Peer-reviewed Publications Research Articles

Effect of an in-hospital medication self-management intervention (SelfMED) on medication adherence in polypharmacy patients postdischarge: protocol of a pre–post intervention study

IntroductionHealthcare providers usually manage medication for patients during hospitalisation, although patients are expected to self-manage their medication after discharge. A lack of self-management competencies is found to be associated with...

Preventing postnatal depression in new mothers using telephone peer support: protocol for the DAISY (Depression and AnxIety peer Support studY) multi-centre randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPostnatal depression affects up to one in six new mothers in Australia each year, with significant impacts on the woman and her family. Prevention strategies can be complicated by a...

Assessment of effectiveness and impact of universal prophylaxis with nirsevimab for prevention of hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus in infants. The NIRSE-GAL study protocol

ABSTRACT Nirsevimab has been recently licensed for universal RSV prophylaxis in infants. NIRSE-GAL is a three-year population-based study initiated in Galicia in September 2023. It aims to evaluate nirsevimab effectiveness against RSV-related hospitalizations lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), severe RSV, all-cause LRTI, and all-cause hospitalization. NIRSE-GAL also aims to estimate nirsevimab impact on primary healthcare use in the short and mid-term, children’s wheezing and asthma, and medical prescriptions for RSV. The immunization campaigns will be scheduled based on the expected start week for the RSV season and will last the whole season. Immunization will be offered to: i) infants born during the campaign (seasonal), ii) infants < 6 months at the start of the campaign (catch-up), and iii) infants with high-risk factors, aged 6–24 months at the start of the campaign (high-risk). The follow-up period will start: i) the immunization date for all immunized infants, ii) the start of the campaign, for the non-immunized catch-up or high-risk groups, or iii) the birthdate for the non-immunized seasonal group. Infants will be followed up until outcome occurrence, death, or end of study. Nirsevimab effectiveness will be estimated using Poisson and Cox regression models. Sensitivity and stratified analyses will be undertaken. The number of averted cases and the number needed to immunize will be estimated. Immunization failure and nirsevimab safety will be monitored. NIRSE-GAL was approved by the ethics committee of Galicia (CEIC 2023–377) and registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT06180993). Findings will be mainly shared via peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences.

Exploring community participation in vectorborne disease control in Southeast Asia: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionVector borne diseases (VBDs) present significant public health challenges in Southeast Asia (SEA), and the increasing number of cases threatens vulnerable communities. Inadequate vector control and management have been linked...

Association between clinical biomechanical metrics of cervical spine function and pain or disability in people with neuromusculoskeletal neck pain: Protocol for a systematic review and planned meta-analysis.

Neck pain is a burdensome condition associated with pain, disability, and economic cost. Neck pain has been associated with observable changes in neuromuscular function and biomechanics. Prior research shows impairments in kinematic control, including reduced mobility, velocity, and smoothness of cervical motion. However, the strength of association between these impairments and patient-reported pain and disability is unclear rendering development of novel and relevant rehabilitation strategies difficult. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize existing evidence on the strength of association between clinical biomechanical metrics of neck function (ROM, strength, acceleration, accuracy, smoothness, etc.) and patient-reported neck pain and disability. This protocol follows Cochrane guidelines and adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and Scopus will be searched, along with the gray literature, up to 20 November 2023, using terms and keywords derived from initial scoping searches. Observational studies, including cohorts and cross-sectional studies, that explore associations between clinical biomechanics of the neck and patient-reported outcomes of neck pain or disability will be included. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (National Institute of Health tool). Data will be synthesized using either a random effects meta-analytic approach or qualitatively using a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, dependent on the homogeneity of data available. This review addresses a gap in the literature by systematically synthesizing findings on the relationship between neck function impairments and patient-reported outcomes. It will identify priorities for neck pain rehabilitation and gaps in current knowledge. The results of this review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication, conference presentation, and lay language summaries posted on an open-access website. PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42023417317. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023417317.

