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BMJ Open Nov 2022To systematically map the scholarly literature on predatory conferences and describe the present state of research and the prevalent attitudes about these conferences.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically map the scholarly literature on predatory conferences and describe the present state of research and the prevalent attitudes about these conferences.
METHODS
This scoping review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four databases were searched (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection). In addition, the included studies' reference lists were scanned for additional papers not found in the searches. Peer-reviewed publications were included irrespective of study design. Letters and commentary were included if they were peer reviewed. Editorials and literature reviews were excluded.
RESULTS
From 809 initial publications, 20 papers were included in the review, from 12 countries and covered a wide range of science disciplines, from nursing/medicine to energy/technology and computer science. More than half were empirical and published after 2017. In most papers, a definition of the term predatory conferences was put forward. Spam email invitations with flattering language were the most common characteristics, and the conferences were often hosted by unknown organisations that used copied pictures without permission. High fees, lack of peer review, and a multidisciplinary scope were signal features. All papers explicitly or implicitly suggested possible reasons for participating in predatory conferences. Some reasons were related to the overall context of academic work, the nature of predatory conferences (eg, researchers falling prey to misleading information about a conference or choosing a conference based on an attractive location) and the personal characteristics of researchers. Only one paper reported empirically identified reasons for participating in predatory conferences. The three countermeasures proposed most frequently to deal with predatory conferences were increasing education, emphasising responsibilities of universities and funders, and publishing lists of predatory publishers associated with conferences.
CONCLUSIONS
This review identified a scarcity of research concerning predatory conferences. Future empirical as well as fully analytical research should be encouraged by funders, journals and research institutions.
Topics: Humans; Databases, Factual; Educational Status; Peer Review; Research Personnel
PubMed: 36450423
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062425 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2019Autonomic dysfunctions may precede the development of cognitive impairment, but the connection between these dimensions is unclear. This systematic review aims to... (Review)
Review
Autonomic dysfunctions may precede the development of cognitive impairment, but the connection between these dimensions is unclear. This systematic review aims to analyze the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive functions. The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA-Statement. Restrictions were made, selecting the studies in English and published in peer-review journals, including at least one cognitive measure and presenting the measurement of HRV. Studies that included participants with medical conditions, dementia, psychiatric disorders, strokes, and traumatic brain injury were excluded. Twenty studies were selected, with a total of 19,431 participants. The results were divided into different cognitive domains determined : global cognitive functioning, attention, processing speed, executive functions, memory, language and visuospatial skills. Both increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity seem to be associated with a worse performance in the cognitive domains considered, in the absence of dementia and severe cardiovascular diseases or other medical and psychiatric diseases. The results highlight the influence of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in cognitive functioning. However, the marked interest facing toward a specific domain, i.e., the executive functions, and the relatively small number of the studies on this topic do not allow understanding better this relationship. Despite these limits, HRV could be considered a promising early biomarker of cognitive impairment in populations without dementia or stroke. This index should be evaluated within a preventative perspective to minimize the risk of developing cognitive impairment.
PubMed: 31354419
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00710 -
Clinical Oncology (Royal College of... Apr 2021Peer review in radiotherapy is an essential step in clinical quality assurance to avoid planning-related errors that can impact on patient safety and treatment outcomes....
Peer review in radiotherapy is an essential step in clinical quality assurance to avoid planning-related errors that can impact on patient safety and treatment outcomes. Despite recommendations that radiotherapy centres should include peer review in their regular quality assurance pathway, adoption of the practice has not been universal, and to date there have been no formal guidelines set out to standardise the process. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to determine existing practice in radiotherapy peer review internationally, with respect to meeting structure and processes, in order to define a standardised framework. A PubMed and Web of Science search identified 17 articles detailing peer review practice. The results revealed significant variation in peer review processes between institutions, and a lack of consensus on documentation and reporting. Variations in the grading of outcomes of peer review were also noted. Taking into account the results of this review, a framework for standardising the process and outcome documentation for peer review has been developed. This can be utilised by radiotherapy centres introducing or updating peer review practice, and can facilitate meaningful evaluation of the clinical impact of peer review in the future.
Topics: Humans; Peer Review; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Radiation Oncology
PubMed: 33160791
DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2020.10.017 -
Patient Education and Counseling Nov 2022To identify how peer support interventions, for self-management of chronic pain, support basic psychological needs from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective,... (Review)
Review
How do peer support interventions for the self-management of chronic pain, support basic psychological needs? A systematic review and framework synthesis using self-determination theory.
