions) and digital health strategies to facilitate patient education, digital cervicography, health worker training, and data quality. Most of the included studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer studies in other LMIC settings in Asia or South America. A low risk of bias was found in 2 studies, and a moderate risk of bias was found in 4 studies, while the remaining 21 studies had a high risk of bias. A meta-analysis of effectiveness was not conducted because of insufficient studies with robust study designs and matched outcomes or interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
Current evidence on the effectiveness of digital health strategies for cervical cancer control is limited and, in most cases, is associated with a high risk of bias. Further studies are recommended to expand the investigation of digital health strategies for cervical cancer using robust study designs, explore other LMIC settings with a high burden of cervical cancer (eg, South America), and test a greater diversity of digital strategies.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Income; Mass Screening; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
PubMed: 34042592
DOI: 10.2196/23350 -
CoDAS 2014To perform a systematic review of screening instruments for dysphagia available in the literature. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To perform a systematic review of screening instruments for dysphagia available in the literature.
METHODS
For the selection of studies, the following descriptors were used: "questionários", "questionnaires", "transtornos de deglutição", "deglutition disorders", "programas de rastreamento", and "mass screening". The online databases used for the research were Virtual Health Library (LILACS, IBECS, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SciELO) and PubMed. The research was performed from April to June 2013. Selection criteria articles in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, regardless of the year of publication, whose title, abstract, or text had any relation to the purpose of the research. After reading the articles in their entirety, identification data and method of the articles were extracted for later analysis.
RESULTS
The research carried out from the proposed descriptors produced 1,012 articles. After reviewing the titles, summaries, and fully reading the articles, 20 studies were chosen. The publications on instruments for the identification of dysphagic patients started in 1999, and 50% of the analyzed studies were carried out in the USA. The methods used on the instruments were questionnaires, observation of patient's clinical signals and symptoms, the request for execution of some orofacial movements, and swallowing test with water or food.
CONCLUSION
Screening instruments in dysphagia are fairly heterogeneous and have been developed for different audiences with the main objective of identifying patients with swallowing disorders.
Topics: Deglutition Disorders; Humans; Mass Screening; Sensitivity and Specificity; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 25388065
DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20142014057 -
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases May 2017Tuberculosis is over-represented in hard-to-reach (underserved) populations in high-income countries of low tuberculosis incidence. The mainstay of tuberculosis care is... (Review)
Review
Effectiveness of interventions for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations in countries of low and medium tuberculosis incidence: a systematic review.
Tuberculosis is over-represented in hard-to-reach (underserved) populations in high-income countries of low tuberculosis incidence. The mainstay of tuberculosis care is early detection of active tuberculosis (case finding), contact tracing, and treatment completion. We did a systematic review with a scoping component of relevant studies published between 1990 and 2015 to update and extend previous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reviews on the effectiveness of interventions for identifying and managing tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations. The analyses showed that tuberculosis screening by (mobile) chest radiography improved screening coverage and tuberculosis identification, reduced diagnostic delay, and was cost-effective among several hard-to-reach populations. Sputum culture for pre-migration screening and active referral to a tuberculosis clinic improved identification. Furthermore, monetary incentives improved tuberculosis identification and management among drug users and homeless people. Enhanced case management, good cooperation between services, and directly observed therapy improved treatment outcome and compliance. Strong conclusions cannot be drawn because of the heterogeneity of evidence with regard to study population, methodology, and quality.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Users; Global Health; Ill-Housed Persons; Humans; Mass Screening; Motivation; Transients and Migrants; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 28291722
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30532-1 -
European Journal of Human Genetics :... Jun 2017Researchers and clinicians refer to outcomes of genomic testing that extend beyond clinical utility as 'personal utility'. No systematic delineation of personal utility... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Researchers and clinicians refer to outcomes of genomic testing that extend beyond clinical utility as 'personal utility'. No systematic delineation of personal utility exists, making it challenging to appreciate its scope. Identifying empirical elements of personal utility reported in the literature offers an inventory that can be subsequently ranked for its relative value by those who have undergone genomic testing. A systematic review was conducted of the peer-reviewed literature reporting non-health-related outcomes of genomic testing from 1 January 2003 to 5 August 2016. Inclusion criteria specified English language, date of publication, and presence of empirical evidence. Identified outcomes were iteratively coded into unique domains. The search returned 551 abstracts from which 31 studies met the inclusion criteria. Study populations and type of genomic testing varied. Coding resulted in 15 distinct elements of personal utility, organized into three domains related to personal outcomes: affective, cognitive, and behavioral; and one domain related to social outcomes. The domains of personal utility may inform pre-test counseling by helping patients anticipate potential value of test results beyond clinical utility. Identified elements may also inform investigations into the prevalence and importance of personal utility to future test users.
Topics: Attitude; Cognition; Emotions; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Testing; Humans; Social Behavior
PubMed: 28295040
DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.10 -
BMJ Open Apr 2022Housing is a social determinant of health that impacts the health and well-being of children and families. Screening and referral to address social determinants of...
OBJECTIVES
Housing is a social determinant of health that impacts the health and well-being of children and families. Screening and referral to address social determinants of health in clinical and social service settings has been proposed to support families with housing problems. This study aims to identify housing screening questions asked of families in healthcare and social services, determine validated screening tools and extract information about recommendations for action after screening for housing issues.
METHODS
The electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Ovid Emcare, Scopus and CINAHL were searched from 2009 to 2021. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed literature that included questions about housing being asked of children or young people aged 0-18 years and their families accessing any healthcare or social service. We extracted data on the housing questions asked, source of housing questions, validity and descriptions of actions to address housing issues.
RESULTS
Forty-nine peer-reviewed papers met the inclusion criteria. The housing questions in social screening tools vary widely. There are no standard housing-related questions that clinical and social service providers ask families. Fourteen screening tools were validated. An action was embedded as part of social screening activities in 27 of 42 studies. Actions for identified housing problems included provision of a community-based or clinic-based resource guide, and social prescribing included referral to a social worker, care coordinator or care navigation service, community health worker, social service agency, referral to a housing and child welfare demonstration project or provided intensive case management and wraparound services.
CONCLUSION
This review provides a catalogue of housing questions that can be asked of families in the clinical and/or social service setting, and potential subsequent actions.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Delivery of Health Care; Housing; Humans; Mass Screening; Social Welfare; Social Work
PubMed: 35487725
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054338 -
BMC Cancer Aug 2023Breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation carriers are at an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. However, the role of BRCA is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation carriers are at an increased risk for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers. However, the role of BRCA is unclear in colorectal cancer; the results regarding the association between BRCA gene mutations and colorectal cancer risk are inconsistent and even controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are associated with colorectal cancer risk.
METHODS
In this systematic review, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) were used to estimate the probability of Breast Cancer Type 1 Susceptibility gene (BRCA1) and Breast Cancer Type 2 Susceptibility gene (BRCA2) mutations in colorectal cancer patients. The associations were evaluated using fixed effect models.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review. Twelve studies, including seven case-control and five cohort studies, were included in the meta-analysis. A significant increase in the frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations was observed in patients with colorectal cancer [OR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.76, P = 0.04]. In subgroup analysis, colorectal cancer patients had an increased odds of BRCA1 (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.10-2.01, P = 0.01) and BRCA2 (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.06-2.30, P = 0.02) mutations.
CONCLUSIONS
BRCA genes are one of the genes that may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Thus, BRCA genes could be potential candidates that may be included in the colorectal cancer genetic testing panel.
Topics: Male; Humans; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; Genetic Testing; Mutation; Colorectal Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 37644384
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11328-w