A narrative review: suicide and suicidal behaviour in older adults

Globally, suicide is a public health concern that claims the lives of many each year. The complex etiology and factors contributing to the risk of suicide make it hard to predict the likelihood of death by suicide. Suicide rates have been increasing over the past 25 years in patients aged 65 years and older, and with the expected increases in the size of the older adult population and the under-detection of suicide risk, these rates may continue to increase. To mitigate and attempt to limit this expected increase, it is important to understand the risk and protective factors of suicide in older adults. This narrative review focuses on individuals above the age of 65 and encompasses relevant peer-reviewed publications from the past 25 years to cover fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour. It summarizes several important risk factors for suicide and suicidal behaviors while considering how risk can be detected, assessed, prevented, and mitigated. Screening methods to detect suicide and depression in older adults were examined based on their effectiveness and suitability for use in this population. Lastly, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in older adults were described.

Protocol for the systematic review of the Pneumocystis jirovecii-associated pneumonia in non-HIV immunocompromised patients.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a well-known and frequent opportunistic infection in HIV patients. However, there has been an increase in the number of reports of PJP in other immunosuppressed patients with autoimmune inflammatory disorders or because of chemotherapy and high doses of steroids, especially when used in combination as part of immunosuppressive therapy. Despite the increasing importance of PJP in non-HIV patients, there is a lack of comprehensive and updated information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, microbiology, treatments, and prophylaxis of this infection in this population. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to synthesize information on these aspects, from a perspective of evidence-based medicine. The protocol is prepared following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA-P) guidelines. We will perform a systematic review of literature published between January 2010 and July 2023, using the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. In addition, manual searches will be carried out through related articles, and references to included articles. The main findings and clinical outcomes were extracted from all the eligible studies with a standardized instrument. Two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts, review full texts, and collect data. Disagreements will be resolved by discussion, and a third reviewer will decide if there is no consensus. We will synthesize the results using a narrative or a meta-analytic approach, depending on the heterogeneity of the studies. It is expected that this systematic review will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the state-of-the-art of PJP in non-HIV patients. Furthermore, the study will highlight possible gaps in knowledge that should be addressed through new research. Here, we present the protocol for a systematic review which will consider all existing evidence from peer-reviewed publication sources relevant to the primary and secondary outcomes related to diagnosing and managing PJP in non-HIV patients.

Transformative engagement with community music-making for older adults: a scoping review protocol.

This scoping review has 3 objectives: to identify the literature on older adults' engagement with community music-making in which an experience of transformative change is noted; to explore the different ways transformation is described; and to identify factors that enable this experience. Music has been shown to stimulate transformation (positive change) in individuals. Documented experiences of transformation fall into 3 broad areas: self-perception, quality of life, and personal growth. Yet the specific elements of musical experience that enable such effects remain little understood. Identifying the literature on this topic will enable deeper understanding and identify gaps in knowledge. The review will include peer-reviewed publications, systematic and scoping reviews, and gray literature, including theses and reports. Studies will focus on older community-dwelling adults (60 years or over) engaged in group music-making in community settings. The studies must include enquiry into transformative effects. Music used therapeutically in health settings; individual music-making; and listening (rather than active music-making) will be excluded. Any empirical methodology will be accepted. The review will follow the JBI guidelines for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched will include MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus, Embase (Ovid), Informit, Cochrane Library, Campbell Collaboration, JBI EBP, Web of Science, JSTOR, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost), ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, and Google Scholar. Studies must be published in English, from 2000 until the present. Retrieved studies will be independently screened by at least 2 reviewers. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool developed by the research team. The findings will be presented in tabular format, supported by a narrative summary. https://osf.io/ftuhx.