OBJECTIVE
To identify how peer support interventions, for self-management of chronic pain, support basic psychological needs from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective, using a systematic review.
METHODS
Ten databases were searched for studies reporting qualitative research about peer interactions in pain management interventions. 'Best fit' framework synthesis methodology was applied to identify strategies that support the satisfaction of competence, autonomy and motivation. These were matched to definitions of strategies provided by standardised taxonomies.
RESULTS
18 studies were selected for inclusion. The synthesis resulted in a conceptual model, identifying 12 peer strategies that support psychological needs for self-management of chronic pain; 10 overlapped with existing taxonomies.
CONCLUSION
This was the first known attempt to synthesise evidence about peer support strategies for people living with pain, using SDT as an a priori framework. The model demonstrates commonality between the motivation-promoting processes of peer support and those of other behaviour change interventions and identifies additional unique strategies provided by peers. This systematic classification of peer support strategies provides a means for future study of the efficacy and comprehensiveness of peer interventions.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
The model could assist healthcare professionals and support groups to optimise the potential of peer processes.
Topics: Chronic Pain; Counseling; Humans; Peer Group; Personal Autonomy; Self-Management
PubMed: 35985906
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.07.017 -
American Journal of Public Health Jul 2016Health disparities are aggravated when prevention and care initiatives fail to reach those they are intended to help. Groups can be classified as hardly reached... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Health disparities are aggravated when prevention and care initiatives fail to reach those they are intended to help. Groups can be classified as hardly reached according to a variety of circumstances that fall into 3 domains: individual (e.g., psychological factors), demographic (e.g., socioeconomic status), and cultural-environmental (e.g., social network). Several reports have indicated that peer support is an effective means of reaching hardly reached individuals. However, no review has explored peer support effectiveness in relation to the circumstances associated with being hardly reached or across diverse health problems.
OBJECTIVES
To conduct a systematic review assessing the reach and effectiveness of peer support among hardly reached individuals, as well as peer support strategies used.
SEARCH METHODS
Three systematic searches conducted in PubMed identified studies that evaluated peer support programs among hardly reached individuals. In aggregate, the searches covered articles published from 2000 to 2015.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Eligible interventions provided ongoing support for complex health behaviors, including prioritization of hardly reached populations, assistance in applying behavior change plans, and social-emotional support directed toward disease management or quality of life. Studies were excluded if they addressed temporally isolated behaviors, were limited to protocol group classes, included peer support as the dependent variable, did not include statistical tests of significance, or incorporated comparison conditions that provided appreciable social support.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We abstracted data regarding the primary health topic, categorizations of hardly reached groups, program reach, outcomes, and strategies employed. We conducted a 2-sample t test to determine whether reported strategies were related to reach.
RESULTS
Forty-seven studies met our inclusion criteria, and these studies represented each of the 3 domains of circumstances assessed (individual, demographic, and cultural-environmental). Interventions addressed 8 health areas, most commonly maternal and child health (25.5%), diabetes (17.0%), and other chronic diseases (14.9%). Thirty-six studies (76.6%) assessed program reach, which ranged from 24% to 79% of the study population. Forty-four studies (94%) reported significant changes favoring peer support. Eleven strategies emerged for engaging and retaining hardly reached individuals. Among them, programs that reported a strategy of trust and respect had higher participant retention (82.8%) than did programs not reporting such a strategy (48.1%; P = .003). In 5 of the 6 studies examining moderators of the effects of peer support, peer support benefits were greater among individuals characterized by disadvantage (e.g., low health literacy).
CONCLUSIONS
Peer support is a broad and robust strategy for reaching groups that health services too often fail to engage. The wide range of audiences and health concerns among which peer support is successful suggests that a basis for its success may be its flexible response to different contexts, including the intended audience, health problems, and setting.
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
The general benefits of peer support and findings suggesting that it may be more effective among those at heightened disadvantage indicate that peer support should be considered in programs intended to reach and benefit those too often hardly reached. Because engendering trust and respect was significantly associated with participant retention, programs should emphasize this strategy.
