Efficacy and safety of antibiotics for treatment of leptospirosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
ConclusionsFindings recommend that leptospirosis patients be treated with antibiotics, which significantly reduced the leptospirosis defervescence time. Cephalosporins, doxycycline, and penicillin are suggested, and azithromycin may be a suitable alternative for drug-resistant cases.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42022354938. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 16, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of mental illness among nursing home residents
DiscussionThe study will provide a comprehensive and contemporary account of the prevalence of mental illness among nursing home residents. Meta-analyses will provide robust prevalence estimates across a range of presentations. Key insights will be highlighted, including potential sources of heterogeneity. Implications for residents, researchers, care providers, and policymakers will be noted.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO: CRD42023456226. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 16, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Natural language processing (NLP) to facilitate abstract review in medical research: the application of BioBERT to exploring the 20-year use of NLP in medical research
ConclusionsBioBERT showed an acceptable performance in the abstract review. If future research shows the high performance of this language model, it can reliably replace manual abstract reviews. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 15, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Does arthroscopic or open washout in native knee septic arthritis result in superior post-operative function? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies
ConclusionsAW was associated with equivalent to superior post-operative function and lower requirement for further intervention compared with OW. Results need to be interpreted cautiously, taking into consideration the methodological and clinical heterogeneity of the included studies.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO 2022, CRD42022364062. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 12, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Palliative care needs of people and/or their families with serious and/or chronic health conditions in low- or middle-income country (LMIC) humanitarian settings —a systematic scoping review protocol
DiscussionFindings will be presented in tables and diagrams/charts, followed by a narrative description. The review will run from late October 2022 to early 2023. This is the first systematic scoping review specifically exploring the palliative care needs of patients and/or their family, in LMIC humanitarian settings. The paper from the review findings will be submitted for publication in 2023. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 11, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Patient characteristics of, and remedial interventions for, complaints and medico-legal claims against doctors: a rapid review of the literature
ConclusionFew patient characteristics can be reliably related to the likelihood of medico-legal complaints or claims. There is some evidence that interventions can reduce the number and costs of claims, the number of complaints, and the timeliness of claims. However, across both questions, the strength of the evidence is very weak and is based on only a few studies or study designs that are highly prone to bias. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 9, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Tools for assessing the methodological limitations of a QES —a short note
AbstractThe increasing prevalence and application of qualitative evidence syntheses (QES) in decision-making processes underscore the need for robust tools to assess the methodological limitations of a completed QES. This commentary discusses the limitations of three existing tools and presents the authors ’ efforts to address this gap. Through a simple comparative analysis, the three tools are examined in terms of their coverage of essential topic areas. The examination finds that existing assessment tools lack comprehensive coverage, clarity, and grounding in qualitative research principles. The a uthors advocate for t...
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 6, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Self-reporting of psychoneurophysical (PNP) symptoms in adults with four chronic diseases: a protocol for a scoping review
DiscussionThis scoping review may potentially identify the relevant and practical implications related to clinical decision-making and health outcomes for patients experiencing the psychoneurophysical symptoms included in this study. The authors will present how the results can be utilized in clinical practice, health policy, and research planning.Systematic review registrationThe protocol was registered on Open Science Framework (OSF) at:https://osf.io/ps7aw (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 4, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Exploring the effectiveness of molecular subtypes, biomarkers, and genetic variations as first-line treatment predictors in Asian breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ConclusionsIn the neoadjuvant setting, molecular subtypes (HER2E and TNBC), biomarkers (ER, PR, HER2, HR, Ki-67, nm23-H1, CK5/6, and Tau), and gene (PIK3CA) are associated with increased pCR rates in Asian breast cancer patients. Hence, they could be further explored for their possible role in first-line treatment response, which can be utilised to treat breast cancer more efficiently in the Asian population. However, it needs to be further validated with additional powered studies.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42021246295. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 4, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Efficacy and safety of immunosuppressive therapy combined with eltrombopag for severe aplastic anemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ConclusionEPAG added to IST enables patients to achieve earlier and faster hematologic responses with a higher rate of complete response. Although it had no effect on overall EFSR, it improved OSR and did not increase the incidence of clonal evolution and other adverse events. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 4, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Personalised learning in higher education for health sciences: a scoping review protocol
DiscussionThe results of the scoping review will present a comprehensive and coherent overview of the literature on personalised learning in health sciences higher education. Key themes and topics related to personalised learning, its definitions, models, implementation strategies, benefits, and limitations, will be identified. The geographical and temporal distribution of research on personalised learning in health sciences higher education will also be described. This scoping review will provide a structured synthesis of the available evidence on personalised learning in health sciences higher education, highlighting pot...
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 2, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Effects of chronic physical exercise on executive functions and episodic memory in clinical and healthy older adult populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
This article describes the protocol for a systematic review and multilevel meta-analytic study aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of different types of chronic exercise in improving and/or maintaining EFs and long-term episodic memory in older adults.Methods and analysisThe study protocol was written in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Several databases will be searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in older adults aged ≥ 60 years providing any kind of planned, structured, and repetitive exercise interventions, and EFs a...
Source: Systematic Reviews - April 1, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Co-design workshops to develop evidence synthesis summary formats for use by clinical guideline development groups
ConclusionsThis study identified guidance based on the preferences of guideline developers and evidence synthesis producers about the format of evidence synthesis summaries to support decision-making. The next steps involve developing and user-testing prototype formats through one-on-one semi-structured interviews to optimize evidence synthesis summaries and support decision-making. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - March 27, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Barriers and enablers to the implementation of patient-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs/PREMs): protocol for an umbrella review
DiscussionThis umbrella review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods systematic and scoping reviews will inform policymakers, researchers, managers, and clinicians regarding which factors hamper or enable the adoption and sustained use of PROMs and PREMs in healthcare settings, and the level of confidence in the evidence supporting these factors. Findings will orient the selection and adaptation of implementation strategies tailored to the factors identified.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42023421845. (Source: Systematic Reviews)
Source: Systematic Reviews - March 26, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
Mechanisms behind gender transformative approaches targeting adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries: a realist synthesis protocol
AbstractIntroductionAdolescent pregnancy is defined as pregnancy at the age of 19 or below. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the most significant cause of death among 15 –19-year-old girls. Several studies have indicated that inequitable gender norms can increase the vulnerability of adolescent girls, including violence exposure, early marriage, and adolescent pregnancy. To address these disparities, gender transformative approaches aim to challenge and transform restrictive gender norms, roles, and relations through targeted interventions, promoting progressive changes. This realist review aims to synthesise e...
Source: Systematic Reviews - March 23, 2024 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research