“On the books” yet “off the record”-occupational injury and migrant women: scoping review findings from OECD countries, with implications for New Zealand

IntroductionLittle appears to be known regarding the work-related injury (WRI) experiences of migrants (those born in a country other than their identified host country) and specifically, women migrants.MethodsAs part of a wider PhD project investigating the WRI experiences of New Zealand (NZ) migrants, a review of NZ mainstream media coverage of migrants WRIs was undertaken, which identified no representations of migrant women's WRI experiences. In turn, a scoping review was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed publications reporting empirical findings about WRI experiences and outcomes for migrants in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, including NZ. This paper aims to identify and describe findings for migrant women specifically. From 2,243 potential publications, 383 proceeded to full text review; ultimately 67 were retained. These 67 publications were reviewed to identify findings specifically for occupationally injured migrant women; 22 such publications (from 21 studies) were found. This paper reports: the characteristics of identified studies; characteristics of migrant women within; frameworks and theories used, and knowledge (and gaps) related to occupationally injured migrant women.ResultsPublications came from only four OECD countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Spain. A range of study designs, and topic areas (working conditions, legal rights, identities, the role of gatekeepers, and precarity), were identified; however, only three studies reported findings for longer-term experiences and outcomes of WRIs. Nine publications considered theoretical models underpinning research, including theories about precarious work, stigmatization, and citizenship. However, there was a paucity of analyses of the WRI experience throughout the life-course, highlighting a gap in understanding of how these experiences are “lived” over the long term by occupationally injured migrant women.DiscussionScoping review findings were synthesized using a provisional “matryoshka framing narrative” model, to be refined through forthcoming qualitative interviews with occupationally injured NZ migrant women. This model highlights the multitude of influences in WRI experiences, potentially specific to migrant women, suggesting the consequences of WRIs may be uneven, with migrant women experiencing different, and potentially, greater disparities in outcomes. These findings provide an impetus to investigate knowledge gaps and urgently address potential disparities in WRI outcomes for migrant women specifically.

Transformative Impact of Technology in Landscape Architecture on Landscape Research: Trends, Concepts and Roles

The role of technology in landscape architecture (TLA) has significantly evolved since the 19th century, increasingly integrating with digital tools and technologies in the 21st century. Despite its growing importance, there is a notable deficiency in the scholarly literature regarding the progression of TLA trends and their interplay with the core domains and research themes within landscape research. The influence of TLA on landscape research remains ambiguous, especially concerning its ability to generate new knowledge and impact design and sustainability practices. Furthermore, there is a critical need to delineate how TLA differs from allied general digital technology tools and to identify specific specializations that are emerging within the TLA field. To explore the above gaps, this study utilized a mixed methods approach involving secondary data from peer-reviewed publications, primary data from the archival research of winning projects, and expert interviews based on the two major research types of “Research through Design (RTD)” and “Research for Design (RFD)” to explore the TLA’s contribution. This research is significant as it: (1) identified the trend of TLA; (2) conceptualized the TLA, and (3) identified its role in relation to the core domains and research themes of landscape research.

Diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in mental health apps for young people: protocol for a scoping review

IntroductionAfter COVID-19, a global mental health crisis affects young people, with one in five youth experiencing mental health problems worldwide. Delivering mental health interventions via mobile devices is a promising...

Contextually appropriate nurse staffing models: a realist review protocol

IntroductionDecisions about nurse staffing models are a concern for health systems globally due to workforce retention and well-being challenges. Nurse staffing models range from all Registered Nurse workforce to a...

Risk of transmission of HIV to infants during breast/chest feeding when mothers/birthing parents living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy: a protocol for a rapid review

IntroductionHIV is a major public health issue affecting millions globally. Women and girls account for 46% of new HIV infections in 2022 and approximately 1.3 million females become pregnant every...

Effect of passive leg raising on the cross-sectional area of the right internal jugular vein in patients with obesity: a randomised controlled trial protocol

BackgroundVenous access in patients with obesity presents significant challenges. The success of central venous catheterisation largely depends on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the internal jugular vein (IJV). While techniques...