Topics: Culture; Environment; Health Behavior; Health Education; Humans; Mental Disorders; Peer Group; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 27196645
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303180 -
Mothers' experiences and perceptions of breastfeeding peer support: a qualitative systematic review.International Breastfeeding Journal Jan 2024The global issue of low breastfeeding rates has been widely reported. Quantitative studies have shown the positive effects of peer support on breastfeeding. However, the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The global issue of low breastfeeding rates has been widely reported. Quantitative studies have shown the positive effects of peer support on breastfeeding. However, the experiences of mothers who receive breastfeeding peer support have been found to vary. To date, no systematic qualitative summary has been conducted to document the impact of peer support, nor to provide advice for its implementation from the perspective of breastfeeding mothers. This review aims to systematically synthesize qualitative findings on mothers' experiences of breastfeeding peer support to provide evidence for optimizing peer support services and ultimately enhancing their role in promoting breastfeeding.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Web of Science, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Datebase, VIP Database and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched from the inception of each database until January 2023, to collect qualitative studies and mixed methods studies that included qualitative findings on mothers' experiences with breastfeeding peer support. The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI) was used to extract data and evaluate the quality of the included articles. The meta-integration method was used to explain and integrate the research findings. The review process was carried out by two authors independently, and the disagreements were resolved through consensus.
RESULTS
A total of 15 articles were included in the study, consisting of 13 qualitative studies and 2 mixed methods studies. The analysis identified four integrated themes: (1) obtaining psycho-emotional support; (2) acquiring knowledge and skills; (3) expectations for breastfeeding peer support; and (4) feeding perceptions and behavior change. It should be noted that the articles reviewed are in English and mostly originate from developed countries or regions. Therefore, the generalizability of the integrated findings to underdeveloped regions or non-English speaking countries may be limited.
CONCLUSION
Mothers perceived that peer support had a positive impact on breastfeeding. To improve the effectiveness of peer support in promoting breastfeeding, it is important to consider the individual needs of each mother. It is recommended that peer support services should be standardized in the future, including the accreditation, training, supervision, and management of peer supporters.
Topics: Female; Humans; Mothers; Breast Feeding; Counseling; Peer Group; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 38243287
DOI: 10.1186/s13006-024-00614-3 -
Nursing Open Dec 2023This systematic literature review aimed to identify, appraise and synthesize available research studies that apply intersectionality in nursing research. (Review)
Review
AIM
This systematic literature review aimed to identify, appraise and synthesize available research studies that apply intersectionality in nursing research.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
DATA SOURCES
Empirical and theoretical nursing studies published before February 2022 were identified from the PubMed and CINAHL databases. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they substantially covered the topics of intersectionality and nursing, had undergone peer-review, and were written in English.
REVIEW METHODS
The PRISMA 2020 statement for reporting systematic reviews was used to report findings. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of the included research studies.
RESULTS
Out of 331 identified studies, 60 studies were substantially about nursing and intersectionality, and were included in the review. There are a myriad of ways that the concept of intersectionality has been adopted in nursing research. Furthermore, there was great heterogeneity in the definition and application of the concept of intersectionality, and only a few studies were empirical.
CONCLUSION
There is a need for robust and clear framing of how the concept of intersectionality is defined and understood in nursing research. There is also a need for more empirical research effectively adopting the concept of intersectionality to enhance our understanding of how health inequities operate within the field of nursing.
NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
No patients, service users, caregivers or members of the public were involved in this work.
Topics: Humans; Intersectional Framework; Empirical Research; Nursing Research
PubMed: 37798952
DOI: 10.1002/nop2.2021 -
BMC Infectious Diseases May 2020Peer education has become a strategy for health promotion among high-risk groups for HIV infection worldwide. However, the extent to which peer education could have an... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Peer education has become a strategy for health promotion among high-risk groups for HIV infection worldwide. However, the extent to which peer education could have an impact on HIV prevention or the long-term effect of this impact is still unknown. This study thus quantifies the impact of peer education over time among high-risk HIV groups globally.
METHOD
Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was used to assess the effects and duration of peer education. A thorough literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library was performed, and studies about peer education on high-risk HIV groups were reviewed. Pooled effects were calculated and the sources of heterogeneity were explored using meta-regression and subgroup analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 60 articles with 96,484 subjects were identified, and peer education was associated with 36% decreased rates of HIV infection among overall high risk groups (OR: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.47-0.87). Peer education can promote HIV testing (OR = 3.19; 95%CI:2.13,4.79) and condom use (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 2.11-3.36) while reduce equipment sharing (OR = 0.50; 95%CI:0.33,0.75) and unprotected sex (OR = 0.82; 95%CI: 0.72-0.94). Time trend analysis revealed that peer education had a consistent effect on behavior change for over 24 months and the different follow-up times were a source of heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION
Our study shows that peer education is an effective tool with long-term impact for behavior change among high-risk HIV groups worldwide. Low and middle-income countries are encouraged to conduct large-scale peer education.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; Condoms; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Peer Group; Risk-Taking; Unsafe Sex; Young Adult
PubMed: 32398032
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05003-9 -
BMC Medicine Jun 2016The peer review process is a cornerstone of biomedical research. We aimed to evaluate the impact of interventions to improve the quality of peer review for biomedical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The peer review process is a cornerstone of biomedical research. We aimed to evaluate the impact of interventions to improve the quality of peer review for biomedical publications.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and WHO ICTRP databases, for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of interventions to improve the quality of peer review for biomedical publications.
RESULTS
We selected 22 reports of randomized controlled trials, for 25 comparisons evaluating training interventions (n = 5), the addition of a statistical peer reviewer (n = 2), use of a checklist (n = 2), open peer review (i.e., peer reviewers informed that their identity would be revealed; n = 7), blinded peer review (i.e., peer reviewers blinded to author names and affiliation; n = 6) and other interventions to increase the speed of the peer review process (n = 3). Results from only seven RCTs were published since 2004. As compared with the standard peer review process, training did not improve the quality of the peer review report and use of a checklist did not improve the quality of the final manuscript. Adding a statistical peer review improved the quality of the final manuscript (standardized mean difference (SMD), 0.58; 95 % CI, 0.19 to 0.98). Open peer review improved the quality of the peer review report (SMD, 0.14; 95 % CI, 0.05 to 0.24), did not affect the time peer reviewers spent on the peer review (mean difference, 0.18; 95 % CI, -0.06 to 0.43), and decreased the rate of rejection (odds ratio, 0.56; 95 % CI, 0.33 to 0.94). Blinded peer review did not affect the quality of the peer review report or rejection rate. Interventions to increase the speed of the peer review process were too heterogeneous to allow for pooling the results.
CONCLUSION
Despite the essential role of peer review, only a few interventions have been assessed in randomized controlled trials. Evidence-based peer review needs to be developed in biomedical journals.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Checklist; Data Accuracy; Databases, Factual; Humans; Peer Review, Research; Publications; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Report
PubMed: 27287500
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-016-0631-5 -
Nutrients Jun 2023The utilization of youth (older) and peer (same age) mentor-led interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity has been an emerging trend in recent years. This... (Review)
Review
Youth and Peer Mentor Led Interventions to Improve Biometric-, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Psychosocial-Related Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.
The utilization of youth (older) and peer (same age) mentor-led interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity has been an emerging trend in recent years. This systematic review is intended to synthesize the effectiveness of these intervention programs on participants and mentors based on biometric, nutrition, physical activity, and psychosocial outcomes of youth and peer mentor-led interventions among children and adolescents. Online databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar, were searched, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. A three-step screening process was used to meet the proposed eligibility criteria, and the risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess bias for the included studies. Nineteen unique intervention programs and twenty-five total studies were deemed eligible when considering the criteria required for review. Multiple studies demonstrated positive evidence of the biometric and physical activity outcomes that were considered significant. The findings regarding the nutritional outcomes across the included studies were mixed, as some studies reported significant changes in eating habits while others did not find a significant change. Overall, the utilization of youth and peer mentor-led models in nutrition- and physical-activity-related interventions may be successful in overweight and obesity prevention efforts for those children and adolescents receiving the intervention and the youths and peers leading the interventions. More research is needed to explore the impact on the youths and peers leading the interventions and disseminating more detailed implementation strategies, e.g., training mentors would allow for advancements in the field and the replicability of approaches. Terminology: In the current youth- and peer-led nutrition and physical activity intervention literature, a varying age differential exists between the targeted sample and the peers, and varying terminology with regards to how to name or refer to the youth. In some instances, the youth mentors were individuals of the same grade as the target sample who either volunteered to serve in the peer role or were selected by their fellow students or school staff. In other cases, the youth mentors were slightly older individuals, either in high school or college, who were selected based upon their experience, leadership skills, passion for the project, or demonstration of healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Mentors; Exercise; Obesity; Overweight; Biometry
PubMed: 37375562
DOI: 10.3390/nu15122658