Relaxation Therapy and Human Milk Feeding Outcomes

Human milk feeding is a key public health goal to optimize infant and maternal/parental health, but global lactation outcomes do not meet recommended duration and exclusivity. There are connections between lactation and mental health. To appraise all available evidence on whether the provision of relaxation interventions to lactating individuals improves lactation and well-being. Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched on September 30, 2023, and topic experts were consulted. Two independent reviewers screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria were full-text, peer-reviewed publications with a randomized clinical trial design. Techniques that were entirely physical (eg, massage) were excluded. A total of 7% of initially identified studies met selection criteria. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Fixed-effects meta-analysis and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations guidelines were used to synthesize and present evidence. Prespecified primary outcomes were human milk quantity, length and exclusivity of human milk feeding, milk macronutrients/cortisol, and infant growth and behavior. A total of 16 studies were included with 1871 participants (pooled mean [SD] age for 1656 participants, 29.6 [6.1] years). Interventions were music, guided relaxation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises/muscle relaxation. Provision of relaxation was not associated with a change in human milk protein (mean difference [MD], 0 g/100 mL; 95% CI, 0; 205 participants). Provision of relaxation was associated with an increase in human milk quantity (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89; 464 participants), increased infant weight gain in breastfeeding infants (MD, z score change = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30-0.72; 226 participants), and a slight reduction in stress and anxiety (SMD stress score, -0.49; 95% CI, -0.70 to -0.27; 355 participants; SMD anxiety score, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.22; 410 participants). Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that provision of relaxation was associated with an increase in human milk quantity and infant weight gain and a slight reduction in stress and anxiety. Relaxation interventions can be offered to lactating parents who would like to increase well-being and improve milk supply or, where directly breastfeeding, increase infant weight gain.

Peroperative administration of tranexamic acid in Roux-en-Y and one-anastomosis gastric bypass to reduce haemorrhage in patients with morbid obesity: protocol for randomised controlled trial (PATRY trial)

IntroductionBy implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Bariatric Surgery protocols and day-care surgery, early discharge poses a challenge if excessive bleeding occurs after bariatric surgery. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has demonstrated efficacy...

37 Key learnings from the improving pig survivability project

Abstract The Improving Pig Survivability Project has completed 5 yr encompassing research, education, and extension with the goal of reducing overall mortality in the U.S. commercial swine industry. The project is funded by National Pork Board and Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and continues through 2026. Team members represent institutions including Iowa State University, Kansas State University, and Purdue University. The project is guided by an advisory board consisting of US swine producers and allied industry partners. Research efforts seek to identify factors contributing to swine mortality in commercial production, and to develop strategies and information that can be utilized to reduce mortality and maximize pig survivability. Key economic findings include the first publicly available economic tool for swine producers to input their specific production information and costs, creating a farm level specific cost of mortality for both the breeding herd and post-weaning to market. Key strategies found to reduce sow mortality include: understanding late gestation body condition as thin sows in late gestation are more likely to prolapse compared with normal or overweight sows; Early intervention to monitor and treat lameness resulted in 25.4% relative reduction in annualized sow mortality in commercial settings tested; Feeding sows four 1.5-pound meals reduced farrowing assistance and reduced piglet deaths compared with ad libitum intake for 3 to 5 d before farrowing; perineal score, genetics, and microbiome risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse were identified. Key strategies found to reduce pre-weaning mortality include: colostrum should be 300 to 350 g per piglet, and a milky cheese addition during enrichment period. Key strategies found to reduce wean to finish mortality include: whole-herd analysis of 2,568 WTF closeouts revealed sow farm parameters associated with improved livability were sow farm health status and productivity associated with lower WTF mortality; Increased mortality was associated with Streptococcus suis, Glaeserella parasuis, PRRSv, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PEDv; early maturing duroc sired pigs had reduced stress, greater feed intake, decreased % losing body weight post weaning, and greater gain during the nursery period; enrichment cubes to pigs post-weaning reduced the percentage losing body weight after weaning; feeding large pellet creep feed in lactation improved nursery pig growth and decreased fallout rates; mat feeding reduced mortality and removals; sensory attractant powder before and after weaning reduced percentage that lost body weight the first 3 d after weaning, and linoleic:linolenic acid ratio can impact gilt growth and the use of lower energy diets appears to reduce joint inflammation. In addition to grant funding, 22 additional projects were supported by in-kind industry donations/partnerships worth over $1.6 million. Resources generated are available in peer-reviewed publications, factsheets (English and Spanish), short informational videos, and podcasts (PigX). Project outcomes are available at the Improving Pig Surviability website (www.piglivability.org).

Investigating the impact of storage duration and temperature on vitamin C in various citrus genotypes: A meta-analysis method

The present work disseminates a solid scientific meta-analysis method to investigate the impact of storage duration and temperature on vitamin C of citrus. This work is initiated by designing of the PICO framework, collecting, and organizing the articles, creating selection criteria, sorting articles, identifying factors influencing moderation effects and sources of diversity, tabulating data, and employing analysis in the form of a linear mixed model. Using this method, we identified 54 distinct studies from a pool of 289 eligible peer-reviewed publications, focusing on variations of vitamin C in citrus. The method provides mean values in both quadratic and linear regression forms.•This method provides a detailed description starting from topic selection to statistical methodologies intended for performing meta-analysis.•All guidelines for conducting this method have been approved by all authors and adhere to the standard PRISMA-P guidelines.•Disseminating this method in a peer-reviewed publication aims to facilitate scholarly discussions and promote transparency, ultimately improving the standard for performing meta-analysis on vitamin C levels in citrus concerning various genotypes, storage temperatures, and durations.

Use of Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Peer-review

Abstract Conducting high-quality peer-review of scientific manuscripts has become increasingly challenging. The substantial increase in the number of manuscripts, lack of a sufficient number of peer-reviewers, and questions related to effectiveness, fairness, and efficiency, require a different approach. Large language models, one form of artificial intelligence, has emerged as a new approach to help resolve many of the issues facing contemporary medicine and science. We believe AI should be used to assist in the triaging of manuscripts submitted for peer-review publication.

Feasibility of blinding spinal manual therapy interventions among participants and outcome assessors: protocol for a blinding feasibility trial

IntroductionBlinding is a methodologically important aspect in randomised controlled trials yet frequently overlooked in trials of spinal manual therapy interventions for back pain. To help inform the blinding methods of a future, double-placebo-controlled trial comparing spinal manual therapy and nerve root injection for lumbosacral radicular pain, we set four objectives: (1) to assess the feasibility of blinding participants, randomly allocated to an active or placebo-control spinal manual therapy intervention protocol, (2) to assess the feasibility of blinding outcome assessors within the trial, (3) to explore the influence of spinal manual therapy experience and low back pain on blinding, and (4) to explore factors contributing to perceptions about intervention assignment among participants and outcome assessors.Methods and analysisTwo-parallel-group, single-centre, placebo-controlled, methodological blinding feasibility randomised trial. We will recruit between 60 and 100 adults with or without back pain and with or without experience of spinal manual therapy from Zurich, Switzerland. Participants will be randomised to either an active spinal manual therapy or a placebo-control spinal manual therapy protocol—both interventions delivered over two study visits, up to two weeks apart. The primary outcome is participant blinding using the Bang blinding index within each intervention arm immediately after each of the two study visits. Secondary outcomes are participant blinding using the James blinding index, outcome assessor blinding (Bang and James blinding indices), self-reported factors influencing perceived intervention assignment among participants and outcome assessors, and participant-reported credibility and expectancy of study interventions. Other outcomes—included to blind the study objective from participants—are lumbar spine range of motion, self-rated general health, satisfaction with care, pain intensity, and function. Intervention provider outcomes include intervention component fidelity and quality of intervention delivery.Ethics and disseminationThe independent ethics commission of Canton Zurich granted ethical approval for this study (KEK 2023–00381). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Findings will be disseminated in scientific conferences and a peer-reviewed publication and inform the blinding methods of a future double-placebo controlled trial comparing spinal manual therapy and nerve root injection for lumbosacral radicular pain—the SALuBRITY trial.Trial registrationNCT05778396.